READING – Only Three Things!
Imagine you are going to live on a desert island for one month. The island is beautiful, with sandy beaches, tall trees and blue water. But there are no houses, no shops, no electricity and no other people.
You can take three things with you. The problem is that you have six useful objects, and you must leave three behind.
Your six objects are: a backpack, a water bottle, a knife, a sleeping bag, a solar flashlight and a fishing kit.
At first, the choice looks easy. You think about taking a sleeping bag because you want to sleep comfortably at night. But what about food? You cannot eat a sleeping bag!
A fishing kit is useful because you can catch fish. However, fishing is not always easy, and sometimes you may catch nothing.
A knife is also a good choice. You can use it to cut fruit, prepare food and make simple tools. In fact, a knife may be more useful than a backpack.
What about water? You need fresh water every day. A water bottle can help you carry water, but it cannot make dirty water safe to drink. Perhaps you can find a stream on the island, but you don’t know.
The solar flashlight sounds like a great idea. You can use it at night, and you don’t need batteries. But is light more important than food or water?
Finally, there is the backpack. It can carry your things and protect them from the rain. But if you can only choose three objects, is a backpack really necessary?
You sit on the beach and think about your decision. Every object has advantages and disadvantages. Some things make life easier, while others may help you survive.
You must choose carefully because you cannot change your mind later.
So, which three objects would you take, and which three would you leave behind?
EXERCISE 1 – Reading Comprehension & Discussion
Answer the questions in complete sentences. Give reasons for your opinions.
Why is choosing only three objects a difficult decision?
What are the advantages of taking a knife?
Why might a fishing kit be less useful than you expect?
What is the difference between carrying water and finding safe drinking water?
Why could a sleeping bag be important even on a warm island?
What makes a solar flashlight different from an ordinary flashlight?
Do you think a backpack is necessary if you only have three objects? Why?
Which object would be the most difficult for you to leave behind?
Would you choose objects for comfort or survival? Explain.
Which two objects could work well together?
What problems might you have during your first night?
How would your choices change if you stayed for only three days?
Would you choose different objects if you were on the island with a friend?
Which object do you think is the least useful? Defend your opinion.
If you could replace one of the six objects with something else, what would you choose?
EXERCISE 2 – True or False?
Decide if the statements are true (T) or false (F) according to the text. Correct the false statements.
The island has beautiful beaches but no shops.
You are allowed to take four objects with you.
A sleeping bag can make your nights more comfortable.
A fishing kit guarantees that you will have food every day.
A knife can be used for several different activities.
A water bottle can make dirty water safe to drink.
The solar flashlight needs ordinary batteries.
A backpack can help protect your things from rain.
All six objects are equally important for survival.
You can change your three objects after arriving on the island.
EXERCISE 3 – Vocabulary: Match the Words with Their Definitions
Match the words (1–10) with the correct definitions (A–J).
Word | Definition |
|---|---|
1. survive | A. Something that is needed |
2. comfortable | B. To decide between different possibilities |
3. advantage | C. A small river |
4. necessary | D. To continue living in a difficult situation |
5. protect | E. A good or helpful feature |
6. stream | F. A choice you make after thinking |
7. useful | G. Feeling relaxed and physically good |
8. decision | H. To keep something safe from danger |
9. choose | I. A negative feature or problem |
10. disadvantage | J. Helping you do something or solve a problem |
EXERCISE 4 – Fill in the Gaps
Complete the sentences with the words from the box. Use each word once.
survive · comfortable · protect · useful · decision · necessary · stream · advantages · choose · disadvantages
It is difficult to __________ only three objects from six.
A good knife can be very __________ in the forest.
You need food and water to __________ on a desert island.
A sleeping bag can make you feel more __________ at night.
A backpack can __________ your clothes from the rain.
Finding clean water is absolutely __________ for survival.
You might find fresh water in a small __________.
Every object has both __________ and disadvantages.
You should think carefully before making an important __________.
One of the __________ of a fishing kit is that catching fish takes time.
EXERCISE 5 – Match the Sentence Halves
Match the beginnings (1–10) with the correct endings (A–J).
Sentence beginnings
If I had a fishing kit,
I would take a sleeping bag because
A knife would be more useful than
If I found a stream,
I wouldn’t choose a backpack because
A solar flashlight would help me
If I could only take one object,
I would need a water bottle to
I might have problems at night if
I would feel safer on the island if
Sentence endings – Mixed order
A. I would check whether the water was safe to drink.B. I had some basic survival equipment.
C. carry water from one place to another.
D. I didn’t have a safe place to sleep.
E. I could try to catch something for dinner.
F. I would probably choose the knife.
G. I would prefer to carry only essential things.
H. see where I was going after dark.
I. I don’t like sleeping on the hard ground.
J. a flashlight when preparing food.
EXERCISE 6 – What Would You Do?
Complete the sentences with your own ideas. Explain your choices.
If I could take only three things to a desert island, I would…
I would never leave my __________ behind because…
A __________ would be more useful than a __________ because…
If I couldn’t find any fresh water, I would…
I would feel frightened if…
The first thing I would do on the island is…
I wouldn’t take a __________ because…
If I had to stay on the island for six months, I would…
I think surviving alone would be difficult because…
If I could take one extra object, I would choose…
EXERCISE 7 – Defend Your Choice!
You and your partner must agree on only three objects. Give reasons, disagree politely and try to persuade each other.
Useful expressions
English | Magyar |
|---|---|
I would choose… because… | Azt választanám, mert… |
I think … is more useful than… | Szerintem … hasznosabb, mint… |
We really need… | Nagyon szükségünk van… |
I don’t think that’s a good idea. | Nem hiszem, hogy ez jó ötlet. |
What if we…? | Mi lenne, ha…? |
I see your point, but… | Értem, mire gondolsz, de… |
I’d rather take… | Inkább … vinnék. |
Let’s agree on… | Egyezzünk meg abban, hogy… |
The challenge: First, choose your three objects individually. Then compare your choices with your partner. You must agree on a final list of three objects. You cannot choose four!
ANSWER KEY
Exercise 1: Open answers. Questions 2–7 can also be answered using information from the reading.
Exercise 2: 1. T; 2. F (three objects); 3. T; 4. F (you may catch nothing); 5. T; 6. F (it only carries water); 7. F (it uses solar energy); 8. T; 9. F (objects have different advantages and disadvantages); 10. F (you cannot change your mind).
Exercise 3: 1–D, 2–G, 3–E, 4–A, 5–H, 6–C, 7–J, 8–F, 9–B, 10–I.
Exercise 4: 1. choose; 2. useful; 3. survive; 4. comfortable; 5. protect; 6. necessary; 7. stream; 8. advantages; 9. decision; 10. disadvantages.
Exercise 5: 1–E, 2–I, 3–J, 4–A, 5–G, 6–H, 7–F, 8–C, 9–D, 10–B.
Exercises 6–7: Open answers. Encourage students to use would, could, because, need, useful, more useful than and better than.