Reading 2: My year on a houseboat!

on

 

My year on a houseboat!

Objectives

  • To understand a text about living on a houseboat
  • To use headings to find information
  • To understand verb phrases

 



 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 




 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 




 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 




 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 




 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 




 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 



 My year on a houseboat!

ENGAGE

6

5

4

3

2

1

Look at the photos. Where would you like to live? Where would you like to stay on vacation? Complete the chart.

an apartment
a house
a hotel
a hostel
a tent
a boat
an RV

I'd like to live in...On vacation, I'd like to stay in...

 



vacation

American English          British English

        vacation                          holiday

RV

RV noun a large vehicle designed for people to live and sleep in when they are traveling. RV is short for 'recreational vehicle'.

 

British English – camper van

 

American English          British English

        traveling                       travellin

 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

My name's Marianne and I'm from Groningen, in the Netherlands. My family moved into a houseboat when my mom worked in Amsterdam for a year.

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

Inside the houseboat

The boat looked big, but it was small for four people. There were two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open kitchen and living room. It was much smaller than our old house.

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Sometimes living on water was a problem – like the day my phone fell in the river! Also, we didn’t have a washing machine. We washed our clothes at a friend’s house.

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

I loved it when the boat moved up and down. At night, you could hear the water outside. It was fun!

Enjoying nature

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text. Which two sentences are true?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

The best thing about living on a houseboat was watching the birds. There were lots of cats near the river, too. It was beautiful living close to nature. I loved my year on a houseboat, but now we are going back to Groningen. Goodbye Amsterdam!

Living on a boat was different from living in a house.
Everything was good about living on a houseboat.
Marianne writes about good and bad things.



mom

American English          British English

          mom                             mum

nature

nature noun (no plural) all the plants, animals, etc. in the world and all the things that happen in it that are not made or caused by people


 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

My name's Marianne and I'm from Groningen, in the Netherlands. My family moved into a houseboat when my mom worked in Amsterdam for a year.

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

Inside the houseboat

The boat looked big, but it was small for four people. There were two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open kitchen and living room. It was much smaller than our old house.

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Sometimes living on water was a problem – like the day my phone fell in the river! Also, we didn’t have a washing machine. We washed our clothes at a friend’s house.

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

I loved it when the boat moved up and down. At night, you could hear the water outside. It was fun!

Enjoying nature

1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Where can you find the answers to these questions? Match the questions to the correct headings.

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

The best thing about living on a houseboat was watching the birds. There were lots of cats near the river, too. It was beautiful living close to nature. I loved my year on a houseboat, but now we are going back to Groningen. Goodbye Amsterdam!
1

Where is Marianne from?

About me

2

What problems did Marianne have?

3

What animals did Marianne see?

4

What did Marianne think was fun?

5

How many rooms were there in the houseboat?



Using headings

Headings tell you what different parts of the text are about. They can help you to find the answers to questions quickly.

 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false



 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

My name's Marianne and I'm from Groningen, in the Netherlands. My family moved into a houseboat when my mom worked in Amsterdam for a year.

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false



 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

Inside the houseboat

The boat looked big, but it was small for four people. There were two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open kitchen and living room. It was much smaller than our old house.

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Sometimes living on water was a problem – like the day my phone fell in the river! Also, we didn’t have a washing machine. We washed our clothes at a friend’s house.

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

I loved it when the boat moved up and down. At night, you could hear the water outside. It was fun!

Enjoying nature

1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false




 My year on a houseboat!

PRACTICE 3

6

5

4

3

2

1

Read the text again. Are the sentences true or false?

About me

Inside the houseboat

Things I didn’t like

Things I liked

Enjoying nature

The best thing about living on a houseboat was watching the birds. There were lots of cats near the river, too. It was beautiful living close to nature. I loved my year on a houseboat, but now we are going back to Groningen. Goodbye Amsterdam!
1

Marianne lived on a houseboat in Groningen.

true
false

2

She lived on a houseboat for a year.

true
false

3

The boat had two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

true
false

4

There wasn't a washing machine on the boat.

true
false

5

She washed her clothes in the river.

true
false

6

She didn't like it when the boat moved up and down.

true
false

7

She liked bird watching.

true
false

8

Marianne and her family are staying on the houseboat for one more year.

true
false



Verb phrases

Some sentences only have one verb. For example:

I loved my year on a houseboat. 

loved = main verb

 

Some sentences have a verb phrase with two or more verbs. For example:

 

 auxiliary verbmain verb
We didn’t have a washing machine.didn’thave
You could hear the water outside.couldhear
We are going back to Groningen.aregoing

 


 My year on a houseboat!

REFLECT 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Complete the sentence to answer the question. Choose A or B. Then find out your dream home.

What is your dream home? 

My dream home is…

 

Anear shops and restaurants.
Bin the mountains.

 

Ain the city center.
Bclose to nature.

 

Asmall but beautiful.
Bbig but old.

 

Aexpensive but in a famous street.
Bcheap and near friendly people.
 

 

Mostly A's…

Mostly B's…

Your dream home is an apartment or a houseboat.

 




 My year on a houseboat!

REFLECT 1

6

5

4

3

2

1

Complete the sentence to answer the question. Choose A or B. Then find out your dream home.

What is your dream home? 

My dream home is…

 

Anear shops and restaurants.
Bin the mountains.

 

Ain the city center.
Bclose to nature.

 

Asmall but beautiful.
Bbig but old.

 

Aexpensive but in a famous street.
Bcheap and near friendly people.
 

 

Mostly A's…

Mostly B's…

Your dream home is an RV or a house.

 



dream

dream noun something nice that you hope for

center

American English          British English

         center                            centre

 My year on a houseboat!

REFLECT 2

6

5

4

3

2

1

Choose the answers that are correct for you.

I can...    
I can understand a text about living on a houseboat.
I can use headings to find information.
I can understand verb phrases.