LONDON CALLING? I PREFER THE COMMUTE – CLOZE TEST

CLOZE TEST

Read the text and complete the chart below with a word from the list that comes after the text. Every word can only be used ONCE. There are FIVE words that you do not need to use. Question 0 has been answered as an example.

LONDON CALLING? I PREFER THE COMMUTE

A Metro article claims that 0) __________ train and tube fares mean it is now to cheaper to buy a home in London than make the commute in, but money isn’t everything, says Mark King.

On Saturday I opened the front door of our two-bed rented flat and walked seven minutes south to Hove beach, passing neighbours holding kayaks, families in swimming gear, and sunbathers returning for a 1) __________ from the heat. Ice creams were being hungrily devoured, 20-somethings were supping ice-cold beer, and children were 2) __________ as waves lapped at their feet.

This is the reason I moved from London to the coast.

The 3) __________, of course, is the commute. I’m not one of the lucky ones who can afford to live in an exorbitantly priced Brighton/Hove property on a local salary (I can’t really afford to buy a house there even with a London salary, but that’s a different story), so the 3.5 hour 4) __________ commute was always going to be the price I paid to live here.

This morning I read that many workers could save money by living in London, 5) __________ the higher price of homes in the capital. According to Metro, in some towns the cost of two standard class annual 6) __________ tickets will dwarf mortgage repayments on a typical semi-detached house when fare increases take effect next year.

The story, based on research from County Homesearch, claims a couple living in Colchester will pay £990 a month to travel to work in central London, 7) __________ a couple living in Greenwich will pay £197 to commute. This makes it cheaper to live in Greenwich even with a mortgage of £1,700 a month rather than the £1,000 a month a comparable property would cost in Colchester.

But there are problems with the survey First, it assumes commuters are paying separately to travel within London, but not everyone who commutes needs an Oyster card or to travel by tube at all. In fact, anyone moving out is a little foolish to choose a commute that involves a long train 8) __________ followed by arduous tube travel. I’d immediately subtract the Oyster cost for many commuters.

Second, the research includes car park charges. Many commuters do, of course, drive to a station, but not all. Younger travellers especially look to move near the station they will commute from – not least because they can’t afford to run a car or have not yet got into the 9 __________ of using one after years of city living.

Also, the survey is based on two couples commuting – a crazy scenario. If both partners need to travel long distances to work, you really have to question whether the move is worth it. For a couple with children, it is even more important that at least one partner is local in case of emergencies, or to do the school run etc – unless you can afford a paid employee to do all that for you.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the survey implies that finances are the biggest factor in a move out of the city. This isn’t true in our case. Our decision was based on a desire to 10) __________ a child outside of the hustle and bustle of London. I’ve nothing against city living – I grew up in London myself – but we wanted to be near the sea, the South Downs, and family who live nearby.

For that, I have sacrificed time lost on rail travel and money lost to that commute. Moreover, we’ve chosen somewhere where house prices are right up there with London prices, making it doubly difficult to buy and maintain a home. But was the move worth it? Yup. And would I move back just because it’s slightly cheaper to live in the city. No thanks.

Adapted from © The Guardian

             ADVANTAGE           DESPITE                      HABIT                         RISING

AMUSING                 DOWNSIDE               PERIOD                      SEASON

BREAK                        EDUCATE                   RAISE                          STAYING

DAILY                          GIGGLING                 RIDE                            WHILE

 

0. RISING

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