052 My Family and Other Animals 1200

8/17/2019 052 My Family and Other Animals 1200

1/27

di

o D

po

ck

o /so

av a

i ab

le

Cover 1lustra t

on Rebecca Bradley

I

www

eyecandy

co

u

k

Bnt

i

sh

Easysta ts

2 headwo

r

d

s

Level

3

headw

o

rds

B

eg

i

nner

2

6

h

ead

w

o

rds

El e

me

ntar

y

12 h

ea

dw

ds

Pre nt

e

rmed

ate

4 7 headwords

lntermed

ia

t

e

L

ev

e

l

s 23

headw

ord

s

U

p

per

lnt

erm

e

di

ate

Level

3 headwords

Adv

anced

Ed

to

rs

:

texts

to

y mily nd Other nimals


2/27

Re

told by Jocelyn Pott

e

r

a

nd Andy Hopkin

s

S e

ries Editors: A ndy

H

o

pkin

s a

nd Joc

el

yn Pott

e

r

L

ev

el 3


3/27

Introducrion

Larry's Id

ea

1

2

Cha pter 1 We Meet S p

i

ro

2

Cha p

t

er 2

Our New Home

6

C

hapte

r 3

The R

ose-

Bee

tl

e M an

7

Chapte

r

4

T

h

eodor

e

10

Chapter 5

L ar

ry

Ha

s

Anot

h

e

r

Id

ea

14

Part 2

1

5

Cha

pter 6 S

c

orpion

s

1 5

Chapte

r 7

M

y

Birt

hday

1 8

Cha

pt

er 8

S

hootin

g

I s

Easy

21

Chapter 9

Larry's Nex

t

I dea

24

26

Chapter 10

Th

e M

a ge

npies

26

Cha

p

ter 1 1

A l

ecko

27

Chapter 1 2

B ird s ,

S n

a

k

es and a Party

31

The

R

e

ru

rn

34

A ctivities

37

For

a comple

te list oí t

h

e titles

avai lable

1 1 1 the Pengum Re

ad

ers s enes picase wnte U> local

Pearson Longman offi ce or ro

:

Pengum

R

eaders Ma

r

kenng

D

epartmem, Pearson Educarion.

Edinburgh

G

a

e

e

H

a

rl

o

w, Esscx CM

20 2J

E.

England

,

-

Publis

h

ed by

Pearso

n

Edu

ca

tio

n

Lt

d 1 1 1

associano

n wuh

Pengun Books L rd

,

both companies being subs

idi

aries of P

earso

n Ple

r i e

l

1 1 S

¡ , , .

i 1 1 re

rrinul

i1 1 o r mra

r u ,

mord i1 1 . _ e ll'Í

tl

1 e m r

l l 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' 1 1

Typesc t by Graphicrafi Ltd,

H

ong Kong

Set

1 1 1

11

14pt

Bem

bo

Prm

t

ed 1 1 1

C

hi

na

swrc/o i

T

he

mo

ral nght of rhe

a d a p

tcr

a

nd oí the ill

usrra

tor

ha

s bcen asse

rt

ed

Texr copy

ri

gh

t

jocdyn Poner and Andy

H

opkms 1995

lllusr

ra

r

i

ons copyright

R

owan

Cli

f

ford 1995

Al nghrs

rese

rv

ed

3 5 7 9 1 0 8 6 4 2

Fi

rs

t

publi

s

hed 1 9

5

6

Thi

s

adapt

anon first

publish

ed by Penguin Books Lcd 1 995

Publ

is

h

ed by Addr

so

n W

es

l ey L

o

ngrnan Ltd and

Peng

um

B

ooks Ltd 19911

N

ew

e

diu

o

n fi

rs

t

publ

is

he

d 1999

This

eduion first publis hed 2008

ISBN

978-1 -4058-8

96-8

Pearso

n Ed

ucation Um

ite

d

Edmburg

h Cate

.

H

arlow;

Essex

CM20

2JE

.

Engla nd

and A

ssoc

utcd Companies the

wo

rld.


4/27

Gerald Du

rr

e ll was

bo

rn in

1 92

5. His fam

il

y wenr

to

Corfu in

1 93

5 and s

ta

yed until

the

start o

f

World War 1 1 1

939

. After

th

e wa

r,

D

urr

ell

g

ot

his drea

m job -

workin

g

a

z

o

o. L a

t

er he

trave lled

t

o

man

y parts of

th

e wo

r

ld to find

animal

s and to m

ak

e

abo

ut

th

em. ln 1

9

59

h

e started his

ow

n

zo

o on the B

riti

sh

i

s

l

a

n

d

of

j

e

rs

ey

l

e

i

s c

a ll

e

d

D

u

rr

e

ll

W

ildli

fe

an

d

yo

u

ca

n

s

till

vi

s

i

r

it t

oda

y . lts main work

i

s to protect k. inds

of

ani

m

als tha

t m

ay die

out

.

D

urr

ell wrot

e

two m

o

re bo

o

ks

abo

ut his fa mily's s

ta

y

in

and

T I 1

e

He wrot

e

a

lo

t

o

f

bo

oks

ab

out w

or

k with

animals .

Hi

s broth

er L aw

r

ence

Durr

e

ll (

Larry in

this story

)

was a ls

o

a farno

us

writ

e

r.

Gerald

di

ed

in

1

9

95.

