Question

Kon-Tiki expedition The date was the 28th of April. It was the early morning. Callao harbour was very busy. The Minister of Marine had ordered a tug to row us out of the harbour. A crowd of people was waiting to watch. When I arrived, only Herman was there. He was guarding the raft. I got out of the car and jumped on board. Fruit baskets and boxes lay in a heap on the deck. They had been thrown on board at the last moment. In the middle of the heap sat Herman. He was holding a cage; and in the cage there was a green parrot. The bird was a present from a friend in Peru. “Take care of the parrot for a minute”, said Herman. “I want to go ashore and have a drink. The tug won’t be here for a long time”. Herman went for his drink, and a few minutes later the tug arrived. A large motor-boat came to tow the raft away from the other boats. The motor-boat was full of officers and sailors. The officers called out some orders; and the sailors then fixed a strong rope to the raft. “One moment!” I shouted. “It’s too early! We must wait for the other men”. I pointed towards the city. But nobody understood. The officers only smiled politely. I untied the rope and threw it into the water. I waved my arms and made signs to the officers. This excited the parrot. The bird opened its cage and escaped. It walked about on the bamboo deck. I tried to catch the parrot. But it called out rude words in Spanish and flew into the cabin. At last, I caught the bird and put it back into its cageTask 2. Choose the correct variant. 11. The story takes place at: A sunset; B noon; C dawn; D midnight. 12. The tug was ordered by the: A marines; B Minister of Marine; C Maritime Commission; D Minister of the Navy. 13. The narrator arrived at the harbor: A on horseback; B by foot; C by car; D by ship.​

Answer 1

Kon-Tiki Expedition:

The passage describes the beginning of the Kon-Tiki expedition, a famous journey across the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft led by Norwegian ethnographer and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl. The date mentioned is the 28th of April, and the setting is Callao harbor.

The narrator arrives at the harbor, finding it busy. The Minister of Marine had ordered a tug to row them out of the harbor. Herman, presumably a crew member, is guarding the raft, which is loaded with fruit baskets and boxes thrown on board at the last moment. Herman is holding a cage with a green parrot, a gift from a friend in Peru.

Herman asks the narrator to take care of the parrot while he goes ashore for a drink, as they wait for the tug. The tug arrives, and a motorboat with officers and sailors comes to tow the raft away from other boats. However, the narrator realizes that some men are missing and points towards the city, suggesting they should wait. The officers, not understanding, proceed with their orders.

The narrator tries to communicate by untying the rope and throwing it into the water, signaling to the officers. The parrot becomes excited, escapes from its cage, walks on the deck, and eventually flies into the cabin. The narrator catches the parrot and puts it back into its cage.

Task 2 - Choosing the Correct Variants:

11. The story takes place at: C) dawn. - This is evident from the description of the early morning in the passage.

12. The tug was ordered by the: B) Minister of Marine. - This information is explicitly mentioned in the passage.

13. The narrator arrived at the harbor: C) by car. - The passage states, "I got out of the car and jumped on board."