RHAmNO

Example 2: Going home Activity; general reading

Skills: reading for gist; reading for detailed comprehension
Age: any
Level: upper intermediate

Over 20 years ago Michael Scott and his colleagues, working at university level with HSP
students in Brazil, designed a 'standard exercise' which could be used by their students with
any reading text (Scott et al 1984). In their version, the questions were detailed and were in
Portuguese. The usefulness of the questions was assured because any students, even if they
were having trouble with their spoken English, could read a text with the help of this broad-
based reading 'kit'.
For general English we can use the same principle and design questions which can be given
to students in English or in their own language, and which can be used for any reading text
they meet. Consider the following general questions:

1 What is the text about? 7

2 Who was it written by?
3 Who was it written for?
4 What is the writer's intention? <

5 Do you Like the text?

In the following example, these five questions are applied to this text:

19-year-old Penny Elvey and her friend Anna are
going home after six months as volunteers in a
school in Nepal. But then the rain starts and the
roads are flooded. This is part of their story.
At the village of Meestal there is a hugeriverblocking above their heads as they step into the water. Slowly
our path. We came here a few weeks ago with some and steadily they cross the river and reach the other
students for a picnic but the innocent little stream
that we sat by has now become a raging torrent.
Across the water we can see a truck. On our side a
man approaches us.
'That is my friend,' he says gesturing to a man
(
standing by the vehicle. You go with truck.'
Anna and I smile enthusiastically. But our guide steps goes I Mow, Maybe the current is not that strong.
forward.
'It is too dangerous. We must wait. The river will
become smaller.'
Anna and I glance at each other. It is a curious
philosophy since the rain is still falling steadily.
The truck driver's friend grins at me.
'We help. You give me 600 rupees.'
600 rupees is far too much but we are desperate. He
knows. He knows I know he knows. Our eyes lock.
People are watching us curiously to see how we are
going to react I fold my arms and force a laugh.
"Then we will stay the night here.'
Adapted from Network the Gap
For a terrible moment I think he is going to walk
away, but then he smiles nervously.
1 mean 300 for you; 300 for your friend.'
He calls two of his friends and they hold our luggage
side safely.
Suddenly a man taps my shoulder.
Tor you too dangerous. You must stay here.'
My rucksack and walking boots are now sitting on a
rock across the water. In the pocket of my rucksack
are all my papers and money. Where my passport
'You can swim?'
A small crowd of people gathers on the other side.
Anna goesfirst.Four men take hold of her and lead
her safely across. Now it is my turn. I step forward
dnaerly but catch my ankle on a rock. The water
pulls my legs awayfromunder me. But the men drag
me to the safety of the far side.
Anna and I pick up our things and climb into the old
truck. The people there stare at us in amusement
We are wet through, covered in mud, our clothes
i tatters. But as the truck shudders to life, we look
at each other and smile. We are going to make it to
Kathmandu in time for breakfast!
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