©Chiba Riding Park
Pre-reading questions:
- Do you believe animals have a sixth sense or heightened instincts that allow them to perceive and respond to emergencies better than humans? Why or why not?
- Have you ever personally been involved in or witnessed a situation where an animal played a crucial role in someone’s rescue or well-being? How did it impact your perspective on the intelligence and empathy of animals?
Vocabulary:
- remarkable /ri-MAHR-kuh-buhl/
- appreciation /uh-pree-shee-EY-shuhn/
- slight /slahyt/
- tradition /truh-DISH-uhn/
- fleeing /FLEE-ing/
[adjective] – unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning
The speaker delivered a remarkable presentation that left the audience inspired and motivated.
[noun] – the act of recognizing or understanding that something is valuable, important, or as described
The teacher received an apple as a token of appreciation from a grateful student who had benefited from their guidance.
[adjective] – small in amount or degree
The doctor assured me that the surgery would only cause slight discomfort and that I would recover quickly.
[noun] – a belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time, or all of these beliefs, etc. in a particular society or group
On New Year’s Eve, it is a tradition in our neighborhood to gather at the park and watch the fireworks together.
[adjective] – escaping by running away, especially because of danger or fear
The fleeing suspect was apprehended by the security guard just outside the store.
Article reading:
The Wakaba Fire Department highlighted the importance of vigilance, urging prompt responses to even slight changes to save lives. They praised Koume’s alertness and the swift actions of the club’s staff. Thanks to Koume’s timely barks, an ambulance was called, and paramedics used a defibrillator to revive the man. Remarkably, the man has since returned to horseback riding, grateful for Koume’s heroism. The horse riding club has a tradition of employing female dogs as mascots to welcome members. Koume previously showcased her attentiveness by alerting a fleeing horse and assisting an elderly horse in need. Koume’s courageous actions have rightfully earned her admiration and appreciation from all who witnessed her life-saving efforts.
Comprehension questions
- How did Koume earn hero status in Japan? What were her life-saving actions?
- What did the local fire officials in Wakaba-ku, Chiba City, do to honor Koume?
- Describe the incident at the horse riding club where Koume resides. What happened on February 25?
- What is remarkable about the man who experienced the heart attack? How did he express his gratitude?
- What is the tradition of the horse riding club regarding mascots? How has Koume displayed her attentiveness in the past?
Discussion questions
- How does hearing about Koume’s life-saving actions make you feel? Have you ever witnessed or heard about similar heroic animal rescues?
- If you were in a similar emergency situation, do you think you would be as alert and responsive as Koume? How would you react?
- Have you ever personally been involved in or witnessed a situation where an animal played a crucial role in someone’s rescue or well-being?
- What qualities do you think are necessary for an animal to become a hero in a life-saving situation? How do you think Koume possessed those qualities?
- What lessons can we learn from Koume’s actions and the responses of the horse riding club and local officials? How can we apply these lessons to our own lives and communities to improve emergency preparedness and response?