Part 3

Questions 11-15
For each question choose the correct answer.

The Wrong Train Home

Last October, I travelled to Edinburgh for a friend’s wedding. It was a lovely weekend, full of celebration and catching up with people I hadn’t seen in years. By Sunday afternoon, I was exhausted but happy. I made my way to Waverley Station, found a seat on the 15:42 train to Newcastle, and fell asleep almost immediately.

I woke up about an hour later. The train was stationary, and the carriage was almost empty. Outside the window, the station sign said ‘Carlisle.’ For a moment, I felt confused. Carlisle is in the opposite direction from Newcastle. I had got on the wrong train.

I grabbed my bag and hurried onto the platform just as the doors were closing. The station was small and quiet. The next train back towards Newcastle wasn’t for another two hours. I sighed, found a bench, and accepted my mistake. There was no point getting angry about something I couldn’t change.

That’s when I noticed the bookshop. It was one of those tiny independent shops that you rarely see in big city stations anymore. The window display was full of old maps and travel writing. I had time to kill, so I went inside.

The owner was an elderly man with bright eyes and a Scottish accent so thick I had to concentrate to understand him. We started talking about the maps in the window, and somehow the conversation turned to my grandfather, who had worked on the railways his whole life. The man listened carefully, then disappeared into a back room. He returned with a worn book about the history of the Carlisle railway line. ‘Your grandfather would have known this stretch well,’ he said.

I bought the book and spent the next two hours reading it on the platform bench, completely absorbed. When my train finally arrived, I almost didn’t want to leave.

I eventually got home around nine o’clock that evening, much later than planned. My flatmate asked if I was annoyed about the delay. I thought about the quiet station, the kind bookshop owner, and the book now sitting in my bag. ‘No,’ I said. ‘It was actually the best part of the weekend.’

11 How did the writer feel when she got on the train at Edinburgh?
A Annoyed that the weekend was over.
B Tired after a busy social event.
C Worried that she might fall asleep.
D Excited to be going home.

12 What did the writer do immediately after realising her mistake?
A She decided to wait on the train until the next stop.
B She became annoyed but tried to stay calm.
C She got off the train quickly.
D She looked around for a member of staff.

13 What does the writer say about the bookshop at Carlisle station?
A It was larger than she had expected.
B It was the kind of shop rarely found in major stations.
C It only sold books about trains and railways.
D It was about to close when she arrived.

14 How did the writer feel during the two hours she waited at Carlisle?
A She wished she had stayed on the train.
B She became interested in something unexpected.
C She kept checking the time, hoping the wait would pass quickly.
D She regretted not bringing something to read.

15 Which of the following best describes what the writer learned from this experience?
A An unplanned change to your journey can sometimes lead to something valuable.
B It is always worth paying extra for a faster train ticket.
C Small bookshops are more interesting than large station shops.
D You should always check the destination before getting on a train.

For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary