Oscar

Level: B2

My dog, Oscar, showed his affection for me in many ways. He was always happy and playful, and I’m sure he had a better sense of humour than most people. He got into a lot of trouble because in his haste to welcome me home, he sometimes knocked things over. Oscar always knew when I was at the door, and I could hear the rapid tat-tat-tat of his claws as he raced down the hall. I was always teasing him, and so it’s a mystery why he liked me so much. When Oscar died, I knew the real meaning of grief. No matter how hard I tried to get interested in other things, nothing could relieve the hurt. My father had sympathy for me. He said that when he was a boy, his dog had run away. He advised me to get a new puppy. My new puppy is not yet as smart as Oscar was, but he is faithful to me, and I really like him.

Glossary

advise v. to give an opinion about what someone should do or how they should act in a particular situation: I advised him to stay at home.

affection n. a feeling of liking: She felt little affection for the child.

faithful adj. loyal: She was a close and faithful friend.

grief n. very great sadness, esp. at the death of someone: Newspapers should not intrude on people's private grief.

haste n. (too much) speed: Unfortunately the report was prepared in haste and contained several inaccuracies.

humour n. the ability to be amused by things, the way in which people see that some things are amusing, or the quality of being amusing: He has a wonderful sense of humour.

mystery n. something strange or unknown which has not yet been explained or understood: The mystery was solved when the police discovered the murder weapon.

rapid adj. quick or sudden: I was startled by a rapid movement to my left.

relieve v. If something relieves an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, it makes it less strong: She was given a shot of morphine to relieve the pain.

sympathy n. understanding and care for someone else's suffering: I don't really have much sympathy for people who've brought their troubles on themselves.

Synonyms

advise- give guidance; guide; counsel; give counsel; give recommendations; offer suggestions/opinions; give hints/tips; instruct.

affection- love; liking; fondness; warmth; devotion; caring; attachment; friendship; amity; warm feelings.

faithful- loyal; constant; devoted; dependable; reliable; true; true-blue; trusty; trustworthy; staunch; unswerving; unwavering; steadfast; obedient; dutiful; dedicated; committed.

grief- sorrow; mourning; mournfulness; bereavement; lamentation; misery; sadness; anguish; pain; distress; agony; affliction; suffering; heartache; heartbreak; broken-heartedness; heaviness of heart; trouble; woe; tribulation; trial; desolation; despondency; dejection; despair; remorse; regret.

haste- 1) fulfil the order with haste: speed; swiftness; rapidity; rapidness; quickness; fastness; alacrity; promptness; promptitude; dispatch; expeditiousness; expedition; celerity; fleetness; briskness; immediateness; urgency. 2) haste causes carelessness: hastiness; hurriedness; hurry; rushing; hustling; impetuosity; recklessness; rashness; foolhardiness; precipitateness; impulsiveness; heedlessness; carelessness. 

humour- 1) not to see the humor of the situation: funny side; funniness; comic side; comical aspect; comedy; laughableness; facetiousness; farcicalness; farce; jocularity; hilarity; ludicrousness; absurdness; absurdity; drollness. 2) entertain them with his humor: comedy; jokes; joking; jests; jesting; gags; wit; wittiness; witticisms; waggishness; pleasantries; buffoonery; (inf.) wisecracks.

mystery- 1) his death remains a mystery: enigma; puzzle; secret; unsolved problem; problem; riddle; conundrum; question; question mark; closed book; unexplored ground; terra incognita. 2) his whereabouts are clothed in mystery: secrecy; concealment; obscurity; obscuration; vagueness; nebulousness; inscrutability; inexplicability.

rapid- quick; fast; swift; speedy; fleet; hurried; hasty; expeditious; express; brisk; lively; prompt; precipitate. 

relieve- alleviate; mitigate; assuage; allay; soothe; soften; palliate; appease; ease; dull; abate; reduce; lessen; diminish. 

sympathy- compassion; commiseration; pity; condolence; consolation; comfort; solace; support; caring; concern; solicitude; solicitousness; consideration; kindness; kind-heartedness; warmth; warm-heartedness; charity; charitableness; understanding; empathy.

Collocations

show affection for someone

have a sense of humour

get into trouble

do something in haste

in your haste to do something

knock something over

know the real meaning of grief

it’s a mystery why

relieve the hurt

have sympathy for someone or something

advise someone to do something

faithful to someone or something