World War II had started, and British ships were always watching for German submarines called U-boats. The ship Ben Lomond had left Cape Town, South Africa, with a crew of 55, including a young officer named Poon Lim. On November 23, 1942, Ben Lomond was attacked by a U-boat. Within minutes the ship was sinking. Poon Lim grabbed a life jacket and leaped over the side. He swam rapidly away from the ship in case it exploded. Sure enough, it let out a large boom and sank beneath the waves.
Poon Lim struggled in the water for two hours. Then he saw an empty raft (筏), swam to it, and climbed aboard. He found a few cans of crackers, a water jug, some flares, and a flashlight, which could be enough supplies for about a month. Day after day Poon Lim had his few crackers and a couple of sips of water. He searched the horizon for ships. Twice he leaped up to shout and wave when he saw help coming. Once he saw a freight ship. It passed him. At a later time, he saw a United States Navy plane. It flew low over the raft but then disappeared. Still later a U-boat spotted him but for some reason left him alone. Poon Lim knew he needed to stay strong. He couldn’t get much exercise on an eight-foot-square raft, but he could swim circling the raft, a couple of times a day. Soon his food and water ran low. He knew that drinking seawater would make him sick, so he tore off the canvas cover on his life jacket and set it out to catch rainwater. Then he took apart the flashlight and used a wire inside to make a fishhook.
For months Poon Lim drifted, catching fish and sometimes birds. One time he even caught a shark. Finally, after 133 days, he saw a boat. Three sailors in a small sailboat picked him up and took him to Belém, a city on the coast of Brazil. Poon Lim had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. No one ever had survived longer on a raft at sea. Poon Lim received many honors, including Britain’s highest award. A booklet of his survival methods was put into every British life raft. But when Poon was interviewed, he said “I hope no one will ever have to break that record.”
4. Why did Poon Lim choose to abandon Ben Lomond?
A.Because he grabbed a life jacket. | B.Because he worried it would explode. |
C.Because it had gone beneath the water. | D.Because it was attacked by a British ship. |
5. What made Poon Lim trapped on the ocean for so long?
A.The raft with enough supplies. | B.The U-boat that left him alone. |
C.His failure in getting others’ help. | D.His difficulty in swimming to the coast. |
6. Which is the correct order of the events?
a. Poon received many honors.
b. Poon was short of food and water.
c. Poon managed to go on board a raft.
d. Poon was picked up and taken to Belém.
e. Poon swam helplessly in a life jacket for hours.
A.ecbda | B.ebcad | C.cbeda | D.cedab |
7. Which is the most suitable title for the text?
A.A British Hero Poon Lim | B.A Booklet of Survival Methods |
C.Survival on a Raft at Sea | D.Journey Across the Atlantic Ocean |