A potato the size of a small dog is found in New Zealand

 

Colin and Donna Craig-Brown were weeding their garden in New Zealand when Colin's hoe struck something huge just beneath the soil's surface. As the couple knelt down and began digging around the object, Colin wondered if it was some kind of strange fungal growth, a giant puffball. After Colin pried it out with his garden fork, he scratched away a bit of the skin and tasted it. “A potato!”.

”We couldn't believe it," Donna said. "It was just huge." And not exactly pretty. Donna describes its appearance as more of an ugly, mutant look.

But it's quite possibly the largest potato on record. When the couple lugged it into their garage and put it on their old set of scales, it weighed in at a remarkable 7.9 kilograms (17.4 pounds). That's equal to a couple of sacks of regular potatoes, or one small dog.

In the weeks since their unusual find on Aug. 30, the couple's potato has become something of a celebrity around their small farm near Hamilton. They've named the potato Doug, after the way it was unearthed, and Colin even built a small cart to tow Doug around.

"We put a hat on him. We put him on Facebook, taking him for a walk, giving him some sunshine," Doug said. "It's all a bit of fun. It's amazing what entertains people."

A more official weigh-in at a local farming store put Doug at 7.8 kg. The current Guinness World Records entry for the heaviest potato is a 2011 monster from Britain that weighed in at just under 5 kg. The couple say they've applied to Guinness to have Doug recognized and are waiting to hear back. Guinness didn't immediately reply to a request for an update on the application.

Colin said he doesn't have any secret gardening tips. Usually they throw a bunch of cow manure and straw onto their garden and see what happens. He said they'd been growing cucumbers in that area of their garden before the weeds took over and hadn't planted any potatoes. Doug must have been self-sown, and quite possibly growing for a couple of years or more. "It's a mystery to me," Colin said. "It's one of nature's little pleasant surprises."

But Doug hasn't proved an easy charge to look after. As the couple showed the potato off, it began drying out and losing weight. Mold started growing from its wounds. "He was getting a bit pongy," said Colin, referring to the potato's smell.

So Colin cleaned up Doug as best he could and put the potato in the freezer, where it remains. But Colin may not be done with Doug yet. An amateur brewer, Colin said he's keen to turn Doug into a nice drop of potato vodka.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. (November 4, 2021)

Question 1: [2 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE and write down the sentences or part of the text that justifies your answer. No points will be given if the evidence is not correct.

         a)    The woman who found the potato said that it was really beautiful. 
    b)    Doug has the current Guinness World record for the heaviest potato. 
    c)     The potato started to stink.
    d)    Colin wants to transform Doug into vodka.

Question 2: [2 POINTS] Choose and answer only TWO of the following questions in your own words according to the text.

         a)    How was Dough found?
    b)    What was Dough like?
    c)     What did Colin do with Dough?

Question 3: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given. You only need to have five correct answers to get 1,5 points.

         a)    Below, under (par. 1)
    b)    Bizarre, rare (par. 4)
    c)     At present (par. 6)
    d)    Hint, clue (par.7)
    e)    Appealing, nice (par. 7)
    f)     Take care (par. 8)

 

Question 4: [1,5 ] Choose the correct option – a, b, c or d – for each question and COPY both the letter and the sentence that follows onto your answer sheet.

    1.     The Guinness Record weighted …

a.     7.8 Kg.

b.     less than 5 kg.

c.     5 kg.

d.     more than 5 kg.

 

    2.     If Guinness had answered them, Dough…

a.     would be the heaviest potato.

b.     wouldn’t be the heaviest potato.

c.     would almost be the heaviest potato.

d.     wouldn’t be the heaviest potato because it wasn’t an actual potato. 

    3.     What did Colin use to grow in the garden?

a.     Potatoes.

b.     Manure

c.     Weeds

d.     Cucumbers

KEY

Question 1: 

    False.   And not exactly pretty.

    False    Are waiting to hear back.

    True     He was getting a bit pongy, said Colin, and referring to the potato’s smell.

    True     Colin said he’s keen to turn Doug into a nice drop of potato vodka. 

Question 2:

    a)    How was Dough found?

Colin and Dona were working in the garden when Colin noticed something enormous beneath the surface. He dug around it and ended by taking it out with his garden fork.

b)    What was Dough like?

Colin wondered if it was some kind of strange fungal growth, a giant puffball

"It was just huge." And not exactly pretty. Donna describes its appearance as more of an ugly, mutant look.

c)     What did Colin do with Dough?

"We put a hat on him. We put him on Facebook, taking him for a walk, giving him some sunshine," Doug said. "It's all a bit of fun. It's amazing what entertains people."

Question 3: 

a)    Below, under (par. 1)                 beneath

b)    Bizarre, rare (par. 4)                  unusual

c)     At present (par. 6)                     current

d)    Hint, clue (par.7)                        tip

e)    Appealing, nice (par. 7)              pleasant

f)      Take care (par. 8)                      look after

 

Question 4: 

1.   b.    less than 5 kg.

      a.     would be the heaviest potato.

      d.    Cucumbers