Part 11: Sorry, Reginald
Read the passage carefully before answering the questions. Click any word to collect it. Click an underlined word to reveal its definition below.
But Simon couldn't do it. His paw trembled in its raised position. He and Reginald stared at each other.
Reginald was frozen too. He had never been so afraid in his life — he had completely underestimated this cat and in so doing put himself in danger. He had no tricks, no moves and no ideas. This was it. He was, finally, at the mercy of an animal he had goaded for nine months.
And didn't Simon know it. He desperately wanted to do the deed he had spent months working towards and yet, somehow, it felt wrong. He had never actually killed anything, fed as he was on the human's leftovers and the delicious tins of canned, oily fish that made his hair so lustrous. The truth was that he was not inclined to violence, nor had he really considered what he would do if he was successful.
So, with a sad breath, as if he was deflating himself, he lowered his paw.
"Sorry Reginald," he said, "Off you go."
Reginald waited a moment longer, not quite believing what he was seeing. Then, suddenly, he processed what he was saying and scurried with haste over the counter side and away.
He looked around to see Simon staring down at him with baleful, fluorescent discs, before he too turned and fled.
Vocabulary
Click an underlined word in the passage above to reveal its definition here.
Section 1: What Happened?
Answer using evidence from the passage. Use full sentences where possible.
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1Why does Simon's paw tremble instead of striking? Give two reasons from the text.(2 marks)
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2What had Reginald "completely underestimated" about Simon? Give two things he admits to himself.(2 marks)
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3aWhat does Simon eat?(1 mark)
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3bWhat does this tell us about his character?(2 marks)
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4How does Reginald react at first when Simon lets him go?(1 mark)
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5What does Reginald see as he runs away?(2 marks)
Section 2: Perspectives & Feelings
Think about how the characters are feeling and why they behave the way they do. Use the text to support your ideas.
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6How has Reginald's attitude towards Simon changed from earlier in the story?(2 marks)
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7The writer says Simon let out "a sad breath, as if he was deflating himself." What does this suggest about how Simon feels in this moment?(2 marks)
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8Why do you think Simon says "Sorry Reginald" rather than just letting him go silently? What does this tell us about his character?(3 marks)
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9Who do you feel more sympathy for at the end of this extract — Simon or Reginald? Explain your answer using evidence from the text.(4 marks)
Section 3: Writer's Corner
Think about the choices the writer has made and what effect they have on the reader.
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10The writer describes Simon's eyes as "baleful, fluorescent discs." What effect does this image have on the reader?(2 marks)
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11How does the writer create a sense of tension and stillness at the very start of this extract?(2 marks)
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12This extract is the resolution of the story. How does the writer make this ending feel surprising? Think about what the reader expected to happen.(4 marks)
Section 4: Writing Task
Personal Writing Task — 20 minutes
Simon chose to do the right thing, even though part of him desperately didn't want to. Write about a time you chose to do the right thing when it would have been easier not to.
You might think about:
- What was the situation, and what made it tempting to do otherwise?
- What made you choose to do the right thing in the end?
- How did it feel afterwards — did you feel glad you did it?
Try to take the reader right inside that moment of choice — the conflict between what you wanted and what you knew was right.