Pig-Heart Boy a) You are going to read the first chapter of the book Pig-Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman. Before you read, think about the title. What could the book be about? Tick one idea. a boy who loves pigs a boy with a heart disease a boy who is heartbroken b) Now read the text. Chapter 1 – Dying I am drowning in this roaring silence. I am drowning. I’m going to die. I look up through the grey-white shimmer of the swimming pool water. High, high above I can see where the quality of the light changes. The surface. But it is metres above me. It might as well be kilometres. The chlorine stings my eyes. My lungs are on fire. Just one breath. Just one. I have to take a breath, even though I know that I’ll be breathing in water. But my lungs are burning and my blood is roaring and my whole body is screaming out for air. If I don’t take a breath, I’ll burst. If I do take a breath, I’ll drown. Some choice. No choice. I close my eyes, praying hard. And kick, kick, kick. I open my eyes. The surface of the water seems even further away. I’m going to drown. A fact. A fact as clear, as real as the silence around me. Part of me – a tiny, tiny part of me – laughs. I am going to drown. After everything I’ve been through in the last few months, this is how I’m going to bow out. One thought rises up in my mind. One thought. Alex … I stop kicking. I have no energy left. I stop fighting. I’m so tired. I can feel my body begin to sink. Now for the hard part. Now for the easy part. Now for the hard part. Give in. Let go. Just one breath … Just one … Just … c) Which words or phrases would you use to describe the emotions the boy feels in the text above? Tell your partner. Use words and phrases from the word bank. The boy will give in soon because he is so exhausted. He … d) What could happen next? Tick one idea and tell your partner why you think so. the boy will drown someone will save the boy the boy will be strong enough 3 Skills Reading skill: Getting the gist When you are reading a difficult text like this, it is not necessary to know each word. It is more important to understand the general idea. Think about what the text wants you to learn/feel. S 5 10 15 20 25 Word bank be in a bad mood • confused • exhausted • feel sick • give in • have a chance • have a hard time • have no choice • keep fighting • relax • scream in fear • stop trying • strong • surprised • weak W 81 10 eighty-one Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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