LESSON (10) THE CAT (Advanced)

PART ONE

Our friends invited us to an informal party. The hosts were people we had never met before. When they opened the door to let us in, a beautiful cat ran in ahead of me. I like cats, and I have two cats myself.

After we were inside, I leaned down and asked the cat to come to me. Our hosts asked us to sit down. We all made uneasy conversation for about an hour because when the cat wasn't hanging around me, it was climbing over the chairs, couches and tables. Finally, I told them that their cat seemed to be very friendly with visitors. Their cat? They thought it was ours! They thought that we brought it with us and were impolite enough to let it climb all over everything.

Well, that cat's exit was much faster than its entrance and we had a subject of conversation that relaxed us right away.

Adapted from a first person story by E.M., taken from The Detroit News circa 1980

Did the person who wrote the story know the hosts before he or she went to the party? 

1. Yes.

2. Yes, but just a little.

3. No.

Why was the conversation uneasy in the beginning? 

1. Because the guests didn't like the cat climbing the furniture.

2. Because the hosts didn't like the cat climbing the furniture.

3. The story doesn't say.

4. Both 1 and 2.

Who was the cat's owner? 

1. The hosts of the party.

2. The guests who came to the party.

3. Nobody knows.

When did the hosts and the guests finally relax?

1. After they talked about cats.

2. After they found out the cat didn't belong to any of them and put it outside.

3. After they started to enjoy the dinner.

PART TWO

Our friends invited us to a casual party. The hosts were people we had never met before. When they opened the door to let us in, a gorgeous cat scooted in ahead of me. I am really fond of cats, and I have two cats myself.

After we were inside, I leaned down and encouraged the cat to come to me. Our hosts seated us. We all made uneasy conversation for about an hour because when the cat wasn't hovering around me, it was climbing over the chairs, couches and tables. Finally, I mentioned to them that their cat seemed to be exceptionally friendly with visitors. Their cat? They thought it was ours! They thought that we brought it with us and were inconsiderate enough to let it climb all over everything.

Well, that cat's exit was much faster than its entrance and we had a subject of conversation that put us all at ease right away.

Adapted from a first person story by E.M., taken from The Detroit News circa 1980

Vocabulary Questions

In the first paragraph, what does casual mean? 

1. Informal, like an informal party where you wear regular clothes.

2. Formal, like a formal party, where you wear special clothes.

3. Fancy, like a special party where people get dressed up.

In the first paragraph, what does gorgeous mean? 

1. Extremely pretty.

2. Extremely interesting.

3. Extremely sad.

In the first paragraph, what does scooted mean? 

1. Pushed.

2. Sat.

3. Went quickly.

In the first paragraph, what does fond of mean? 

1. Don't like.

2. Like.

3. Allergic to.

In the second paragraph, what does encouraged the cat mean? 

1. Tried to convince the cat to come.

2. Yelled at the cat to come.

3. Got angry at the cat.

In the second paragraph, what does seated us mean? 

1. Sat down with us.

2. Told us where to sit.

3. Asked us to change seats.

In the second paragraph, what does hovering mean? 

1. Running around in circles.

2. Sleeping.

3. Standing near someone waiting for attention.

ANSWERS;

The Cat--Part 1

Did the person who wrote the story know the hosts before he or she went to the party? 

3. No.

Why was the conversation uneasy in the beginning? 

4. No. 2.

Who was the cat's owner? 

3. Nobody knows.

When did the hosts and the guests finally relax?

2. After they found out the cat didn't belong to any of them and put it outside.

The Cat--Part 2

Vocabulary Questions

In the first paragraph, what does casual mean? 

1. Informal, like an informal party where you wear regular clothes.

In the first paragraph, what does gorgeous mean? 

1. Extremely pretty.

 In the first paragraph, what does scooted mean? 

3. Went quickly.

In the first paragraph, what does fond of mean? 

2. Like.

In the second paragraph, what does encouraged the cat mean? 

1. Tried to convince the cat to come.

In the second paragraph, what does seated us mean? 

2. Told us where to sit.

In the second paragraph, what does hovering mean? 

3. Standing near someone waiting for attention.

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TO PRINT