Lesson 1

Vocabulary

1. Choose the correct definition of each word. Then check in a dictionary.

a. A novel is a long story / book of facts.

b. A poem is a piece of writing often arranged in lines / sentences that rhyme.

c. Poetry is a form of writing / reading.

d. A poet is someone who writes poems / stories.

Reading

2. You’re going to read a short biography about an author called Robert Louis Stevenson. Find out why Stevenson travelled to warm places.

He travelled to warm places because he was often ill and Edinburgh was too cold for him.

3. Complete these sentences about Robert Louis Stevenson.

b poems/poetry.

Vocabulary

4. Read this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson. Match the words in bold to the definitions.

a. dried grass that people use to feed animals hay
b.. small pieces of land for growing things on plots
c. break up and move earth with your hands or a machine dig
d. small stones gravel

5. Read the poem again and choose the correct answer.

1. The speaker in the poem is probably

A. a gardener.

B. an old man.

C. a child.

2. In the garden, the speaker

A. can do what he likes.

B. must follow some rules.

C. must cut the flowers.

3. The gardener doesn’t like to talk because

A. he has to work very hard.

B. he’s unfriendly

C. he is very ill.

4. The speaker wants the gardener to

A. put his tools away.

B. play games.

C. cut the flowers.

6. Match the pairs of words from the poem that rhyme. Underline the words in the poem.

1. walk/talk

2. dig/big/dig

3. play/hay

4. go/row