Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Priya has been looking at travel websites all week. She and her friend Marcus want to go away for the weekend, but they cannot agree on a destination. Priya wants to visit the coast. She loves the smell of the sea and long walks on the beach. Marcus, however, prefers mountains. He says mountain air is fresher than sea air, and the views are more spectacular.
After a long phone call on Tuesday evening, they finally made a decision. They are going to visit Lake Windermere in the north of England. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by green hills, so both of them are happy. Priya has already booked a small guesthouse near the water. It is cheaper than a hotel but very comfortable. They are going to travel by train on Saturday morning and come back on Sunday evening.
Marcus is planning to bring his camera because he wants to take photographs of the countryside. Priya is going to pack a picnic for Saturday lunch. She checked the weather forecast, and it will be mostly sunny with a little cloud. They both feel excited. It will be their first trip together, and they cannot wait to go.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about planning a weekend trip carefully, then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where does Maria want to go for her weekend trip?
Answer: Maria wants to go to the mountains for her weekend trip.
Planning a Weekend Trip
Have you ever tried to plan a trip with friends and found it harder than you expected? Sometimes everyone has different ideas about where to go and what to do! In this passage, you will read about two friends who are organising a weekend away. Before you read, think about these questions: What do you usually look for when choosing a place to visit for a short trip? Do you prefer busy cities or quiet places in nature?
Reading Passage: The Perfect Weekend Away
Priya has been looking at travel websites all week. She and her friend Marcus want to go away for the weekend, but they cannot agree on a destination. Priya wants to visit the coast. She loves the smell of the sea and long walks on the beach. Marcus, however, prefers mountains. He says mountain air is fresher than sea air, and the views are more spectacular.
After a long phone call on Tuesday evening, they finally made a decision. They are going to visit Lake Windermere in the north of England. It is a beautiful lake surrounded by green hills, so both of them are happy. Priya has already booked a small guesthouse near the water. It is cheaper than a hotel but very comfortable. They are going to travel by train on Saturday morning and come back on Sunday evening.
Marcus is planning to bring his camera because he wants to take photographs of the countryside. Priya is going to pack a picnic for Saturday lunch. She checked the weather forecast, and it will be mostly sunny with a little cloud. They both feel excited. It will be their first trip together, and they cannot wait to go.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| destination | noun | the place you are travelling to | Paris is a very popular travel destination in Europe. |
| coast | noun | the land next to the sea | We drove along the coast and saw beautiful cliffs. |
| spectacular | adjective | very impressive and exciting to look at | The view from the top of the hill was spectacular. |
| surrounded by | phrase | having something all around it | The old castle is surrounded by a deep forest. |
| guesthouse | noun | a small, private house where people can pay to sleep and have breakfast | They stayed in a friendly guesthouse near the market. |
| forecast | noun | information about what the weather will be like in the future | The forecast says it will rain tomorrow afternoon. |
| pack | verb | to put things into a bag or box before a trip | Don't forget to pack an umbrella if it looks cloudy. |
| countryside | noun | land outside cities, with fields, hills, and nature | The English countryside is beautiful in spring. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming the Passage
Before you read every word, skim the passage quickly. Look at the first sentence of each paragraph to get the general idea. Ask yourself: Who is this about? What are they doing? Where are they going? This helps you understand the structure before answering questions.
Scanning for Specific Information
When a question asks for a specific detail — for example, where they are staying or how they are travelling — do not re-read everything. Instead, scan the text quickly for key words like guesthouse, train, or Saturday. These signal words will take you directly to the answer.
Understanding Opinions and Preferences
Pay close attention to words like wants, prefers, loves, and says. These words tell you what a character thinks or feels. In this passage, Priya and Marcus have different preferences at the beginning, but they reach a compromise. This is an important detail for comprehension questions.
Using Context for Unknown Words
If you see a word you do not know, look at the sentence around it. For example, if you are not sure what guesthouse means, the sentence tells you it is cheaper than a hotel but very comfortable. This context helps you understand the meaning without using a dictionary.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Trap 1: Confusing Preferences with Final Decisions
At the start of the passage, Priya wants to go to the coast and Marcus wants to go to the mountains. However, they do not go to either of these places. Their final destination is Lake Windermere. Be careful — a question might ask where they are going, and the answer is not the coast or the mountains. Always read to the end before answering.
Trap 2: Who Booked What?
The passage says Priya booked the guesthouse and is going to pack the picnic. Marcus is going to bring his camera. These are different people doing different things. A question might try to confuse you by switching names. Read carefully to match the correct person to the correct action.
Trap 3: Transport Details
They are travelling by train. Some students guess "by car" because they are going to the countryside. However, the passage clearly states the transport method. Always look for specific words rather than making assumptions based on general knowledge.
Trap 4: The Weather
The forecast says it will be mostly sunny with a little cloud. This does not mean it will be completely sunny or that it will rain. If a question asks about the weather, avoid choosing an answer that says "perfect sunshine" or "rain" — both are too extreme.
Quick Summary
In this passage, two friends — Priya and Marcus — plan a weekend trip together. They have different ideas at first, but they compromise and choose Lake Windermere. Priya books the accommodation, checks the weather, and plans a picnic. Marcus wants to take photographs. They are both excited about their first trip together. The text uses going to for plans, comparatives for opinions, and past simple for decisions that were already made.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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