CELPIP Reading Part 1 Practice Test: Storm Damage Help

Dear Maggie and Alex,

I have been thinking about you since the storm and was sorry to hear that water came into the basement. I can drive over from Kingston either this Saturday or the following weekend, but before I ask for time off work, I need your advice about what would actually help. I want any help I bring to preserve the evidence the insurer needs and support, rather than complicate, your claim. If you would rather rest that weekend, I can simply drop things at the door.

When Alex called, he said the adjuster can't come until Monday afternoon, and the insurer wants clear photos taken at that inspection before anything is moved. Soaked cardboard may still need to be shifted if it creates a safety problem, but nothing else should be touched until the Monday inspection is complete. If the damaged boxes and furniture need to stay where they are until then, I can wait. I could also come after the inspection and help carry things outside, sort dry items, or wash the storage shelves. Please be honest about the timing. I know that having visitors in the middle of a mess can be tiring, even when the visitors are friends.

I can bring useful supplies if you tell me what you are missing. I can also pick up bottled water or sandwiches if your kitchen is still unusable. I have two box fans, rubber gloves, heavy garbage bags, a small shop vacuum, and several plastic bins. I also have old towels that can be thrown away afterward. If there is still water in the basement, I should not handle electrical equipment or the pump, but I can help sort and clean damaged items.

My office needs vacation requests by Thursday afternoon, so could you let me know by then whether this weekend, next weekend, or neither is best? If the inspection means everyone should stay out until Monday, I will not be offended. I can also send supplies with Nisha, who is driving through your town on Friday. Most of all, I want you to know that you do not have to manage the cleanup alone.

Best,

Helen

Dear Helen,

Thank you so much for offering to help and for thinking about the insurance first. Alex and I will hold off until 7. Choose…the pump is fixedthe Monday inspection finishesthe towels dry outthe photos are taken before moving or sorting any non-urgent damaged items.

The fans, bins, towels, and gloves would all be useful for 8. Choose…getting insurance approvalreplacing the water pumpdrying and sorting itemsrunning electrical tests once the basement is safe to enter and use electrical equipment. We can keep the wet papers separate and set aside anything that should not be thrown out.

For safety, please don't handle 9. Choose…the damp document foldersthe plastic storage binsthe pump and equipmentthe clean household towels. We'll leave those jobs to qualified workers even if it all looks completely dry.

If next weekend feels safer, Nisha can leave the supplies at 10. Choose…our front dooryour front doorthe storage shelvesthe neighbor's porch on Friday, so we still have everything on hand.

We really appreciate that you 11. Choose…won't mind waitingwill repair everythingdemand quick accessexpect immediate cleanup until the inspection is done. Thank you for being so patient and generous with us.

Warmly,

Maggie and Alex