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Just Back: The Tears of a Rhino

(Read Nicky Thomass moving encounter

with one of Africa's endangered animals)

By Nicky Thomas

(The Daily Telegraph)

Read the text carefully, paying attention to the underlined words. Can you

figure out their meanings just by looking at their context?

Have a look at the explanations below. Look at each words pronunciation

and meaning (and the example in a sentence).

Try to make a sentence with each new word. Why not, write a short

composition using these words (you can re-tell the story or invent a new

story).

We come around the corner of the rutted dirt track, and see him standing proudly in

the dusk by the lake. A rhinoceros, I exclaim, but then, what happened to his

horn? The ranger quietly replies, He was dehorned to stop poachers. We ask no

more questions and the drive continues past termite mounds and a herd of kudu

grazing. That night we dine outside in the soft darkness of an African winter, by a

large campfire under trees festooned with lights. Our plates are laden with game stew

and sosaties (kebabs), followed by rich, creamy desserts.

Next morning, driving in the crisp early light, we spot zebras warming themselves in

the suns rays, herds of eland and giraffes grazing on distant trees. We pass through

double gates into a land of grass, thorn bushes and trees the predators side of the

reserve. The ranger stops and cautiously moves the vehicle forward. Three lions laze

on the grass with cubs tumbling around, clambering over their father and pestering

their mother to play. They look like Andrex puppies until one pads past us. Movingpast the lions, we spot a solitary bull elephant, tearing greedily at acacia trees. This

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eland = n. a large African antelope

to graze [greiz] = v. a paste; to feed on growing grasses and herbage

to laze [leiz] = v. a lenevi; to be lazy; loaf: laze around the house;

He lazed the afternoon away in a hammock.

to clamber up [klmb ] = v. a se catara

to climb with difficulty, especially on all fours: We clambered up the hill.

to pester = v. a bate la cap; to harass with petty annoyances; bother

The children pester me all the time to give them sweets.

greedy [gri:di] = a. lacom1. excessively desirous of acquiring or possessing, especially wishing to possess more

than what one needs or deserves

2. wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume; gluttonous

3. extremely eager or desirous: greedy for the opportunity to prove their ability.

to set off = v. a porni la drum

to label [leib l] = v. a eticheta (un ambalaj); a eticheta pe cineva

1. to mark with a label

2. to describe or classify in a word or phrase to label someone a liar

crafter = n. a creator of great skill in the manual arts: The jewelry was made by

internationally famous craftsmen.

jewellery (British English) = jewelry (American English) = bijuterii

to hack = v. 1. to cut or chop with repeated and irregular blows: He hacked down the

saplings.

2. to gain access to (a computer file or network) illegally or without authorization: He

hacked the firm's personnel database.

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to browse[ brouz] = v. 1. to inspect something leisurely and casually: We browsed

through the map collection for items of interest.

2. to read something superficially by selecting passages at random: They browsed

through the report during lunch.

3. to look for information on the Internet.

Grammar:

Look at the verbs in the above text; the narrator uses Present Tense Simple to

express actions that happen in the present.

Look at the adverbs of frequency used with Present Tense Simple: often,

seldom, sometimes, frequently, etc.

Now try to fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verbs in simple

present tense (do not forget to put an s for the 3 rdperson singular (look

looks; say says; play plays; fly flies; cry cries, watch watches):

1) Julia (sometimes, sell) _______ _______ lemonade on hot days.

2) Thomas (often, play) _______ _______ baseball after school.

3) My neighbor (never, paint) _______ _______ his house; it looks terrible!

4) The students (eagerly, leave) _______ _______ their classrooms when the bell

rings.

5) Mrs. Gomez (quickly, water) _______ _______ the plants when she (get) _______

home at five o'clock.

6) Each night, Serena (kindly, help) _______ _______her little sister with geography

homework.

7) Stuart (happily, play) _______ _______video games with his friends on Saturdays.

8) Joan and Nate (patiently, wait) _______ _______ for the bus to arrive each day.

9) The jazz musicians in our town (frequently, win) _______ _______ competitions.

10) The merry-go-round (slowly, come) _______ _______ to a stop every five

minutes.

Answer Key:

1) sometimes sells 2) often plays 3) never paints 4) eagerly leave 5) quickly waters,

gets 6) kindly helps 7) happily plays 8) patiently wait 9) frequently win 10) slowly

comes.