Student a - Part 1

Student A - Part 1

Read part 1 and insert participle clauses where you think they would be appropriate.

The emergency call came just as we were having lunch. A forest fire had been spotted just south of Dead End Canyon in the thick forests that stretched towards the mountains. We dropped our food, quickly grabbed our fire-fighting gear and ran out of the fire post. Seconds later we were leaping into the jeep that would take us to the plane.

The light aircraft of the South Dakota Fire Service was standing on the airstrip. Its propellers were already turning and it was as ready as we were. We waved briefly to Scotty, the pilot, clambered aboard and had hardly taken out seats before the little plane was bumping down the grassy runway and was gathering speed.As we lifted gently into the air, I glanced at my watch: 1:06 p.m. We'd gotten the call at 1: 02.

We peered out of the windows andwe watched the green forested carpet of the South Dakota landscape fall away beneath us. It then tilted sharply as the little plane banked and turned north to the area where the fire had been reported.

'You guys get your lunch?' asked Scottyand turned round in his seat with a grin.

'Not a bite,' I shouted over the roar of the engine, 'and it was spicy chicken - my favourite!'

'Lucky I brought these then,' chipped in Kerry, and she took a packet of sandwiches out of her bag.

'Oh well done,' I said, and reflected not for the first time that Kerry always thought of the things I forgot.'

We'd just begun to eat when Scotty spotted the fire.'Over there - three o'clock,' he called out, and pointed to the right of the plane. Sure enough, a thick column of smoke was rising from the green forest floor. We pressed our faces to the glass and tried to see how bad it was, but it was too far.

Student A - Part 2

Part 2 already includes participle clauses. Listen to your partner reading Part 2 and see if s/he has added participle clause in the same places as the text below.

The little plane banked sharply and began to lose height. All eyes were to the front of the plane now. As we drew closer we could see it was big fire alright; it must have been burning for some time before it was spotted. We could see the orange flames leaping into the sky and a great cloud of smoke hung overhead.

'I'll take her up to 3000 feet and drop you by the river,' said Scotty, pointing to the shinning surface of the Oakalee River winding away to the left. Our hearts began to beat faster and we started to get ready. Putting on my parachute, I went through the checklist of equipment, wondering if I wasn't getting a bit old for all this. I was 42 and this would be my 58th jump as a smokejumper.

'Drop zone below!' called out Scotty seconds later. Grabbing the big side door, I pulled it open and the cold air roared into the cabin.We could smell the smoke in the air as the plane circled round. Then, following our well-rehearsed order, Kerry stood up and positioned herself to jump.

'Go!' yelled Scotty, and she disappeared through the door. I was next. Holding tightly to the special handles attached to the ceiling and pulling my goggles over my eyes, I got into position and gazed down at gently moving landscape below, waiting for Scotty's order.

'Go!' he bellowed. Pushing hard with my knees, I launched myself well clear of the plane, out into the thin summer air.

Student B - Part 1

Part 2 already includes participle clauses. Listen to your partner reading Part 2 and see if s/he has added participle clause in the same places as the text below.

The emergency call came just as we were having lunch. A forest fire had been spotted just south of Dead End Canyon in the thick forests that stretched towards the mountains. Dropping our food and quickly grabbing our fire-fighting gear, we ran out of the fire post. Seconds later we were leaping into the jeep that would take us to the plane.

Standing on the airstrip, its propellers already turning, the light aircraft of the South Dakota Fire Service was as ready as we were. Waving briefly to Scotty, the pilot, we clambered aboard and had hardly taken out seats before the little plane was bumping down the grassy runway gathering speed. As we lifted gently into the air, I glanced at my watch: 1:06 p.m. We'd gotten the call at 1: 02.

Peering out of the windows, we watched the green forested carpet of the South Dakota landscape falling away beneath us, and then tilting sharply as the little plane banked and turned north to the area where the fire had been reported.

'You guys get your lunch?' asked Scotty turning round in his seat with a grin.

'Not a bite,' I shouted over the roar of the engine, 'and it was spicy chicken - my favourite!'

'Lucky I brought these then,' chipped in Kerry, taking a packet of sandwiches out of her bag.

'Oh well done,' I said, reflecting not for the first time that Kerry always thought of the things I forgot.'

We'd just begun to eat when Scotty spotted the fire. 'Over there - three o'clock,' he called out, pointing to the right of the plane. Sure enough, a thick column of smoke was rising from the green forest floor. Pressing our faces to the glass we tried to see how bad it was but it was too far.

Student B Part 2

Now read part 2 and insert participle clauses where you think they would be appropriate.

The little plane banked sharply and began to lose height. All eyes were to the front of the plane now. As we drew closer we could see it was big fire alright; it must have been burning for some time before it was spotted. We could see the orange flames which were leaping into the sky and a great cloud of smoke hung overhead.

'I'll take her up to 3000 feet and drop you by the river,' said Scotty, and he pointed to the shinning surface of the Oakalee River that was winding away to the left. Our hearts began to beat faster and we started to get ready. As I put on my parachute and went through the checklist of equipment, I wondered if I wasn't getting a bit old for all this. I was 42 and this would be my 58th jump as a smokejumper.

'Drop zone below!' called out Scotty seconds later. I grabbed the big side door and I pulled it open and the cold air roared into the cabin.We could smell the smoke in the air as the plane circled round. Then we followed our well-rehearsed order and Kerry stood up and positioned herself to jump.

'Go!' yelled Scotty, and she disappeared out of the door. I was next. I held tightly to the special handles that were attached to the ceiling, pulled my goggles over my eyes and got into position. I gazed down at the gently moving landscape below as I waited for Scotty's order.

'Go!' he bellowed. I pushed hard with my knees and I launched myself well clear of the plane, out into the thin summer air.

Complete Text

Peering out of the windows, we watched the green forested carpet of the South Dakota landscape falling away beneath us and then tilting sharply as the little plane banked and turned north to the area where the fire had been reported.

'You guys get your lunch?' asked Scotty turning round in his seat with a grin.

'Not a bite,' I shouted over the roar of the engine, 'and it was spicy chicken - my favourite!'

'Lucky I brought these then,' chipped in Kerry, taking a packet of sandwiches out of her bag.

'Oh well done,' I said, reflecting not for the first time that Kerry always thought of the things I forgot.'

'Go!' yelled Scotty, and she disappeared out of the door. I was next. Holding tightly to the special handles attached to the ceiling and pulling my goggles over my eyes, I got into position and gazed down at gently moving landscape below, waiting for Scotty's order.

'Go!' he bellowed. Pushing hard with my knees, I launched myself well clear of the plane, out into the thin summer air.