Learn English with BBC Podcasts

• ☐ ☐ ☐ in the mood for [exp] - ready for
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an animal sanctuary [n] - a safe place where animals are protected and cared for
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an antidote [n] - a cure
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a venue [n] - a place where an event happens
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an ex [n] - an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend (or ex-wife or ex-husband)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a bird of prey [n] - a bird that hunts and eats other animals, like an owl or hawk
• ☐ ☐ ☐ seething [v] - feeling extremely angry
• ☐ ☐ ☐ get back at [phv] - get revenge
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a former flame [exp] - an ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend
• ☐ ☐ ☐ at hand [exp] - available
• ☐ ☐ ☐ doing your bit [exp] - contributing in a small way to a larger cause
• ☐ ☐ ☐ conservation [n] - protecting nature, animals, or the environment
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a bird breeder [n] - someone who raises birds
• ☐ ☐ ☐ name (s/t) after (s/o) [phv] - give (something) the same name as (someone)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ feed [v] - give food to
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a northern spotted owl [n] - a type of large bird [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a pest [n] - an animal or insect that is considered annoying or harmful
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a raptor [n] - a bird of prey
• ☐ ☐ ☐ scoff down [phv] - eat something quickly
• ☐ ☐ ☐ matters of the heart [exp] - issues related to love
• ☐ ☐ ☐ swoop in [phv] - arrive quickly (by flying)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a hoot [n] - something funny or entertaining
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a hoot [n] - the sound an owl makes

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

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1. The "No RegRATS" campaign allows people to name a rat after an ex and feed it to an owl.
   True
   False
   
   
2. The campaign is being run by an animal sanctuary in the United States.
   True
   False
   
   
3. Participants receive a video of the owl eating the rat as part of the campaign.
   True
   False
   
   
4. The money raised from the campaign goes toward protecting the northern spotted owl.
   True
   False
   
   
5. Everyone on social media supported the campaign and found it funny.
   True
   False
   
   
6. Some critics believe the campaign promotes negative views of owls.
   True
   False
   
   

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Directions: What expressions from the video have the same meaning as the highlighted expressions in the sentences below?

1. Some animal sanctuaries are offering the perfect [ relief, remedy ].

   [ antidote ]

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2. But if you're single or [ very angry ] and...

   [ seething ]

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3. But if you would prefer [ getting revenge on ] your former [ boyfriend/girlfriend ], help is [ available ].

   [ getting back at ] [ flame ] [ at hand ]

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4. The venue in British Columbia is promising a photo showing your newly named [ vermin ] being [ eaten quickly ].

   [ pest ] [ scoffed down ]

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5. But, as is often the case with [ romantic affairs ], not everyone is happy.

   [ matters of the heart ]

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6. After putting the rat vs. raptor campaign up on social media, the critics [ attacked quickly ].

   [ swooped in ]

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7. For the record, others did think the owl idea [ funny ].

   [ a hoot ]

   Show Hide
   
   

Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order.
( ) = optional   [ ] = necessary

Instrucciones: Escriba oraciones sobre el videoclip usando las palabras dadas. Puede cambiar la forma de la palabra o agregar palabras, pero no puede cambiar el orden de las palabras.

Instruções:: Escreva orações sobre o videoclipe usando as palavras-chave. Você pode alterar a forma da palavra ou adicionar palavras, mas não pode alterar a ordem das palavras.

지시 : 주어진 단어를 사용하여 비디오 클립에 대한 문장을 씁니다. 어형을 변경하거나 단어를 추가할 수 있지만 어순은 변경할 수 없습니다.

this / campaign / give / people / chance / name / rat / their / ex / and / feed / it / bird / prey

This campaign gives people [a/the] chance to name a rat after their ex and feed it to a bird of prey.

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campaign / be / mean / offer / humor / way / get / back / former / flame

The campaign [is/was] meant to offer a humorous way to get back at a former flame.

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for / five / dollar / fee / participant / can / give / their / rat / name / and / receive / photo / owl / eat / it

For a five-dollar fee, participants can give their rat a name and receive a photo of an owl eating it.

Show Hide

for / five / dollar / participant / can / give / their / rat / name / and / receive / photo / owl / eat / it

For five dollars, participants can give their rat a name and receive a photo of an owl eating it.

Show Hide

money / raise / by / campaign / go / toward / protect / north / spot / owl

(The) Money (that is) raised by the campaign goes toward protecting the northern spotted owl.
(The) Money (that is) raised by the campaign goes toward protecting northern spotted owls.

Show Hide

while / some / people / find / idea / amuse / other / claim / it / portray / rat / unfair

While some people [found/find] the idea amusing, others [claimed/claim] (that) it portrays rats unfairly.

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1. What name of an ex first popped into your head as you were listening to this? Why? Be honest!
2. What do you think of the "No RegRATS" campaign? Does it go too far? Is it funny? Explain your opinion.
3. The money from this campaign goes toward conservation efforts. Do you think it is effective for raising money?
4. Do you think women or men would be more interested using this campaign? Why?
5. Valentine’s Day is often seen as a day of love and romance. Do you like anti-Valentine’s events like this one? Why or why not?
6. What is the best way to celebrate Valentine's Day if you are single?
7. This news story has several animal puns (jokes based on a word having two meanings). Read the script. Can you find three puns?