A2 Reading Accommodation

A2 Reading Accommodation

Accommodation: Subject: Surfing Holiday

Hi Ellie,

I’m so pleased you can come surfing in August! Paul, Rose, and Kevin are coming too, so there will be five of us. We’ve decided to return to New Sands for a couple of days, because the surfboard hire is so cheap there. I’m starting to think about accommodation. We won’t camp again after last year! I hated staying in a tent in all that rain!

Kevin wants to hire a caravan. There are some nice ones with 3 bedrooms, showers and cooking facilities. The problem is none of the caravan parks take short bookings in the summer. The minimum stay is a week. It’s a shame because there are several nice parks near the beach. There’s a hostel for young people in New Sands. It’s the cheapest option after camping, and there’s a big kitchen and dining room where we can cook. The problem is accommodation is in dormitories and I don’t really want to sleep with strangers.

There are a few guest houses in New Sands. Some have triple rooms, so we only need to book two rooms. We’ll have to book soon if we choose that option, because many guest houses are already full. The hotels in New Sands are too expensive, although I’d love to stay at the Sunrise Pavilion with its large pool! The final option is to rent a cottage. I found one. It has three bedrooms – a double, a single and a twin, so two of us would have to share a bed! There’s a big kitchen diner with a microwave, washing machine and dishwasher. The living room has a TV and DVD player. There’s just one bathroom, but there’s a separate WC. There’s a nice garden too. The problem is, it’s 5 miles from the beach. Let me know which option you prefer.

Cheers, Natalie

Learn the vocabulary:

• hire - the action of hiring someone or something.

• facilities - a place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose.

• dormitories -  large bedroom for a number of people in a school or institution.

• expensive - costing a lot of money.

• twin - link; combine.

Multiple Choice

The friends want to stay in New Sands for ...

• a week

• a week and a half

• less than one week

Multiple Choice

Last year the friends stayed in a ...

• tent

• caravan

• youth hostel

Multiple Choice

Last year the friends had problems with ...

• the weather

• the transport

• their surfboards

Multiple Choice

The problem with the caravan park is that ...

• all the caravans are fully booked

• there are not enough beds for everyone

• caravans are only available for at least one week

Multiple Choice

Natalie doesn’t want to stay in the youth hostel because ...

• it’s too expensive

• she can’t cook her own meals

• she doesn’t want to share a room with people she doesn’t know

Multiple Choice

The guest houses ...

• are fully booked

• still have some free rooms

• don’t have rooms for three people

Multiple Choice

The Sunrise Pavilion ...

• costs too much

• has no rooms available

• does not have a swimming-pool

Multiple Choice

The cottage that Natalie found ...

• doesn’t have a toilet

• has one room with two beds

• doesn’t have a room with only one bed

Multiple Choice

In the cottage the ...

• bathroom is outside

• shower and the WC are in the same room

• cooking area and dining area are in the same room

Multiple Choice

The problem with the cottage is its ...

• size

• price

• location

Multiple Choice

Paul is Elisa’s older brother.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Paul no longer lives permanently with his family.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa and Paul used to have serious arguments.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Paul is often mean to Elisa when she is with her friend

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa enjoys arguing, but her friends and father don’t.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa’s father has built a house and is now building a boat.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Her father doesn't try to achieve his dreams.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa’s mother has just retired after working for over 20 years.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa’s wants to leave her parents' home.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Elisa’s mother is not very good at entertaining herself.

• true

• false

Use of English

Read the text and choose the correct answer for each gap.

Multiple Select

When I ________ my job two years ago I ________ love it.

• was starting / did

• have started / did use to

• started / used to

Multiple Choice

The truth is that I have a very high salary and the office is very close to home, but the problem is that since the day I started I _______ very few free weekends and I always work until very late in the evening.

• have had

• have

• had

Multiple Select

I often have to cancel plans with friends ________ work or I miss family celebrations, and I'm usually very tired and stressed. I'm not sure I can keep _______ this.

• because of / doing

• so / to do

• because / do

Multiple Select

I don't sleep enough, and I don't eat _______, because I don't have ________ to cook.

• healthy / time enough

• healthily / enough time

• good / many time

Multiple Choice

Apart from that, sport has always been very important in my life. I like being fit, and ________ sport is the way I have to feel well and reduce stress.

• doing

• to do

• do

Multiple Select

________, nowadays I don't have _______ time to exercise. With all these bad habits, I feel that I am putting my health at risk.

• Because / no

• Although / some

• However / any

Multiple Choice

I really need some advice. What would you do if you _____ me?

• were

• are

• would be

Multiple Choice

My salary is very high, and I can walk to work, but I feel horrible; I don't have a social life and I don't have a healthy life. Two years ago, before taking this job, I was much _______ and very happy.

• more fit

• fitter

• fiter

Multiple Choice

Now I am 28 and I have a lot of money in my bank account, but nothing else. The problem is that the jobs that ______ in the area where I live don't pay much,

• offered

• are offered

• offer

Multiple Select

and I'm afraid of making a decision ________ I might regret. So, what do you think? _______ I quit my job?

• who / Do

• where / Might

• which / Should