Vocabulary Wild Words Before Reading: As you come across words in bold in The Wild Life of Christian the Lion, ask yourself if you know them or if you can figure them out from context. Then check their meanings here. 1. betray: We knew we couldn t betray him by putting him in a zoo, John recalled later. (p. 17) Meaning: be disloyal to someone or something 2. captivity: Animals raised in captivity don t have the skills to survive in the wild. (p. 18) Meaning: being held or trapped by people 3. flocked: People flocked to the shop to see the furniture store lion. (p. 16) Meaning: came together in a large group 4. marveling: They watched Christian from a distance, marveling at how he had grown. (p. 18) Meaning: feeling great surprise, wonder, or admiration 5. predator: But eventually, he would turn into a 500-pound predator with razor-sharp claws and 4-inchlong fangs. (p. 16) Meaning: an animal that hunts other animals for food 6. prowl: In the wild, lions prowl thousands of acres of grassland and forest. (p. 16) Meaning: move through an area, especially while searching for something (such as prey) 7. untethered: They belong under the white moon, / free and untethered and wild / as savanna skies. (p. 19) Meaning: not tied to anything; free 8. venture: Christian and his pride would then be encouraged to venture into the wild together, to learn to stalk prey and fend for themselves. (p. 18) Meaning: go somewhere unknown or dangerous Continued on next page >
Vocabulary Wild Words, p. 2 After Reading: Now that you have read these vocabulary words in context, check your understanding by using the correct word from the word box to answer each question below. WORD BOX betray captivity flocked marveling predator prowl untethered venture 1. What might you be doing while looking at a beautiful rainbow? 2. How might you describe a balloon floating high in the sky? 3. What word could you use to talk about the way that zoo animals are raised? 4. What would a dog likely do while guarding its family s house at night? 5. Many sharks feed on smaller fish in the ocean. What is the shark an example of? 6. A crowd of hungry kids gathered around a plate of freshly baked cookies. What is another word for what they did? 7. NASA plans to send the first humans to Mars in the 2030s. What word could you use to discuss what these astronauts will do? 8. If you knew your friend hadn t completed his homework on time, you probably wouldn t tell the teacher. What would you not want to do to him?
Close Reading & Critical Thinking Think About It! Close-Reading Questions: After reading and Wild Home, go back and reread sections to answer the questions below. 1. Reread the first section of the article. Why do you think Ace and John bought the lion cub at Harrods? 2. In Growing Up, the text says that London was no place for Christian. Which details support this? 3. Why do you think John says that putting Christian in a zoo would betray him? Continued on next page >
Close Reading & Critical Thinking Think About It! p. 2 4. What challenges did Ace and John face in trying to set Christian free? 5. Reread the last paragraph. What feelings can you infer John and Ace had as they left Christian? Wild Home 6. In the first line of the poem, who are they? How do you know? Continued on next page >
Close Reading & Critical Thinking Think About It! p. 3 7. Which words in the poem help create the image of a lion s habitat in Africa? 8. According to the poem, where do lions belong? Critical-Thinking Questions: After answering the close-reading questions, answer the critical-thinking questions below, thinking about the meaning of the article and the poem. 9. What theme, or big idea, do the article and poem share? Continued on next page >
Close Reading & Critical Thinking Think About It! p. 4 10. Both the article and poem use the words roam or roamers. What does roam mean? How does it relate to the theme of the texts?
Close Reading & Critical Thinking Think About It! Directions: After reading and Wild Home, go back and reread sections to answer the questions below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Close-Reading Questions: 1. Reread the first section of the article. Why do you think Ace and John bought the lion cub at Harrods? 2. In Growing Up, the text says that London was no place for Christian. Which details support this? 3. Why do you think John says that putting Christian in a zoo would betray him? 4. What challenges did Ace and John face in trying to set Christian free? 5. Reread the last paragraph. What feelings can you infer John and Ace had as they left Christian? Wild Home Close-Reading Questions: 6. In the first line of the poem, who are they? How do you know? 7. Which words in the poem help create the image of a lion s habitat in Africa? 8. According to the poem, where do lions belong? Critical-Thinking Questions: 9. What theme, or big idea, do the article and poem share? 10. Both the article and poem use the words roam or roamers. What does roam mean? How does it relate to the theme of the texts?
