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Some people love it; others think it is barbarous. Hunting, (that is hunting wild animals with dogs and horses) is an old sport. But most people in Britain believe that hunting should be stopped; Tony Blair's government plans to ban it: On the other side, supporters of hunting are determined to keep their tradition. Horiz-on-line looks at this controversial subject. |
| WHAT
IS "A HUNT"?
A hunt lasts
for most of the day. Between 10 a.m. and midday, the hunters assemble at
a given place, with their horses. When everyone is ready, they ride off,
behind the "hounds".
Sometimes they lose the smell; at other times they find the animal. A fox often goes into its hole. If it does, the hunters send in small dogs, terriers, to bring it out. When it comes out, the hounds attack it, and tear it to pieces. WHO ARE THE HUNTERS ?
There are now about 200 packs of hounds in Britain, and about 50,000 people "follow the hounds" at least once a year. People think that hunting is an "upper class" sport. True, it used to be an aristocratic sport; but today you will find all sorts of people following the hounds. It is popular with farmers and country people. Photos Linguapress |
AGAINST HUNTING Other people think that hunting is a barbarous sport. "Killing animals for pleasure," they say, "is not a civilized sport". People who are anti-hunt say that hunting is quite unnecessary. Foxes in Britain do not have "rabies", and there are not too many of them. "If there are too many, then they should be killed with a gun, or with poison", say the opponents of hunting. In fact, sometimes hunters breed foxes, so that they have some animals to hunt! Sometimes protesters try to stop hunts. They put artificial smells on the ground, to confuse the hounds. SLOWLY CHANGING Hunting is slowly changing. Some old forms of hunting, such as otter-hunting, are now banned. There are now new restrictions on deer-hunting. Some people say "Why not follow an artificial smell?" People on horses could start an hour before the hunt, and pull a strong smell across the country. Keen
hunters laugh at this idea. They want real hunting.
artificial: synthetic,
not real - controversial: a subject of discord - deer
wild animal as big as a pony - hound: hunting dog - keen:
passionate - last: continue - opponent: enemy
- otter: an animal that lives in rivers - pack:
group - poison: food that kills - rabies: a
fatal disease, sickness - smell: odour - to ban:
to forbid -
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| TO HUNT OR NOT TO
HUNT
Replace the missing prepositions in this extract from the text:
Hunting (gets / is getting) more and more popular. Many hunters (go / are going / do go), because they like (ride / riding) horses across the country. Some hope that they (do / will) not (catching / catch) an animal. There (is / are) now about 200 packs of hounds in Britain, and about 50,000 people "(follow / are following) the hounds" at least once a year. People (are thinking / think) that hunting (to be / is) an "upper class" sport. True, it used (being / to be) an aristocratic sport; but today you (will / do) find all sorts of people (to follow / follow following) the hounds. © linguapress.com |
TO HUNT OR NOT TO
HUNT
Viewpoints: After you have read this article, express your opinions, using the prompts given: Hunting is ...... Hunters should .... Foxes.... Animals ..... I think that .... © linguapress.com
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Hunting
is getting more and more popular. Many hunters go, because they like riding
horses across the country. Some hope that they will not catch an animal.
But others want to catch a fox, or a deer.