Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow

My husband Peke and I were staying in a holiday house overlooking the beautiful, lush rainforests of Indonesia. The glass walls framed a fine view across the Bagon Valley to what had been the summer

palace of President Suharto.

The first morning we strolled hand in hand up a winding pathway, heading to the

main building for breakfast. But once we arrived at the dining room, I realized 5 we'd forgotten your money, so I volunteered to run back to the house. Making my way down the path I turned the last comer only to find a giant bird, similar to an em, standing outside our front door:

"Hey baby, what are you doing I cooed, moving slowly so as not to frighten it. Having a deep, abiding

fascination with all creatures great and small, I wanted a 10

closer look. This was my first mistake

As I came within a few meters, he took a big breath and let out a nasty hiss, stopping me in my tracks

"That's not very friendly," I said, chcless. He hissed again and I promptly made the second mistake of turning and running, instead of backing away slowly. As I 15

rounded the corner I heard his razor-sharp claws scrabbling on the cobblestones. "Oh!"

His steps sounded like a drum as they hit the ground, quickly coming too close for comfort. I suddenly changed direction and headed into the trees, Dodged in and out of the foliage, I hoped my tactic would fool him. A crash behind me indicated no 20

such luck.

Jumping over a small bush, I found myself out in the open and not far from the dining room Picking up

speed. I bolted over the plants and rockeries surrounding the perimeter and dashed through the gate 25

When I turned to close it, the bad was nowhere to be seen.

I didn't realize it and at the time, but I had just come face to face with a cassowary, a bird also found in Australia"s north Queensland rainforests. Cassowaries weigh 55 kilos or more, stand about 180

centimeters tall and have saber-like toenails that can open a human from chin to groin like a zipper and

kill humans,

"What"s wrong?" Pele asked as I stimbled hack into the dining room

"A big bird chased me all the way from the house," I replied. "What?" he asked

incredulously. "You're scared of a bird" "It's as big as me and very mean," 1 xaid in a rather sulky voice. "Oh all right," he laughed. ""ll come with you."

Much to Pele's amusement, I stayed behind him on the path and held onto the back of his shirt as we approached the corner of the house. See! There it

Is Look at the size of the thing!"

Pele chuckled at the hysteria in my voice. It's all right," he soothed. Calmly and confidently 40

he walked toward the cassowary.

Shoo! Go on, get out," he said

He made actions with his arms as if it were a pigeon on a window ledge. The response of the cassowary was the sane as before: a big hiss and a step forward. "Hmm," said Pele and stopped, not

so sure of himself. He tried again. "Go on." The cassowary then ran a few paces at us, hissing aggressively, so we quickly retreated around a corner

of the house. Pele picked up a rock the size of his hand and

45

threw it hard, hitting the bird squarely in the chest. It didn't budge "What are we going to doI pleaded. This time, Pele picked up a cane clair. "Stay behind and

rl keep him back. When we get to the door, open it."

Again I held on to the bock of his shirt and we started towards the door. This greatly displeased the already annoyed cassowary. Charging at us he ripped at the chair with 50

those lethal claws. Pele stopped to stay the chair- and possibly his resolve. Pele threw the chair at the bird and slammed the door shut.

Ducking the flying cane, the hird ran straight at the glass wall, only to bounce off.

But it didn"t skow down at all. Pecking and scratching at the glass, it continued the

sickening ferocity

55

assault with a

It was another 15 minutes before the bird weakened and slowed its attack. Thirty minutes later, we quietly opened the door and crept back to the main building.

(a) Give the meanings of the following words as used in the passage. One word

answers or short phrases will be accepted.

strolled (line ) fascination (line 10)

tii) foliage (Jine 20)

131

30

35

(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words

What was Pele"'s wife's first mistake when she saw the hird?

How did the bird renct to the lady"s third mistake

What did she do after this reaction of the bird?

(IV) Describe the Cassowary.

12] 12)

121 (V) Why did Pele find the situation amusing at first? Why did he change his attitude 121

(c) With close reference to the last paragraph of the extract and in not more than 60 words describe how the couple got into their room when they were together

​

Answer 1

Answer:

idk

Explanation:

u tell me