You are going to read an extract from a novel. For questions 1-8 choose the answer (А, В, С or D) which you think fits best according to the text.

Even though Nick knew he hadn’t forgotten anything he had to check and double check he had his passport, tickets and wallet in his bag before he left the house. He had flown plenty of times before so this wasn’t the first time but he still felt nervous. But then this was no ordinary trip; this time he wasn’t just travelling abroad for a few weeks; he was about to start a whole new life on the other side of the world. He had spent months planning for it and couldn’t believe the day had finally arrived when he was heading for the airport about to get on a plane to India. He had never been there before but felt prepared as he had read so much about the place and watched various documentaries. They had also told him a lot about what to expect on the training course he had been on for his new job. There was no denying though that it was going to be very different from the life he was used to.

His brother had offered to drive him to the airport, which he was very grateful for. His brother arrived exactly on time, as always, and together they carried his bags down to the car. It felt strange locking the door behind him, not knowing when he would see the place again. A friend of his was going to move in and rent it from him while he was away so he didn’t have to worry about it being empty. But it still made him sad to lock the door and leave. In the car driving to the airport his brother’s son kept them entertained talking about a party he had been to the day before and explaining in great detail what he could now do on his new bike. It was perfect; Nick didn’t want to think too much about where he was going and it was much better to be distracted by his six-year-old nephew. They arrived at the airport and Nick’s brother and nephew came in with him to check in his bags. Then they walked together to the security check. Nick had been dreading this moment, he had said goodbye to so many people recently and even cried at the end of his leaving party but this was the final goodbye; from this moment he was on his own. His nephew suddenly wanted a drink and so they said a quick goodbye and before they could get too emotional his nephew had dragged his brother away to the shop and he was standing on his own. He got ready to go through security, took off his jacket, took his laptop out of his bag and took his mobile and keys out of his pocket. This was it, he was really leaving.

He walked around the shops for a while and bought some newspapers and books. He had been told his new colleagues would be grateful for these. He wasn’t planning to read them himself, his only plan for the flight was to sleep and maybe watch a film if they were showing something good. He walked to the gate and in no time at all he was sitting on the plane listening to the safety announcements. As the plane taxied down the runway he thought about how he had ended up where he was. It hadn’t been simple fate or destiny; he had gone looking for this opportunity. No-one had asked him to do it. He had made the effort to find this job; he had applied for it and out of over 20 candidates they had decided to give it to him. In a way he had fought for this seat on the plane and he had won. He deserved to be here and he was excited. He was going to miss all his friends and family but what he was going to do was amazing. It was the job he had always dreamed of; it was what he had spent years studying for. It wasn’t going to be easy but he felt very ready for the challenge. He felt with absolute certainty that he had made the right decision. He smiled to himself and as the plane left the ground he looked out of the window and said a silent goodbye to all the people he was leaving behind.

1. Why did he feel nervous before he left the house?

2. How much did he know about the place he was going to?

3. Why did he feel strange locking the door?

4. How did he feel about his nephew being in the car to the airport?

5. What happened when they said goodbye at the airport?

6. Why did he buy newspapers and magazines at the airport?

7. Why does he say in line 32 ‘It hadn’t been simple fate or destiny’?

8. Which best describes how Nick was feeling as the plane took off?