Three Men in a Boat (for Pre-Intermediate Levels B1)

Have you ever gone on a trip that did not go as planned? In Three Men in a Boat, a simple holiday becomes a series of funny adventures that the three friends will never forget.

Written by Jerome K. Jerome and first published in 1889, this classic novel tells the story of three friends—J., George, and Harris—and their energetic dog, Montmorency. Tired of their busy lives in London, they decide to escape the city and enjoy a peaceful boat trip along the River Thames. However, their holiday quickly becomes full of humorous mistakes, unexpected problems, and unforgettable moments.

Jerome K. Jerome was one of England’s most popular humor writers. He had a special talent for turning ordinary situations into entertaining stories filled with laughter and memorable characters. His warm writing style and clever humor have made Three Men in a Boat a favorite book for readers around the world for more than a hundred years.

As the journey continues, the friends learn that travelling is not always easy. They struggle with packing, cooking, rowing, and camping, but every challenge brings them closer together. Through their adventures, the story shows the importance of friendship, teamwork, patience, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

If you are looking for books to read to improve English, Three Men in a Boat is an excellent choice. Its clear language, natural conversations, and humorous story make it enjoyable for B1-level learners while helping them build vocabulary and reading confidence.

This story was rewritten by LearnEnglish-new.com for English learners. The story is in the public domain, so it is free from copyright. Enjoy reading and improve your English skills!

Three Men in a Boat

By Jerome K. Jerome

Contents

Chapter One: A Holiday Plan

Chapter Two: Getting Ready for the Journey

Chapter Three: The Journey Begins

Chapter Four: Funny Mistakes on the River

Chapter Five: A Night by the River

Chapter Six: A Storm and a Surprise

Chapter Seven: The Last Day on the River

Chapter Eight: Home with Happy Memories

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Chapter One

A Holiday Plan

It was a warm summer evening in London. Three friends were sitting together in George’s small apartment. They had finished dinner and were talking about life. The room was quiet, but all three men looked tired.

“My head hurts every day,” said J.

“I don’t sleep well,” Harris replied. “I think I work too hard.”

George smiled. “You always say that,” he said. “But I also feel tired. Maybe we all need a rest.”

The three friends often met after work. They enjoyed talking, reading books, and laughing together. They were good friends, but they all believed they were becoming unhealthy.

At that moment, their dog, Montmorency, jumped onto the floor with a loud bark. He looked at the three men with bright eyes.

“I think even Montmorency is tired,” Harris said.

The dog wagged his tail happily. He did not look tired at all.

“He wants to go outside,” George laughed.

“No,” J. said. “He wants an adventure.”

The men laughed.

J. picked up a book about health from the table.

“I was reading this book yesterday,” he said. “It says that people who stay indoors too much become weak and unhappy.”

“That sounds like us,” Harris answered.

George stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the streets were busy. People were walking home after work. Horses pulled carts through the city, and children played near the houses.

“I don’t want to spend another week in London,” George said quietly. “We need fresh air.”

“I agree,” Harris replied.

“But where should we go?” asked J.

The room became silent.

Harris thought for a moment.

“We could visit the seaside,” he suggested.

George shook his head.

“The seaside is always crowded in summer.”

“What about the mountains?” J. asked.

“They are too far away,” George answered.

Montmorency barked again as if he wanted to join the conversation.

Suddenly, Harris smiled.

“I have an idea,” he said.

“What is it?” George asked.

“Let’s take a boat trip on the River Thames.”

J.’s eyes became bright.

“A boat trip! That sounds wonderful.”

“We can row during the day,” Harris continued. “At night, we can sleep in a tent beside the river.”

George liked the idea immediately.

“We will leave the busy city behind. We will breathe fresh air, enjoy the quiet countryside, and forget our work.”

“It will be the perfect holiday,” J. said.

Montmorency barked loudly again.

“I think he agrees,” Harris laughed.

