★☆☆Now on the iPad: Apps for Orangutans

Read and understand the article. If you may have any difficult words to pronounce and words you cannot understand, always ask your teacher.

*Teachers will divide the article into 2-3 paragraphs to help you understand and check the pronunciation of the difficult words.

Vocabulary

*Read the words carefully.

1. captive /ˈkaptiv/ (adj.) a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined
2. awareness /əˈwe(ə)rnis/ (n.) information, understanding, or skill that you get from experience or education
3. touchscreen /təCH skrēn/ (n.) a type of screen on a computer which shows options that you can choose by touching the screen
4. enclosure /enˈklōZHər/ (n.) an area that is sealed off with an artificial or natural barrier
5. mellow /ˈmelō/ (vb.) to become or to cause someone or something to become less harsh, irritating, nervous, etc.

Article

Now on the iPad: Apps for Orangutans

* Read the text below

MP3 Download (right-click or option-click and save)

(1) Humans are not the only ones who like to use tablet computers. The nonprofit organization Orangutan Outreach has started a program called Apps for Apes using Apple’s iPad. Orangutan Outreach was started by Richard Zimmerman and is based in New York City. He began the organization six years ago with the goal of protecting orangutans in the wild.

(2) The organization started Apps for Apes one year ago. The program introduces the Apple iPad to orangutans in zoos. Apps for Apes has three goals. The first goal is to provide interesting activities for captive orangutans. The second goal is to raise awareness among zoo visitors about how smart these animals are. The third goal is to urge people to visit Orangutan Outreach’s website, redapes.org, to learn how they can help protect orangutans in the wild.

(3) Orangutan Outreach says the iPad is a perfect device for the animal because of the touchscreen technology. With some assistance, the orangutans are able to use different apps to listen to music, play games and do other activities.

(4) Mr. Zimmerman describes what has been reported by zoos on the reaction of the apes to seeing and using the tablets.

(5) “The young orangutans are very curious, and they go to it immediately. The females seem to be the quickest learners. Some of the big males, they’re not scared, but they’re curious as to what this strange thing is. And they spend a little time watching it from a distance.”

(6) Mr. Zimmerman says the program could affect the behavior of orangutans, but it is too early to know. However, he tells us about one male orangutan at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, zoo named Tommy.

(7) “First he didn’t want anything to do with it. But he would watch from the back of his enclosure as the zoo keepers worked with the other orangutans. He would gradually move closer. In general, Tommy is a very shy orangutan. But since the iPad has been introduced, his behavior has mellowed in a way and he has gotten more accustomed to being near people. And he now actually likes the iPad, and he likes to use it. So there’s been a change in his actual personality, and we think it’s due to the iPad use.”

(8) The program was first launched at the Milwaukee County Zoo. It has expanded to more than 10 other zoos as well as a rescue center for apes in the United States and Canada, and is growing worldwide.

Discussion

*Let’s talk about the article base on the questions below

1. What is your opinion about this article? Is it practical or not? Why do you say so?
2. Do you like animals? What is your favorite animal and why?
3. Do you have a smartphone or iPad? What do you use your gadgets for? For you, is it good or bad for people? Please support your answer.

 

English Compositions

*Let’s make English compositions using the words from the article.

(1) captive

EX) The first goal is to provide interesting activities for captive orangutans.

(2) mellow

EX) But since the iPad has been introduced, his behavior has mellowed in a way and he has gotten more accustomed to being near people.