DBH 4, Robinson Crusoe

Pre-Intermediate Level Worksheet
Macmillan Readers Robinson Crusoe 1

Robinson Crusoe
Daniel Defoe
A Before Reading
1 Most of the story takes place on an island in the Caribbean Sea. Which islands do you know in the
world? Make a list (they can be countries too).
Examples: Cuba, Ireland...

2 a The story is about travel by sea between many different places. Some of the places in the story are
on the map below – what do you know about them? Write notes in the box about each place,
using the example notes on Africa as a starting point.
Africa – The world’s second largest continent, deserts, jungles, the Pyramids of Egypt…
b The story takes place in the 17th century, when many Europeans were travelling and taking other
countries as colonies. Do you know which European countries took colonies in Central and South
America?
AFRICA
VENEZUELA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
BRAZIL
BRITAIN
FRANCE
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
BARBADOS

3 In the story, Robinson Crusoe is shipwrecked and lives alone on a desert island for 28 years. What do
you think his life will be like there? Complete the table with your ideas.
His food and drink on the
island:
The home he lives in on
the island:
Problems he might have on
the island:
How he manages to live on
the island for 28 years:
B While Reading

4 During Robinson’s first voyage, the captain of the ship tells him:
‘Believe me, young man, if you do not go back home, terrible things will happen to you. Your father
told you that God would not be pleased with you, and his words will come true.’ (p10)
As you read, keep a record of the problems/dangers (‘terrible things’) that Robinson faces when travelling
and on the island. What does he do to solve each problem?
Problems/dangers Solutions
Example: Storms and hurricanes at sea Escaping to another boat, rowing fast

5 a Robinson has two important dreams in the story. What does he see in each dream and what does
Robinson then do because of the dream?
What happens in the dream? What does Robinson do after the dream?
b Do you believe that dreams can tell us important things about our present or future lives? Can you
remember any important dreams that you have had? What do you think they showed, if anything?

6 a The sea and sea travel is important in the story. As you
read, keep a list of any words or expressions from the text
which are connected with the sea.
Example: seasick...
b Have you travelled by sea? Where did you go? What sort
of boat did you travel in? Was it a good voyage or did you
have any problems?
c Do you prefer to travel by sea, air or land? Write a
paragraph explaining your favourite way of travelling
and why you prefer it.
C After Reading

7 I told the captain that I would stay one more night on the island, while he got the ship ready. That
night, I told the prisoners my story. (pages 61–2)
Write the story that Robinson told the prisoners about the shipwreck and his life on the island.
“Well, it all started over 28 years ago when I was sailing to Africa…

8 Imagine that you have to live alone on a desert island for a year. You can only take one of each of the
following things. Complete the table with your ideas, then write a paragraph explaining your choices.
A book:
A CD/music:
A type of food:
A drink:
A film to watch:
An item of clothing:
A person to visit you once:
Something useful:
A luxury (something you would like but
which is not necessary or useful):

9 In the 17th century, it was common for rich Europeans such as plantation owners to take slaves to work
for them. But by the early 19th century this was made illegal in England.
Imagine you are living in the late 18th century. Make an ‘anti-slavery’ (against slavery) poster to tell
people why having slaves is wrong and must be stopped. You may want to use some of the following
words in your poster:
freedom human rights equal unfair justice stop ban pay working conditions
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