Close Reading & Critical Thinking LL Think About It! Close-Reading Questions: Read the article and the poem Wild Home. Then go back and reread sections of the feature to answer the questions below. We ve started the first two answers for you. 1. Where did John and Ace get the lion cub they named Christian? John and Ace got the lion cub 2. In the section Growing Up, what made John and Ace decide that Christian needed a new home? John and Ace realized that Continued on next page >
Close Reading & Critical Thinking LL Think About It! p. 2 3. How did the actors Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna help John and Ace free Christian? 4. Reread the section Going Wild. Why is it difficult for animals raised in captivity to return to the wild? Continued on next page >
Close Reading & Critical Thinking LL Think About It! p. 3 5. At the end of the article, how did Ace and John feel about leaving Christian? Critical-Thinking Question (big question about the article and the poem): 6. Why do you think the poem is called Wild Home? Do you think John and Ace would like the poem? Explain. (Continue on the back if you need more space.)
Core Skills Workout Analyzing Two Texts: Theme Identifying the Theme Directions: The article and the poem Wild Home share a common theme, or big idea. The theme is supported by details from the two texts. Identify these details by answering the questions in the left-hand column of the table for each text. Use the details to help you determine what big idea these two texts share, and write that common theme on the blank lines below. Wild Home What type of animal is featured in the text? What concern about the animal does the writer bring up? Is there a way to deal with this concern? If so, what is it? Where does the animal from the text live now? What is the life of the animal like where it lives now? Theme: You Write It! Use your responses to help you answer the writing prompt on page 19.
Core Skills Workout LL Find the Evidence Text Evidence Directions: Read each question below carefully. Some will ask you to select text evidence or details in the story to support a statement. Others will ask you to respond in your own words, supporting your ideas with text evidence. 1. Circle the letter of the piece of text evidence that best explains why buying a lion cub was probably the last thing [Ace Bourke and John Rendall] imagined doing. a. The two men had already decided on a name for him: Christian. b. By April, the fluff ball had grown into 130 pounds of sheer muscle. c. They scraped together all the money they could which would equal about $6,500 today. d. They had just graduated from college and were living in a small apartment... 2. In your own words, explain why London was no place for Christian. Use details from the text. 3. The author writes that when Ace and John first met Christian in a London department store, the little lion s future looked grim. Circle the letter of the piece of text evidence that best demonstrates why this was so: a. A radio host tried to get Christian to roar into a microphone. Christian began chewing up the wires instead. b. The lion cub had spent his life in a cage. He d been born in a zoo in England. c. He hid behind desks and chairs and then leaped out to play. d. The plan was to release Christian into the wild. 4. Explain in your own words why a lion raised in captivity would have trouble surviving in the wild. Continued on next page >
Core Skills Workout LL Text Evidence Find the Evidence, p. 2 5. Circle the letter of the piece of text evidence that best explains why Christian would someday become a threat to humans. a. He was still gentle. But eventually, he would turn into a 500-pound predator with razor-sharp claws and 4-inch-long fangs. b. Christian was a 30-pound ball of fluff when he moved into the basement of the furniture store. c. Animals raised in captivity don t have the skills to survive in the wild. d. When Christian reached [Ace and John], he reared up on his hind legs. He flung his paws over Ace s shoulders and rubbed his mane against Ace s head. 6. Using evidence from the text, explain George Adamson s plan to introduce Christian into the wild. 7. Which of the following shows the strong bond between Christian and the men who raised him? a. Christian quickly made himself at home in the furniture store where the men worked. b. Ace and John learned about Elsa, a lion raised by humans then released into the wild. c. At George Adamson s camp, Christian slowly made friends with the other lions. d. After 10 months in the wild without them, Christian greeted Ace and John with a lion hug. 8. What would the writer of the poem Wild Home probably think about lions being held in captivity, as Christian once was? Use specific evidence from the poem.
