CELPIP Reading Part 1 Practice Test: Quebec Trip Plans

Dear Tom,

I have a few questions about my trip, and I'm hoping you can help. My cousin Nadine is getting married in Montreal on October 11, and my manager has approved 2 weeks of unpaid leave for me! That is more time off than I have had in years. My aunt has offered me her spare room for the days around the wedding, so that part is sorted. Once the leave was approved, I moved my return flight to the end of the following week, which leaves me 5 free days in between. I'd like to visit Quebec City and some of the pretty river towns before coming back to Montreal for my flight home, and since I was only ten the last time I was in Quebec, I'm really excited.

You did your master's in Quebec City, and you visit your sister Claire in Montreal every holiday, so you know both ends of this trip far better than I do. Could you suggest a place to stay in Quebec City for a night that's comfortable and not too expensive? I'd also like to know whether I should buy the train tickets now or wait until I get there. When I checked the website on Sunday, there were only a few discounted seats left on that line for the week I want, although I have no idea whether that is normal for October.

Then there's the rental car. Some of the villages I want to see get only one bus a day, and a car would get me there whenever I liked. Still, renting with insurance costs a lot, and Northway Rentals charges $150 extra if I leave the car in a different city. Parking inside the old walls sounds like a headache too, so I'm leaning towards the train. If the 5 days become 4, though, I don't know which part to give up: Quebec City, the river towns, or extra time in Montreal.

Let me know what you think whenever you get a chance. I finally painted the kitchen last weekend and the smell still hasn't gone away, so I'll be glad to get out of here for a while! Say hi to Claire for me.

Ruth

Dear Ruth,

Two weeks off is fantastic, though I'm 7. Choose…delighted to hearsorry to hearrelievedproud that it's unpaid. For your night in Quebec City, try Maison Laurier, a small guesthouse just outside the old walls. It's 8. Choose…cheap but comfortablethe priciest place in townfar from comfortableclosed in October, and the owner makes a great breakfast. You were 9. Choose…worrying for nothingright to be concernedgiven the wrong informationa little too relaxed about the train seats, since the cheap ones always sell out in the fall, so buy your tickets now. I think you're 10. Choose…quite rightmaking a mistakea little too carefulbrave to take the train, as the drop-off fee alone would cost more than your ticket and parking in the old town is a nightmare. If the trip does get cut to four days, I would give up 11. Choose…a day of the weddingthe river townsthe extra time in Montrealyour night in Quebec City, because you'll already have a few days at your aunt's. I've just started a new job at the college, so things are busy here, but I'll be at Claire's that week. Let's have dinner!

All the best,

Tom