Practice Test 7
PART 2
You are going to read an article about a woman who started her own business. Seven sentences have
been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap (9-15). There
is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
From Rags to Riches
Penelope Travers turned her passion for recycling into a business. She tells us all about it,
from its humble beginnings to its present-day success.
It was back in 1995, when my husband Eric was working It wasn't only making money in the shop that interested
as a rubbish collector for the local town council, that I me, though. I was still eager for the community to
first got the idea of recycling clothes. He would benefit from my idea, too, so I started to find ways that
frequently find bags of perfectly good clothes just the large quantities of very old or damaged clothing that
thrown into the rubbish. Obviously people who no I couldn't sell in the shop could be put to use.
longer wanted these clothes didn't know what else to do 110 Some of the old clothing is now turned into
with them. I wondered if I would be able to do bandages for hospitals, for example, while one school in
something with them which would make money for me the area asks for old jeans to make into lunch bags. I've
and perhaps even help the community at the same time. even been approached by an animal rescue centre
I decided to give it a try. looking for low-cost rags to use as bedding.
The first thing I did was to place an advertisement in the AdVenture believes in encouraging people by giving an
newspaper inviting people in the neighbourhood to annual Special Merit Award to the most successful new
bring me their second-hand clothing, shoes and bedding business they have helped. lEI 0 Not only had I
instead of throwing them away. Within a week, our helped so many others, they said, but I had also had to
garage was bursting with black plastic bags. 110 overcome a major difficulty. In 2000, my shop had been
This kept me busy for weeks. destroyed by fire and I had had to start the business all
over again from scratch.
At the same time, I was also looking for a shop to rent
where I could sell these salvaged items. II0 But it Getting back on track wasn't easy. Not only did I have to
wasn't until I contacted AdVenture, an organisation which search for another shop to rent, but I also had to spend
helps people to set up their own businesses, that I finally time building up new stocks of clothes, as nearly all of
got the assistance I needed. They helped me find the right the original stock had been destroyed. IIID
shop and gave me advice about getting a business loan to Otherwise, I would have been forced to call it a day.
get me started. That's how Second Best was born. Today, twelve years after I first started up, Second Best is
For my idea to work, I was going to need a steady supply now a very successful small business which employs a
of clothes. The town council already had recycling bins for team of over twenty staff. I am still very passionate about
paper, glass and the like. 110 I was able to make recycling clothes and encourage others to do so at every
arrangements to have the clothes collected and brought to opportunity. 1110 Old styles regularly come back
my shop, where I had installed laundry facilities to cope into fashion, which means there is always a market for
with all the washloads I needed to do! Onc~ people got to second-hand clothes.
know about the shop, they would also bring in their
unwanted 'stuff' directly from their wardrobes.
80
Practice Test 7
A Eric and I managed to persuade them to E Once again, though, AdVenture came to my
provide ones for clothes, too. aid, providing me with financial support
through this difficult time.
B I think the most valuable piece of advice I
can give them is never to throw anything F The contents had to be washed, ironed and
away. sorted.
C In 2002, my tum came around. G Once I had learnt the basic principles of
managing my own business, I never looked
back, they said.
D You might think this would be a relatively
easy task. H It turned out that there were plenty!
n t be discouraged by unknown vocabulary, as you are not expected to understand every single word
e text. A second careful reading of the text will help you understand it better.
81
