Seven Stowaways and a Hijacked Oil Tanker

Worksheet

Read the article carefully and answer

the following questions.

1. Mark the positions of the

Nave Andromeda on the map
and show its path that we
learn about during the story.

2. Vocabulary. Find synonyms

for the following words (you
may have to do some
research!):

a) situated (6)

b) vessel (23)

c) assassinated (27)

d) airborne (34)

e) rapidly (52)

f) deployed (54)

g) a recess (93)

h) acquaintance (100)

i) scant (124)

3. Put the following words into the required part of speech.

a) to haul (78) (noun)
b) puzzled (88) (verb)
c) to secure (98) (noun)
d) to negotiate (106) (adverb)
e) theory (148) (adverb)
f) navigational (226) (verb)

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4. Answer the following comprehension and opinion questions.

a) What does the author mean when she says, “The story of a heroic mission to defeat
a hijacking in the Channel seemed to arrive at just the right time.” (50)? Explain and
comment on the statement!

b) What do you learn about the situation with immigrants in Britain? Briefly
recapitulate in your own words!

c) What are reasons Michael fled from Nigeria? List them as bullet points!

d) Why, according to the text, are stowaways such a problem for ships?

e) What happened in Las Palmas? Why was this unusual?

f) What happens with Albert once he gets to know the stowaways a little bit? Why?

g) What problems did the crew of the Nave Andromeda face now that they had the
stowaways on board?

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h) Describe the atmosphere on board the ship, making reference to specific line
numbers.

i) What, in your own words, happened on board the ship the morning of the distress
call to the British coastguard?

j) What do you think is the reason the captain sent out a distress call?

k) Comment on the actions of the crew throughout the endeavor. Do you think they
handled the situation well? Why or why not?

l) What are the challenges the stowaways faced after being brought to England?

m) What do you think happened on board the ship during that time?