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Unit 3
Activity 7: Reading for pleasure and appreciation
Activity 7a: Read the text silently and carry out the activity that follows.
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe loved to travel to distant lands. At the age of
nineteen, he went to Brazil and became a rich farmer. One day,
Robinson had to go to Africa on business. On the way, there
was a terrible storm and his ship was wrecked*. Robinson was
washed* to a lonely, uninhabited* island.
Robinson explored the island for any sign of human life
but there was none. With great difculty, he built a hut. His
experience in farming helped him and he started growing rice.
For meat, he hunted the wild goats. Robinson Crusoe tamed*
a few of these goats for milk. From the milk, he made butter and cheese.
Twenty six years passed in this lonely way for Robinson Crusoe. One day, he saw footprints
on the beach. He followed them and saw some men eating other humans. They were cannibals
from a nearby island. The cannibals left the island after a few days.
One morning, Robinson Crusoe saw the wreck of a ship. He ran to it and saw that it was a
Spanish ship. In it was a survivor - a man. Robinson took the man to his hut, and gave him
some food and water. When the man recovered his health*, he helped Robinson Crusoe with
his work. Robinson called the man Friday as he had rescued* him on a Friday. Friday did not
know English but, as time went by, he learnt a few words.
One morning, Friday was missing. Robinson Crusoe went to look for him and found him just
as the cannibals were about to kill him. Robinson rushed towards them. He red at all the
cannibals with his gun and saved Friday.
Robinson Crusoe and Friday found the boat of the cannibals and sailed back to Brazil. They
carried enough food and water for the journey. Robinson Crusoe had spent thirty ve years
on the island.
(Adapted from ‘Robinson Crusoe’, by Daniel Defoe.)