Cat Escape

Level: B2

Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.

The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw ‘a large cat’ only five yards away from her. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits. Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. Several people complained of ‘cat-like noises’ at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree.

The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, but where had it come from? As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.

Glossary

accumulate- to gradually increase in number or amount until there is a large quantity in a place

at large- if a dangerous person or animal is at large, they have escaped from somewhere or have not been caught

cling to- to stick to someone or something, or seem to surround them

complain- to say that you are annoyed, not satisfied or unhappy about something or someone

confirm- to show that something is definitely true, especially by providing more proof

convinced- feeling certain that something is true

corner- to force an animal or person into a position from which they cannot easily escape

disturbing- worrying or upsetting

extraordinarily- extremely; in a way that seems strange

feel obliged- to feel you have to do something because the situation, the law, a duty, etc. makes it necessary

for- because

fully- completely

investigate- to try to find out the truth about something such as a crime, accident, or scientific problem

manage- to succeed in doing something difficult, especially trying very hard

spot- to notice someone or something, especially when they are difficult to see or recognize

trail- a sign that a person or animal has been in a place, used for finding and catching them

Collocations

reports come in

take someone or something seriously

evidence accumulates

feel obliged to do something

give descriptions of something

extraordinarily similar

a hunt for someone or something

prove difficult

leave behind a trail of something

be found doing something

complain of something

fully convinced

be in the possession of someone