The three friends became excited. They began to imagine the journey.

“We will visit beautiful villages,” George said.

“We will cook our own meals,” Harris added.

“And we will tell stories beside the campfire,” J. said.

Everything sounded easy.

None of them knew that even a simple boat trip could become a great adventure.

They continued talking late into the evening. They discussed the places they wanted to see, the food they would take, and how many days they would stay on the river.

Finally, George looked at his friends.

“So,” he said, “are we all ready?”

“Yes,” Harris answered without waiting.

“Of course,” said J.

Montmorency barked one last time.

The holiday had not started yet, but already it promised excitement, laughter, and many surprises.

---

        

Chapter Two

Getting Ready for the Journey

The next evening, the three friends met again at George’s apartment. This time, they were ready to make real plans for their holiday.

George put a large map of the River Thames on the table.

“We need to decide where to start,” he said.

Harris looked carefully at the map.

“We can start at Kingston,” he suggested. “Many people begin their boat trips there.”

J. nodded.

“That sounds like a good plan. We can spend several days on the river and return by train.”

Everyone agreed.

Now they had to decide what to take.

“We must travel light,” George said. “A small boat cannot carry too many things.”

“Of course,” Harris replied.

J. smiled.

“I know what happens when people take too much luggage. They spend more time carrying bags than enjoying their holiday.”

The others laughed.

George made a list.

“First,” he said, “we need clothes.”

“Only a few,” Harris answered.

“Next, blankets.”

“We will also need a tent,” J. added.

“And cooking equipment,” George said as he continued writing.

Soon the list became longer and longer.

“We need plates.”

“Cups.”

“Knives and forks.”

“A kettle.”

“A frying pan.”

“Soap.”

“Matches.”

“A lamp.”

“Some rope.”

“A small first-aid box.”

When George looked at the paper, he smiled.

“This is becoming a very long list.”

“We can remove a few things later,” Harris said.

Montmorency walked around the room, smelling every bag and box. He seemed very interested in the holiday.

“I don’t think he wants to stay at home,” J. said.

“He thinks he is the most important member of our team,” Harris laughed.

Montmorency barked proudly.

“He may cause trouble,” George said.

“Perhaps,” J. replied. “But every adventure needs a little trouble.”

The dog wagged his tail happily.

The men began to pack.

George folded his clothes carefully and placed them neatly inside a large bag.

Harris was not so careful. He pushed everything inside as quickly as possible.

“You will never find anything later,” George said.

“I will,” Harris answered confidently.

J. tried to help both of them, but soon the room was full of shirts, socks, books, blankets, and cooking equipment.

“I thought we were travelling light,” George said.

“So did I,” Harris replied.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then J. picked up a heavy book.

“Do we really need this?”

Harris looked at it.

“No.”

He placed it on the shelf.

George found another unnecessary item.

“And what about this?”

“It can stay here too.”

Little by little, the bags became lighter.

Then they started talking about food.

“This is the most important part of the journey,” Harris said seriously.

“I completely agree,” George replied.

“What shall we take?”

“Bread.”

“Butter.”

“Cheese.”

“Cold meat.”

“Tea.”

“Coffee.”

“Sugar.”

“Salt.”

“And plenty of fruit,” J. added.

George looked at Harris.

“You forgot something.”

“What?”

“Eggs.”

“Oh yes,” Harris laughed. “A holiday without eggs would be impossible.”

Montmorency suddenly became excited when he heard the word “meat.” He stood beside the table and looked at the food with great interest.

“I don’t think he plans to catch his own dinner,” George said.

“No,” J. answered. “He plans to eat ours.”

The three friends laughed again.

At last, everything was packed.

The bags stood neatly near the door.

George looked around the room.

“I hope we have remembered everything.”

Harris smiled.

“We certainly forgot something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

Everyone laughed because Harris was probably right.

It was already late.

Tomorrow they would leave London and begin their journey along the River Thames.

