Dogs On Duty

11/1/2017 Achieve3000: Lesson
Printed by: Isabelle Gorgeu
Printed on: January 11, 2017
Dogs On Duty
Before Reading Poll
Long ago, Bankhar dogs helped herders in Mongolia. Then, the dogs almost disappeared. Now, one group is working to
bring the dogs back. What do you think?
It's OK if a kind of animal dies out.
Agree
Disagree
Explain why you voted the way you did.
We cannot be delighted at the extinction of an animal because each has a role in nature and it
can destabilize the group.
http://portal.achieve3000.com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid=17431&c=1&step=all&pagebreaks=1 1/19
Article
TUV AIMAG, Mongolia (Achieve3000, August 29, 2016). For three
decades, Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife wandered together across
the rolling hills of Mongolia's northern Tuv Province. They were
accompanied by their herd of sheep. They were also stalked by hungry
wolves and snow leopards. But in mid2015, life got a little bit easier.
That's when the couple was joined by Hasar. Hasar is an 11monthold
shaggy, female Bankhar dog. She helps ward off predators. Hasar was a
gift from the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project. The organization breeds
Bankhar and gives them to herders. Its goal is to increase the popularity
and population of Bankhar.
Photo credit: AP/Grace Brown
One hundred years ago, Bankhar dogs like Hasar would have been a more
The Bankhar dog is native to
common sight outside the Mongolian tent homes known as gers. In fact,
Mongolia but nearly became extinct.
for thousands of years, the Mongolia natives, which can grow as large as Now, a group is trying to save the
small bears, roamed the country's rural steppes with their nomadic Bankhar, which has historically
masters. They were so much a part of the landscape that they were helped nomadic herders.
featured in paintings made for the Qing Dynasty. (The Qing ruled China
and Mongolia from the mid1600s to the early 1900s.) Bankhar were also mentioned often in the 13thcentury
travelogues of Italian explorer Marco Polo. But over the last century, Mongolia has seen many changes. The Northeast
Asian nation has been rapidly urbanizing. This has contributed to the neardisappearance of Bankhar dogs.
That's where the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project comes in. In December 2014, researchers there began raising their
first litter of Bankhar puppies. They did this as part of an effort to revive Mongolia's furry legacy. They want to return
the Bankhar dog to its historic place beside sheep and cattle herders, who make up roughly onethird of the nation's
three million people. Researchers use DNA analysis to identify pureblooded Bankhar. Then, they breed the dogs and
train the puppies to protect livestock. When the puppies are 4 or 5 months old, they are handed over to herders like
Bayarsaikhan and his wife. The herders are required to continue training the dogs under strict guidelines. They teach
the dogs to develop a bond with livestock rather than humans. As of 2016, the organization had placed 15 dogs with
herders. It was training 10 more.
Davaasuren Munkhsuld helps care for the dogs. Munkhsuld said that Bankhar dogs' strength and intelligence make
them especially suitable for guarding livestock.
"[Bankhar dogs] know how to act in difficult situations. They know how to take control," Munkhsuld said. "They sense
if a person or other animal has come with good or bad intentions. [Then they] decide whether or not to attack."
The dogs raised by the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project are different. They are trained not to attack. Instead, they learn
to ward off predators by alerting their masters.
Bayarsaikhan's wife is pleased with Hasar. "Now, nothing comes near our herd at night," she said. "If anything does,
[Hasar] barks in an alarming way, so we come out before it can attack. She learned to patrol all night and is protecting
[the herd] well."
In this way, the dogs don't only protect livestock. They might also protect their predators. Herders won't need to trap
and hunt predators. If fewer livestock are lost to predators, herders could reduce the size of their herds. Then, they
wouldn't need as much grazing land. This would leave more habitat for predators. Some of these predators, like the
Asian snow leopard, are endangered.
"The [snow leopard habitat] is shrinking due to increasing livestock numbers in Mongolia," said Batbold Dorjgurkhem.
He is the Mongolia director of the World Wildlife Fund. "Because of this, there is a conflict between herders and this top
predator."
Being able to help snow leopards adds importance to the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project's efforts. And researchers
hope to expand those efforts. They want to open additional breeding centers throughout Mongolia. Researchers hope to
place dogs with many more herders. Their initial success indicated that the project was off to a positive start.
"I have high hopes for my dog as a herder because she has learned a lot so far," Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan said. "I hope
in the future she can be my good friend and partner in my nomadic life."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Dictionary
legacy (noun) something handed down to a new generation
nomadic (adjective) wandering; not living in one place
steppe (noun) a plain, especially one without trees
travelogue (noun) a piece of writing about someone's experiences while traveling
Activity
PART 1
Question 1
Based on the Article, which best replaces the question mark in the diagram above?
The Asian snow leopard's habitat is shrinking because herders are raising more livestock.
The Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project uses DNA testing to identify pureblooded Bankhar.
Bankhar dogs roamed Mongolia's grasslands with their masters many years ago.
The Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project wants to return Bankhar to their place beside herders.
Question 2
Which of these is a statement of opinion?
The nation of Mongolia has been rapidly urbanizing over the last century.
Protecting the Asian snow leopard is the most important possible outcome of the Bankhar project.
Bankhar dogs raised by the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project are trained not to attack.
Bankhar dogs were mentioned in the 13thcentury travelogues of Italian explorer Marco Polo.
Question 3
Which is the closest antonym for the word nomadic?
Nervous
Active
Relieved
Settled
Question 4
The reader can tell from the Article that __________.
Davaasuren Munkhsuld thinks that caring for Bankhar puppies is a very challenging job.
Because it breeds dogs, the Bankhar Dog Project has a very easy time getting grants.
Even though snow leopards are top predators, people don't want the animals to die out.
Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife don't like training their dog under strict guidelines.
Question 5
Suppose Jenna wants to find out about the lives of Mongolia's nomadic herders. She would find most of her information
__________.
In a newspaper article about Batbold Dorjgurkhem
In a dictionary, under the term "nomad"
In an autobiography written by Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan
In a travel book about the cities of Mongolia
Question 6
The Article states:
Being able to help snow leopards adds importance to the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project's efforts. And
researchers hope to expand those efforts. They want to open additional breeding centers throughout
Mongolia.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word expand, as it is used above?
Reduce
Protect
Increase
Threaten
Question 7
The Article states:
"Now, nothing comes near our herd at night," she said. "If anything does, [Hasar] barks in an alarming
way, so we come out before it can attack. She learned to patrol all night and is protecting [the herd] well."
The author's purpose for writing this passage was to __________.
Suggest that Hasar may need additional training
Show that some herders are pleased with the benefits of using Bankhar dogs
Show that the barking of Bankhar dogs keeps most herders awake at night
Suggest that herders need Bankhar only at night
Question 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the opinion that Bankhar are good protectors because they are intelligent?
"They sense if a person or other animal has come with good or bad intentions. [Then they] decide
whether or not to attack."
In fact, for thousands of years, the Mongolia natives, which can grow as large as small bears,
roamed the country's rural steppes with their nomadic masters.
"I hope in the future she can be my good friend and partner in my nomadic life."
Hasar is an 11monthold shaggy, female Bankhar dog. She helps ward off predators.
RESULTS
Activity First Second

