Animals

In Western countries, people spend a lot of money on their pets. They buy special food and toys for their cats and dogs and often pay high fees for medical treatment. Some people think this is a waste of money, and argue that pets are dirty and dangerous.
In many Western countries people are fond of keeping pets. However, others say that pets are often dangerous and aggressive.
Personally, I think that people can benefit from pets in many ways. First of all, animals are usually devoted to their owners and love them. You will hardly feel lonely and depressed if you have a pet. Secondly, pets help people stay healthy. For example, doctors have found out that people who have high blood pressure feel much better when they stroke pets and talk to them. What is more, pets encourage their owners to get out and exercise. Dog owners usually spend much time walking which helps them improve their overall health. It is a well-known fact that people who have pets are happier and live longer than those who don"t.
But many people say that they are too busy to take care of animals. Others think that it is too difficult and time-consuming to keep pets. Cats, dogs, birds, fish, hamsters and other creatures require not only human love and kindness but also food, medical care, training and shelter. You must feed them regularly, keep them clean, go to the veterinarian for their yearly checkup and so on. It takes much effort and causes extra expenses. It is also obvious that animals make a lot of noise, may look untidy and disturb the members of your family.
To conclude, it"s important to realize that owning a pet is a great responsibility and additional work. However, for most people, the advantages of having a pet outweigh the disadvantages. Anyway, everybody must remember that all pets need love and care just as people do.

Some people believe that animals without owners should have the right to live on the streets in cities. Others say that they could be dangerous and should be collected and found new homes, or even put down.
Unfortunately, many cats and dogs suffer abandonment, cruelty and neglect nowadays. Some of us think that it is quite normal and there is no need to change the situation. But others are convinced that some urgent measures must be taken in order to improve the lives of homeless animals.
To my mind, the lives of homeless cats and dogs are full of hardships: they starve, catch different diseases and suffer from cold and people"s cruelty. Furthermore, they may be rather dangerous because people may get infection from them. Besides, stray dogs may attack people and even kill them. In my opinion, living on the street is not a right, but a necessity for poor creatures that have no choice. I think that volunteers should catch homeless animals, provide them with food and medical care and try to find home for them. But I am against killing homeless cats and dogs because I find it inhumane.
On the other hand, some people believe that many owners cannot provide good homes for their pets and the full lives that they deserve. Living in our homes animals must obey commands and can only behave how people allow them to. Dogs, cats, or birds want to be free, but they are confined to a house, yard or cage. But I think that domesticated animals are not able to survive on their own in the wild and it is cruel to throw them out on the streets.
To sum up, people must be responsible for both domesticated and wild animals. I believe that homeless animals are a serious social problem that must be solved as soon as possible.

Some people keep exotic animals as pets nowadays. Others say that it is difficult and dangerous to take care of unusual pets.
Today some people keep rare and unusual animals in their houses. But do alligators, tigers, crocodiles, snakes or raccoons feel comfortable living with people? And is it safe to keep such animals as pets?
Personally, I think that owners of exotic animals are going to have many problems with them. Firstly, many professionals, including veterinarians and zoologists strongly discourage the keeping of exotic animals as pets, as their needs may be difficult to meet by the average owner. Providing appropriate environmental conditions, housing and diet for an exotic animal may be rather difficult. Secondly, unlike cats and dogs, exotic animals have not been domesticated and remain wild. Even if they are raised by humans, they may be unpredictable, aggressive and dangerous, especially as full-grown adults. Finally, some animals are known to carry diseases that can affect humans.
However, some people say that having an exotic pet is funny and "cool". They are fond of showing their pets to their friends and relatives who cannot stop admiring these rare animals. Besides, the information about many commonly kept reptiles, birds and small exotic mammals is widely available through literature, Internet websites and discussion forms. Although having an exotic pet is sometimes challenging, it is generally very interesting and rewarding. But I believe that most animals feel much better in their natural homes where they have the right climate, food and exercises that meet their needs.
To conclude, most countries have the laws that forbid people to keep exotic animal as pets. To my mind, the government must strictly control the trade of some exotic animals around the world in order to prevent any threats to their survival and ecological damage.

Many people enjoy visiting zoos. Others believe that animals should not be taken from their natural surroundings and put into zoos.
A lot of people, especially children, are fond of going to the zoo. There they have an opportunity to look at wild animals, exotic birds, insects, reptiles and fish. When we come to the zoo, we can see animals that we would never have a chance to see in our country. But is it right to keep animals in the zoo?
Personally, I think that animals should live in their natural habitats. Animals that live in zoos are confined within enclosures and displayed to the public. It is difficult to create ideal captive environments for some species and sometimes animals have to live in bad conditions and look miserable and untidy. They may suffer from lack of space, comfort and good food. Some wild animals feel stressed in captivity. Sometimes they are kept in such small cages that they are unable to turn around. Besides, in spite of prohibition many visitors give animals food that may do harm to their health and cause different diseases.
However, some zoos keep fewer animals in larger, outdoor enclosures, rather than in cages. For instance, safari parks allow visitors to drive through them and come in close contact with the animals. What is more, most modern zoos display wild animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species, as well as for research purposes and education, and secondarily for the entertainment of visitors. But I still believe that animals feel much better without people"s control.
To sum up, I think that the conservation and educational role of zoos should be strengthened. All zoos must be inspected and licensed, and all animals must be provided with a suitable environment.

