Part 3

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

Joshua’s Fancy Car

When Joshua was 23, he bought an old Italian sports car. It was not a famous model, but it had a bright red body and a powerful engine, and Joshua had wanted a car like it since he was a child. He found it for a surprisingly low price and thought he had found a great opportunity.

There was one problem. The car had already travelled a long distance and had not been looked after very well. The previous owner told Joshua that it sometimes needed repairs, but Joshua wasn’t too worried. He had a full-time job and thought he could afford to fix small problems when they appeared.

At first, Joshua decided to use the car to go to work every day. His journey was about 30 kilometres each way, and he enjoyed driving the car much more than his old family car. People often looked at it when he stopped at traffic lights, and his colleagues liked seeing it outside the office.

However, the problems soon started. One morning, the engine stopped while Joshua was on his way to work. A few days later, one of the doors wouldn’t open, and then the car developed a problem with its cooling system. Joshua began to worry whenever he drove it somewhere far from home.

The biggest surprise was how much the repairs cost. A mechanic explained that some parts for the old car were difficult to find, so they were more expensive than parts for modern cars. Joshua also discovered that the car used much more fuel than his previous one. Although he had paid little for the car itself, keeping it on the road was becoming expensive.

After about six months, Joshua stopped using it for his daily journey. He bought a small modern car for work instead and kept the sports car at home. With all the car-related expenses needed covering now he couldn’t afford breaking down on the way to the office and losing his job. He still takes the sports car out when the weather is good and he has enough free time to enjoy driving it.

Joshua says he has no regrets about buying the car. “I wouldn’t want it as my only way of getting to places,” he says. “But now I can enjoy it without worrying about being late for work or getting a huge repair bill the next day.”

11 Why did Joshua buy the sports car?
A He thought its low price made it a good chance to own a car he liked.
B He believed its previous owner had kept it in excellent condition.
C He had wanted to own a car like it for many years.
D He expected it to be cheaper to run than his old family car.

12 What does the writer tell us about Joshua’s first weeks with the car?
A He enjoyed driving it, even though problems soon appeared.
B He was pleased that his colleagues thought it was a good choice.
C He was disappointed that it was not as powerful as his old car.
D He quickly decided that travelling to work in it was too risky.

13 What surprised Joshua most about owning the sports car?
A How difficult it was to find parts for the car.
B The cost of keeping the car running.
C The amount of fuel the car used.
D How often the car broke down.

14 Why did Joshua replace the sports car with a modern car for his journey to work?
A He wanted to spend less money on fuel and repairs.
B He was no longer interested in driving the sports car every day.
C He needed a car that would make his journey to work more dependable.
D He found that his old car was not suitable for such a long journey.

15 What does Joshua mean when he says, “I wouldn’t want it as my only car”?
A He thinks the car is enjoyable but not practical for everyday life.
B He would only keep the car if its repair costs became lower.
C He prefers his modern car because it is more rewarding to drive.
D He thinks he may eventually sell the sports car and buy another one.

For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary