LION FOR SALE

Saladino de Souza Gonzalez takes advantage of the fact that in Brazil the law allows people ― keep to keep keeping lions at home. 'People's homes need ― protect to protect protecting from thieves,' says Mr Gonzalez. 'With a lion for a guard a thief may enter, but he won't leave!!'

Mr Gonzalez started with three lions ten years ago, and at the moment he manages ― breed to breed breeding three lion cubs a year, but he would like ― expand to expand expanding the business. 'I don't remember ever ― have to have having trouble selling one,' he says.

He advises owners ― let to let letting their lion ― run to run running freely in the back yard at night. Owners like ― hear to hear hearing it ― walk to walk walking up and down when they are in bed; it helps them ― sleep to sleep sleeping more soundly. 'A lion is no problem with children as long as the animal is bought when young, and you remember ― feed to feed feeding it regularly,' he says. Maria de Oliveira is a satisfied customer: 'I just can't help ― smile to smile smiling when I see my little girl ― play to play playing with Mikey, our lion. I only regret ― not buy not to buy not buying another cub at the same time.'

ACTIVITY 380: Complete this article by choosing the best verbal alternative from the menus: 'to' infinitive, infinitive without 'to', or –ing form. Then check the answers.

ANIMAL RESCUE

When a dam in French Guyana made the river Sinnamary ― BURST TO BURST its banks, the water started flooding the rainforest. Forest animals were forced ― TO ESCAPE ESCAPING into the trees. Conservationists helplessly watched the water level ― TO RISE RISING .

When it threatened ― COVERING TO COVER even the trees, the French government and the company responsible for ― BUILD BUILDING the dam agreed ― TO PROVIDE PROVIDING money for a rescue. A team of 40 French vets tried ― TO SAVE SAVING as many animals as possible. They used speedboats ― TO CHASE CHASING the animals and darts to make them temporarily unconscious. In all, they managed ― RESCUE TO RESCUE 5,000 creatures. Animals that were unable to climb trees, such as rodents, were saved first. They were so happy ― TO GET GETTING away from the water they didn't mind ― TO BE BEING handled by the vets. Monkeys were more difficult ― TO CAPTURE CAPTURING : although most monkeys can't stand ― TO GET GETTING wet, these ones preferred drowning to travelling in a boat with a vet. The vets couldn't prevent some monkeys from ― FALL FALLING into the river and then they had to swim after them. Sloths were equally uncooperative. They wouldn't let the vets ― CARRY TO CARRY them down the trees without ― BE BEING anaesthetised first. The animals were later released into the safety of French Guyana's first national park. They seem to enjoy ― LIVE LIVING in their new home. But do they remember running for their lives from the advancing water? And do they regret being made ― LEAVE TO LEAVE their old surroundings?