Captains Courageous: Rescued!
by Rudyard Kipling from Captains Courageous
Chapter I passage: Rudyard Kipling wrote Captains Courageous in 1897. It is the story of Harvey Cheyne, a wealthy and spoiled 15-year-old American boy, who falls overboard on the way to Europe with his parents. Harvey is rescued by the crew of a fishing boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Disko Troop is the captain. In this passage, Harvey has just awoken on the fishing boat after the rescue. Dan Troop, Disko’s son, is with him. Dan is about the same age as Harvey. Dan speaks first.
Reading Comprehension Passage
Captains Courageous: Rescued!
by Rudyard Kipling from Captains Courageous
Reading Comprehension Questions
Vocabulary List
Vocabulary List
Each of the vocabulary words below are used in the reading passage. As you read the passage, pay attention to context clues that suggest the word’s meaning.
- swell
- prostration
- fo’c’sle
- sniggered
- warped
- dissemble
- score
- dories
- mariner
- providential
Context Clues
Context Clues
Using context clues from the sentences in the passage, underline the correct meaning of the word in boldface.
1) “There was a little common swell yes’day an’ last night”
a. very good; excellent b. rainstorm c. unusual wind d. slow rolling waves; surge
2) “she herself walked on the edge of nervous prostration”
a. deceit; falsehood b. collapse; exhaustion c. energy; activity d. wall; barrier
3) “he shouted up the fo’c’sle hatch”
a. crew's quarters; bunkroom b. roof or covering c. kitchen; galley d. microphone
4) “Dan sniggered, and threw Harvey his warped bicycle shoes”
a. scowled; frowned b. snickered; laughed meanly c. bowed respectfully d. danced
5) “Dan sniggered, and threw Harvey his warped bicycle shoes”
a. wet or damp b. expensive c. misshapen; twisted out of shape d. made of cloth
6) “made the boy dissemble his extreme rage and console himself"
a. disguise; hide b. announce; expose c. forget; ignore d. repeat again
7) “and stumbled aft, over a score of obstructions”
a. musical composition b. ship's deck c. points in a game d. about twenty; many
8) “where the dories were out fishing”
a. small fish b. small sea birds c. small boats d. new sailors
9) but this mariner did not seem excited
a. wise old man b. sailor or seaman c. puppet or doll d. uncle or cousin
10) “It’s quite providential, first an’ last, fer all concerned”
a. heaven-sent; lucky b. unfortunate; sad c. profitable; successful d. amusing or funny