Most people are convinced that a digital pet cannot substitute a real one. Others suggest that digital pets are preferable for a number of reasons.
Some children keep digital pets instead of real ones for companionship or enjoyment. But a lot of people doubt that the relationship with robotic animals can have a good effect on a child.
I strongly feel that digital pets can never be compared with real cats, dogs and other animals. They do not even have concrete physical form. Instead of a cute little kitten or a funny puppy, you have a palm-sized computer with a small screen. I doubt that feeding, washing or playing with the digital pet may be interesting and rewarding. Nevertheless, some children believe that their digital pets are really alive and they feel extremely unhappy if their virtual cats and dogs fall ill or die. In addition, it is quite possible to become addicted to the digital pet. Some children play with them when they should be doing something else, for example, their homework.
But some people believe that digital pets have a number of benefits. Firstly, a relationship with the digital pet teaches children that their desires cannot always come first. It can also teach boys and girls to be responsible because the digital pet requires constant attention, otherwise it will "die". Secondly, having a digital pet is a good training before adopting a real animal. Finally, digital pets can successfully substitute real ones for children who cannot care for a real pet, such as those who suffer from allergies.
To sum up, digital pets are usually predictable and they cannot give us as much joy and satisfaction as real ones. Anyway, parents should take into consideration all advantages and disadvantages before buying a digital pet to their children.

Из учебного пособия

Keeping a pet

Remember to say:

• why people keep pets;

Keeping a pet

You’re going to give a talk about the problem of keeping a pet.

Remember to say:

• what are the most popular pets;
• why people keep pets;
• if it’s difficult to keep a pet and why

I’m going to give a talk about the problem of keeping a pet.

A lot of people in Russia have pets at home. The most popular pets are cats, dogs, fish, parrots, rabbits and hamsters. But some people keep spiders, mice, crocodiles and snakes as pets.

Pets are especially good for lonely people and children. They bring you joy. Animals are our best friends. Some pets, for example cats and fish, help you to relax. Dogs can be useful for hunting, guarding a person or a house, they can even be a part of transport in the North. Exotic kinds of animals help people themselves.

We are responsible for those whom we have tamed (приручили). Keeping a pet is not easy, because it becomes a member of your family and you must care about it. When you take a pet you must learn about its illnesses, feed and wash it, take it for a walk and play with it.

In conclusion I should say that animal are our best friends and they make us better.

That’s all I wanted to tell.

Keeping a pet

You’re going to give a talk about the problem of keeping a pet.

Remember to say:

• what are the most popular pets;
• why people keep pets;
• if it’s difficult to keep a pet and why

I’m going to give a talk about the problem of keeping a pet.

A lot of people in Russia have pets at home. The most popular pets are cats, dogs, fish, parrots, rabbits and hamsters. But some people keep spiders, mice, crocodiles and snakes as pets.

Pets are especially good for lonely people and children. They bring you joy. Animals are our best friends. Some pets, for example cats and fish, help you to relax. Dogs can be useful for hunting, guarding a person or a house, they can even be a part of transport in the North. Exotic kinds of animals help people themselves.

We are responsible for those whom we have tamed (приручили). Keeping a pet is not easy, because it becomes a member of your family and you must care about it. When you take a pet you must learn about its illnesses, feed and wash it, take it for a walk and play with it.

In conclusion I should say that animal are our best friends and they make us better.

That’s all I wanted to tell.

I think that it is very important to have a pet at home. And it absolutely does not matter, what kind of animal it is. It can be: a cat, a dog, a hamster, a parrot or even a gold fish. Cats and dogs are the most popular pets in many countries. People who live in flats prefer to keep cats, because there is no need to walk them every day. Cats are very compact animals, they like to lie on people’s laps and even in beds. I love cats because they are warm and fluffy. Cats let us stroke them and often purr with pleasure. For me cats are the most incredible and mystic animals. Dogs are a man"s best friends and that is the fact. Dogs are extremely clever and understand everything you tell them. Though keeping a dog in a flat is a bit of a problem, because you need to walk it two or three times a day. And this takes some time. Another problem is that our flats are relatively small even for not big dogs. And do not forget that dogs have a specific smell. But these are no real problems when you really love dogs. Dogs are wonderful animals. I am absolutely sure that cats and dogs have human souls.

In eastern countries cats and dogs are exotic pets. People there mostly keep birds. These birds are usually smaller than parrots. People live in tiny flats and houses and there is simply not enough room to place a big cage. As for me, I love big birds and parrots. Another reason for keeping birds is that cities in eastern countries are overpopulated, so there are not enough parks and squares. And do not forget, that Asian people can use cats and dogs as food!