Core Skills Workout HL Text Evidence Find the Evidence Directions: Read each question below carefully. Some will ask you to select two or three pieces of text evidence or details in the story to support a statement. Others will ask you to respond in your own words, supporting your ideas with text evidence. 1. The author of writes that when Ace and John met Christian, the little lion s future looked grim. Circle the letters of the TWO pieces of text evidence that best support this statement: a. The lion cub had spent his life in a cage. b. Christian was a 30-pound ball of fluff... c. People flocked to the shop to see the furniture store lion. d. Two of his sisters had been sold to a circus, and he had been sold to a London department store called Harrods. e. The plan was to release Christian into the wild. f. A radio host tried to get Christian to roar into a microphone. Christian began chewing up the wire instead. 2. In your own words, explain why a lion raised in captivity would have problems surviving in the wild. Use details from the text. 3. Circle the letters of THREE pieces of text evidence that best demonstrate why Ace and John were desperate to find a new place for Christian to live: a. But even after they got home, Ace and John couldn t stop thinking about the cub. b. But Ace and John feared that as he grew, he could accidentally hurt someone. c. But eventually, he would turn into a 500-pound predator with razor-sharp claws and 4-inch-long fangs. d. He climbed on Ace s and John s laps while they tried to talk on the phone. e. In the wild, lions prowl thousands of acres of grassland and forest. London was no place for Christian. f. He flung his paws over Ace s shoulders and rubbed his mane against Ace s head. Continued on next page >
Core Skills Workout HL Text Evidence Find the Evidence, p. 2 4. Using evidence from the text, explain George Adamson s plan to introduce Christian into the wild. 5. You can infer that there was a strong bond between Christian and the men who raised him. Circle the letters of the FOUR pieces of text evidence that best support this inference: a. The goodbye was heartbreaking for John and Ace. Christian chased after their truck as they drove away. b. Buying a lion cub was probably the last thing [John and Ace] imagined doing. c. Ace and John called out to Christian. At the sound of their voices, Christian started to rush to them. d. [Elsa] was saved by a couple named Joy and George Adamson, who raised Elsa and then successfully released her back into the wild. e. Then [Christian] reached over to John and pulled him in a half-wild lion hugging the humans who had raised him. f. Ace and John cried when they left. They knew they would always miss Christian. 6. Using text evidence, explain what the writer of the poem Wild Home would probably think about lions being held in captivity, as Christian once was.
Core Skills Workout LL Writing a Summary Summarizing A summary is a short retelling of the most important parts of a story. It should include the information that someone would need to know to understand the story, without minor details or your own opinion. 2. What did the men do after seeing the lion cub? 4. What concerns did Ace and John have? Directions: Complete the summary below, using the prompts in the margins to help you. Summary of and Wild Home is about. When Ace Bourke and John Rendall saw a lion cub for sale at a department store,. Christian s life in London was very different from that of most lions; for example,. As Christian grew bigger, Ace and John realized 1. Begin with a topic sentence that tells what the article is mainly about. 3. Give some details about Christian s life with John and Ace. 6. Where was the lion living? What did he do when he saw the men? 8. What idea do both texts have in common?. The men took Christian to Kenya, where. Ten months later, when Ace and John went back to visit Christian,. In the poem Wild Home, the poet paints an image of. Both the article and the poem express the idea that wild animals. 5. What did Christian learn at George Adamson s camp? 7. What does the poet describe in her poem?
Core Skills Workout HL Writing a Summary Summarizing A summary is a short retelling of the most important parts of a story. It should include the information that someone would need to know to understand the story, without minor details or your own opinion. Directions: Complete the summary below, based on your reading of and Wild Home. Think about what was most important in the articles. Summary of and Wild Home is about. When Ace Bourke and John Rendall saw a lion cub for sale at a department store,. Christian s life in London was very different from that of most lions; for example,. As Christian grew bigger, Ace and John realized. The men took Christian to Kenya, where. Ten months later, when Ace and John went back to visit Christian,. In the poem Wild Home, the poet paints an image of. Both the article and the poem express the idea that wild animals.
Core Skills Workout The Wild Life of Christian the Lion Exploring Text Features Text Features Directions: Answer the questions below to help you explore the photos, captions, map, and other text features in the nonfiction article and the poem Wild Home. 1. Look at page 15. How does the title of the article contrast with the photo of a lion cub sitting on a bathroom rug? What do the title and photo make you wonder about? 2. What do the photos on pages 16-17 tell you about Christian s life with Ace and John? 3. Read the caption at the top of page 17. What information do you learn that isn t included in the main story? 4. What might be an alternate title for the section Going Wild on page 18? 5. Look at the photo at the top of page 19. How does it help you understand why Christian couldn t have stayed with Ace and John in London? What does it show you about the relationship between the lion and the men? 6. Study the photograph behind the poem Wild Home, on page 19. Why do you think this picture was used? Storyworks S-T-R-E-T-C-H Imagine you are making a movie about Christian s life, much like Born Free, the wildlife movie described in the article, about Elsa the lion. Write a title for the movie.
