An Unexpected Change to a Walking Holiday
About this practice test
A short fictional travel narrative about two siblings whose walking holiday changes after bad weather and a closed bridge lead them along an unexpected route to a lake.
What you’ll practice
Finding detail
Locate specific information and evidence.
Interpreting ideas
Connect main points and inferences.
Evaluating arguments
Assess claims, evidence, and limitations.
What to expect:
10 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the passage for its main idea, then return to the relevant sentence or paragraph for each question. Base answers on the passage.
An Unexpected Change to a Walking Holiday
Maya and her brother Leo planned a four-day walking holiday in the hills near Bracken Water. They packed light boots, a map, and a rain jacket each. On the first morning, the guesthouse owner, Mrs Price, warned them that the upper path was wet after a storm. "Stay on the lower route today," she said, "and you will still see the lake." Maya was a little disappointed because the guidebook had promised a wide view from the ridge, but Leo was happy to start calmly. They set off after breakfast, following a quiet lane past sheep fields and a small stone chapel. An hour later, they reached a wooden bridge and found it blocked by fallen branches. While they were deciding what to do, a cyclist stopped and told them that the council had closed the bridge because part of it was unsafe. He pointed to a sign on a fence that showed a temporary path through an apple orchard. The new route was shorter than the one on their map, so Maya worried they would miss the lake before lunch. Still, they had no better choice. The orchard smelled sweet, and the ground was soft under their feet. They walked carefully between rows of trees, then climbed a narrow track that brought them out above the water. The change in plan turned out better than Maya expected. From the ridge above the lake, she could see the sun breaking through the cloud, and the far side of the hill looked silver in the light. They ate sandwiches on a bench near an old boathouse, then returned by a different path marked with blue paint. By the end of the day, Maya admitted that the unexpected detour had made the walk more interesting, and Leo said he liked holidays most when they included one surprise.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What is the passage mainly about?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- A four-day walking holiday changed after bad weather and a closed bridge
- A walk to a lake that ends before the walkers reach the ridge
- A guidebook's promise of a wide view from a hilltop
- A map that leads two walkers through an apple orchard
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- A four-day walking holiday changed after bad weather and a closed bridge
The passage centres on a walking holiday that is changed by weather and a closed bridge, leading to an unexpected but better route. The other choices mention only one small part of the story or a different activity.
The change in plan turned out better than Maya expected.
A four-day walking holiday changed after bad weather and a closed bridge: Correct. The walkers must change their plans because of the wet path and the closed bridge, and the new route improves the walk.
A walk to a lake that ends before the walkers reach the ridge: They reach the ridge above the lake and enjoy the view.
A guidebook's promise of a wide view from a hilltop: The guidebook is mentioned, but it is only one reason Maya is disappointed at first.
A map that leads two walkers through an apple orchard: The orchard is part of the changed route, but the passage is about the whole unexpected change to their holiday.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Why did the walking route change after they reached the bridge?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- They wanted to walk through the orchard instead
- The bridge was too small for walkers to cross safely
- Mrs Price asked them to return to the guesthouse
- The bridge was closed because part of it was unsafe
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- The bridge was closed because part of it was unsafe
The route changed because the bridge was unsafe and closed, so they had to follow another path. The other options do not match the passage.
the council had closed the bridge because part of it was unsafe
They wanted to walk through the orchard instead: They did walk through the orchard, but only after the bridge was blocked.
The bridge was too small for walkers to cross safely: The text says the bridge was closed because part of it was unsafe, not because it was too small.
Mrs Price asked them to return to the guesthouse: Mrs Price gave weather advice earlier, but she did not tell them to go back.
The bridge was closed because part of it was unsafe: Correct. This is the direct reason given for the change in route.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
In the sentence "He pointed to a sign on a fence", who does "He" refer to?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- the cyclist
- Mrs Price
- Leo
- a council worker
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- the cyclist
"He" refers to the cyclist who stopped and explained the closed bridge. Mrs Price and Leo are both mentioned elsewhere, but neither points to the sign.
a cyclist stopped and told them
He pointed to a sign on a fence
the cyclist: Correct. The cyclist is the man who stopped and showed them the sign.
Mrs Price: Mrs Price is the guesthouse owner who speaks earlier, but she does not point to the sign.
