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ESL Worksheets

My Year, Roald Dahl

JULY/AUGUST

 (Heinemann New Windmill Series, 1997)
 
1. What amazing fact do you discover about Roald Dahl when he was 16 years old?
He …
2. How far was Dahl’s school from his home?  (Give the exact distance.)

3. What four things did Dahl wear when he rode his bike?

a)
b)
c)
d)
4. How did Dahl feel as he rode past the headmaster (page 44)?
He felt …
5. What would the headmaster have done if he had caught Dahl?
He would have …

  6. If you want information about Dahl’s childhood holidays in Norway, what should you do?
You should read …
7. On the map below, use a pencil to trace the route Dahl followed in August 1933.  When you are sure it is right, use a coloured pen/marker.
 
 Source: The World Factbook, 1998
8. Why did Dahl not sleep on the train from Paris to Marseille?
He couldn’t sleep because …
9. What problem did Dahl have when he arrived back in England?
He …
10. A butterfly lays hundreds of eggs.  Why do only a few of these hatch out?
Most of the eggs …
11. Complete the following vocabulary list:
 
………………………… = baby caterpillars
………………………… = older caterpillars (wrapped in
                                            a case) before they become
                                            butterflies
………………………… = to sleep during the winter
………………………… = an animal (or person) that
                                            travels to another country and
                                            lives there
12. Use a dictionary to find the meanings of the following words/phrases.  (They are all found in “August”.)  Write them in your Vocabulary book.  You must write the meaning and an example.
 
a) vague (p.47)
b) fumes (p.48)
c) scorched (p.48)
d) famished (p.48)
e) crisp (p.50)
f) beneficial (p.50)
g) vast quantities (p.50)
h) a snag (p.51)
i) emerge from (p.52)
Find out how each of these words is pronounced!

13. Write about an enjoyable holiday you had.  (You may write about the whole holiday or just about one interesting incident during the holiday.)
 

a) Start by explaining where and when you went on holiday.  Say who you were with.
b) Use the Simple Past tense.
c) Use paragraphs.
d) Do not write: “… and  … and  … and …”!
e) Do not write: “Then we …  Then we …  Then we …”!
f) Write at least 150 words.  (Do this in your English exercise book.)
 

Frankie Meehan