English for Life Reader Grade 6 Home Language - Lynne Southey English for Life

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princess Rapunzel, well, almost alone.

      A talkative cat also stayed there with her,

      A cynical creature with flea-ridden fur.

      With very little to do, but twiddle her toes

      Rapunzel would burp or pick at her nose.

      Sometimes her cat would snuggle into

      Her ample white bosom or crazy hairdo.

      See, Rapunzel’s hair had never been cut

      For the tower door had always been shut.

      She grew her hair mop in thick, stringy strands

      Adorned it with bows and golden hair bands.

      And then one fair day, a strange voice could be heard.

      Rapunzel and her kitty quickly conferred.

      “A prince!” cried Rapunzel. Her cat said: “It’s not!”

      Who would rescue a princess that eats her own snot?

      Rapunzel longed to have a word with the lad,

      And if he’s a pauper, that’s really not bad.

      Out the window she dropped her stringy long mane

      And she hoisted the man up like a cable and crane.

      Rapunzel pounced on him when he got to the top.

      She drowned him with kisses, though he asked her to stop.

      She squeezed and she tickled every inch of the guy.

      She salivated on him and then let out a sigh.

      Once more the petrified man cried: “Stop, princess, please!”

      ’Cause his nose started twitching and he let out a sneeze.

      Allergic to cats, he beat a hasty retreat.

      All he left dear Rapunzel was something to eat.

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      Vocabulary

      cynical – distrustful, negative, pessimistic

      flea-ridden – covered with fleas

      ample – enough, plenty, large

      adorned – added beauty

      pauper – beggar, someone who is poor

      confer – talk and discuss

      mane – hair

      pounce – suddenly jump onto someone

      salivate – discharge a large amount of the liquid produced in the mouth (saliva)

      petrified – paralysed with fear

      1. What does the expression “to twiddle your toes” mean?

      2. Give another word from the poem for:

      (a) beautiful

      (b) young man

      (c) swoop down

      3. Look at line 4, stanza 1. What poetic device is used? Underline the sounds that are repeated.

      4. Quote two consecutive words from stanza 3 to prove that Rapunzel had thick, untidy hair.

      5. In stanza 3, the word “bows” means ribbons. Give two other meanings for the word “bow”. When words are spelled the same, but have different meanings, they are called . . .

      6. The diminutive of cat is kitten. Provide the diminutives of the following words:

      (a) frog

      (b) tower

      (c) dog

      7. What poetic device is found in stanza 5? Write down the words.

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      Memorial gate

      Mervyn W. Woodrow

      There’s a plaque on the wall of the old stone gate

      That stands at the side of our school

      Where I and my friends used to run and jump

      And shout and play the fool.

      And I read one day the names on the plaque

      Then the date and the words “Great War”

      And I wished that I knew how such a few

      Could make a war at all!

      When my father came to take me home

      I showed him the plaque on the wall.

      “My son” he said, “those are the names of the dead

      Men who answered their country’s call”

      Told of Africa’s dust, Europe’s mud and blood,

      Of the frightful fields of France,

      How a few of the best gave their lives so the rest

      Could survive and have the chance

      To inherit their dream: work hards play straight,

      Live in freedom and peace and joy.

      He said, “Honour the names of the boys who died:

      They were men although only boys.”

      So now when I sit and read the plaque

      After school as I quietly wait,

      I remember the schoolboys who gave of their best

      In their honour the old stone gate.

      World War I, also known as the Great War, started in Europe and lasted from 1914-1918. More than 15 million lives were lost. The following words were first used in the trenches of WWI, and are still used today!

      Over the top, Ace, Buddy, pushing up daisies, red tape, zoom, sniper, zero hour, hit the deck, rise and shine.

      The day WWI ended, peace was declared at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918.

      1. Have you ever seen a memorial plaque with the names of men who died in a war? Do you think it is a good idea to remember them in this way? Explain your answer.

      2. How does what the father explains to the boy, the “I” in the poem, change his behaviour?

      3. Find an example of alliteration in the poem.

      4. Notice the structure of the poem and the regular rhythm and rhyme. How would you describe these?

      5. Think of the world you live in today. Is it a better place because of that war that was fought? Explain your answer.

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      The dance of the rain

      Eugene N. Marais (translated by Christa van Rooyen)

      Song of the violinist: Jan Konterdans

      The Dance of the Rain

      Oh, the dance of our Sister!

      First, over the hilltop she peeps stealthily

      and her eyes are shy

      and she laughs softly

      From afar she begs with

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