V. Let’s Talk
An Intelligent Dog
A black dog walked into a butcher’s shop with a five-dollar bill in his mouth. He spent several minutes looking at the meat on display. He finally fixed his eyes on the lamb chops and barked, showing that he wanted to buy some of them. The butcher, thinking the dog wouldn’t know the difference, picked out the worst chops. The dog barked angrily and continued to bark until the butcher selected the finest chops. After the butcher took the money from the dog’s mouth, the dog picked up the chops and left the shop.
The butcher was deeply impressed and decided that he would like to own a clever dog like that. He closed up shop and followed the dog to see where it went. The dog entered an apartment house, climbed to the third floor, and began to scratch on the door. With that, the door opened and an angry man started yelling at the dog. As he did so, the butcher stepped forward to ask the man to stop. “What are you doing?” That’s the smartest animal I’ve ever seen! Surely it doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment.” The butcher then went on to explain how the dog had bought the best lamb chops in the shop. The man looked at the butcher from the corner of his eye and said, “I don’t think he’s so intelligent. You see, this is third time this week he’s forgotten his key.”
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Characters
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Actions and Words
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A dog
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walked into a butcher’s shop with five dollars;
fixed eyes on the lamb chops and barked—wanted some.
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The butcher
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picked up the worst/lowest quality chops.
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The dog
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barked angrily and continuously
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The butcher
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selected the finest chops;
took the money.
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The dog
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left.
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The butcher
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wanted to own/have such a dog;
followed the dog.
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The dog
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entered an apartment house
climbed to the third floor;
scratched on the door.
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A man
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opened the door;
yelled at the dog.
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The butcher
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asked him to stop,
saying it was the smartest/cleverest animal;
explained how the dog had got the best lamb chops.
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The man
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looked at him sideways;
said it was the third time this week the dog had forgotten his key.
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