Two Legs or Four? - DICK KING-SMITH

Summary: When the family brings home a new puppy, the children try to choose a name. Mandy wants to call him Jeremy, Polly chooses Toblerone, and little Ben suggests 'Ben' because it is short. Surprisingly, the puppy only responds to Ben, and over time the boy and dog, both named Ben, become inseparable, copying each other's actions and sharing commands. This dual use of the name works well until the boy decides he wants a longer name. Eventually, the family renames him Bartholomew, much to everyone's delight, while the puppy happily keeps the name Ben.


Exercises

A. Questions

1. What did Polly want to call the puppy?

Answer: Polly wanted to call the puppy 'Toblerone.'

2. In what ways were Ben and the puppy alike?

Answer: Ben and the puppy were alike in that both had brown hair, short legs, and were rather fat.

3. In what ways was Ben a good puppy?

Answer: Ben was a good puppy because he never made a mess, never chewed curtains or covers, ate well, slept soundly at night, and obeyed commands.

4. How did Ben the puppy copy Ben the boy?

Answer: Ben the puppy copied Ben the boy by imitating his actions and emotions: if Ben laughed, the puppy barked; if the Ben cried, the puppy howled; if Ben lost his temper, the puppy growled.


B. Reference to context

1. Read this line from the story, then answer the questions.

We read about him in school today.

a. Who says these words and to whom?

Answer: Mandy says these words to her parents.

b. Who is 'him' in the sentence?

Answer: 'Him' refers to Jeremy Fisher, the frog from the story Mandy read at school.

c. Why did the speaker say this?

Answer: Mandy said this because she wanted to name the new puppy 'Jeremy' after Jeremy Fisher.

2. To which questions were the following answers given in the story.

a. 'Two,' said Mum.

Question: 'Which Ben? Two legs or four?'

b. 'Because he's sort of chocolate-coloured and that's my favourite.'

Question: 'Why Toblerone?'

c. 'I thought you were talking to the dog.'

Question: 'Why didn't you answer me, Ben?'

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