Try Try
1.
Based on the Article, which best replaces the question mark in the diagram above?
()
2. Which of these is a statement of opinion?
()
3. Which is the closest antonym for the word nomadic?
()
4. The reader can tell from the Article that __________.
()
5. Suppose Jenna wants to find out about the lives of Mongolia's nomadic herders. She would
find most of her information __________.
()
6. The Article states:
Being able to help snow leopards adds importance to the Mongolian Bankhar
Dog Project's efforts. And researchers hope to expand those efforts. They wan
t to open additional breeding centers throughout Mongolia.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word expand, as it is used above?
()
"Now, nothing comes near our herd at night," she said. "If anything does, [Ha
sar] barks in an alarming way, so we come out before it can attack. She learne
d to patrol all night and is protecting [the herd] well."
The author's purpose for writing this passage was to __________.
()
8. Which passage from the Article best supports the opinion that Bankhar are good protectors
because they are intelligent?
()
Activity Score 100% 100%
After Reading Poll
Now that you have read the article, indicate whether you agree or disagree with this statement.
It's OK if a kind of animal dies out.
Agree
Disagree
Thought Question
Write a summary of today's Article. As you write your summary, do the following:
STEP 1: Read the Article in order to understand the text.
STEP 2a: Locate the topic sentence for each paragraph.
STEP 2b: Get rid of any details that are not needed.
STEP 2c: Put the information—in your own words—into a single paragraph.
STEP 3: Rethink your summary.
STEP 4: Reread your summary. Make final corrections.
Poll Results
OPINION STATEMENT: It's OK if a kind of animal dies out.
BEFORE READING AFTER READING
HOW YOU VOTED
Agree Agree
Disagree Disagree
You did not change your opinion after reading the articles.
Click here (javascript:void(0);) to see the response you wrote before reading.
WORLDWIDE RESULTS
Agree 13% Agree 12%
Disagree 87% Disagree 88%
10% changed their opinion after reading the article.
Math
PART 1
Researchers use DNA analysis to identify pureblooded Bankhar. Suppose 243 dogs were tested, and 26 were found to be
pure Bankhar. What percentage of the dogs tested were pureblooded Bankhar? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of
a percent.
89.3%
26.1%
35.4%
10.7%
RESULTS
Activity First Second

