CAE Reading and Use of English Part 5
You are going to read an article about a person learning a skill. For questions 31-36 choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.
The Quiet Satisfaction of the Potter’s Wheel
My journey into pottery began, like many misguided projects, with a wave of confidence from watching online videos. I was captivated. I saw a shapeless lump of clay placed on a wheel and, under the potter’s calm guidance, transformed into a flawless, symmetrical vase. It looked less like a craft and more like a kind of quiet magic. It seemed so effortless. How hard could it be? I immediately signed up for a beginner’s course, my mind already filled with images of the elegant cups and bowls I would create.
The reality, I soon discovered, was a lesson in humility. The first hurdle was ‘wedging’ the clay—the process of kneading it to push out air bubbles. On screen, it was a simple, rhythmic motion. In practice, it was a strenuous, messy struggle. My arms ached, and no matter how hard I tried, the clay simply refused to do my bidding. But this was just the warm-up for the main event: the wheel itself.
My first time sitting at the spinning wheel was a test of patience and human spirit. The instructor demonstrated ‘centring’—the essential skill of anchoring the clay perfectly in the middle of the wheel. With a few easy pushes, her clay became a still, smooth dome. When I tried, it was a catastrophe. My hands, which I had always trusted, turned into clumsy, foreign objects. The clay wobbled, shuddered, and flew off at wild angles. I was losing a battle of wills. My first many attempts produced a series of lopsided, pathetic forms that collapsed the moment I touched them. The floor was soon spattered with grey sludge, and my apron was covered in it. My initial confidence had evaporated, replaced by a deep respect for anyone who could master this craft.
Yet, within the frustration, there was a strange appeal. The potter’s wheel demands your complete attention. You can’t let your mind wander to your shopping list or a work problem; the clay will instantly sense your distraction and rebel. I began to see that this total absorption was the whole point. It was a forced form of mindfulness. The noise and demands of the outside world faded away, replaced by the physical sensation of the cool, wet clay and the steady hum of the wheel.
Then, after what felt like endless failure, it happened. One evening, when almost looking forward to more disappointment, my hands seemed to understand something new. I stopped trying to force the clay and began to guide it. The wobbling went away and the clay became still, centred, a perfect cone under my palms. It was a moment of pure, quiet triumph. When I pressed my thumbs into the centre, the walls rose evenly, forming a delicate, hollow shape. It wasn’t a masterpiece—the walls were thick and a little uneven—but it was my bowl. It was there, and it felt like a reward for all my patience.
I still take classes. What I make is still a long way from the elegant pots I admired online. My pieces have their flaws; a handle might be awkward, a glaze might not turn out as I’d hoped. But I’ve started to appreciate these imperfections. They are the fingerprints of the process, a sign that a human hand made them, not a machine. The potter’s wheel taught me more than how to shape clay; it taught me the value of sticking with something, the value of commitment , and the profound satisfaction of creating something real with your own hands.
31 What is the writer’s main purpose in the first paragraph?
A To explain the technical process of making pottery.
B To describe the initial appeal and motivation for trying pottery.
C To criticise the misleading nature of online tutorials.
D To compare different methods of learning a new craft.
32 What did the writer discover about ‘wedging’ the clay?
A It was easier to master than using the wheel.
B It required more strength and effort than anticipated.
C It was the least enjoyable part of the process.
D It was a skill best learned through online videos.
33 How did the writer feel after their first attempts on the potter’s wheel?
A Annoyed that the instructor’s help had been ineffective.
B Confident that they would improve with more practice.
C Unsure whether they want to pursue this hobby.
D Humbled by the difficulty of the task.
34 What does the writer suggest about the ‘total absorption’ required by pottery?
A It is an exhausting and stressful demand.
B It makes the learning process unnecessarily intense.
C It is a welcome escape from daily pressures.
D It is similar to the focus needed for office work.
35 The writer’s description of the moment they successfully centred the clay emphasises
A the sudden and unexpected nature of the achievement.
B the amount of effort it took to achieve the result.
C the need for better equipment to facilitate learning.
D the extensive guidance they received from their instructor.
36 What does the writer now feel about the imperfections in their pottery?
A They show how much room for improvement there still is.
B They are a reminder of the handmade nature of the items.
C They add value to the item.
D They can only be avoided by the machine.
For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary
