Lesson 1 Stories of Tigers

1、SOME years ago, a number of English offi cers in India went out to hunt. On their way home after their day’s sport, they found in the jungle a little tiger kitten, not more than a fortnight old.

2、They took it with them; and when they reached their tent, the little tiger was provided with a tiny dog-collar and chain, and tied to the tent-pole, round which it played and frisked to the delight of all who saw it.

3、Just as it was growing dark, however, about two hours after the capture, the people in the tent were checked, in the midst of their mirth, by a sound that caused the bravest heart among them to quail.

4、It was the roar of a tiger! In an instant the little kitten became every inch a tiger,and strained at its chain with all its baby strength, while it replied with a loud wail to the terrible voice outside. The company in the tent were panic-struck. There was something so sudden and so wild in the roar.

5、Suddenly there leaped into the centre of the tent a huge tigress! Without noticing a single man there, she caught her kitten by the neck. She snapped, by one jerk, the chain which bound it; and, turning to the tent door, dashed off at full speed. One cannot be sorry that not a gun was levelled at the brave mother as she bore her young one off in triumph?.

(243 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [note the fact] What did the English offi cers fi nd on their way back from hunting?

A. A tigress. B. A tiger kitten. C. A tiger.

2. [check the details] What did they do with the little tiger?

A. They set it free.

B. They took it with them and tied it to their tent-pole.

C. They killed and ate it.

3. [note the fact] What did the people hear when it was growing dark?

A. The roar of a tiger.

B. The sound of a gunshot.

C. The cry of the little tiger.

4. [evaluate the information] How did the tiger kitten change when it heard the roar of tiger?

5. [note the fact] How did the tigress save the tiger kitten?

A. She caught her kitten by the chain.

B. She dashed into the tent.

C. She caught her kitten by the neck.

6. [draw a conclusion] What is the end of the story?

A. People shot the tigress dead.

B. People were sorry because they didn’t shoot at the tigress.

C. The tigress saved her kitten.

7. [grasp the main idea] What does the story tell us?

A. Mother’s love is great.

B. Babies are always weak.

C. People are cruel.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

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

(1) About two hours after the capture, the people in the tent were checked, in the midst of their mirth, by a sound that caused the bravest heart among them to

quail. (Para. 3, Line 1)

A. 攻占 B. 捕获 C. 拍摄

(2) The company in the tent were panic-struck, there was something so sudden and so wild in the roar. (Para. 4, Line 3)

A. frightened B. fearful C. fearless

(3) Suddenly there leaped into the centre of the tent a huge tigress! (Para. 5, Line 1)

A. increased quickly B. walked away C. moved quickly

(4) She snapped, by one jerk, the chain which bound it. (Para. 5, Line 3)

A. jumped B. tied C. forced

2. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined expressions.

(1) The tigress dashed off at full speed. (Para. 5, Line 3)

A. went quickly B. walked slowly C. came quickly

(2) One cannot be sorry that not a gun was leveled at the brave mother as she bore her young off in triumph. (Para. 5, Line 4)

A. dealt with something unpleasant

B. took responsibility for something

C. carried something while moving

Ⅲ. Summary writing.

In no more than 80 words, summarize the whole text according to the following questions. Do not include anything that is not in the passage.

1. What did the English officers bring back on the way back from hunting?

2. Where did they put the little tiger?

3. What did they hear two hours after the capture?

4. Who made that terrible roar?

5. How did the tigress save her little kitten?

6. Did anyone shoot at the tigress? Why was that?