at the zoo on a bank holiday

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On a busy bank holidayJOUR FÉRIÉ, the zoo manager offered €200 to a worker to act as a gorillaSE FAIRE PASSER POUR UN GORILLE, because the real one was unwellMALADE.

Determined to impress his boss, the worker climbed into the enclosureENCLOS and hung from the ceilingPLAFOND of the lion’s denANTRE DU LION.

However, he slippedIL GLISSA and fell to the floor, landing just a few metres away from the lion.

ScreamingHURLANT for help, terrified for his life, the worker panicked as the lion pounced on himSE JETA SUR LUI.

Then the lion whisperedMURMURA: “Shut the hell upFERME TA GUEULE or we’re all going to lose our jobs!”

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Vocabulary

Enclosure: an area where animals are kept in a zoo.

Pounce: to jump suddenly on something or someone.

The worker climbed into the enclosureENCLOS.

The lion pounces on himSE JETA SUR LUI.

Grammar

The joke mainly uses past simple for narration, with present participles to add tension and immediacy.

Past simple: He slipped and fell to the floor.

Present participle: Screaming for help, terrified for his life.

Synonyms & Alternatives

Pounce: leap at.

Shut the hell up: be quiet.

Mini Dialogue

Oliver: I was screamingHURLANT when the dog ran towards me.

Henry: Did it pounce on youSE JETA SUR TOI?

Oliver: No, but I nearly fell over.

Henry: Next time, try to stay calm.

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