Do our pets care about us? – 6 Minute English reviews
Improve your English vocabulary and listening in just six minutes! We love and care for our pets. But do they care about us in return? Do they know when their human owners feel afraid or in danger. Do animals know, or care, about human feelings? Neil and Sam talk about cats and dogs and teach you related vocabulary.
This week’s question:
‘Lassie’ wasn’t the only TV show to feature a boy and his pet companion. A similar show, Skippy, was set in Australia – but what type of animal was the star?
a) a rabbit
b) a frog
c) a kangaroo
Watch the video to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
domesticated
describes animals which are under human control and live closely with people, for example pets, working animals and farm animals
anthropomorphize
treat an animal as if it were human in appearance or behaviour
feign
pretend to have a particular problem or emotion
agony
extreme physical pain
distress
strong feeling of worry, sadness or pain
grooming
the way some animals clean themselves using their tongue or paws
[Cover: Getty Images]
You can download transcript and audio on our website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2022/ep-220210
More 6 Minute English episodes:
Sleepy in South Korea
Personalised diets
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Why we forget the things we learn
Should fast food sponsor sport?
#learnenglish #pets #6minuteenglish
Sueli Ishiyama –
Having pets are amazing and enjoyable. I love when they do " puppy dog eyes". :))
Finnegan2020 –
GREGARIOUS ANIMALS – animals that live in a group
SAVING MANGO – A CAT’S STORY –
The official trailer for a new independent drama film with a charming cat!
Farid Ahmadzai –
How I can to find subtitle of this part
Fletcher Riverwood –
5 years ago my mom got ill by eaten several not riped persimmon before went to sleep, then the next day she feels terrible and vomiting, one of my cat actually went behind her and checked up on her when she was vomiting, cats just like dogs, they do care
My Hieu –
Vocabulary
domesticated
describes animals which are under human control and live closely with people, for example pets, working animals and farm animals
anthropomorphize
treat an animal as if it were human in appearance or behaviour
feign
pretend to have a particular problem or emotion
agony
extreme physical pain
distress
strong feeling of worry, sadness or pain
grooming
the way some animals clean themselves using their tongue or paws
Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.
Neil
And I’m Neil. Sam, do you remember an old children’s television show called, ‘Lassie’?
Sam
Yes, I grew up watching the adventures of schoolboy, Timmy, and his pet dog, a collie named Lassie. Whenever Timmy got lost or into trouble, Lassie sensed danger and came to the rescue.
Neil
If you believe shows like ‘Lassie’, pets know when their human owners feel afraid or in danger. But in real life do animals know, or care, about human feelings?
Sam
Now, Neil, obviously we’re not talking about wild animals, right?
Neil
We’re talking about domesticated animals – types of animals which are under human control and have been living closely with people for centuries. They include pets, like cats and dogs, working animals and farm animals, like cows and sheep.
Sam
So, what about dogs like our friend, Lassie? Do you think they can sense human feelings?
Neil
It’s hard to know what’s really going on behind a dog’s big, brown eyes. Unlike humans, pets can’t talk to say how they’re feeling, and this makes it easy for us to misunderstand them. People often anthropomorphize their pets – treat them as if they were human by giving them human characteristics.
Sam
In cartoons, Micky Mouse can talk and Donald Duck dances and sings, but we know mice and ducks don’t really do that in nature.
Neil
Exactly. But recently, new research has suggested that sometimes pets do respond to their owner’s feelings.
Sam
OK. Well, before we find out more, I have a quiz question for you, Neil. ‘Lassie’ wasn’t the only TV show to feature a boy and his pet companion. A similar show, Skippy, was set in Australia – but what type of animal was the star? Was Skippy:
a) a rabbit?
b) a frog? or
c) a kangaroo?
Neil
Well, if Skippy was Australian, I’ll guess he’s c) a kangaroo.
