Reading Test for Class 9 (Semester 2)

Read the text and choose “True” or “False”.

Read the text and choose “True” or “False”.

Daniel Defoe

          Daniel Defoe was born in London in 1660. He was a novelist, journalist and poet. His original name was Daniel Foe, but in his middle 30s, Daniel started calling himself “Defoe” because it sounded more gentlemanly. He received a good education and he became a businessman. In 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley. They had eight children.

          Defoe’s first writings were about politics. In many of his works, he supported King William III. From 1704 to 1713, he wrote and published a journal called the Review. In this journal, Defoe supported the government. The articles were not only about politics, but also about religion, business, and morals.

          In 1719, Defoe wrote his most famous book, Robinson Crusoe. It is the story of an Englishman who leaves his home to go to sea. He survives a shipwreck and lives on an island for 28 years, alone for most of the time.

When he published Robinson Crusoe, Defoe was 59 years old. He wrote some other books after that, for example Moll Flanders or Captain Singleton. The main characters in these books are often criminals. In 1724, Defoe published his last important work, Roxana.

          Daniel Defoe died on April 24, 1731. Because of Robinson Crusoe, he has been called “the father of the English novel”.

2) Defoe and his wife had seven children.

Read the text and choose “True” or “False”.

Daniel Defoe

          Daniel Defoe was born in London in 1660. He was a novelist, journalist and poet. His original name was Daniel Foe, but in his middle 30s, Daniel started calling himself “Defoe” because it sounded more gentlemanly. He received a good education and he became a businessman. In 1684, Defoe married Mary Tuffley. They had eight children.

          Defoe’s first writings were about politics. In many of his works, he supported King William III. From 1704 to 1713, he wrote and published a journal called the Review. In this journal, Defoe supported the government. The articles were not only about politics, but also about religion, business, and morals.

          In 1719, Defoe wrote his most famous book, Robinson Crusoe. It is the story of an Englishman who leaves his home to go to sea. He survives a shipwreck and lives on an island for 28 years, alone for most of the time.

When he published Robinson Crusoe, Defoe was 59 years old. He wrote some other books after that, for example Moll Flanders or Captain Singleton. The main characters in these books are often criminals. In 1724, Defoe published his last important work, Roxana.

          Daniel Defoe died on April 24, 1731. Because of Robinson Crusoe, he has been called “the father of the English novel”.

3) The writer had a good education and was a businessman.