T

h

e Du

rr

ell

s , a

n En

g

lish family, go to live on the Greek is l

an

d

o

f Corfu. Gera l

d

, t

h

e younge s t son

,

is

a

bout ten y ears

o

ld. He is

i

n

t

e

r

este

d

pl

a

n

ts

a

n

d

animal

s

-

all

so

r

ts

of

a

nirnal

s.

" Th

e

r

e a

r

e

anim

a l

s

in

eve

ry

com

er of

th

e

hous

e,' says

his

br

o

ther La

r

ry. 'The

r

e's

dange

r at

an

y time

o

f the

d

ay

o

r ni

g

ht.'

The Du

rre

lls go to G

r

eece for the ir health and th

e

sun

,

and

they

m

eet

a

lot of inter

es

ting

p

eo

pl

e. They find th

a

t life the

r

e

i

s

very

ditf

e

r

ent f r

o

m

lif

e in E

n

gl and. Each pe

rso

n the famil

y ha s

diffe

r

ent i

d

eas

an

d

,

like

a

ny f

arnily, th

ey

o

ften d . i s a g

r

ee.

V V é


5/27

After July ca rn e

th

e cold wind

s

and the grey

s

kie

s

of Augu

s

t

.

My

famiJ

y

h

a

d

thei

r

u

s

ual

illnes

s es

.

M

y

mo

th

e

r

a

nd

1

h

a

d bad

co

lds.

M

y

brothe

r L e

s

lie

h

ad a

proble

m

with his e

a

rs . M

y

sis

t

e

r

M

a

rg

o's

sp

ots

wer

e worse

th

an

ever

Only

m

y

o

ld es t

brother,

Larry

,

wa

s

healthy,

but

he found

t

he

r

es t

of

u

s

very

di

ff icult

t

o

live with.

'Wh

y do we

s

tay in Engl and

i

n

this w

eath

e

r?' he

as

k

e

d

Mother and loo

ki

ng older every day. '

'I'

m

n

ot

,'

Mo

th

e

r

r

epli e

d

S

h

e

w

as

r

e

adi

n

g

a

t

th

e

t

im

e.

'You Larry said

.

'We need suns

hin

e

...

a cou

ntry wh

e

r

e

w

e

ca

n g

r

ow

.'

'

Y

e

s

dear

, th

at's a good idea,' Mother an

sw

e

r

ed

,

not rea lly

lis

t

ening

'

Geo

r

ge says

Co

rf u 's wond

e

rful.

Wh

y

don'

t

w

e

g

o

t

here? '

'

l

f you li ke, dea r,' was importa nt to keep Larry happy

.

'When

?

'

as

k

e

d Larry with

s

u

rpri

se.

Mother realized her mi

s

take and put

clo

wn her book

.

'Perhap

s

you

ca

n go fi

rs

t and look at the

pl

ace,'

s

he

s

aid cl

e

ve

rl

y .

it

's

ni

ce, we can all

follow

'

Larry looked at her

.

'You s a id

th

at la st time

.

I w a i

t

ed

i

n Spain

fo

r

tw

o m

onths

a

n

d

y

o

u

didn

'

t

com

e.

No - w

e'

r

e

go

in

g

to

Gr

eece,

le

t's go t

o

ge

ther.'

'But l've only

ju

s

t bought

this

hous e

'

M

other answered

'Sell

i

t again then ' •

"T

ha

t's

s

tupid

, dea

r

,' s

aid

Mother 'I can'

t

d

o

tha

t

.'

So we sold the house a

nd

ran from

t

he

En

glish su

mm

er.

We tra

ve ll

ed by

t

rain with

our

clo

t

hes and our most impo

rtant

b

e

l

ong

i

n

gs:

Mo

rh e

r

s

c

oo

k

bo

ok

s ,

L es

li

e's

guns

,

s

omethin

g

fo

r


6/27


7/27

4

fri

g

h

tened by t

h

e crowd. We co

u

ld

n

ot

un

ders tand a word of

Gree

k

.

'Can

'

t you

somethi

ng Larr

y?'

s h

e

a sk

e

d, pushin

g

aw

ay t

h

e

a

rms of a large drive r.

Then we heard a loud voice

a

bove the no

i

s e

. '

H

oy '

s

houted

th

e

vo

i

ce

.

'

W

h

y's

don

'

ts

yo

u

s have

s

om

e

on

es

w

h

o

ca

n

talk

s

y

our

own l anguage?'

W

e

turn

ed and saw

a

n

ol

d Amer

i

can ca

r.

Behind the

wh

eel

was a

sho

rt

,

fat

ma

n with a

bi

g

b

rown

fa ce. H

e lifted

him

s elf

ou

t

of th

e car a

nd

wa lk ed

t

oward us .

'

Y

ou wa

nt

s

so

m

eo

nes

wh

o can

talks yo

ur own

la

nguage,' he repea

t

ed, 'nots

t

hese crirnina

ls

. Ju

s

t

a minutes.'

H

e

s

h

o

uc

e

d

loudl

y in

Gree

k

un

ril

th

e

o

th

e

r

dr

i

ve

r

s

we

nt

back to cheir ca rs, waving t

h

e

i

r a

r

rns

a

nd clear

l

y unh

a

ppy.

Th

en

h

e

turn

ed to

us again.

'

Wh

eres

yous wan

ts to gos?'

h

e

a s

ked.

'We are looking,' Mother

a

id, 'for a villa

with

a b

a

th

-

r

oom,'

The

ma

n th

ough

t for a minute. 'B

a

thr

oo

rn s?

Y

ou wants a

ba

throoms?

Ge

t into the car.'