Assessment LL Name: Date: Quiz Directions: Read the feature in the issue of Storyworks. Then fill in the bubble next to the best answer for each question below. 1. Which of the following is a key idea of the article and the poem? A Lion cubs are gentle. B Lions have sharp claws and long fangs. C People and lions can learn to love each other. D Lions should live in the wild. 2. In the sentence People flocked to the shop to see the furniture store lion, flocked means. A came together B walked slowly C watched silently D rode carefully 3. John and Ace knew that over time the lion cub could become more. A friendly B shy C dangerous D popular 4. How did Christian eventually change after arriving in Kenya? A He was frightened of other animals. B He joined a group of lions. C He refused to leave John and Ace. D He would not live in the wild. 5. Which sentence below best supports the answer to question 4? A But then he got to know the other lions. B Adamson told them that Christian was doing well. C He had never hunted for food. D The goodbye was heartbreaking for John and Ace. 6. Why does the poet describe lions as untethered in their African habitat? A They feel frightened. B They are always alone. C They sleep soundly. D They are free. Constructed Response Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write your answer to each question in a well-organized response. Make sure you support your answers with information and details from the article and poem. 7. How did different people play an important part in Christian s life? 8. How do you think the poet would feel about Christian s new life in Kenya? Explain your answer.
Assessment HL Name: Date: Quiz Directions: Read the feature in the issue of Storyworks. Then fill in the bubble next to the best answer for each question below. 1. Where was the lion cub living when Ace and John first saw him? A in a cage in a zoo B in a wild animal park C in an animal hospital D in a small cage in a store 2. In the sentence In the wild, lions prowl thousands of acres of grassland and forest, prowl means. A wander C watch B attack D jump 3. What is one reason Ace and John decided Christian didn t belong in London? A He wouldn t find enough to eat. B He might eventually refuse to leave his cage. C He could become dangerous. D He would become frightened of people. 4. Which line from the article best supports your answer to question 3? A He hid behind desks and chairs and then leaped out to play. B Christian begin chewing up the wires instead. C... the fluff ball had grown into 130 pounds of sheer muscle. D... he would turn into a 500-pound predator with razor-sharp claws and 4-inch-long fangs. Constructed Response Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write your answer to each question in a well-organized response. Make sure you support your answers with information and details from the article and poem. 9. How did different people play important roles in Christian s life? 5. How did Ace and John feel after they left Christian in Kenya for the first time? A depressed C excited B irritated D proud 6. Which line from the article best supports the answer to question 5? A At first, Christian wanted to sleep on Ace s and John s cots. B They flew back to London feeling like they d abandoned their best friend. C But he gradually befriended the other lions. D And soon it was clear that Ace and John could leave him. 7. In Wild Home, why does the poet describe lions as untethered in their African habitat? A Nothing holds them. B No one feeds them. C People can t harm them. D Animals can attack them. 8. Both the article and the poem describe... A how people feel about lions. B what lions like to eat. C how lions behave in the wild. D how lions feel about people. 10. Do you think that Wild Home is a good title for the poem? Explain your answer.
Questions for English Language Learners Paired Texts The Wild Life of Christian the Lion To the teacher: We suggest using these questions with the lower-lexile version of the texts, supported by the lower-lexile audio version. Select the ones that are best for your students, depending on where they are in their acquisition of English. Ask them orally or choose questions to create your own written assignment. If students are ready, prompt them to follow up their answers with more details. Yes/No Questions These questions allow students who are new to English to show their understanding with a simple answer. 1. Did Ace and John buy Christian to free him from his cage? (Yes, they did.) 2. Did people want to visit Christian in the furniture store? (Yes, they did.) 3. Did Ace and John ever put Christian in a zoo? (No, they didn t.) 4. Did Christian ever attack anyone while living in the furniture store? (No, he didn t.) 5. Is it easy for lions that have been kept in captivity to survive in the wild? (No, it isn t.) 6. When John and Ace returned to Kenya, did Christian recognize them? (Yes, he did.) Either/Or Questions These questions allow students to use the language in the question to support their answer. 1. As a cub, did Christian live in a department store or in a circus? (He lived in a department store.) 2. Do lions usually live in cities or in the wild? (Lions usually live in the wild.) 3. Did Christian live alone or with other lions when he moved to Kenya? (He lived with other lions.) 4. Was Christian scared or excited to see John and Ace when they returned to Kenya? (He was excited.) 5. Were John and Ace scared or happy to see Christian running toward them? (They were happy.) Language Practice 1. Look at the first sentence and point out that a lion cub is a baby lion. Talk about other baby animals that are called cubs for example, bears, tigers, and cheetahs. 2. Go over what some other baby animals are called in English (see examples below). Then ask students to pair up and research baby-animal names of their choice; come back together to have pairs share their findings. Examples: cow, camel, whale calf dog, coyote, bat pup owl owlet pig piglet goose gosling