Here is some information downloaded from the Internet on lle Amsterdam. You can view images of the isle if you go online.

Location	South Indian Ocean, between southernmost parts of Australia and South Africa
Latitude and longitude	37 92 S, 77 67 E
Sovereignty	France
Political status notes	Part of French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population	35
Census notes	Meteorological station staff
Land area in square kilometres	86

Why do you think people undertake such adventurous expeditions in spite of the risks involved?

The following words used in the text as ship terminology are also commonly used in another sense. In what contexts would you use the other meaning?

The following three compound words end in-ship. What does each of them mean?

The following are the meanings listed in the dictionary against the phrase ‘take on’. In which meaning is it used in the third paragraph of the account:

take on sth: to begin to have a particular quality or appearance ; to assume sth

take sb on: to employ sb ; to engage sb

to accept sb as one’s opponent in a game, contest or conflict

take sb / sth on: to decide to do sth ; to allow sth/sb to enter e.g. a bus, plane or ship ; to take sth/sb on board

Given on the next page is a picture of a yacht. Label the parts of the yacht using the terms given in the box.

Here is some information downloaded from the Internet on lle Amsterdam. You can view images of the isle if you go online.

Locate lle Amsterdam on the world map. Ans. For self-attempt.

Whom did the narrator and his family want to duplicate and why?

Describe the boat and the plan of the journey.

How did they pass the first leg of their journey?