LAST CHANCE

‘Go away and find some news,’ says Mr Frank to Mike. ‘This is your last
chance.’

Mike is a good cameraman but his boss at SFX news, Mr Frank, doesn’t
think so. Mike has a nice life and he needs his job. What can he do?

In Hawaii a volcano is erupting – a good chance for a good story. Mike

goes there to film the story, but it is dangerous on the volcano and he learns
that some things are more important than his job, or his camera.

This really is his last chance …

 OXFORD

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ISBN:
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A complete recording of this Bookworms edition of Last Chance
is available on audio CD.
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 CONTENTS

STORY INTRODUCTION

Last Chance

GLOSSARY
ACTIVITIES
: Before Reading
ACTIVITIES
: While Reading
ACTIVITIES
: After Reading
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ABOUT THE BOOKWORMS LIBRARY
‘Come in here!’ says Mike’s boss. He is angry – again.
Mike is a cameraman and he works for SFX News. His boss, Mr Frank,
is angry with him. It is the second time this week.
Mike walks slowly into the office. He is in big trouble. ‘Close the door,’
says Mr Frank. There is a video in his hand.
‘This is bad,’ thinks Mike. ‘He doesn’t like my work.’
Mr Frank looks at Mike. ‘Are you a news cameraman?’ he asks.
‘Yes, of course,’ says Mike.
‘Well, this isn’t news.’ He throws the video at the door. ‘It’s … it’s … I
have a three-year-old son. He can do better. Go away and find some news. I
want a film that hits me here.’ Mr Frank puts his hand on his heart.
‘And Mike …’
‘Yes, Boss?’
‘This is your last chance.’
Mike walks slowly out of Mr Frank’s office. His face is red.
‘He can’t talk to me like that,’ he thinks. ‘I’m a good cameraman. I’m
unlucky, that’s all. But I can’t be angry with him because I need my job.’
Mike sits on his chair and looks out of the window. He sees an old man
sitting in his garden. He feels tired. ‘Am I too old for this job?’ thinks Mike.
‘Am I too tired?’
 There is a newspaper on Mike’s desk. He picks it up and reads it. There is
a volcano in Hawaii. The volcano is erupting and people are leaving. Mike
sees a photograph of the volcano. It looks dangerous. ‘Hmm. Maybe . .’ he
thinks.
Mr Frank walks past. ‘Reading the newspaper?’ he says. ‘Remember –
this is your last chance.’
Mike feels very angry but he says nothing. ‘This is bad,’ he thinks. ‘I
must go to Hawaii and make an exciting film.’
Mike gets in his car and quickly drives home. He has a nice car. It is fast
and he loves it. It is also expensive. He needs to work.
Mike stops the car next to his house. He goes in the house. ‘What do I
need?’ he thinks. He puts some clothes in a bag and picks it up.
‘One more thing,’ he thinks. ‘My video camera.’ He picks up his camera
and gives it a kiss. ‘We can do it, old friend,’ he says.
Later that day, Mike takes a plane to Hawaii. There are only seven people
on the plane. He looks out of the window. ‘Hawaii is beautiful!’ he thinks.
There are big waves on the sea. ‘I would like to go surfing,’ thinks Mike.
‘Perhaps another time.’
But as the plane gets closer, the sky is very dark.
 At the airport lots of people are running. Some people are crying. ‘The
volcano is erupting,’ they say to Mike. ‘Why are you here?’
‘I’m here because I’m a news cameraman. A good
news cameraman,’ he
tells them. He can see the volcano. It is a long way away. There is black
smoke and red fire. ‘Is this a good idea?’ thinks Mike.
Some news people are leaving Hawaii. They are getting on a plane. Mike
talks to them. A girl tells him that the volcano is very dangerous.
‘I think my friend Jenny is there. She wants to make a film, too. Is she
alive or dead? I don’t know,’ says the girl. ‘You must come with us,’ she
says, ‘You can’t go to the volcano.’
‘I want to leave the island,’ thinks Mike. ‘I don’t want to die, but …’
‘I can’t go with you. I have work to do,’ he says.

