- In Beziers, a southern French town, pet owners need to get their canines’ DNA tested under new rules to tackle faeces-strewn pavements
- Practise your English with our short listening exercises: play the audio linked below; answer the questions; and check the answers at the bottom of the page
When dog owners leave their pets’ poop on the streets, it becomes a nuisance for pedestrians and street cleaners. Photo: ShutterstockQuestions
1. Which word can replace “scourge” in the podcast?
A. miracle
B. blessing
C. epidemic
D. necessity
2. How do street cleaners identify the owners of dog droppings?
A. by interviewing witnesses
B. by checking surveillance footage
C. by scanning microchips in the droppings
D. by using DNA testing on the droppings
3. Which word in the podcast means “celebrated”?
A. renowned
B. infamous
C. unknown
D. disreputable
4. What is the penalty for dog owners who fail to clean up after their animals?
A. HK$319 fine
B. HK$1,008 cleaning fee
C. HK$671,000 compensation
D. information not given
5. Complete the following sentence using information from the podcast.
An additional (i) ________ that dog owners need to fulfil is that they need to (ii) ________ they have done a DNA test.
6. How long will the new rules regarding DNA testing be in effect?
A. at least two years
B. more than three years
C. four years
D. five years
7. According to the podcast, why were previous efforts to introduce dog DNA testing rejected?
(1) It was too expensive for dog owners.
(2) It was an attack on personal freedom.
(3) It was considered an invasion of privacy.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (2) and (3) only
C. (1) and (3) only
D. none of the above
8. According to the podcast, which places have also implemented DNA testing?
(1) Valencia, Spain
(2) Kefar Sava, Israel
(3) Some parts of London
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. all of the above
9. How is DNA testing usually done according to the podcast?
A. by taking a small sample of the animal’s fur
B. by taking blood samples from the animal
C. by taking a sample of the animal’s saliva
D. none of the above
10. How does DNA testing for dogs help reduce the cost of cleaning the town?
A. It encourages dog owners to be more responsible.
B. It allows the mayor to get rid of all street cleaners.
C. It provides a cheaper alternative to traditional cleaning methods.
D. It holds dog owners financially accountable for cleaning up after their pets.
11. What is the purpose of DNA testing for dogs according to the podcast?
A. to figure out which owners are not picking up after their dogs’ droppings
B. to identify specific dog breeds
C. to track the movement of dogs within the town
D. to determine a dog’s age
12. Arrange the following events in chronological order from 1st to 3rd.
A. The town reviews the effectiveness of the new rules after the trial run.
B. Beziers introduces new rules regarding dog DNA testing.
C. The French government rejects proposed rules on dog DNA testing.
Answers
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. (i) requirement, (ii) prove
6. A
7. B
8. B
9. C
10. D
11. A
12. 1st: (C); 2nd: (B); 3rd: (A)
Script
Adapted from Agency France-Presse
Voice 1: Dog owners in Beziers, a southern French town, now need to get their dogs’ DNA tested under new rules to tackle the scourge of poop-strewn pavements. Since the mayor of this renowned bull-fighting town introduced the mandatory tests in July, street cleaners are allowed to take samples from droppings they find in the town to identify the owners.
Voice 2: Those who fail to pick up their animals’ poo will have to pay a cleaning fee equivalent to HK$1,008. In addition, dog owners will need to prove that they have done a DNA test, with police authorised to issue a fine of about HK$319 to anyone failing to produce an identity document. The new rules have been introduced on an experimental basis for the next two years.
Voice 1: During an interview with local radio France Bleu in July, Mayor Robert Menard told the French radio station that the city’s cleaning service picks up more than 1,000 pieces of dog faeces every month. Menard has been seeking to introduce dog DNA testing since 2016, but has had previous efforts knocked back by the state as an attack on personal freedom.
Voice 2: He was frustrated that some people never bothered to clean up after their animals and that they only did so when there were police officers around. According to the mayor’s office, cleaning up dog faeces costs the town about HK$671,000 every year.
Voice 1: DNA testing for dogs – usually done at the vets with a saliva sample – has been introduced in a host of cities worldwide including Tel Aviv in Israel, Valencia in Spain and some areas of London. Landlords in some private residential compounds in the US state of Florida and elsewhere have also introduced rules requiring residents to provide DNA samples of their animals to identify pavement foulers.