4047 are cartoons always nice comprehension grammar past perfect rules examples exercises suggestion of oral activities 3 tasks 6 suggestions keys included 3 pages editable

The first time I took my daughter to the movie theater she was 6 and the movie was
“Bambi”. I’m a movies lover, so I had chosen it carefully and thought a cartoon movie would
be an effective introduction to the Seventh Art World.
Everything was going just fine until Bambi’s mother was shot and killed. My daughter got
anguished and asked to go home in the middle of the movie. Fortunately later choices turned
out OK and she likes movies as much as I do.
My point is: are cartoons really safe for kids? Or do parents need to pay attention to the
type of cartoons kids are watching during their spare time?
Once I sat on the sofa to watch a cartoon with my 8-year-old son and got completely
dumbfounded when I realized a cartoon character was agonizing right in front of us,
bleeding as if it was an action adult movie!
Everybody knows that the cartoon “The Simpsons” doesn’t spread nice manners or behavior,
but what about the “kid stuff” they display in the afternoon for young children?
The next time you take a kid to the movies maybe a cartoon doesn’t make the best choice,
unless you take the time to watch it and analyze its content first. Or you take the risk of
exposing your child to messages s/he isn’t prepared to get yet.

According to the text:
Bambi is a cartoon movie. ( ) true ( ) false
There isn’t violence in cartoon movies. ( ) true

( ) false

Bambi’s father is killed in the movie. ( ) true

( ) false

Children are exposed to violence content watching cartoons. ( ) true

( ) false

Parents shouldn’t worry about the cartoons content. ( ) true

( ) false

“The Simpsons” spreads nice manners and behavior. ( ) true

( ) false

Young children may feel anguished when they are exposed to things they are not
prepared to deal with. ( ) true

( ) false

Before taking a child to the movies, it’s important to check the movie content.
( ) true

( ) false

Cartoons are for kids, so they are safe. ( ) true ( ) false


Are cartoon characters always nice? Support your answer. ________________________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Have you ever been shocked by something you say in cartoons? What was it? ___________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Are cartoons classified by age in your country? (If aff.) Do you know the criteria used to
classify them? _________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
In some countries movies are classified from 12 to 18 and every movie classified under 12 is
allowed for children of any age. Do you think the content that is OK for a 12-year-old child
is always proper for younger kids? Why? _____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
What’s your favorite cartoon? Why do you like it? ______________________________
____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

There were two actions in the past:
I had chosen carefully a movie. (first action in the past)
I took my daughter to the movie theater. (second action in the past)
As you see, we use the past perfect to describe the action that happened
before another action when both happened in the past.
Complete with the simple past / past simple of the verbs given:
We missed the plane because when we _____________ to the airport, the plane
_______________. [to get / to take off]
I was stuck in traffic because when I _____________ about the wreck on Main
Avenue on the radio I __________________ it. [to hear / to take]
I woke up early today. As a matter of fact, when the alarm clock ____________ I
_____________________. [to go on / to get up]
I couldn’t give Mary your message because when she ________________ to the
office yesterday I _____________________. [to return / to leave]


TEACHER’S KEYS

ACTIVITIES SUGGESTED:

According to the text:

Students watch some cartoons and try to

Bambi is a cartoon movie. ( X ) true

(

)

false

detect inappropriate scenes / message /
language, etc.

There isn’t violence in cartoon movies. (

) true

( X ) false

cartoons and prepare a classification by

Bambi’s father is killed in the movie. (

) true

( X ) false
Children

are

Students make a list of the most popular
age.
Students discuss their opinions about the

exposed

to

violence

watching cartoons. ( X ) true

content

( ) false

most popular cartoons or their main
characters’ behavior, and label them with

Parents shouldn’t worry about the cartoons

appropriate / inappropriate.

content. ( ) true

Students try to remember examples of

“The

( X ) false

Simpsons” spreads nice manners

behavior. ( ) true

and

( X ) false

scenes they saw in cartoons and make an
evaluation of its appropriateness for

Young children may feel anguished when they are

young children. (Example: that Simpsons

exposed to things they are not prepared to deal

episode, when the boy cheated on the

with. ( X ) true

test and his father told him it was OK.)

( ) false

Before taking a child to the movies, it’s

The teacher shows some scenes / videos

important to check the movie content.

taken from popular cartoon movies and

( X ) true

asks the students to evaluate them.

( ) false

Cartoons are for kids, so they are safe. ( ) true
( X ) false

Students discuss the criteria used to
classify movies in their country, agree /
disagree / support their opinion.

Complete with the simple past / past simple of
the verbs given:
We missed the plane because when we GOT to
the airport, the plane HAD TAKEN OFF. [to
get / to take off]
I was stuck in traffic because when I HEARD
about the wreck on Main Avenue on the radio I
HAD TAKEN it. [to hear / to take]
I woke up early today. As a matter of fact, when
the alarm clock WENT ON I HAD GOTTEN
UP. [to go on / to get up]

I couldn’t give Mary your message because when
she RETURNED to the office yesterday I HAD
LEFT. [to return / to leave]