Views #706 | Low-Intermediate 4

Chaz the Cat

Phil talks about his cat back in England and why he likes it so much.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Phil	Todd

Todd: So, Phil, we both live and work in Japan. We're both teachers in Japan. Now are you homesick. Are there things that you really miss about England?
Phil: The thing I miss the most, and it's going to sound really sad, is my cat.
Todd: Oh, that's cute.
Phil: Yeah, I love my cat. I don't know why. I'm a bit sappy like that, so I really miss my cat.
Todd: Oh, well talk about your cat. What's your cat like?
Phil: My cat is black, very fat, very stupid like most cats but very lazy like me so we have a lot in common but just she likes to wake me up at six o'clock in the morning and I really curse her and hate her. Still, I can't be angry about it.
Todd: Yeah, right.
Phil: And sometimes she'll bring a bird in, and she thinks she's having a great present by brining us a bird and my mom gets really angry and...
Todd: Ooh! Wow! You're cats still primitive. It still goes out and kills birds.
Phil: Oh, yeah, yeah, and occasionally mice because we live in the country so there's a lot of animals nearby and my cat will always try and catch them.

Todd: Oh, cool... So what's your cats name?
Phil: Chaz.
Todd: Chaz?
Phil: Yeah. We got her from a charity called the Cat's Protection League in England.
Todd: Oh, I'm sorry. What's that? Can you explain?
Phil: The Cat's Protection League is basically, there's a lot of homeless cats in England. People abandon them because they can't look after them or whatever reason and they will take them in and they will give them food and try to find them new homes and we found our cat from there.
Todd: So you saved Chaz?
Phil: Kind of, yeah. I think we saved him. Maybe or maybe we condemned him. I'm not sure.
Todd: So, what's cool about your cat, Chaz? I mean, why do you have this bond with your cat?
Phil: I don't know. Maybe we're on the same level. We both like to spend our weekends sleeping all day and doing as little as possible, eating a sleeping so maybe we're just on the same level, but I'm not really sure. We're just both as stupid as each other I think.
Todd: So, you would say you're definitely a cat person and not a dog person?
Phil: Yeah, yeah. I like dogs but I think cats are actually more intelligent on a... like if you throw a stick for a dog, the dog will always fetch it. The cat will look at it and fetch your own stick you idiot.
Todd: That's true. That's true. Well, anyway, hopefully you'll be able to see Chaz soon.
Phil: Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. I hope so.

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

sappy

I'm a bit sappy like that, so I really miss my cat.

A 'sappy' person can get overly emotional about things.

Notice the following:

I do not like to watch sappy films.
My mum is a bit sappy. She always cries when I go off to college.

a lot in common

My cat is black, very fat, very stupid like most cats, but very lazy like me, so we have a lot in common.

When something has 'a lot in common' with something else, it means that it has many similarities.

Notice the following:

I have a lot in common with my sister.
You two have a lot in common so I think you will get on really well.

take them in

People abandon them because they can't look after them and they will take them in and they will give them food.

'Take them in' refers to what people who are kind and caring do for unfortunate animals. They look after them and give them a home and food.

Notice the following:

There were some stray kittens, and she asked me if I would like to take them in.
I would love to take a homeless dog in and give it a nice life.

bond

Why do you have this bond with your cat?

If you have a 'bond' with something, it means that you have a good connection with it.

Notice the following:

I have a close bond with most of my friends.
We grew up together so I think there will always be a strong bond between the two of us.

on the same level

We're on the same level - we both like to spend our weekends sleeping all day.

When you are 'on the same level' as someone else, it means that you think the same and have similar ideas about life.

Notice the following:

I would want to marry someone who is on the same level as me.
You two seem to get on very well; you seem to be on the same level.

Vocabulary Quiz

sappy • in common • taking in
bond • level

She says that they aren't really on the same about getting married.
He has always had a special with his grandfather.
My little sister is always stray animals off the street.
She has almost nothing with her boyfriend, but they seem to get along very well.
Don't be and cry. I will only be gone for a few weeks.