By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post and DPA
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and other tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may be asked at school or on the University Entrance Examination.
Read the following story by Yvonne Bohwongprasert from the Bangkok Post. Then answer the questions that follow.
Where there is a will, there is a way. Nobody knows this better than French globetrotters Thierry Montaner and Killian Blais, who have been travelling around the world mostly on foot for five years.
Thierry, 36, and Killian, 28, are adamant that they will complete their world tour in about three years.
"We have learned so much about people, cultures and nature since leaving our home country five years ago," said the bearded Thierry. "I would not trade this experience for anything. We spend less than 100 baht a day. So it's challenging."
"As we attempt to only use off-the-beaten-track routes as much as possible, we have encountered the generosity of people at a grassroots level that amazed me," said Thierry, a theatre electrician who used to travel across Europe but felt like he lacked companionship. So, he posted a message on the Internet to search for people to join him.
"A world tour on foot with almost no money and bare necessities" was the message that Killian saw. He then contacted Thierry. By the time they left Valence, France, on May 7, 2008, there were eight travellers. Due to the difficulties of the journey, the number of travellers gradually dwindled to two.
The travellers chose not to cause any environmental impact but to promote local cultures and ways of life. They have also documented their experiences through photographs in the hope of sharing them with travel enthusiasts.
As for accommodation, they often couch surf while travelling through cities, and sleep in a tent when off the beaten track. They usually use rivers and streams to shower, often without soap because they think it can pollute the water. They seek food supplies at villages located along their route.
Both of them agree that experiencing different cultures has been rewarding. Thinking out of the box and taking the first step are what they truly need, they said.
Exercises
Section 1
Read through the story. Then answer the following reading comprehension questions.
1. What nationality are Thierry Montaner and Killian Blais?
a. They are Japanese.
b. Both of them are French.
c. Thierry is French, while Killian is Irish.
2. When did they leave Valence?
a. In 2010.
b. In 2008.
c. The story does not say.
3. Who is a theatre electrician?
a. Thierry Montaner.
b. Killian Blais.
c. Yvonne Bohwongprasert.
4. How long have Thierry and Killian been travelling across the globe?
a. Five years.
b. One year.
c. Since 2010.
5. How many travellers first joined the journey but later dropped out?
a. Two.
b. Four.
c. Six.
6. Which of the following is not true, according to the story?
a. Blais is 26 years old.
b. 14,000 km.
c. 13,000 km.
7. How old is Thierry Montaner?
a. 28.
b. 36.
c. 46.
8. How do they record their travel experiences?
a. They write a diary.
b. They send e-mails.
c. They take photographs.
Section 2
Read the following sentences and underline the grammatically correct prepositions in each from the choices given.
9. She posted a message on/in/at the Internet.
10. The boys slept under/in/inside a tent when camping.
11. They hoped to share the photos with travel enthusiasts at/for/in the future.
12. He used to go to school by/with/on foot.
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
It was the boredom of a mundane existence that first …..13….. Montaner to ask himself if it was still possible …..14….. travel like the pilgrims of yesteryear. He took time out to test the idea by travelling …..15….. Europe alone. What Montaner discovered …..16….. that while it was …..17….. to do a world tour on foot, …..18….. was lacked was companionship.
13.
a. prompted
b. prompts
c. prompt
14.
a. for
b. to
c. in
15.
a. underneath
b. at
c. across
16.
a. was
b. were
c. be
17.
a. possibly
b. possible
c. possibility
18.
a. who
b. what
c. where
Section 4
Read through the following sentences. Then specify whether each of the underlined words is used as a noun, adjective or adverb.
19. It’s difficult to live on less than 100 baht a day.
………………………………
20. They will definitely complete their tour in about three years.
………………………………
21. If you really want to do something, you will find a way to do it.
………………………………
Section 5
Find vocabulary words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.
22. send …………….
23. effect …………….
24. pictures …………….
Vocabulary
- globetrotter (n): a person who travels to many countries all over the world
adamant (adj): determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about something
dwindle (v): to become gradually less or smaller
document (v): to record the details of something
pollute (v): to add dirty or harmful substances to land, air, water, etc. so that it is no longer pleasant or safe to use
rewarding (adj): worth doing; something that makes you happy because you think it is useful or important
