Lesson 18 The Cat and the Canary

1、Here is a cat with a poor little bird in its mouth. Perhaps you think it is a sparrow,that had flown down on the road to pick up a few crumbs, and was seized by this cruelcat.

2、You are wrong. This cat is the little bird’s friend; and the bird is not a sparrow at all, but a pretty canary.

3、Come and I shall tell you the story of this picture.

4、“A lady had a canary, so tame that it would fly about her room, perch on her chair,hop on her finger, and eat crumbs out of her hand.

5、“The lady had also a cat, which often came into the room where the bird’s cage hung. But the bird was in no danger from it. The cat had been taught, when quite a 1ittle kitten, to be kind to the bird; and the two were very good friends.

6、“One day the lady went into the kitchen. Her bird was on her shoulder, and the cat came running after her.

7、“The canary flew down from the lady’s shoulder, to pick up a crumb from the floor.

8、“What was the lady’s surprise, when in a moment the cat seized the bird in its mouth, and jumped upon the kitchen table with it!

9、“The lady was in terror at first, for the safety of her bird; but she soon saw the cause of the strange conduct of her cat.

10、“Another cat was at the kitchen door, and her own cat had seized the bird to save it from danger!

11、“No sooner was the stranger driven out of the house, than the Lady’s cat let the canary go; and away it flew to its mistress quite unhurt.”

(296 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Note the fact] What does the lady keep at home?

A. A bird and a cat. B. A bird and two cats. C. Two birds and a cat.

2. [Note the fact] When had the cat been taught to be kind to the canary?

A. When the bird was in danger.

B. When the canary was born.

C. When it was a little kitten.

3. [Note the fact] How was the lady when she saw the cat seize the canary in its mouth?

A. She was surprised. B. She got angry. C. She was sad.

4. [Evaluate the information] The cat didn’t let the canary go until _________________.

A. the lady asked the cat to set the canary free B. the stranger was driven out of the house C. the bird was badly hurt by the stranger

Ⅱ. Read for words.

Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words or expressions.

1. Perhaps you think it is a sparrow, that had flown down on the road to pick up a few crumbs, and was seized by this cruel cat. (Para. 1, line 2)

A. eaten B. caught C. stopped

2. “A lady had a canary, so tame that it would fly about her room, (1) perch on her chair,(2) hop on her finger, and eat crumbs out of her hand. (Para. 4, line 1; Para. 4, line 2)

（1) A. sit B. lie C. sleep

(2) A. stay B. jump C. dance

3. “The lady was in terror at first, for the safety of her bird; but she soon saw the cause of the strange conduct of her cat. (Para. 9, line 1)

A. in surprise B. in great fear C. in danger

Ⅲ. Writing practice.

1. What did the lady keep?

2. What happened one day?

3. Why did the cat carry the bird off?

4. What cat was that at the door?

5. When did the cat let the bird go again?