Whale stranded

CLASSIFICATION : PAU
TOPIC : Bidding for the watering can used on Thames whale
ACTIVITY TYPE : PRACTICE ACTIVITY
LEVEL : 4

The watering can used to keep the Thames whale hydrated on its unsuccessful trip back to sea is being auctiones on Internet site Ebay for thousands of pounds. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue Association (BDMLR), which was left with a heavy parking fine after its rescue attempt on Saturday, said it was hoping to raise money for its work. Alan Knight, a spokesman for the voluntary rescue charity, said that the can would be signed by all the people who tried to rescue the whale, which became stranded in London at the weekend.
Bidding for the can, which belonged to Faye Archell, a marine medic, had reached more than 6,000 pounds on the online auction site by last night. However, the auction still has eight days to run. Mr. Knight had said previously that he hoped it would raise 1,000 pounds to cover the fines.
A spokesman for Westminster council said yesterday that ot had decided to waive any parking charges incurred by the group, even though any traffic warden would have acted legitimately in issuing the ticket.
The story of the Thames whale gripped the nation over the weekend. Thousands of people watched the attempted resue of the 19ft female bottlenosed whale on television and from bridges on the Thames. Thames Whale magnets, commemorative T-shirts and even a cross-stitch kit have also been put up for sale on Ebay.
Yesterday it emerged that the bones of the whale would be given to the National History Museum after a postmortem. Results of the examination are expected tomorrow.

Question 1. Indicate whether these statements are true or false. Justify your answers with evidence from the text.
a. The whale was left on the Thames and then managed to go back to sea.
b. Only the members of the BDMLR will write their names on the can being auctioned.
c. The BDMLR won´t have to pay the fine.
d. The can is the only item related to the whale that you can buy on Ebay.
Question 2. Answer these questions in your own words.
a. What kind of whale was it and why was it in London?
b. What is going to happen to the whale now?
Question 3. Find a word or phrase in the text which means the same as
a. money you have to pay for breaking the law. (par 1)
b. left somewhere unable to go anywhere else. (par 1)
c. to keep someone very interested. (par 4)
Question 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning.
a. The rescue team parked their vehicle illegally. They got a parking fine.
If the rescue team had .........................................................................
b. Mr. Knight had said that he hoped it would raise 1,000 pounds.
Mr. Knight had said “ .........................................................................”
c. The bones of the whale would be given tho the NHM after a postmortem.
They ..................................................................................................
Question 5. Write a short essay (about 100 words) on the following topic
What do you think about the charities that protect animals?

Self-Access Group. Ciefp Santander 2005/6


KEY

Question 1.
a. False. “….the Thames whale on its unsuccessful trip back to sea.” “ ..the whale, which became stranded in London.”
b. False. “ ... the can would be signed by all the people who tried to rescue the whale.
c. True. “ A sokesman for Westminster council said yesterday that it had decided to waive any parking charges incurred by the group”
d. False.” Thames Whale magnets, commemorative T-shirts and even a cross-stitch kit have also been pu up for sale on Ebay.”

Question 2.
a. It was a female bottlenosed whale which was 19 feet long and it was in London because it had been left in the river Thames and couldn´t go back to sea.
b. Its body is going to be examined to find out why it died and then its bones will be donated to the National History Museum.

Question 3.
a. fine
b. stranded
c. to grip/ gripped

Question 4.
a. If the rescue team had not parked their vehicle illegally, they wouldn´t have got a parking fine.
b. Mr. Knight had said “ I hope it will raise 1,000 pounds.”
c. They would give the bones to the NHM.