Independent Work

BY ANDREA CARREÑO

Tokyo zoo gorillas get good luck bean shower
TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters Life!) - Piko the gorilla didn't know what hit her when crowds of humans gathered around the ape cage at Tokyo's zoo to shout incantations and throw beans. She soon figured out that while the people were loud and frightening, the roasted soya beans were very tasty.
Piko was subjected to a traditional Japanese blessing over the weekend that seeks to bring in good fortune. The ritual is usually reserved for humans but zoo authorities through the apes could do with a bit of luck. "We threw beans at the gorillas so they can live healthy and long lives and that the females and males get along better in order that they produce more gorillas," gorilla handler Ryo Imanishi told Reuters.
There are currently seven gorillas at Tokyo's zoo. Poaching, the destruction of their natural habitat in central Africa, commercial hunting and the Ebola virus are believed to have severely affected the ape population in the wild. "I really hope this helps the gorillas species increase," said 19-year old zoo visitor Akiko Ishikawa.
Throwing roasted beans is part of the traditional festival of Setsubun and it is believed to have purifying qualities. Setsubun was originally performed on what would have been the Chinese New Year eve, but since Japan now celebrates the New Year according to the western calendar, it is marked every February.
Piko the gorilla didn't understand what was happening when groups of humans assembled around her cage at Tokyo's zoo to yell chants and throw beans.

A. Complete the summary about the article using words from the list of words:

However, it didn't take her long to 1.__B_____that although the people were noisy and 2.___O____ the roasted soya beans were 3.____E___
Piko was given a traditional Japanese blessing for good 4. ___F_____
The ceremony is normally only for humans but zoo officials decided the apes could do with a bit of luck so they can live healthy, long lives and 5.__J_____the zoo's gorilla population.
There are now seven gorillas at Tokyo's zoo. Poaching, the widespread damage of their natural 6.___G____in central Africa, commercial hunting and the Ebola virus have had a huge impact on wild ape numbers.