LISTENING

1
The following extract is from an article about a holiday disaster which appeared in the Travel
section of a newspaper. Add the correct preposition to complete each phrase, and underline the
whole phrase.

Demand for adventure holidays in exotic places is (1) ………………… the increase and I was very
taken by the idea of going on one. So (2) ………………… the very last minute, I decided to join a
group on a walking holiday in the mountains of northern Spain. From reading the brochure, I was (3)
………………… the impression that it would be quite easy and not too tiring. It said that for each stage
of the trip, your luggage was sent on (4) ………………… advance, so you weren’t expected to carry it.
It sounded ideal – but it all went horribly wrong. My backpack, containing everything I needed for the
holiday, was put on a flight to Cairo (5) ………………… mistake. The tour guide wasn’t (6)
………………… fault, and he was (7) ………………… hand to deal with the situation, but all his
efforts to retrieve my luggage were (8)………………… no avail. I had to start the trek with only the
clothes I stood up (9) …………………, and, worst of all, without my walking boots. After the first
day’s hike, wearing light canvas shoes, I was (10) ………………… agony. Everyone else in the group
seemed much fitter than I was, and I got totally (11) ………………… (12) ………………… breath
trying to keep up with them. Things went (13)………………… bad (14) ………………… worse.