Read the following message.
Hi Sophie,
Despite the rain, we had a lovely time at the beach with you on Sunday. It was disappointing that we could not take the surfing lesson, but the children were delighted to swim in the sheltered area and play together. They have already asked when we can go back.
The surf school has offered to move our lesson to another Sunday at no extra charge. The booking must be used within six weeks, and we need to choose a date together because it was made for the whole group. I am free on the 12th or the 19th. Please let me know if either works for you.
Next time, I suggest taking lunch with us. The cafe queue was so long that we missed nearly an hour of time on the beach. We can still buy drinks there if we want, but packed lunches would give us more flexibility.
I found a small blue towel in our bag when we got home. It is not ours, so I think one of your children may have left it with us. I have washed it and can bring it to your house on Wednesday evening, or keep it until our next outing.
There is no need to pay the surf school again. I have the original confirmation email and will contact them once we agree on a date.
Best,
Tom
Using the drop-down menu (▾), choose the best option according to the information given in the message.
2.Speaking of the children, Tom says
3.Tom is writing to Sophie mainly to
4.Tom suggests packed lunches since
5.Tom has found
6.After they select a date, Tom will
Here is a response to the message. Complete the response by filling in the blanks. Select the best choice for each blank from the drop-down menu (▾).
The children would love to return. We are unavailable on the 12th, so the 7. works for us. I understand we can move the lesson 8., provided we use it within six weeks. Taking lunch should help us avoid 9. The blue towel is ours; please bring it on 10. Once our date is settled, please 11.
Best,
Sophie
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Correct Answer: the surfing lesson
Why this is correct: The rain stopped the group from taking the surfing lesson. The rest of their beach visit still happened.
Passage Reference: It was disappointing that we could not take the surfing lesson, but the children were delighted to swim in the sheltered area and play together.
Tips: Separate the cancelled activity from the activities that continued.
Why the other options are wrong:
- all swimming at the beach: The children swam in the sheltered area.
- the children’s games: They played together.
- the whole beach outing: They still had a lovely time.
Correct Answer: they enjoyed it and want to return
Passage Reference: They have already asked when we can go back.
Why this is correct: Tom's message says the children were delighted to swim and play together, and they have already asked when they can go back. So they enjoyed it and want to return.
Tips: To judge a feeling reported in a message, use actions as clues. Asking to go back shows enjoyment.
Why the other options are wrong:
- they were unable to do any activities: They swam and played.
- they enjoyed only the cafe: They enjoyed swimming and playing.
- they want to avoid the beach: They ask to return.
Correct Answer: choose a new lesson date together
Passage Reference: The booking must be used within six weeks, and we need to choose a date together because it was made for the whole group. I am free on the 12th or the 19th.
Why this is correct: The missed surfing lesson can move to another Sunday. Tom needs Sophie to pick the 12th or the 19th with him because the booking covers the whole group. The lunch idea and the note about payment also look ahead to that next outing. So Tom is writing mainly to choose a new lesson date together.
Tips: Tom writes about the rain, the surf school, paying, lunch and a towel. Say in a few words why he mentions each one, then test each option against your notes.
Why the other options are wrong:
- complain about the rain on Sunday: Tom says they had a lovely time despite the rain. He is not complaining.
- ask for payment for another lesson: Tom says there is no need to pay the surf school again.
- cancel their next trip to the beach: Tom is planning the next trip, and the children have already asked when they can go back.
Correct Answer: they save time otherwise lost in the cafe queue
Passage Reference: The cafe queue was so long that we missed nearly an hour of time on the beach. We can still buy drinks there if we want, but packed lunches would give us more flexibility.
Why this is correct: Waiting at the cafe cost the families almost an hour. Packed lunches would let them spend more time on the beach.
Tips: Connect a suggestion to the problem described just before it. Ask what went wrong when they bought food on Sunday.
Why the other options are wrong:
- food cannot be bought near the beach: They bought food at the cafe.
- the surf school requires packed meals: No such requirement is stated.
- the cafe has stopped serving food: It was busy, not closed.
Correct Answer: a towel that may belong to Sophie’s family
Passage Reference: It is not ours, so I think one of your children may have left it with us.
Why this is correct: Tom found a blue towel that does not belong to his family. He thinks one of Sophie’s children may own it.
Tips: Check both the object found and the clue about who may own it.
Why the other options are wrong:
- his own towel left at Sophie’s house: It is not theirs and is in his bag.
- a towel bought for the next lesson: It was found in their bag.
- a towel he knows belongs to the surf school: He thinks it belongs to Sophie’s family.
Correct Answer: contact the surf school
Passage Reference: I have the original confirmation email and will contact them once we agree on a date.
Why this is correct: Tom is waiting for the group to choose a date. He will then contact the surf school to move the booking.
Tips: Watch for time words such as once, which show what happens after another action.
Why the other options are wrong:
- wait until the six-week period expires: It must be used within six weeks.
- book individual lessons instead: The group booking remains.
- pay the full charge again: No extra payment is needed.
Correct Answer: 19th
Passage Reference: I am free on the 12th or the 19th.
Why this is correct: Sophie cannot attend on the 12th, so from Tom's offered dates the 19th is the one that works for her family.
Tips: Cross Tom's 12th-or-19th offer with Sophie's unavailability on the 12th.
Why the other options are wrong:
- 5th: Tom never offers the 5th. His free Sundays are the 12th or the 19th.
- 12th: Tom is free on the 12th, but Sophie says they are unavailable that day, so it cannot be the reply choice.
- 26th: The 26th is not one of the dates Tom lists.
Correct Answer: without an extra charge
Passage Reference: The surf school has offered to move our lesson to another Sunday at no extra charge.
Why this is correct: The school will move the lesson at no extra charge. The group must agree on another Sunday and use the booking within six weeks.
Tips: Keep the price condition separate from the deadline condition.
Why the other options are wrong:
- after the six-week period: The booking must be used within six weeks.
- without agreeing a group date: They must choose together.
- by paying for a second booking: No extra charge applies.
Correct Answer: the long cafe queue
Passage Reference: The cafe queue was so long that we missed nearly an hour of time on the beach.
Why this is correct: The long cafe queue took away nearly an hour of beach time. Bringing lunch will help the families avoid that delay.
Tips: Identify the inconvenience that the new plan is meant to prevent.
Why the other options are wrong:
- the booked surfing lesson: They want to take it.
- any contact with the cafe: They may still buy drinks there.
- the sheltered swimming area: It was enjoyable and not the problem.
Correct Answer: Wednesday evening
Passage Reference: I have washed it and can bring it to your house on Wednesday evening, or keep it until our next outing.
Why this is correct: Tom offers to bring the blue towel on Wednesday evening, and Sophie accepts that timing.
Tips: Find the paragraph about the item Tom found. Then read the day and time he offers to visit.
Why the other options are wrong:
- Tuesday morning: Tom proposes Wednesday evening, not Tuesday morning.
- Saturday evening: Saturday evening is not mentioned for the towel return.
- Friday afternoon: Friday afternoon does not appear in Tom's offer.
Correct Answer: contact the surf school
Passage Reference: I have the original confirmation email and will contact them once we agree on a date.
Why this is correct: Sophie asks Tom to carry out the next stated step. That step is contacting the surf school after their date is settled.
Tips: Find Tom's promise about what he will do after a choice is made. The word 'once' is your signal.
Why the other options are wrong:
- pay the full fee again: No additional fee is required.
- cancel the group booking entirely: They want to move it.
- arrange separate dates for each person: It is a whole-group booking.
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