Comprehension
Please read the passage carefully and then try answering the questions. You will need to look back at the text to help you.
A Greek Myth – Apollo and the Chimera
Long ago in Ancient Greece there was a strong and muscular
soldier called Apollo. Apollo had a wonderful wife called Athena, who had been
kidnapped by an ancient king called Minos. Apollo was devastated and vowed to
rescue Athena. He knew that the king would have taken her to his palace in
Crete but a monster called the Chimera guarded this palace.
The Chimera was a ferocious monster
with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and a long serpent as a tail. Many heroic people had travelled to his cave
and tried to beat the Chimera, but had been burnt to death by his fiery flame
breath. Although Apollo was a brave man, he did not know how to kill this
menacing monster. His father told him to go to Mount Olympus and ask the great
God Zeus for advice.
Apollo set off immediately and soon
reached the great mountain, where the twelve gods lived. Apollo called for Zeus
and begged for his advice. Zeus appeared before him and explained that although
the Chimera was fierce and strong, his heart was full of poisoned blood. If
Apollo could pierce his heart, the blood would leak into his body and the
monster would die an agonising death. Zeus then gave Apollo a shield to keep
the Chimera’s flames away, a sharp sword to pierce the evil heart and a pair of
shoes. These shoes were shoes of swiftness that made the wearer as fast as the
speed of light. Apollo thanked Zeus and set off on the long journey to Crete.
Apollo walked on dry roads, climbed
mountains and sailed the great sea until at last he reached the palace of King
Minos. He entered the cave that was home
to the monster and could hear his blood-chilling roar. Apollo crept through the
tunnels and edged closer to the monster’s lair. When he was close enough to
hear the serpents hissing, he put on the shoes of swiftness and got his sword
and shield ready. With a deep breath he ran towards the Chimera with his sword
in the air.
The Chimera roared and flames
surrounded Apollo. He held up his shield and ran in every direction trying to
confuse the monster. The serpent hissed, the lion’s head roared and the flames
soared into the air. He kept darting around and soon the Chimera was dizzy.
Apollo ran forward and plunged his sword into the monster’s heart. The Chimera
let out a furious roar and fell to the floor. Finally, the monster was dead!
Apollo
ran past the body and found his way to the tower where Athena was being held.
He knocked down the door and saw her chained up. Quickly, he cut the chains and
with the help of the shoes of swiftness, Apollo whisked Athena off to his
kingdom and there they lived together happily for the rest of their lives.
Apollo and the
Chimera
Read the given text
carefully, then answer the questions in full sentences.
1.
What was Apollo’s main job before he found the Chimera?
2.
a) What verb describes how Apollo was feeling when he found out that
Athena was gone? (Remember you need to look for the verb and not the adjective.)
2.
b) Can you think of another word meaning the same thing?
3.
Describe the way the Chimera killed the heroic men who travelled to kill
it.
4.
Three gifts were given to Apollo by Zeus. What were they and how would
they help him?
5. Zeus told Apollo how to kill the Chimera. Identify the part of the sentence
that told him how to kill it.
6.
In what way did Apollo confuse the Chimera as he fought it?
7.
Describe how the Chimera died.
8. Pretend
you were Athena in the tower. Describe what you heard and how you felt.