None of them knew that the real adventure would begin long before they reached the water.

---

 

Chapter Three

The Journey Begins

The sun was shining when the three friends met early the next morning. London was already busy. People hurried to work, horses pulled carts through the streets, and shopkeepers opened their doors.

George arrived first. He carried two large bags and a fishing rod.

“I hope we did not pack too much,” he said.

A few minutes later, Harris appeared with another heavy bag.

“I only brought the important things,” he said.

George looked at the bag.

“It looks very heavy.”

“It isn’t,” Harris answered. “Well… perhaps it is a little heavy.”

Just then, J. arrived with Montmorency. The little dog was full of energy. He ran around the station, smelling every corner and watching the busy crowd.

“He is more excited than we are,” George said.

“I think he believes this holiday is only for him,” J. replied.

The train soon arrived. The friends found seats by the window and placed their bags above their heads.

As the train left London, the view slowly changed. Tall buildings disappeared. Green fields, quiet villages, and wide rivers took their place.

“It is already more peaceful here,” Harris said.

“I feel better,” George replied. “Fresh air is better than city smoke.”

Montmorency looked out of the window. Every time he saw a bird or another dog, he barked softly.

“He wants to jump out and chase everything,” J. laughed.

After about an hour, they arrived at Kingston.

The station was much quieter than London. They picked up their bags and walked towards the river.

When they first saw the River Thames, they stopped for a moment.

The water moved slowly in the bright sunlight. Small boats floated quietly across the river. Trees stood along the banks, and colorful flowers grew beside the path.

“It is beautiful,” George said.

“It was worth coming here,” Harris agreed.

Near the river, they found a man who rented boats.

“Good morning,” George said politely. “We would like to rent a boat for a few days.”

The man smiled.

“That will not be a problem.”

He showed them several boats. Some were large, while others were small.

“This one is perfect,” J. said, pointing to a strong wooden boat.

“It is easy to row and has enough space for your bags,” the man explained.

George looked inside.

“It seems comfortable.”

“It also looks clean,” Harris added.

They paid for the boat and carefully carried their luggage inside.

The work was not as easy as they expected.

“This bag is heavier than yesterday,” George said.

“That is impossible,” Harris answered as he tried to lift it.

A second later, he almost dropped it into the river.

“Be careful!” J. shouted.

“I am being careful,” Harris replied.

“You almost gave our food to the fish.”

Montmorency watched everything with great interest. He jumped into the boat before anyone else.

“I think he believes he is our captain,” George laughed.

The dog sat proudly at the front of the boat and looked around as if he were giving orders.

Finally, everything was ready.

George took the first pair of oars.

“I’ll start rowing.”

Harris untied the rope.

J. pushed the boat gently away from the bank.

Slowly, the boat moved into the middle of the river.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

The only sounds were the birds singing, the water touching the sides of the boat, and the gentle splash of the oars.

“This is exactly what we needed,” George said quietly.

Harris lay back and closed his eyes.

“I have never felt so relaxed.”

J. smiled.

“Our holiday has finally begun.”

As they travelled along the peaceful river, they passed pretty houses, green fields, and old bridges. Other boats moved slowly through the water, and people waved as they passed.

Everything seemed perfect.

But before the first day was over, the three friends would discover that even the simplest boat trip could quickly become a series of funny mistakes and unexpected adventures.

---

Chapter Four

Funny Mistakes on the River

The morning was warm and bright. George, Harris, and J. enjoyed the quiet river. Everything looked peaceful, and they believed the hardest part of their journey was over.

They were wrong.

After rowing for about an hour, George stopped.

“I think we should have some tea,” he said.

“Excellent idea,” Harris replied. “I’m hungry already.”

The boat was tied to a tree beside the river. The three friends climbed onto the grass and began to unpack their bags.

“Where is the kettle?” George asked.

Harris looked inside one bag.

“It isn’t here.”

