A recent survey of crime statistics shows that we are all more likely to be When you do have callers never

lers never let anybody into your home unless you

burgled now than 20 years ago and the police advise everyone to take a few are absolutely sure they are genuine. Ask to see an identity card, for example.
simple precautions to protect their homes. If you are in the frightening position of waking in the middle of the night and
The first fact is that burglars and other intruders prefer easy think you can hear an intruder, then on no account should you approach the
opportunities, like a house which is very obviously empty. This is much less of a intruder. Far better to telephone the police and wait for help.
challenge than an occupied house, and one which is well-protected. A burglar 1 A well-protected house
will wonder if it is worth the bother. A. is less likely to be burgled.
There are some general tips on how to avoid your home becoming B. is regarded as a challenge by most criminals.
another crime statistic. Avoid leaving signs that your house is empty. When you C. is a lot of bother to maintain.
have to go out, leave at least one light on as well as a radio or television, and do D. is very unlikely to be burgled.
not leave any curtains wide open. The sight of your latest music centre or 2 According to the writer, we should:
computer is enough to tempt any burglar. A. avoid leaving our house empty.
Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place. The first place a B. only go out when we have to.
burglar will look is under the doormat or in a flower pot and even somewhere C. always keep the curtains closed.
more 'imaginative' could soon be uncovered by the intruder. It is much safer to D. give the impression that our house is occupied when we go out.
leave a key with a neighbour you can trust. But if your house is in a quiet, 3 The writer thinks that hiding a key under a doormat or flower pot:
desolate area be aware that this will be a burglar's dream, so deter any potential A. is a predictable place to hide it.
criminal from approaching your house by fitting security lights to the outside of B. is a useful place to hide it.
your house. C. is imaginative.
But what could happen if, in spite of the aforementioned precautions, a D. is where you always find a spare key.
burglar or intruder has decided to target your home? Windows are usually the 4 Gaining entry to a house through a small window:
first point of entry for many intruders. Downstairs windows provide easy access A. is surprisingly difficult.
while upstairs windows can be reached with a ladder or by climbing up the B. is not as difficult as people think.
drainpipe. Before going to bed you should double-check that all windows and C. is less likely to happen than gaining entry through a door.
shutters are locked. No matter how small your windows may be, it is surprising D. is tried only by very determined burglars.
what a narrow gap a determined burglar can manage to get through. For extra 5 According to the writer, window locks, security locks and burglar alarms:
security, fit window locks to the inside of the window. A. cost a lot of money but are worth it.
What about entry via doors? Your back door and patio doors, which are B. are good value for money.
easily forced open, should have top quality security locks fitted. Even though this C. are luxury items.
is expensive it will be money well spent. Install a burglar alarm if you can afford D. are absolutely essential items.
it as another line of defence against intruders. 6 The writer argues that fitting a chain and an eye hole:
A sobering fact is that not all intruders have to break and enter into a A. will prevent your home being burgled.
property. Why go to the trouble of breaking in if you can just knock and be B. avoids you having to invite people into your home.
invited in? Beware of bogus officials or workmen and, particularly if you are C. is only necessary for elderly people.
elderly, fit a chain and an eye hole so you can scrutinise callers at your leisure. D. gives you time to check if the visitor is genuine.
 Six months ago I made a rash promise. The leader of the youth club in one disappointment for the children and that was that the playscheme was only
our village rang me in March saying, “We’re thinking of running a children’s running for a day, and not the whole week. As I said farewell to my group, one of
playscheme for a day in October half-term. Would you be prepared to help?” My the children turned and said “Can we do it again in the next holiday, Miss?” My
response was “Sure, why not?” In truth I was a little flattered to be asked, even response was, “Sure, why not?”
though working as a care assistant with old people hardly qualified me for the 1 When the first day of the job arrived the writer was surprised
role. Still, I duly put the date in my diary and of course I forgot all about it. I A. that the day had come round so quickly.
don’t know if you’ve noticed this but time has a habit of speeding along faster B. because she'd forgotten to write down the date.
than a police car chasing a robber and, before I knew it, the day was dawning. C. because she witnessed a car chase on the way.
I arrived at the youth centre that morning feeling full of trepidation. D. that she woke up at dawn.
There was a gang of 12 helpers including me and each pair had been allocated a 2 When the writer arrived to start her job she
particular age group. Mine was the 10 to 11 year olds. Even with the planning A. put the children into pairs.
meeting I had attended the week before, I worried about whether I was up to the B. realised she should have done more preparation.
task. Why hadn’t I read through the copious lesson plans we were given C. felt confident she could deal with 10 and 11 year olds.
beforehand? And wasn’t the average 10-year-old more interested in the latest D. saw the children had brought their own electronic games to play
Play Station game than making things with paper and glue? with.
All too quickly the children began arriving. The look of relief on parents’ 3 According to the writer, the parents were
faces as they handed their offspring over to us was quite comical. A handful of A. happy to stay with their children all day.
the children were already members of the club but the other forty five or so were B. worried about children from the other schools.
from the local primary schools. Again I asked myself why I had elected to spend C. nervous that their children might not behave themselves.
a day with all these ‘little monsters’ especially when I have two all of my own to D. glad to leave their children.
contend with! I needn’t have worried of course as it turned out to be a marvellous 4 The writer's best moment
day. We watched entertaining dvd clips, learned ‘action’ songs, made clay A. occurred in the middle of the day.
pyramids, decorated biscuits, played memory games and spent some time in quiet B. took her by surprise.
reflection. I say ‘we’ because I rediscovered my inner child and joined in all the C. was hard to put into words.
activities. D. was when the day was over.
The particular highlight for me was the final rendition of “He’s got the 5 According to the writer, adults
whole world in his hands” in the closing part of the day. The children knew the A. think that being a child is a privilege.
words and actions off by heart and sang so loudly it was almost enough to bring B. sometimes forget that children have worries too.
the roof down. It’s difficult to explain those moments; only that the body tingles C. are usually exhausted by bringing up their children.
with the pleasure of having witnessed something so magical. D. don't have a stressful life.
Of course there were also moments of great poignancy. I found it 6 What is the writer's attitude by the end of the day?
difficult to stop thinking of one little girl, who mentioned oh-so-casually that her A. She could imagine doing the job again next time.
mum was in hospital and would be there for a long time. It’s easy for us adults to B. She was sad to say good bye to the chidlren.
idealise childhood and forget that some children have their own burden of C. She was disappointed with the experience.
anxieties and concerns. When I got home utterly exhausted, still with modelling D. She hopes the playscheme will be longer in future.
clay under my fingernails, I reflected on what a privilege it had been. There was