English conversation lessons based on short newspaper items.

This column is for self-study or classroom use and gives guided help with reading the wide variety of writing styles and topics that appear as feature articles in the Bangkok Post. The lessons include background information, skill-building practice and vocabulary explanations.

January 27, 2004

Fishy questions

INTRODUCTION

The story, Saving Nemo in feature focus here in learning post was published in Outlook with two short related stories. Those are here for you to have some fun with today.

Reading the lesson and the story on page 5 will give you a better chance of getting the right answers in the activities below. You will also gain even more knowledge about the cute, colourful clown fish.

Teachers: There are two texts for the students to work with today. The first, The remarkable anemone fish, is a collection of interesting information about the fish. The second is a list of tips for those who would like to have anemone fish as pets.

Have half of your students read each text. Then have them work in small groups together with those who have read the same text. In their groups, students should write 5-8 true/false questions. As they are working, you can monitor their progress and answer any vocabulary, content or grammar questions.

When the questions are completed, pair the small groups so that students can ask each other their T/F questions. You can have them do this as a written or spoken activity. There should not be any pressure, prizes or competition because students will only be guessing. Make this a fun activity.

Students: Here’s what to do: Your teacher will give you a short text about clown fish – like Nemo – to read. Then work with a small group of your classmates to write 5-8 true/false questions based on your text.

When you’ve finished, you’ll have a chance to guess the answers to questions based on a different text and ask your questions too. Have fun.

OUR STORY FROM THE BANGKOK POST

The remarkable anemone fish

Anemone fish and anemone are just like butterflies and flowers: They depend on each other for survival. Certain kinds of anemone fish live with specific species of anemone.

Anemone fish add colour to the sea and make for charming decorations in aquariums around the world, which is why they fall prey to human hunters.

Generally, anemone fish live in pairs. Females are larger than males, and their duty is to protect their territory from invaders.

If the leaders die, young fish of any gender will grow fast to replace them. With the ability to change genders, a male can turn into the female and thus protect the family.

Fish that come from the sea need to lay their eggs on anemone inside the tank. Once they produce offspring, their descendants need not lay their eggs in the anemone because they can adjust themselves to the new environment. They can lay their eggs on stone and abalone shells placed in the tank.

Each species has its own distinct colours and shapes. Normally, they share the same four basic hues: orange, red, black and yellow. These tones are interrupted with one to three white wide bands running across the body. Although belonging to the same species, most anemone fish carry slightly different tinges, depending on their various habitats. Each anemone fish can recognise its mate very well through minor differences.

In total, there are 28 species of anemone fish worldwide. Thailand is home to seven kinds of anemone fish, five of them living in the Andaman Sea while the rest are found abundantly in the Gulf of Thailand.

Tips for those who want to keep anemone fish as pets

Buy anemone fish only from breeding centres as those captured in the wild are vulnerable in new environments and not likely to survive.

Glass or plastic aquarium tanks are suitable for keeping them. The size of the tank depends on the population of the marine animals, their size and species.

Provided sufficient oxygen. This helps to keep the whole environment in balance.

Sand, pebbles and stones can be used as water filters, or refiners.

Two types of water _ natural seawater and artificial seawater (a combination of water and artificial salt) _ are appropriate for their well being. Natural seawater must be refined first and left until it becomes clear, or pasteurised with chlorine and left to sit for awhile.

Water with sand, stones and pebbles as refiners should be changed every one to two weeks. Water with a modern filter that provides ozone and UV light is good for about a month.

Food includes fish meat, shrimp, Artemia (a species of plankton living in the sea) and ready-made food. Don't feed them too much (about two times a day); leftover food can pollute the water.

Anemone is protected wildlife and is thus illegal to keep it. Instead, stone and abalone shells can be used as egg-laying grounds for the fish.

• This lesson was prepared by Maureen Paetkau, a professional teacher of English as a second and foreign language and Assistant Manager and Webmaster for Learning Post at the Bangkok Post.

Read our other instant lesson here.

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