We cl imbed While we drove dangerou

s

l

y fa s t through the

narro

w

s

tr

eets, o

ur

dri

ver talked t

o

us . '

Y

ous

E

nglis h ?

E

ngl i

s

h

a lways w

an

ts b

athr

oorn

s

.

..

1 gets a b

a

throom

s

in my house

...

Spiro's my name - they a

lis ca

lls me Spiro Ame

ri

ca no because

li

ves in Ame

ri

ca ... e

i

ght years

C

hi

cag

o

.

. . That's where 1

l

ea

rnt m

y

go

ods

E

n

g

li

s

h

...

W

e

n

ts

t

h

e

r

e

for

g

oo

d

mon

eys

..

T

h

en

a

ftcr e

igh

t yea

r

s

1

says:

Spi

ro," l says,

y

ou

hav

es e

noug

h

moncy .. now." o o ; 1 comes backs to Greece ... brings c hi

s

car -

be v t on c h e i s l and

...

'

Wc d

rove a lo

ng a

littl

e white

r

oad

throug

h the

fields

an

d the

tr

ees to the top of a

an

d S

pir

o

s

udd

enl

y

s

to

pp

ed

the car. 'Theres y

ou

a

res,' he

s a i

d, pointing with a fa t

fin

ge

r


8/27


9/27

. . . .

/

. . . .

. : ; : : :

, , .

8

m

e

.

Togeth

e

r

, Roger and

w

a J k

e

d a nd pl

a y e

d.

H

e was a p

e

r

fect

fr i

e

nd

fo

r a n adventur

e

. H

e wa t

c

h

e

d

w

hen I fe

ll

and l a ugh

e

d

w

h

e

n 1 s t

oo

d up

a ga

in

H

e sa t

qui

e

tl

y whiJe l

w

at

c

h

e

d a

ne

w

ins ec t.

l

f s

p

ent

t

oo

l

o

n

g in o

n

e

pl

ace,

h

e

l

ay d

ow

n i n

c

he

s ha dows and s l

e

pt.

R

oge

r

a

nd

r

m

e

t

a

l

o

t

o

f

pe

o

p

l

e.

On

e

of

c

h

e

s

tran

ge s

t

a

nd

m

os

t int

e

r

es

ting was the Rose-beet 1 e Man. I fi rs t saw h

i

m on a

hi

gh

,

e

mp

ty

road,

c

arr

y

in

g bags of vege

t

ab

l

es a nd boxes of

c

hi

ckens on h

i

s ba ck. With one hand he p l

aye

d a

pip

e a

n

d

the oth

e

r he h

e

ld p ieces o

f

s

trin

g

On

the

e

nd o

f

ea ch p

i

ece

of

s tring wa s

a

rose-beet1 e, gold

a

nd green in che s

un

These

beetl

es

f l

e

w nois

il

y round hi s h

a

t , tryi ng to esca p

e fr

om the

s

trin

gs

.

Wh

e

n he saw us , th e Rose-beetle

M

an sto

pp

e

d

w

ith a jump

and

lift

ed

hi s h

a

t. H

e s m i

l

e

d , t

o

u

c

h

ed

h

i

s

p

oc

kets a nd

th

en

m

oved a fi nge r

a

nd th

u

mb

togeth

e

r

l

r

e

a li

zed that he

wa

n

t

ed

money and that he coul d not sp

ea

k

S

o

,

in

t

he mí

dd J

e

of

the

roa d , I ta lk

e

d a nd he u

se

d

h

is face and hi s

bod

y to

r

e

ply. l

asked a

bo

ut the beetles.

H

e pointed a t

th

e sky and held

hi

s

arm

s

out

.

Ae

r

op

l

ane, of

co

u

rse . H

e pointed at

th

e bee

tles, the

n

a

t me to show 'childr

e

n',

a

nd

wa

v

e

d the beetles ro und hi s

h

ea

d

.

The m

a

n

sa

t c lown a t the s ide o

f

the ro

a

d

a

nd op

e

n

e

d on

e of

his bags. I n s ide

w

e

r

e s

i

x small to

r

tois es

.

My fa vourite was quite

sm a

l l w

ith bright eyes a

n

d a bea utifuJ col ou

r

as ked about the

pr

i

ce

.

T

h

e

R

ose-

b

ee

tl

e

M

an

s h

ow

e

d

m

e

t

e

n

f in

g

e

r

s ,

but

knew

Gr

eek co

untr

y

ways n

ow a

n

d

s

h

ow

ed him rwo.

H

e

s how

e

d me

nin

e fingers; 1 s how

e

d th

r

ee.

H

e thought with

cl

os

ed

e

yes and th

e

n showed me six. 1 off

e

r

e

d five . Roger

l ook

e

d bored. The man th

ou

ght for a minute.

T

h

e

n he gave

me the tortoise.

We na

m

ed

th

e torto

i

se Ac

hilles .

Af

te

r a

f

ew weeks

w

e put

him

o

ut

i

n

c h

e

g

ard

e

n

,

bue

h

e

aJwa

ys

ca

rn

e

t

o

u

s

w

he

n

w

e


10/27


11/27

. .

12

So, for the r

es t of

that su

mm

er and the

w

arm

w

e

t

wi

nt

e

r th

a

t

fo

ll

owed

,

S

p

iro

drov

e me into town every

wee

k and 1

h

ad te

a

with

Th

e

odore .

If

We

wa

lked s ilently down the then Theod

o

re shook

m

y

h

and

an

d

sa

id

go

odbye. He

was

, to

m

e,

a

very

importan

t pe

rso

n

.

