Trash Compactor Stage 4 Comp - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Science Fiction Text focus: Narrative Trash Compactor “Listen, this is completely unacceptable. You can’t do this.” Captain Raymond Montgomery released the...

STAGE 4 Unit focus: Science Fiction Text focus: Narrative Trash Compactor “Listen, this is completely unacceptable. You can’t do this.” Captain Raymond Montgomery released the console button and kicked out at the waste paper bin underneath his desk. It whimpered and scurried off into the corner. Not for the first time, Captain Montgomery regretted ki ng his ship out with the latest robot gadgets. Every now and then, he felt a captain should be able to kick his rubbish bin, without it ge ng the hump. For a while, the speakers did nothing but hiss and buzz with static noise. Once his message had travelled to the Throngdarian tow-ship, they’d had a chance to respon. Then, their message had whizzed its way back, and the speakers burst into life. “Captain, the people of Earth have had plenty of warning that this was about to happen. We have been sending messages that they were illegally burning fossil fuels in the green belt of the universe since the 1960s.” “That’s just not true,” Captain Montgomery lied. He’d been told that the first rule of negotiating with intergalactic tow-ship drivers was the same as with asteroid parking attendants–never admit you know anything. “The first we knew about it was when you clamped the North Pole and started dragging us through space.” “It’s not our fault if you didn’t read the signs. As your landlord, we’ve been turning the heating up a bit, leaving the taps running, and so on.” “Our landlord?” Montgomery questioned. “Please pay attention, Captain. The Pan-Universe Protection Council was elected several centuries ago to oversee the running of the universe. Think of us as space mechanics. We look after the planets and moon under our care and make sure that they run smoothly. Unfortunately, Earth is just taking too many PUP hours to manage now, so we’re retiring the planet and starting afresh.” “What do you mean, ‘retiring the planet’?” Captain Montgomery swung his chair around and flicked a switch. A hidden panel slid out from the desk. It was covered in shiny buttons, each one marked with a different, dangerous-looking symbol. “Rebooting. Well, not so much rebooting as restarting. We’re taking Earth to the trash-compactor back at the impound where it will be ground down into its component particles. If we have time, we’ll create a new all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com planet and see what grows. To be honest, we’re all very excited to see how life develops this time. We’re rather hoping there’ll be less reality television.” “You can’t do this,” Captain Montgomery repeated, hoping that he might be right this time. “We can change.” “We highly doubt that,” the voice on the other end of the radio said gently, but Captain Montgomery sensed a change in the tone. “Give us a chance,” he pleaded. “Let us know what we need to do, and I’ll make sure it gets done.” For a while, the radio remained silent. Then, the voice returned, “I will need to speak to a line manager about this. I’m not authorised to do returns. You know how it is. Please hold.” Captain Montgomery sighed and sank back into his chair. The leather really was very comfortable. He’d be sorry to see the factory where it was made destroyed. He rubbed his fingers over the weapon-release buttons. If it came to it, he’d have to open fire. He got up and wandered over to the kitchen unit at the rear of the ship. For something to do, he jabbed at the coffee machine. “Please be gentle, sir,” it replied in a whiny voice. Captain Montgomery frowned and returned to his desk to await his reply. SUMMARY FOCUS 1. Why was Captain Montgomery fed up with the waste paper bin? 2. Why did it take a while for him to hear any reply? 3. Why did Captain Montgomery lie? 4. What was the job of the Pan-Universe Protection Council? 5. What happened when Captain Montgomery flicked the switch? VIPERS QUESTIONS R Where was Earth being towed to? V Find and copy a word that tells you Captain Montgomery poked the coffee machine with force. R What were the Pan-Universe Protection Council hoping to see less of on the new planet? I How did Captain Montgomery feel about the coffee machine’s response? R Where had the clamp been attached to Earth? all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com