When eighteen-year-old student Sam Woodhead left college, he decided to have a gap year and go travelling before joining the army. Sam was already a fit long-distance runner, but he thought backpacking in Australia was great training for his future. 

Sam arrived in Central Queensland and found a job on a cattle farm in the middle of the countryside. One Tuesday morning, soon after his arrival, he decided to go for a run. But Sam made some mistakes. He took a heavy backpack but only one bottle of water, and he didn't plan a route. After only two hours, he finished his water and realised he was lost. The temperature was close to 40°C, and he was soon exhausted. After four or five hours, he decided to stop and spend the night in the outback.

The next morning, Sam didn't report for work. His employers checked his room. His backpack and running shoes were gone, but his mobile and wallet were there. They called the rescue services and Sam's family. The rescue services sent helicopters to the area to try to find Sam, but there were a lot of trees so it was difficult for the pilots to see a person on the ground.


1. Sam went backpacking because 

a. he didn't know what to do with his life. 

b. he didn't like being a student. 

c. he wanted to become fit. 

d. he thought it would be good for his career plans. 

2. Sam got lost because 

a. he didn't prepare well. 

b. his map was incorrect. 

c. the weather suddenly changed. 

d. he wasn't well. 

3. Sam's employers realised Sam was lost when 

a. he called them from his mobile. 

b. they saw that all his money was gone. 

c. his family rang to speak to him. 

d. some of his things were missing. 

4. The rescue services 

a. called Sam's family. 

b. started to look for Sam by helicopters. 

c. spent the night in the outback to look for Sam. 

d. set out to find Sam before Sam's employers phoned.