H

e knew

a lo

t

,

a nd w

h

en

h

e

s

p

o

ke

t

o

m

e l did n

o

t feel

lik

e

a

c

h

ild.

i

ked him for that.

r

an to

t

ell my family ab

o

u

t

my con

v

e

r

s

a ti

on

1 wanted to see

T

h

eodore ag

a i

n and

to

a sk him ot

h

e

r

qu

es

ti

o

n s,

b

ut

1

was n

o

t

h

op

e

fu

l.

1

w

a

s

wron

g

b

ecau

se two day

s

l

a

t

e

r

L

e

s

li

e

br

o

u

ght

a

s

mall

pa

c

k

et

ba c

k f rorn tow

n

'

I m

et your fr

i

e

nd,' h

e

s a

i

d

"T

his is

for

you.'

[

looked

a

t

th

e

packe

t in

s

urpri

s

e

a

nd

the

n

1

ope

ne

d it

quickl

y

l

n s

id

e

wa

s

a

box

an

d

a

l ette

r

'A h ha

,' h

e sa i

d

, 'yes

u

m

..

. yes.' He

lif

t

e

d

th

e

do

o

r

w

ith a small

pocke

t-knif

e

, l

oo

k

e

d ins

id

e and th

e

n e

t

the

doo

r

fa ll. 'Y

es

,

thi

s is

a

s

pid

e

r

s h

om

e , bur it's empty

The spider

us

uall

y hides ins

i

de and h

old

s th

e

< loor

wit

h her

l

egs

.

When

an

in

sect

wa

lks

p

a

s

t, the spider

op

ens the do

o

r and ca tches

it

.'


12/27


13/27

1 1 1 o ve 1 1 1

e t

T

en

1 6

her

babi

es still on

h

er

b

a ck ,

th

e fema le

s

corpi

o

n c

lim

bed

o

ut

and

w

a

lk

ed on to

L

arry'

s

hand.

L arr

y fe

lt

a moveme

nt

a

nd

looke

d

down

T

h

en

h

e

screarne

d.

L u

gar

et

z

ia dropped

a

pl

a

c e

a

nd Ro

ge

r

ra

n out from under the

t

a

b

l

e .

Larry shook

hi

s h

a

nd and

th

e

scor

pi

o

n l

and

ed on the ta

b

le

b

e tween M

ar

go

a

nd L es

li

e. T

h

e

ba

bie

s

fe

ll

off

as s

he l

a

nded ,

a

nd

they

w

ent eve

rywh

e

re . Th

e

scorpio

n was

n

ow

a

ngry and

ra

n

towa

rd

s L

es

l

i

e

.

He jumpe

d

up

, knoc

k

ed his chair

ov

er, and the

s c

orpion

r

an the

o

ther way towa

r

ds Ma

r

g

o

S

h

e sc

r

eame

d

.

Whil

e

Mot

h

er

put

o

n

her

glasses to see wha

t

the pr

obl

em wa s , Marg

o

thr

ew

a g

la ss

o

f

wa

ter

a

t

th

e s

cor

pion

. Th

e

wat

er hit M

oth

e

r

By

this time

th

e

sco

rpion

wa

s

und

er L es

li

es pi

a

re

an

d t

h

e b

abi

es

w

e

r

e

run

n

i

n

g

ev

e

rywh

e

r

e

.

'I

t

's that boy aga

in

' s

ho

uted Larry

'Be ca

r

eful. Th

ey

'

r

e c

o

ming ' s

cr

eamed Ma

rg

o.

'We n

ee

d

a

bo

o

k

,'

cried Le

sli

e

.

'Hit

the

m with

a book

'

'

What

'

s happ

e

ning?

'

as

ked Mother.

'

One

'

s

comi

n

g towa

r

ds me

...

'

Ro

g

er th

o

u

g

ht

tha

t

we

wer

e in da

n

ger. S ince Lu

g

aretzia was

th

e

o

nl

y

s

t

ran

g

e

r in

th

e

r

oo

m

h

e bit

h

e

r

on

t

h

e

l

eg

Th

a

t

did

n

ot

he

lp much.

W

h

en

everyon

e was

a

litcle calrner

a ga

in

,

all

th

e

babi

es

wer

e

hidin

g

und

er pla

t

es

, knive s an

d spoo

ns .

S

i

nce

Moth

er

agr

eed

with m

e tha

t th

ey musr n

o

t

die , the fa

mil

y

l

efi the

r

oom I spent

half

an

hour with

a s

po

on, picking thern up one

b

y one and

carr

yi

ng them b

a

ck to the ga

rd

en wall.

After this,

L ar

ry c

a

r

efully

op

ened

matc

h

box

e s with

a hand

-

k

e

r

c

hi

ef

ro

und

his

h

a

nd

L u

ga r

e

t

zia

show

ed

us

her

l

eg every

mornin

g, and

Moth

er

d

e

c

i

d

ed

tha

t I

ha

d

t

o

s

tart

les so

n

s agai

n

.

G

e

or

ge was

no

t

o

n

th

e i

s

l

an

d

a

t

the tim

e

a

nd ir

was

not easy

t

o

6nd another teache

r

, so s he as ked a B elgian to teach me

F

r

e

n

ch

.

He was a

ni

ce man w

ith

a s

m

a ll

b

eard and a wo

nd

erfuJ

t

ac

h

e

.

