Darwin's Dragons - Session 1 - Reading Comprehension answers

In the first session of "Darwin's Dragons" reading comprehension, students explore the journey of Mr. Darwin aboard the ship named Beagle. The narrative reveals that four years prior, Covington served as the Ship's Fiddler and Cabin Boy. The text describes a humorous encounter where a giant tortoise, ridden by Mr. Darwin, expresses its displeasure by hissing. Darwin jests that Covington has chosen a donkey, alluding to the tortoise's stubbornness. Their adventure is cut short by an approaching storm, compelling them to return to the ship, during which Darwin is thrown overboard by a powerful wave. Covington's reflections are presented in italics, signifying his imagined conversations with his father. Upon being washed ashore, Covington first encounters iguanas, and it is revealed that he had been on Albemarle Island that morning.

The session's questions and answers delve into specific details of the story, such as character roles, animal behaviors, and the use of language. For example, the phrase 'turned the colour of ship's porridge' is explained to mean that someone became very pale, while the italics in the text are used to distinguish imagined dialogue. These insights help students to grasp the nuances of the text and enhance their understanding of the story's context and the characters' experiences during their voyage of discovery.