Sindbad My First Voyage (Supplementary)

Unit 1 – Supplementary

Lesson: Sindbad – My First Voyage

Introduction

Sindbad the Sailor is a fictional mariner and the hero of a story-cycle of Middle-Eastern origin. He is described as a man from Baghdad during the early Abbasid Caliphate (8th and 9th centuries CE). In the course of seven voyages throughout the seas east of Africa and south of Asia, he has fantastic adventures in magical realms, encountering monsters and witnessing supernatural phenomena.

In this extract, the rich Sindbad describes his first voyage to the poor Sindbad (porter).

Sindbad’s First Voyage

Loss of Wealth

My father was a rich merchant. When he died, I was still young. He left behind a big wealth. However, I was an inexperienced, thoughtless youth and spent all his wealth foolishly. I returned to my senses only after the loss of all the wealth.

Decision to Sail

I decided to sail for the Persian Gulf with some goods. Our group sailed from one country to another, selling the goods.

The Green “Island”

One day, when we were on board, we saw a beautiful small green island. Just to have some fun, we all got down on that green patch. We were hungry and so we decided to cook some food there.

As soon as we lit the fire for cooking, we got a jerk. The island was trembling. It was no island. It was the back of a huge animal, which got disturbed when the fire was lit on his back. We were terrified when we realized this.

Everyone jumped into the sea to save his life. Most of them boarded the ship. But a few were not so fortunate. Before they could climb up, the captain started the ship hurriedly, leaving behind a few sailors who were still struggling in the sea for their life. I was one among those strugglers. Fortunately, I caught hold of a big piece of wood floating nearby and held on to it.

Struggle & Survival

I was being tossed by the powerful sea waves but I held on to the wood and kept floating for a long time. At last, I was thrown on an island. I was very tired and extremely hungry. But on the island, there was nothing to eat except a few herbs. Due to the continuous struggle in the seawater, my limbs became stiff and refused to move. I somehow managed to crawl to get a few herbs. I ate them and quenched my thirst from a spring on the island.

Meeting the Islanders

As I walked further in this strange land, I met a man. The man asked me where I had come from and who I was. I poured out my misfortune to him. The man felt pity when he heard my sad story. He took me inside a cave. There were a number of men present. They were all slaves of the king of the island. Those men were kind. They served me good food and drink and treated me well.

Audience with King Mihrjan

Later on, they produced me in front of the King Mihrjan, who was the ruler of the island. I narrated my tale of suffering and hardship to the king. The king was a noble and kind person. He sympathized with me and appointed me as an officer on the spot.

Life on the Island

Soon, I became friendly with the people on the island. There were a number of other small islands nearby. These islands were under King Mihrjan, too. During my stay, I witnessed a number of remarkable sights.

• The seawater around the islands contained huge and terrible fishes.
• A few were hundred times bigger than the largest ship.
• Once I saw a fish that had a head like a bull.
• I witnessed many unimaginable wonders.

Longing for Home

Ships from different parts of the world visited this small island kingdom’s port regularly. Every day I would ask the visiting sailors about my city Baghdad, but no one knew about my city. I longed to go back home.

Reunion with the Ship

One day, when I was standing on the port, I saw a ship approaching the port. It was the same ship, which had sailed further after leaving me behind, struggling in the sea.

When the captain of the ship saw me, he was greatly surprised to find me alive. He and the other crew members hugged me with happiness. The captain handed over my goods to me, which had been left on the ship.

Gifts & Gratitude

Among my goods, I chose a few valuable items and presented those to the kind king. In return, the king also gave me expensive presents. The ship stayed on the island for a few days. Meanwhile, I did good business and earned a lot of money.

Return to Baghdad

When it was time to leave, I went to meet the king. I thanked the king for his kindnesses and all the favours he had done to me. The king again gave me many valuable farewell gifts. Finally I returned to my city Baghdad as a rich man.

Epilogue

Sindbad completed the tale of his first voyage. The poor porter Sindbad was listening to the amazing tale of Sindbad with all wonder.

Sindbad the sailor then bade good-bye to the poor porter and asked him to come the next day to hear the tale of his new voyage. But before leaving, he presented Sindbad a purse full of gold coins. The unexpected riches overjoyed Sindbad the porter. He thanked his rich host and went home.