1

did

n

o

t

l

e

a

rn

a n

y

F

ren

c

h

,

but

a

t th

e

e

nd

of th

e

mornín

g

I


14/27

J

1 8

S pring turn

e

d into l ong,

ho

t summer and the fields

t

urn

e

d

brown . T

here was

jui

cy fruir on

th

e trees.

Th

e sea wa

s

calm

and dark and you could see

th

e coas t of Albania a cross

th

e

wate

r

.

P

e

t

e

r

ca

rn e from Oxford to tea ch

m e

. He was a tall, good

-

looking y

ou

ng man with s erious id

e

as

about

s tudying. This was

a

prob

l

e

m

fo

r

m

e

a

t

fir

st but

a

ft

e

r a

fe

w

wee

ks

in

th

e

s

un

h

e

bec

am

e w

arm

er and l

ess se

r

iou

s

.

He

want

ed me

t

o write s orne-

thin

g

eve

ry

d

ay to pra

c

tise my English 1 d

eci

d

e

d to

wri

te a b

oo

k.

Every morning 1 s p

e

nt

a

n hour on my s tory It wa

s

about a

journey round the world with my fami ly, a nd we met every

p

os s

ib l e kind of anima l

.

One day a big ca t j

ump

e

d down on

M oth

e

r;

th

e

nex

t day

L

a

rry fought a da

n

ge rous snake. S orn e-

ti

m

es it was

d

i

ff i

c

ult

t

o save every

p

e

r

s

on in

m

y

fa

mil

y

a

t

th

e

e

nd

of

th

e

hour

While 1

wro

te, P

e

ter and Ma

r

go walk

e

d in the gard

e

n togeth

er

an

d look

e

d

a

t the flowers . From ti

m

e

t

o time P

e

t

er fe

l

t bad a

bout

t

h i s and tr

i

e

d

t

o

t

o

m

e about

nu

mb

e

rs , but this did not

happen of ten

b

ec ause

Mar

go got

m

ore and

mor

e

int

er

es t

ed in

flow

ers.

summ

er c

ontinu

e

d, we u

s e

d our little

boa

t to vi s it a lot o

f

small

i

s

lands n

e

ar the co

as

t. But while 1

fi s

h

e

d and s tudi

e

d the

s e

a

pla

n

ts and a

nimal

s, the

farnil

y

s

oon got bor

e

d. My

birthda

y was

n

ear and

1

decid ed that wanted a b

oat.

J waited fo r a good time

to s

p

eak to L

es

lie.

'Wha

t woul d you li ke to give

me

for my b

irt

h

da

y?'

J

as

k

e

d.

was very bored so

1

en

joye

d

m

y a

ft

ernoo

n

s in

th

e

co

untry

mor

e

tha

n

bef ore.


15/27


16/27

2 2

the

gro

und

w

as

w

et

,

and Larry said that

word

s

wer

e e

no

u

g

h;

h

e

did not

h

ave to

any

thi

n

g. We did not li

s

ten to hi

m

L

arr

y

ca

rri

e

d L

es

l ie's

gu

n

, a

nd

h

e lifted it and s

ho

t

a

t

th

e f irs t

b

ird

h

e

saw

'It's a good i

de

a to put a

bul le

t in

th

e gu

n

,'

s a id Les lie with a

smile

'

I

thought did

th

at

,'

L arry an

s

wered

.

He put bullets

i

nto

t

h

e

g

un.

L a

r

ry wa

s walkin

g

n

ear a

sh

a llow pool w

h

en

anoth

er

bir

d tlew

out. H

e

sho

t

a

t it and

th

e

gu

n hit hi

s s

h

ou

l

d

e

r H

e fell b

ac

k into

th

e p

ool, a

nd

th

e bird

tl

ew a wa

y.

t

oo

k

h

alf

a

n

ho

u

r

to pull mm

out

b

ecause the mud at the bottom of the poo

l

c

am

e up to

h

i

s

s

ho

uld

er

s

.

'

Ar

e you ali

ri

ght?' a

s

ked Margo.

Tm f ine,' s aid L arry

.

'l'm re

a ll

y enJoymg

m

yself My back

hur

ts , m

y sh

o

ulder hu

rts , I

'm

ge

tting

a

c

o

ld

, a

nd

m

y

s

hoes are

a

t

th

e

bo

tt

o

m

o

f

th

a t

mud.'

Wh

e

n we

ar

rived home

,

L

arry

told Luga retzia

to

m

ake a big

fue in

hi

s room and

h

e we

nt to

b

e

d with three bottles o

f

win

e

.

Aft

e

r

a

f

e

w

hour

s

h

e was

s

i

n

g

in

g

h

a

ppil

y

.

'

H

e 's

ha

d too much to drink,'

s

a id

Marg

o

a f te

r

a

vi

s

it to his

r

oom.

Moth

er

went

up

stairs .

L a

rry loo

ke

d at

he

r

'W

ho

a

re you ? ' he

as

ked

,

and f

e

ll

a

s leep.

Ea

rly the next morning Margo

ra

n

in

to Mother's roo

m

"

The

ho

u

se

is

on

fi

re

,' s

h

e

shout

ed

Mother jumped out of bed '

W

ake Gerry up '

L

es l

ie and

1 ra

n out

o

f

o

ur

roo

ms

. 'Wh

a t

's

hap

p

eni

ng?

'

L e s li

e

as

k

ed.

'F ire Larry's on fue ' Margo shouted in

his

ear.

L a

rry

was a s leep in a room full

of

s

m

oke. Mo

th

er s

h

ook him

.

