1Read the text
Read the text. Put the mouse on the dotted words (or tap them) to see what they mean.
At the station
By the time we got off at Berampur, I was so exhausted I slumped onto a wooden bench on the and said I couldn’t go on without a rest. Guddu said that was fine – there were a few things he needed to do anyway. ‘Just sit down and don’t move. I’ll come back in a little while and we can find somewhere to sleep the night.’ He was probably going to scavenge some food, or around the platforms. I lay down, shut my eyes and must have fallen asleep straightaway.
When I woke up, it was very quiet, and the station was deserted. Bleary-eyed, I looked around for Guddu but couldn’t see him anywhere. There was a train at the platform where we’d got off, with its door open, but I didn’t know if it was the same one, or how long I’d been asleep.
exactly what I thought right then. I was still and unnerved by finding myself alone at night. My thoughts were muddled. Guddu wasn’t around but he’d said he wasn’t going far – maybe he’d got back on the train? I shuffled over and climbed the to have a look. I have a memory of seeing some people asleep , and stepping back down they woke up and called a . Guddu had said I should stay put, but he was probably on board in a different carriage, working, the seats. What if I fell asleep on the dark platform again and the train pulled out and I was left alone?
I looked into a different carriage and found no-one, but the empty wooden bench seats were more comfortable and felt safer than the quiet station – Guddu would come and get me soon, smiling, perhaps with a treat he’d found while cleaning. There was plenty of room to stretch out. In a few moments, I was sleeping peacefully again.
Saroo Brierley, A Long Way Home (2013), the book the film Lion is based on. Short extract, for use in class.
2Did you understand?
3Right or wrong?
Read the sentences: right or wrong? Then click Check: the words of the text that prove it will appear.
- 1. Saroo and Guddu got off the train at Berampur.“By the time we got off at Berampur”
- 2. Saroo wanted to keep on walking.“said I couldn’t go on without a rest”
- 3. Guddu promised to come back.“I’ll come back in a little while”
- 4. Saroo found it hard to fall asleep on the bench.“must have fallen asleep straightaway”
- 5. When he woke up, the station was busy.“it was very quiet, and the station was deserted”
- 6. Saroo was sure it was the same train.“I didn’t know if it was the same one”
- 7. Saroo knew how long he had slept.“or how long I’d been asleep”
- 8. Saroo felt calm and could think clearly.“unnerved by finding myself alone at night. My thoughts were muddled.”
- 9. There were people asleep in the first carriage.“seeing some people asleep on board”
- 10. Saroo did not do what Guddu had told him.“Guddu had said I should stay put”
- 11. Saroo imagined Guddu bringing him something nice.“perhaps with a treat he’d found while cleaning”
- 12. The second carriage was full of people.“I looked into a different carriage and found no-one”
4Vocabulary: find the words in the text
Find in the text the word or expression that means... (the first letter is given). The words are in the order of the text.
- very, very tired
- sat or fell down heavily
- to look for food or things that other people have thrown away
- immediately
- empty, with nobody there
- with tired eyes that can't see clearly, just after sleeping
- nervous and a bit frightened
- confused, not clear
- walked slowly, without lifting his feet
- not move, stay where you are
- left the station (for a train)
- something special and nice, often to eat
- to lie with your arms and legs out
More about Lion: The plot of the film · Put the story in order · Past perfect · Back to the Lion page