ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Article
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-05-12-giant-sea-lion-at-pier-39/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice

Language: Vocab Match

Use It: Discussion Builder, Sentence Unscramble, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: Which detail do you think appears in this story?

a) Visitors swim with sea lions in the bay.

b) Workers close the pier because of animals.

c) A giant sea lion gets attention.

A large pale sea lion sits upright on a crowded wooden dock, surrounded by many resting brown sea lions.
Chonkers.

Ask: (1) What big animals do you like? (2) Do you like going to the sea?

Vocab List

attention (n.) — When many people notice someone or something.
expert (n.) — A person who knows a lot about something.
pier (n.) — A long structure over water where people can walk.
protect (v.) — To keep a person or animal safe.
weigh (v.) — To have a weight of a certain number.
stand out (v.) — To be easy to notice because it is different from others.
dock (n.) — A place by the water where boats can stop.
chunky (adj.) — big and heavy in shape
Reading

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is Chonkers. This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a Steller sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take photos. For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong waves. Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39

Level 2 Article Source: apnews.com
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A large pale sea lion sits upright on a crowded wooden dock, surrounded by many resting brown sea lions.
Chonkers.

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is Chonkers. This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a Steller sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take photos. For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong waves. Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:40  YouTube

Listen Closely

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

A giant sea lion is now resting at Pier 39 in San Francisco. His name is (1) . This funny name comes from “chonker,” a word people sometimes use for a big, chunky cat. He is getting a lot of attention. He is a (2) sea lion, so he looks very different from the other sea lions there.

Most sea lions at the pier are California sea lions. Chonkers is much bigger than they are. Experts say he may (3) 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The smaller sea lions usually fill the docks, but Chonkers stands out. Some visitors say he looks as big as a small car.

Many visitors are coming to the pier to see him. They stop, watch, and take (4) . For many people, this is not a normal day at the pier. Some people only have a short time, but they still want a look. Chonkers often sits with the smaller sea lions, and this makes people smile.

Experts think Pier 39 is a good place for him. He was first seen there last month. It is safe, and there is food nearby in the bay. The pier also protects him from strong (5) . Chonkers may stay because the place is safe, calm, and easy for him.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Loading listening activity...

Discussion Builder

  1. Q: Why do you think so many visitors want to see him?

    A:

  2. Q: Why do people like taking photos of unusual animals?

    A:

  3. Q: Would you like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story? Why?

    A:
Use It

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. Q: Why do you think so many visitors want to see him?

    A: Many visitors want to see Chonkers he looks much bigger than the other sea lions.

    and / because / but

    Many visitors want to see Chonkers because he looks much bigger than the other sea lions.

  2. Q: Why do people like taking photos of unusual animals?

    A: Chonkers looks very unusual, many people stop and take photos.

    because / but / so

    Chonkers looks very unusual, so many people stop and take photos.

  3. Q: Would you like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story? Why?

    A: I would like to visit Pier 39 seeing Chonkers would be fun.

    because / but / so / and

    I would like to visit Pier 39 because seeing Chonkers would be fun.

Sentence Unscramble

Sentence Unscramble

  1. A. is safe and calm B. I think C. a good place D. for animals E. with enough F. food.

    I think a good place for animals is safe and calm with enough food.

  2. A. from wild animals B. stay away C. because it keeps D. People should E. too. F. the animals safe

    People should stay away from wild animals because it keeps the animals safe too.

Discussion Questions
  1. What was your first thought about Chonkers?
  2. Why do you think so many visitors want to see him?
  3. Why is a safe place important for wild animals?
  4. Why do people like taking photos of unusual animals?
  5. What kind of place is good for animals?
  6. If you saw Chonkers, what would you do first?
  7. Should people stay away from wild animals? Why or why not?
  8. Would you like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story? Why?

Discussion Questions

  1. What was your first thought about Chonkers?
  2. Why do you think so many visitors want to see him?
  3. Why is a safe place important for wild animals?
  4. Why do people like taking photos of unusual animals?
  5. What kind of place is good for animals?
  6. If you saw Chonkers, what would you do first?
  7. Should people stay away from wild animals? Why or why not?
  8. Would you like to visit Pier 39 after reading this story? Why?

Answers A Giant Sea Lion at Pier 39 / Level 2

Listening: (1) Chonkers, (2) Steller, (3) weigh, (4) photos, (5) waves

Main Idea: A very large sea lion at Pier 39 is getting a lot of attention, and experts think it may be a good place for him.

True or False:

  1. True. The first paragraph says he is a Steller sea lion.
  2. False. The second paragraph says he is much bigger than the California sea lions.
  3. True. The last paragraph says the pier is safe and there is food nearby.

Multiple Choice: a, b, c

Vocabulary:

  1. Pier (n): A long structure over water where people can walk.
  2. Weigh (v): To have a weight of a certain number.
  3. Expert (n): A person who knows a lot about something.
  1. Protect (v): To keep a person or animal safe.
  2. Stand out (v): To be easy to notice because it is different.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Result. 3) Reason.

  1. because
  2. so
  3. because

Sentence Unscramble:

  1. I think a good place for animals is safe and calm with enough food.
  2. People should stay away from wild animals because it keeps the animals safe too.

eslnewsstories.com