59. Reading Skills Comprehension: My Next Pet

My Next Pet

Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow them:       

My next pet was a pigeon, the most revolting bird to look at, with his feathers pushing through the wrinkled scarlet skin, mixed with the horrible yellow down that covers baby pigeons and makes them look as though they have been peroxiding their hair. Because of his repulsive and obese appearance, we called him Quasimodo.

Since he had an unorthodox upbringing, without parents to teach him, Quasimodo became convinced that he was not a bird at all, and refused to fly. He walked everywhere. He was always eager to join us in anything we did. He would even try to come for walks with us. So you had to either carry him on your shoulder, which was risking an accident to your clothes, or else you let him walk behind. If you let him walk, then you had to slow down your own pace to suit his, for should you get too far ahead you would hear the most frantic and imploring coos and turn around to find Quasimodo running desperately after you.—Gerald Durrell: Adapted from My Family and Other Animals

Questions                                                                                                

1. What was the author’s next pet?

2. Why did he call it the most revolting bird?

3. Why did they call him Quasimodo?

4. According to the author, why did Quasimodo refuse to fly?

5. What was the result of his unorthodox upbringing?

6. Why was Quasimodo always eager to go for walks with the author and his family?

7. What does the “accident to their clothes” mean?

8. What happened when Quasimodo was left behind during walks?

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