A Wherry Good Day Out

Activity 1

Match the word with a definition.

1. damaged 2. delicious 3. a choice 4. avoid 5. pollution 6. architecture

a. excellent to eat

b. a selection

c. something that hurts the air, land or water

d. be broken, but not completely destroyed

e. a style of building

f. stop yourself from hitting something

Arrival in Norfolk 到達諾福克

The weather looked fine as the twelve of us friends and family arrived in the tiny Norfolk village of Ludham, a hundred and twenty miles north-east of London. We were all very excited.

The Norfolk Broads Today and Yesterday諾福克湖區(qū)的今與昔

The Albion is one of only two wherry boats which still exist, even though for two centuries they were the most popular boats on the Norfolk Broads. The Norfolk Broads are a famous and beautiful example of waterways which people used to move things around Britain in the past. The wherries were specially made with flat bottoms because the water wasn’t very deep.

A Pleasant Trip 愉快的旅程

We started sailing down the river and quickly found places to sit where we could see the fantastic[極好的]countryside as we passed it. Unfortunately, it started raining,so we went inside to make tea. We were very pleased when we got to the village of Ranworth, where we were taken to the pub in a little boat. The Maltsters Inn is an excellent place to eat, a traditional building with real English beer and delicious food,including a great vegetarian choice.

An Exciting Event 驚險事故

While we were sailing back to Ludham, a pleasure boat[游船]turned right in front of us.There was nothing the Albion’s captain could do and it was too late for the other boat to avoid us. The hundred-and-fourteen-year-old Albion crashed straight into it and was hardly damaged at all. However, the modern boat got a large hole in her side. We were told that this was an unusual event on the Norfolk Broads, and most of us certainly found it quite exciting.

Why Not Try It? 一試何妨

A day on the Albion is the ideal[理想的]way to enjoy the special landscape of Norfolk. You can see fantastic architecture, which you can’t see from the road. You won’t add to water pollution because the Albion has no engine.You can have a picnic on the boat, or try a traditional English pub lunch. It’s a wonderful day out, tiring and yet very relaxing.

Activity 2

True or false?

1. Ludham is a tiny village in Suffolk.

2. Wherries were seen in great numbers all over the Norfolk Broads.

3. You can stop for a traditional pub lunch while on a trip on the Albion.

4. The Maltsters Inn serves a lot of food without meat.

5. Accidents with boats often happen on the Norfolk Broads.

Activity 3

Choose the correct form of the verb.

Eg: It was raining / rained, so we went inside to make tea.

1. We found places to sit while we were sailing / sailed.

2. When we got to Ranworth, we were going / went to the pub in a little boat.

3. We were reading / read the menu when the waiter came to take our orders.

4. While we were coming / came back, we had an accident.

5. The pleasure boat turned in front of us and we were crashing / crashed into it.

Activity 4

Discussion: Are boats with sails or engines better? Why? What kinds of transport which don’t use engines have you used? Do you enjoy them?