Hollywood’s Last Chimps

1. Set Focus 
Pose this essential question: Why might people want to own wild animals?

2. Read and Discuss 
Have students read the article, marking key ideas and questions. Then ask them to answer the following questions, citing text evidence:

• According to the article, why does being kept in captivity have a negative effect on chimpanzees and on people? (According to the article, chimpanzees are highly intelligent and social creatures. Yet in captivity, they are often forced to live full-time in small cages by owners who are “out of their depth.” Moreover, when chimpanzees act “like the wild animals they are,” they can injure people.)

• What do scientists say is necessary to ensure that chimpanzees have a good quality of life? What happens when chimps are denied this necessity? (Scientists say that the most important thing for a chimpanzee’s quality of life is other chimpanzees. When they are kept isolated in captivity, they become stressed and potentially dangerous.)

• Who are Eli and Susie? How do their stories support the main ideas of the article? (Eli and Susie are two chimps who were kept in captivity and were made to work in the entertainment industry. Their stories illustrate the main ideas of the text because the stress caused by captivity made Eli less manageable, and he became a danger to others and himself. The zoo began to rehabilitate Eli and Susie by introducing them to other chimpanzees, but they are still recovering and sometimes show signs of stress.)

3. Core Skill Practice
Assign, print, or project the activity Sum It Up. Have students use the tips and the model summary to write an objective summary of the article.

4. Writing Prompt
Research the ownership of an exotic pet. What are the dangers? What laws are in place around ownership of this animal in your state? Have reports of injury or other problems shown up in the news? Explain in a brief essay. 

5. Classroom Debate
Should the federal government ban the ownership of exotic pets?

6. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and the Analyze the Photo skill sheet to practice visual analysis.