When Instinct Works (Supplementary)

Unit 5 – Supplementary

Lesson: When Instinct Works

by Anna Sewell

Anna Sewell was an English writer of children’s classic Black Beauty. Although it has come to be treated as a children’s book, it was originally meant for those who took care of horses. She talks about kindness, sympathy and understanding in the treatment of horses.

One morning in the autumn, my master had to go on a long journey; John harnessed me to the new cart. I liked to pull as it was very light and the high wheels rolled along so smoothly.

It was about to rain; the weather was very windy and dry leaves blew across the road. Master, John and I went along merrily till we came to the toll-gate at the entrance to the low wooden bridge. The river banks were fairly high so the bridge, instead of rising in an arc over the river, went across just level. In the middle, if the river was full, the water would be nearly up to the foot of the bridge. There were good sturdy rails on both sides so people were not afraid.

The man at the toll-gate said that the river was rising fast. He feared it would be a bad night. Many of the fields were already under water. In one low part of the road, the water was halfway up to my knees. But the cart was so good and master drove gently, so it did not matter.

When we got into the town, I had a good wait. Master’s business kept him for a long time, so we could not start for home till late in the afternoon. By then, the wind was much stronger and I heard Master say to John that he had never been out in such a bad storm.

We went through a wood where great branches were swaying about like twigs and the wind made a terrible rushing sound.

“I wish we were out of this wood,” said my master.
“Yes, sir,” replied John. “I hope no branches fall down on us.”

The words were hardly out of his mouth when there was a groan and a splitting sound. Then an oak tree that had been torn up by the roots came crashing down and fell right across the road in front of us.

I will never say I was not frightened, for I was. I stopped still trembling. Of course, I did not turn around or run away. I was not brought up like that. John jumped out and in a moment was standing by my head. He held my bridle and calmed my nerves.

“That was close! What shall we do now?” asked my master.
“Well, sir, we can’t drive over this big tree and we can’t get round it. We must go back to four cross ways. Then it will be about six miles before we get to the wooden bridge again. It will make us late, but Black Beauty is fresh.”

This happened sometimes when the river was flooding, so Master did not stop. We were going along at a good speed, but the moment my feet touched the ground at the first part of the bridge, I felt sure that something was wrong. I dared not go forward. I made a dead stop.

“Go on, Beauty,” said my master, and gave me a touch of the whip.
But I dared not move.
He gave me a sharp snap of the whip. I jumped, I jumped, but I dared not go forward.

“There is something wrong, sir,” said John.
He got down from the cart and came to my head. He took hold of my bridle and tried to lead me forward.
“Come on, Beauty. What’s the matter?”

Just then, the other man at the toll-gate on the other side ran out, flashing a torch like a madman.

“Hoy, Hoy, Hoy, Stop!” he cried.
“What’s the matter?” shouted my master.
“The bridge is broken in the middle. Part of it has been carried away by the flood. If you come any further, you’ll be in the river!”

“Thank God!” said my master.
“You really are a Beauty!” said John, as he took hold of my bridle and gently turned me round. Of course, I could not tell him what the problem was, but I knew very well that the bridge was not safe.

The wind seemed to have settled down. It grew darker and darker, stiller and stiller. I trotted softly along, the wheels hardly making a sound on the soft, wet road.

Then Master told John that God had given people brains by which they can find things for themselves. He said, however, God had given animals a special knowledge which did not depend on thinking things out and was much quicker to respond to danger. This instinct in animals, he said, had often saved the lives of men.

John had many stories to tell of dogs and horses, and the wonderful ways they had saved the lives of people. He thought many people did not take very good care of their animals or make friends with them as they should do.

At last, we got back to Master’s house. We saw that all the lights were on. As we came up to the door, Mistress ran out to greet Master.

“Are you safe, my dear? Oh! I have been so worried about you. Did you have an accident?”
“No, my dear, but if Black Beauty had not been wiser than we were, all three of us would have been drowned at the wooden bridge.”

They went into the house and I heard no more. John took me to the stable. Oh! What a good supper he gave me that night. And then a really thick bed of straw. I was grateful for everything for I was tired.

Glossary

• harnessed (v) – tied the horse to a cart using strips of leather and metal fittings
• toll-gate (n) – a gate across a road or bridge at which travellers must stop and pay
• sturdy (adj) – strong
• groan (n) – deep sound
• bridle (n) – a set of leather straps tied around the neck of a horse to control it
• instinct (n) – an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli
• a dead stop (n) – complete and sudden halt

A. Comprehension

1. Choose the best option

1. The season mentioned in the story is autumn.
2. In one low part of the road the water was halfway up to Black Beauty’s knees.
3. The bridge was broken in the middle.
4. The instinct in animals had often saved the lives of men.
5. Black Beauty dared not move even to the sharp snap of the whip.