'Wa

k

e u

p

, Lar

ry Wake up '

L

a

rr

y

s

a

t

up

.

'

Wh

a

t

's

th

e

pro

bl

e

m

?

'


17/27

0 t,

24

Sprin

g c

arn

e

again

The fa

mil

y

a

te,

s l

ept

, rea

d

an

d talk

e

d

.

O

n

ce

a

week Spiro broug

ht

o

ur

pos t to

u

s a

n

d we r

ea

d o

u

r l

e

tt

e

rs to t

h

e

oth

ers

.

'Au

nt

Hermio

n

e w

an

ts to

c

o

m

e here,' Mo

th

e

r s a id.

'She

th

ink

s th

at

th

e warm wea t

h

er will be good for her

h

ea

l

t

h

.'

'No,

n

o

' cried

Larry '

Not L u

ga r

et

zia 's mo

uth

Au

nt

He

rmion

e

Tell

her

th

a t

th

e

r

e's no

roo

m he

r

e

.'

'But I

tol

d

h

er that we had a

b

i

g villa

,

dear

,'

s aid Mother.

'We'

v

e got to move

,'

s aid

Larr

y. '

It

's

th

e only

answ

er

.'

'

M

ove

wh

e

re

?'

a sk

ed

Moth

er

'To a s

m

aller

villa

. T

h

en

sh

e c

an'

t c

om

e.'

'But

w

e c

an'

t c

ha

nge vi llas

a l 1 th

e time.'

'It's a good i

de

a,' said L es li

e

.

'lt's v

e

ry s e

n

s ibl e,'

M

arg

o

agreed

So we mov

e

d house again.

Larr

y's

'T

h

e

room

's on f ire,

d

ear

.'

'We U

,

put

wat

er

o

n it

,'

Larry

s

aid he

l

pfuU

y.

'

Mar

go, you find

a

l

ar

ge pot ... '

Larry s tayed in bed a

nd

gave

u

s ord

e

rs .

Whe

n

t

he f ire was out,

th

e room was full o

f

s

rn

oke, b

urn

t wood, water and

e

mpty

bottles

.

'There you are,'

s

aid L arry. 'Ea

s

y

Ca

n

s

omeone bring

m

e a

cup of te

a? l

'

v

e

go

t a

ba

d

h

ea da c

h

e

,

'


18/27


19/27

2 9

This seem ed s ens ibl

e.

knew tha t you co

u

ld not l eave an

E

n

gli

sh pris on

fo

r the

w

eeken

d

,

b

ut this was Corfu.

w

anted to

ask

wh

y he was

i

n prison, but not think of a polite way to

d

o it. Th

e

n we arri

ve

d at hi

s b

oa t. The

r

e was a very

l

a

r

ge bird on

it

1 to

uc

h

ed

i

t

wi

th

m

y b

a

nd

.

'

B

e

ca

r

e

ful

,

h

e

bi

t

es/

th

e

m

an

s

aid

qui

c

kl

y,

but

t

h

e bird

d

id

no

th

in g

'

He likes you ' the man said, s urpris ed.

'

You ca n have him

if y

o

u

wa

nt.

H

e ea

t

s

a lo

r

a

nd

h

e

b

ites the other pr

i so

ne

r

s.'


20/27

The

ho

use was

bu

sy.

F

arme

r

s arrive d with

b

ags

o

f fruir

, vege

t-

a

bles

an

d c

hi

c

k

en

s .

M

arg

o

la

y on

th

e

di

ni

n

g-

roo

rn fl

o

or

a

nd

mad

e

l

a

r

ge

p

i

c

ru

r

es

o

n

bro

w

n

p

a

p

e

r

L

es

li

e

s

t

oo

d in

th

e

m.

iddl

e

of

pi

eces

o

f furnitu

r

e, trying

t

o dec

id

e w

h

e

r

e

t

o put

th

e

m

M

o

ther cooked in the kitchen

wi

th the help

of tw

o local

g

irl s

.

1

we

n

t

from

ro

om

t

o

roo

m and he l

p

ed

if

I could

Upstairs i

n

his

be

dr

o

om L

a

rry was a s lee

p

T

h

e family was

ge

tting

r

ea

d

y for

a

party.

When che day arri

ved,

I found

th

a t so

rn

e of

m

y s na

k

es in

th

e

p

oo

l

o

u

ts

i

d

e

wer

e

kill

i

n

g

th

e

fi s

h.

[

m

ove

d

th

e

s

n

a

k

es to

a

l

ar

ge tin. A l

ittl

e

late

r

1 not

i

ce

d

tha

t the tin

was

in the

s

un

a

nd

the sn

a

k

es

we

re

l

ying

o

n rhe t

o

p of the

wat

er with

o

ut

m

ov

i

n

g

T

h

ey

look

ed

d

ead.

1

ran into the

hou

se with them

Th

e

onl

y way to

sav

e

t

he

m

,

[

ex

plain

ed

t

o M

o

the

r,

w

as

to put

th

em in

a

c

ol

d

bath

M

oth

er

agr

eed and

th

e

sna

kes

soo

n

l

ook

ed berte

r,

1

lefi t

h

e

m

the

r

e and we

nt

o

uts ide a

ga i

n

to

look ar

the

tabl

es

.

In the middle

of

a

b

ea utifuJ

d

is h

of

food

s a t

t

h

e Mage

np

ies.

The

r

e we

r

e

kni

ves and fo

r

ks everywhe

r

e

, a

nd

bottl

es

o

f

b

eer

lay in pieces

o

n

th

e ground.

