Reading - Group 2

The Giant’s Boy by Joy Cowley

The Thing About Cats

In the dim light, a cat moves easily. Their big green eyes shine bright;y. They can see the way home. Cats’ eyes work well in dim light. They can hunt and they have the skills.

In the centre of a cat’s eye in a black slit. These slits are called pupils. In dim light, a cat’s pupils can become large and round. This lets in more light so the cat can see.

Cats walk on soft padded paws. Mice never hear them coming - until it’s too late. The soft pads are like cushions. They protect the cat’s bones. Have you ever noticed that cats land on their feet when they jump down? This is a good skill!

“Can I get through this space?” the cat thinks. Cats use their whiskers to measure spaces. Their longest whiskers are the width of the cat’s body. It must be useful to have whiskers for measuring.

Whiskers help cats when they are walking in the dark, too. They can feel when something is close to their face.

Cats have many skills. Their special skills have helped them for thousands of years. Cats have better hearing than we do. They have a better sense of smell, too.

A cat’s tail helps them to balance on a fence. It helps them to leap and catch prey. If a cat doesn't want to be touched, they might flick their tail.

Sometimes cats wrap their tails around their body to keep warm. Tails are useful.

Cats can twist and turn their bodies. This is because cats have more bones.

Cats are very fast runners. They can run 40 kilometers an hour. This is faster than fast human runners.

Cats like to hunt. They use all their skills. They lie low and move quickly along the ground. This is called stalking.

Kittens practise hunting and fighting skills when they play.

CAts are mysterious animals. Their eyes can sometimes show their feelings. Their pupils become large when they are excited. They might become narrow slits when they are angry. When a cat is relaxed, they might look at you with half-closed eyes. Try half-closing your eyes, too. Look back at the cat and blink slowly. If the cat returns your blink, this is a kitty kiss. It means the cat trusts you!

Read the passage carefully and answer these questions in full sentences

1. What skills does a cat NOT need when hunting?

1. Good eyesight

2. Using their tail

3. Walking quietly

2. What helps cats find their way in tight spaces?

1. Their paws

2. Their whiskers

3. Their tail

3. Describe a cats eyes when they are:

1. Relaxed -______________________________________

2. In dim light -______________________________________

3. In bright lights -______________________________________

4. What can you tell from a cat’s eyes?

1. If they are warm

2. If they are angry

3. If they are balanced

5. What is another word for padded used in the story?

6. What was the most interesting fact you learnt from the story and why?

Dragon with a Cold by Joy Cowley

Hāngī

What is a Hāngī?

Hāngī is a traditional Māori style of cooking that has been used for hundreds of year.s it is still used in New Zealand today.

It is a special way of cooking food under the ground using red hot rocks and steam.

How is a Hāngī Made?

2. What is the moral of this story?

3. What does ‘the Golden Touch’ mean?

1. King Midas likes to hug his daughter who has golden hair

2. King Midas makes everything he touches turn to golf

3. The wizard can grant wishes for gold

4. The king pleaded with the wizard to undo the wish

What is another word that means the same as pleaded?

5. If you had one wish, what would it be and why?