English Reading and Writing Activities

Junior 5

Name: __________________________________

Class: __________________________________
Comprehension

Robinson Crusoe’s Diary

Eighth day Yesterday I brought back from the

ship a quantity of tools, a drill, a dozen
hatchets, a grind-stone for sharpening, iron
crow-bars, a large bag of nails and rivets; with
sails, ropes, poles, two more barrels of powder,
a box of musket balls, seven muskets a third
shotgun, lead, a hammock, a mattress,
blankets, clothes and great-coats. I thought
that I had rescued nearly everything that was
on board. But I was wrong, for today returning
from a trip to the wreck that almost cost me
dear – the wind having risen, I capsized with
my whole load in the middle of the creek – I
saw Japp, the captain’s dog come bounding
joyfully along, an Irish Setter I had thought
drowned with the crew. I think that the poor
beast, swept away by the current, had landed
on the island much further away, and had
difficulty in finding me. This evening I
pitched a little tent with the poles and sail-
cloth, under which I spread my bed. I have
piled up all my riches in a shelter from the
rain that was threatening. My dog snores at my
feet, I have dined on a bit of dried meat and a
ship’s biscuit, and in spite of a rising wind I
am prepared to pass a good night.

Daniel Defoe
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A. Choose the correct answer to each question.

1. How did Robinson Crusoe come to be on the island?

a. Robinson Crusoe was on holiday on the island.
b. Robinson Crusoe was bird watching on the island.
c. Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked on the island.

2. How long has he been there?

a. He has just reached the island.
b. He has been on the island for eight days.
c. He has been on the island for four days.

3. What happened to the rest of the crew?

a. The rest of the crew were rescued.
b. The rest of the crew drowned.
c. The rest of the crew swam to another island.

4. What pleasant surprise did Robinson Crusoe get on the

eighth day?
a. Japp, the Captain’s dog, came bounding along the beach.
b. He found one of the crew members alive.
c. He discovered a sailing boat.

5. Why does he think he will get a good night sleep tonight?

a. He has managed to find a bed.
b. He has managed to build a tent.
c. He has managed to find a tin of chocolate.

Answer the following questions.

6. List the items Robinson Crusoe retrieved from the wreck.

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7. What happened to Robinson Crusoe as he was returning

from the shipwreck?

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8. Why was the dog ‘bounding joyfully along’?

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9. Was Robinson Crusoe pleased with his day’s work? Explain

your answer.

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10. How do you think Robinson Crusoe was feeling while he

was on the island?

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11.Imagine you are the captain of a ship sailing past the island.
Describe how you spot Robinson Crusoe and how you
rescue him.

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12.Writing Task.

Think back to one day in your life when something important

happened. It might be happy or sad, exciting or just unusual.
Write a diary entry for that day of around 100 to 150 words.
Include details of your feelings and emotions, as well as describing
what happened.

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Grammar

Exercise 1 - Write the comparative or superlative forms of the adjectives

in these sentences.

1. Claire is pretty, Nina is prettier, but Ella is the

_______________________.

2. Mr Calleja works hard, but Mr Portelli works _____________________.

3. Kesha is famous, Miley Cyrus is _________________________, but

One Direction is the most famous.

4. All flavours are good, but vanilla is the ____________________ of

them all.

5. She has a few coins but Paula has _______________________.

Exercise 2 – Underline the pronouns in the following sentences.

1. They wake up early in the morning. Do you?

2. Dad and I are going to the football match with him.

3. Between you and me, he cannot afford a new car.

 4. The two girls knew that they would be too late to meet her.

5. Anne told us that she would watch a film with them.

Exercise 3 – Change these sentences from indirect to direct speech.

1. The cobbler told Peter that his shoes would be ready by Saturday.

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2. Simon’s mother asked him if he was hungry.

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3. Bernard replied that he had been to London many years ago.

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4. Her father promised to give Beth ten euro if she studied hard.

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5. The doctor advised me to stay home from school.

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Exercise 4 – Underline the Prepositions in the following sentences.

1. The children were walking around the classroom.

2. The prize was divided between the two winners.

3. Angus now lives in Edinburgh.

4. The nurse stood by the patient’s bed.

5. The headmaster was happy with the children.

Exercise 5 – Punctuate the following sentences correctly.

1. can I have a bicycle for my birthday asked matthew

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2. I have a bad headache so I think I will lie down

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3. mr borg remarked the days are certainly getting longer.

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4. peter tuck your shirt in ordered his mother

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5. come inside mrs vella invited the old lady

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Exercise 6 - Complete each sentence.

1. The freezing snow fell ______________________________________

2. Matthew caught ___________________________________________

3. The young woman closed ___________________________________

4. My father washed _________________________________________

5. Jackie won ______________________________________________

Exercise 7 - Write each of these sentences in the future tense.

1. We are working very hard.

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2. You are playing with your game.

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3. She is washing the car.

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4. They get up at 7 o’clock.

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5. Mary runs home from school.

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Exercise 8 - Change these sentences into indirect speech.

1. “Please can you check my homework, Mrs Borg? asked Mark

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2.Peter shouted to his cousin, “Quick or we will be late for football!”

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3.“When can I get a bike?” Pia asked her dad.

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4.“ Come down from that tree!” Granddad told Paul.

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5. “Does this money belong to you?” Mum asked me.

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 3. Creative Writing. Choose ONE of the following titles and
write an essay of around 150 words. Remember to start by
planning your writing.

1. Write a story which ends with the words “and that is how I found out
what the mysterious sound was.”

2. The Accident.

3. My hometown.

4. You are a fan of a famous pop group. Write a letter to the fan club
explaining why you like the pop group so much.

Enjoy your summer holidays!