Formative Test M2 LA2 Modul 2 Learning Activity 2 Recount Text

Read the personal recount below and then answer the questions that follow!

On the Roof of the World

(1) Late in the afternoon we reached the top of the pass. At last we would be going downhill again. We had finished with wearisome ascents for the time being and glad we were of it. Armin, our yak, however, thought otherwise. He broke away and ran back uphill towards the pass. After endless difficulty we managed to catch him, but we could not get him to move and were obliged to camp in a most inhospitable spot where we could not light a fire – and so we supped on dry meal and raw meat. Our only consolation was the distant view of Mount Everest in the sunset glow.

(2) The next day we tied a rope round Armin's horns and led him over the pass, but he continued to misbehave. We had had enough of Armin and determined to exchange him at the next opportunity for another animal.

(3) Our chance soon came. At the next village I made what I thought was a good bargain and exchanged him for a shaky-looking horse. We were overjoyed and went on our way in high spirits.

(4) On the same day we reached a broad valley through which rushed a stream of green water carrying small ice-floes with it. It was the Tsangpo. That disposed of our dream of finding the river frozen and getting across on the ice. But we did not lose heart. On the opposite bank we saw monasteries and a number of houses and reckoned there must be some means of getting across the river. We thought of a ferry and as we were searching for one I found the piers of a hanging rope bridge. When we came to it we concluded that the bridge was all right for us to cross but no good for our horse. Animals have to swim, though the coolies manage sometimes to carry their donkeys across the swaying rope bridges on their backs. We tried to drive our horse into the river but he simply would not budge. By this time we were quite accustomed to having trouble with our animals, so I sadly made up my mind to go back to the village and try to effect a re-exchange. It cost me money and hard words to get back Armin, but I got him. He showed no sign of pleasure or of sorrow at seeing me again.

(5) It was dark by the time I brought him back to the bridge. By that time it was too late to get him across, so I tied him to a stake nearby. My companion Aufschnaiter had in the meantime found us a lodging and we passed a pleasant, warm night under cover. The villagers were accustomed to passing traders and took little notice of us.

(6) The next morning I forgave Armin all his misdeeds. When we had managed to persuade him to go into the water, he showed himself to be a splendid swimmer.

(Taken from Pick and Choose written by Robert Best, 1971, p. 36)

10. 'budge' in the fourth paragraph means

a.                   drink

b.                  float

c.                   dive

d.                  move

3. They thought it must be possible to cross the river because

a.                   the river was covered with ice

b.                  they never gave up hope

c.                   they remembered there was a ferry at that point

d.                  there were buildings on the other side

7. 'otherwise' in the first paragraph means

a.                   in all other cases

b.                  very intelligently

c.                   normally

d.                  differently

4. They tried to get the horse into the water because

a.                   they wanted him to swim over the river

b.                  only donkeys can walk across rope bridges

c.                   they were going to use the horse as the ferry

d.                  it was essential to teach him to swim

'we did not lose heart' in the fourth paragraph means

a.                   we still had feelings

b.                  we did not give up hope

c.                   we did not get cold

d.                  we still had a lot of energy

'We had had enough of Armin' in the second paragraph means

a.                   we were tired of Armin

b.                  we had made as much money as we could expect out of Armin

c.                   we had got enough food from Armin

d.                  Armin had served his purpose

6. The misdeeds which the author forgave Armin were

a.                   refusing to cross the river

b.                  his behavior on the pass

c.                   swimming

d.                  making them late the night before

1. They had to camp where they could not light a fire because

a.                   they were to tired to go on any further

b.                  they wanted a view of Mount Everest

c.                   it was a most inhospitable spot

d.                  the yak, Armin, would not move

5. As it was dark

a.                   they spent the night in the village

b.                  the author took Armin back to the bridge

c.                   the villagers did not see them very much

d.                  they were able to sleep well

2. They were overjoyed because

a.                   they had got rid of the yak

b.                  they would soon be able to make a good bargain

c.                   they had got a lively horse

d.                  they had made quite a lot of money