Reading Comprehension Test, B1

Read the article about exchanging homes and for questions 1–6 choose the correct answer.

DISCOVER THE WORLD IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY

Exchanging homes is a popular way of having a different kind of holiday. Jane and David Henderson and their two children, aged twelve and fourteen, recently did exactly that. They exchanged their comfortable three-bedroom house in a quiet, very green London district for a flat in Florida.

We asked them if they would recommend the experience.

‘Yes, most certainly,’ David told us. ‘It’s a marvellous opportunity to enjoy a completely different lifestyle. The flat was huge and had all the modern equipment that makes life easier, but that wasn’t what we liked most. It was the place itself that was incredible, situated on a piece of land with the sea on two sides. We even had a private beach; there was white sand and sunshine. It was beautiful.’

‘We both have jobs which involve a lot of responsibility,’ continued Jane. ‘David works with computers and I’m a journalist, and of course our spare time is spent with our children.

In Florida, they entertained themselves. So, to do nothing but sunbathe, swim and shop was a new experience for us. And, because we had no hotel bills to pay, it was much cheaper and we could afford to stay for six weeks – it was wonderful!’

And what about the children? What did they do? Did they enjoy themselves?

‘Yes,’ said David. ‘They had an absolutely amazing time. You see, when you live in somebody else’s home, you don’t just stay with the tourists and go on sightseeing trips, you meet the local people. Our children met the local children and explored all the best places in the area.’

But were there any problems when they returned to their home in England?

‘None at all,’ said Jane. ‘The family from Florida left it clean and tidy. All our plants had enough water and looked happy, and they’d left us some beautiful flowers as a thank you. We never met them, but we talked a lot on the phone and they seem like nice people. We still write to them.’

So, will the Henderson family exchange their home again next year?

‘Oh, yes!’ David told us. ‘Maybe we’ll exchange it for a house somewhere in a far-away part of the countryside. That would be a completely different lifestyle again.’

1. The text is about people who …

Read the article about exchanging homes and for questions 1–6 choose the correct answer.

DISCOVER THE WORLD IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY

Exchanging homes is a popular way of having a different kind of holiday. Jane and David Henderson and their two children, aged twelve and fourteen, recently did exactly that. They exchanged their comfortable three-bedroom house in a quiet, very green London district for a flat in Florida.

We asked them if they would recommend the experience.

‘Yes, most certainly,’ David told us. ‘It’s a marvellous opportunity to enjoy a completely different lifestyle. The flat was huge and had all the modern equipment that makes life easier, but that wasn’t what we liked most. It was the place itself that was incredible, situated on a piece of land with the sea on two sides. We even had a private beach; there was white sand and sunshine. It was beautiful.’

‘We both have jobs which involve a lot of responsibility,’ continued Jane. ‘David works with computers and I’m a journalist, and of course our spare time is spent with our children.

In Florida, they entertained themselves. So, to do nothing but sunbathe, swim and shop was a new experience for us. And, because we had no hotel bills to pay, it was much cheaper and we could afford to stay for six weeks – it was wonderful!’

And what about the children? What did they do? Did they enjoy themselves?

‘Yes,’ said David. ‘They had an absolutely amazing time. You see, when you live in somebody else’s home, you don’t just stay with the tourists and go on sightseeing trips, you meet the local people. Our children met the local children and explored all the best places in the area.’

But were there any problems when they returned to their home in England?

‘None at all,’ said Jane. ‘The family from Florida left it clean and tidy. All our plants had enough water and looked happy, and they’d left us some beautiful flowers as a thank you. We never met them, but we talked a lot on the phone and they seem like nice people. We still write to them.’

So, will the Henderson family exchange their home again next year?

‘Oh, yes!’ David told us. ‘Maybe we’ll exchange it for a house somewhere in a far-away part of the countryside. That would be a completely different lifestyle again.’

2. The Hendersons’ own home is …

Read the article about exchanging homes and for questions 1–6 choose the correct answer.

DISCOVER THE WORLD IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY

Exchanging homes is a popular way of having a different kind of holiday. Jane and David Henderson and their two children, aged twelve and fourteen, recently did exactly that. They exchanged their comfortable three-bedroom house in a quiet, very green London district for a flat in Florida.

We asked them if they would recommend the experience.

‘Yes, most certainly,’ David told us. ‘It’s a marvellous opportunity to enjoy a completely different lifestyle. The flat was huge and had all the modern equipment that makes life easier, but that wasn’t what we liked most. It was the place itself that was incredible, situated on a piece of land with the sea on two sides. We even had a private beach; there was white sand and sunshine. It was beautiful.’

‘We both have jobs which involve a lot of responsibility,’ continued Jane. ‘David works with computers and I’m a journalist, and of course our spare time is spent with our children.

In Florida, they entertained themselves. So, to do nothing but sunbathe, swim and shop was a new experience for us. And, because we had no hotel bills to pay, it was much cheaper and we could afford to stay for six weeks – it was wonderful!’

And what about the children? What did they do? Did they enjoy themselves?

‘Yes,’ said David. ‘They had an absolutely amazing time. You see, when you live in somebody else’s home, you don’t just stay with the tourists and go on sightseeing trips, you meet the local people. Our children met the local children and explored all the best places in the area.’

But were there any problems when they returned to their home in England?

‘None at all,’ said Jane. ‘The family from Florida left it clean and tidy. All our plants had enough water and looked happy, and they’d left us some beautiful flowers as a thank you. We never met them, but we talked a lot on the phone and they seem like nice people. We still write to them.’

So, will the Henderson family exchange their home again next year?

‘Oh, yes!’ David told us. ‘Maybe we’ll exchange it for a house somewhere in a far-away part of the countryside. That would be a completely different lifestyle again.’

3. What the family particularly liked about their holiday was …