Sam
OK, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Now, Neil, earlier you mentioned that because animals can’t speak, it’s difficult
===Transcript here is convenient for me to look at the script while listening on my phone. 😀
Blue could Bright could –
Nice but I need group to practice English with native speaker……
Πετρος Νικου –
Wagging Walkathon placard dustbin outdoors shoulder to shoulder
Indeependennt Whole –
I think Nature contains AL the real aspects of life concern not only flora n fauna but the cosmic life entire, in the infinitely unknown tapestry of its own, in which Harmony is the Commander ~ in ~ Chief that reveals itself unprecedentedly flashing in some rare hour followed by prolonged wait, rather rigourously activating awaiting to perceiving its lovely dream, in a promiscuous way ??!!!!! ! By the way, can't I know where was this marvellous snap taken from, Delhi or else, India – in – general ??? I think I saw this girl in some Delhi neighborhood, some backyard neighborhood, or may be, some other one from the same community, which looks just alike, I'm s – o confused !! However, look forward to savouring more heart warming pics real & transgraced like this… ❤️
Learn Vietnamese with Xuân –
I know in Europe people like dogs and cats, because their dogs are intelligent. But in vietnam dogs are stupid, they do many stupid things make us mad, that's why we don't like dog
Khurshid Alam –
lplll
T.t lifeguard –
It's so good. One request can you mark a special words
T.t lifeguard –
Thank you guys
Francisco José –
Bbc english one big channel congratulation
He Sanaz –
A kangaroo
Lessons in 30s –
My old teacher once told our class that our dogs incapable of loving us and everyone got salty.
Thiago Rodrigues –
Hi Sam and Neil!
It was good to remember the word agony.
"Do you kno what drives in agony? To see children on the streets begging for money or food. Unfortunately it's on the rise here on my country since the pandemic came about".
Thank you!!!
Thuỳ Trang –
VOCABULARY
1. Companion : someone you spend a lot of time with, especially a friend
2. Rescue sb/st from sb/st : to save someone or something from a situation of danger or harm
3. Lassie : a dog who was the main character in seven films
4. Anthrozoologist = the scientific study of people, their societies,
5. Squealing with/in : to make a long loud high sound or cry → scream
6. Pretended : something that is pretended appears to be real but is not
7. To give a yawn : to open your mouth wide and breathe in deeply because you are tired or bored
8. Be descended from = come to : to be related to a person or group who lived a long time ago
9. Breeds of wolves : if a place, situation, or thing breeds a particular type of person, it produces that type
10. To get a sniff of fresh air" = sniff at : to breathe air into your nose noisily, for example when you are crying or have a cold
11. Solitary = single : used to emphasize that there is only one of something
12. Domesticated : describes animals which are under human control and live closely with people, for example pets, working animals and farm animals
13. Anthropomorphize : treat an animal as if it were human in appearance or behaviour
14. Feign : pretend to have a particular problem or emotion
15. Agony : extreme physical pain
16. Distress : strong feeling of worry, sadness or pain
17. Grooming : the way some animals clean themselves using their tongue or paws
I was born and raised in VIET NAM. I hope that ALL THE BEST FOR YOU ^^
Amina Naili –
Nice and interesting topic. I also remember Flipper the dolphin and Clarence the lion..
Sharp Green –
😂😘😘🐶🐶😺😸😹😻😼😽🐺
Eddie Walpole –
Unfortunately pets are not allowed in most of the rental properties in the UK.
Willian Barreiro –
I love my pets, they always take care me
Sergio –
Of course they do. They can also scent fear.
Света Редина –
Thanks. Have a good day
Tuhin ahmmed –
Nice arrangements and fantastic presentation 🙂
Forbidden scary tormenting knowledge –
Thanks a lot💚💚💚 british accent is so astonishing
FA_pro –
Yay! another bbc!
Francisco José –
Congratulation bbc
sercan kurt –
There are many unnecessary words. I have to pause the video and note these in every sentence. It's frustrating.