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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 2 / A2
Published
Title
A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-12-giant-sea-lion-at-pier-39/

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.
  • Main Idea Choose the overall message of the text.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Sentence Unscramble Reorder mixed phrases into correct sentences.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) Visitors swim with sea lions in the bay.

b) Workers close the pier because of animals.

c) A giant sea lion gets attention.

A large pale sea lion sits upright on a crowded wooden dock, surrounded by many resting brown sea lions.
Chonkers.

Ask: (1) What big animals do you like? (2) Do you like going to the sea?

VOCAB LIST

attention (n.) — When many people notice someone or something.
expert (n.) — A person who knows a lot about something.
pier (n.) — A long structure over water where people can walk.
protect (v.) — To keep a person or animal safe.
weigh (v.) — To have a weight of a certain number.
stand out (v.) — To be easy to notice because it is different from others.
dock (n.) — A place by the water where boats can stop.
chunky (adj.) — big and heavy in shape

Reading

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is Chonkers. This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a Steller sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take photos. For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong waves. Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39

Level 2 Source: apnews.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A large pale sea lion sits upright on a crowded wooden dock, surrounded by many resting brown sea lions.
Chonkers.

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is Chonkers. This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a Steller sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take photos. For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong waves. Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:40  Watch on YouTube

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 on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is (1) . This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a (2) sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may (3) 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take (4) . For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong (5) . Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

Choose one:

  • A very large sea lion at Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention, and experts think it may be a good place for him. Correct answer
  • A very large sea lion at Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention, but experts think he may need to leave soon.
  • A very large sea lion at Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention because workers are making a new home for him.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • Chonkers is a Steller sea lion.
    The first paragraph says he is a Steller sea lion.
  • Chonkers is smaller than the California sea lions at the pier.
    The second paragraph says he is much bigger than the California sea lions.
  • Experts think Pier 39 may be a good place for Chonkers.
    The last paragraph says the pier is safe and there is food nearby.

True or False

1. Chonkers is a Steller sea lion. TRUEFALSE True

2. Chonkers is smaller than the California sea lions at the pier. TRUEFALSE False

3. Experts think Pier 39 may be a good place for Chonkers. TRUEFALSE True

Multiple Choice

1. What is special about Chonkers at Pier 39?

   a) He is much bigger than the other sea lions there.Correct

   b) He is the only animal living in the bay.

   c) He comes to the pier only at night.

   d) He is a baby sea lion from California.

2. What do many visitors do when they see Chonkers?

   a) They feed him fish.

   b) They take photos.Correct

   c) They count all the sea lions.

   d) They call experts for help.

3. Why might Pier 39 be a good place for Chonkers?

   a) It is warmer than the rest of San Francisco.

   b) It is far from other sea lions.

   c) It is safe and there is food nearby.Correct

   d) It has a new home built for him.

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Pier (n)e) A long structure over water where people can walk.

2. Weigh (v)d) To have a weight of a certain number.

3. Expert (n)c) A person who knows a lot about something.

4. Protect (v)b) To keep a person or animal safe.

5. Stand out (v)a) To be easy to notice because it is different.

a) To be easy to notice because it is different.

b) To keep a person or animal safe.

c) A person who knows a lot about something.

d) To have a weight of a certain number.

e) A long structure over water where people can walk.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Many visitors want to see Chonkers he looks much bigger than the other sea lions.

    and / because / but

    Many visitors want to see Chonkers because he looks much bigger than the other sea lions.

  2. Chonkers looks very unusual, many people stop and take photos.

    because / but / so

    Chonkers looks very unusual, so many people stop and take photos.

  3. I would like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story.

    I think, / But, / For example,

    I think, I would like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story.

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. is safe and calm B. I think C. a good place D. for animals E. with enough F. food.

    I think a good place for animals is safe and calm with enough food.

  2. A. from wild animals B. stay away C. because it keeps D. People should E. too. F. the animals safe

    People should stay away from wild animals because it keeps the animals safe too.

Discussion Questions

  1. What was your first thought about Chonkers?
  2. Why do you think so many visitors want to see him?
  3. Why is a safe place important for wild animals?
  4. Why do people like taking photos of unusual animals?
  5. What kind of place is good for animals?
  6. If you saw Chonkers, what would you do first?
  7. Should people stay away from wild animals? Why or why not?
  8. Would you like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story? Why?

Answers A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39 / Level 2

Think Ahead: c

Listening: (1) Chonkers, (2) Steller, (3) weigh, (4) photos, (5) waves

Main Idea: A very large sea lion at Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention, and experts think it may be a good place for him.

True or False:

  1. True. The first paragraph says he is a Steller sea lion.
  2. False. The second paragraph says he is much bigger than the California sea lions.
  3. True. The last paragraph says the pier is safe and there is food nearby.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c

Vocabulary:

  1. Pier (n): A long structure over water where people can walk.
  2. Weigh (v): To have a weight of a certain number.
  3. Expert (n): A person who knows a lot about something.
  1. Protect (v): To keep a person or animal safe.
  2. Stand out (v): To be easy to notice because it is different.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Result. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. so
  3. I think,

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I think a good place for animals is safe and calm with enough food.
  2. People should stay away from wild animals because it keeps the animals safe too.

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