Little Cyclone The Story Of A Grizzly Cub (Supplementary)
Unit 5 – Supplementary
Little Cyclone: The Story of a Grizzly Cub
William Temple Hornaday
Warm Up
Work with a partner and discuss the following questions. Share your views with the class.
- Why are some animals endangered?
- Why do wild animals from the forest often enter human living spaces?
- Are animals happy in wildlife rehabilitation centres?
- Can a rehab animal survive in the wild?
- How many types of bear do you think are living in the world today?
Now read this story about a young bear.
Here is an interesting story of a young cub that bravely fended off a possible attack from much bigger and ferocious fellow animals in a zoological park. Willpower and self-confidence triumph over brute strength.
We find little kids hugging their teddies and not parting from them even when they sleep. Perhaps the warm and furry appearance of the bear attracts them and offers them comfort. They love the doll so much that they spend their time feeding it, dressing it up and holding it to their bosom.
Little Cyclone is a grizzly cub from Alaska, who earned his name by the vigour of his resistance to ill-treatment. When his mother was fired at, on a timbered hillside facing Chilkat River, he and his brother ran away as fast as their stumpy little legs could carry them. When they crept where they had last seen her, they thought her asleep; and cuddling up close against her yet warm body they slept peacefully until morning.
Before the early-morning sun had reached their side of the mountains, the two orphans were awakened by the rough grasp of human hands. Valiantly they bit and scratched, and bawled aloud with rage. One of them made a fight so fierce and terrible that his nervous captor let him go, and that one is still on the Chilkoot.
Although the other cub fought just as desperately, his captor seized him by the hind legs, dragged him backwards, occasionally swung him around his head, and kept him generally engaged until ropes were procured for binding him. When finally established, with collar, chain and post, in the rear of the saloon in Porcupine City, two-legged animals less intelligent than himself frequently and violently prodded the little grizzly with a long pole “to see him fight.”
Barely in time to save him from insanity, little Cyclone was rescued by the friendly hands of the Zoological Society’s field agent, placed in a comfortable box, freed from all annoyance, and shipped to New York.
He was at that time as droll and roguish-looking a grizzly cub as ever stepped. In a grizzly-gray full moon of fluffy hair, two big black eyes sparkled like jet beads, behind a pudgy little nose, absurdly short for a bear. Excepting for his high shoulders, he was little more than a big bale of gray fur set up on four posts of the same material.
But his claws were formidable, and he had the true grizzly spirit.
The Bears’ Nursery
The Bears’ Nursery at the New York Zoological Park is a big yard with a shade tree, a tree to climb, a swimming pool, three sleeping dens, and a rock cliff. It never contains fewer than six cubs, and sometimes eight.
Naturally, it is a good test of courage and temper to turn a new bear into that roistering crowd. Usually a newcomer is badly scared during his first day in the Nursery, and very timid during the next. But grizzlies are different. They are born full of courage and devoid of all sense of fear.
When little Cyclone’s travelling box was opened, and he found himself free in the Nursery, he stalked deliberately to the centre of the stage, halted, and calmly looked about him. His air and manner said as plainly as English:
“I’m a grizzly from Alaska, and I’ve come to stay. If any of you fellows think there is anything coming to you from me, come and take it.”
Little Czar, a very saucy but good-natured European brown bear cub, walked up and aimed a sample blow at Cyclone’s left ear. Quick as a flash, outshot Cyclone’s right paw, as only a grizzly can strike, and caught the would-be hazer on the side of the head. Amazed and confounded, Czar fled in wild haste.
Next in order, a black bear cub, twice the size of Cyclone, made a pass at the newcomer, and he too received so fierce a countercharge that he ignominiously quit the field and scrambled to the top of the cliff.
Cyclone conscientiously met every attack, real or feigned, that was made upon him. In less than an hour it was understood by every bear in the Nursery that that queer-looking gray fellow with the broad head and short nose could strike quick and hard, and that he could fight any other bear on three seconds’ notice.
From that time on Cyclone’s position has been assured. He is treated with the respect that a good forearm inspires, but being really a fine-spirited, dignified little grizzly, he attacks no one, and never has had a fight.
About the Author
William Temple Hornaday, Sc.D. (December 1, 1854 – March 6, 1937) was an American zoologist, conservationist, taxidermist, and author. He was a pioneer in the early wildlife-conservation movement in the United States. During his lifetime he published many books and articles on the need for conservation of wildlife.
Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
| stumpy | short and thick |
| bawled | cried noisily |
| procured | obtained |
| prodded | dug, poked |
| droll | curious and amusing |
| pudgy | short and fat |
| formidable | dangerous |
| roistering | celebrating noisily |
| stalked | walked stiffly with pride |
| saucy | cheeky, impertinent |
| hazer | a person who drives cattle while on horseback |
| confounded | confused |
| ignominiously | shamefully |
| conscientiously | carefully and meticulously |
| feigned | faked, not genuine |
Vocabulary
A. Use the following phrases in sentences of your own.
- earn one’s name
- in the rear of
- to see one fight
- devoid of
- air and manner
- quick as a flash
- in wild haste
- make a pass
B. Idioms on Animals
Refer to a dictionary and find idioms on the following:
lion, mouse, parrot, fox, hawk, snake, monkey, dog, snail, bee.
