Going on an expedition Reading: The Vikings’ ships a) Read about Vikings and their ships. The Vikings built fast ships because they wanted to travel to other places and fight wars there. These ships were called “dragon-ships” or “longships”. Viking longships didn’t need much water to sail. So the Vikings could travel up rivers as well as across the sea. They could quickly land on a beach and start fighting. A Viking ship was always built next to a river or the sea. The first step was cutting a tall tree to make the keel. Then the builders put long planks of wood together for the sides. Finally, they stuffed animal wool and sticky tar from pine trees between the planks to keep out the water. A Viking ship had one big sail made of wool. When there was not enough wind to sail, the men rowed with long wooden oars. At the back end of the ship, one man steered the ship into the right direction. At the front end of the ship, there was a figurehead. A dragon-ship had room for 40 to 60 men. They slept and ate on deck. There was some space below deck for stores, but no cabins. Vikings normally sailed close to the coast. That way, they could orientate themselves easily. Out in the open sea, they looked for the sun: west meant they were headed for England; east meant home to Denmark or Norway. The Vikings built a kind of sun compass to help find their way. At night they watched the stars. b) Circle the correct answers. 1. Why did the Vikings build fast ships? a) to win ship races b) to transport heavy things c) to fight against other countries 2. Where could Vikings use their ships? a) only in the sea b) only in rivers c) in rivers and in the sea 3. How did they keep water out of the boat? a) with animal wool b) with long planks of wood c) with a tall oak tree 4. Where was a Viking ship steered? a) at the front end of the ship b) at the back end of the ship c) in the middle of the ship 5. Where did the Vikings sleep and eat? a) at land b) below deck c) on deck 6. How did the Vikings orientate themselves at sea? a) by looking at the waves b) by looking at the sun and stars c) by looking for special fish 4 5 10 15 20 74 14 Unit The Vikings seventy-four Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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