Welcoming a Cat
By the end of the poem, what feeling does the speaker develop toward the cat?
Empathy and compassion. (similar answers are acceptable)
The word INFINITE is used in the poem. Which meaning fits best in context?
The night seems endless and overwhelming.
Which sentence uses a subordinating conjunction correctly?
A) Because I was tired. B) Although it was raining, we played indoors. C) I stayed home, because I felt sick. D) When the bell rings we line up.
B — 'Although it was raining, we played indoors.' The dependent clause comes first, correctly followed by a comma.
At the START of the poem, what is the speaker's attitude toward the cat?
Fear and alarm — the speaker is startled and describes the cat as dangerous.
Who wrote 'Welcoming a Cat'?
Ahmed Shawqi — an Egyptian poet, known as the Prince of Poets.
How do the poem's events develop overall?
The speaker moves from fear to understanding and then to kindness.
Why does the poet use the word LUNGE instead of 'jump'?
To suggest the movement is sudden and aggressive.
What does the prefix 'un-' mean in the word UNHAPPY?
Not. Un- = not happy.
What does the speaker rising to 'listen closely through the curtains' reveal about their character?
Curiosity — the speaker is cautious but interested, not entirely dismissive.
What does the speaker discover at the end of the poem that changes everything?
The cat's kittens — nursing and sleeping.
What is the effect of describing the cat's eyes as 'an ember's blaze'?
It highlights the cat's intensity and possible danger.
What is the effect of the word CALAMITY in describing the speaker's response to the cat?
It emphasizes that the speaker chose NOT to respond with harm or disaster.
Is this clause essential or non-essential? 'My teacher, who teaches English, loves reading books.'
Non-essential — 'who teaches English' adds extra info but can be removed without changing the core meaning. Commas are correctly used.
The cat 'lunged' at the speaker. What does this tell us about the cat's character at this moment?
The cat is desperate, aggressive, and possibly frightened — she is protecting something (her kittens).
In ONE word — what is the main emotion the speaker feels at the END of the poem?
Compassion. (Also accept: empathy, mercy, kindness.)
Which action best reveals indirect characterisation of the speaker — and WHY?
Hint: Indirect characterisation shows character through actions, not labels.
'I didn't recompense her mischief with calamity' — it reveals the speaker's mercy without stating it directly.
How does the word DEVOTION shape the reader's understanding of the cat?
It highlights the cat's deep love and care for her kittens.
There are TWO grammar mistakes in this paragraph — find them: 'When the game ended we went home early. Mr. Khalid who teaches English watched the match with us.'
1) Missing comma after 'ended' (after introductory dependent clause). 2) Missing commas around 'who teaches English' (non-essential clause).
What changes the speaker's attitude toward the cat? Use textual evidence.
Seeing the kittens — 'Her kittens cuddled, sleeping, nursing on her ample milk' — the speaker understands the cat is a devoted mother.
Name ALL 5 vocabulary words tested in Section B of the game.
Infinite, lunge, calamity, devotion, emerging.
Explain ONE central theme of the poem AND connect it to a real-life situation.
Hint: Think: fear, empathy, motherhood, mercy.
Compassion overcomes fear — just as we may fear strangers but choose kindness once we understand their situation.
Why is the word EMERGING effective in describing the kittens?
It suggests gentle movement and new life — a contrast to the earlier tension in the poem.
Rewrite this sentence correctly AND identify the clause type: 'My brother who lives in Jeddah is visiting us this weekend.'
'My brother, who lives in Jeddah, is visiting us this weekend.' NON-ESSENTIAL clause — commas required; the clause adds extra info but isn't needed to identify which brother.
How does Ahmed Shawqi use vivid language to develop the speaker's arc from fear to compassion? Choose ONE phrase and analyse its connotation and tone.
Ex. 'An ember's blaze' — connotation of danger but also warmth, foreshadowing the shift. Tone moves from tense/fearful to reflective and merciful.
What is indirect characterisation — and give ONE example from the poem.
Indirect characterisation = showing a character's traits through actions, words, or reactions rather than stating them directly. Example: 'I didn't recompense her mischief with calamity' shows the speaker is merciful without stating it.