Step 3 : Skimming (put the sentences into the right order.

• ( ) George started beating the water with his oar

• ( ) Clancy grabbed his boots and raced after George to the boat

• ( ) Clancy arrived at the whaling station

• ( ) The killers started racing between our boat and the whale

• ( ) Clancy heard a huge noise coming from the bay

• ( ) Clancy was sorting out his accommodation

• ( ) Clancy ran down to the shore

• ( ) The man in the bow of the boat aimed the harpoon at the whale

Step 4: careful reading

• 1. what evidence was there that Old Tom was helping out the whalers?

• 2. what other animals did the author compare the killer whales with?

• 3. "The killers started racing between our boat and the whale just like a pack of excited dogs." why do you think the killer whales behave like this?

• 4. why did George think that the killer whales worked as a team?

• 5. why do you think the whalers allowed the killer whales to drag the whale under the water to feed on its lips and tongue?

• 6.why did the whalers return home without the whale's body?

• 7.How do you think Red felt about the killer whales?

• 8. How did Old Tom help James? Why do you think he did this?

Step 5 Discussion