Leo: Leo is walking with Maya, but he is not the person pointing to the sign.
a council worker: A council worker is not mentioned at this point in the story.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does the word "detour" mean in the last paragraph?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- the fastest way back to the guesthouse
- a different route taken because of a problem
- a short break during a walk
- a large sign beside the lake
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- a different route taken because of a problem
Here, "detour" means a different route taken because the original way could not be used. It does not mean a rest, a map, or a faster route.
the unexpected detour had made the walk more interesting
returned by a different path marked with blue paint
the fastest way back to the guesthouse: A detour is not necessarily the fastest route, and that is not the meaning here.
a different route taken because of a problem: Correct. The walkers had to change their path because the bridge was unsafe.
a short break during a walk: The passage does not use the word for a rest.
a large sign beside the lake: The sign is mentioned earlier, but that is not what detour means.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
How did Maya feel when Mrs Price warned them about the upper path?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- disappointed
- angry
- bored
- pleased
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- disappointed
Maya felt disappointed because she had hoped for the wider view from the ridge. The other feelings are not supported by the text.
Maya was a little disappointed because the guidebook had promised a wide view from the ridge
disappointed: Correct. The passage says she was "a little disappointed".
angry: The text does not show anger.
bored: She is not described as bored at that point.
pleased: She was not pleased; she was disappointed about losing the ridge view.
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Question 6 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did the sign on the fence show?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- a temporary path through an apple orchard
- a warning that the lake was closed
- a map of the whole hill area
- the best place to have lunch
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- a temporary path through an apple orchard
The sign showed a temporary path through an apple orchard. The other options are not mentioned or do not fit the passage.
a sign on a fence that showed a temporary path through an apple orchard
a temporary path through an apple orchard: Correct. That is exactly what the sign showed.
a warning that the lake was closed: The lake was not closed; they later reach it.
a map of the whole hill area: The passage mentions their own map, but not a map on the fence.
the best place to have lunch: Lunch is mentioned later, but not on the sign.
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Question 7 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What can we understand about the new route compared with the one on their map?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It was longer
- It was exactly the same length
- It was shorter
- It could only be used by cyclists
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It was shorter
The passage clearly says the new route was shorter than the mapped one. The other choices are not supported.
The new route was shorter than the one on their map
It was longer: The passage says the opposite.
It was exactly the same length: This contradicts the passage.
It was shorter: Correct. The text directly compares the two routes.
It could only be used by cyclists: Walkers used it, so this is not right.
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Question 8 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What did Maya see when they reached the ridge above the lake?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- the apple orchard in front of them
- Mrs Price waiting at the guesthouse
- the sun breaking through the cloud
- the bridge they had left behind
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- the sun breaking through the cloud
Maya saw the sun breaking through the cloud. The other options are places or people mentioned elsewhere, not what she saw there.
From the ridge above the lake, she could see the sun breaking through the cloud
the apple orchard in front of them: They had already passed through the orchard before reaching the ridge.
Mrs Price waiting at the guesthouse: Mrs Price is not on the ridge with them.
the sun breaking through the cloud: Correct. This is the view described from the ridge above the lake.
the bridge they had left behind: The bridge was behind them, but this is not what she saw from the ridge.
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Question 9 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What does Leo's comment at the end show about his view of holidays?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- He wants to travel only by train
- He thinks walking holidays are tiring and unpleasant
- He prefers holidays with no changes at all
- He enjoys unexpected events
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- He enjoys unexpected events
Leo enjoys holidays that include surprises. The other options go against his final comment.
Leo said he liked holidays most when they included one surprise
He wants to travel only by train: Transport by train is not discussed.
He thinks walking holidays are tiring and unpleasant: He does not complain about the holiday.
He prefers holidays with no changes at all: He says the opposite: he likes a surprise.
He enjoys unexpected events: Correct. His comment shows he likes holidays that include a surprise.
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Question 10 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
What was Maya's final opinion of the unexpected change?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- It ruined the whole holiday
- It made the walk more interesting
- It meant they never reached the lake
- It was worse than the weather forecast
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- It made the walk more interesting
By the end, Maya thought the unexpected change made the walk more interesting. The other options do not match her final view.
By the end of the day, Maya admitted that the unexpected detour had made the walk more interesting
It ruined the whole holiday: The passage says the change made the walk more interesting, so this is wrong.
It made the walk more interesting: Correct. This is Maya's final view of the change.
It meant they never reached the lake: They did reach the lake, so this cannot be right.
It was worse than the weather forecast: The weather is not the main issue at the end, and Maya's view is more positive.
What to review next
Find the words that support each answer. For a mistake, compare the question with the evidence and identify the detail or inference you missed.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.
Before you practise: a worked example
Look for evidence in the text. Separate what the writer says from what you already know about the topic.
The library normally closes at six, but on Fridays it stays open until eight. When does it close on Friday?
The answer is eight. But introduces an exception to the normal closing time, so the first time mentioned is not the answer.
This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.