[CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT ★]
JUSTIN BIEBER URGED NOT TO GET ANOTHER MONKEY
(P1) Grammy Award-winning singer Justin Bieber has been told by the North American Primate SANCTUARY ALLIANCE (NAPSA) that he would be “IRRESPONSIBLE” to get another monkey as a pet.
(P2) The singer previously had a CAPUCHIN MONKEY, OG Mally, as his pet, but the animal was taken from him by officials when he travelled to Germany in March 2013, and put into QUARANTINE because Bieber did not have the proper DOCUMENTS to own a monkey in that country.
(P3) Now, NAPSA has issued a statement urging Bieber, 21, to turn his attention to a different pet as he cannot provide the correct care a monkey needs to live.
(P4) “Please do not repeat this foolish ENDEAVOR. It is simply not possible to fulfil the unique needs of your monkey within a private home… It will prove dangerous to both you and your monkey, as well as irresponsible,” read the statement.
(P5) Recalling what happened when OG Mally was SEIZED from him, Bieber said: “Everyone told me not to bring the monkey. Everybody told me not to bring the monkey. I was like, ‘It’s going to be fine, guys!’ It was the farthest thing from fine.”
(P6) Bieber was given until May 7, 2013 to produce the proper papers for his monkey, but after he failed to respond, German officials demanded $8,000 to cover the cost of RELOCATING OG Mally to a zoo, and the animal now lives at the Serengeti Park in Copenhagen.
(P7) Responding to the question of whether he’d ever get another monkey, Bieber had this to say:
(P8) “Yes, one day. I just have to make sure I keep it in my house. I’m certainly not going to travel with the monkey anymore. People are always saying, ‘Why did you get a monkey?’ If you could get a monkey, well, you would get a monkey, too! Monkeys are awesome.”
WORDS: 312
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
If you found the passage difficult to read or had problems understanding specific words or idiomatic expressions, please discuss them with your tutor. The following discussion questions should be answered in your own words and with your own arguments.
- Briefly summarize the content of the article in your own words.
- Michael Jackson used to appear in public with a CHIMPANZEE, and George Clooney owned a pig. Why do stars like EXOTIC PETS?
- If you could own an unusual pet, what kind would you choose?
- If it is legal for Justin Bieber to own a monkey in the U.S., is there any problem with it?
- Monkeys are very smart, but hard to TRAIN compared to dogs. Why are dogs easier to train and to own?
EXPRESSIONS TO PRACTICE:
What do the following expressions mean? Practice using each expression in a sentence; extra points if you can use it in conversation.
- Capuchin monkey
- Exotic pet
