Russian Eagle makes huge phone data roaming charges

How do you think the eagle made hug phone data roaming charges?

What do you think the map in the photo is about?

Russian scientists tracking migrating eagles ran out of money because some of the birds flew to Iran and Pakistan. Because of this their SMS transmitters used very big data roaming charges.

After learning of the team's dilemma, Russian mobile phone operator Megafon offered to cancel the debt and give them a cheaper plan.

The team had started crowdfunding on social media to pay for the bills.

The birds left from southern Russia and Kazakhstan.

The journey of one eagle, called Min, was very expensive, because it flew to Iran from Kazakhstan.

Min collected SMS messages to send during the summer in Kazakhstan. But it was out of range of the mobile network. Surprisingly, the eagle flew straight to Iran, where it sent the many text messages.

The price per SMS in Kazakhstan was about 15 roubles (30 US cents), but each SMS from Iran cost 49 roubles. Min used up the entire SMS budget planned to be used for all the eagles.

The SMS messages deliver the birds' position as they migrate, and the team then use satellite photos to see if the birds have reached safe locations. Power lines are a big threat for the eagles. The eagles are endangered in Russia and Central Asia.

They are currently following 13 eagles. The birds have babies in Siberia and Kazakhstan, but fly to South Asia during the winter.

Megafon's offer to bail out the team means they can continue monitoring the eagles' travel. The information is very important to help the birds survive.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=4, B=8, C=7, D=6, E=1, F=5, G=3, H=2

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1. Social networking sites like Facebook track what you look.

2. I need to borrow some money. I have run out of money and can’t finish my project.

3. He has a dilemma. If he goes to the concert his wife will be angry. But if he stays home, his friends will be angry.

4. If you have a very good idea maybe you can crowdfund it if people like your idea.

5. Those dark clouds are threatening to snow.

6. Tigers are endangered of disappearing in South East Asia. There are only 250 left.

7. We hope the bank will bail us out because we need money to keep going.

8. We need to monitor what time the airplane lands because it could be late.

    

    

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1. Do you think the Russian government should bail out these scientists’? Who should?

2. How do you think we can reduce the threat of losing endangered animals?

3. How do you feel about how everything we do on the internet is tracked?

4. When did you feel you were running out of time to finish something? Describe it.

5. Describe a dilemma you have had?

6. Why do you think crowdfunding has become a popular way to find money?

7. Do you agree that people who endanger other’s people’s lives by their bad actions should be monitored by the police at all times?