MARIA HAD ALWAYS DREAMED OF TRAVELING THE WORLD.

SHE HAD SAVED UP FOR YEARS AND

FINALLY, IN THE SUMMER OF 2019, SHE HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO GO ON A SIX-MONTH
BACKPACKING TRIP. SHE HAD PLANNED HER ROUTE CAREFULLY AND HAD BOOKED FLIGHTS AND
ACCOMMODATIONS IN ADVANCE.
WHEN SHE ARRIVED IN THAILAND, SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN TRAVELING FOR TWO WEEKS. SHE
HAD VISITED JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA BEFORE ARRIVING IN THAILAND. SHE HAD NEVER BEEN
TO ASIA BEFORE, SO EVERYTHING WAS NEW AND EXCITING TO HER. SHE HAD VISITED TEMPLES,
TRIED STREET FOOD, AND HAD EVEN LEARNED SOME THAI PHRASES.
AFTER SPENDING A FEW DAYS IN BANGKOK, SHE HAD TAKEN A TRAIN TO CHIANG MAI, A CITY IN
NORTHERN THAILAND. SHE HAD HEARD THAT CHIANG MAI WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE WITH LOTS
OF TEMPLES AND MARKETS. SHE HAD STAYED IN A HOSTEL AND HAD MADE FRIENDS WITH
OTHER TRAVELERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
ONE DAY, SHE HAD VISITED AN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY. SHE HAD ALWAYS LOVED ELEPHANTS
AND HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE THEM UP CLOSE. SHE HAD LEARNED THAT THE SANCTUARY
WAS A PLACE WHERE ELEPHANTS WERE RESCUED FROM ABUSIVE SITUATIONS AND CARED FOR
BY VOLUNTEERS. SHE HAD SPENT THE DAY FEEDING AND BATHING THE ELEPHANTS AND HAD
EVEN GONE ON A RIDE THROUGH THE JUNGLE ON THE BACK OF ONE OF THEM.
BY THE TIME SHE HAD LEFT THAILAND AND CONTINUED HER TRIP TO OTHER COUNTRIES, SHE
HAD ALREADY HAD SO MANY INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES. SHE HAD REALIZED THAT TRAVELING
WAS NOT JUST ABOUT SEEING NEW PLACES, BUT ALSO ABOUT MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND
LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES. SHE HAD MADE MEMORIES THAT WOULD LAST A
LIFETIME.

QUESTIONS:
1. WHAT HAD MARIA ALWAYS DREAMED OF?
2. WHAT HAD MARIA DONE BEFORE ARRIVING IN THAILAND?
3. WHAT HAD MARIA HEARD ABOUT CHIANG MAI BEFORE SHE ARRIVED THERE?
4. WHAT HAD MARIA DONE AT THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY?
5. WHAT HAD MARIA REALIZED ABOUT TRAVELING BY THE TIME SHE HAD LEFT THAILAND?
Last summer, I took a trip to Europe. I had always wanted to travel there, so I was really excited. When
I arrived in Paris, I had already been traveling for 12 hours, so I was exhausted. I had never been to
Paris before, so I was eager to explore the city.

On the first day, I visited the Eiffel Tower. It was amazing! While I was taking pictures, a man
approached me and asked if I wanted him to take a photo of me. I thanked him and handed him my
camera. After he took the photo, he asked me where I was from. I told him I was from the United
States.

Later that day, I walked around the city and saw lots of beautiful buildings. While I was walking, I
noticed that many people were speaking French. I had studied French in school, but I wasn't very good
at it. I wished I had practiced more before my trip.

The next day, I took a train to Amsterdam. While I was on the train, I watched the scenery go by. I had
never seen such beautiful countryside before. When I arrived in Amsterdam, I went to my hotel and
checked in. The hotel was very nice and the staff were friendly.

In the evening, I went to a restaurant and ordered some traditional Dutch food. While I was eating, I
noticed that many people around me were speaking English. I was surprised because I had expected
more people to be speaking Dutch.

Overall, my trip to Europe was amazing. I had so many new experiences and saw so many beautiful
things. I will never forget it!
Task 1: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous Read the following sentences from the text and decide whether they are in the past simple or past
continuous tense. Then, rewrite the sentences using the other tense.
Example: While I was walking, I noticed that many people were speaking French. Rewritten: While I noticed that many people were speaking French, I was
walking.
1. I visited the Eiffel Tower.
2. I thanked him and handed him my camera.
3. The hotel was very nice and the staff were friendly.
4. I watched the scenery go by.
Task 2: Past Perfect Read the following sentences from the text and decide whether they are in the past perfect tense. Then, rewrite the
sentences in the past simple tense.
Example: I had never been to Paris before. Rewritten: I had no experience of Paris before.
1. I had always wanted to travel there, so I was really excited.
2. When I arrived in Paris, I had already been traveling for 12 hours.
3. I had studied French in school, but I wasn't very good at it.
4. I wished I had practiced more before my trip.
Task 3: Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect Read the following sentences from the text and decide which tense is being used (past
simple, past continuous, or past perfect). Then, answer the questions that follow.
1. While I was taking pictures, a man approached me and asked if I wanted him to take a photo of me.
Which tense is being used?
What was happening when the man approached me?
2. Later that day, I walked around the city and saw lots of beautiful buildings.
Which tense is being used?
What did I do later that day?
3. When I arrived in Amsterdam, I went to my hotel and checked in.
Which tense is being used?
What did I do when I arrived in Amsterdam?
4. I will never forget it!
Which tense is being used?
What is the speaker's opinion about their trip?