J. opened another bag.

“It isn’t here either.”

For several minutes, they searched through all the luggage. Blankets, clothes, cups, and food covered the ground.

Finally, Montmorency walked to one of the bags and began to smell it.

George opened the bag.

“There it is!” he cried.

“The dog found it before we did,” Harris said.

Montmorency looked pleased with himself.

“I think he is the cleverest member of our group,” J. laughed.

Soon the water was boiling, and they made tea. They ate bread, butter, cheese, and cold meat while watching the boats pass by.

“This is the life,” Harris said happily.

“I could stay here forever,” George replied.

After lunch, they packed everything again.

“Did we leave anything behind?” J. asked.

George looked around carefully.

“I don’t think so.”

Just as they pushed the boat away, Harris shouted,

“My hat!”

His hat was still lying under the tree.

George laughed.

“Good thing you remembered now.”

Harris climbed out of the boat, picked up his hat, and hurried back.

“Now we are really ready,” he said.

The journey continued.

Later that afternoon, the river became busier. Large boats passed them, creating small waves.

George tried to keep the boat moving in a straight line.

“Row together!” he called.

“I am rowing together,” Harris answered.

“You are rowing faster than I am,” George said.

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

J. smiled.

“I think both of you are right in your own way.”

At that moment, the boat turned slowly toward the riverbank.

“Watch out!” George shouted.

Too late.

The front of the boat gently hit a small tree hanging over the water.

Branches covered the three friends.

Leaves fell onto their heads.

Montmorency barked loudly and jumped from one side of the boat to the other.

For a few seconds, nobody moved.

Then George began to laugh.

Soon Harris and J. were laughing too.

“We wanted an adventure,” Harris said.

“And now we have one,” J. replied.

After removing the branches, they pushed the boat back into the middle of the river.

As the afternoon passed, they saw old bridges, pretty villages, and fields full of flowers. Children waved from the riverbank, and fishermen smiled as the boat passed.

Everything looked beautiful again.

When the sun began to go down, George checked the map.

“We should find a place to spend the night.”

“There must be a good camping place nearby,” Harris said.

“I hope so,” J. answered.

None of them knew that choosing a place to camp would be much more difficult than rowing the boat.

Their first evening on the River Thames was about to become another unforgettable adventure.

---

Chapter Five

A Night by the River

The sun was slowly disappearing behind the trees. The sky turned orange and pink, and the air became cooler.

“We need to stop before it gets dark,” George said.

The three friends looked along the river for a good place to camp. They wanted a flat piece of ground near the water.

“How about there?” Harris asked, pointing to a small field.

George shook his head.

“It is too wet.”

A little farther on, they found another place.

“This looks better,” J. said.

Just as they were about to stop, they saw a sign.

PRIVATE LAND. NO CAMPING.

Harris sighed.

“We must keep looking.”

For another twenty minutes, they rowed quietly along the river.

At last, George smiled.

“There! That place looks perfect.”

The boat reached a small open area surrounded by tall trees. The grass was dry, and the river was calm.

“This is exactly what we need,” J. said.

They tied the boat to a strong tree and carried their bags onto the shore.

“Now comes the easy part,” Harris said confidently.

George laughed.

“We’ll see.”

The first job was putting up the tent.

George unfolded the canvas while Harris looked for the poles.

J. opened another bag to find the ropes.

“Where are the tent poles?” George asked.

“I thought you packed them,” Harris replied.

“No, I gave them to you.”

“I don’t remember that.”

For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

Then J. found the poles under the blankets.

“Problem solved,” he said with a smile.

The three friends worked together, but the tent refused to stand up.

One side fell down.

Then the other side.

George held one pole while Harris tied a rope.

J. pulled another rope too hard, and one of the poles slipped out of the ground.

The tent collapsed again.

Montmorency watched everything with great interest. He ran around the ropes, barked at the moving canvas, and finally jumped inside the tent while it was still lying on the ground.

