The Running of the Goats in New York City

Just a few days earlier than the running of the bulls started in Pamplona, New York City organized its own "running of the goats" in Riversida Park, Manhattan. Families gathered to see the trailer opening its door to release twenty goats that had been brought to the park to eat all the weeds away. Here you can listen to the All Things Considered report on NPR (3':42") that tells the story with a script, which makes it suitable for B2 students. You will come across words like goats, to weed, a sliver, farmland, pretty flat, to slope sharply, invasive plants, porcelain berry, to take over, garden maintenance, a herd of goats, upstate [New York], a trailer, the thick impenetrable bush, hillside, with ease, a beloved ritual, St. Patrick's Day parade, to show up, [dogs] to strain against leashes, to sniff, to poke, dazzling, tawny-colored, horns, to curl in on themselves, poised, a gaze, to commune [with nature], nonprofit rescue service, a fenced area, chill, to drift away, heads down, oblivious, sirens, overhead, to munch thier way down the hillside.

Below you can watch a video with speeches and jokes by the local politicians and the actual running of the goats in Riverside Park. The video with subtitles (26:22) is suitable for C1 students.

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