Reading : Horton

Read the texts and then answer the questions.

Horton
At first glance, there is little in Horton to attract people. The other nearby towns have much more to offer: Bradfield has its river and historic buildings, while Newtown has shops and entertainment. The buildings of Horton look dirty and unloved. For shops, there is a small supermarket, a few bargain shops, a bakery which, strangely, does not sell bread and a florist which has one stand of sad-looking flowers. Even so, Horton has several advantages over its neighboring towns.

Firstly, it has a country park. Four thousand years ago, this was an important fort. There are no historic remains here now, but there are wonderful views over the countryside. On sunny weekends you can often see kids out with their parents, kicking balls or flying kites.

There aren't many job opportunities in Horton, and the roads to nearby cities aren't really fast, but there are excellent rail links. You can be in London in an hour and a half, and other cities are less than an hour away. That means that parents can earn a good salary and still get home in time to spend the evenings with their families. Houses in Horton aren't pretty, but they’re functional and cheap. The streets are quiet and safe, and there are plenty of parks and playgrounds. It has a library, three primary schools and a secondary school, St. Mark’s.  It’s not as academically brilliant as other schools in the area, but it is friendly and offers a wide range of subjects and activities to children of all abilities and backgrounds.  The town also has a swimming and a sports center, and the community halls hold regular clubs and events for people of all ages.

1.What is the writer’s main purpose?

a) To explain what tourists can do in Horton 

b) To explain why Horton is a good place to live

c)To explain why Horton is not as pleasant as other towns 

d)To describe the history of Horton 

2.What part of Horton does the writer find disappointing?

a)The shops

b)The country parks

c)Transport links

d)The schools

3.What type of people is Horton most suitable for?

a)wealthy professionals 

b)low income families 

c)elderly people 

d)sport and history students 

4.What advantages does Horton bring to workers?

a) There are plenty of jobs available in the town. 

b)You can drive to nearby cities in a short time. 

c)You can get to several cities quickly by train. 

d) Working conditions are better here than in other towns.

5.Which of the following is the best description of Horton?

a) A quiet, country town which has a number of good leisure facilities. 

b) A friendly, historic town which is a great place to live, work and take a holiday. 

c) A busy, industrial town which has good links to neighboring cities. 

d)  A dirty, unpopular town which has little to offer visitors or residents. 

Now check you answers:

1.b

2.a

3.b

4.c

5.a