Noriko Takida
11/12/98

"After a month in his new digs, Keiko makes himself at home"
by Katy Muldoon of The Oregonian staff
10/10/98

SUMMARY

In this article, "After a month in his new digs, Keiko makes himself at home," writer tells about a whale Keiko's going back to home. Keiko was caught in Iceland about 20 years ago and worked for a movie "Free Willy" in 1993. He lived in Mexico, and moved to Newport, Oregon in 1996. However, he finally went back to his home. He is now more active than in Newport. U.S. Air Force helped him to move Iceland and ten keepers went there with Keiko to help him to adapt to wild life. They will not release him before he gets an ability to live in the wild North Atlantic. They gave a practice to catch live fish because hunting is the most important skill for him. Free Willy Keiko foundation has charted tour boats and took children to show Keiko. Researchers are checking Keiko's everything and trying to identify his family.

RESPONSE

I went to Newport this summer to see Keiko, so I was interested in this article. I have never seen the movie "free Willy," but I think people who owned Keiko should have returned him to nature after making movie. It is usually difficult to return to nature if living things once live with human. He is loved by everybody so people want to help him to get used to nature as soon as possible. I think this article is good because the writer informs readers everything about Keiko. We can see his history, situation that he is in now, and future purpose. In addition, the writer did not put anything unimportant. I like this article.

VOCABULARY

1. capture(v)-----to catch an animal or a person without killing it
captor(n)
captive(adj)
captivity(n)

"A month after his dramatic return to the brisk waters off Iceland, where he was captured nearly two decades ago, ..."

2. fierce(adj)-----much more extreme than usual
fiercely(adv)
fierceness(n)

"He was easily weathered fierce storms, communicated with cousin species in the vicinity,..."

3. contract(v)-----to sign for an agreement between two or more people, companies etc.. contraction(n)
contractor(n)
contractual(adj)

"The foundation has contracted with an Icelandic fisherman to provide live salmon ..."

4. paramount(adj)-----more important than anything else

"Hunting skills are paramount if Keiko ever is to be set free."

5. investigation(n)-----an official attempt to find out the reasons for something
investigate(n)
investigative(adj)
investigator(n)

"...a U.S. Air Force spokeswoman could disclose neither the cause of the failure, which still is under investigation, nor the cost of repairs."

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