A growing library of level-graded English lessons for classroom or self-study, with reading, listening, vocabulary, activities, and discussion practice from A1 to B2.
Lesson Info
In this lesson:
- Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
- Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
- Reading Read the main text.
- Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
- True or False Check understanding.
- Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
- Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
- Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.
Think Ahead: What do you think happens at Moo Deng's birthday celebration?
a) Many fans come to see her at the zoo.
b) The zoo sends her back to the wild.
c) She stops being popular online.
Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a hippo? Where? (2) Do you like to visit zoos? Why or why not?
VOCAB LIST
Reading
Thousands of people came to a zoo in Thailand last week to celebrate a very special birthday. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, turned one year old. She is not just any hippo - she is famous all over the world!
Moo Deng became a social media sensation after she was born. Her keeper, Atthapon, shared cute photos and videos of her online. People loved watching her play, eat, and swim. The videos showed her trying to bite her keeper and sleeping peacefully.
The name "Moo Deng" means "bouncy pork" in Thai. Fans chose this name in an online poll. Her brothers and sisters also have food names like "stewed pork" and "sweet pork."
For her birthday party, the zoo in Chonburi had special activities for four days. Children under 12 could enter the zoo for free. Many fans traveled very far to see Moo Deng. Molly from New York took time off work and flew to Thailand for just 30 hours. "I just loved her so much and decided, you know what, I have three or four days off of work. I can make it work to fly to Thailand," she said.
On Moo Deng's birthday, 12,000 people visited the zoo. Fans sang "Happy Birthday" and took many photos. Moo Deng got a special birthday cake made of fruits and vegetables.
The zoo also held online auctions to raise money for animal care. Someone paid 100,000 baht (about $3,000) just to sponsor Moo Deng's birthday cake!
The zoo director says Moo Deng helps people learn about protecting wild animals. Pygmy hippos are endangered - only 2,000 to 3,000 live in the wild in Africa. The zoo has special programs to help save these animals.
Thai Hippo Moo Deng Turns One
Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It
Think Ahead: What do you think happens at Moo Deng's birthday celebration?
a) Many fans come to see her at the zoo.
b) The zoo sends her back to the wild.
c) She stops being popular online.
Ask: (1) Have you ever seen a hippo? Where? (2) Do you like to visit zoos? Why or why not?
-
Celebrate (v.)
-
Turn (v.)
-
Fans (n.)
-
Social media (n.)
-
Sensation (n.)
-
Keeper (n.)
-
Bouncy (adj.)
-
Endangered (adj.)
-
Cake (n.)
Thousands of people came to a zoo in Thailand last week to celebrate a very special birthday. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, turned one year old. She is not just any hippo - she is famous all over the world!
Moo Deng became a social media sensation after she was born. Her keeper, Atthapon, shared cute photos and videos of her online. People loved watching her play, eat, and swim. The videos showed her trying to bite her keeper and sleeping peacefully.
The name "Moo Deng" means "bouncy pork" in Thai. Fans chose this name in an online poll. Her brothers and sisters also have food names like "stewed pork" and "sweet pork."
For her birthday party, the zoo in Chonburi had special activities for four days. Children under 12 could enter the zoo for free. Many fans traveled very far to see Moo Deng. Molly from New York took time off work and flew to Thailand for just 30 hours. "I just loved her so much and decided, you know what, I have three or four days off of work. I can make it work to fly to Thailand," she said.
On Moo Deng's birthday, 12,000 people visited the zoo. Fans sang "Happy Birthday" and took many photos. Moo Deng got a special birthday cake made of fruits and vegetables.
The zoo also held online auctions to raise money for animal care. Someone paid 100,000 baht (about $3,000) just to sponsor Moo Deng's birthday cake!
The zoo director says Moo Deng helps people learn about protecting wild animals. Pygmy hippos are endangered - only 2,000 to 3,000 live in the wild in Africa. The zoo has special programs to help save these animals.
Two ways to use this audio:
- Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
- Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
Thousands of people came to a zoo in Thailand last week to celebrate a very special birthday. Moo Deng, a baby pygmy hippo, turned (1) year old. She is not just any hippo - she is famous all over the world!
