YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
The Old Cattle Dog
“There's nothing else for it. You'll have to go up and get him.” Dad was cross.
His old cattle dog, Brek, was sitting at the top of the hill. The hill was high and steep.
Brek wouldn't come down until he heard Dad's whistle. But Old Brek was deaf.
Brek is 18, which makes him 126 if you change human years into dog years. No one
believes Brek is so old. But Dad knows. Dad says Brek has lived a hard life. Brek has
had lots of kicks from strong cattle hooves. Dad says Brek always stares the cattle down.
He always makes the cattle do what Dad wants them to do. Brek never shows the cattle
he's scared of them.
Brek sleeps in the woolshed on a mattress. He eats only soft food; his teeth are worn
down from years of gnawing on bones. Brek needs exercise every day, to keep his joints
from getting too stiff.
Dad has a sore leg and can't climb the hills any more. He says he knows what it feels like
to get old and he worries about Brek. Dad says he and Brek are very much alike; neither
of them can move as easily as they used to. Dad says that if you've been proud to have a
dog walking behind you for 18 years, the least you can do is look after him in his old age.
We had been moving cattle from one paddock to another. Brek was a good cattle dog.
Good cattle dogs always check for stragglers — those that stay behind after the others
have been moved out. Old Brek had never left a straggler; he always checked, then
waited for Dad's whistle. Brek didn't know that he was deaf. So there he sat on top of a
steep, high hill, waiting.
Dad stuck his head out of the truck window and whistled again. Old Brek stood, watching
and checking the back paddock for stragglers. Dad turned to me and said “You'll have to
go up for him. He can't hear me so he won't move. Be careful now. I'll wait right here.”
“No problems Dad,” I called as I started off, straight up the hill.
“Heel, Brek! Heel!” I yelled as I came to the crest of the hill. Faithfully, Brek heeled, and
with one last look towards the back paddock, he headed down the hill to Dad.
From The old cattle dog by P. Kessler
Wait for your teacher.
Read The Old Cattle Dog and then answer questions 1–10.
1
You’ll have to go up and get him.
Dad says this because Brek is
b
b
b
b
2
too old to move.
too deaf to hear.
paragraph 1.
paragraph 2.
paragraph 3.
paragraph 6.
In paragraph 2, Brek stares the cattle down in order to
b
b
b
b
4
too disobedient.
Which paragraph best shows that Brek and Dad worked as a team?
b
b
b
b
3
too far away.
hide his fear.
calm the cattle.
control the cattle.
watch what happens.
The text says Brek was a good cattle dog because he
b
b
b
b
works when he is old.
takes care of the cattle.
will wait until he is called.
doesn’t quit until the job is done.
1
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
5
Dad says if you’ve been proud to have a dog walk behind you for 18 years the least you can
do is look after him in his old age.
Explain what Dad means.
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6
Dad stayed in the truck because
b
b
b
b
7
they needed him to drive.
he was too old to climb hills.
He can move cattle.
He responded to the son.
He waited for Dad’s whistle.
He came when Dad called him.
The short sentences are used throughout this story because.
b
b
b
b
9t
Brek would not come.
How does the reader know that Brek was not completely deaf?
b
b
b
b
8t
his son was busy.
they build suspense.
they persuade readers.
the Dad speaks like that.
the son is telling the story.
This story is about
b
b
b
b
pride.
loyalty.
honesty.
obedience.
2
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
10
What do you know about the son after reading this story?
Explain why you believe this.
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3
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
Annie's story: a thriller or a tragedy?
On October 24, 1901, dragged by the rapid currents
of the Niagara River, a small oak barrel sped toward
the very brink of Niagara Falls. Thousands of onlookers held their breath. Inside was a 63 year old
school teacher. Annie Edson Taylor could hear the
roar of the falls become louder and louder.
Few others ever attempted this dangerous stunt. Fewer
still survived. While not rewarded while she lived,
Annie Edson Taylor remains the only woman to go
over the falls alone. Her name goes down in history as
the first in the list of daredevils who have survived
Niagara falls.
Why would a quiet widow risk her life in such an
extraordinary stunt?
Annie had no savings and no real home. She needed
money to retire. She wanted to make that money–a
fortune–by being the first person to survive the “Falls”.
No one had done it before and survived. With little
financial support, some clever planning, and a great
deal of determination, Annie executed her plan. She
climbed into a barrel lined with only a thin mattress, the
lid was screwed down, and the barrel filled with air.
The barrel was towed out into the eddying current. Her
fate was sealed.
The gathered on-lookers were positive the stunt would
end in tragedy. Even if the flimsy barrel did not smash
into pieces, the force of the fall would surely kill the
strongest man. How could an old lady survive such an
impact?
The barrel paused, teetered and dropped. Inside Annie
became weightless as she plunged over the edge,
falling fifty metres into the turbulent waters below.
Onlookers held their breath. Seconds ticked past.
Nothing could be seen in the churning waters below the
falls. Finally the barrel bobbed to the surface. It had
survived and was dragged to shore. But surely no
human could have survived the fall.
As the barrel was opened, a by-stander cried out “My
God, she's alive!” With little more than a cut on her
forehead, Annie climbed from the barrel.
Read Annie’s Story and then answer questions 11–18.
