Part 7
You are going to read an article about memorable days. For questions 43 – 52, choose from the sections (A – D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which writer…
43. shared a memorable moment with a family member?
44. points out the life-changing nature of a red letter day?
45. had a red letter day that marked a long-awaited achievement?
46. gives examples of common memorable days?
47. clarifies their attitude to a particularly difficult time?
48. has sensory memories from a red letter day?
49. recalls potential red letter days that were spoiled by anxiety?
50. refused to think about the future on a red letter day?
51. mentions a red letter day that was not overshadowed by the problems that followed?
52. has kept a souvenir of a red letter day?
Red letter days
A Amber
It was a really empowering moment. I’d imagined how it might feel, but the reality was much, much more exciting. When you look forward to something so much that you can hardly sleep, there’s the danger that it’s going to be a bit of an anticlimax. This wasn’t. My best friend drove me to the garage to pick it up and I’ll never forget being given the keys. It wasn’t anything special and it certainly didn’t cost a fortune, but it was mine. I think people sometimes underestimate the importance of having a car and the freedom and independence it gives you. It lets you make choices and do things you’ve always wanted to do. That little sports car was rusty and broke down more often than I like to remember, but the day I sat in it for the first time was one of the best days of my life.
B Kush
It had been a challenging month. OK, to be totally honest, I’d hated every minute of it. An endless stream of revision, broken sleep, attacks of nerves and those horrible freeze moments. You know, when you turn over an exam paper and for a moment the words blur and your heart sinks because you can’t remember a thing. I’ve got an old-fashioned wall calendar and I took great pleasure in crossing off each exam as it finished. The final day was circled in red, with LAST ONE! in capitals. It was a literal red letter day! And wow, did I prepare for it. I went into that final exam dressed for celebrating and straight afterwards we all went into town to celebrate our freedom. What an evening. It marked the end of an era. We all put the thought of failure or resits to the very back of our minds and enjoyed the moment. I’ve still got the calendar by the way.
C Katie
It started out as a pretty normal day for me, trying to get my head round a new story plot. I’d been passionate about creative writing since I read my first story book at the age of six. And, it wasn’t as though it was unexpected. I’d been through the whole process from getting my proposal accepted (after a stack of rejections) through to final draft with everything that involved; the writer’s block; the irritation with editorial comments (What did they know?); the self-doubt and so on. But, ripping open the package when it landed on my door mat and holding the book in my hands literally brought tears to my eyes. I can still feel the weight of it and smell those fresh pages and see, in bold and shiny letters, my name under the title. The first of many I’m happy to say, but never ever another moment that could beat that one.
D Alfie
I guess most people would say that their red letter days include things like getting exam results or maybe something like their wedding or the birth of a child. I have to admit that I don’t remember much about my wedding – I was so nervous that things might go wrong! And what I mostly remember about the day my daughter was born was all the worry, because she arrived early and had to go in an incubator. No, for me the red letter day was when my wife and I were allowed to walk out into the hospital grounds with our tiny new baby in my arms for the very first time! We were exhausted but that couldn’t wipe the big smiles off our faces.
For this task: Answers with explanations :: Vocabulary