CROSSING THE ANDES (Comprehension )

 

As we set out for the Portillo Pass our manner of travelling was firewood, hired pasture for the animals, and bivouacked in the delightfully independent. In the inhabited parts we bought a little corner of the same field with them. Carrying an iron pot, we cooked and ate our supper under a cloudless sky, and knew no trouble. My companions were Mariano Gonzales, who had formerly accompanied me in Chile, and a muleteer with his ten mules and a 'madrina'.

The madrina (or godmother) is an old steady mare with a bell round her neck; and wherever she goes the mules follow her. The affection of these animals for their madrinas saves much trouble. If several large troops are turned into one field to graze, in the morning the muleteers have only to lead the madrinas a little apart and

hundred together, each mule immediately knows the bell of its own madrina and comes to her. It is nearly impossible to lose an old mule; for if it is detained for several hours by force, she will, by the power of smell, track out the madrina.

Of our ten animals six were for riding and four for carrying cargoes, each taking turn about. We carried a good deal of food in case we should be snowed up, as the season was rather late for crossing the Andes. (The Voyage of the Beagle-Charles Darwin)

1. Which of the writer's companions had travelled with him before?

Ans: Mariano Gonzales was the writer's companion who had traveled with him before.

2. Why did the party carry a good deal of food?

Ans: The party carried a good deal of food in case they would be snowed up, as the season was rather late for crossing the Andes.

3. In what did the party cook their food?

Ans: The party cooked their food in an iron pot.

4. Name three things which the party did in the inhabited parts of the country.

Ans: In the inhabited parts of the country, the party bought a little corner of the field, carried an iron pot, and cooked and ate their supper under a cloudless sky.

5. Write the phrase which shows that the weather was fine.

Ans: The phrase that shows the weather was fine is "under a cloudless sky."

6. What is a madrina?

Ans: A madrina is an old steady mare with a bell around her neck.

7. Why is a madrina so useful?

Ans: A madrina is useful because wherever she goes, the mules follow her, saving the muleteers much trouble in guiding the mules.

8. Why is it almost impossible for a muleteer to lose an old mule?

Ans: It is almost impossible for a muleteer to lose an old mule because the mule's affection for its madrina is strong. Even in a large field with several troops of mules grazing, the muleteers can lead the madrinas a little apart, and each mule will know the bell of its own madrina and come to her in the morning.

9. How many of the mules were needed to carry the food?

Ans: Four of the mules were used for carrying cargoes.

10. How many were used for riding?

Ans: Six of the mules were used for riding.