Learn their meanings and share what you have learnt with your class. Try to frame illustrative sentences with those idioms and use them in everyday conversations.
C. Answer in 100–150 words each.
- Describe the appearance of Little Cyclone.
- What does the fight Little Cyclone and his brother put up tell you about the nature of grizzly bears?
- “If any of you fellows think there is anything coming to you from me, come and take it.” How did Little Cyclone prove this?
- Describe the confrontation between Little Czar and Little Cyclone.
D. Telling the Story Again
Little Cyclone was a grizzly cub from Alaska who earned his name by the vigour of resistance to ill-treatment. When his mother was fired at, they ran away. The next day at sunrise the two orphans found themselves at the mercy of humans. One of them escaped after a fierce fight, so the captor let him go. But the other cub was captured and taken to the New York Zoological Park. The park had a crowded Bears’ Nursery. Usually a newcomer is badly scared on his first day, but grizzlies are fearless. When the box was opened he stood up with courage and announced his presence. Cyclone courageously met every challenge. In less than an hour all the other bears understood his strength. From then on Little Cyclone’s position was secure and respected.
E. Choose the correct answer.
-
Little Cyclone is a grizzly cub who earned his name by his
b) vigour of resistance to ill-treatment.
-
The nervous captor let one bear go because
c) the bear fought so fiercely.
-
Little Cyclone was rescued by the
b) friendly hands of the Zoological Society.
-
Little Czar was a
a) good-natured European brown bear.
-
Little Cyclone will fight any other bear in
c) 03 seconds’ notice.
F. Idioms on Bears
| Sl. No. | Idiom | Meaning |
| 1 | hungry as a bear | being very hungry |
| 2 | gruff as a bear | being unsociable, speaking in a very abrupt, rude way |
| 3 | take the bear by the tooth | put oneself in a dangerous position |
| 4 | as busy as a hibernating bear | remaining idle |
| 5 | a bear hug | put one’s arms around someone and hug them affectionately |
| 6 | a bear market | a period when investors are more likely to sell rather than buy shares |
Teddy Bear Trivia
In 1902, American President Theodore Roosevelt (also known as Teddy) participated in a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi. While hunting, Roosevelt declared the behavior of the other hunters “unsportsmanlike” after he refused to kill a bear they had captured.
As news spread, newspapers featured political cartoons starring “Teddy” and “the bear.”
Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, New York, shop-owner Morris Michtom saw one of the cartoons and created plush, stuffed bears. With Roosevelt’s permission, he named them “Teddy bears.”
ICT Corner – Tenses
There are twelve types of tenses in English.
This application will help you learn more about tenses and practise them.
App: English Tenses Practice
Download: Google Play Link
Steps
1. Install the app.
2. Open it to find 12 tiles for 12 tenses.
3. Click any tile for an explanation.
4. Tap “EXAMPLE” for sample sentences.
5. Use “MULTI-CHOICE” or “ARRANGING SENTENCE” for practice exercises.
Practice Practice Exercises
1. Describe the appearance of Little Cyclone.
2. What does the fight Little Cyclone and his brother put up, tell you about the nature of grizzly bears?
3. "If any of you fellows think there is anything coming to you from me, come and take it". How did Little Cyclone prove this?
4. Describe the confrontation between Little Czar and Little Cyclone.
Little Cyclone was a grizzly cub from earned his name When his mother was fired at, they The next day at sunrise the two orphans found themselves at One of them escaped So the captor let him go. But the other cub was and taken to the at New York. The Zoological park had Usually a newcomer is badly scared on his first day but When the box was opened he stood up with courage Cyclone courageously met every In less than an hour all the other bears understood From then on Little Cyclone’s position was .
1. Little Cyclone is a grizzly cub who earned his name by his
a) appearance and behaviour.
b) vigour of resistence to ill-treatment.
c) speed and courage.
d) escape from a cyclone.
2. The nervous captor let one bear go because
a) he was afraid of bears.
b) he did not have proper equipment to seize him.
c) the bear fought so fiercely.
d) the bear escaped and ran away.
3. Little Cyclone was rescued by the
a) members of the Blue Cross
b) friendly hands of the Zoological Society.
c) members of the National Zoo
d) volunteers from New York.
4. Little Czar was a
a) good natured European brown bear.
b) grizzly cub from Alaska.
c) furry little Polar bear.
d) North American black bear.
5. Little Cyclone will fight any other bear in notice.
a) 10 minutes
b) 15 minutes
c) 3 seconds
d) 10 seconds'