The Spider
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Marion
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It was interesting as well while
we were out on the farm. There were thousands of
trees, I think, on the farm. So, we saw lots of
different insects and little animals as well. The
most exciting thing I saw was a redback spider
because the redback is one of the most poisonous spiders
in Australia. So, I had been traveling there for
over a year, I think at
that stage, and I'd never seen a
redback spider. But, I'd seen lots of colorful
spiders, so that, every time I saw a new colored
spider, I'd go and have a look and maybe play with
it a bit or take a photo, something like that.
So, while I was picking the macadamia nuts with
my friends, I saw a really brightly colored
spider, so I decided to get a stick and kind of turn
over a leaf and see what it was doing, and
then, I was kind of looking at it for a while and
then suddenly I realized, "Oh, my God! It's red
and black. It's a redback spider!" So. I thought,
okay, I'd better stop playing with this guy and leave him alone. So, after over a year in Australia, I saw my first
redback on this macadamia farm. And then, later
on, that night, just before I was going to bed, I
walked into the room I was staying in with my
friend, and there on my bed was baby redneck
spider... redback spider, sorry and I couldn't
believe it. After one year, no redbacks and then
two in one day. It was a bit crazy really, so I
had to get someone to help me to get rid of it, cause it was a bit scary.
poison
The redback is one of the most poisonous spiders.
"Poison" is a substance that can cause injury or even death because it is toxic. Many insects and snakes are poisonous, or venomous, to kill their food. Notice the following:
- We put poison in the basement to kill the
mouse.
- If you try to eat that without cooking it you
will get really sick because it is poisonous.
at that stage
I had been traveling there for over a year at that stage.
"At that stage" is another way to say "by this point" or "at that time." We use it to give time reference to the situation we are describing. Notice the following:
- At that stage in my life, I didn't even know
how to cook eggs.
- At that stage, babies don't do much except eat
and sleep.
turn over
I decided to get a stick and kind of turn over a leaf.
"Turn over" is the action of flipping something over, so the top goes to the bottom. Notice the following:
- Turn over the patties because the other side
will burn.
- You have to turn over the wood to see what's
beneath it.
leave alone
Leave him alone.
To "leave something alone" is to not touch it or talk to it and go far away from it. Notice the following:
- Leave your brother alone.
- When she is sad or angry she wants other
people to leave her alone.
get rid of it
I had to get someone to help get rid of it.
To "get rid or something" is to throw it away or put it in a place away from you because it is bad. Notice the following:
- Those shoes are really old. You should get rid
of them.
- Are you going to eat this pizza or should I
get rid of it?
Vocabulary Quiz
leave her • get rid of
