The night-walkers of Uganda

3
Comprehension check
Match the beginnings and endings of the sentences.
1. There is almost no danger for the pirates because …
2. Shipping companies do not report pirate attacks because …
3. Some experts believe many pirates have had military training because …
4. The South China Sea is dangerous for ships because …
5. Shipping companies do not spend much money on security because …
6. Navy ships often do not arrest pirates because …
Modern pirates
Level 1 
l
Elementary
10

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a. 
it is very difficult to climb onto a moving ship.
b. 
they are trying to save money.
c. 
they are in international waters. 
d. 
ships do not have armed guards.
e. 
more than one third of pirate attacks last year happened there.
f. 
they do not want to pay more money for insurance.
4
Sequence of events
These sentences tell the story of what happened to Captain Newton’s ship (paragraph 1). Put them in the 
correct order. Check your answers in the text.
a. They tied his hands with rope.
b. Captain Newton was in his cabin.
c. They used a rope to leave the ship.
d. They told him to open the safe.
e. They held a knife against his neck.
f. They took the money from the safe.
g. Nine armed pirates came into the cabin. 
5
Vocabulary – ships
Find the words in the text that are used with these words:
6
.
Vocabulary – prepositions
Fill the gaps using prepositions.
Modern pirates
Level 1 
l
Elementary
1. navy 
2. container 
3. fishing
4. oil 
5. cargo 
6. war 
7. trading 
8. cruise 
1. sail 
the South China Sea
2. to increase 
300%
3. pirate attacks are 
the increase
4. spend money 
security
5. attacks 
ships
6 to put someone 
trial
7. 90% of world trade goes 
sea
8. 
the coast of Somalia