F2F Class Notes 7th February (Celeste)

Demo StudentChuyi

Vocabulary

pelvic effusion 

reproductive system – system of organs that create babies

Cats are just as clever as dogs, says study

For whatever reason, people assume dogs are more intelligent creatures than cats. This notion has been called into question by scientists in Japan, who have said that cats are as smart as dogs at certain memory tests. Cat lovers, of course, have always known this. Researchers at Kyoto University conducted tests on how well 49 cats could recall or relate to an event from the past – known as an episodic memory. The Japanese team got the felines to eat from one of two bowls. Fifteen minutes later, the cats were tested on their ability to remember which bowl they had eaten from and which remained untouched. The team found the cats could recall what they ate and where, suggesting they had episodic memory.

The scientists also said that cats were as good as dogs on a whole variety of mental tests, including responding to the gestures, facial expressions and emotions of humans. Researcher Saho Takagi told reporters that she believed cats think about past events similar to the way humans do. She said: ” An interesting speculation is that they may enjoy actively recalling memories of their experience, like humans.” She added: “Episodic memory is viewed as being related to an introspective function of the mind. Our study may imply a type of consciousness in cats.” Ms Takagi said the research is good news for pet owners, saying: “Understanding cats more deeply helps to establish better cat-human relationships.”

hypothesis n. – what you think will happen, guess

hypothesize – verb

eg. I hypothesize the next day will ne colder.

consciousness n. – the state of being conscious, being aware of one’s own thoughts

Animal rights pressure group buys LV shares

The animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased shares in the French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought the shares in order to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made from exotic animal skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just a single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise its option to question the LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and addressed.

The main reason for PETA’s share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding the treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: “In the wake of an exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to a tannery owned by Louis Vuitton’s parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes hacked into while they’re still alive and thrashing, PETA has become a shareholder of LVMH…to put pressure on the company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise.” An LVMH spokeswoman replied: “We have no knowledge of … any cruel method involving the suffering of the animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules.”

exotic adj – wild, strange, different, non-native, foreign

rumor = gossip

addressed v. – to be heard, acknowledged, responded to

exposé n. – a public exposure or revelation, as of something discreditable

tannery n. -place where animals skins are tanned

confined adj. – limited or restricted

pit n.- big hole

hack v. – to hit or cut hard into sth

Pronunciation

ol – bowl, hold, sold, gold, told 

felines ( fee – lines )