1.
• board • gate • journey • landing • take off • traffic jam • travel
Hi Natalie,
How are you? I’ve just got back to London after a really terrible (1) ……………………… . I honestly thought I was going to miss my flight home. My host mother booked a car service to take me to the airport, but it was really late coming. Apparently, one of the bridges had been closed so there was a big (2) ……………………… . By the time I got to the airport, there were really long queues for my flight and when I got through security I had to run to the (3) ……………………… – which of course was right at the other end of the airport – because they were ready to (4) ……………………… . They were calling my name on the loudspeaker! And then, would you believe it, there was a delay before we were able to (5) ……………………… because of a storm. It was a very bumpy flight and I was so glad to get home!
Anyway, apart from that I had a great time!
Speak soon,
Eleanor
2.
Last year I spent three months studying in the south of France. I decided not to fly to Aix but to take the (1) …………… train because I wanted to spend a day in Paris on the way. I left London at eight o’clock in the morning and two hours later, I was in the center of Paris. It was almost (2) …………… ! Then I took the Metro to my hotel and spent the rest of the day sightseeing. The next morning I was at the station very early, but an …………… last-minute change of (4) …………… meant that I had to run with all my luggage and I only just got (5) …………… the train before the doors closed. When I arrived in Aix, I felt as if I was in another world.
3.
When Harry opened his eyes, outside the landscape was ……………………… (usual). His head was hurting badly. He had been unconscious for a long time. He remembered attempting to re-enter Goliath’s orbit but he had ……………………… (calculate) his speed and the spacecraft had fallen uncontrollably through the atmosphere. Harry had tried to disable the automatic controls, but this had been ……………………… (possible) and the spacecraft had hit the ground heavily. Harry knew it had been ……………………… (responsible) of him to take the craft. At this very moment, there was probably an international search going on for him and he knew he shouldn’t ……………………… (estimate) the anger of the leader of Agron.
4.
Hi Natalie,
How are you? I’ve just got back to London after a really terrible……………………… . I honestly thought I was going to miss my flight home.
Correct Answer
C. Journey
Explanation
The correct answer is "journey". The writer mentions that they just got back to London after a terrible experience, and they thought they were going to miss their flight home. This suggests that the terrible experience refers to the overall journey, including any delays or difficulties they encountered.
5.
My host mother booked a car service to take me to the airport, but it was really late coming. Apparently, one of the bridges had been closed so there was a big ……………………… .
Correct Answer
F. Traffic jam
Explanation
The car service was late because one of the bridges was closed, causing a delay in traffic. This resulted in a traffic jam, which caused the car to be delayed in reaching the destination.
6.
By the time I got to the airport, there were really long queues for my flight and when I got through security I had to run to the……………………… – which of course was right at the other end of the airport – because ...........
Correct Answer
B. Gate
Explanation
The correct answer is "gate" because the sentence mentions that the person had to run to the "other end of the airport" after going through security. This implies that they needed to reach a specific location within the airport, which would be the gate for their flight.
7.
... which of course was right at the other end of the airport – because they were ready to ……………………… . They were calling my name on the loudspeaker!
Correct Answer
A. Board
Explanation
The correct answer is "board" because the speaker mentions that they were calling their name on the loudspeaker, indicating that it was time for them to board their flight.
8.
And then, would you believe it, there was a delay before we were able to……………………… because of a storm. It was a very bumpy flight and I was so glad to get home!
Correct Answer
E. Take off
Explanation
The given correct answer for this question is "take off". This is because the sentence mentions a delay before being able to do something, which implies that the action of "taking off" was delayed due to a storm. The mention of a bumpy flight further supports the idea that the delay was related to the aircraft's departure.
9.
Last year I spent three months studying in the south of France. I decided not to fly to Aix but to take the…………… train because I wanted to spend a day in Paris on the way.
Correct Answer
B. High-speed
Explanation
The correct answer is "high-speed." This is because the person decided not to fly and instead take a train in order to spend a day in Paris on the way. This implies that they were looking for a fast mode of transportation, and a high-speed train would be the most suitable option.
10.
I left London at eight o’clock in the morning and two hours later, I was in the center of Paris. It was almost ……………! Then I took the Metro to my hotel and spent the rest of the day sightseeing.
Correct Answer
B. Unbelievable
Explanation
The correct answer is "unbelievable." This is because the statement suggests that the person was able to travel from London to the center of Paris in just two hours, which is an incredible feat. The word "unbelievable" accurately describes the extraordinary nature of this situation.
11.
The next morning I was at the station very early, but an …………… last-minute change of .....… meant that I had to run with all my luggage and I only just got …………… the train before the doors closed.
Correct Answer
C. Unexpected
Explanation
The correct answer is unexpected. The sentence states that there was a last-minute change that caused the speaker to have to run with their luggage and barely catch the train. This indicates that the change was not anticipated or expected.
12.
The next morning I was at the station very early, but an. …… last-minute change of …………… meant that I had to run with all my luggage and I only just got ………… the train before the doors closed.
Correct Answer
A. Platform
Explanation
The given passage mentions that there was a last-minute change, which implies that something unexpected happened. The word "platform" fits well in this context because it suggests that there was a change in the platform where the train was departing from. This caused the person to run with their luggage to catch the train before the doors closed. Therefore, "platform" is the most suitable answer.
13.
The next morning I was at the station very early, but……… a last-minute change of ……… meant that I had to run with all my luggage and I only just got (5) …………… the train before the doors closed.
Correct Answer
C. On
Explanation
In this sentence, the phrase "got on the train" means that the person successfully boarded the train. The word "on" is used to indicate that the person physically entered the train before the doors closed. The other options, "off" and "out," do not convey the same meaning of boarding the train.
14.
When Harry opened his eyes, outside the landscape was ……………………… (usual). His head was hurting badly. He had been unconscious for a long time.
Correct Answer
unusual
Explanation
The correct answer is "unusual" because the sentence states that when Harry opened his eyes, the landscape outside was not usual. This implies that something different or unexpected was happening, which is why "unusual" is the correct answer.
15.
He remembered attempting to re-enter Goliath's orbit but he had ……………………… (calculate) his speed and the spacecraft had fallen uncontrollably through the atmosphere.
Correct Answer
miscalculated
Explanation
The word "miscalculated" is the correct answer because it fits the context of the sentence. The sentence states that the person remembered attempting to re-enter Goliath's orbit but had miscalculated his speed. This means that the person made an error in their calculations, resulting in the spacecraft falling uncontrollably through the atmosphere.
16.
Harry had tried to disable the automatic controls, but this had been ……………………… (possible) and the spacecraft had hit the ground heavily.
Correct Answer
impossible
Explanation
Harry had attempted to turn off the automatic controls, but his efforts were unsuccessful. As a result, the spacecraft was unable to disable the controls and ended up crashing forcefully onto the ground.
17.
Harry knew it had been ……………………… (responsible) of him to take the craft.
Correct Answer
irresponsible
Explanation
Harry knew it had been irresponsible of him to take the craft. This suggests that Harry is aware that his action of taking the craft was not responsible or sensible. He acknowledges that it was a mistake or a wrong decision on his part to do so.
18.
At this very moment, there was probably an international search going on for him and he knew he shouldn’t……………………… (estimate) the anger of the leader of Agron.
Correct Answer
underestimate
Explanation
The correct answer is "underestimate". In this context, the sentence suggests that the person mentioned is aware that there is a search happening for him and he knows that he should not underestimate the anger of the leader of Agron. This implies that the person should not underestimate or downplay the intensity or severity of the leader's anger.