Lesson 2

L ESSON 2:
P RESENT S IMPLE P RESENT C ONTINUOUS
Pandas: do you really know them?
What do you know about giant pandas? Read and complete the article to find out
more about these cuddly black and white bears. Circle the correct words. Underline
words you dont know.

Introduction
The giant panda has a distinctive (a) black/ (b)
white head with (a) black/ (b) white eye patches,
ears and shoulders. Unlike other bear species, giant
pandas are (a) carnivorous/ (b) herbivorous spending
up to 12 hours a day chewing bamboo shoots and
roots. Because of poaching and habitat loss, they are
extremely (a) common/ (b) extinct/ (c) rare,
occurring in small populations in the bamboo forests of China. Despite being the subject of
major international conservation efforts, wild populations of giant pandas (a) can/ (b) may/
(c) must not be enough to save this species.

Pandas Territory: Where do pandas come from?

Giant pandas (a) live/ (b) are living/ (c) have lived in the bamboo forests of China for millions
years and have been honored by the Chinese for a very long time. In fact, giant pandas (a)
appear/ (b) are appearing/ (c) have appeared in Chinese art for thousands of years. Because
the giant panda is considered a national treasure in China, it is protected by law so that it (a)
becomes/ (b) becomes not/ (c) does not become extinct.

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Although giant pandas have long been known to the Chinese, they (a) are/ (b) do/ (c) have a
recent discovery for people living outside of China. The first westerner to observe a live giant
panda in the wild (a) is/ (b) was/ (c) had been a German zoologist named Hugo Weigold. In
1916, he (a) bought/ (b) has bought/ (c) had bought a cub while he was on expedition.

At Pandas Place: Where do pandas live?

There is only one place where giant pandas (a) live/ (b) lived/ (c) were living in the wild: high
in the mountains of central China. There, they (a) live/ (b) are living/ (c) have lived in cold
and rainy bamboo forests that are often misty and shrouded in heavy clouds. Once upon a
time, giant pandas (a) lived/ (b) have lived/ (c) had lived in lowland areas. However, as
people (a) builded/ (b) built/ (c) had built more and more farms and cities on that land, the
giant pandas were forced up into the mountains. Today, they (a) live/ (b) lived/ (c) have
lived at elevations of 5,000 to 10,000 feet.

Panda's Lunch: What do pandas eat?

In the wild, a giant pandas diet is 99% bamboo.
Bamboo is a giant grass that (a) grows/ (b) is
growing/ (c) has grown in the mountains of China.
Because bamboo is so low in nutrients, an adult giant
panda (a) eats/ (b) is eating/ (c) has eaten between
20 and 40 or more pounds of it each day. It eats the
stems, shoots, leaves and all.
There are about 25 different types of bamboo that wild pandas will eat. Some nutritionists (a)
think/ (b) are thinking/ (c) have thought that giant pandas need to eat not only different
parts of the bamboo, but also different kinds of bamboo in order to get proper nutrition. In
addition to bamboo, giant pandas (a) ate/ (b) eat/ (c) have eaten other grasses, insects and
occasionally, small rodents.
In zoos, giant pandas eat bamboo too, but they (a) have/ (b) may/ (c) would also eat sugar
cane, rice gruel, carrots, apples and sweet potatoes.
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Panda Cubs: How are baby pandas born?

(a) If/ (b) while/ (c) when a giant panda is first born, it is tiny. It (a)
measures/ (b) tallies/ (c) weighs between four and six ounces and
is about the size of a stick of butter. At birth, it is pink, blind,
helpless and hairless. During this time, the mother cares for it
closely, often cradling it in her paw and keeping it close to her
chest. The cub (a) opens/ (b) doesnt open/ (c) opens not its
eyes until it is six week old and it (a) walks/ (b) doesnt walk/ (c)
walks not until it is three months.
Cubs nurse for about nine months but they stay with their
mothers for a long time after that. In fact, it (a) can/ (b) must/ (c) should be up to three years
before a giant panda cub strikes out on its own.

Pandas Day Out: How does a panda spend the day?