“He thinks we built it for him,” George laughed.

“I’m beginning to think he is enjoying this more than we are,” Harris said.

After several more attempts, the tent finally stood upright.

The three men stepped back and looked at it.

“It isn’t perfect,” George admitted.

“But it won’t fall down,” J. said.

“I hope not,” Harris added.

Next, they prepared dinner.

George collected dry wood for a small fire.

Harris filled the kettle with water.

J. cut some bread and cheese while Montmorency sat nearby, watching every piece of food.

“You are not getting all of this,” George told the dog.

Montmorency wagged his tail but did not move.

Soon, the fire was burning brightly. They made tea and cooked a simple meal. After a long day on the river, everything tasted delicious.

“I don’t think I have ever enjoyed bread and cheese so much,” Harris said.

“Fresh air is the best cook,” J. replied.

As darkness covered the river, thousands of stars appeared in the sky. The water reflected the moonlight, and everything became quiet.

The three friends sat beside the fire and listened to the sounds of nature.

“I haven’t thought about work all day,” George said.

“Neither have I,” Harris answered.

“Perhaps this holiday is already making us healthier,” J. said.

They smiled.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

Then they heard a strange noise from the bushes behind them.

Rustle… Rustle…

Montmorency jumped to his feet and barked loudly.

“What was that?” Harris whispered.

George picked up the lamp.

“Let’s find out.”

The three friends slowly walked toward the dark bushes, not knowing what was waiting for them.

---

Chapter Six

A Storm and a Surprise

George held the lamp high as the three friends walked toward the bushes.

The strange sound came again.

Rustle… Rustle…

Montmorency barked loudly and ran ahead.

“Be careful!” Harris called.

The little dog disappeared into the darkness.

A second later, they heard another sound.

Crash!

Then Montmorency came running back as fast as he could.

Behind him was a large white goose.

The goose flapped its wings and made a great deal of noise.

George began to laugh.

“So that was our terrible monster!”

Harris laughed too.

“I have never seen Montmorency run so fast.”

The goose soon lost interest and walked back toward the river.

The three friends returned to the campfire, still smiling.

“I don’t think we’ll forget that bird,” J. said.

Soon the fire became smaller, and they went into the tent.

The night was peaceful.

They could hear the water moving slowly and the wind blowing through the trees.

“I’ll sleep very well tonight,” George said.

“So will I,” Harris replied.

Within a few minutes, everyone was asleep.

---

J. woke up suddenly.

Something was different.

He listened carefully.

The wind was stronger now.

Dark clouds covered the moon, and the trees moved from side to side.

Then he heard the first drop of rain.

“George,” he whispered.

George opened his eyes.

“What is it?”

“I think it’s going to rain.”

Before George could answer, heavy rain began to fall on the tent.

The wind grew stronger every minute.

The tent shook from side to side.

Harris sat up quickly.

“Is the tent safe?”

“I hope so,” George answered.

The rain became even heavier.

Water started to collect outside the tent.

“We must check the boat,” J. said.

The three men quickly put on their coats and ran outside.

The rain was cold, and the wind pushed against them.

Montmorency stayed close to George’s feet.

The boat was still tied to the tree, but the rope was pulling tightly.

“If that rope breaks, we’ll lose the boat,” Harris shouted above the wind.

George held the lamp while J. and Harris checked the rope.

“It is still strong,” J. said.

“But we should tie another knot.”

Working together, they pulled the boat closer to the bank and tied it again.

By the time they finished, they were completely wet.

“I don’t feel like a holidaymaker,” Harris said.

“You look more like a fisherman,” George replied with a smile.

Even in the middle of the storm, they laughed.

After a while, the rain became lighter.

The wind slowly stopped.

Clouds moved away, and the moon appeared once more.

The river became quiet again.

The three friends stood silently for a moment.

The fresh air smelled clean after the rain.