On

e of

th

e bi

r

ds walked s

lo

wly

to

wards me w

it

h a

flow

er in

hi

s mouth and fe ll

o

ff

th

e table.

They were both o

f

b

ee

r.

M

oth

e

r carne

o

ut.

Aft

e

r

a

f

ew

a

ngry

wor

ds

s

h

e was

c

al

m

e

r

.

'

Ye s 1 d

o

' 1 sa

i

d

'

He killed his wife,'

'

A M

o

ther crie

d

.

'

And

h

e

wa

lks round in t

h

e

fiel

d s .

Ger

ry,

yo

u

rnu

st

n

't

go fuhing

with

h

im.'

In the end s

h

e a

g

reed tha

t

1 could

g

o ifL

eslie ca rne and l

oo

k

ed

a

t the man firs t

.

So after the

n

ext da y's

fis

hing 1

ha

d

pl

e

n

ty of

fo

o

d for

A J

ec

k

o

.

j\1y

my

'

Yo

u

mus

t

cl

ose

the

ir cage,

dea r We ll, I c

an't

reall

y

b

e angry

wi

th


21/27

b

ath

sn

a

k

es.'

3

t

hem they've drunk

too

mu

ch. They don't know what they're

doing.'

1 took the Magenp ies ba ck

t

o the ir cage and o

f

course A lecko

was

not

the

re e

ither 1

hop

e

d

th

at he was on the beach and that

he p

l

ann

e

d to

s

tay

the

re.

The

f ir

st v

i

s itors arri

ve

d. L

es li

e carne out o

f t

he trees after a

f

ew hours o

f

shooting and we

nt into

the house.

S

uddenly

t

here

was a shou

t

.

'What's

th

e matter with

L

es lie?' a

s

ked Mo

th

e

r

H

e arr

i

ved in the ga rden

w

ear

i

ng

onl

y a

s

mall to

w

e l.

Th

e

visitor

s l

ooked at him

'

W

h

a

t

's

th

e

m

a

tt

e

r

d

ea

r

?'

Mot

h

e

r

as

k

e

d

.

'

S

n

akes

' shou

t

e

d

L

es li

e . '

T

h

e i

s o

f

'Why don't you put

s

orne clothes

on,

dea r

. . .

'

'Grea t big

s

nakes ... '

'

I

agreed

th

at G

er

ry

c

ould put

th

em

th

ere, dear. I 'm

sor

ry.

They were ve ry

s

i

c

k

.' Mot

h

e

r

tu

rn

e

d to

th

e

vis

itor

s

to

e

xp

l

ain.

'Really

,

Moth

e

r

'

s

ai

d L

a

rry.

'Don 't yo s

t

art,' said Mother. 'Les lie was the one in the bath

with the snakes, not you .'

I going to ha ve a bath or not? '

L

es lie

as

ked.

'All

r

i

g

ht

,' sa

id

Mother. 'Gerry,

t

ak

e

th

e

snak

es out of

th

e

ba

th

an

d

p

ut

the

m

i

n a pot or

somet

hi

n

g.'

'

O

uts ide

' Les lie

s

houted.

'Don't

s

hout

,

de

ar,

don't

s

hout '

Wh

en 1 re

tu

rned to the garden

,

Larry

was

exp

l

aining

e

v

e

rything to

th

e v

is

it

ors .

'Th

er

e are

animals

in every

c

om

e

r

of

th

e h

ous e,' h

e

w

a

s

s a

yin

g.

" Ther

e are

d

a

n

ge

ro

u

s

s corpions

an

d

wil

d

rnagpi

es

. Ther

e's

d

anger at

an

y

tim

e

o

f

th

e

da

y or

nig

ht.

.

.'

'

W

e

ll

,'

s

aid

M

other qu

i

c

kl

y,

'

l

un

c

h

i

s

r

e

ad

y.'

Wh

en

w

e

l

eft Swítze

rland,

a

m

an carn e to

lo

ok

at

our pass-

Everyone sat down

h

appily . Th

e

n rwo of the vís

í

tors s cream

e

d


22/27

ports. He gave them back

to

M

other

wíth

a p

í

ece o

f

p

a

per

M

other read it. '

Loo

k

a

t th

is

'

s

he

sa

i

d angr

il

y .

L arry

I

ooked

at the p

a

per

a

nd l

a

ughed.

On

the paper, under

o f

w

ere the words:

T

h

e

train

c

ontinu

ed tow

a

rds En

gl

and.

3 4

I

n the end

Moth

er

r

e

ali

zed

tha

t 1

need

ed so

rn

e

r

eal

l

es

s

ons.

S

h

e

dec

i

d

ed to t

ak

e

us bac

k to

Eng and

T

h

e

fa mil

y was

h

a

ppy, bu

t one

day we said goodbye to o

ur

fríends

a

nd

l

eft the

v

illa .

Whe

n

we arrived

a

t the

s

hip, Sp

ir

o

s

hook ou

r

hands with

out

spea

king. T

h

en

h

e

s

to

o

d a

n

d

look

ed at

us .

'

W

ells, goodby es ,'

h

e

s

aid

,

and

h

e

s

tarted to cry. '

I d

idn't w

an

ts to c

r

y,'

h

e

s aid,

'but

lik

es my familys.'

