Passage 2
Shortly after the war, my brother and I were invited to spend a few days’ holiday with an uncle who had just returned from abroad. He rented a cottage in the country, although he rarely spent much time there. The cottage, however, had no comfortable furniture in it, many of the windows were broken and the roof leaked, making the whole house damp.
On our first evening, we sat around the fire after supper, listening to the stories our uncle had to tell of his many adventures in distant countries. I was so tired after the long train journey that I would have preferred to go to bed, but I could not bear to miss any of my uncle’s exciting tales.
He was just in the middle of describing a rather terrifying experience he had, when there was a loud crash from the bedroom above, the one where my brother and I were going to sleep.
“It sounds as if the roof has fallen in!” shouted my uncle, with a loud laugh.
When we got to the top of the stairs and opened the bedroom door, a strange sight met our eyes. A large part of the ceiling had collapsed, falling right on to the pillow of my bed. I was glad that I had stayed up late to listen to my uncle’s stories, otherwise I should certainly have been seriously injured, perhaps killed.
That night we all slept on the floor of the sitting room downstairs, not wishing to risk our lives by sleeping under a roof which might at any moment collapse on our heads. We left for London the very next morning and my uncle gave up his cottage in the country. This was not the kind of adventure he cared for, either!
36. What does the writer say about his uncle during the war?
A. He made a lot of money. B. He enjoyed many of his adventures.
C. He had a lot of adventures. D. He fought as a soldier.
37. When did the story most likely happen?
A. In the spring. B. In the summer.
C. In the fall. D. In the winter.
38. Why did the writer wish to go to bed at first?
A. He thought his uncle’s stories would be boring.
B. He was really tired from the long journey.
C. He had the habit of going to bed early.
D. His uncle’s stories made him sleepy.
39. Why was the writer glad after the accident?
A. He realized he would have a good sleep.
B. He had heard many exciting stories.
C. He had a narrow escape from death.
D. He had experienced a great adventure.
40. What did the writer’s uncle most likely do with the cottage after the accident?
A. He bought it and had it repaired.
B. He gave it to his neighbors.
C. He sold it to others.
D. He returned it to the landlord.
