READING PRACTICE 2

Name: .......................................
You are going to read a magazine article in which an actress describes her life in London. For questions
31-36, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Home Away from Home

Actress and TV presenter Amanda Buxton talks about London, her newly adopted home.

I suppose I’d been considering relocating to the capital for some time. Since I made the move from provincial
theatre to television, I’ve found most auditions for major TV series are held here in the city. I have an agent
here, which is a great help. When I was up north, it was like trying to manage my career by remote control.
You have to be on hand, at the heart of things, if you’re serious about building a future in television, or
international acting for that matter. Let’s face it, London has the country’s best theatres, TV and film studios,
so it’s not that you have a choice, really. I don’t regret the move. In fact, there’s a lot about this city I have
come to love.

I grew up in a town that was built in the 1930s, so I really appreciate the sense of history here and all the
different styles of architecture. Even some of the neglected, run-down areas have character, in my opinion.
Another aspect of London I have always appreciated is the parks. Major urban centres need green areas
and London has these in abundance. You’re spoilt for choice. And the city council really knows how to make
the most of them. Throughout the summer the parks are alive with entertainment, concerts and plays.
I remember the first time I saw Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Regents Park. Watching
theatre in the open air under the stars is an experience second to none.

And when it comes to holidays, London isn’t a bad choice at all. Just after I’d moved here, I was working
14-hour days on a new TV series and felt in desperate need of a break. Everyone kept urging me to take off
to some exotic corner of the Pacific just to laze around on a white beach with palm trees. When the
rehearsals for the series finally ended, I couldn’t face a beach – I would have gone crazy with nothing to do
after all that excitement and activity.

A relaxing beach holiday can be great, but I realised I needed lots of stimulation of another kind. I needed to
wind down gradually, I suppose. So when it came to the crunch, I stayed here. While it’s true that London’s
a non-stop, hectic city, sometimes that’s just what I need to recharge my batteries. Having been so busy, I’d
hardly had time to get to know the city. At first I couldn’t get over the shops – I spent most of my time just
wandering wherever the mood took me and hunting for unusual bits and pieces to decorate the flat that I’d
just bought in Hampstead, north London.
line “Why there?” you may ask. Well, Hampstead offers you the best of both worlds. It’s the heath, you see. I love
22
walking on the heath with my dog, Lucas. It’s almost like being out in the country. It’s also my retreat, where
I hide away from celebrity life and relax, especially when I’m not in the mood to be with people. When my TV
series became such a big hit, privacy began to be an issue for me. I’m frequently recognised now and in
some of the places I’ve visited on holiday, I’ve turned into one of the tourist attractions. So I really appreciate
the opportunity to be alone at home with a view of fields and flowers, and London’s skyline in the distance.
I suppose you’d say my home has become my favourite holiday destination .

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Name: .......................................

31 What was the writer’s main reason for moving to London?

A There are few theatres or TV studios in her home town.
B Leading roles in TV, films and theatre are cast there.
C She needed an agent in London to represent her.
D It had always been a place she loved to visit.
32 The writer enjoys being in London because
A she knows a lot about the architecture there.
B the area she lives in has a lot of character.
C it’s very different from her home town.
D it has the most modern buildings in the country.
33 According to the writer, what is special about London’s parks?
A You can enjoy a business lunch outdoors.
B They are located far from the noise of traffic.
C They are lively places to choose to spend your time.
D They offer a unique summer programme of cultural events.
34 According to the writer, how did she benefit from a holiday in London?
A There were great bargains on sale in the shops.
B It was a pleasant change from a sunny beach holiday.
C The city’s pace made her feel more energetic.
D She became familiar with less well-known parts of the city.
35 What does the writer mean by ‘the best of both worlds’ in line 22?
A the benefits of rural and urban life
B the enjoyment of a home and a holiday
C the convenience for work and home
D the opportunity for privacy and fame at the same time
36 What do we learn about the writer in the last paragraph?
A She rarely has time for holidays.
B She is not a very sociable person.
C She is approached by fans at home.
D She feels that fame has its drawbacks.

