Q: (CNN) -- For all the headaches on the campaign trail, you would not think a candidate would be hounded by his own dog.

That, however, has been the relentless fate of Republican contender Mitt Romney. A trip to Canada 30 years ago with the family pooch in a car top carrier, has been the gift that just keeps giving to Democrats. They've lampooned him as cruel at worst, foolish at best, with bumper stickers and T-shirts that say "Dogs aren't luggage!" and "Mitt is Mean!"

Republicans have counterattacked by pointing out that President Obama wrote in his own book about eating dog as a child, helping the dog fight become a theme at this year's White House Correspondents Association dinner.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel nipped at both of them. "If Mitt Romney offers you a ride, call shotgun. And if President Obama starts buttering you, run!"

It would be easy to dismiss all of this as political silliness were it not for one troubling fact: Sometimes the way a president connects with critters can affect the way voters relate to him.

"Presidents and their pets have a long and storied history," says Garrett Graff, a goldfish owner and editor-in-chief at Washingtonian magazine. His theory about why voters take such an interest in such matters: "Most of us don't 'get' Middle East oil politics, and the rise and fall of the G.D.P., but we can 'get' if you connect with a dog or you connect with a cat."

First a little history. Ever since George Washington took office with horses and hounds in tow, presidents have welcomed animals into their lives. A lot of animals.

Answer the following questions:
1. How long ago did someone go on a trip?
2. Where did they go?
3. What is this story about?
4. Did he have a pet?
5. What kind?
6. Why were people mad at him?
7. What did they say?
8. Are any other presidents mentioned?
9. Which is one?
10. Did he have a pet?
11. Did he eat a cat?
12. What did he eat?
13. Who made fun of them?
14. Did anybody else?
15. What did he say about Mitt?
16. And the other?
17. Which editor is mentioned?
A: 1. 30 years ago
2. Canada
3. Mitt Romney
4. yes
5. dog
6. the family pooch was in a car top carrier
7. unknown
8. yes
9. President Obama
10. no
11. no
12. dog
13. Democrats
14. Jimmy Kimmel
15. If Mitt Romney offers you a ride, call shotgun
16. And if President Obama starts buttering you, run!
17. Garrett Graff
Q: CHAPTER XXXVI

THE CHARLATAN UNMASKED

There seemed for the next few minutes to be a somewhat singular abstention from any desire to interfere with the two people who stood in the centre of the little group, hand-in-hand. Saton, after his first speech, and after Lois had given him her hands, had turned a little defiantly toward Rochester, who remained, however, unmoved, his elbow resting upon the broad mantelpiece, his face almost expressionless. Vandermere, too, stood on one side and held his peace, though the effort with which he did so was a visible one. Lady Mary looked anxiously towards them. Pauline had shrunk back, as though something in the situation terrified her.

Even Saton himself felt that it was the silence before the storm. The courage which he had summoned up to meet a storm of disapproval, began to ebb slowly away in the face of this unnatural silence. It was clear that the onus of further speech was to rest with him.

Still retaining Lois' hand, he turned toward Rochester.

"You have forbidden me to enter your house, or to hold any communication with your ward until she was of age, Mr. Rochester," he said. "One of your conditions I have obeyed. With regard to the other, I have done as I thought fit. However, to-day she is her own mistress. She has consented to be my wife. I do not need to ask for your consent or approval. If you are not willing that she should be married from your roof, I can take her at once to the Comtesse, who is prepared to receive her."

Answer the following questions:
1. Who stood hand in hand?
2. Who was expressionless?
3. Did Lady Mark look worried too?
4. What did Saton feel?
5. Who did he start talking to?
6. Who shrunk back?
7. Was she terrified?
8. Did Lois agree to be Saton's wife?
9. Did Saton tell Rochester that he did not need his approval?
10. What did he tell him that where would he take her if he did not agree for them to marry from his room?
A: 1. Saton and after Lois
2. Rochester
3. Yes
4. that it was the silence before the storm
5. Rochester.
6. Pauline
7. It appeared so.
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Comtesse
Q: Today is the big day, today is Saturday and it is my birthday party. I turned 7 on Thursday, but I wanted my party on the weekend. All week my daddy and mommy helped me plan and now it is finally time for fun. We got a clown and I got to invite all of my friends! The clown's name was Bob and he was really funny. Bob made us all laugh a lot. After the clown left we all played fun games. We played with a toy filled with candy and all got to eat it. There were Twix Bars, Milky Ways, M&Ms and Tootsie Rolls. My favorite candy is Twix so I was very happy to see them inside. After that, my mom came out with my cake. It was chocolate with chocolate icing! Everyone loved it and we even got to eat ice cream too. We were going to eat hamburgers and hot dogs but my dog ate them all before we could. I wish we could have gone swimming in my pool, but it was too cold. My dad said it was okay but my mom did not want us to get sick. It was way better than any party I ever dreamed about. After cake all my friends had to leave except for Timmy. Timmy's mom said he could sleep over so we made a fort inside and told ghost stories. My birthday party was the best day of my life.

Answer the following questions:
1. what did they do after the clown left?
2. what was the clown's name?
3. was he funny?
4. what was the occaision?
5. on what day?
6. how old are you now?
7. do you have a favorite candy?
8. what kind?
9. did you have cake?
10. what kind?
11. was there any non sweet food?
12. did you go swimming?
13. why not?
14. was this your favorite party?
15. did everyone leave after?
16. who stayed
17. did he want to sleep over?
18. what did you make with him?
A:
1. played fun games
2. Bob
3. yes
4. my birthday party
5. Saturday
6. Seven
7. yes
8. Twix
9. yes
10. chocolate with chocolate icing
11. no
12. no
13. it was too cold
14. yes
15. no
16. Timmy
17. yes
18. a fort