Ajarn read the Associated Press story that we’ve copied below and immediately went to last week’s Sunday comics to find the cartoon, also included below. That cartoon is a perfect illustration to help students build new vocabulary.

Here they are – the story and the cartoon with three quick vocabulary questions.

Pet python snacks on pit bull terrier Los Angeles — A Californian who used to have two pets, a pit bull terrier and a Burmese python, now has only one — a 90kg python with a pit bull-sized bulge. Police said the reptile escaped from its cage in Merced city, about 130km southeast of San Francisco. The owner finally found it under his house but then realised his 14kg pit bull was also missing. The mystery was easily solved. "In the middle of the snake, there was a big round bulge," police commander Tom Martin said. "The owner surmised it was his 9-month-old pit bull." Officials are now considering whether the python should be considered a wild animal and in violation of the city code. If so, the man might then have no pets at all. — Reuters Now that you've read the story, you'll be aable to answer the first two questions. There is a word in the story for the class, or family, of animals that snakes belong to. What is that word? What phrase in the story means "against the law"? Now look at the cartoon and you’ll be able to explain what the word "bulge" means. Here’s the link to the cartoon so you can go to the official Bizarro site to get the full effect when you see it full size. Have fun!

TEACHER'S NOTE Sometimes you can put together a quick lesson just by keeping your eyes and your mind open to the possibilities that present themselves as you look through your daily paper. Then write a few quick questions and you have a short, fun lesson. Go back to the top