Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Choose the correct word(s).

1. I often get headaches because I spend too much / many hours on my computer.

Choose the correct word(s).

2. Excuse me, this shirt isn’t enough big / big enough. Do you have a larger size?

Choose the correct word(s).

3. We have no / none time for arguments. Just hurry up and do it!

Choose the correct word(s).

4. I don’t like living in the city – there’s too much / many traffic.

Choose the correct word(s).

5. They don’t have plenty / much money, but they’re still very generous.

Choose the correct word(s).

6. There are not / no enough seats for everyone.

Choose the correct word(s).

7. Very little / few money is being invested in the public health system.

Choose the correct word(s).

8. I was going to have a biscuit, but there aren’t none / any.

Choose the correct word(s).

9. There are very few / very little modern buildings in this town.

Choose the correct word(s).

10. There isn’t enough room / room enough in this car. I need a bigger one.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Complete the sentences with the  +  or  –  adjective or adverb form of the noun in brackets.

Write the word(s).

Write the word(s).

Write the word(s).

Write the word(s).

Write the word(s).

Write the word(s).

Choose the correct phrase. If both phrases are correct, put a tick (ü).

1. The heating’s on too high. Could you turn it down / turn down it?  ____

Choose the correct phrase. If both phrases are correct, put a tick (ü).

2. Could you plug the TV in / plug in the TV, please?  ____

Choose the correct phrase. If both phrases are correct, put a tick (ü).

3. Don’t forget to switch your phone off / switch off your phone in the cinema.  ____

Choose the correct phrase. If both phrases are correct, put a tick (ü).

4. Are you watching this TV or shall I turn off it / turn it off ?  ____

Match the words with the same sound.

1. phone  ________

Match the words with the same sound.

2. car       ________

Match the words with the same sound.

3. boot     ________

Match the words with the same sound.

4. horse   ________

Match the words with the same sound.

5. clock    ________

Choose the stressed syllable.

1. de|vice

Choose the stressed syllable.

2. un|comfor|ta|ble

Choose the stressed syllable.

3. im|pa|tient|ly

Choose the stressed syllable.

4. dis|co|nnect

Choose the stressed syllable.

5. e|lec|tro|nic

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

1. Question:

Sylvie bought a return ticket from Newcastle to London.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

2. Question:

The English family was planning to meet her when she got to Newcastle.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

3. Question:

When she spoke to the ticket inspector, she realized that she had travelled too far south.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

4. Question:

The nearest train station to Newcastle-under-Lyme is Stoke-on-Trent.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

5. Question:

The inspector advised her to get another train the next morning.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

6. Question:

Sylvie wasn’t worried about where she could stay that night.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

7. Question:

A woman offered her a bed in her spare room.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

8. Question:

Sylvie feels that her life changed because she hadn’t booked her train carefully.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

9. Question:

Jill kindly lent Sylvie some money.

Read the story and Choose the correct answer.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

10. Question:

Sylvie is now Jill’s mother-in-law.

Read the article again and answer the questions.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

Read the article again and answer the questions.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

Read the article again and answer the questions.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

Read the article again and answer the questions.

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Sylvie’s lucky mistake

When I left school, I went to England for the first time as an au pair in Newcastle-under-Lyme, a market town about 150 miles north of London. I had booked a train ticket from London to Newcastle online – it would take three hours and I would arrive in Newcastle at 9.30 p.m. on the Sunday evening. The family who I would be working for would meet me there.

When I was on the train, about halfway there, I asked a ticket inspector what time we would arrive at Newcastle-under-Lyme. He looked at me and said ‘You’re going in the wrong direction for Newcastle-under-Lyme. This train is going to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.’ I didn’t have very much English so it took a while for him to explain patiently that there were two different towns, both called Newcastle, and the one I was going to was unfortunately 200 miles further north than the one I needed to get to. As I was feeling very anxious, I asked him what I should do. He told me there was no station in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and that I would have to get off the train at York and take another train to a town called Stoke-on-Trent. And then a bus.

When I got to York that evening, however, I discovered that there were no more trains to Stoke-on-Trent until the next day. I was 17, from a small French village, and I had never travelled on my own before. I also had very little money, not enough for even a cheap hotel. I didn’t know what to do. I felt I was going to cry. Suddenly, a woman in her 40s, who had heard the conversation said, ‘Excuse me, but if you need somewhere to stay in York, I live here with my family. We have a spare room and you’re welcome to stay with us.’

I often think, if there had been a station at Newcastle-under-Lyme, or if I had known more about English geography, or if I’d been less careless about my booking, I wouldn’t have got on that train. So then I wouldn’t have met Jill, the lady from York. And if she hadn’t been so kind, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Oh, and obviously I wouldn’t eventually have married Ben, her son!

Listen to a radio programme about saving energy. Complete the sentences with one or two words. You may have to change the form of the words you hear.

Listen to five conversations. Choose the correct answer.