‘OK,’ says the girl. ‘Look out for my friend Jenny. She has big blue eyes.
Please tell her to leave the island.’
‘OK,’ says Mike. He says goodbye to the girl. He watches the plane
leave. ‘This really is my last chance,’ he thinks.
 Just then the volcano makes a big noise. A dog runs quickly past. An old
woman starts to cry. Mike looks at her. He wants to say something but he
can’t. The sun is hot but suddenly he is cold. He is afraid.
‘I can’t be afraid,’ he says. He looks at his camera and says, ‘Let’s go,
old friend.’
Mike walks through the town. The sky is getting darker. The red fire over
the volcano is getting bigger and bigger. Mike is feeling more afraid.
In the town Mike meets a man. The man is leaving with his family. ‘How
can I get to the volcano?’ Mike asks.
‘Cars don’t go to the volcano,’ says the man. ‘The drivers are afraid. You
must walk.’
‘Is it far?’ asks Mike.
 ‘No,’ says the man. ‘But the fire is hot. Take lots of water with you.’
There is a television in a shop window. It is not showing pictures of the
volcano. ‘I am the only news person here,’ Mike thinks. ‘I have a chance to
make the only film about the volcano. I must go.’
The road in front of him is very long. His legs feel tired but he begins to
walk.
After two long hours, Mike is on the volcano. There is a lot of smoke and a
lot of fire. Mike can’t see any people.
‘I must be quick,’ he thinks. Mike films the smoke and the fire. A big
rock nearly hits him but he films it. ‘This film is good,’ he thinks.
He is afraid but happy. ‘How can Mr Frank be angry now?’ Mike thinks.
He is taking lots of film.
 Another rock almost hits him. Mike feels hot and tired. ‘It’s time to go,’
says Mike. ‘Good job!’ he says to his camera.
A bigger rock goes over his head. ‘I don’t like this. I must go now,’ he
says. Mike can smell the smoke. He can feel the fire.
Mike puts his camera under his arm. He starts to run. Just then the volcano
makes a noise. Mike runs faster. Suddenly, he hears a different noise.
‘Is that a woman?’ thinks Mike. ‘It can’t be. There is nobody here.’
He starts to run again, but then …
‘Help!’
‘It is
somebody. They need me,’ he thinks. ‘Hello,’ he says. ‘Where are
you?’ Mike looks everywhere, but he can’t see anybody.
 ‘I’m here. Please help me!’
Mike sees something behind a rock. It moves. He goes to the rock and
sees a young woman there. She can’t move her leg because it is under the
rock.
‘Oh, thank you. Thank you,’ she says to Mike. She begins to cry. ‘My
leg. I think it’s broken.’
‘Wait a minute,’ says Mike. ‘I can help.’
He pushes the rock. It is too big. There are small rocks in front. He
pushes them away then pushes the big rock again. It moves a little. He
pushes harder. It moves a little more.
‘Aargh,’ cries the woman.
Suddenly the rock moves down the volcano.
The woman’s face is white. She smiles slowly.
 ‘Are you Jenny?’ Mike asks.
‘Yes, I am!’ she says. ‘How do you know?’
‘It doesn’t matter now. My name is Mike. I have to carry you, Jenny. But
first …’
Mike has a tripod. He ties it to Jenny’s leg. ‘Does that feel better?’ he
asks.
Jenny smiles again. ‘Thank you, Mike,’ she says. She is very tired. ‘I’m
usually very careful – but not today.’
‘Come on. We have to get off the volcano,’ says Mike.
 ‘Put your arm around me,’ Mike tells Jenny. He puts down his camera.
Jenny gets up slowly. Her leg is very bad.
‘Take it easy,’ Mike says. They start to walk very slowly.
‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘You’re okay.’
Metre by metre they move down the volcano. They are almost hit by
rocks. Black smoke is in their mouths. Hot fire is close behind them. But
they are alive.
 ‘Mike – wait,’ says Jenny suddenly. ‘Your camera!’ She stops walking.
Her face is black with smoke. Jenny’s blue eyes look at Mike.
Mike looks back at Jenny. ‘You’re more important than my camera,’ he
tells her.
‘But the volcano … I can wait here. You go back. It’s not too late.’
Mike says nothing.
They keep walking slowly down the volcano – and away from Mike’s
camera.
Jenny is now very tired. Her leg is badly broken. Mike stops behind a big
rock.
‘Do you want some water?’ he asks. Mike has some water in his bag.
Jenny and Mike are both thirsty. They drink the water.
Jenny begins to go to sleep. ‘This is dangerous. Jenny must stay alive,’
Mike thinks. ‘Don’t go to sleep, Jenny. Talk to me. Where is your home?
Tell me about your family. Do you like books?’
They walk and Jenny talks. When she stops talking, Mike asks another
question.
They are almost off the volcano. Mike looks back. Where is his camera?
Is it in the fire?
 They are off the volcano. Mike sits down next to Jenny. He puts his head
in his hands. ‘What’s the matter?’ asks Jenny.
‘Everything,’ says Mike. ‘I have no camera and no film. Now I don’t
have a job. There are no more chances.’ Jenny puts her arm around him.
‘It’s okay.’