We clímbed on

t

o

t

he

s

h

i

p

a

nd

s

t

art

e

d

a

cro

ss

the s ea . Corfu

s

lowly di

sa

ppeared

a

nd we were ve ry

sa

d

W

e s a t

s

ile

ntl

y

i

n

the rr

a

in w

hil

e it crossed

I

taly

a

nd Swit

ze

rl

a

nd Above our

h

eads

the

M

agenpíes

talk

ed

a

nd A l

ec

ko

s c

re

am

ed

Roger

l

ay

a

t our

e

t

.

and jump

e

d out of th

ei

r

ch

a i

r

s .

·

'Oh d

e

ar

,

now what

's

happ

e

n

e

d?'

M

oth

e

r ask

e

d

'I t's

prob

ably

sco

rpion

s

again,'

Larr

y

s

aid

T

he only p

e

r

s

on who was brave enough to

l

ook und

e

r the

t

a

bl

e was Th

e

odore. 'Ah '

h

e s a id 'It

see

ms

t

o be a l arge

b

l

ac

k

and whit

e bírd

.'

'G

err

y ,

catch

that

bírd '

L

ar

r

y or

de

red

"

Th

e soup

'

s

ge

tti

n

g

c

o

l

d.'

A lecko was

no

t

happ

y .

1

fo u

g

ht

wí

th

hi

m

un

d

e

r t

h

e tab l

e,

and

wh

e

n he was b

ac

k in

h

i s cage I was ho

t

and t

í

red .

We

a

te

an

d we

dr

ank.

Afi:

er th

a

t

the v

is

itor

s

were

too

fuU t

o

d

o

a

nyth

i

n

g

but

l

i

e

a

nd

r

es

t

i

n

t

h

e

ga

r

d

e

n

.

T

ea was

an

o

t

h

e

r

wonderful mea

l

,

a

nd then

w

e l

a

y on t

h

e

gr

ass again

a

nd n í

g

ht

fell .

Th

e sky was soft

a

nd

bl

ac

k.

The

s

me

ll o

f

th

e

tl

owe

r

s was

be

a

utífu

J.

ACTIVITIES


23/27

3 7

Before you read

1

a

d

f

Wh leyou read

a

Part

1 Chapte

rs

1 2

d


24/27

3 9

Before you read

W

hil

e you read

1 2

(

.1)

f

Part 2 Chapters

6 7

f

j

k

After you read

Student A:

Student

38

Before you read

While you read

d

Part

1

Chapt

e

rs 3-5

After you read

b

f

After you read

h


25/27

41

Part 3 Chapters 10-11

Before you read

1 9

be:

Wh

le you read

a

larry

f

Mrs Durrel/: a) .. . ..

b) ..... d) ....

e) .. . ..

Leslie: f) .....

Mrs Durrell:

Larry: g)

..

...

h) .. .

.. (i) .....

Mrs Durrel/: j) ..

18

a

4

f

be

Part 2 Chapters 8

Be

are

yo

u read

15

Whileyou read

16

k

After you read

13

14

d

Afteryou read

After you read


26/27

My

Famlly

and O

t

her

Ani

mal

s

4

Before you read

While

yo

u read

Studen

t

Student

Student

WORD LIST


27/27

beetle

(n ) a

n i

n

s

ect wit

h

a har

d s

hin

y ba

ck

bullet

(n ) a s

mall p

iec

e of m

e

tal t

ha

t

s

hoots out of

a

gun

cab (

n

) a taxi

cage

(n )

a th

ing

for

k

ee

ping

an

a

nim

a

l or

b

ird

i

n

insect (n ) a srnall living thing with six legs

Madame (n) The Fr

e

n

c

h word for or

magpie (n ) a b

lac

k and wh

it

e bird with a long

tail

microscope (n ) a

t

hing

t

hat s c ientists use to look at very sma

ll

r

h

i

n

gs

mud (

n

) ve ry wet earth

pigeon

(n ) a

grey

b

ird

rha

t

of

t

e

n

lives

in

c

i

r

ies

rose

beetle (n ) a beerle thar often eats the l

e

aves of rose p l an ts

scorpion

(

n) a s m all animal with e

i

ght

l

egs and a dange

ro

us sha rp

t

ai

l

snake (n ) a long

t

hin animal w

it

h no legs

spider (n) a small animal w rh eighr legs

t

har c

atc

he s and eats insects

spot

(

n) a small red poin t on a p

e

r

son's skin

streetlamp

(n

) a tal

m e

tal t

h

i

n

g with

a

light

a

t the top

fo

r

li

ghring

a

s

treet

st rng

(n ) s

om

erh

i

n

g

rha

t we

u

s e to tic around things

tortoise (n) a s

l

ow-

r novi

ng

anim

al

tha

r can put

i

ts head and

l

egs ins

i

de

irs hard cover

villa

(

n

) a h

ouse with

a

ga

rden

,

ofte

n

use

d

fo

r

h

o

li

day

s

zoo

(n ) a place

w

he

r

e wiJd

an

imals a

r

e k

ep

t fo r peop

l

e

t

o

s

ee

An

swers

fo

r

th

e A

cnv

uies in this book are available from che

Pen

gwn

Read

ers w

ebsite

.

A free

A

cnviry Worksheet also av a ilable from the websire

.

Acttvny Workshects are

pan of

th

e P

e

ngum Teacher

S

upport Programme.

w

hich inc l udes

P

~ Tests

a

n

d Graded R

eadc

r Guidel

ines

. For more mforrnauon, p

l

ease

Yl S

lt

:

ww

w.pcngum

readers

.c

om.

Documents

052 My Family and Other Animals 1200