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My wife's mother was taken ill two days ago so my wife had to go and look after her. Before (1)                 [she was leaving, that she left, leaving, to leave], my wife said, "I had better tell you where everything is or you (2)           [shan't, shouldn't, wouldn't, won't]know what to do. But my train is leaving in half an hour's time and I must get to my mother's house as soon as I (3)       [can, may, could, might]." "(4)               [Not to mind, Don't worry, Not to import, Don't mater]," I said. "I can look after myself." Now I realize that I (5)                   [had to ask, ought to ask, must have asked, should have asked] for a map of the house

Don't shout! Losing your temper or shouting (1)           [angrily, calmly, slowly, carefully] won't help you. Keep calm, speak (2)           [angrily, carefully, slowly, firmly] but (3)           [carefully, firmly, angrily, slowly] and make it clear that you will not go away until someone listens to you (4)           [directly, firmly, slowly, carefully]. Just shouting at the shop assistant is not enough. Go (5)           [directly, carefully, slowly, firmly] to the top and ask to see the manager.

I went to a school reunion last week. I (1)           [am, have been, was, had been]impressed. So many things (2)             [changed, had changed, has changed, has change]. They (3)                   [had knocked down, knocked down, knock down, have knocked down] the old gymnasium and the library (4)                       [disappeared, was disappeared, had disappeared, have been disappeared]. I (5)             [have walked, walked, was walking, had walked] around the school.

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Around the world on the Number 7 train

It’s 8.15 in the morning and Manuela Garcia is on her way to college in New York City.

She’s sitting on the Number 7 train and she’s doing her homework, but she hasn’t got much space. Two Chinese women are sitting next to her – they’re laughing and chatting in Cantonese. A young man is on the other side – he’s listening to Shakira on his MP3 player and eating some tacos. Then an old woman gets on the train and sits down nearby – she’s wearing a sari and she’s reading a book in Hindi. At Jackson Heights, the old woman gets off. It’s raining outside and Manuela can see Indian and Pakistani shops in the street below.

Welcome to the International Express, the most international train journey in the world. Every day, some of New York’s three million immigrants take the Number 7 train from Queens to Manhattan and each stop is like a different country. Get off at Flushing station and experience China, go to Corona and you’re in Mexico; the next stop is India at Jackson Heights. Many immigrants are from Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, or Asia. If you listen carefully, you can hear more than 100 different languages.

So why is this train so popular? A hundred years ago, most immigrants lived in Manhattan, but by 1910 Manhattan was overcrowded and life was very difficult. Then, in 1917, things improved, thanks to a new train to a suburb called Queens. Immigrants moved out of the city because there was more space in Queens, but they could still get to work in Manhattan.

These first immigrants came to New York to escape poverty and war, and to have a better life. Today, people come for the same reasons. Manuela Garcia’s family is typical. Her father, Tomas, came from Mexico in 1986 and sold tacos from a small food stall next to Corona station. Tomas got through hard times, saved his money, and bought a bakery. Today the jukebox there plays Mexican songs and a satellite TV shows Mexican TV programs. ‘We’re proud of our culture, but the bakery is not just for Mexicans,’ says Tomas. ‘We have Polish and Turkish customers, too. We all get on with each other.’

The train speeds past LaGuardia airport as the rain stops and the sun comes out. Manuela looks out of the window and watches the planes take off. People are getting away to experience the world. Manuela smiles. She doesn’t need to go to faraway countries – the world is right there on the Number 7 train.

What language are the Chinese women speaking?

What does the jukebox at Tomas' bakery play?

What does Manuela see when the sun comes out?

Where did Tomas first sell tacos?

What is the Number 7 train known for?