Two hours later, they walk into the town. People come out to see them.
‘Are you all right?’ they ask Jenny.
‘I have a broken leg, but I am alive,’ she says, and looks at Mike. ‘Thank
you, Mike.’ He smiles.
‘There is a helicopter waiting for you,’ says a man in a suit. ‘It is leaving
the island. You must get on quickly.’ The man helps them into the
helicopter.
In the helicopter, a man says to Mike, ‘Do you need anything?’
‘My camera,’ he says. ‘But it is on the volcano. My camera is my best
friend and oldest friend.’ Mike closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
 Mike is now at home. He does not want to see his boss, Mr Frank. Then
one morning he hears the telephone. ‘Hello?’ he says.
‘This is Mr Frank. You must come to work tomorrow. I need to talk to
you. Goodbye.’
The next day, Mike goes to work. His friends are happy to see him. ‘Well
done, Mike,’ they say.
 ‘Thanks,’ says Mike. He is happy to see his friends, but he is afraid of Mr
Frank.
His boss sees him. ‘You, get in here.’
‘This is it,’ thinks Mike.
In the office Mr Frank looks at Mike. He has something in his hands. ‘Do
you remember the people in the helicopter?’ he asks. ‘Yes,’ says Mike.
‘They remember you. I think you need to thank them.’ He moves his
hands. There is Mike’s camera. ‘My camera!’ says Mike.
‘The camera is broken,’ says Mr Frank, ‘But we have the film and it’s
very good.’ He smiles.
‘My old friend,’ says Mike to his camera. He gives it a kiss.
‘Let’s watch your video,’ Mr Frank says.

They watch the film on the TV. They can see Mike and Jenny. Mike
moves the big rock. He helps Jenny to walk. Big rocks are falling out of the
sky. The volcano makes a noise. The fire is red and the smoke is black. It is
very exciting.
‘Next time, remember to turn it off. Or maybe not!’ says Mr Frank. ‘This
video hits me … right here!’
Then Mr Frank says, ‘Oh, and Mike – we have a new news person.’
 Jenny comes into the room. She isn’t black with smoke now. She smiles
at Mike. ‘She’s beautiful,’ Mike thinks. ‘She hits me … right here!’
 GLOSSARY

around
all the way round
boss
a person who tells workers what to do
broken
in pieces or not working
camera
a thing you use for taking photographs or

moving pictures
cameraman
a person who films
carry
to take
chance
when something can happen
dangerous
that can kill you
erupt
to throw out gas, hot rocks, and liquid rocks
exciting
making you feel very happy
film
(v) to use cameras to make a movie; (n) moving

pictures that tell a story

idea
something that you think
job
work
kiss
(v) to touch lovingly with your mouth
surfing
standing or lying on a flat board when the sea

carries you back to the beach

throw
to make something move from your hand through

the air
trouble
problems
unlucky
when something bad happens to you
volcano
a mountain with a hole in the top where fire, gas, and hot liquid
rock sometimes come out
Last Chance

ACTIVITIES
 ACTIVITIES
_________________________

Before Reading

1
Look at the front cover of the book. Answer these questions
.
1 The main character in the story is …
a
a gardener
b
a student
c
a cameraman
2 The story happens …
a
in an office
b
in an airport
c
on a volcano
2 Read the back cover of the book. Answer these questions
.
1 How will the story make you feel?
a
Happy
b
Sad
c
Excited
2 Who has one ‘last chance’?
a
Mr Frank
b
Mike
c
Jenny
 ACTIVITIES
_________________________

