Read about the famous explorer Francis Drake, then practise the past perfect tense and write about a Tudor event.
Read the text carefully, then answer the two comprehension questions below.
Sir Francis Drake was one of the most famous sailors of the Tudor period. He was born in Devon, England, around 1540. By the time he was a young man, he had already made several voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and had learned to navigate dangerous waters.
Drake is best known for being the second person to sail around the entire world. He completed this remarkable journey between 1577 and 1580. By the time he returned to England, he had travelled nearly 60,000 kilometres and had visited many lands that most English people had never heard of.
Queen Elizabeth I was very pleased with Drake's achievements. She knighted him on the deck of his ship, the Golden Hind. Before she knighted him, Drake had already become very wealthy from the gold and silver he had captured from Spanish ships during his travels.
Drake also played an important role in defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. According to legend, he had been playing a game of bowls when the news arrived that the Spanish fleet was approaching. He reportedly said that there was time to finish the game and still defeat Spain. By the end of the battle, the English fleet had destroyed much of the Armada, and England was safe.
Choose the correct past perfect form to complete each sentence about Tudor England.
The past perfect = had + past participle
Use it for the action that happened first when two past events are described.
Example: "By the time Drake returned, he had already visited many countries."
1 By the time Drake set sail, he to navigate the Atlantic.
2 When the Queen knighted him, Drake very wealthy.
3 After Drake his voyage, he returned to England as a hero.
4 The soldiers were tired because they all day before the battle ended.
5 By 1588, the Spanish the largest fleet in Europe.
Each gap contains two events. Choose the correct past perfect clause to complete the sentence.
"When Drake arrived home, he had already sailed around the world."
→ sailing = first event (past perfect) · arriving = second event (simple past)
1 When Henry VIII became king, .
2 By the time the Armada arrived, .
3 After Drake , the Queen rewarded him with land and money.
4 The sailors were exhausted because they .
5 Elizabeth was relieved because the Spanish on English shores.
6 Before Drake became famous, .
7 Drake told the Queen that he .
8 By 1580, .
Write a short paragraph (70–120 words) about an event from Tudor history. Use the past perfect at least twice.
You can write about: Francis Drake's voyage · The Spanish Armada · Life under Henry VIII · Queen Elizabeth I
Try to include: at least two sentences with the past perfect (e.g. "By the time ... , he had already...") · a clear sequence of events · your opinion of the event.
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