English Studies
Grade 8
25/5/20
Reading to asnwer specific questions
Attention: Always read the questions before reading the passage. This will enable you to know what you are reading for.
Read the following comprehension passage and answer the questions that follow.
THE VOYAGE
I was tired out when, a little before daylight, the ship was ready to sail. Even if I had been twice as tired, I would not have gone to bed; it was all so new and interesting to me - the quick commands, the sound of the whistle, the men running to their places in the weak light of the ship'' lamps.
Now, Barbecue, let's have a song, cried one voice.
The old one, cried another. Here you are, said Long John, who was standing by, with his crutch, and at once began the words I knew so well: fifteen men on the dead man's chest...and the whole crew joined in: yo - ho - ho, and a bottle of rum!.
Soon the sails began to fill, and the land and the other ships started to slip by on either sides. And before I could lie down to get an hour of sleep, the Hispaniola had begun her voyage to the Island of Treasure.
I am not going to describe that voyage. The ship was a good ship, the crew were good seamen, and the captain thoroughly understood his business. But before we came to Treasure Island, two or three things had happened Which I must mention.
Mr Arrow turned out worse than the captain had feared. After a day or two at sea, he began to appear with wondering eyes, red cheeks, a foolish tongue, and other marks of having drunk too much. I dark night with a rough sea, he disappeared entirely and was seen no more.
Gone! said he captain. Well, gentlemen, that saved us trouble. But there we were without an officer to do his work. Job Anderson was the best of the seamen on board. Mr Trelawney had been a ship's officer, and his knowledge made him very useful. And Israel Hands was a careful, old, experienced seaman, who was a great friend of Long John silver and so the mention of his name leads to speak of Silver, our ship's cook(Barbecue, as the men called him).
He's no common man, Barbecue, said Israel Hands to me. He had good schooling in his young days, and can speak like a book. A brave - a lion's nothing beside Long John! I've seen him fight four men and knocked their heads together - him unarmed.
All the crew respected and even obeyed him. He had a way of talking to everyone and helping everyone. To me he was very kind and was always glad to see me in his kitchen, which he kept beautifully clean, his dishes hanging up polished and his parrot in a cage in one corner.
Come in, Hawkins, he used to say. Come and have a talk with John. Nobody more welcome than yourself, my son. Sit down and hear the news. Here's Cap'Flint - I call my parrot Cap'Flint, atfer the famous pirate. Here's Cap'Flint saying that our voyage will be successful.
QUESTIONS
1.)Who is nicknamed Barbecue in the story?
2.) Who is described as having a foolish tongue in the story?
3.) Where did the Hispaniola set out for?
4.) What is the writer's name?
5.) Who nicknamed his parrot Captain Flint?