While Reading

1 Read pages 1–5. Now answer these questions

.
1 Where is the volcano?
2 What is the name of Mike’s boss?
3 What is Mike’s job?
4 What does Mike see through the window?
5 Mike’s boss has a son. How old is he?
6 Is Mike happy?
2 Read pages 6–9. Now make these sentences correct
.
1 There are only three people on the plane.
2 There are big birds on the sea.
3 A girl tells him that the volcano is very beautiful.
4 Her friend has big green eyes.
3 Read pages 10–13. Put these sentences in the correct order.
Number them 1–4
.
a
Mike starts to run away.
b
Mike hears someone shout, ‘Help!’
c
A man says Mike must walk to the volcano.
d
A big rock nearly hits Mike.
4 Read pages 14–17. Now answer these questions
.
Who
1 … says, ‘Take it easy.’?
2 … has a white face?
What …
3 … is on Jenny’s leg?
4 … does Mike tie to Jenny’s leg?
5 Read pages 18–21. Now answer these questions
.
1 Why is Mike unhappy?
a
Because he has a bad leg.
b
Because he doesn’t want to leave the volcano.
c
Because he doesn’t have his camera.
2 What does Mike have in his bag?
a
A sandwich.
b
A menu.
c
Some water.
6 Before you read pages 22–24, what do you think happens?
Yes No
1 Jenny finds Mike’s camera.
2 Mr Frank is pleased with Mike.
3 Mike loses his job.
4 Mike kisses his camera.
5 Mike kisses Jenny.
 ACTIVITIES
_________________________

After Reading

1 What do you know about Mike? Write about him using these
words:
job / cameraman / good

boss / nasty / afraid

drive / car / fast

best friend / camera

like surfing
2 Make four complete sentences. Use these words:
and /but /when /because
1 Mike loses his camera …
2 Mike pushes the rock …
3 Mr Frank is angry .
4 The volcano erupts .

a) … black smoke comes out of the top.

b) … he helps Jenny on the volcano.
c) … it is too big too move.
d) … Mike is reading the newspaper.
3 Who says these words? Who do they say it to?
1 ‘This is your last chance.’
2 ‘We can do it, old friend.’
 3 ‘Look out for my friend Jenny.’
4 ‘Take lots of water with you.’
5 ‘I’m here. Please help me!’
6 ‘Don’t go to sleep, Jenny.’
4 Complete this summary of the story. Use these words:
boss
/ like
/ job
/ Jenny
/ volcano
/ rock helicopter
/ hears
/ camera
/
chance
Mike is in trouble because his_______does not

_______his work. Mr Frank gives Mike one last________.

He goes to Hawaii to film a________He__________

a woman shout ‘Help!’ when he is filming. The woman is

_____called______ Her leg is under_______ a_____Mike moves the rock
and carries her down the volcano, but he _______loses his_____He thinks
he will lose his job too. But a_______finds his camera and the film is very
good.
Mike’s boss is very happy. Mike is also happy when Jenny gets
a________working with him.
 ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mark Foster and Phillip Burrows have worked as a writer/illustrator team

since 1991. They were born three years and many miles apart, but they are
very nearly twins. They drive the same car, work on the same computers,
and wear the same wellington boots – but not at the same time! They spend
all the money they get from writing on gadgets, but please don’t tell their
wives. Mark and Phill have worked together on several Bookworms,
including Taxi of Terror
and Orca
(Starter). When they meet to write, they
like to go to expensive hotels, eat chips dipped in coffee, and laugh at their
own jokes.
 OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY

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The OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY

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 THE OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY
GRADING AND SAMPLE EXTRACTS

STARTER • 250 HEADWORDS

present simple – present continuous – imperative – can/cannot, must –
going to
(future) – simple gerunds …

Her phone is ringing – but where is it?

