Reading Comprehension (READING FOR THE BEACH)

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer!

1. How does the book reviewer feel about her holiday?

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer!

2. What does the book reviewer say about Henry Miller?

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer! 

3. What do we learn about Fever Pitch?

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer! 

4. What does the word ‘it’ in line 24 refer to?

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer! 

5. What is Julie’s opinion One Hundred Years of Solitude?

Read the text about various people's reading choices and answer the questions:

READING FOR THE BEACH

by resident book reviewer Magda Dutch

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is dusting down their travel bags, buying suntan lotion and generally getting into a state of high excitement at the thought of the work-free days ahead. I always get excited when I think of all the time I'll have on the beach or elsewhere, catching up on reading fiction. This year, among other titles, I’m going to reread one of my all-time favourites, Henry Miller's Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymous Bosch. For anyone not familiar with Miller's writing, this is probably the best of his works to start with. It describes the years he spent in an isolated and very unconventional community. Miller writes about his interesting encounters with some of the inhabitants, who seemed to agree with his unusual way of thinking. His carefree spirit and his love for his children emerge in this part-autobiographical, part-philosophical book.

Of course, this type of reading is not necessarily one’s cup of tea, so I asked a couple of my colleagues to tell me about their summer reading preferences. Ben Blair, one our sports correspondents, had this to say: ‘When I read a book, I like to have enough time to really get into it, and the only opportunity I have to do this is when I go on holiday. This year, I’m not really sure what I'm in the mood for, but more than likely it will be Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby. I’ve already managed to read a couple of pages. It's mainly about Hornby's own deep passion for football, and especially the Gunners - Arsenal Football Club. Being from North London myself, I am an avid fan of the Gunners too. In every chapter, Hornby describes a specific match and how that related to what was going on in his life at that time. Apparently, his description of Arsenal’s last-minute league win is so vivid that it is like experiencing the moment all over again. So, even though I have already got an idea of what I’m going to read, I can’t wait to get my nose into it!’ ( LINE 24 )

'The choice of our resident problem page Agony Aunt, July Scowan, was something completely different. ‘My favourite book, without a doubt, is One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It s a book that the average reader needs to read a number of times. It's not that it's a difficult read, but there are so many characters involved, in lots of different relationships, that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. I had to keep going back a few pages to remind myself of this person or that situation. However, Marquez has a way of involving you. The images he presents are so colourful and lively, and his description of Latin American culture with all its superstitions is so vivid that you become absorbed in the book. I could easily identify with the main character of the story, which really helps.

I have to say I agree with Julie, having already read the book.

So, whatever your choice, literature lovers, I wish you all a good solid read this summer! 

6. What is true of the book reviewer?