Reading Their Pilot was a Dolphin

Pelorus Jack, a famous dolphin, for fifteen years piloted ships...

Pelorus Jack was the name given to the famous dolphin that for fifteen years piloted ships through Pelorus Sound into Cook Strait, the channel between New Zealand's North and South Islands, which was a dangerous place for ships.

The dolphin pilot worked day and night.

Pelorus Jack was first reported by Captain Backstrom in 1899 and this is how it happened. The ship was caught in a storm in the dangerous waters of Pelorus Sound not far from Cook Strait. The storm lasted for some days.

When the weather became calmer, the passengers gathered on deck to have a look at the dolphin that had appeared in front of the ship. That friendly animal came nearer and nearer the ship, jumping out of the water as if asking the captain to follow it. The ship followed the dolphin and was soon out of danger. The passengers and the sailors shouted and threw their caps in the air.

"What a splendid dolphin! What a wonderful animal! He has saved our lives!" they shouted.

Nobody wanted to leave the deck, but as soon as the ship was out of danger and well in Cook Strait the dolphin disap­peared.

Then other reports followed one after another. The dolphin met ships and piloted them through Pelorus Sound into Cook Strait. Pelorus Jack became famous, and was one of the sights of that part of the world.

Passengers on the ships going through Pelorus Sound into Cook Strait always gathered on deck and many of them asked to be called specially if the ship was approaching Cook Strait at night or early in the morning. In such cases they asked a steward to wake them up. The steward used to wake the passengers with the words, ‘Pilot appeared, sir! Come out, please.’

It seems strange that somebody wanted to shoot a dolphin doing such a useful service, but one man tried to do so. One passenger on the ship Penguin tried to shoot the dolphin pilot, and in 1904, because of this the New Zealand government passed a special order to stop fishing or shooting dolphins in the waters of Cook Strait and Pelorus Sound. As for Pelorus Jack, he avoided the Penguin and never piloted it.

The dolphin's end was a mystery. The only thing that is known is that in April, 1912, four Norwegian whalers passed through Cook Strait, and Pelorus Jack was never seen after that. Perhaps somebody had shot him. It was a poor reward for all that he had done for the people whose way lay through the dangerous waters between the South and North Islands of New Zealand.

1. Translate the given words or phrases from the text.

Pilot dolphin, to work day and night, to be reported by, to last for (some days), to be out of danger, to follow one after another, sights, to gather on smth., to gather on, to pass a special order, to avoid smth., a mystery, whalers, a poor reward.

2. Make up ten questions to the text. Ask your partner.

3. Make up a mysterious story using these verbs.

happen do last receive reincarnate die

feel remember dream get remind meet

LISTENING

Many people believe in unexplained phenomena such as fire walking and psychokinesis.They may have seen these events or done them themselves.

1. Look at each of these unexplained phenomena. Do you believe it works? Write yes or no and write a possible reason why it works. Then, in a small group discuss your answers.

Unexplained phenomena	Does it work?	Why?
Palm reading: Palm readers can predict your future by looking at your palm
Astrology: Astrologists can describe your perfect husband, wife or partner
Fire walking: people can walk on fire Psychokinesis: People can move objects with their minds
Some other unexplained phenomena ( your example)

What could be some explanations for these phenomena?