READ AND ANSWER
A. 1. Read the following quotes and answer the questions given below.
a. 'City folk think we can always use another barn cat or dog........And, you she said, sometimes they're right.
(i) Who said the above words?
Answer: These words have been said by Fern Carlson.
(ii) Who does 'we' refer to?
Answer: People who live in farms i n countryside.
(iii) Why did 'city folk' think the people who lived there could always use another barn cat or dog?
Answer: Because the farms had large grounds and were comfortable for pets who had out-grown apartments in city
(iv) Why does the speaker say, 'And you know..... sometimes they're right."
Answer: She feels that area as large as their residence could do with an extra creative to guard it.
b. 'I'm not going to put the children through that again!" "All right,'...'we'll keep him as long as it takes to fix him up. Then we'll find a home for him.'
(i) Who said the above words and to whom were they said?
Answer: These words were said by Fern Carlson to Howard Carlson as they conversed to each other.
(ii) What was the person not going to put the children through again?
Answer: Her children had gone through a lot of mental trauma when their pet had died and she wanted to avoid it.
(iii) Who is 'him and why did he need to be fixed up?
Answer: He was a large pup found at the door step on a Christmas eve. He had been shot and the bullet had peeled its scalp, leaving it bleeding.
(iv) How did they fix him up and what did they plan to do with him when he was well?
Answer: They washed the wound with hydrogen peroxide to help it heal. They planned to keep him till hi was healthy again and then they would find a home for him.
c. "Well, when do you want me to get rid of the dog?' There was a moment of strained silence; then they broke up laughing. "I've already named him,' she said. 'I call him King because he's become king of the farm."
(i) Who asked the question and who was he speaking to?
Answer: Howard asked the question. He was speaking to his wife, Fern.
(ii) Why was there a strained silence?
Answer: Because in the beginning Fern had not been the in favour of keeping the pup and Howard had agreed to it. But now he wanted the pup to stay and feared that Fern would not want it.
(iii) Why did they all laugh?
Answer: Because Fern also wanted to keep the pup and they were all happy about it.
(iv) Why was the dog named 'King'?
Answer: Because they felt that he had begun to rule over of all the animals at the farm.
d. 'He owns the place," ......and feels responsible for everything on it. Of course, if he'd had good sense, he'd have gone outside as soon as he smelled smoke. But he has something better than good sense.'
"What's that?"
(i) Why does the speaker say the dog owns the place?
Answer: Because he was considered an important member of the family and it was as much his home as theirs.
(ii) How had the dog shown that he was actually responsible for everything?
Answer: When he smelt smoke, he had broken the kitchen door, and woke Pearl up. Later when he realised Howard was still in the burning house, he refused to leave the house and Fern realised that something was wrong.
(iii) What, according to the speaker, should the dog have done when he smelt the smoke?
Answer: He should have gone out to save his life.
(iv) What did the speaker mean when she said, 'But he has something better than good sense.' What did the dog have that was better than 'good sense'?
Answer: Sense of belonging, loyalty and love.
A. 2. Answer the following questions briefly.
a. Where did the Carlsons live?
Answer: Granite falls, Washington, on the western slopes of Cascade Mountains.
b. How did they spend Christmas Eve every year?
Answer: They spent Christmas eve with Howard's sister who lived close by.
c. What did the Carlsons see near their front door when they reached home on the night of Christmas Eve 1975?
Answer: He was large, injured pup with a tag indicating that he had received a rabies inoculation.
d. What caused the fire in the Carlson's house?
Answer: There was a trouple with the microwave oven that caused the circuit breaker to trip several times. They fire may have sparked there but the exact reason was not known.
e. Who was the first person, King alerted when the fire broke out?
Answer: Pearl was the first person King alerted when the fire broke out.
f. Why was Howard Fern's first concern, and what did she do to save him?
Answer: Howard was her first concern because he had problems with his lungs and was in maximum danger. She led him to the window and told him to jump.
g. Why did king not jump out of the window when Fern told him to jump and how did he warn Fern that Howard was still inside the house?
Answer: He had realised Howard was still in the house so he ran towards the master bedroom, making Fern understand that Howard needed help.
h. Who was the last to leave and why did he not budge till everyone was out of the burning house?
Answer: King was the last to leave because he felt he was a part of the family and was responsible for their safety.
i. King was locked out of the house as usual as he stayed in the recreation room every night. How had King got into the house when it started burning and how did the Carlsons solve this mystery?
Answer: King had chewed through the plywood of the kitchen door and got inside. The mystery was solved when he refused food and on examining his mouth, wood splinters were found running through the length of his jaw.
j. What award did King receive?
Answer: He was presented with the Ken-L Ration Dog Hero Award of the year with a gold-plated collar and leash and $ 1000/- savings bond.
