レッスンを予約する
Step 1
Read the Article
Read the article to understand the main idea.
記事を読んで、おおよその内容をつかみましょう。
Rats find new homes after lab work in Argentina
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a group called Team Ratas holds an annual event called Ratapalooza. The goal is to find new homes for rats and mice used in science labs. When labs no longer need them, Team Ratas tries to match them with caring families instead of letting them be killed.
Dominique Verdier started the organization in 2016 after a friend told her that a university did not need its research rats anymore. Since then, she has rescued more than 8,000 animals and found homes for around 3,000. Her network now includes 90 homes in and around Buenos Aires that look after the animals until they find new families.
At Ratapalooza, people can meet the animals and learn how to care for them. Those who want to adopt must have access to a specialist vet, a large cage with toys, and enough time to spend with their new pets every day.
Some people worry about disease, especially after a recent hantavirus outbreak linked to wild rats and mice. However, Verdier explains that lab rats are completely healthy. They have lived in labs their whole lives, and the labs only give Team Ratas animals that do not carry viruses.
"Rats are very intelligent and sweet," said one adopter. Verdier hopes more people will open their hearts — and homes — to these small animals.
(AP)
Step 2
Check the Vocabulary and Phrases
Check the following vocabulary and phrases.
以下の単語やフレーズの発音、意味、使い方を確認しましょう。
annual
毎年の
happening once every year
Our school has an annual sports festival in autumn.
私たちの学校では、毎年秋に運動会があります。
no longer
もはや～ない
not now as in the past
I no longer use that old computer.
私はもうその古いコンピューターを使っていません。
adopt
引き取る
to take an animal into your home and care for it as a pet
My uncle adopted a dog from a shelter last year.
私のおじは昨年、保護施設から犬を引き取りました。
vet
獣医
a person with medical training whose job is to take care of the health of animals
We took our rabbit to the vet for a checkup.
私たちはウサギを健康診断のために獣医に連れて行きました。
outbreak
発生
a sudden start of something bad, especially a disease
Many students stayed home because of a flu outbreak.
インフルエンザの流行のため、多くの学生が家にいました。
Step 3
Comprehension Questions
Answer the following questions based on the article.
理解度問題に挑戦しましょう。
What does Team Ratas do for rats and mice from labs?
What does Verdier say about the health of lab rats?
Step 4
Discussion
Share your opinions on the following questions.
以下の質問について、自分の考えを述べてみましょう。
Do you have any pets? If not, would you like to have one?
Would you like to have a rat or mouse as a pet? Why or why not?
Have you ever adopted or rescued an animal? What was the experience like?
What do you think people should prepare before getting a pet?
Do you think more animals from science labs should be adopted as pets? Why or why not?