Read the Story and Underline the Correct Tenses

DIFFERENTIATED TEACHING ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY 1

Read the story. Then, label the paragraphs with the following headings. You have to use one of the headings twice.

development of story setting the scene end of story, feelings

An Unforgettable Journey

I stood on the deck, staring at the huge waves. From the moment we had left port and sailed into the English Channel, the weather had got worse and worse. Now, lighting flashed across the sky, which was covered in dark clouds. Paragraph 1 ______

Suddenly, the noise of the engines stopped. The ship slowed rolling heavily in the rough sea. A voice over the loudspeakers told us to remain calm. Many of us could not believe our ears. Then the same voice added that a fire had started in the engine room. We were then told to lose no time in hurrying to the nearest lifeboat station. Paragraph 2 ______

We all ran onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and showed us how to put them on.

Paragraph 3 ______

I looked again in horror at the wild, stormy sea. The thought of being out there in a tiny boat was terrifying. Minutes passed like hours, until at last a voice announced that everything was under control and the danger was over. We all cheered as the engines started again and the ship moved forward into the waves. Paragraph 4 ______

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had reached port and I was standing on solid ground again! Paragraph 5 ______

ACTIVITY 2

Read the story and number the events in the order in which they happened.

An Unforgettable Journey

We all ran onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and showed us how to put them on.

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had reached port and I was standing on solid ground again!

A____ We were asked to go the nearest lifeboat station.

B____ We put on lifejackets.

C____ A fire started in the engine room.

D____ The ship slowed.

E ____ We reached port.

F____ We went to the lifeboats.

G____ The engines stopped.

H__1__ The ferry left port.

I____ The engines started again.

ACTIVITY 3

Read the story and fill in the gaps with the adjectives in the box.

wild, rough, dark, huge, calm

An Unforgettable Journey

I stood on the deck, staring at the ______waves. From the moment we had left port and sailed into the English Channel, the weather had got worse and worse. Now, lighting flashed across the sky, which was covered in ______clouds.

Suddenly, the noise of the engines stopped. The ship slowed rolling heavily in the ______sea. A voice over the loudspeakers told us to remain ______. Many of us could not believe our ears. Then the same voice added that a fire had started in the engine room. We were then told to lose no time in hurrying to the nearest lifeboat station.

We all ran onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and showed us how to put them on.

I looked again in horror at the ______, stormy sea. The thought of being out there in a tiny boat was terrifying. Minutes passed like hours, until at last a voice announced that everything was under control and the danger was over. We all cheered as the engines started again and the ship moved forward into the waves.

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had reached port and I was standing on solid ground again!

ACTIVITY 4

Read the story and fill in the gaps with the appropriate adjectives. When the gaps have been filled, students can brainstorm synonyms for each adjective.

An Unforgettable Journey

I stood on the deck, staring at the ______waves. Form the moment we had left port and sailed into the English Channel, the weather had got worse and worse. Now, lighting flashed across the sky, which was covered in ______clouds.

We all ran onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and showed us how to put them on.

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had reached port and I was standing on solid ground again!

adjective / synonyms

ACTIVITY 5

Read the story and underline the correct tenses.

An Unforgettable Journey

I stood on the deck, staring at the huge waves. From the moment we (1) had left\were leaving port and sailed into the English Channel, the weather had got worse and worse. Now, lighting flashed across the sky, which was covered in dark clouds.

Suddenly, the noise of the engines (2) had stopped/stopped. The ship (3) slowed/was slowing, rolling heavily in the rough sea. A voice over the loudspeakers (4) told/were telling us to remain calm – then added that a fire had started in the engine room, and said that all passengers must go immediately to the nearest lifeboat station.

We all (5) ran/had run onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and (6) showed/were showing us how to put them on.

I (7) looked/was looking again in horror at the wild, stormy sea. The thought of being out there in a tiny boat was terrifying. Minutes (8) had passed/passed like hours, until at last a voice (9) was announcing/announced that everything was under control and the danger was over. We all (10) cheered/had cheered as the engines started again and the ship

(11) moved/was moving forward into the waves.

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had reached port and

(12) was standing/had stood on solid ground again!

Activity 6

Read the story and fill in the gaps with the missing verbs

An Unforgettable Journey

I stood on the deck, ______at the huge waves. From the moment we had left port and sailed into the English Channel, the weather had got worse and worse. Now, lighting ______across the sky, which was covered in dark clouds.

Suddenly, the noise of the engines stopped. The ship slowed rolling heavily in the rough sea. A voice over the loudspeakers told us to ______calm. Many of us could not ______our ears. Then the same voice added that a fire had started in the engine room. We were then told to lose no time in hurrying to the nearest lifeboat station.

We all ran onto the deck, following the signs to the lifeboats. The ship’s officers arrived, made sure we had lifejackets and ______us how to put them on.

I looked again in horror at the wild, stormy sea. The thought of being out there in a tiny boat was terrifying. Minutes ______like hours, until at last a voice ______that everything was under control and the danger was over. We all ______as the engines started again and the ship moved forward into the waves.

I still couldn’t believe it was over, though – not until we had ______port and I was standing on solid ground again!