1. Unit 1 Endearing animals

2. Task 1: Look at the following pictures. What are they? And what do you think of them? Then think what’s the relationship between people and animals.

8. Task 2: See the next picture. What’s wrong? And who hurt it?

10. Animals are human’s friends. We live on the same planet and share the same natural resources. Animals play an important role in our lives. However, many animals are suffering from people’s maltreatment and ignorance. The living conditions of wild animals are greatly damaged by human activities.

11. Vocabulary: Find out the names of baby animals. cat ------- donkey--- dog------- cow------ chicken--- goose---- pig-------- lion------ sheep---- kittenfoal puppycalf chickgosling pigletcub lamb

12. Reading comprehension: Those endearing animals Pre-reading tasks: a. Do you or your family have pets? Share your experiences. b. Why do people keep pets? ; c. Do young people and old people keep pets for the same reasons?

13. Language points ： 1. dampen v. 1) to making something slightly wet e.g. The rain had dampened the tent so we left it to dry in the afternoon sun. 2)to make feelings of excitement or enjoyment less strong e.g. Nothing will dampen her enthusiasm in promoting “ green eating”.

14. 2. declaw v. to remove the claws e.g. The dog needs declawing, or it may hurt children. 3. diaper n. a piece of soft cloth or paper put between a baby’s legs to hold liquid and solid waste. e.g. The baby was wearing a diaper.

15. 4. endearing adj. inspiring affection e.g. Shyness is one of her most endearing qualities. 5. littermate n. a member of a group of baby animals that a mother gives birth to at the same time e.g. This doggie is the strongest one among all his littermates.

16. 6. nuzzle v. to gently rub your nose against someone to show you like them e.g. The horses were nuzzling up against each other. 7. sole adj. being the only one e.g. He is the sole survivor of the crash.

17. 8. stroke v. to move your hand gently over something e.g. He reached out and stroked her cheek tenderly. 9. trim v. to make something neat or smooth e.g. I have my hair trimmed every six weeks.

18. 10. tuck v. to put something into a convenient narrow space e.g. She tucked an unruly lock of hair behind her ear.

19. Reading comprehension: Those endearing animals One day when I went to the vet a routine visit for one of the dogs, he seemed so down. Since we are friends, I asked him why he was so blue. He put his arm around me and led me to look at something.

20. 1.vet : a doctor whose job is to check what’s wrong with the animals e.g. Tomorrow morning my mother will take my little dog to see the vet. 2.down: disappointed e.g. Tom was down because he didn’t pass the examination. 3.blue: unhappy e.g. Mary’s father didn’t come to visit her according to the plan, so she was blue.

21. In one of the hospital cages was a small box. Inside was a tiny bit of white fur, perhaps two ounces in weight, covered with dampened cotton. I lifted the cotton batting and looked at the baby. It was the tiniest kitten I had ever seen.

22. In one of the hospital cages was a small box. Inside was a tiny bit of white fur… Inversion: In 1859 there came a war between the two countries. Only in this way can our honor be saved!

23. Her eyes were open and blue so she was at least two weeks old. Every bone showed through her paper-thin skin. She was in the last stage of starvation and not responding. She had been abandoned with her littermates and was the sole survivor.

24. I gently touched her and put her in my hand. There was no response from her at all. The collie I had brought in, Brandy, began to whine and whimper, and lowered my hand with the kitten in it. collie: 柯利狗，长毛牧羊犬

25. Brandy began to lick the babe and the kitten whimpered ever so softly. Brandy was a huge black- coated collie, a male. A retired show dog and number one defender of the house and all who lived there. Brandy was almost totally blind as well!

26. I took the starving infant home with me, knowing she would die, but at least not be alone. And so it began. I often carried her, wrapped in a diaper, inside my pocket. There she would be easy to stroke and stimulate, and would be warm and feel movement at the same time.

27. Brandy followed me everywhere often nuzzling the pocket in which she slept. When she was in my lap for a feed, Brandy would stand there watching and then wash her from tiny head to toe. lap: area formed by the upper part of a seated person( 人坐着时）大腿的上方

28. A week went by and she lived…and she began to gain and grow. One day, to my surprise, after a feed, Brandy picked her up in his huge jaws, took her to the rug and curled up with “Sammy” under his chin, tucked into his coat for warmth.

29. And so it was that Sammy was being reared by a male collie… a blind one at that. Her need to nurse was great and she often sucked on any part of him that she could reach, raising painful blisters on his skin. He adored her and allowed her anything.

30. She was able to nurse from a bottle later as she became stronger. Hard to say what Sammy thought he was, but he was her world and she did whatever babies do!

31. She developed some color on her head and tail and was a calico cat, although mostly pure white. At full growth she only weighed three pounds, a tiny but full grown cat! calico: printed cotton fabric 印花棉布 calico cat: 花斑猫

32. Sammy responded to her name as any dog would! She came when called, ran to the door with the dogs when someone came in. She sat and begged for food as they did, when I was preparing meals in the kitchen. Her chosen “Person” was my son, her God was Brandy!

33. Paraphrase: In the cat’s eyes, my son was her favorite person, and Brandy, the dog, was the one who could protect her and was highly respected by her.

34. Inside or outside this big black dog and tiny white cat were always together. She got along well with all the dogs, and played with the newest puppies. She was the one and only animal EVER to be allowed on my husband’s bed, his chair or HIS LAP! How she accomplished that will remain a secret forever. She was high-spirited, playful and very loving. She did all and saw all and lived life to the fullest. She loved the children and never had to be declawed, although her nails were kept trimmed. She was wonderful!

35. Paraphrase: She knew how to show her care for the children and prevent hurting them by her claws and nails. So I don’t have to declaw her though I trimmed her nails.

36. She and Brandy lived long and well. Was she different because of him? Perhaps. I don’t question it. Her life was a gift…a miracle. But for him she would certainly have died. His love for her was what made her live. After Brandy’s death, at the age of 12 years, Sammy changed a bit. She became quieter. I guess she grew up she missed him dearly. In time, it was not unusual to see Sammy in a litter box, mothering the newborn pups.

37. Paraphrase: It is an unusual case that she could survive. It is something uncommon. She would have died if there had not been this dog who took good care of her.

38. It seems that the cycle of love carried on and it was beautiful to behold.

39. Paraphrase: The cat was reared by the dog. Now the cat took care of the pups. This is a cycle of love. The author was very happy to see this situation and thought it was a heart-warming event.