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Name: .......................................
You are going to read an article about a children’s hospital. Six sentences have been removed from the
article. Choose from the sentences A-G the one which fits each gap (37-42). There is one extra sentence
which you do not need to use.
Evelina Children’s Hospital
Nurse Gemma Morton talks about the unusual hospital where she works and how it was designed.
“Going into hospital is not much fun. And for children it
can be especially difficult,” explains senior nurse
Gemma Morton. “Away from home, separated from
their parents, and sometimes quite ill, younger
patients find a hospital a frightening place. The
traditional environment of long, empty corridors and
row after row of identical beds doesn’t help much
either.” But perhaps this new children’s hospital has
changed all that. The Evelina Children’s Hospital
opened in October 2005 and has been described as
“a hospital unlike any other”. What makes it unique is,
firstly, the role played by the children in its creation,
and secondly, the building itself. “At every stage of the
design process, young patients and their families were
involved in shaping this new environment and its
unusual architecture,” says Gemma.
“You see, when the architects began working on the
project, their aim was to create a hospital that does
not feel like a hospital. We all felt the building had to
be attractive, fun and friendly, with the atmosphere of
a playground,” Gemma adds. 37 But other
challenges also faced the architects; the chosen site
was next to a busy road and surrounded by the older,
existing buildings of St Thomas’ hospital.
To counteract this sense of being closed in, architects
incorporated a remarkable feature into the building –
a huge atrium, reaching from the ground to the roof
and made entirely of glass. 38 The wards on
each floor can be reached by lifts in towers located in
this central space. “The lifts are red and shaped like
rockets and are just one example of many fun
features included in the design. It’s very child-
oriented,” says Gemma proudly.
A The system not only appeals to children but also
removes the need for directions in different
languages.
B Attention to such details makes a world of
difference to sick children, and by trying to answer
the young patients’ needs, the hospital provides for
their medical, emotional and educational well-being.
C It became apparent that children wanted an
environment they could relate to, with wards
named after animals for example, instead of
having names that meant nothing to them.
“The theme of the building is the natural world and
the design of each floor is devoted to a different
aspect of it. For example, the ground level, coloured
blue, represents the sea and the top level, in purple,
is the sky. To find your way about, you follow signs
bearing symbols representative of each floor, like a
fish for sea level or a star for sky level.
39 After all, the hospital is located in one of
London’s most multi-ethnic districts.”
The design ideas were based on the views of young
patients in other hospitals and of local
schoolchildren. They were asked to describe what
they liked and disliked about hospitals.
40 “Their comments helped not only the
architects but also us, the hospital staff, understand
what makes the difference between a happy stay in
hospital and an unhappy one,” says Gemma.
“For example, each patient’s bed has a pull-down
bed alongside it so that parents can spend the night.
And as nurses, we wear animal T-shirts and badges
instead of plain uniforms,” she says.
41 Daily instruction is provided in small
groups for patients. The curriculum covers academic
subjects such as science, technology and art, and
mandatory studies in literacy and maths.
42 And as Gemma points out, “Evelina
Children’s Hospital is proof that a hospital doesn’t
have to be cold and impersonal, but it can be a place
of imagination and fun instead. And I believe that
other hospitals will soon follow our example.”
D At the same time, it also needed to meet all
the requirements of a working hospital.
E As a result, this conservatory is filled with
daylight and sunlight and gives the impression
of being outside.
F These include a play area, a restaurant and
a school for long-term patients.
G Furthermore, children on extended stays in
hospital or those who require regular ongoing
treatment may attend the hospital school.
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Name: .......................................
You are going to read a magazine article in which four people describe locations in Ireland that they love.
For questions 43-52, choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.

Which person

describes the seasonal beauty of their favourite place? 43

makes a comparison with other places? 44

mentions how enjoyable it is to visit local shops there? 45

discovered their favourite place by chance? 46

is impressed by the lasting quality of the place? 47

regrets not being able to spend more time there? 48

appreciates the fact that you can escape from a busy routine there? 49

discusses the place’s religious significance? 50

recommends the place for its sports activities? 51

has made a home in their favourite place? 52

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Name: .......................................
My Ireland
Four people talk about places they love in Ireland.
A SHANNON
When I was a child, the annual family holiday meant
“getting away from it all”. Since my parents owned
a cabin cruiser, every summer we sailed the Erne
waterway. It’s a paradise for bird life, wild flowers and
fishermen, with unrestricted boating around 154
islands, set in 500 miles of waterway. It contrasts so
strongly with the urban sprawl of modern cities. And if
you’re looking for a pristine spot for camping or
a simple picnic, you’re spoilt for choice here. My
favourite place is Boa Island. As children, we’d let our
imaginations run wild as we played among ancient
Celtic statues of two-faced pagan gods or explored
the Navar forests. Watching the sun set over the
Donegal mountains has always left me with a feeling
of tranquility – so hard to find in this hectic world
today.
B LIAM
It’s the mile walk along the 17th-century city walls that
always brings me back to Londonderry – a city
steeped in history that perches on top of the hill at the
mouth of the River Foyle. Being on the coast,
Londonderry has withstood attacks from land and sea,
and its city walls still stand unbroken today. Another
favourite walk is along the main thoroughfare
Shipquay Street, though it’s very steep. You can lose
yourself in the maze of narrow streets leading off it as
you browse the stores and craft village tucked in
behind the ancient tower. It’s this old-world charm in
the heart of a thriving, modern city that lures me back
time and again. And there’s a sense of permanence
about Londonderry. In hundreds of years’ time, it will
still be standing like a guard at the gate of Ulster.
C ANGELA
Popular songs have made the Mourne mountains
probably the most famous peaks in Northern Ireland.
Tucked away in a remote south-east corner of Ulster,
there are 12 summits rising over 2,000 feet.
A spontaneous decision to join a hiking trip brought
me to the barren peak of Slieve Donard which
dominates the mysterious blue landscape. Since
then, I’ve made the climb of almost 3,000 feet alone.
It takes a good few hours to do, but reaching the
summit is always worth it. Offering a panorama
across the Irish Sea, the view takes your breath
away. Working as a journalist precludes my visiting
as often as I’d like, but when I do, I stay in a small
B&B in Newcastle. It’s situated on a coast notorious
for smuggling in the 18th century, but today it’s more
famous for its scenic walks, horse riding and golf
courses.
D SEAN
Once referred to as my sweet hill by St Patrick,
Armagh was the spiritual capital of Ireland for over
1,500 years. As it expanded, numerous public
buildings, including two cathedrals, were erected.
The builders of Armagh’s Georgian townhouses were
delighted to find a unique local limestone. When
polished, its pink, red and yellow stones make the
city glow even on a cloudy day. I spent my childhood
playing hide and seek in its elegant streets and can’t
imagine living anywhere else. My favourite getaway
is a short drive north of the city to the rich fruit-
growing country often called the orchard of Ireland.
On Apple Blossom Sunday, in late May, the orchards
are a mass of pink and white flowers, whose
fragrance fills the air. And from August onwards,
roadside stalls are laden with fruit pies spiced with
cinnamon.