Glossary

Word	Meaning
phenomena	events
trembling	shaking
terrified	frightened
tossed	thrown about
quenched	satisfied by drinking
poured out	expressed freely
hardship	severe suffering
witnessed	observed

Exercises

A. Match the following

Column A	Column B
green island	huge fish
Mihrjan	the king
Sindbad the Sailor	voyager
Sindbad the Porter	poor listener
slaves	in the cave

B. Choose the correct option

1. Sindbad decided to sail to the Persian Gulf with some goods.
2. He was being tossed by powerful waves and was thrown on an island.
3. The men in the cave were all slaves of the king.
4. The king was a noble and kind person.
5. The king gave many valuable gifts to Sindbad.

C. Read the passage and answer

Passage: One day, when I was standing on the port, I saw a ship approaching the port. It was the same ship, which had sailed further after leaving me behind, struggling in the sea. When the captain of the ship saw me, he was greatly surprised to find me alive. He and the other crew members hugged me with happiness. The captain handed over my goods to me, which had been left on the ship.

1. Where was he standing?
   – On the port.

2. What did he see?
   – A ship approaching the port.

3. Whom did he meet on the ship and why was the person surprised?
   – He met the captain and crew; they were surprised to find him alive.

4. What did he get back from the captain?
   – His goods that had been left on the ship.

D. Rearrange the sentences in correct order

1. My father was a rich merchant.
2. Our group sailed from one country to another, selling goods.
3. I was being tossed by the frequent powerful waves.
4. I narrated my tale of sufferings and hardships to the king.
5. I longed to go back home.
6. I saw the same ship approaching the port.
7. Sindbad completed the tale of his voyage.
8. He presented the purse full of gold coins.

E. Work in pairs

1. Describe the island that the ship’s crew found.
   – It appeared as a beautiful small green patch on the sea, but was actually the back of a huge sea-animal.

2. Did Sindbad the porter enjoy his meeting with Sindbad the sailor? Why?
   – Yes, he enjoyed it immensely because he heard an amazing tale and received a purse full of gold coins.

Project

F. Brochure Making

Your school is organising an educational trip. Work in a team and prepare a brochure for the trip. Include:
- Places to see
- Essential things to be brought
- Activities one can do on the trip

Remember:
- Write in short paragraphs with headings.
- Use bullet points.
- Use different font size or colour to highlight.
- Use catchy slogans.
- Use pictures, drawings and graphs.

Connecting to Self

G. Road Safety

Road safety rules make our driving a better experience. As a responsible citizen we ought to obey traffic rules and pay attention to the road signs.

Look at the picture (not shown here).
Circle the dangerous actions of pedestrians on or near the road.

Pedestrians Road Safety Rules
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Step to Success

H. Categorise the words

Airport	Railway station	Harbour
pilot	compartment	crew
air hostess	engine driver	helmsman
cockpit	platform	anchor
visa	TTE	captain
passport	porter	—

ICT Corner

Grammar – Reported Speech - I

• To learn about reported speech and its need in English.
• To know about rules in changing into reported speech.

Steps:
1. Type the URL link given below in the browser or scan the QR code.
2. Watch the short video with many examples of reported speech.
3. Read the conversation explaining the rules.
4. Click “check your grammar” and practise with the exercises.
5. Complete all exercises to strengthen your learning.

Website URL:
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-grammar/reported-speech

Practice Practice Exercises

1. Sindbad decided to sail to the (Persian Gulf /Mexican Gulf) with some goods.

2. He was being tossed by powerful waves and was thrown on an /a (island/peninsula).

3. The men in the cave were all (ministers/slaves) of the king.

4. The king was a (noble and kind/mean and cruel) person.

5. The king gave many valuable (gifts/rewards) to Sindbad.

1. Where was he standing?

2. What did he see?

3. Whom did he meet on the ship and why was the person surprised?

4. What did he get back from the captain?

1. I longed to go back home.

2. I narrated my tale of sufferings and hardships to the king.

3. Our group sailed from one country to another, selling goods.

4. I saw the same ship approaching the port.

5. My father was a rich merchant.

6. I was being tossed by the frequent powerful waves.

7. Sindbad completed the tale of his voyage.

8. He presented the purse full of gold coins.

1. Describe the island that the ship’s crew found.

2. Did Sindbad the porter enjoy his meeting with Sindbad the sailor? Why?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.