UNIT 9: UNDERSEA WORLD

LESSON 3: LISTENING
BLUE WHALE
Before you listen
Work in pairs. Discuss the following questions.
① Do you think whales are fish? Why or Why not
The whale is a mammal because it raises its young on milk.
② Why do people keep hunting whales?
- Because they want whales for food, oil, leather and other products.
While you listen
TASK 1: Listen to some information about whales and decide whether the following statement are true (T) or false (F)
The whale is the third largest animal that has ever lived on Earth.
Whales are said to be the most intelligent animals in the ocean.
Some whales are known to move into warm waters to give birth
Whales are in danger because of the increase in population of other sea animals.
Some people are still killing whales for food.
TRUE
FALSE
Game:
THE BIG WHEEL
Play
Points
1
2
3
4
5
Team A
Team A
While you listen
TASK 1: Listen to some information about whales and decide whether the following statement are true (T) or false (F)
The whale is the third largest animal that has ever lived on Earth.
Whales are said to be the most intelligent animals in the ocean.
Some whales are known to move into warm waters to give birth
Whales are in danger because of the increase in population of other sea animals.
Some people are still killing whales for food.
TRUE
FALSE
T
F
T
F
T
hunting
While you listen
TASK 2: Listen again and then answer the following questions
What is the length and weight of the blue whale?
2. Why do whale like to feed in the cold oceans?
3. According to the listening passage, what are the good feeding grounds for whales?
4. What is the main reason for the decrease in whale populations?
5. What have conservation groups asked the International Whaling Commission to do?
6. What would happen if we didn’t take any measures to protect whales?
Game: Pyramid
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
What is the length and weight of the blue whale?

The blue whale grows to 30 metres in length and over 200 tons in weight.
Why do whale like to feed in the cold oceans?
- Because there is a lot of krill – their favorite food in cold oceans.

3. According to the listening passage, what are the good feeding grounds for whales?
Cold water in the North and South Atlantic Ocean and the North and the South Pacific are the good feeding grounds for whales.
4. What is the main reason for the decrease in whale populations?
- Heavy hunting is the main reason for the decrease in whale population.
5. What have conservation groups asked the International Whaling Commission to do?
- They have asked the International Whaling Commission to stop most whaling.
6. What would happen if we didn’t take any measures to protect whales?
If we didn’t take any measures to protect whales, they would disappear forever.
Tapescript:
Whales are mammals that lives in the water. Some whales are huge. The blue whale, for example, grows to 30 meters in length and over 200 tons in weight. It is the largest animal that has ever lived on earth. Whales may also be the most intelligent animals in the ocean.
Whale like to feed in the cold oceans where there is a lot of krill – their favorite food. Cold waters in the North and South Atlantic Ocean and the North and South Pacific are good feeding grounds for whales. Some whales are known to migrate into warm waters to bear their calves.
Whale populations decrease quickly due to heavy hunting pressure. Conservation groups have asked the International Whaling Commission to stop most whaling. However, Native America hunters, such as the Eskimos, are still allowed to hunt a limited number of whales to feed their communities . If no effective measures were taken to protect whale, these wonderful animals would disappear forever.
After you listen
Work in groups. Talk about whales, using the following cues.
+ their length and weight
+ their feeding grounds and food
+ the reasons for protecting whales