“It is beautiful,” J. said softly.

George looked up at the sky.

“Sometimes a storm makes us enjoy the sunshine even more.”

They returned to the tent and changed into dry clothes.

Before going back to sleep, Harris smiled.

“I wonder what tomorrow will bring.”

J. laughed.

“If it is as exciting as today, we won’t be bored.”

Montmorency curled up in his blanket and closed his eyes.

Outside, the River Thames flowed peacefully under the moonlight.

A new day—and another adventure—was waiting for them.

---

Chapter Seven

The Last Day on the River

The next morning, the sun was shining again. It was hard to believe that there had been a storm during the night. The grass was still wet, and small drops of water sparkled on the leaves.

George stepped out of the tent and took a deep breath.

“What a beautiful morning!” he said.

Harris followed him.

“I slept better after the rain stopped.”

J. smiled as he prepared breakfast.

“I think we all did.”

Montmorency was already awake. He ran happily along the riverbank, chasing butterflies and birds. Every now and then, he returned to check on his three friends before running off again.

After a simple breakfast of bread, eggs, and hot tea, they packed the tent.

“This time,” George said, “let’s pack everything carefully.”

Harris laughed.

“You said the same thing yesterday.”

“And today I really mean it.”

Together they folded the blankets, cleaned the cooking equipment, and placed everything neatly inside the bags.

To everyone’s surprise, they finished much faster than before.

“We’re improving,” J. said proudly.

“Practice makes perfect,” George replied.

Soon they were back on the river.

The water was smooth, and the morning air was cool. Swans swam quietly across the river, and fishermen waved as the boat passed.

“This is my favorite part of the trip,” Harris said.

“There is no noise, no traffic, and no hurry.”

George nodded.

“Life feels much slower here.”

As they continued rowing, they passed a small village. People were buying fresh bread, children were playing near the bridge, and flowers filled the gardens.

“What a lovely place,” J. said.

“I could live here,” George replied.

Near the village, they stopped at a small shop to buy fresh food for lunch.

The shopkeeper greeted them with a friendly smile.

“Have you enjoyed your journey?” she asked.

“Very much,” Harris answered. “Although we’ve had a few funny problems.”

The shopkeeper laughed.

“Every good journey needs a few stories.”

The friends bought bread, fruit, cheese, and a homemade pie.

“This pie smells wonderful,” George said as they walked back to the boat.

“I hope it tastes as good as it smells,” Harris replied.

They found a quiet place beside the river and enjoyed their lunch under a large oak tree.

After eating, they lay on the grass and watched the clouds move slowly across the blue sky.

“It will be difficult to return to work,” George said.

“It always is after a holiday,” J. answered.

“But we’ll have many happy memories.”

Later that afternoon, they realized they were getting close to the end of their journey.

“There is the bridge,” George said, pointing ahead.

“Our trip is almost over.”

For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

They rowed slowly, enjoying every moment.

Montmorency sat quietly at the front of the boat. Even he seemed to know that the adventure was coming to an end.

As the sun began to set, the three friends reached the place where they would return the boat.

The owner was waiting for them.

“I hope you had a pleasant trip,” he said.

“We certainly did,” George replied.

“And we learned many things,” Harris added.

“What did you learn?” the owner asked.

George smiled.

“I learned that planning a holiday is much easier than living it.”

“I learned that packing is never as simple as it seems,” Harris said.

J. laughed.

“And I learned that every mistake becomes a good story later.”

The owner smiled.

“That is true.”

The three friends picked up their bags and looked at the river one last time.

They felt tired, but they were happy.

The River Thames had given them exactly what they needed—a few days of fresh air, laughter, friendship, and adventure.

As they walked toward the railway station, George turned back for one last look.

“We should do this again next summer,” he said.

Harris smiled.

“Without a doubt.”

J. looked at Montmorency.

“What do you think?”

The little dog barked happily.

Everyone laughed.

