Reading Comprehension—Taming the Wild

Many animals in the wild are suspicious and fearful of human beings. Many animals would take flight instantly when a human approaches. Man, however, soon discovered that some animals can be tamed or domesticated. Unlike animals in the wild, these animals would allow man to come close to them. They would even allow their owners to stroke or pet them.

In the early times, man would domesticate animals by setting traps to catch their young. A young animal is far more easily domesticated than an adult one. From young, the animal learns to trust and obey its owner.

Many different kinds of animals have been domesticated. Some common instances/examples are animals like horses, elephants, chickens and pigs. The dog, which is also known as "man's best friend", is one of the first animals to have been domesticated. One of the most unusual animals to have been domesticated is the pig. In England long ago, the pig was a wild animal. It was a ferocious and aggressive creature which was not easily captured. Yet nowadays, the domesticated pig is no longer the lean and tough creature it used to be!