Personally I do not understand when people keep small fishes. What is the point in all this? Fish do not speak. You cannot touch it. Well there are big beautiful fishes that are at least pleasant to look at. Keeping fish is a very difficult and money demanding process. Without paying all the necessary attention to your fish they can soon die.

People usually keep hamsters, rabbits, rats and mice to teach their children to communicate with animals. Besides, these animals are rather easy to look after. These animals are funny, but all they do is eating and multiplying.

It is very interesting when somebody has exotic pets, such as spiders, cockroaches, snakes and frogs. But one has got to be a real professional. Otherwise the animals will die or do harm to somebody. I would choose to keep frogs. I think them really nice. And some frogs have beautiful voices.

So, you can choose any pet. But you just must love it! I cannot understand how people can live without pets.

Методическая разработка урока по теме: « My pet »

(УМК Spotlight , 5 класс)

Работу выполнила:

Учитель английского языка

Яницкая Надежда Викторовна

МБОУ СОШ № 13

г.Братск, Иркутская область

Технологическая карта

Предмет: английский язык

Модуль 5 «World animals»

Тема урока: «Мой питомец»

Цель урока : - написать о любимом питомце друга, используя время Present Simple

Задачи урока:

Изучить новую лексику по теме «Питомцы и животные фермы»;

Отработать навык узнавания изученного грамматического материала при работе с текстом

Тип урока: Урок актуализации знаний и умений

Необходимое оборудование: ноутбук, проектор, УМК, задания по аудированию, мультимедийная презентация в Power Point

Domestic animals can be divided into two groups: farm animals and pets.

Farm animals

Farmers usually raise such animals as cows, sheep, horses, pigs, rabbits. But in some Eastern countries people keep donkeys, camels, yaks and even elephants on their farms.

Some domestic animals work for people. Some of them give people food. Pigs give meat. Cows and goats give milk. Hens, ducks, geese, turkeys give meat and eggs.

Pets

A lot of people keep animals at home for pleasure. They are called pets. People usually prefer small animals, for example, rabbits, guinea pigs, white mice, hamsters and sometimes birds.

But the most popular pets are dogs and cats. Some dogs guard and protect their owner’s houses. Cats are not so loyal as dogs, but they can help people, too. They catch mice and rats.

Sometimes people keep exotic animals: iguanas, snakes, frogs, small crocodiles and even tigers. But in my opinion it’s not a good idea to keep a snake or a tiger at home because it can be really dangerous.

Every child wants a pet to play with, but animals are not toys. They need everyday care. You must keep their baskets and cages clean, remember to feed them regularly. Many animals such as large dogs suffer if they are kept in small city apartments.

Why do we need pets?

We know that our pets need us. We look after them and give them home. But now doctors are saying that we need them, too. Experts believe that pets can help you stay healthy and live longer.

Pets are very good friends. They don’t ask for much and they always love you. Children learn how to be kind to their pets, and how to look after them. So, having pets can really change our lives for the better.

Домашние животные могут быть разделены на две группы: сельскохозяйственные животные и питомцы.

Сельскохозяйственные животные

Фермеры обычно разводят таких животных как коровы, овцы, лошади, свиньи, кролики. Но в некоторых восточных странах люди держат ослов, верблюдов, яков и даже слонов на своих фермах.

Некоторые домашние животные работают для людей. Некоторые из них дают людям еду. Свиньи дают мясо. Коровы и козы дают молоко. Курицы, утки, гуси, индюки дают мясо и яйца.

Питомцы

Многие люди держат животных дома для удовольствия. Их называют питомцами. Люди обычно предпочитают маленьких животных, например, кроликов, морских свинок, белых мышей, хомяков и иногда птиц.

Но самые популярные домашние животные – собаки и кошки. Некоторые собаки охраняют и защищают дом своего хозяина. Кошки не так верны, как собаки, но и они могут помогать людям. Они ловят мышей и крыс.

Иногда люди содержат экзотических животных: игуан, змей, лягушек, маленьких крокодилов и даже тигров. Но, по моему мнению, это не очень хорошая идея держать змею или тигра дома, потому что это может быть крайне опасно.

Каждый ребенок хочет питомца, чтобы играть с ним, но животные – это не игрушки. Им нужен ежедневный уход. Вы должны содержать их корзины и клетки чистыми, не забывать их регулярно кормить. Многие животные, такие как большие собаки, страдают, если их держат в небольших городских квартирах.

Зачем нам нужны питомцы?

Мы знаем, что нашим питомцам нужны мы. Мы заботимся о них и даем им дом. Но теперь врачи говорят, что и мы нуждаемся в них. Специалисты считают, что питомцы могут помочь вам быть здоровыми и жить дольше.

Питомцы – очень хорошие друзья. Они не просят многого и всегда любят вас. Дети учатся быть добрыми к своим домашним животным и заботиться о них. Таким образом, содержание питомцев может действительно изменить нашу жизнь к лучшему.