Homework:
1: What kind of pets does Gabriel have?
2: What do the pets do most of the day?
3: Do the pets need food every day?
4: What kind of food do the pets especially like?
5: How doe the pets fall asleep?
Text:
GABRIEL:
My name is Gabriel and I’m eleven soon. The girl is called Trixie and the guy is Pete.
TORTOISES: Hi there!
GABRIEL: When I was smaller, I wanted a cat or a dog but mum was allergic to them.
Then we saw some tortoises and we thought that they might be ok because they don’t have fur. They are land tortoises and originally they come from Greece.
PETE: Where’s my Greek beach? Eeeh, there’s only grass and leaves here!
PETE: Hey Trixie, are you going in there … Will you give me a kiss in there?
TRIXIE: err..I’ve changed my mind. And stop following me everywhere!
GABRIEL: The girl has a shorter tail and is a bit bigger with a flat tummy. The guy’s tummy is
curved inwards and he has a longer tail.
TRIXIE: Go away!
PETE: Trixie, Hallo!
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GABRIEL: They chase each other around almost every day. That’s what they do most often.
Pete chases Trixie.
PETE: Hold on! I’m coming!
GABRIEL:
He catches up with her. They’re quite quick. He climbs up on the girl’s back.
PETE: Stand still there.
TRIXIE:
What are you doing now? You are climbing on me …
GABRIEL: Then he shows her he’s in love with her, but he does it in a strange way.
PETE:
Hallo sweetie!
GABRIEL: He’s trying to say “I like you”, but I don’t know whether she really understands that.
TRIXIE: Oww! Stop biting my foot, or you’ll be in trouble!
GABRIEL: They can survive for quite a long time without food or water, although they do need
water really. They can go without food for quite a long time, but it’s still good to feed
them every day.
PETE:
So what do you think of the food today?
TRIXIE: Well, lettuce is lettuce, I suppose …
PETE: Sigh… when are we going to get dessert?
GABRIEL: On Saturday they get a treat, maybe bananas or strawberries.
PETE: Yessss! Dessert! Lovely grub!
GABRIEL: Tortoises don’t think a lot about things. I don’t think they think much about anything!
But they do have a good sense of smell and good eyesight.
TRIXIE: Yes, but I never had time to learn to read…
Now let us get some fresh air on the balcony!
This would be so much easier if I were as big as my cousins.
No, not that big!! The balcony would fall down! Wouldn’t it?
GABRIEL: The girl likes it when I stroke her neck. And when I hold her in my lap.
TRIXIE: What’s on tv, I wonder? Anything good? Where is the remote!
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GABRIEL: Pete is shy but not always shy. I haven’t had him for long, so he’s not used to things yet.
PETE: Woooah!
Not used to it? Certainly not. I’m not used to a sink! Where is my Jacuzzi?
GABRIEL: I’ve shown some of my friends. They usually get very curious and they think it’s
really cool.
PETE: Bllaah! Not under there, it tickles!
And it’s not easy to walk when you’re wet.
I wonder why I should have a bath when I’m only going to get dirty right afterwards.
This place is full of dirt. All over me. Oh dear. Dirt, dirt, dirt everywhere.
GABRIEL: They dig a hole and pull themselves all the way in.
They do it when the lights in their cage go off at seven o’clock. But sometimes they go
to bed even earlier.
TRIXIE: (from under the soil) good night!
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