ESLvideo Quiz
The Cat Station Master of Japan
A stray cat named Tama becomes a Japanese train station master and saves the line.
Listening
Quiz
Watch the video and answer the quiz questions.
Many years ago, a small train station in Wakyama, Japan, had a big financial problem. Very few people traveled by train on that line, and the station lost a lot of money. In 2006, the railway company decided to make the station unstaffed to save cash.
However, a local citizen kept a small stray calico cat named Tama near the station. Tama spent her days walking around the tracks and greeting passengers. The railway officials saw how much the passengers loved her.
In 2007, they made a funny and unusual decision. They officially appointed Tama as the station master. She became the first feline station master in Japan. They built a special ticket office for Tama and gave her a cute little station master's hat. Instead of money, the company paid her in cat food.
The news flew across the country and thousands of tourists arrived from all over the world to see her. People bought train tickets just to take a photo with Tama. This incredible cat singlehandedly saved the train line from bankruptcy.
Tama worked hard for many years. She sat on her desk, looked at the passengers, and brought joy to millions of people.
Sadly, Tama died in 2015 at the age of 16. Thousands of people attended her funeral.
Today, people still remember Tama. She showed the world that sometimes the best solution to a big problem can be very small, furry, and completely unexpected.
However, a local citizen kept a small stray calico cat named Tama near the station. Tama spent her days walking around the tracks and greeting passengers. The railway officials saw how much the passengers loved her.
In 2007, they made a funny and unusual decision. They officially appointed Tama as the station master. She became the first feline station master in Japan. They built a special ticket office for Tama and gave her a cute little station master's hat. Instead of money, the company paid her in cat food.
The news flew across the country and thousands of tourists arrived from all over the world to see her. People bought train tickets just to take a photo with Tama. This incredible cat singlehandedly saved the train line from bankruptcy.
Tama worked hard for many years. She sat on her desk, looked at the passengers, and brought joy to millions of people.
Sadly, Tama died in 2015 at the age of 16. Thousands of people attended her funeral.
Today, people still remember Tama. She showed the world that sometimes the best solution to a big problem can be very small, furry, and completely unexpected.
Extra Practice
Gap-fill
Complete the follow-up practice below.