2. Match the following

• Man at the toll gate – flashing a torch
• Bridge – sturdy rail
• John – had many stories to tell
• Black beauty – wise
• Animals – have special knowledge

3. Fill in the blanks (use: flood, lead, wrong, oak, flashing)

1. Suddenly an oak tree came crashing down and fell right in front of us.
2. Just then, the man at the toll gate on the other side ran out, flashing a torch.
3. He told that the bridge had just broken due to the flood.
4. Even when John tried to lead him forward Beauty did not move.
5. We were saved because Beauty had known that something was wrong with the bridge.

4. Answer in a sentence or two

1. Did Black Beauty like to pull the cart?
   Yes, because it was light and the wheels rolled smoothly.

2. How was the weather?
   It was windy and about to rain; dry leaves blew across the road.

3. Describe the bridge.
   It was low, level, with sturdy rails on both sides; when the river was full, water nearly reached its foot.

4. What was the alternate plan suggested by John to reach the wooden bridge?
   Go back to four cross ways and take a six-mile detour to the bridge again.

5. Why was Black Beauty reluctant to cross the bridge?
   Her instinct sensed that the bridge was unsafe.

5. Answer in about 100 words

1. What did the man at the toll gate on the other side tell them?
   He shouted that the bridge was broken in the middle and part of it had been washed away by the flood. If they moved further, they would fall into the river.

2. Was Black Beauty afraid to cross the bridge?
   Yes, she sensed danger and refused to step forward, even when whipped.

3. What did John think about human’s attitude towards animals?
   He felt many people did not care for animals properly or make friends with them as they should.

4. What would have happened to all three if Black Beauty had not been wiser?
   They would have driven into the broken bridge and drowned in the flooded river.

5. Where did John take Black Beauty and what did he give her?
   He took her to the stable, gave her a good supper and a thick bed of straw.

6. How will you take care of your pets? Write about it in fifty words.

I will feed my pets on time, keep their shelter clean, give them fresh water daily, play with them, take them for regular health check-ups, and treat them with love and kindness always.

Step to Success

Coding – Decoding (Verbal Reasoning)

1. Human blood is Red → in code Brown
   Answer: e. Brown

2. Object to clean blackboard is Duster → in code Table
   Answer: c. Table

3. Thing that indicates time is Watch → in code Aeroplane
   Answer: e. Aeroplane

Connecting to Self

Put a ✔ for the do’s and a ✖ for the don’ts
(Students complete as instructed)

ICT Corner

Grammar – If Conditional Clause

To Enable the students to familiarize If – Conditional clauses.

STEPS:
1. Access the application with the help of the link given below or the given QR code and install it in the mobile.
2. Click Menu button at the top left and click “Notes” to read about Conditional sentences and its kinds with examples.
3. Choose “Practice” from Menu to practice exercises in conditional clauses by drag and dropping exercises.
4. Click “Quiz” to check your knowledge in this topic.
5. Practice all exercises to strengthen your knowledge in If conditional clauses.

Application Name: English Conditional Sentences
Download Link

Practice Practice Exercises

1. The season mentioned in the story is

a) spring

b) autumn

c) summer

d) winter

2. In one low part of the road the was halfway up to black beauty’s knees.

a) the river

b) dust

c) water

d) leaves

3. The bridge was broken in the

a) front

b) rear

c) middle

d) up

4. The instinct in had often saved the lives of men.

a) girls

b) animals

c) birds

d) boys

5. Black beauty dared not move even to the sharp snap of the

a) stick

b) thread

c) whip

d) kick

1. Suddenly an tree came crashing down and fell right in front of us.

2. Just then, the man at the toll gate on the other side ran out a torch. 3. He told that the bridge had just broken due to the .

4. Even when John tried to him forward Beauty did not move.

5. We were saved because Beauty had known that something was with the bridge.

1. Did Black Beauty like to pull the cart?

2. How was the weather?

3. Describe the bridge.

4. What was the alternate plan suggested by John to reach the wooden bridge?

5. Why was Black Beauty reluctant to cross the bridge?

1. What did the man at the toll gate on the other side tell them?

2. Was Black Beauty afraid to cross the bridge?

3. What did John think about human’s attitude towards animals?

4. What would have happened to all the three if Black Beauty had not been wiser?

5. Where did John take Black Beauty and what did he give her?

a. Red

b. Blue

c. Green

d. Violet

e. Brown

a. Duster

b. Sharpener

c. Table

d. Scale

e. Book

a. Watch

b. Bicycle

c. Milk

d. Ship

e. Aeroplane

✔ Correct ✘ Incorrect