Listening Skills Lesson 1 Practice
Grade 5/6 Text and Test
Collies
The Collie is a distinctive type of herding dog. It originates in Scotland and Northern England. It is a medium-sized, fairly lightly built dog with a pointed snout, and many types have a distinctive white pattern over the shoulders. Collies are very active and agile, and most types have a very strong herding instinct. The collie type has spread through many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America, and has diversified into many varieties, sometimes with mixture from other dog types. Some of the collie types have remained as working dogs, used for herding cattle, sheep, and other livestock while others are kept as pets, show dogs, or dog sports in which they display great agility, stamina and trainability. Some collies are still used for herding or farm dogs, while others have been bred for companionship. There are usually major distinctions between show dogs and those bred for herding trials or dog sports. They typically display great agility, stamina and trainability.
Collies are generally medium-sized dogs of about 22 to 55 pounds and light to medium-boned. Cattle-herding types are more stocky. The fur may be short, flat, or long, and the tail may be smooth, feathered, or bushy. Collies can have both naturally long or naturally bobbed tails. Each breed can vary in coloration, with the usual base colors being black, black-and-tan, red, red-and-tan or sable. They often have white along with the main color, usually under the belly and chest, over the shoulders, and on parts of the face and legs, but sometimes leaving only the head colored.
A working member of the collie breed, such as the Border Collie, is an extremely energetic and agile dog with great stamina. When in fit working condition they are able to run all day without tiring, even over very rough or steep ground. Working collies display a keen intelligence for the job at hand and are instinctively highly motivated. They are often intensely loyal. These characteristics generally make working strains suitable for agility; in addition to herding work they are well suited to active sports such as sheepdog trials, fly ball, disc dog and dog agility. All collie dog breeds have proved to be highly trainable, gentle, loyal, intelligent, and well suited as pets. Their gentleness and devotion also make them quite compatible with children. The temperament of these breeds has been featured in literature, film, and popular television programs.
Collies
1. The Collie originated in Scotland and
a. Ireland
b. Australia
c. Northern England
d. North America
2. The snout of the Collie is generally
a. pointed
b. rounded
c. long
d. stumped
3. Collies are generally medium sized dogs and weigh from 22 to ______pounds.
4. One member of the working breed of Collies is called the
a. worker Collie
b. border Collie
c. long-haired Collie
d. white-faced Collie
5. Most Collies have a very strong instinct toward
a. protecting
b. hunting
c. swimming
d. herding
6. Several characteristics that generally make working strains of Collies suitable for the job are all of the following except
a. intelligence
b. highly motivated
c. easily aggitated
d. fiercely loyal
7. The characteristic of Collies that makes them good family dogs is
a. stamina
b. gentleness
c. motivation
d. agility
Identify the following statements as True or False
8. _____ The collie type has spread through many parts of the world, especially Australia and North America.
9. _____ All collie dog breeds have proved to be highly trainable, gentle, loyal, intelligent, and well suited as pets.
10. _____ Collies can generally only have both naturally bobbed tails.
Copy as needed for student practice