Study Buddy (Explorer): First Chinese giant pandas in Middle East ‘predict’ winners and losers in 2022 Fifa World Cup

[2] The pair are following in the tentacle-steps of Paul the Octopus who rose to fame doing the same thing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Three-year-old female Thuraya and four-year-old male Suhail correctly “predicted” the unexpected winners of two matches.

[3] After leaving their home in China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas’ Ya’an base in Sichuan province, the pandas first received visitors in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, last month.

[4] It was the day before the tournament’s opening match between Qatar and Ecuador. At the Panda House in Al Khor Park where Thuraya and Suhail live, staff placed the flags of the competing countries on a glass wall. Soon after doing so, one panda crawled towards the wall and looked at each flag for a few seconds. The bear paused and sniffed both before raising a paw to touch the flag of Ecuador. This was shown in a short video. The South American team went on to win the game.

[5] Two days later, before the match between Germany and Japan, the same flag scenario was set up. One of the pandas – it is still unclear which one – wasted no time before placing both paws against the Japanese national flag. Japan won.

[6] The panda duos’ predictions have amused mainland Chinese internet users. “It’s magic! Is there some mystical power from the East?” joked one Weibo poster. “Awesome! Perhaps I can let my pet cat try it tomorrow,” said another.

[7] But every gambler knows you can’t win them all. Hours before the game between Uruguay and South Korea, one panda predicted a win for Uruguay. The game ended in a goalless draw. “Don’t blame our pandas. They didn’t have the option of a draw,” said an internet user.

[8] Many netizens said the pandas reminded them of Paul the Octopus from Germany. At the 2010 World Cup, his strangely accurate predictions made him a celebrity. Sadly, weeks after the 2010 tournament ended, Paul passed away, possibly due to his physical efforts.
Source: South China Morning Post, November 25

1. Find a phrase in paragraph 1 that means “becoming famous for a different reason”.

2. In paragraph 1, what does the “tournament” refer to?

3. According to paragraph 2, what do the pandas in Qatar and Paul the Octopus have in common?

4. Decide whether the following statements about Thuraya and Suhail are True, False or the information is Not Given in paragraphs 3 and 4.
(i) Both pandas were born in Qatar.
(ii) Thuraya correctly predicted the results of the match between Qatar and Ecuador.
(iii) The pandas determined the winners by choosing the football with the country’s flag printed on it.
(iv) Both pandas are equally accurate at predicting match results.

5. According to paragraph 5, the “same flag scenario was set up” to ...
A. learn about the pandas’ habits.
B. find out which country’s flag the pandas preferred.
C. predict the winner of a football match.
D. none of the above

6. In paragraph 6, which of the following best describes how netizens have responded to the pandas?
A. entertained
B. impassioned
C. concerned
D. jaded

7. According to paragraph 6, what does one pet owner want to let their cat attempt to do?

8. In paragraph 7, what did one online user say in defence of the panda’s wrong prediction?

9. According to paragraph 8, what might have caused Paul the Octopus’ death?

1. making a new name for themselves
2. the Fifa World Cup 2022
3. They correctly “predicted” the winners of World Cup football matches.
4. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) F; (iv) NG
5. C
6. A
7. predict the results of a football match by getting it to choose the winning team’s flag
8. that it was not the panda’s fault because it did not have the option to choose a draw
9. his physical efforts in predicting the 2010 World Cup results