Try Try
1. Researchers use DNA analysis to identify pureblooded Bankhar. Suppose 243 dogs were t
ested, and 26 were found to be pure Bankhar. What percentage of the dogs tested were pur
eblooded Bankhar? Round your answer to the nearest tenth of a percent.
()
Stretch Article
TUV AIMAG, Mongolia (Achieve3000, August 29, 2016). For three
decades, Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife wandered together across
the rolling hills of Mongolia's northern Tuv Province. They were
accompanied by their herd of sheep—and stalked by hungry wolves and
snow leopards that threatened their livelihood. In mid2015, life got a little
bit easier. That's because the couple was joined by a new traveling
partner: Hasar, a shaggy, female Bankhar dog, who began helping to ward
off predators. The 11monthold was a gift from the Mongolian Bankhar
Dog Project, which breeds Bankhar and gives them to herders in an effort
to revive their popularity and population.
Photo credit: AP/Grace Brown
One hundred years ago, Bankhar dogs like Hasar would have been a far
The Bankhar dog is native to
more common sight outside the Mongolian tent homes known as gers. For
Mongolia but nearly disappeared
thousands of years, the Mongolia natives, which can grow as large as due to urbanization. Now, a group of
small bears, roamed the country's rural steppes with their nomadic researchers is trying to reinstate the
masters. They were once so much a part of the landscape that they were Bankhar to its historic place as
featured in paintings made for the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China and helpers of nomadic herders.
Mongolia from the mid1600s to the early 1900s. Bankhar were also
mentioned frequently in the 13thcentury travelogues of famed Italian explorer Marco Polo. But over the last century,
Mongolia has seen many changes. The Northeast Asian nation has been rapidly urbanizing, mostly around its
sprawling capital city of Ulaanbaatar. This has contributed to the neardisappearance of Bankhar dogs.
In December 2014, researchers with the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project began raising their first litter of pureblooded
Bankhar puppies. They did this as part of an effort to revive Mongolia's furry legacy. They seek to return the Bankhar
dog to its historic place beside sheep and cattle herders, who make up roughly onethird of the nation's three million
people. At their breeding center outside Ulaanbaatar, researchers use DNA analysis to identify pure Bankhar. Then,
they breed the dogs and train the puppies to protect livestock. When the puppies are 4 or 5 months old, the
researchers hand them over to herders like Bayarsaikhan and his wife. The herders are required to continue training the
dogs under a strict regime aimed at developing their bond with livestock rather than humans. As of 2016, the
organization had placed 15 dogs with herders and was training 10 more.
Davaasuren Munkhsuld is a caretaker at the center. Munkhsuld said that if trained correctly, Bankhar dogs' strength
and intelligence make them especially suitable for guarding livestock.
"[Bankhar dogs] know how to act in difficult situations. They know how to take control," Munkhsuld said. "They sense
if a person or other animal has come with good or bad intentions [and] then decide whether or not to attack. They are
very intuitive."
But the dogs raised by the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project are trained not to attack. Rather, they learn to ward off
predators by alerting their masters.
"Now, nothing comes near our herd at night," said Bayarsaikhan's wife. She was pleased with the assistance they
received from Hasar. "If anything does, she barks in an alarming way, so we come out before it can attack. She
learned to patrol all night and is protecting [the herd] well."
In this way, the dogs don't only protect livestock. They also keep herders from having to trap and hunt predators, some
of which are endangered, like the Asian snow leopard. With fewer livestock lost to predators, researchers hope that
herders will reduce the size of their herds. Then, they won't need as much grazing land. This would leave more habitat
for the snow leopard.
"The [snow leopard habitat] is shrinking due to increasing livestock numbers in Mongolia," said World Wildlife Fund
Mongolia director Batbold Dorjgurkhem. "Because of this, there is a conflict between herders and this top predator."
This additional benefit of the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project adds importance and urgency to the organization's efforts.
And researchers hope to expand those efforts. They have been seeking grants to help them open additional breeding
centers throughout Mongolia. Researchers hope to place dogs with many more herders like Bayarsaikhan and his wife,
whose success indicated that the project was off to a positive start.
"I have high hopes for my dog as a herder because she has learned a lot so far," Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan said. "I hope
