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Our love of pets ⏲️ 6 Minute English

By Mochi / June 7, 2025

The Evolution of Pets in British Culture

In this video, Neil and Georgie from BBC Learning English discuss how pets reflect one’s personality and delve into the history of pets in British culture. The conversation covers the shift in attitudes towards pets over the centuries and the increasing trend of pets having social media profiles.

Today’s movie

VIDEO URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bywWgD9yJq0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bywWgD9yJq0

Listening Quiz

Test your knowledge with the following quiz questions related to the content discussed in the video:

Q1: What percentage of dogs and cats in the UK have their own social media profile?

A. 7%

B. 17%

C. 70%

Georgie correctly guessed that 17% of British pets have their own social media account, showcasing the modern trend of pets being online.

Q2: What does the term ‘living standards’ refer to?

A. The level of material comfort people live in

B. The number of pets owned by households

C. The amount of social media followers pets have

Living standards or standard of living indicates the material comfort that individuals experience, influenced by factors like income and expenses.

Q3: What does the term ‘loyalty’ mean in the context of the video?

A. Having strong and unchanging support for your friends

B. Owning exotic pets like tigers and elephants

C. Describing the qualities of cats

The video highlights loyalty as a quality associated with pets and the meaningful support they provide to their owners.

Q4: How did the Victorians view dogs compared to cats?

A. Dogs were considered feminine and weak

B. Dogs were admired for their self-confidence and loyalty

C. Cats were seen as manly and strong

During the Victorian era, dogs were highly regarded for their qualities like self-confidence and loyalty, in contrast to the perception of cats.

Q5: What is the meaning of the phrase ‘fits the bill’ in the video?

A. Describing a pet’s behavior

B. Being suitable for a particular purpose

C. Referring to pet ownership

The expression ‘fits the bill’ is used to indicate that something is appropriate or suitable for a specific role or function.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with the following terms introduced in the video:

Living standards

The level of material comfort people experience based on factors like income and expenses.
As living standards rose, more families were able to afford keeping pets.

Disposable income

The money remaining after deducting taxes and living expenses, available for discretionary spending.
With higher disposable income, individuals can afford to indulge in luxury items like pets.

Loyalty

The quality of being loyal, showing consistent support and allegiance.
Pets are known for their loyalty, providing unwavering companionship to their owners.

Fits the bill

To be suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose or situation.
The energetic dog fit the bill perfectly for the family looking for a companion.

Standard of living

The level of comfort, goods, and necessities available to a person or group.
Improvements in the standard of living led to more households embracing pet ownership.

Today’s movie

Listening Quiz

Vocabulary

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