29 key words from the story (reference)
the piece of land behind a house
"Natasha Jones likes to feed the deer, squirrels, and birds in her backyard."
a person who has great fondness for the natural world
"Nat is a nature lover and lives in the countryside in America."
willing to give freely; kind and unselfish
"Unfortunately, such generous giving also invites dangerous and unwanted guests—bears."
fierce and violent
"While bears have a ferocious reputation, they would rather scrounge through garbage cans than eat humans."
the general opinion that people have about someone or something
"While bears have a ferocious reputation, they would rather scrounge through garbage cans than eat humans."
to hunt around for things to use or eat, often in a makeshift way
"They would rather scrounge through garbage cans than eat humans."
to attach or secure something firmly so it cannot move
"If you don't fasten down your garbage cans at night, with chains, you are quite likely to find your trash turned over in the morning."
fairly probable; almost certain
"You are quite likely to find your trash turned over in the morning."
flipped upside down or knocked onto its side
"You are quite likely to find your trash turned over in the morning."
making a low, drawn-out sound that expresses pain or suffering
"Nat was awakened one morning about 5:30 a.m. when she heard a strange and loud moaning sound."
extreme pain, sorrow, or difficulty
"When she looked out her window, she saw that a bear was in distress."
to look at or examine something
"Nat decided to get closer and take a look."
not reacting or responding to anything
"She saw that the bear was unresponsive, that is, the bear was just lying there motionless."
trying to do something
"It had stopped moaning and was now making small gasping sounds while attempting to get air."
struggling to breathe because something is blocking the airway
"Nat made a guess that the bear must be choking."
to place an item of clothing or equipment onto one's body
"Nat ran back into her house and put on a pair of leather gloves."
returned to a place
"Nat put on a pair of leather gloves and went back to the bear."
lost consciousness; fainted
"By this time, the bear had passed out completely and was unconscious."
not awake; not aware of one's surroundings
"By this time, the bear had passed out completely and was unconscious."
forcing something out of the position where it is stuck
"After dislodging the bone, Nat went back and got some water for the bear."
returned to a normal state of health
"The bear slowly recovered."
taking care of someone or something
"While Nat was tending to the bear, her daughter called Animal Control."
gradually returning to a normal state of health
"As the bear was slowly recovering, Animal Control finally arrived."
causing mental or emotional strain
"Animal Control said that bears are one of the most dangerous animals to humans when in a stressful situation."
one hard strike or hit
"Their arms are so strong that they can kill a human with a single blow."
without being affected by; in spite of
"Nat said that she understood the danger but that despite the danger she just couldn't stand by and do nothing."
to remain nearby without acting; to do nothing while something happens
"Despite the danger she just couldn't stand by and do nothing."
completely returned to a normal state of health
"Eventually, the bear fully recovered and wandered over to a tree and looked up."
moved about slowly without a fixed direction or purpose
"Eventually, the bear fully recovered and wandered over to a tree and looked up."