in the future she can be my good friend and partner in my nomadic life."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Dictionary
intuitive (adjective) able to sense or understand something quickly
legacy (noun) something handed down to a new generation
regime (noun) a routine; a set way of doing things
steppe (noun) a plain, especially one without trees
Stretch Activity
PART 1
Question 1
The best alternate headline for this Article would be __________.
Project Seeks To Revive Native Mongolian Bankhar Dog's Population and Popularity
Bankhar Dogs in Mongolia Touted for Their Size, Strength, and Intelligence
Mongolian Herders Pleased With Bankhar Dog's Role Protecting Their Livestock
Rapid Urbanization Leads to Disappearance of Bankhar Dogs in Mongolia
Question 2
Which of these is a statement of opinion?
As of 2016, the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project had placed 15 dogs with herders and was
training 10 more.
For three decades, Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife wandered together across the hills of
Mongolia's northern Tuv Province.
Returning the Bankhar to their rightful place beside Mongolia's nomadic herders is a worthy
project to take on and support.
The Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project has sought grants to enable it to open more breeding
centers.
Question 3
Which is the closest synonym for the word intuitive, as it is used in the Article?
Assertive
Disciplined
Incompetent
Perceptive
Question 4
The reader can infer from the Article that __________.
Davaasuren Munkhsuld is probably more concerned about preserving the Asian snow leopard
than Batbold Dorjgurkhem is.
Italian explorer Marco Polo probably hunted Bankhar dogs, since they can grow to the size of
small bears.
Herders like Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife probably do not appreciate being forced to
continue training Bankhar under such strict guidelines.
Because Bankhar dogs benefit both livestock and their predators, some of which are endangered,
many people are likely to support the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project.
Question 5
Suppose Maya wants to find out about Bankhar dogs. She would find most of her information by __________.
Reading a description of the urbanization taking place in Mongolia today
Interviewing a caretaker at the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project center
Examining paintings made for the Qing Dynasty prior to the early 1900s
Learning about the early life of 13thcentury Italian explorer Marco Polo
Question 6
The Article states:
For thousands of years, the Mongolia natives, which can grow as large as small bears, roamed the
country's rural steppes with their nomadic masters.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word nomadic?
Inactive
Wandering
Optional
Required
Question 7
The author probably wrote this Article in order to __________.
Entertain readers by describing one nomadic couple's experience trying to train a Bankhar dog
Inform readers about the snow leopard's loss of habitat in various locations around the world
Educate readers about a typical day for a livestock herder living in the country of Mongolia
Inform readers about one group's effort to return a native dog to its rightful place in Mongolia
Question 8
Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that Bankhar dogs were once commonplace in rural Mongolia?
In December 2014, researchers with the Mongolian Bankhar Dog Project began raising their first
litter of pureblooded Bankhar puppies.
For three decades, Chulunjav Bayarsaikhan and his wife wandered together across the rolling
hills of Mongolia's northern Tuv Province.
They were once so much a part of the landscape that they were featured in paintings made for the
Qing Dynasty, which ruled China and Mongolia from the mid1600s to the early 1900s.
Munkhsuld said that if trained correctly, Bankhar dogs' strength and intelligence make them
especially suitable for guarding livestock.
RESULTS
First Second
Activity
Try Try
1. The best alternate headline for this Article would be __________.
()
2. Which of these is a statement of opinion?
()
3. Which is the closest synonym for the word intuitive, as it is used in the Article?
()
4. The reader can infer from the Article that __________.
()
5. Suppose Maya wants to find out about Bankhar dogs. She would find most of her informatio
n by __________.
()
For thousands of years, the Mongolia natives, which can grow as large as sm
all bears, roamed the country's rural steppes with their nomadic masters.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word nomadic?
()
7. The author probably wrote this Article in order to __________.
()
8. Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that Bankhar dogs were once comm
onplace in rural Mongolia?
()

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11/1/2017 Achieve3000: Lesson

Activity First Second

Activity Score 100% 100%

Agree 13% Agree 12%

Disagree 87% Disagree 88%

Activity First Second

Activity Score 100% 100%

Activity Score 100% 100%

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