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I. Vocabulary
A. Prepositional verbs
Find out the meaning of the following words in your dictionary:
predator detection whif resist interpret
Determine the meaning of the following prepositional verbs:
1. Like most animals, rabbits come equipped with various predator
detection and evasion enhancements.
2. A rabbit's sense of smell far exceeds human capabilities and is used to
monitor the environment for any whif of predators.
3. Being picked up is frightening to most rabbits and many resist.
4. You'll have to rely on context and personal knowledge of your rabbit to
interpret his/her meaning.
Line 5
I Reading
Like most animals, rabbits come equipped with various predator detection and
evasion enhancements. Their eyes are located on the sides of their heads so that they
can see almost 360 degrees around them. The sacrifice for this arrangement is a blind
Line 10
spot directly in front of the rabbit's face. Keep this in mind when you approach your
rabbit or put your hand directly in front of his/her face. Rabbits will rely more on
their senses of smell and hearing to identify you when they can't see you. Another
predator detection tool is their acute sense of hearing. Rabbits can hear up to a mile
Line 15 away. If something is amiss, they will stomp their hind feet to warn the warren, i.e.
your household, that danger is about. You might recall Thumper in the movie, Bambi.
Stomping can also have other translations. You'll have to rely on context and personal
knowledge of your rabbit to interpret his/her meaning.
Line 20 A rabbit's sense of smell far exceeds human capabilities and is used to monitor
the environment for any whiff of predators. When a rabbit smells or hears something
alarming, she/he will sit very still with ears arranged to catch sound from all
directions and nose no longer twitching.
Line 25 She/he is deciding whether or not an escape effort should be executed. All this
constant scanning of the environment for danger and living on heightened alert makes
rabbits easily over-stressed. To minimize stress, it is important to approach your
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English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
rabbit in a calm, confident manner. Anxiety is particularly contagious to prey animals and if
you communicate that you are anxious, your rabbit will respond accordingly.
To ease your rabbit's stress, speak to your rabbit as you approach so that she can
identify you by the sound of your voice. Speak soothingly and in low tones. Place your hands
where your rabbit can see what you are doing. Be careful about picking your rabbit up,
making sure to support his/her hindquarters. Being picked up is frightening to most rabbits
and many resist. In the wild if they are being picked up, most likely they are about to be
eaten.
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English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
2. The word acute in line 7 is closest in meaning to
a. stiff
b. terrible
c. solemn
a. sharp
3. Which of the following does the author mention as the characteristics of the rabbits?
a. Rabbits are wild animals.
b. Rabbits have strong senses.
c. Rabbits are spooked by humans.
a. Rabbits are not very apprehensive.
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English Department English 10
Prepared by: Abel M. Cadias, MA-ESL
a. How to relieve rabbits stress
I Structure
WHEN CLAUSE
In clauses with time words like when, after, until we often use the
present tense forms to talk about the future:
Ill come home when I finish work.
You must wait here until your father comes.
They are coming after they have had dinner.