Comprehension:the origin of the cat

English first additional language

Grade 7

Module 3

Comprehension

1. THE ORIGIN OF THE CAT

(a) Read the following extract carefully.

The earliest records of domestic cats are written and painted on the walls of the tombs of the Pharaohs of Egypt and are over 4 000 years old. Sleek, shorthaired, long-legged cats were etched side-by-side with figures of Egyptian men working in the fields.

In Egypt the cat was worshipped as a sacred animal and in the event of fire, the cat was rescued first! We are not sure how the cat came to be so high up in the divine order of things of the Egyptians, but it is thought that these people were the first to appreciate the cat's skilful ability to get rid of the pests, such as rats and mice, which infested the fields and cities.

When cats died, they were treated with great respect and were often mummified or embalmed. This involved being wrapped in tight bandages and buried in miniature coffins which were decorated with gold.

If one killed a cat in Egypt, the penalty was death and many an unsuspecting foreigner met his end in this way.

It was illegal to remove a cat from Egypt, but these gods were gradually smuggled out to the East and to Europe. They were very popular in countries such as Japan, Greece and Rome, and because they were so very precious, they were often kept on leads. They were possessed by many princes and noblemen.

It was only in the Middle Ages that the cat fell from its pedestal, rather awkwardly and without the grace that it was accustomed to. There were groups of people in Germany who started to use the cat for evil purposes. The Church believed the cat-worshippers to be witches and many people were tortured for witchcraft. There was mass hysteria among the ordinary people who then started to link cats with the devil.

But fortunately the panic ended and the common cat once again won its way into the hearts of people all over the world. The cats were raised to their rightful position and were owned by scientists, politicians and clergymen.

So, don't be surprised if, some day, you notice your cat looking down at you, perfect and proud. He is most probably dreaming about days gone by when felines in Egypt were put first and when a cat could look at a king.

There are many proverbs about cats that probably originated from ancient Egyptian times. Have you heard the following: a cat may look at a king; an old cat knows fresh milk; a cat has nine lives; there are more ways of killing a cat than choking her with cream?

(b) Answer the following questions in full sentences, unless stated otherwise.

(i) How do we know that the Egyptians had domestic cats?

(ii) Why was the cat the first to be rescued in the event of a fire?

(iii) For what supposed reason did the Egyptians worship cats?

(iv) How did the Egyptians show their respect for a cat after its death?

(v) Why were many foreigners to Egypt put to death?

(vi) We are told that the cat "fell from its pedestal" during the Middle Ages. What does this mean?

(vii) Why did many ordinary people in Germany begin to associate cats with the devil?