Page 63 - Viva Real English 2 : Ebook

8 The Great Bear and the Little

Bear

Once upon a time there lived a beautiful woman in Greece. Her name was

Callisto. She had a son named Arcus. She was very happy looking after and
playing with him. However, her happiness was not going to last.

Many people were jealous of
Callisto. They went to a goddess

and said to her, ‘Beautiful goddess,
Callisto says she is more beautiful
than you.’ The goddess was

furious. She cursed Callisto and
changed her into a bear. Callisto’s

hands and feet changed into paws
with sharp claws. Her sweet voice
became a savage growl. Her mouth

was filled with terrible teeth and
her delicate jaws became rough

and powerful.

The big black bear moved heavily towards her son Arcus. He screamed in

terror. Then the beautiful wood fairies came and rushed away with Arcus.

Callisto looked like a ferocious bear but she was still gentle and loving. She

was afraid of all bears and other wild animals. She ran away from hunters and
their dogs too.

jealous : feeling angry or unhappy savage : (here) wild

furious : very angry growl : a low angry sound made by
paws : feet of animals that have animals

claws delicate : small and having a
claws : sharp curved nails on the beautiful shape

end of an animal’s or a bird’s screamed : cried out in a loud voice
paw terror : great fear

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