Question

One of the best days of my life was when
my agent phoned to say that my first
novel, Ihe lce House, had been accepted by
a publisher. l'd finished the book lB months
earlier, and I didn't think it was ever going to be published. lt was one
morning in the autumn of '1990 when the phone call came. lwas 39,
and a friend of mine turned up, sat down at my kitchen table and
burst into tears because she was having problems with her maniage.
I was doing my best to try to console her when the phone rang. So
there I was, listening to the best news of my life, while my friend was
crying over the worst news of her life. My agent said, Aren't you pleased?
Why aren't you more excited?' I said, 'l am...but I'll tell you lateri I put the
phone down and tried to be sympathetic to my friend. But at l I o'clock
I couldn't stand it any longer so I said, 'Stay there. I have to go out for
ten minutes'. I came back with a bottle of champagne. 'You and I are
going to drink some champagne,' I said, and told her my good news.
She was a much happier lady when she left! | can't remember how
many publishers had turned down my book, because my agent
didn't tell me. I don't know how many copies it's sold now - a couple
of million I should think, because it's published in 36 countries. But
I have absolutely no sympathy for those publishers who rejected
my book. I was deeply hurt at the time, but now l'm laughingl
Read the article and choose a, b, or c.
1 In 1990 Minette Walters was about the chances of
her first novel being published.
a quite optimistic b quite pessimistic c quite worried
2 \\4ren her agent first phoned, Minette felt that she
celebrate the news.
a shouldn't b had to c could
3 Her agent couldn't understand
a why she was crying b what she was saying
c her reaction
4 In the end Minette's good news made her friend
a feel better b feel worse c leave early
5 Now that she is very successful, she the publishers
who rejected her.
a feels positive towards
c understands

Answer 1

1-b. 2-a. 3-c. 4-a. 5-a