Problem: It was early morning. Peter Corbett helped Mark Wellman out of his wheelchair and onto the ground. They stood before El Captain, a huge rock almost 1.2 kilometers high. Mark had long dreamed to climb El Captain when he was a child. At the age of twentyone, he had fallen while climbing mountain, losing his legs. But he never lost his love for life. Mark knew he couldn't finish the climb alone, but his friend Peter would be there to lend a helping hand. They thought it would take seven days to reach the top. Now Peter climbed about 30 meters up and hit a piton into the rock. Fastening one end of a 50meter rope to the piton, he let the other end of the rope fall down. Mark caught the rope and fastened it to his belt. He next reached above his head and fastened a T-bar to the rope. Mark took a deep breath, pushed the Tbar up almost as far as his arms could reach, and began the first pullup. High above, Peter let out a cheer, "You're on your way." For the first four days the two men progressed upward without accident. But on the fifth day, a very strong wind began to blow, making it hard for Mark to hold on to his rope. But Mark kept on pushing up the T-bar and pulling himself up. It took them one day more than they had expected. But as the two heads appeared the group of people waiting on the top went wild with joy. Mark Wellman showed that if you set your heart and mind on something, no wall is too high, no dream impossible.
1. Could Mark finish alone?
2. What was he trying to do?
3. How high is that?
4. Why couldn't he climb it himself?
5. How old was he?
6. Did he hire an assistant to help him?
7. Did anyone help him?
8. How long did they think the climb would take?
9. What happened that made them take longer?
10. Were they alone at the top when they got there?
11. How long was the rope Peter used?
Answer: 1. No
2. climb El Captain
3. 1.2 kilometers
4. he had fallen while climbing mountain, losing his legs
5. twentyone
6. unknown
7. Peter Corbett
8. seven days
9. a very strong wind
10. No
11. 50meter

Q: CHAPTER V.

Time and Faith are the great consolers, and neither of these precious sources of solace were wanting to the inhabitants of Cherbury. They were again living alone, but their lives were cheerful; and if Venetia no longer indulged in a worldly and blissful future, nevertheless, in the society of her mother, in the resources of art and literature, in the diligent discharge of her duties to her humble neighbours, and in cherishing the memory of the departed, she experienced a life that was not without its tranquil pleasures. She maintained with Lord Cadurcis a constant correspondence; he wrote to her every day, and although they were separated, there was not an incident of his life, and scarcely a thought, of which she was not cognisant. It was with great difficulty that George could induce himself to remain in London; but Masham, who soon obtained over him all the influence which Venetia desired, ever opposed his return to the abbey. The good Bishop was not unaware of the feelings with which Lord Cadurcis looked back to the hall of Cherbury, and himself of a glad and sanguine temperament, he indulged in a belief in the consummation of all that happiness for which his young friend, rather sceptically, sighed. But Masham was aware that time could alone soften the bitterness of Venetia's sorrow, and prepare her for that change of life which he felt confident would alone ensure the happiness both of herself and her mother. He therefore detained Lord Cadurcis in London the whole of the sessions that, on his return to Cherbury, his society might be esteemed a novel and agreeable incident in the existence of its inhabitants, and not be associated merely with their calamities.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who were living alone?
2. Were they sad about this?
3. What two things are a source of comfort to them?
4. What did Venetia not do anymore?
5. Is she with her mother now?
6. Whom does she serve?
7. Of whom does she keep memories?
8. Who stayed in London?
9. Did he want to go to the abbey?
10. Who dissuaded him from returning?
11. Was this welcomed by Venetia?
12. True or False: The Bishop had a cheerful, positive personality.
13. What did the people of Cherbury associate with Cadurcis?
14. Did the Bishop hope that someday this would not be the case?
15. How often did Venetia communicate with George?
16. Were there ever any breaks in their correspondence?
17. What did Venetia know almost everything about?
18. What alone could ease her sadness?
19. What change could it get her ready for?
20. Who thought this?
A: 1. the inhabitants of Cherbury
2. No
3. Time and Faith
4. indulged
5. Yes
6. her neighbours
7. the departed
8. Lord Cadurcis
9. Yes
10. Masham
11. yes
12. Yes
13. their calamities
14. Yes
15. he wrote to her every day
16. No
17. his life
18. time
19. of life
20. Masham

Problem: Zheng He was an amazing man. He was born in 1371. Eleven years later, he was caught by the army of a rich young man called Zhu Di and made to work for him. Over time the rich man saw that Zheng He was very clever and strong and they became close friends. In 1403 Zhu Di was made the King of China and he asked Zheng He to join his government. The King wanted to learn more about the world and show other countries his power. He ordered many new ships to be built and made Zheng He their leader. between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He led seven sea trips to different parts of the world. He certainly travelled to India, Africa and the Middle East. A few people think his ships have even reached South America and Australia. Each trip lasted between two and four years and it is believed he sailed more than 50,000 kms during the years of his travels.Zheng He led a fleet with 28,000 men and over 300 ships, such as boats for food, water and even soldiers' horses. On these trips he brought with him many Chinese goods like silk and medicine to give to foreign kings or to sell for local goods. He returned from each trip with boats filled with expensive things such as gold and treasures, foreign guests and strange animals like a giraffe. It is a pity that we may never learn everything about Zheng He' s travels. The Columbus of the east, Zheng He, died in 1433. After that, the new king, had these trips stopped and he burned almost all the books about Zheng He's travels, because he believed the trips were unlucky and too expensive. It is only in the last 50 years that historians have begun to carefully study the adventures of great Zheng He.
1. What happened in 1403?
2. Who did he ask to join his government?
3. When was he born?
4. was he friends with Z.Di?
5. Did Z.He travel on boats?
6. Did he make a lot of sea voyages?
7. how many?
8. were they short trips?
9. about how long did they last?
10. how many ships did he oversee?
11. how many men?
12. what countries did they go to?
13. what did he carry in the ships?
14. did he bring live things back with him?
15. what animal?
16. do we know everything about him?
17. what is one reason why not?
18. when did historians start studying him?
19. when did he die?
20. what other famous explorer is he referred to as?
Answer:
1. Zhu Di was made the King of China
2. Zheng He
3. 1371
4. yes
5. yes
6. yes
7. seven
8. no
9. between two and four years
10. 300
11. 28,000
12. India, Africa, Middle East, South America and Australia
13. silk, medicine
14. gold, treasures, foreign guests and strange animals
15. giraffe
16. no
17. the new king burned almost all the books
18. in the last 50 years
19. 1433
20. Columbus