Unit 9 Travellers’ tales

Writing a story

10 Meanings

Match these words with their meanings.

2 deck(n) b to be filled with water

3 broken-down (adj) c supplies of food and drink

4 to pump d in a very bad condition

5 flooded e goods carried on a ship

6 cargo f the floor of a ship

1 provisions (n) - supplies of food and drink

2 deck(n) - the floor of a ship

3 broken-down (adj) - in a very bad condition

4 to pump - to force water out of a place

5 flooded - to be filled with water

6 cargo - goods carried on a ship

11 Ordering events

A Read the article about Sophie Green's holiday nightmare and put these events in the correct order.

10 They arrived in Utila.

My holiday nightmare

The Caribbean Queen was an old, broken-down boat. As we stepped on deck, I wondered if we had made the right decision. There were no other passengers, but it was too late to turn back. As soon as we had climbed on board, the blond, sun-tanned captain shouted orders, and we were off to Utila.

The sun shone brightly as we set out on our journey. However, an hour later the sea began to get rough. A storm was approaching and very soon waves were pouring over the deck. Suddenly there was a shout from below. The engine room was flooded! But before the crew could start pumping the seawater out, the engine stopped. The boat was in trouble and the crew were told to start throwing the cargo overboard. Matt was the first on his feet, throwing as many things as he could into the sea.

Meanwhile I was beginning to panic. I asked for a lifejacket, but I was told that there weren't any. Panic turned to fear and I started to cry.

Fortunately, after a few minutes, the pump started working again. The captain skilfully steered us through four hours of stormy weather, until we reached the calm harbour at Utila. There, as we walked off the Caribbean Queen, I promised myself that whatever the price, we were definitely flying back to Honduras.

B Answer these questions.

It was an old, broken-down boat.

She felt worried. She wasn’t sure they made the right decision.

The captain.

He was blond and sun-tanned.

The weather was fine. The sun shone brightly.

She panicked and started to cry.

C Now read the article again. Underline the words and phrases used to order events.

D Choose the correct word or phrase in sentences 1-4.

E Which word and phrase in D:

As the storm approached them, the captain started to worry.

As soon as she arrived in Honduras, Sophie booked a trip to Utila.

Sophie didn't feel safe until she had got off the boat.

The storm was getting worse, so the captain radioed for help.

12 Writing

Now write about another holiday nightmare. Answer these questions.

It was my first visit to ... (place). I was looking forward to ... (things you were going to do). However, it was the worst holiday I had ever had ...