Instructions
Listen to the monologue. You can play it more than once. Then choose the best answer for each question. Check your answers before opening the transcript.Listen
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Comprehension questions
Where was the speaker travelling?
Why was the original flight cancelled?
What did the speaker worry about?
How did the speaker finally travel to Rome?
Who was Luca?
What lesson did the speaker learn?
Show transcript
Last spring, I travelled to Italy for a short holiday. I was supposed to fly from Vienna to Rome, but when I arrived at the airport, I discovered that my flight had been cancelled because of a technical problem. At first, I felt worried. I had booked a small hotel in Rome, and I thought I would lose my first night there. After waiting in a long queue, I spoke to an airline employee. She explained that I could take a later flight the next morning, but I decided to look for another way to travel. I took a train to a nearby city and then caught a night bus to Rome. The journey was much longer than I had expected. On the bus, I sat next to an Italian student called Luca. He was travelling home to visit his family, and he gave me some useful advice about getting around Rome. When the bus stopped for a break, we bought coffee and talked about our favourite places to visit. I finally arrived in Rome early the next morning, tired but pleased that I had found a solution. The experience taught me not to panic when plans change. In fact, I enjoyed the journey more than I expected, and I still keep in touch with Luca. Now, when I travel, I always leave some extra time in my plans.