It sounded like a perfect answer.

---

Chapter Eight

Home with Happy Memories

The train carried the three friends back to London. The city looked as busy as ever. People hurried through the streets, horses and carts filled the roads, and the noise returned after the peaceful days on the river.

“It feels strange to be back,” George said as he looked out of the window.

“I already miss the river,” Harris replied.

“So do I,” J. said. “Everything was much quieter there.”

Montmorency lay under the seat. After so many exciting days, even he looked tired.

When the train stopped, the friends picked up their bags and walked through the station.

“I think these bags are lighter now,” George said.

“That’s because we’ve eaten most of the food,” Harris answered with a laugh.

They walked slowly through the familiar streets until they reached George’s apartment.

The room looked exactly the same as when they had left it a few days before. But the three friends felt different.

George put the kettle on the stove.

“One last cup of tea before we go home?”

“That sounds perfect,” J. replied.

Soon they were sitting together once again, each with a hot cup of tea.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke.

Then Harris smiled.

“Do you remember the goose?”

George laughed.

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

“And what about the tent?” J. asked.

“It fell down so many times that I thought we would sleep under the stars.”

The three friends laughed loudly.

They talked about the heavy bags, the peaceful villages, the storm, the campfire, and all the small mistakes they had made along the way.

“At the time, some of those moments were difficult,” George said.

“But now they seem funny.”

“That is how good adventures work,” J. replied. “The problems become the best memories.”

George nodded.

“I think we all needed this holiday.”

“We wanted better health,” Harris said.

“And we found something even better.”

“What was that?” George asked.

Harris looked at his friends.

“We remembered how important it is to slow down, laugh, and enjoy simple things.”

J. smiled.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Outside, the evening lights began to appear across London. The streets were noisy again, but the three friends no longer felt tired.

The journey had changed them in small but important ways.

They had discovered that happiness did not come from expensive hotels or perfect plans. It came from good friends, fresh air, beautiful places, and the ability to laugh when things went wrong.

George stood up and held out his hand.

“Thank you for a wonderful holiday.”

Harris shook his hand.

“It was one of the best I’ve ever had.”

Then they both turned to J.

“What about you?” George asked.

J. smiled warmly.

“I think this journey has given us stories that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”

Montmorency barked happily and wagged his tail.

The three friends laughed one last time.

As they left George’s apartment and walked to their homes, each of them knew that the adventure was over.

But they also knew something else.

One day, when life became too busy again, they would remember the River Thames, the quiet evenings, the campfire, and the laughter they had shared together.

And perhaps, before too long, they would plan another journey.

— THE END –

Read the original story: americanliterature.com

Vocabulary

Comprehension Questions

1. Why did J., George, and Harris decide to leave London for a holiday?

2. Why did the three friends choose to travel on the River Thames instead of going to the seaside?

3. What items did the friends decide to pack for their journey?

4. How did Montmorency behave while the friends were preparing for the trip?

5. What was the friends’ first impression of the River Thames when they arrived?

6. What funny problems did the friends have while making tea and unpacking their bags?

7. Why did the boat hit the tree, and how did the friends react to the accident?

8. What difficulties did the three friends face when they tried to put up the tent?

9. What happened when they heard strange noises outside their campsite at night?

10. How did the friends protect their boat during the storm?

11. What did the three friends enjoy most about travelling on the river?

12. What did they buy when they stopped at the small village shop?

13. Why did the friends feel sad as they reached the end of their journey?

14. What important lessons did George, Harris, and J. learn from their adventure?

15. How did the holiday change the three friends by the time they returned to London?

16. What message does Three Men in a Boat teach readers about friendship, travel, and enjoying life?

Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises

Answer Key

1-B, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-A, 6-B, 7-C, 8-A, 9-C, 10-B, 11-C, 12-B, 13-B, 14-C, 15-B, 16-A

More Books to Read to Improve English – B1