leopard

Everyday

1. A leopard is a big wild cat with yellow fur covered in dark spots called rosettes; it lives in Africa and parts of Asia. tree →
2. Leopards are strong climbers and often drag their food up into trees to keep it safe from lions and hyenas. tree →
3. «Leopard print» is a pattern on clothes that looks like a leopard's spots. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons leopards come up in camouflage (spots help them hide in the shade), food chains (top predator) and comparing big cats: a cheetah has solid round spots and a slim body, a jaguar has bigger rosettes with dots inside and lives in the Americas. The saying «a leopard can't change its spots» means people do not really change who they are. A black leopard is often called a black panther.

Examples

• The leopard rested on a branch in the afternoon heat. tree →
• A leopard's spots help it hide in the long grass. tree →
• The leopard dragged its catch up into a tree. tree →
• Leopards hunt mostly at night. tree →
• A black panther is often a leopard with very dark fur. tree →
• Gran wore a leopard-print scarf. tree →
• «A leopard can't change its spots», said Dad. tree →
• There you will see many wild beasts—lions, tigers, leopards, apes, and so on. tree →

Note

Plural «leopards». Spelling trap: «leo-pard», the «o» is silent; say «LEP-erd». Do not mix up leopard, cheetah and jaguar: cheetahs have simple spots and tear marks on the face; jaguars live in the Americas and have dots inside their rosettes. The young is a «cub».

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Jeremiah uses the leopard's spots to say that deep habits are hard to change. Hosea uses the leopard as a picture of God's judgment. In the primary lessons: In science lessons leopards come up in camouflage (spots help them hide in the shade), food chains (top predator) and comparing big cats: a cheetah has solid round spots and a slim body, a jaguar has bigger rosettes with dots inside and lives in the Americas. The saying «a leopard can't change its spots» means people do not really change who they are. A black leopard is often called a black panther.

Examples

• Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? (Prophets JER.13.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore am I become unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way; (Prophets HOS.13.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, with me from Lebanon; look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards. (Writings SNG.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural «leopards». Spelling trap: «leo-pard», the «o» is silent; say «LEP-erd». Do not mix up leopard, cheetah and jaguar: cheetahs have simple spots and tear marks on the face; jaguars live in the Americas and have dots inside their rosettes. The young is a «cub».