My Early Home
- from Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell (Roots)
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Can you match the names of the sports to their pictures?
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Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Read the following sentences. Write if they are True (T) or False (F).
a. On one side of the hedge was a ploughed field and on the other side was a pond. [F]
b. When it was cold, the horses stood in the shed near the grove. [T]
c. There were seven colts in the meadow. [T]
d. Black Beauty was a cart-horse colt. [F]
e. Black Beauty's mother was called Duchess. [T]
2. Match the characters in the left column to their descriptions in the right column.
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a. Black Beauty’s grandfather |
i. was fondly called Darkie. [c] |
|
b. Black Beauty’s mother |
ii. looked after the horses. [d] |
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c. Black Beauty |
iii. won the Newmarket races twice. [a] |
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d. Old Daniel |
iv. used to pluck blackberries. [e] |
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e. Dick |
v. was fondly called Pet. [b] |
Reference to context
3. "There were six young colts in the meadow besides me; they were older than I was."
a. Describe the meadow.
= It was a pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. There was a ploughed field on one side beside the hedge. On the other side there was the master's house by the roadside.
b. Did the narrator like the other colts? Give reasons.
= The narrator liked the other colts.
He used to run with them and had great fun. They used to gallop all together round the field, as hard as they could go.
c. How were these colts different from the narrator?
= These colts were cart-horse colts. They had not learnt matters. They used to have rough play, for they would bite and kick, as well as gallop. On the other hand, Black Beauty was well-born and well-bred.
4. "I have never forgotten my mother's advice; I knew she was a wise old horse, and our master thought a great deal of her."
a. What was the mother's name?
=The mother's name was Duchess.
b. What was the advice?
= The advice was to to grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways. Do his work with a good will, lift his feet up well when he trots and never bite or kick others even in play.
c. Why did the mother give advice to the narrator?
= The mother gave advice to the narrator because his father had a great name in that parts and his grandfather won the cup two years at the Newmarket races. His grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse. So, Black Beauty had to be like his other family members.
5. "When she saw him at the gate she would neigh with joy, and trot up to him."
a. Who is 'she'? Whom did she see?
= 'She' is the mother of Black Beauty. She saw her master.
b. What would she do when she saw him?
= When she saw him, she would neigh with joy and trot up to him.
c. Which words in the lesson tell us that she liked him?
= According to Black Beauty, they all were fond of the master, but his mother loved him very much. Black Beauty's mother's name was Duchess, but the master often called her Pet. She always took him to the town on a market day in a light gig.
5. "He did not much mind him, for we could gallop off; but sometimes a stone would hit and hurt us."
a. Who is 'him'?
= 'Him' is Dick, the boy who was a ploughboy.
b. Why did they not mind him?
= They did not mind him because they could gallop off.
c. What would happen 'sometimes'?
= 'Sometimes' a stone thrown by Dick, would hit and hurt them.
Reflect and answer
7. Write a short note on Black Beauty's family. Why does his mother speak about his family history?
= Black Beauty's father had a great name in that parts and his grandfather won the cup two years at the Newmarket races. His grandmother had the sweetest temper of any horse.
His mother speaks about his family history to let him realise the glory and fame of his family legacy. She also wants him to be a famous horse like his father, grandfather and grandmother.
8. Why do you think Black Beauty and her mother were the master's favourites?
= I think Black Beauty and her mother were the master's favourite due to their manners. They were good to others. They did not bite or kick others. They are obedient to their master. They had a good family background.
9. Why did the master scold Dick? What can we learn from this?
= The master scolded Dick for chasing the colts. Dick was a ploughboy in the master's field. But he sometimes came into the horse's field to pluck blackberries from the hedge. When he had eaten all he used to make fun by throwing stones and sticks at the colts. He had hurt the colts many times. So the master scolded him.
We can learn that we should not make any such fun which hurts others. We should take good care of animals and let them live peacefully.
10. Imagine that you are passing the meadow where Black Beauty lives.
While passing, you notice that a boy is throwing stones at the colts.
What would you do?
= If I were passing the meadow where Black Beauty lives, and notice that a boy is throwing stones at the colts, I would have immediately stop the boy from doing so. Then I would have talked to him and make him understand that we should take care of animals but not hurt them. Animals are the part of our nature and surroundings. They have the right to live peacefully. Then I would have told him some interesting stories about animals where animals help us.
About the Author :
Anna Sewell (1820-1878) was born in Norfolk, England. She wrote her one and only novel Black Beauty over a period of six years.