What it was.

Where you saw it.

What it did.

And why you think it was interesting.

(What it was)

I’m going to talk about an occasion on which I got to see elephants. I have had the chance to see a lot of animals with my naked eyes(bằng mắt thường), but the most intriguing(thú vị) one for me are intelligent elephants. Elephants are mammals as well as herbivores (động vật ăn cỏ), meaning they only eat plants rather than meat. Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, and they're one of the most unique-looking(có vẻ ngoài độc đáo) animals, too. With their characteristic long noses, or trunks; large, floppy ears; and wide, thick legs, there is no other animal with a similar physique(vóc dáng, thể chất).

(Where you saw it)

It was last summer when my whole family had a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, and we decided to visit the city’s renowned(nổi tiếng) zoo, Thao Cam Vien. It was ranked eighth among the oldest zoos in the world. Up to now, it is 132 years old. It is the house to rare orchids, ornamental(dùng để trang trí) plants and hundreds of species of mammals, reptiles(bò sát) and birds. The main aim of Thao Cam Vien is to conserve(bảo tồn) animals and plants, especially endangered(bị đe dọa) species and educate the public. One way to protect these species is using breeding programs.

(What it did)

I got the chance to see a group of elephants swimming, which is quite unexpected for me as I didn’t know that they have this ability. Elephants move all four legs to swim and are able to move quite fast. Their big bodies provide enough flotation(nổi trên mặt nước) while the trunk acts like a snorkel(ống thở). From my  observation, baby elephants especially enjoy playing in water often try to climb on the backs of older and bigger elephants and then splash back into the water. Calves (các voi con) will suck water into their trunks and spray each other playfully.

(And why you think it was interesting)

Elephants feature many characteristics that are similar to humans. Apart from their gigantic(to lớn, đồ sộ) bodies, they also boast extraordinary memories. Besides, they are recognized as being among the most intelligent creatures on earth.Elephants are capable of a range of emotions, including joy, playfulness, grief(nỗi buồn) and mourning. In addition, elephants are able to learn new facts and behaviours, mimic(bắt chước) sounds that they hear, self-medicate, play with a sense of humour, perform artistic activities, use tools and display compassion (lòng trắc ẩn) and self-awareness.

Vocabulary from Environment:

endangered species

Meaning: categories of animals or plants that are in danger of becoming extinct

Example: Many tourists expressed their concern about the increasing rate of endangered species in this zoo.

Other vocabulary:

with one’s naked eyes [expression]: without using any special device for making images larger: bằng mắt thường

Eg: We live miles away, but on a clear night, you can see the city skyscrapers with the naked eye.

herbivores [n]: an animal that eats only plants: động vật ăn cỏ

Eg: Cows and sheep are herbivores.

physique [n]: the form, size, and development of a person's body: vóc dáng, thể chất

Eg: By 1540, Henry had become fat and he had lost the muscular physique he had when he was younger.

ornamental [adj]: beautiful rather than useful: dùng để trang trí

Eg: The handles on each side of the box are purely ornamental

conserve [v]: protect (something, especially an environmentally or culturally important place or thing) from harm or destruction: bảo tồn

Eg: As a result, their main impulse is to conserve wilderness from destruction by humans.

snorkel[n]: a short curved tube for a swimmer to breathe through while keeping the face under water.: ống thở

Eg: But yesterday he donned his snorkel and flippers to defend his title as World Champion Bog Snorkeller.

gigantic [adj]: of very great size or extent; huge or enormous.: to lớn, đồ sộ

Eg: The hunt for a house has been a gigantic part of my life for the last year so I'm bound to feel as if there's something missing.

grief [v]: deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone's death.: nỗi buồn

Eg: Grief over a traumatic death does not follow an accepted timeline.

mimic [v]: imitate (someone or their actions or words), typically in order to entertain or ridicule.: bắt chước

Eg: I've just mimicked him all my life, so he was a herpetologist, one who studies reptiles

compassion [n]: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.: lòng trắc ẩn

Eg: After supping her fill of horrors, her capacity to feel compassion was deeply affected.