Modern Robison Crusoes

A few years ago six Indian youngsters went on a fishing expedition in a boat. Being caught by a storm, they were shipwrecked on a desert island in the ocean 1,000 miles off Australia. They stayed on that island for 15 months.

First they caught sea birds with their hands and ate them uncooked. There were difficulties with fresh water but soon they found some palm-trees and drank coconut milk. Later they lived in a hut which they had in the crater of a dead volcano.

To pass time one of the boys made a guitar from pieces of wood and coconuts, using wire from the wrecked boat as strings. The boys composed songs and sang them telling the story of their shipwreck and their life on the lonely island.

An Australian ship was the fifth to pass the island since the shipwreck. The captain later said that his attention had been attracted by a big fire in the woods and he knew that the island had no population. When the ship was approaching the shore, one of the crew suddenly saw the boys waving their hands. The boys explained that they were burning the wood specially to attract attention of the passing ships.

To shipwreck – потерпеть крушение

Wire – проволока

Strings – струны

When were six Indian boys shipwrecked?

How long did they stay on a desert island?

What did the boys do not to die without food and water?

Did they make a guitar? Why?

Did any ship pass the island?

The Australian ship was the first ship to pass the island, wasn’t it?

Was the attention of the captain attracted by a big fire? Why was he surprised?

What were the boys doing to attract attention of the passing ships?

13. Copy out irregular verbs from the texts of exercise 12 giving three forms. Learn them.

14. Read the dialogue. Learn it by heart.

Mr. Blake: How do you feel about coming to Sweden for your holiday next summer? I’m sure you would like it.

Mrs. Dickson: Well, nothing is settled yet, but I think we really might spend our holiday in Scandinavia.

Mr. Blake: That’s splendid! You would have not to worry about. I’ll book a hotel and arrange everything for you. The journey itself is delightful, especially if you go there by ship.

Mrs. Dickson: But actually we have some friends in Helsinki. And if I go by ship I can’t visit them on my way to Stockholm.

Mr. Blake: You see, Helsinki and Stockholm are both port cities. The distance is short enough to travel there by boat. Besides there’s a sea ferry* which can give you a fresh experience of travelling by water.

Mrs. Dickson: Oh, that’s very exciting indeed. Thank you for information. I must think it over.

15. Answer the questions:

1. Do you consider travelling to be very important nowadays?

2. Why do people travel?

3. What means of traveling do you know?

4. Which of them do you prefer? Why?

5. What are advantages and disadvantages of different ways of travelling?

6. Have you ever travelled by air?

7. When you travel within the country, do you usually go by car, by plane, by ship or by train?

8. Do you like change trains?

9. What makes traveling by car enjoyable?

10. What is the best time for travelling?

11. Where do you usually spend your holiday?

12. What kind of travelling do you prefer?

13. Do you usually buy the tickets in advance? Do you buy one-way or return ticket?

14. Do you like to take a lot of things with you?

15. Do you have a special suitcase for travelling?

16. How do you usually get to the station?

17. Do you have your favorite place to visit?

18. Where do you usually stay?

19. What kinds of pastime do you like?

20. Describe your returning home.