[1] A Chinese man went viral online after taking a cross-country road trip from Shanghai with his dog, who often gets carsick. To keep Mimi – his seven-month-old male Labrador safe – he put Mimi in a custom-made cage attached to the back of his car. The cage even had a humorous sign.
[2] Hao shared with Jimu News that it is challenging for Mimi to travel comfortably inside the vehicle because he gets carsick. Hao got a special cage to make the ride easier for Mimi. He set it up securely at the back of his Tesla. He found that Mimi was much more comfortable travelling in the fresh air.
[3] To make the journey even better, Hao covered the cage with a black cloth so sunlight could not enter. He also added a soft cushion inside to give Mimi a cosy surface to rest on. He also put a sign on the cage that read: “This guy gets carsick!”
[4] “I love road trips and wanted to bring Mimi along, so I put up the sign to ensure people did not think I was mistreating him,” explained Hao.
[5] To confirm that his set-up met all the rules, Hao spoke to the Shanghai Vehicle Administrative Office. He got approval to display the car’s licence plate directly on the cage. The pair have visited 14 destinations as of May, travelling over 13,000km. Some of the places they have visited include Xian in Shaanxi province, Lanzhou in Gansu province, and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
[6] They have also been to Bayanbulak in the Xinjiang autonomous region, home to China’s second-largest grassland. Along the way, Hao and Mimi have become local celebrities. Curious onlookers often stop to take photos and chat.
[7] Many jokingly ask: “Is this the famous dog who gets carsick and has to be ‘paraded’ around?” Hao has been stopped by traffic police, but they usually let him go with a friendly reminder to drive safely. The Asia Pet Research Institute reported that there were 187 million pet dogs and cats in China. Hao and Mimi’s story has sparked widespread discussion among pet lovers, with many praising Hao’s care and dedication.
Source: South China Morning Post, May 30
Questions
1. Mimi cannot travel … a car because he gets carsick, according to paragraph 2.
A. inside
B. outside
C. under
D. on top of
2. In paragraph 3, what did Hao cover Mimi’s cage with and why? (2 marks)
3. Which places have Hao and Mimi visited, according to paragraph 5?
A. Lanzhou
B. Inner Mongolia autonomous region
C. Xian
D. all of the above
4. According to paragraph 7, does Hao get in trouble with the police for his set-up?
5. Based on paragraph 7, the Asia Pet Research Institute … that there were 187 million pet dogs and cats in China last year.
A. reporting
B. report
C. reported
D. reports
6. Circle the correct punctuation. (5 marks)
A Chinese man named Hao loves taking road trips and wanted his dog (i) , / . Mimi (ii) , / . to join him (iii) , / . However (iv) , / . the seven-month-old Labrador often gets sick in the car (v) , / .
Answers
1. A
2. Hao covered the cage with black fabric to block sunlight.
3. D
4. No, they usually remind him to drive safely.
5. C
6. (i) , (ii) , (iii) . (iv) , (v) .
