Part 3

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

The Voice in the Hallway

I grew up in a quiet household. My parents were kind and attentive, but neither of them was particularly musical. We had a small radio in the kitchen, and that was about it. So I cannot really explain where the urge to sing came from. It was simply there, from as early as I can remember.

At primary school, I was too shy to sing in front of anyone. I would mouth the words in assembly while the confident kids around me sang out loudly. At home, though, I sang all the time. I sang in the shower, I sang while doing my homework, and I sang into the mirror with a hairbrush as my microphone. My parents never told me to be quiet, which I now realise was an act of great patience on their part.

When I turned thirteen, something shifted. A new music teacher arrived at my school. Her name was Mrs Okonkwo, and she was unlike any teacher I had known. She did not simply stand at the front and wave a baton. She walked around the classroom while we sang, listening to each voice individually. One afternoon, she stopped beside my desk and said, ‘You have a lovely tone. Have you ever thought about joining the choir?’

No one had ever said anything like that to me before. I was so surprised that I did not know how to respond. I mumbled something about not being good enough, and she smiled and said, ‘That is exactly why you should join. You have no idea what you can do yet.’

I did join the choir, though I spent the first few rehearsals barely making a sound. But gradually, surrounded by other voices, I began to trust my own. Mrs Okonkwo never pushed me. She simply gave me opportunities. A small solo here, a duet there. Each time I said yes, I felt a little less afraid.

Last month, fifteen years after I stood in that classroom and heard those words, I performed on a professional stage for the first time. The theatre was not huge, and the audience was modest, but the moment felt enormous. I thought about Mrs Okonkwo as I walked out into the lights. A single sentence, offered at the right moment, can change the direction of a life. I am living proof of that.

11 What does the writer say about her childhood home?
A Her parents were often too busy to spend time with her.
B Music did not play a large part in family life.
C She was discouraged from singing by her parents.
D The family owned very few possessions apart from a radio.

12 How did the writer feel when Mrs Okonkwo first spoke to her about her singing?
A Proud that her talent had been recognised at last.
B Embarrassed because she had been caught singing alone.
C Unsure how to react because she had never received such a comment before.
D Annoyed that the teacher had interrupted her during the lesson.

13 What does the writer say about her early weeks in the choir?
A She regretted joining and considered leaving.
B She was given a solo immediately to build her confidence.
C She relied on the presence of others to find her own voice.
D Mrs Okonkwo made her sing alone in front of the group.

14 What does the writer mean by saying ‘the moment felt enormous’ in the final paragraph?
A The theatre was bigger than she had expected.
B The experience was personally very significant, regardless of the setting.
C She was disappointed by how few people had come to watch.
D She felt pressure to perform better than she ever had before.

15 Which of the following best captures what the writer took from her experience?
A Talent is something you are born with, not something you can develop.
B A small piece of encouragement at the right time can have a lasting impact.
C Professional success is the only true measure of achievement.
D Teachers should push shy students harder to overcome their fears.

For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary