Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Exercises

Dane’s Adventure

This passage tells what happened when someone got lost in the jungle.

Dane had not eaten or drunk anything for two days and he felt weak. Once again, he thought of his friends, Mat and Harry. Were they safe? Perhaps they were still looking for him. The three of them had come to the jungle for a hunting trip but had become separated while running from a wild elephant. Dane had lost his equipment and food supply, but he knew that he should not give up. He prayed for strength to find a way out of the thick tropical jungle.

Dane was completely lost and was going round in circles. Wherever he went he was plagued by mosquitos and other insects. As if that was not enough, the leeches were draining his blood little by little. He was too scared to eat leaves or berries for fear of upsetting his stomach. He came across some animals’ footprints which led him to a watering hole. There, he drank greedily until he was full. Then, to keep off the biting insects, he rolled himself in the mud. He decided to stay near the watering hole to wait for a search party.

Early in the morning of the fourth day, Dane was awakened by something exploring his body. Shaking his fear, he realised that it was an elephant’s trunk examining him, but as soon as he shouted, the frightened elephant crashed away through the jungle. Dane was thankful that he was safe, for the elephant might have stood on him and crushed him. Another time, Dane woke up from a short sleep to find a wild boar noisily licking him. Frightened, he leapt up and screamed. Fortunately, the startled animal disappeared off into the trees.

By the sixth day, Dane was feeling very thirsty and feverish. He heard a plane flying overheard but was too weak to shout. He began to despair.

Then, later in the day, Dane thought he heard voices calling him. With the little strength he had remaining, he let out a feeble cry.

The rescuers stared in disbelief to see Dane covered in mud from head to foot. He was quickly carried out of the jungle. A few hours later, Dane was in the hospital, remembering his experience and wondering how he had survived the terrible ordeal.

Answer the following questions based on the passage above.

• Where was Dane when the story begins?
  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• Why do you think Dane had lost his food and equipment?
  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• How do you think the mud would keep off the biting insects?
  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
• From the last paragraph, find a word that means ‘a painful or difficult experience’.
  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
  
  Imagine that you are Dane. Write a summary of the problems you had while in the jungle. Do not write more than 65 words, including the words given below. Your answer should be in continuous writing. You may use words from the passage.
  
  Begin your answer as follows:
  
  I was lost and ………………………………………… …………………………………… …………………………… ……………………… ……………………………… ………………………………………… ……………………… ………………………………… …………………………………… ……………………………………………… ……………………………………………… …………………………………………… …………………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………… ………………………………………… …………………………………………………… ……………………………………… ……………………………………………………… …………………………………… …………………………………………

Answers

• Dane was in the jungle.
• Dane must have dropped his food and equipment while running away from the elephant.
• The mud would give a protective covering for the body so that insects cannot bite.
• The word is ‘ordeal’.
• I was lost, and had no food or equipment. I was also plagued by mosquitos and leeches. He could not eat leaves or berries for fear of upsetting his stomach. While sleeping, he was startled by a wild elephant and a wild boar. By the sixth day, Dane felt feverish and very thirsty. He was too weak to shout when a plane was heard overhead.