One balmy day at the start of June, Gary was given an important responsibility—caring for his

neighbours' cat, Eva, for a month. She was a gray tabby with an inquisitive streak. She enjoyed

exploring the neighbourhood by herself and had met most residents. Gary's neighbours, Uncle Tim and

Aunty Daisy, were going to another part of the country to check on their new house. Gary was eager to

5prove himself and took his role seriously. Each morning, he would go into his neighbours' backyard to

replenish her food and water. He would even play with Eva. She would come and go as she pleased

using the pet door installed on the back door. After a week, Eva began appearing on Gary's porch every

morning instead, stretching lazily in the sun, waiting for Gary. Gary thought, "Great! I don't have to go

to the backyard anymore since Eva comes to my porch every day." Just when everything felt perfect,

10disaster struck.

Under the evening sky, Gary was watering the plants in his garden. Suddenly, a sharp yowl

pierced the air. Gary spun around and saw the tail lights of a motorcycle which was speeding down the

deserted road. Near the kerb, Eva lay motionless, her fur ruffled, one paw curled awkwardly beneath

her. Panic surged through him. She was still breathing but weak, her body trembling. 'Oh no! What

15should I do? Would I worsen her injury if I move her?' He hesitated for a moment before scooping her

up in a towel, cradling her like fragile glass. His mother rushed to his side. "We'll take her to the vet now,"

she said firmly, already holding the car keys.

The drive to the vet felt like hours. Gary's mother placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"She'll be okay," she said. Inside the clinic, the sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, and then came

20the hardest part—waiting. How badly was Eva hurt? What would the vet say? Would she be able to

recover? Time crawled by as the vet examined Eva thoroughly and administered the treatment. Finally,

after an hour, the vet told them Eva's condition—a fractured paw, bruised body but no other broken

bones. Her paw was bandaged. She would need to stay indoors for weeks to heal. On the way home,

Gary's mother bought a cage.

25Gary dedicated himself to her recovery. He placed the cage in his room and padded it with towels.

Then, he placed Eva carefully into the cage. "Be good, Eva. You mustn't move too much so that your

paw will recover faster," Gary said as he patted Eva and closed the cage door. Strangely, Eva did not

protest. "Looks like Eva understands what you said," Gary's mother chuckled. For the next few days,

Gary changed Eva's bandage daily and made sure Eva had a comfortable cage rest. Once her paw

30healed and the swelling subsided, Gary let Eva out of the cage. He monitored Eva's movement in his

room. Whenever Gary sat on the floor, Eva would curl up beside him and purr softly. She even rubbed

her face against his arm or leg. Gary wondered why Eva did that. He checked online and discovered

that Eva was showing him affection. "Mum! Eva loves me!" Gary ran to his mother and showed her what

he had read. "Of course, she does. Don't you love her too? You've taken such good care of her." Gary's

35mother answered, giving Gary a pat on his back. "I'm proud of you!" Gary grinned broadly.

Uncle Tim and Aunty Daisy came back and thanked Gary and his mother. Uncle Tim announced,

"We'll be moving to our new house in two weeks' time. We're already in our seventies and the smaller

new house is easier to maintain. Now we have to drive five hours to visit our daughter. The new house

is within walking distance from my daughter's home. We'll miss you. You're such good neighbours all

40these years." Tears welled up in Gary's eyes when he heard that and saw Aunty Daisy picking up Eva.

He stifled his sobs and ran to his room. Gary's mother explained to her neighbours how Gary's

relationship with Eva had changed over the month. Meanwhile, Eva was meowing loudly in Aunty Daisy's

arms.

On the night before Uncle Tim and Aunty Daisy moved to their new home, Gary's doorbell rang.

45Gary opened the door and received a surprise. Uncle Tim handed Gary a box with Eva inside. "Gary,

we would like you to take care of Eva from now on. We know that she will be in good hands." Uncle

Tim said. "Don't you think one good turn deserves another?" Aunty Daisy added with a wink. Gary was

at a loss for words as he clutched the box tightly. Gary's mother thanked Uncle Tim. As they turned to

leave, Gary put down the box, ran to the elderly couple and gave them a bear hug. "I promise to take

50VERY good care of Eva," Gary said with heartfelt gratitude.

Comprehension (Open-ended) — 2025 P6 English Prelim