Reading Comprehension Методична розробка з теми "Old dog Sirko"

Old Dog Sirko

When Sirko was a young dog,he worked hard on the farm and his master cared for him and fed him well. But now

Sirko was old. He couldn't run fast. He could barely see. He was too tired to herd animals and too deaf to hear intruders.

"What good are you?" the farmer yelled one day. "You're nothing but a nuisance!" Then he took Sirko to the forest and left him there

to fend for himself.

Poor old Sirko! His heart was broken. He was too old and weak to hunt for food, and even if he caught something, he had no teeth to

chew it. The old dog lay down with his head between his paws and moaned.

He thought about the warm farmhouse, about the milk-soaked crusts of bread the farmer's wife used to give him, and about how

the master had praised him. Those times were over now.

"I might as well die," he thought to himself. He lay there for a long time, feeling miserable. Then a wolf sauntered up to him.

"Hey, brother, what are you doing here? It's nearly nightfall. Shouldn't you be getting back to the farmhouse?"

"I'm not welcome there anymore," Sirko replied dejectedly. "The farmer says I'm old and useless. He's banished me to the forest."

"Humans!" exclaimed the wolf. "What about all the work you did for them, protecting their sheep and chickens? All those years of service! Did they forget about that?"

"Well, as long as I was young and strong, they cared for me," said Sirko, "but now they say I'm good for nothing." And with thatthe

old dog began to weep.

"Hey, don't be such a baby," said Wolf. "I can't stand crying. Anyway things may not be as bad as they seem. I have a plan, listen. Sirko stopped sobbing and pricked up his ears."Soon it will be harvest time," began Wolf. "The farmer and his wife will have to workthe fields and they'll bring their new baby along. Now, when the farmer's wife leaves her baby by the bale of straw, I'll run up and grab it. When I reach the edge of the forest, you run

out, take the baby from me, and return it to your master. You'll be a hero they're bound to take you back. Well, what do you say, old boy?"

"It sounds good," said Sirko. Already he felt better.

"Just don't forget whose idea it was," added Wolf.

"Oh, I won't," Sirko assured him.

The next few weeks were difficult. Sirko lived on mice and grasshoppers but he managed to survive. Finally the harvest began.

Things happened just as Wolf had predicted. The farmer and his wife came to the fields, put their baby near a bale of straw, and set to work. Wolf sneaked up, seized the child, and took off running.

The baby began to scream and when the farmer's wife saw what

was happening, she too began to wail She ran after the wolf, waving her arms in the air and yelling.

"Husband, husband, help!" she cried, "the wolf has stolen our baby!" The husband grabbed a pitchfork and he began to chase

the wolf too. But the wolf ran faster and as he approached the woods, the farmer and his wife began to lose heart.

Just then Sirko leaped out at the wolf. Wolf dropped the baby and the two animals pretended to tussle with each other for a few moments. Then Wolf took off into the woods with his tail between his legs. Sirko picked up the baby and brought it to his master.

"Oh, Sirko, you have saved our baby," cooed the wife. She knelt down and gave the old dog a big hug.

"Such a brave dog," exclaimed the farmer. "I was wrong to turn you out Sirko. From now on, we will treat you like a king."

So Sirko returned home with the farmer and his wife. They made him a new bed of goose down close to the fire, and every day the

farmer's wife brushed the old dog until his coat glistened. At mealtime, Sirko sat on a chair next to the farmer and ate whatever

the farmer and his wife ate. The farmer's wife even cut Sirko's food into tiny pieces so he wouldn't have to chew.

Being a loyal creature, Sirko remembered his debt to Wolf, and every day he brought scraps of food to the edge of the forest for his friend. But Wolf was not impressed.

"What? Stale bread again?" Wolf spit his food to the ground. "Don't you know it's almost winter? I need meat! It's getting harder and harder to find food in these woods. The least you could do is bring me a little piece of mutton or calf. After all, wasn't I the one who saved your life? You owe me one, paldon't you forget it."

Well, at first Wolf's ingratitude disturbed Sirko. Then he had an idea.

"Perhaps I can repay you for your deed, my friend," said the dog. "Next week the master and mistress will have a christening for

their young one. They have promised to prepare a huge feast.

If I sneak you into the house, you can have your fill of whatever your heart desires."

"Now you're talking," said Wolf. His mouth began to water at the mere thought of all that food.

The feast day came. All week the farmer's wife had been preparing foodroast pork, stewed mutton with cabbage, smoked

sausages, fresh loaves of bread, little sweet cakes for dessert, and bottles and bottles of wine. Soon the guests arrived and oh, what fun they were having! Nobody saw Sirko sneak the wolf into the house. Nobody noticed Sirko helping himself to the food and dragging it under the table where Wolf hid.

"Mmm-mm," the wolf smacked his lips and gobbled up all the food Sirko brought. Sirko went out for more, and more again.

Wolf devoured it all. Finally, he was so full he could eat no more.

"Whew, I'm thirsty," said Wolf. "Can't you find me something to drink?"

So Sirko brought Wolf a bottle of wine. The wolf guzzled it down in an instant.

"More!" he bellowed.

"Shh! Not so loud, my friend," cautioned Sirko, "someone might hear you." Off he went to fetch another bottle of wine.

Wolf drained the second bottle as fast as he had drained the first, and now he was quite tipsy. The guests were too.

Someone brought out a bandura and began to play. The

others threw their arms round one another and began singing. When Wolf heard this, a tear came to his eye.

"Oh, such a beautiful song," he said, "I must sing along."

"No, no, please," begged Sirko, "they'll hear you."

But Wolf could not contain himself. When the guests got to the chorus, he burst out howling.

"What?!" The singing stopped and everyone started screaming, "A wolf, a wolf, kill him!"

They grabbed brooms and mops and began beating on the furniture. Sirko had to think fast. He snarled and pushed Wolf out

from under the table and started wrestling with him. The guests gathered around them and raised their weapons.

"Please don't hurt our Sirko," cried the farmer's wife.

"She's right. Let Sirko handle it," said the farmer. "He knows what to do.”

So the people backed away and Sirko pushed the wolf out the door an all the way to the woods. There they stood panting for a few moments. The Sirko spoke.

"You saved my life, Wolf, but now I've saved yours," he said. "I think we're even." Then he ran back to the house. There everyone shouted, ''Hurray for Sirko!" and patted him and stroked the old

dog's head. The farmer and his wife were so proud. Sirko wagged his tail. Needless to say, they all lived happily ever after.

Match

Match antonyms

Complete the sentences

When Sirko was young, he… .

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Sirko felt… when he lost home.

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Then Wolf had… .

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Sirko ate…in the forest for few weeks.

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The farmer took…and started to chase the wolf.

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Then Sirko brought Wolf home and Wolf sat… .

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Where did Sirko live?

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Why did his master take him from home?

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What did Sirko and Wolf waited for?

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Who gave the baby back?

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What did Wolf drink?

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Why did everyone notice Wolf?