In the wild, giant pandas (a) spend/ (b) are spending/ (c) have
spent most of their time resting, eating or looking for food. Unlike
other bear species, giant pandas do not hibernate during the winter
months. They also (a) build/ (b) do not build/ (c) have not
built permanent dens. Instead, they shelter in caves and trees.
Pandas are good climbers. They (a) can/ (b) could/ (c)
should also swim, though they spend most of their time on land.
Although they might seem pretty quiet, giant pandas (a) are/ (b) do/
(c) have make a lot of growling and honking sounds.

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Pandas in Peril: Why are pandas endangered?

Today, giant pandas (a) are/ (b) have been/ (c) will be at risk of becoming extinct. Only about
1,000 giant pandas are left in the wild. All of these (a) inhabit/ (b) are inhabiting/ (c) have
inhabited a small area in the bamboo forests of China. About 150 live in captivity. This is why
the giant panda (a) listed/ (b) has listed/ (c) is listed as endangered in the World
Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Animals. It is one of the most severely (a)
dangerous/ (b) endangered/ (c) extinct species in the world.
Pandas in Pounds: How big are pandas?
Giant pandas are about the size of an American black bear. When they (a) are standing/ (b)
stood/ (c) have been standing on all four legs, giant pandas are two to three feet tall at the
shoulder. They can be up to six feet long. Males (a) are/ (b) have been/ (c) will be usually
larger than females. Males can weigh 250 pounds or more in the wild. Females usually (a)
grow/ (b) measure/ (c) weigh less than 220 pounds.

Pandas' Political Importance: What do pandas symbolize?

In China, people (a) believe/ (b) have believed/ (c) had believed for thousands years that
pandas are special. It is said that ancient emperors of China (a) kept/ (b) have kept/ (c) had
kept giant pandas as pets. Chinese books over two thousand years old show giant pandas
with mystical powers. People (a) think/ (b) thought/ (c) were thinking that they (a) can/ (b)
could/ (c) are able to ward off evil spirits and natural disasters. Today, pandas (a) believe/
(b) are believed/ (c) have been believed to be a symbol of peace and good fortune.
I beg your panda?
The 6th Finger: The giant panda has five fingers plus a "thumb," which isn't a real thumb but
a modified bone that (a) allow/ (b) allows/ (c) has allowed the panda to grasp bamboo.
Docile or dangerous? Typically thought of as docile and harmless, the giant panda can be as
dangerous as any other bear when provoked and (a) has been known/ (b) was known/ (c)
will have been known to attack humans on occasion.

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Lesson 2

T a l k a b o u t y o u r What is the What do you do What is he

d a i l y r o u t i n e s : person doing? in summer? doing?

START Start

What do you do When do you Is he doing the What are they What do your
in winter? usually go on housework? looking for? relatives do?
holiday?

Whats he Why is she What does she Why is she Where does he
doing? crying? do? furious? live? What does
he do?

Name 4 things What is What do you do What is he Name 4 things

you often do at happening? in autumn? frightened of? you do every
home: day:

Name 4 things What do you do Are they riding Is she riding a

you never do on in spring? on a train? bicycle?
your holiday: FINISH

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Lesson 2
tar

Task 1 : Present simple VS Present continuous

This is Mrs White. She (be) a primary school teacher.

She (teach) English, Maths and Geography.
At the moment, she (teach) Maths.
She (live) in London and (be)
married to Georges, who is French. They
(have) three children. They all (love) animals,
but they (not have) any pets because they
(live) in an apartment. Mrs White
(speak) French as well as English, but she (not teach) it.
=====

Mrs Whites niece Sophie (stay) with the Whites for

a few days. Sophie (live) and
(study) in Liverpool, but she (enjoy) her mid-term
break in London at the moment. She (plan) to do
some serious shopping and sightseeing.
=====
Mrs Whites son Arnold (not like) shopping, but he
(love) hanging out with friends. They usually
(go) to the local park where they (play)
football or basketball.
Today, however, Arnold .. (not play) football or
basketball; he . (skateboard).

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Lesson 2

Task 2: 10 facts about

Write 10 facts about the picture, using present simple or present continuous

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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