1B Born to sail

A Complete the article with the verbs in the box. Use the present perfect continuous, or the simple form when the
continuous is not correct.

be have keep monitor not be own sail take try write

Teenager Zealand, she spent the first four years of her life at

set to
sea. At the age of six, she was given her first sailing
boat and 3 several others
complete since then. During her round-the-world trip, Laura

round-the- a blog and

4

5
a weekly column for a
world sail Dutch newspaper. She 6

Dutch teenager Laura Dekker is on the brink of to keep up-to-date with her education too, although
fulfilling her dream of becoming the youngest solo she admits this 7 easy.
sailor to circumnavigate the globe. The ambitious
Laura’s family, friends and fans 8
sixteen-year-old 1
her boat
her progress closely. Dutch authorities, who
Guppy around the world single-handedly for almost 9
against Laura’s
a year and looks set to finish her voyage in the next
voyage since it was first announced,
few days. 10
a keen interest in her
Laura 2
a passion for journey too.
sailing all her life. Born on a yacht off the coast of New

B Look at the answers to some questions Laura was asked during her trip. Write questions using the present perfect
simple or continuous.
1  ?
No, it hasn’t. It’s been really hard at times. My days have been so busy and of course, I haven’t always had
Internet access.
2  ?
Lots of things! Fresh food, running and my family, of course.
3  ?
Yes, I’ve made several stops into ports along the way, to check that Guppy is properly maintained. My last
stop-off was in Tonga.
4  ?
I’ve been swimming and scuba diving. I’ve also discovered a new hobby – playing the flute!
5  ?
Not enough! When I’ve had bad weather and rough seas, it’s been impossible to get any sleep at all!
6  ?
The best things have been learning so much about myself and being surrounded by such amazing scenery
and wildlife. The worst things have been the torn sails, bad weather and cockroaches!

C Discuss the questions in pairs.

1 What other questions do you think people asked Laura during her round-the-world voyage? What do you think her
answers were?
2 Which adjectives of personality would you use to describe Laura?

Solutions 2nd edition  Upper-Intermediate © Oxford University Press • Photocopiable

 1B Born to sail

Aims  To review and practise present perfect simple

and continuous
Time  15 minutes
Materials  1 handout for each student
• Give each student a handout and tell them to complete
task A. Check answers as a class, ensuring that students can
explain their choice of tense.
Answer Key
1 has been sailing 6 has been trying
2 has had 7 hasn’t been
3 has owned 8 have been monitoring
4 has been keeping 9 have been
5 (has been) writing 10 have been taking
• Tell students to look at the first answer in task B and elicit
possible questions, e.g. Has it been easy to keep your blog
up-to-date?/to complete your school work on time?/to write your
newspaper column? Give students time to complete the rest
of the task. Make it clear that there is not only one correct
question in each case.
• Tell students to check their ideas in pairs and then elicit
possible questions from the class.
suggested Answers
1 Has it been easy to keep up with your school work?
2 What have you been missing most during your trip?
3 Have you stopped off during your voyage?
4 How have you been spending your leisure time?
5 How much sleep have you been getting?
6 What have been the best and worst things about your trip?
• Give students time to discuss the questions in task C in pairs
and then get feedback from the class.

Solutions 2nd edition  Upper-Intermediate © Oxford University Press