Video: The Pallas's Cat

Watch this video and write True or False. Correct the False statements.

1. The Pallas's cat is the same size as a snow leopard.

2. They live in the mountains.

3. They are protected by holes in the rocks.

4. They are an easy prey for dogs and eagles.

5. They are cautious.

6. They eat insects, rodents and birds which hide in the rocks.

7. These cats are easy to see when they aren't in their dens.

8. They fur isn't as long as other cats.

9. They can't survive when the temperatures go below 0ºC.

Glossary:
prey: presa
den: guarida

Answers --> 1- F (the same size as a domestic cat), 2-T, 3-T, 4-F (wolves and eagles), 5- T, 6-F (using the rocks for cover), 7- F (their fur is their camouflage), 8-F (they have the longest fur), 9- F (their fur helps them tu survive).

Video: The Dangerous Life of Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs were the rulers of our planet millions of years ago. They dominated all type of wildlife and nothing seemed to threaten them. BUT…nature is stronger than everything else – animals, plants, humans… When nature decides, it can obliterate everything in its path.

Dictation time! I lo-lo-love dictations!

 Watch THIS VIDEO and then fill in with the word(s) you hear (vocabulary: animals)

....In one small valley, there is the stench of death.

Unwittingly, the Tyrannosaurus has been drawn into a natural trap. __________  vents are producing poisonous ______ _______, and because it is _______ than _____, it has formed a suffocating layer close to the ________. The giant predator stands above the layer, but as he puts his head down to feed on one of the corpses, he begins to feel the ________ of gas himself. If he topples over now, he will never _____ ____.

Eventually, his sheer size is his salvation. As he stands up with his prize, his head just clears the _____ layer. There are still _________ of greenery between the barren lava flows. In the warm, moist ________ of the late Cretaceous, the _________ has transformed. Instead of conifers, broad-leaved _______ fill the forest canopy.

Driving this quiet revolution among the ________ is the remarkable evolution of _______. Their secret lies in their intimate relationship with _________, this is now so close that some flowers can only be pollinated by insects and some insects, like __________, can only feed on ________. Among these new plants, the _______ are flourishing, and their calls form an ever-present chorus.

Millions of years of ________ have also created intimate relationships among different types of dinosaurs. Especially the delicate balance between _________ and _______. One dinosaur that specialises in ________ is the extraordinary Ankylosaurus. They are evolved to withstand attack even from _______ predators like Tyrannosaurus. At seven tonnes, Ankylosaurus are so heavily armoured that even their eyelids are hardened. And if that wasn't ________, they have a formidable club on the end of their ________. Sadly, not even these magnificent ________ have any defence against the natural forces that are suffocating their world.

Glossary:

to threaten - amenazar

stench – peste

trap – trampa

vent – respiradero

poisonous – venenoso

layer – capa

to feed – alimentarse

to topple – caerse

sheer size – gran tamaño

greenery – zonas verdes

fill – llenar

to withstand – resistir

eyelid – párpado

to harden - endurecer

club -  porra  (...)

Video: Saving a Humpback Whale

A Moving story about a Humpback whale

This is the story about a humpback whale that got entanged in gillnet and nearly died. Luckily, some people (Michael Fishback and co.) were around and helped her. When she was released into freedom, she rewarded these people with a spectacular dance!

Watch the video and answer the questions below:

1. Where does he photograph whales?

2. What did they find there?

3. What did they try to do?

4. How did they help the animal?

5. Why was he scared of the animal?

6. What did the whale do to the boat?

7. How did it say "thank you" to the people on the boat?

Glossary:
Humpback whale - ballena jorobada
to entangle - enredar
gill net - red
to release - poenr en libertad
to reward - premiar

Video: "The Ocean's glory - and horrors!"

THE OCEAN'S GLORY

Photos by Brian Skerry (@brianskerry)

I love Brian Skerry's photos of the osean as much as I love the ocean itself. I've been fascinated by the underwater habitat since I was a little kid. So, let's be aware of what we are doing to the ocean.

Watch this TED VIDEO (2010) and then answer the questions with short answers.

Example: Does Brian Skerry work for National Geographic? - Yes, he does.

1. Did he fall in love with the sea as a child?

2. Has he been exploring the ocean for 30 years?

3. Did he want to do a video on flamingos?

4. Is the loss of ice the worst thing for harp seals?

5. Did 80% of the big fish in the ocean disappeared in the last years?

6. When we go to a restaurant, do we know where the steak or chicken come from?

7. Are the bluefins the lions and tigers of the sea?

8. Is the ocean a grocery store?

9. Do the nets catch only shrimp?

10. Does Brian Skerry hate sharks?
11. Are the leatherback turtles the largest and oldest turtles?
12. Are there many leatherback turtles in the world?
13. Do right whales get hit by ships?
14. Have Southern right whales seen humans before?
15. Did Brian Skerry work in New Zeland?
16. Do red snapper fish eat algae?
17. Was the ocean restored to its natural equilibrium in New Zeland?


Glossary:
loss - pérdida
harp seals - foca de groenlandia
bluefin (bluefin tuna) - atún
grocery store - tienda de comestibles
shrimp - camarón
leatherback turtle - tortuga laúd (tortuga marina)
right whale - ballena franca
red snapper - pargo

THE HORROR IS CAUSED BY HUMAN BEINGS

Photos by Brian Skerry

Follow Brian Skerry on Instagram: @brianskerry

Video: Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park

 Here is a National Geographic video about the world's first national park. It's in the USA. Enjoy the spectacular views and the story.
Watch the VIDEO as many times as necessary and then answer the questions below.

1. How big is the park?
2. When was it made the world's first national park?
3. Are there many roads in Yellowstone?
4. How many rivers dissect Yellowstone?
5. How many bison are there in Yellowstone?
6. Where is the real story of Yellowstone hidden?
7. How does the volcano reveal itself?
8. How many tourist visit Yellowstone each year?
9. When may the volcano erupt?
10. When did the volcano last erupt?
11. How many species of mammal are there in Yellowstone? Give examples.
12. Were wolves eradicated in the past?
13. Are wolves necessary for the ecosystem?


Glossary:
reveal - revelar, dejar(se) ver
eradicate - desarraigar, erradicar