Study Buddy (Explorer): Perfect job? Panda keeper chased, bitten by boisterous bears
- Panda keeping is seen as a very desirable job, hundreds of CVs are submitted each year
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
The latest case of a carer chased and bitten by two pandas spotlights that the coveted job demands more than just feeding and playing. Photo: DouyinContent provided by British Council
Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below:
[1] A panda keeper in China has been chased and tackled by two of the bears in her care. The incident offered a stark reminder that the perfect job working with the happy-go-lucky creatures also has challenges.
[2] Twin pandas, Yu Ke and Yu Ai, are kept at Chongqing Zoo in southwestern China. On April 23, a female keeper was leading the playful pair to a feeding area when they chased her and knocked her over. She managed to escape with the help of colleagues. Neither the woman nor the pandas were injured.
[3] Despite their loveable demeanour, giant pandas are carnivores by nature. They have evolved into omnivores to adapt to their environment. Because bamboo is so widely available in China and is high in protein, like meat, it has become a favourite food for pandas. An adult giant panda can reach a length of 1.8m and weigh up to 150kg, and the force of their bite makes them formidable predators.
[4] According to China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration, only 728 pandas currently live in captivity around the world, most in China. About 1,900 live in the wild. This scarcity made panda keeping one of the most coveted jobs in China, offering a unique opportunity to interact with these fascinating creatures.
[5] A facility in Jiangsu province in eastern China recruits keepers of giant pandas. Hundreds of resumes are submitted yearly, but the acceptance rate is zero, according to the Modern Express. This is because the job has very high benchmarks.
[6] Qualifications include a college degree or above, with a related major such as zoology, veterinary science or animal husbandry. The average monthly salary is 6,000 yuan (HK$6,476) and keepers are expected to work on public holidays.
[7] There are also height and physical fitness requirements. Men must be at least 165cm tall, and women at least 158cm. “You have to take care of the pandas’ food and drink, and its waste. A single panda can produce as much as 15kg of faeces per day,” one panda keeper said.
[8] Ma Tao, a keeper of giant pandas at Beijing Zoo, with more than three decades of experience, said the job requires boldness and meticulousness. “You interact with the animals, allowing them to get familiar with you, and you also gradually become familiar with them. From their reactions, you can sense their state of mind – fear, alertness, or relaxation. You must read their body language,” Ma told the Shanghai Morning Post.
Source: South China Morning Post, May 12
Questions
1. What do the “happy-go-lucky creatures” in paragraph 1 refer to?
___________________________________________________
2. According to paragraph 2, … was injured.
A. Yu Ke
B. Yu Ai
C. the panda keeper
D. no one
3. Find a word in paragraph 3 that refers to “an animal that eats both plants and meat”.
___________________________________________________
4. How is bamboo similar to meat, according to paragraph 3?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to paragraph 4, why do many people want to become panda keepers?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Decide whether the following statements based on paragraphs 6 and 7 are True, False or the Information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) Anyone with a basic college degree can become a panda keeper.
(ii) Pandas eat more than 15kg of bamboo every day.
(iii) Panda keepers earn more than 60,000 yuan every month.
(iv) Female panda keepers need to be above 150cm.
7. According to paragraph 7, what are the keepers in charge of?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. In paragraph 8, how many years of experience does Ma Tao have working with giant
pandas?
A. about three years
B. less than 10 years
C. more than 20 years
D. close to 60 years
9. What can panda keepers learn from the pandas’ reactions according to paragraph 8?
A. their favourite food
B. how they feel
C. their sleeping habits
D. information not given
Answers
1. pandas
2. D
3. omnivore
4. They are both high in protein.
5. because they want to play with the animals (accept all similar answers)
6. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) F; (iv) T
7. They have to take care of the pandas’ food and drink, and their waste.
8. C
9. B