Chapter 1: "My Adventures Begin"
I was born in 1632 in the city of York, England. When I was a boy, I dreamed about one thing - I wanted to be sailor. After I finished school, I told my parents my idea. They did not like it.
"Life at sea is difficult," my father said. "You must learn a profession to earn money. Law is a good profession for an intelligent young man like you."
But I didn't listen to my father's words. When I was 19 years old, a friend invited me to sail to London on his father's ship. I didn't tell my parents about my plans. On the 1st of September, 1651, I started my first voyage. The ship sailed from Hull, a port near York. During the voyage, there was a terrible storm, with waves like mountains. I was very frightened. Our ship started to fill with water. The ship sank and sailors on another ship rescued us and took us to London.
"You brought bad luck to my ship," my friend's father said to me. "Don't become a sailor. Go home and study to be a lawyer." But I wanted a life at sea. In London I met the captain of a ship sailing to Africa. I told him about my dream.
"I want to learn to be a sailor," I said.
"I'm happy to teach a young man like you," he said.
I sailed on his ship to Africa and then returned to England. I worked hard, and learned many things about life at sea.
Now, answer the following questions:
1. What does the main character do? (= profession)
2. Give a synonym for sailor.
3. Where was the main character born?, where's that city in England? (you can use wikipedia sources)
4. When was he born?
5. What's the meaning of earn ?
6. Translate into Spanish the following word: law?
7. Where's Hull in England? (you can use wikipedia sources)
8. What's the meaning of waves?
9. Give as many examples of Past Simple verbs as you can.
10. Explain in a few words what's the chapter about.
11. Let's learn about the city of York:
- nº of inhabitants?
- main monuments?
- it is famous for?
12. Let's learn about the city of Hull:
- nº of inhabitants?
- main monuments?
- it is famous for?
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