Paragraph 1:
Mr. Purcell owned a pet shop that was always alive with the sounds of chirping birds, rustling animals, and scurrying feet. His shop was filled with ornate, gilded cages and various animals, from cats and dogs to monkeys. The constant movement and noise, however, went unnoticed by Mr. Purcell, who was used to it. Customers often remarked on how “cute” and “sweet” the animals were, and Mr. Purcell would smile, rub his hands briskly, and nod in agreement. Each morning, after completing his tasks, he would sit on a high stool behind the counter, engrossed in his newspaper, reacting to the day’s news with frowns, nods, and smirks.
Questions and Answers
- What kind of shop did Mr. Purcell own?
Mr. Purcell owned a pet shop. - What animals and items did Mr. Purcell sell in his shop?
He sold cats, dogs, monkeys, bird seed, fish food, and remedies for pets. - What did customers say about the animals in the shop?
Customers described the animals as “cute” and “sweet.” - What was Mr. Purcell’s morning routine?
He would sit on a stool behind the counter and read his newspaper after completing his tasks. - How did Mr. Purcell react to the noise in the shop?
He was so used to it that he didn’t notice it anymore, much like the ticking of a clock.
Paragraph
One particularly rough and frosty morning, as strong winds rattled the shop’s plate-glass windows, Mr. Purcell sat reading his newspaper. Suddenly, something unusual occurred—the shop’s doorbell, which always jingled when a customer entered, failed to ring. Glancing up, he was startled to see a stranger who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, standing silently just inside the door. Mr. Purcell immediately felt an inexplicable sense of dislike radiating from the man, as though he hated him. Despite this, the shopkeeper instinctively rubbed his hands, smiled, and greeted the customer with his usual cheerful demeanor, asking how he could help.
Questions and Answers
- What was the weather like on this particular morning?
It was cold, frosty, and windy, with smoke filling the city air. - What unusual thing happened with the shop door?
The doorbell didn’t ring when the stranger entered. - How did the stranger appear in the shop?
He seemed to materialize out of thin air. - What was Mr. Purcell’s immediate impression of the stranger?
He instinctively felt that the stranger hated him. - How did Mr. Purcell greet the stranger despite his feelings?
He smiled, rubbed his hands, and asked the stranger how he could help.
Paragraph 2:
One cold, grey morning, a peculiar man entered Mr. Purcell’s pet shop, immediately unsettling the shopkeeper with his abrupt manner and sharp, questioning demeanor. The man’s cheap, ill-fitting suit and shuttling glance gave him an air of restlessness as he demanded “something in a cage.” Mr. Purcell, a bit perplexed, suggested various pets until the man settled on two snowy white doves. Though the man only had five dollars instead of the $5.50 asking price, Mr. Purcell, calculating a small profit, magnanimously agreed to sell the birds. The man, seemingly agitated by the constant noise of the shop, revealed an unusual backstory—he had earned the five dollars over ten years of hard labor. His mention of prison time left Mr. Purcell both uneasy and intrigued, unsure whether to dismiss the man as mad or take his story seriously.
Questions and Answers
- What did the man demand in Mr. Purcell’s shop?
He demanded “something in a cage,” preferably something with wings that could fly. - Which animal did the man purchase, and at what price?
He purchased two white doves for five dollars, which was fifty cents less than the original price. - Why did Mr. Purcell agree to sell the doves at a reduced price?
He calculated that even with the reduction, he would still make a small profit. - What unusual detail did the man share about his five dollars?
He revealed that he had earned it over ten years of hard labor in prison, at fifty cents a year. - How did the man react to the noise in the shop?
He asked Mr. Purcell if the constant noise of the caged animals drove him crazy, though Mr. Purcell himself found it normal.
Paragraph
After purchasing the doves, the man left the shop, but what followed deeply puzzled Mr. Purcell. Through the shop window, the merchant saw the man halt just outside, lift the cage shoulder-high, and then release both birds into the smoky winter air. The doves, now free, soared away like “windblown balls of fluff,” disappearing into the grey cityscape. The man stood watching them briefly before dropping the empty cage, shoving his hands into his pockets, and walking away. Mr. Purcell, observing the scene, felt perplexed and vaguely insulted. Why had the man been so desperate to acquire the doves only to set them free moments later? The act seemed irrational to the practical shopkeeper, leaving him with lingering questions about the strange customer’s motives and story.
Questions and Answers
- What did the man do with the doves after leaving the shop?
He released both doves into the air, setting them free. - How did the doves react when released?
They rose into the air like “windblown balls of fluff” and disappeared into the grey city sky. - What did the man do with the cage after releasing the birds?
He dropped the empty cage and walked away, hands shoved into his pockets. - How did Mr. Purcell feel about the man’s actions?
Mr. Purcell felt confused and vaguely insulted, unable to understand why the man would release the doves so soon after buying them. - Why did Mr. Purcell find the man’s actions so perplexing?
He couldn’t reconcile the man’s eagerness to buy the doves with his decision to immediately let them go, finding the act irrational.
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