THE CITY MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

Adapted from http://www.kidsinco.com/2008/10/the-city-mouse-and-

the-country-mouse/

INSTRUCTIONS

1. ANATOMY OF AN IP
Choose an IP that has all the constituents and identify them. Insert intonation breaks,
tanscribe the IP in phonemic script , and accent it.

2. THE SYLLABLE
How do you separate these words into syllables? Why?
COUSIN - EVERY - PACKING - NOTHING

3. TONALITY
Choose a long IP, transcribe it in phonemic script, insert intonation breaks and explain
your choices of tonality.

4. TONES
In all the cases below, transcribe the utterances you choose in phonemic script, insert
intonation breaks, accent the IPs appropriately and mark the tones. Explain the meanings
of the tones chosen.

Assign the default tones to:

a- A statement (final IP)
b- A statement (non final IP)
c- A wh-question
d- A yes/no question
e- A command/request
f- An echo question
g- A question tag
h- An exclamation
i- A greeting/leave-taking
NARRATOR: Once upon a time, there was a little mouse who lived in the
country. She invited her cousin who lived in the city / to visit her.

(City Mouse knocks at the door)

COUNTRY MOUSE: (opens the door ) Good morning, dear cousin. I am

glad that you came all the way from the city to visit me. Now you will see
how I live in the countryside. How was your trip?

CITY MOUSE: The trip was not so bad, but I am hungry and thirsty. (looks
through the window) What´s that you have over there?

COUNTRY MOUSE: That´s the table. Come. We will eat outside. I have
everything ready for you.

CITY MOUSE: Outside?

COUNTRY MOUSE: Sure. There´s a big tree in the garden, so don´t worry
about getting a sunburn. Besides, it´s a beautiful day.

NARRATOR: Both mice went outside and sat at a table full of food and
beverages.

CITY MOUSE: (looks pleased) Ah, the air is so fresh! What´s this green
stuff?

COUNTRY MOUSE: Those are fresh peas and some barley.

CITY MOUSE: Mmmm, I will eat just a little. I am not that hungry after all.

NARRATOR: When they finished eating, …

CITY MOUSE: Honestly, my dear cousin, I don´t like the way you live. No
wonder you are so skinny! Are you eating this kind of food because you
are on a diet? And how can you eat in the middle of a garden, surrounded
by insects and with all this dirt?

COUNTRY MOUSE: There´s nothing wrong with my food! And, no! I am

not on a diet. I grow my own vegetables in the garden.

CITY MOUSE: Now, don´t get mad at me, but I would like you to come
with me to the city for a few days. I want to show you my way of life. I
have all sorts of fine food to eat every day. I am sure you will be
delighted.

COUNTRY MOUSE: I accept. We´ll leave as soon as I finish packing.

NARRATOR: That same day, they went to the city.

(At the City Mouse’s House)

CITY MOUSE: Welcome to my house. Come, I´ll show you the dining room.

CITY MOUSE: Don´t stand there. Go to the table and eat whatever you
want.

COUNTRY MOUSE: (stares at the food) Wow!! You have lots of food. This
seems like a dream.

CITY MOUSE: Eat as much as you want.

COUNTRY MOUSE: Thanks, I am really impressed with your lifestyle. I

think I will stay here with you. This is real life, isn’t it?

NARRATOR: Suddenly, the door opened and some people entered

running.
CITY MOUSE: Come, run, let´s hide!

COUNTRY MOUSE: (runs behind City Mouse) What´s going on?

CITY MOUSE: It´s the cook and his assistant. We have to stay here until
they leave.

NARRATOR: And both mice stayed under the cupboard until the people
left.

CITY MOUSE: Come, it´s time to go out.

COUNTRY MOUSE: I am still shaking!

CITY MOUSE: That was nothing. Come, we haven´t finished eating.

NARRATOR: But as they were getting ready to go up the table again, the
door opened once again.

CITY MOUSE: Oh, no! It´s him! Follow me.

COUNTRY MOUSE: “Him”?

CITY MOUSE: It´s the dog!

COUNTRY MOUSE: But, he will go soon, won’t he?

CITY MOUSE: Just stay quiet.

NARRATOR: Both remained quiet under the cupboard, until the dog left.

COUNTRY MOUSE: I think I am having a heart attack! This is too much for
me.

CITY MOUSE: Don´t exaggerate. Come, I´ll take you to the attic, you will
be surprised to see all the food they have over there.

NARRATOR: So they went to the attic through the light wires.

COUNTRY MOUSE: Wow! Is this peanut butter? And look at all those bags
of chips and cheese!

CITY MOUSE: Wait! Don´t eat that cheese! It´s a mouse trap!

COUNTRY MOUSE: A mouse trap?

CITY MOUSE: Well, I don´t know how to explain it to you, but the minute
you place your teeth in the cheese, you’re history!

COUNTRY MOUSE: Are you telling me that I will die?

CITY MOUSE: Yes, dear, that´s what I mean.

COUNTRY MOUSE: (looks sad) Well, I think I have had enough.

CITY MOUSE: Well, we can keep eating tomorrow, if right now your
stomach can´t handle any more food.

COUNTRY MOUSE: That´s not what I was talking about. I mean that I have
had enough of all this running, jumping, feeling scared, and shaking. This
is not what I want. I prefer to go and eat fresh food in my garden.

CITY MOUSE: But…

COUNTRY MOUSE: Thanks dear, but now I will go home. Goodbye!

NARRATOR: So the Little Country Mouse went back home, and lived a
happy life there because she realized that she had all she wanted.

THE END