First, let's read the lesson (Meanings of Vocabulary are given in brackets) The Parrot who wouldn't talk ‘You are no beauty! Can’t talk, can’t sing, can’t dance!’ With these words Aunt Ruby would taunt the unfortunate (unfortunate: unlucky or unhappy ) parakeet, who glared morosely ( morosely: gloomily) at everyone from his ornamental ( ornamental: decorative) cage at one end of the long veranda of Granny’s bungalow in north India. In those distant days, almost everyone – Indian or European – kept a pet parrot or parakeet, or ‘lovebird’ as some of the smaller ones were called. Sometimes these birds became great talkers, or rather mimics, ( mimic: one who imitates ) and would learn to recite entire mantras (religious chants) or admonitions ( admonition: advice, warning) to the children of the house, such as ‘Padho, beta, padho!’ (‘Study child study!’) or for the benefit of boys like me, ‘Don’t...
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