Reading comprehension 11th form 2 term

Read the extract from a novel. Choose the correct answer.

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

1. After filming,

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

2. Dan’s feelings of guilt and anger were caused by the fact that he

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

3. When Elmira spoke to the director, 

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

4. When Dan found out that he was no longer wanted, he

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

5. The author shows

Dan’s revenge

The lights went off in the studio. Almost immediately, the tension in the air seemed to disappear. Some of the actors stood and chatted together. Others stood alone, stretching their aching muscles. The extras left the area quickly, no longer a part of the team, unappreciated and unwanted. Any who stayed hoping for a kind word of praise or advice were sent running by the security men who were there to protect the studio’s stars from anything that might disturb them. 

Only one actor noticed this and felt guilt and anger at the same time. Dan had worked his way up from being an extra himself. Anger because he remembered the way he had been treated and, although he wasn’t close to the extras he was working with, he hated it happening to them. Guilt because he wasn’t brave enough to speak out. He was still very much a junior member of the cast and he knew he could be sent back to where he came from if he upset his more famous colleagues. 

As he stood, lost in thought, he noticed Elmira Ray, the highest-paid star in the studio and one of the romantic leads in this movie. He smiled and made a friendly remark about the difficulties she’d had getting one of her scenes right. Elmira glared at him with hatred and turned away to where the director was deep in discussion with the producer. Elmira’s screaming voice was very unlike anything her fans had ever heard but it was well-known by all who worked with her. Her message was clear. She wanted Dan off the set, off the movie and, if possible, out of Hollywood. The director and producer exchanged knowing glances. They disliked Elmira intensely but they also knew how much she was worth to the studio. Whatever their feelings for Dan, if Elmira didn’t want to work with him, he would have to go. 

They called Dan over. They didn’t have to say anything. One look was enough for Dan. He’d been in the business long enough to know how things worked. ‘Oh well,’ he thought, ‘It has been fun while it lasted.’ He knew he could ask around at the other studios for work but his heart wasn’t in it anymore. He disliked the work, he disliked the people and he hated living in Los Angeles. He would go to the party that he had been invited to earlier that week but he would spend the time having fun, not desperately trying to impress people and begging for work. Tomorrow, he’d pack and head back east to New York. 

At eight o’clock that evening, wearing jeans rather than the usual dark suit, he arrived at an already packed villa high in Beverly Hills. As he walked in, he noticed Elmira. She glanced at him with no sign of recognition. He was no one important. Nothing to do with her or her life. She passed him and moved on, searching for more famous faces to spend her time with. Suddenly Dan knew what he had to do.

6. Why didn’t Dan defend the extras when they were treated badly?