Past Progressive (When and While)

Vocabulary List:

1. Volunteering – Voluntariado
2. Animal shelter – Refugio de animales
3. Feeding – Alimentando
4. Kittens – Gatitos
5. Barking – Ladrando
6. Napping – Tomando una siesta
7. Cleaning – Limpiando
8. Cages – Jaulas
9. Rewarding – Gratificante

Definitions:

1. Volunteering: Offering services by choice without receiving payment.
   • Example: “She was volunteering at the local library, helping children with their reading skills.”
2. Animal shelter: A facility that houses and cares for stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals.
   • Example: “He adopted his new pet from the animal shelter, where many dogs and cats were waiting for homes.”
3. Feeding: Giving food to a person or an animal.
   • Example: “Every morning, she was feeding the stray cats in her neighborhood.”
4. Kittens Young domestic cats.
   • Example: “The kittens were playing with a ball of yarn, jumping and tumbling around.”
5. Barking: The sound a dog makes, often to express different emotions or responses.
   • Example: “The neighbor’s dog was barking loudly when a stranger approached the door.”
6. Napping: Taking a short sleep, usually during the day.
   • Example: “After lunch, the baby was napping peacefully in her crib.”
7. Cleaning: The act of making something free from dirt, marks, or mess.
   • Example: “On Saturdays, we were cleaning the house together as a family activity.”
8. Cages: Enclosures made of bars or wire, used to confine or protect animals.
   • Example: “In the zoo, the birds were kept in large cages that allowed them to fly.”
9. Rewarding: Offering a sense of satisfaction or pleasure; fulfilling.
   • Example: “Teaching young children was a rewarding experience, filled with joy and challenges.”

Passage 4: A Day at the Animal Shelter

A Day at the Animal Shelter

Last Tuesday, I was volunteering at the local animal shelter. The shelter was full of different animals, but mostly cats and dogs. I was feeding the kittens when my friend, Alex, was walking the dogs. Some of the dogs were barking loudly, excited to be outside. The cats, on the other hand, were napping or playing with toys. Later, we were cleaning the cages and preparing food for the animals. It was hard work, but very rewarding. At the end of the day, we were tired but happy, knowing we helped these animals.

Comprehensive questions:

1. What was the narrator doing last Tuesday?
2. What types of animals were mostly found in the shelter?
3. What was the narrator doing for the kittens?
4. What was Alex doing at the shelter?
5. How did the dogs react to being outside?
6. What were the cats doing while the dogs were outside?
7. What activities did the narrator and Alex do later in the day?
8. How did the narrator feel about the work at the shelter?
9. What was the narrator’s feeling at the end of the day?
10. Why did the narrator feel happy despite being tired?

Answers:

1. What was the narrator doing last Tuesday?
   • The narrator was volunteering at the local animal shelter.
2. What types of animals were mostly found in the shelter?
   • The shelter was mostly full of cats and dogs.
3. What was the narrator doing for the kittens?
   • The narrator was feeding the kittens.
4. What was Alex doing at the shelter?
   • Alex was walking the dogs.
5. How did the dogs react to being outside?
   • The dogs were barking loudly, excited to be outside.
6. What were the cats doing while the dogs were outside?
   • The cats were either napping or playing with toys.
7. What activities did the narrator and Alex do later in the day?
   • They were cleaning the cages and preparing food for the animals.
8. How did the narrator feel about the work at the shelter?
   • The narrator found the work hard but very rewarding.
9. What was the narrator’s feeling at the end of the day?
   • The narrator was tired but happy at the end of the day.
10. Why did the narrator feel happy despite being tired?
    • The narrator was happy because they knew they helped the animals.

Passage 5: An Evening of Board Games

Last night, my family and I were playing board games at home. It was raining outside, so we decided to stay indoors. We were sitting around the dining table with snacks and drinks. My sister was shuffling the cards, and I was setting up the game board. Our dog, Max, was lying quietly under the table. We were all laughing and having a good time. Halfway through the game, the power went out. We were surprised, but we continued playing by candlelight. It turned out to be one of the most memorable evenings we’ve had.

Passage 6: A Rainy Day Adventure

This morning, my friend Jake and I were planning to go hiking in the mountains. We were packing our backpacks with snacks and water when we noticed it was raining outside. We were a bit disappointed, but then Jake suggested we visit the local museum instead. The museum was hosting an exhibit on ancient civilizations, which we both were interested in. While we were walking through the exhibit, we were amazed by the ancient artifacts and stories. At one point, we were standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, completely fascinated. The day turned out to be an adventure in its own way, filled with history and discovery.

Passage 7: A Day at the Science Fair

Last Saturday, my school was hosting a science fair. While students were setting up their projects, parents and teachers were arriving to view the exhibits. I was presenting a project on solar energy, and my friend Mia was displaying her experiment on plant growth. While we were explaining our projects to visitors, we were learning a lot from other students’ exhibits too. Outside, some students were launching model rockets, and others were conducting live science experiments. The fair was bustling with activity and excitement. As the day was ending, awards were being announced, and everyone was eagerly awaiting the results.

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