Exam Practice
Reading Part 3
Read the text and questions below.
For each question, mark the correct letter – A, B, C or D.
Visit to the Arctic Circle
I was the only person to get off the train at 4pm at Abisko in the Arctic Circle. The train disappeared into the night. I was alone, in the dark, with the temperature at minus 20, as cold as I’d expected it. At that point I thought about giving up this trip and wished I were on my way back home but the train had gone and I could see a hotel ahead.
The girl at reception gave me the key to a ‘cabin’ as the rest of the hotel was closed. I went back outside. I could see by the light from the hotel and found the cabin easily. My hands were frozen as I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door which refused to move. I pushed it harder. I was thinking of breaking a window to prevent myself from freezing to death when I took my hand off the handle and the door opened gently towards me.
After recovering in the warmth of the cabin, which was actually very comfortable, I went outside again. I realised I wasn’t completely alone as I saw car headlights on the road nearby. It was a clear evening full of red, green and blue light in the frozen air. It was so beautiful I wanted to write a poem about it but I had no paper. I could only spend ten minutes outside at a time so I went in and out of the cabin to watch the amazing Northern Lights. I only spent three days there. I was sorry I’d booked a ticket on the train to continue my journey so soon.
1 What is the writer trying to do?
a. persuade other people to visit the Arctic Circle
b. describe his own experiences in the Arctic Circle
c. give advice on travelling to the Arctic Circle
d. explain why he decided to go to the Arctic Circle
2 When he got off the train, the writer felt
a. confused about what to do next.
b. surprised at how cold it was.
c. worried about finding a hotel.
d. sorry he was not still on it.
3 What was the problem when the writer got to the cabin?
a. He pushed the door instead of pulling it.
b. The key didn't turn because of the frozen lock.
c. He couldn't see what he was doing.
d. He had to break a window to get in.
4 How did the writer spend the evening?
a. He stayed inside the cabin and looked out at the stars.
b. He tried to write about what he could see.
c. He walked along the road towards a light.
d. He went outside for short periods of time.
5 What did the writer put in his diary that day?
a. I'm sorry I came here as there's nothing to do in the dark.
b. If I had a car, I could drive around and see more of the area.
c. The best thing about being here is seeing the night sky.
d. It's a pity this is the only room the hotel could offer me.
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