Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Husky boosts China homestay's revenue with luggage service

South China Morning Post

09-03-2025

Content provided by British Council
[1] A husky has gained fame on the internet by assisting guests with their luggage at a hotel. This unique service has drawn numerous tourists. It also helped the hotel earn 200,000 yuan (HK$214,350) over just three days.
[2] The four-legged worker, named Hakimi, was raised by Xu. Xu is the owner of a homestay in the famous tourist city of Lijiang. Lijiang is in the Yunnan province in the southwest of China. The dog has gained a lot of attention on social media. It has also become a living advertisement for the homestay, attracting many tourists.
[3] Xu told Cover News that the homestay had nine rooms and that he began raising the dog after it opened. 'When Hakimi came to our home, it was very energetic. Last April, when I took it out to play and had the idea of having it try pulling a trolley. To my surprise, it learned right away,' he said.
[4] 'We never trained it. At first, it would occasionally turn over or bump into people, but it improved through practice. Its skills have improved. Also, it rarely destroys things at home, probably because it uses up its energy outside,' he added. Xu said Hakimi really enjoyed his job and was passionate about it. Every time it pulls the trolley, it gets excited, as if it is going out to play.
[5] Hakimi's regular working route covers about 200 metres, from the South Gate of the Lijiang Old Town to the homestay. 'We only take it out to transport luggage when guests request it. Many guests ask for it, and the dog usually does this about three to six times a day,' Xu said. He also said that around 80 per cent of the guests at his hotel came specifically for Hakimi's service.
[6] The dog's rise to fame on social media was unexpected. Initially, Xu posted videos of Hakimi transporting luggage online just for fun. To his surprise, they quickly gained popularity. 'Each video gets between one and 10 million views. Hakimi has become a little fortune-bringer for the homestay,' Xu said.
[7] Internet commentators have shown their love for the husky, highlighting its intelligence, playful personality, and friendly nature. 'When it turns a corner, it even looks back at the luggage, using inertia to position itself. This way, it can smoothly go downhill without crashing. It is so smart!' one person wrote.
Source: South China Morning Post, February 16
Questions
1. Who does the 'four-legged worker' in paragraph 2 refer to?
2. According to paragraph 2, what is Xu's job?
3. According to paragraph 4, Xu thinks Hakimi is well-behaved at home because …
A. it is very energetic.
B. it uses up its energy outside.
C. it is very smart.
D. all of the above
4. How often does Hakimi move suitcases for guests every day, according to paragraph 5?
A. only once
B. at most three times
C. no more than six times
D. as many as nine times
5. Every day, Hakimi walks 200 metres … the South Gate and the homestay.
A. through
B. near
C. between
D. from
6. Complete the following summary using 'it', 'it's' or 'itself'. (4 marks)
Hakimi became famous online by helping people with their bags at a hotel. (i) _______ learned to pull a small trolley by (ii) _______. Many people come to the hotel because of (iii) _______. Videos of Hakimi became very popular online and people say (iv) _______ smart and friendly.
Hakimi's playful personality and impressive skills have attracted tourists and boosted the homestay's revenue. Photo: Weibo/chinapress
Answers
1. Hakimi
2. He is the owner of a homestay.
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. (i) It; (ii) itself; (iii) it; (iv) it's