Moo Deng became a social media (2) after she was born. Her keeper, Atthapon, shared cute photos and videos of her online. People loved watching her play, eat, and swim. The videos showed her trying to bite her keeper and sleeping peacefully.
The name "Moo Deng" means "bouncy pork" in Thai. (3) chose this name in an online poll. Her brothers and sisters also have food names like "stewed pork" and "sweet pork."
For her birthday party, the zoo in Chonburi had special activities for four days. Children under 12 could enter the zoo for free. Many fans traveled very far to see Moo Deng. Molly from New York took time off work and flew to Thailand for just 30 hours. "I just (4) her so much and decided, you know what, I have three or four days off of work. I can make it work to fly to Thailand," she said.
On Moo Deng's birthday, 12,000 people visited the zoo. Fans sang "Happy Birthday" and took many photos. Moo Deng got a special birthday (5) made of fruits and vegetables.
The zoo also held online auctions to raise money for animal care. Someone paid 100,000 baht (about $3,000) just to sponsor Moo Deng's birthday cake!
The zoo director says Moo Deng helps people learn about protecting wild animals. Pygmy hippos are (6) - only 2,000 to 3,000 live in the wild in Africa. The zoo has special programs to help save these animals.
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Moo Deng is two years old now. TRUEFALSE False
2. Some fans traveled from other countries to see Moo Deng. TRUEFALSE True
3. Moo Deng's name means 'happy hippo' in Thai. TRUEFALSE False
4. The zoo had 12,000 visitors on Moo Deng's birthday. TRUEFALSE True
Vocab Match
Drag each vocabulary word to its matching definition:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Vocab Match
Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.
1. Celebratee) To do something special for an important day or event.
2. Fansd) People who really like someone or something famous.
3. Social mediac) Websites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where people share photos and videos.
4. Keeperb) A person who takes care of animals in a zoo.
5. Endangereda) Animals that might disappear forever if we don't protect them.
a) Animals that might disappear forever if we don't protect them.
b) A person who takes care of animals in a zoo.
c) Websites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where people share photos and videos.
d) People who really like someone or something famous.
e) To do something special for an important day or event.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about Moo Deng's story? Is it surprising that a baby hippo became so famous?
- Would you travel to another country to see a famous animal? Why or why not?
- Do you think social media is good or bad for animals in zoos? Explain your answer.
- What animals make you happy when you see photos or videos of them?
- Is it important to have zoos? What are the good and bad things about zoos?
- How can we help protect endangered animals like pygmy hippos?
- Would you like a birthday cake made of fruits and vegetables? If not, what type of cake would you prefer?
- What do you think about people spending a lot of money to sponsor an animal's birthday cake?
- How do you usually celebrate birthdays in your country?
- Of all the animals in the world, which is the cutest?
Discussion Questions
- What do you think about Moo Deng's story? Is it surprising that a baby hippo became so famous?
- Would you travel to another country to see a famous animal? Why or why not?
- Do you think social media is good or bad for animals in zoos? Explain your answer.
- What animals make you happy when you see photos or videos of them?
- Is it important to have zoos? What are the good and bad things about zoos?
- How can we help protect endangered animals like pygmy hippos?
- Would you like a birthday cake made of fruits and vegetables? If not, what type of cake would you prefer?
- What do you think about people spending a lot of money to sponsor an animal's birthday cake?
- How do you usually celebrate birthdays in your country?
- Of all the animals in the world, which is the cutest?
Answers
Think Ahead: a
Listening: (1) one, (2) sensation, (3) Fans, (4) loved, (5) cake, (6) endangered
True or False:
- False. Moo Deng just turned one year old. It was her first birthday.
- True. Many fans traveled very far to see Moo Deng.
- False. Moo Deng means 'bouncy pork' in Thai language.
- True. The zoo director said 12,000 people visited on Thursday for the birthday celebration.
Vocabulary:
- Celebrate: To do something special for an important day or event.
- Fans: People who really like someone or something famous.
- Social media: Websites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where people share photos and videos.
- Keeper: A person who takes care of animals in a zoo.
- Endangered: Animals that might disappear forever if we don't protect them.