Sally gets out of bed and looks in her bag. No phone. She looks under the
bed. No phone. Then she looks behind the door. There is her phone. Sally
picks up her phone and answers it. Sally’s Phone

STAGE 1 • 400 HEADWORDS

… past simple – coordination with and, but, or –
subordination with before,
after, when, because, so
…

I knew him in Persia. He was a famous builder and I worked with him
there. For a time I was his friend, but not for long. When he came to Paris, I
came after him – I wanted to watch him. He was a very clever, very
dangerous man. The Phantom of the Opera

STAGE 2 • 700 HEADWORDS

… present perfect – will
(future) – (don’t) have to, must not, could –
comparison of adjectives – simple if
clauses – past continuous – tag
questions – ask/tell
+ infinitive …

While I was writing these words in my diary, I decided what to do. I must
try to escape. I shall try to get down the wall outside. The window is high
above the ground, but I have to try. I shall take some of the gold with me –
if I escape, perhaps it will be helpful later. Dracula
 STAGE 3 • 1000 HEADWORDS
… should, may –
present perfect continuous – used to
– past perfect –
causative – relative clauses – indirect statements …

Of course, it was most important that no one should see Colin, Mary, or
Dickon entering the secret garden. So Colin gave orders to the gardeners
that they must all keep away from that part of the garden in future. The
Secret Garden

STAGE 4 • 1400 HEADWORDS

… past perfect continuous – passive (simple forms) – would
conditional
clauses – indirect questions – relatives with where/when –
gerunds after
prepositions/phrases …

I was glad. Now Hyde could not show his face to the world again. If he did,
every honest man in London would be proud to report him to the police. Dr
Jekyll and Mr Hyde

STAGE 5 • 1800 HEADWORDS

… future continuous – future perfect – passive (modals, continuous forms)
– would have
conditional clauses – modals + perfect infinitive …

If he had spoken Estella’s name, I would have hit him. I was so angry with
him, and so depressed about my future, that I could not eat the breakfast.
Instead I went straight to the old house. Great Expectations

STAGE 6 • 2500 HEADWORDS

… passive (infinitives, gerunds) – advanced modal meanings – clauses of
concession, condition

When I stepped up to the piano, I was confident. It was as if I knew that the
prodigy side of me really did exist. And when I started to play, I was so
caught up in how lovely I looked that I didn’t worry how I would sound.
The Joy Luck Club
 BOOKWORMS · THRILLER & ADVENTURE · STARTER

Escape
PHILLIP BURROWS AND MARK FOSTER
‘I’m not a thief. I’m an innocent man,’ shouts Brown. He is angry
because he is in prison and the prison guards hate him. Then one day Brown
has an idea. It is dangerous – very dangerous.

BOOKWORMS · THRILLER & ADVENTURE · STARTER

Orca
PHILLIP BURROWS AND MARK FOSTER
When Tonya and her friends decide to sail around the world they want to
see exciting things and visit exciting places.
But one day, they meet an orca – a killer whale – one of the most
dangerous animals in the sea. And life gets a little too exciting.

BOOKWORMS · THRILLER & ADVENTURE · STARTER

Taxi of Terror
PHILLIP BURROWS AND MARK FOSTER
‘How does it work?’ Jack asks when he opens his present – a mobile
phone. Later that night, Jack is a prisoner in a taxi in the empty streets of
the dark city. He now tries his mobile phone for the first time. Can it save
his life?

BOOKWORMS · THRILLER & ADVENTURE · STARTER

Drive into Danger

ROSEMARY BORDER
 ‘I can drive a truck,’ says Kim on her first day at work in the office.
When Kim’s passenger Andy finds something strange under the truck
things get dangerous – very dangerous.

BOOKWORMS · HUMAN INTEREST · STARTER

Star Reporter
JOHN ESCOTT
‘There’s a new girl in town,’ says Joe, and soon Steve is out looking for
her. Marietta is easy to find in a small town, but every time he sees her
something goes wrong … and his day goes from bad to worse.

BOOKWORMS · CRIME & MYSTERY · STARTER

Give us the Money

MAEVE CLARKE
‘Every day is the same. Nothing exciting ever happens to me,’ thinks
Adam one boring Monday morning. But today is not the same. When he
helps a beautiful young woman because some men want to take her bag, life
gets exciting and very, very dangerous.