11
The author suggests Annie Edson Taylor was
b
b
b
b
12
desperate.
misguided.
teaching school.
selling her story.
saving her wages.
begging for money.
Annie Edson Taylor’s barrel ride over Niagara Falls made her
b
b
b
b
14
reckless.
Annie planned to make money by
b
b
b
b
13
foolish.
the only woman to survive.
the first person to attempt this feat.
the first barrel rider to be successful.
the only female barrel rider to try Niagara Falls.
People were surprised that Annie was alive after her stunt because
b
b
b
b
she was a woman.
her forehead was bleeding.
other people had died trying.
they didn’t expect anyone to survive.
4
For a short time after her death-defying stunt, Annie
made money selling photos of herself and signing
autographs. However the fortune she sought did not
eventuate. Annie appeared far too old and frail to have
survived the falls. People doubted her story.
Annie gave up trying to make money from her daring
feat. She died penniless 20 years after her historymaking ride.
Successful 'Barrel Riders'
1901: Annie Edson Taylor
1911: Bobby Leach
1928: Jean Lussier,
1961: William Fitzgerald (a.k.a. Nathan Boya)
1984: Karel Soucek
1985: Steven Trotter
1985 and 1993: John Munday
1989: Peter De Bernardi and Jeffrey Petovich (together)
1995: Steven Trotter and Lori Martin (together)
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
15
How did the bystanders feel when the barrel was opened?
b
b
b
b
16
fortunate
disappointed
She wanted too much money.
People did not believe her story.
All her money was spent on the barrel ride.
Annie was not the first person to survive the falls.
Annie’s stunt earned her
b
b
b
b
18
amazed
Why did Annie Edson Taylor fail to achieve what she wanted?
b
b
b
b
17
lively
many awards.
lots of money.
a place in history.
praise from her peers.
Explain why the author of this text used the title Annie’s story: a thriller or a tragedy.
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5
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
Project Guardian Angel
RSPCA
®
8000 animals need a home this Christmas
Will you be their Guardian Angel?
This is Buzz. He is one of 106 badly neglected dogs
seized from a puppy factory. His long hair was matted,
he was infested with fleas and his skin was badly
inflamed. When he arrived at the RSPCA, Buzz was
barely recognisable as a dog, let alone a poodle.
Poor Buzz was in so much pain he had to be sedated
before treatment could even begin. After clipping and
a medicated bath, his red-raw skin was treated. Even
with his scrawny body, the newly cleaned Buzz began
to look like the handsome fellow he really was.
Buzz
Buzz was placed in foster care where he received
medication, a healthy diet and love – basic necessities that
he had yearned for, but was so cruelly denied. Little by little a poodle started to emerge,
and so too did his personality.
Sadly, Buzz's story is one of thousands shared by abandoned and neglected animals
across the state. This Christmas over 8000 'orphans' will rely on the RSPCA to help heal
their wounds, fill their tummies and find them homes. Each one of these animals will cost
the RSPCA approximately $110 a week to care for them.
To help us to continue to provide this vital care we're asking for your support by
becoming a Guardian Angel and sending your donation to the Guardian Angel Project
appeal.
By donating, you will be showing animals like Buzz what it feels like to be loved at a time
when they need it most. Whether your gift is small or large, it will make a difference to
animals just like Buzz.
Angel Ambassadors
Donate online
Read Guardian Angel and then answer questions 18–28.
19
This text was written by
b
b
b
b
20
Guardian Angel.
donate money.
adopt an animal.
take care of Buzz.
look after their pets.
lost.
stolen.
rescued.
fostered.
Buzz needed a Guardian Angel because he was
b
b
b
b
23
RSPCA.
In the first paragraph, the word seized means that Buzz was
b
b
b
b
22
Pauly.
The purpose of this text is to encourage people to
b
b
b
b
21
Buzz.
neglected.
dangerous.
badly behaved.
badly groomed.
In the first paragraph, the words let alone are used to show Buzz looked
b
b
b
b
very lonely.
like he was in pain.
nothing like a poodle.
recognisable as a dog.
6
Or call
1300 RSPCA1
Read Pauly's story or tales of
many other animals cared for by
the RSPCA.
click here >
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
24
Which description is used to show the effects of Buzz bath?
b
b
b
b
25
his red-raw skin
handsome fellow
love
medicine
healthy diet
a regular bath
The quotation marks used around ‘orphans’ indicate that
b
b
b
b
27
scrawny body
Which of the following would help to treat Buzz’s scrawny body?
b
b
b
b
26
treatment
someone is speaking.
additional information is given.
it is an unusual use of the word.
the word orphans is quoted from another text.
Vocabulary is chosen in this text as a persuasive device. Read the expressions below.
In the space beside each, explain why it might persuade a reader.
infested with fleas .......................................................................................
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rely on the RSPCA......................................................................................
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your support ...........................................................................................
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your gift, small or large ..............................................................................
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28
The cost of caring for an animal for a week is used as a persuasive device.
This information is given as evidence of
b
b
b
b
how expensive it is to have a pet.
how much care the animals receive.
how much money it takes to care for animals.
how the RSPCA raises money to care for animals.
7
YEAR 7 Reading and Viewing
29
The Angel Ambassadors section of the website gives
b
b
b
b
other examples like Buzz.
information about the RSPCA.
the phone number of the RSPCA.
names of people who have helped.
8