VOCABULARY
“Rikki-tikki-tavi”
WHAT’S A MONGOOSE?
By: Rudyard Kipling
BACKGROUND INFO
PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
KEY TERMS/IDEAS
POST-READING
ACTIVITIES
EXTRA CREDIT
LITERATURE BOOK
PAGES 593- 609
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Rikki-tikki-tavi Cartoon
bungalow-noun- a one-story house with low, sweeping lines.
revive- verb- come back to life or consciousness
Segowlee cantonment- area in Segolwee, India where British
soldiers were stationed
cultivate- adjective- tamed; developed
cower- verb- to crouch or draw back in fear
The great God Brahm (or Brahma)- the Hindu god of creation
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 providence- noun- God’s care and help
 sluice- a canal with a gate that controls the flow of water
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purchase-noun- a firm hold
singe- verb- burn a little
fancy-verb- to picture oneself; imagine
valiant-adjective- showing courage, brave
consolation- noun- comfort
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Definition: The Mongoose (Herpestidae) is from a family of 33 species of
small carnivorans (a "carnivore" or meat eating mammal) from southern
Europe, Asia and Africa known as a predator of poisonous snakes.
Description: The mongoose has a long sleek body, long faces, short legs,
tapering tails and short fur with a gray or brown streak or pattern in gray
or brown. The mongoose has a similar appearance to the weasel or a
meerkat. The meerkat is the mongoose family. Mongooses tend to stand
on their hind legs to survey their surroundings
Some types of mongoose are nocturnal while others emerge during
daylight hours. The mongoose is very fast enabling them to move so
quickly that they can avoid strikes from a snake. Often live in burrows.
Mongooses have non-retractile claws meaning that they cannot draw back
their own claws
Mongoose stats and facts: Weight: 340 gm to 5 kg (12 oz to 11 lb)Length: 7 to 25
inches (18 to 64 cm)Mongoose long, tapering bushy tail: 6 to 21 inches (15 to 53
cm)Habitat: plains and forestsLifespan: 20 yearsSpeed: Up to 37 mph (60
km/hr)Diet: Mongoose are carnivores eating mainly insects, beetles, worms, snails,
lizards, snakes and frogs
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BACKGROUND INFO
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Author: Rudyard Kipling- Grew up in India, and he was sent to England
at age six. He took those misadventures and life experiences and
turned them into wonderful stories. His other works include:
• The Jungle Book (1894)
• The Second Jungle Book (1895)
• Kim (1901)
• Just So Stories (1902)
The Indian Cobra: The Indian cobra not only bites to transmit venom,
but it spits it too. It can force the venom through its fangs using its
muscles. The poison is very harmful to the eyes.
The mongoose was so prized for its ability to kill not only snakes, but
rats as well, that travelers to the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Fiji brought
mongooses with them for protection. Where mongooses hadn’t lived
before, they soon thrived.
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PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
• READ ON PAGE 593:
– RUDYARD KIPLING INFORMATION
– BUILDING BACKGROUND-A LIVING LEGEND
– READING TIP- PRONUNCIATION
– Journal Entry-Answer ONE of the following questions using
GOOD DETAILS!!:
• If you have NEVER rescued or know someone who has rescued an animal,
answer the following question: If you found a hurt animal, what would you do
to help it? Would it make a difference what kind of animal it was? Why?
• If you or someone you know HAVE rescued an animal, answer the following
question:
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What type of animal was it? How was it discovered? What did you (or the other person you
knew) save it? What was the final outcome?
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EXTRA CREDIT
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If you would like to receive extra credit, you may complete Making
Connections (1-7) on page 607.
Guidelines:
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MUST be typed- you CAN email it to me
I will not offer help, but you may use any other resources available to you.
It is due Tuesday, May 14th, at the BEGINNING of your period- NO EXCEPTIONS.
Hint: completing this may help you do well on the test if you do a really good
job!!
The amount of extra credit you receive will depend on how well you complete the
assignment.
Email or see me with ANY questions dminervini@nutleyschools.org
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POST-READING
CHECK TEST
1. Who and what is the main character?
1. Rikki-tikki-tavi, a mongoose
2. Who is Teddy?
1. He is the young boy who rescues Rikki and whom Rikki protects.
3. Who are Nag and Nagaina?
1. They are the cobras who want control of the garden. They are Rikkitikki-tavi’s enemies.
4. How does Rikki protect the family?
1. by killing snakes
5. How does Rikki save Teddy?
1. He distracts Nagaina so that Teddy’s father is able to pull him to
safety
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POST-READING
• Who is the protagonist in the story?
• Who are the antagonists in the story?
• Complete the study guide for homework
tonight. Remember to write in complete
sentences and use details/explain ALL of
your answers. DO NOT leave ANY questions
blank; attempt them ALL.
• The test for this unit will be Friday, May 4th.
Study EVERYTHING we have reviewed,
discussed, and took notes on.
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KEY TERMS/IDEAS
PLOT-THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN A STORY
– EXPOSITION-The beginning of a story where the
characters, setting, and sometimes the conflict are
introduced.
– RISING ACTION- Events leading to the climax. The
conflict continues to develop.
– CLIMAX-The turning point; the most exciting part of the
story. (Usually where the MOST action occurs.)
– FALLING ACTION-events leading to a story’s
resolution.
– RESOLUTION- The ending where all the loose ends
are tied up.
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KEY TERMS/IDEAS
WHILE READING THE STORY, RAISE YOUR HAND WHEN YOU CAN
IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
• THEME-The underlying message/meaning/moral the author is trying to
present in a story.
• CONFLICT-The problem between opposing characters or forces.
• CHARACTERS-WHO the story is about.
• SETTING- WHERE & WHEN the story takes place.
• ONOMATOPOEIA-Words used to imitate the sound of a thing: hiss,
smack, buzz, hum are just SOME.
• SIMILE-A COMPARISON between two unlike things using “like” or “as”.
• IMAGERY-Words or details that appeal to the five senses and paint a
picture in the reader’s mind.
• PERSONIFCATION-When human characteristics are given to
nonhuman things (plants, objects, animals, etc..) Remember Beauty
and the Beast? ALL PERSONIFICATION!!
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