Worksheet

Level 4

A Matter of Chance David A. Hill

Before reading 4 Paul didn’t think d about the
anything mysterious
1. Look at the front cover and the back cover blurb.
locked door.
What sort of story do you think this will be?
5 Paul thought e and imagined a
2. Read the contents page. Imagine what might
Sandra’s parents new life was
happen in the story.
beginning.
3. Look at the list of characters on page 5. What do
you think they look like?
Chapter 5
4. If you have the recording, listen to Chapter 1.
1. Who do you think the mystery man in the square
was?
Check your reading 2. What do you think was in the package?

Chapter 1 Chapter 6
1. Who is telling the story? 1. Complete the summary.
2. Which character is ‘my wife’? Sandra invited Paul to stay at the family house
in ............... . Paul was ............... that her
Chapter 2 family would be there. Sandra had become very
1. True or false? ............... to Paul since Jacky’s death but there
a Paul often looks at his wife’s photographs. were still things he didn’t ............... about her. At
b Paul and Jacky met at work in Manchester. the house, Sandra arrived with the man who Paul
c Paul and Jacky were engaged for two years. had seen in ............... . His name was ...............
d Jacky could speak excellent Italian. and he did some ............... with Sandra’s father.
e Paul and Jacky’s friends thought it was a
good idea to go to Italy. Chapter 7
1. Look at the words in italics. Who is them, she, you
Chapter 3 etc.?
1. Put the events in the right order. a I thanked them for inviting me to stay.
a Paul realised he needed a change in his life. b ‘She has told us how helpful you have been
b Paul’s work became his life. with her business studies.’
c Paul thought about a relationship with c ‘So what’s going on? Shall we talk about this?’
Sandra. d ‘He obviously doesn’t know anything.’
d After Jacky’s death, Paul stayed in Como. e ‘He didn’t realise you were a guest of the family.’
e Sandra surprised Paul by kissing him.
Chapter 8
Chapter 4 1. Match the beginnings and endings.
1. Match the beginnings and endings. 1 Paul saw one of the a something illegal
1 Sandra invited a how expensive bodyguards like selling drugs.
Paul to stay Sandra’s car was. 2 Paul thought the b when she answered
2 Paul felt both guilty b for a weekend at family business his questions.
and excited her family’s old could be
house. 3 When Sandra c Paul was doubtful
3 Paul didn’t really c would also be at Possible visiting at first.
notice the house. England
Cambridge English Readers © Cambridge University Press 2009 www.cambridge.org/elt/readers PHOTOCOPIABLE
 Worksheet
Level 4

A Matter of Chance David A. Hill

4 Paul thought d Paul couldn’t 4 ‘Why are they d ‘He couldn’t.

Sandra was being imagine she was a following us now?’ Don’t you see that
truthful criminal. my father and his
5 Sandra was so e doing something parents were in it
beautiful that near his car. too?’
5 ‘What have they e ‘Yes, Paul, he is ...
Chapter 9 put in my car?’ but we started a
1. What made Paul suspicious? Put the events in relationship.’
the right order.
Chapter 12
a Sandra received three phone calls but said little.
b Sandra chewed her lip and looked nervous. 1. Put the events in the right order.
c Paul thought they were being followed by a a Paul was pleased that Sandra had told him
yellow Fiat. the truth.
d Paul saw a silver Mercedes like Andrea’s. b Early the next morning, they were found by
e Sandra relaxed after they crossed the border. Andrea.
c Paul realised he really loved Sandra.
Chapter 10 d Paul and Sandra decided to return to Italy.
1. True or false? e Andrea told them to get ready to leave.
a Paul saw the Fiat when they arrived in Issoire.
Chapter 13
b Paul didn’t understand what was happening.
c Sandra was relaxed in the morning. 1. Complete the summary.
d Paul saw the Mercedes leaving the square. Paul drove his car to ............... between the
e Paul knew he had to find out the truth soon. Mercedes and the Fiat. They finished their
f Paul told Sandra that he’d thrown away her journey at a ............... near the sea. Paul and
phone. Sandra were locked up in ............... rooms. Paul
couldn’t open the ............... of his room. He
Chapter 11 tried ............... on the wall, and had an
1. Match the questions and answers. answer from Sandra, but she couldn’t
hear his ............... . Paul noticed a door in
1 ‘Sandra, what’s the a ‘I don’t know.
the ............... . He climbed on the table and
matter?’ Probably paintings
looked into the ............... . He had to get down
that they want
when he heard the ............... coming.
to get out of the
country.’
Chapter 14
2 ‘He’s a lot older b ‘Leave me alone.
than you, isn’t he?’ You’ve caused 1. True or false?
nothing but a At around one o’clock, Paul heard footsteps
problems all along.’ coming upstairs.
3 ‘But why didn’t c ‘They want to b The back door was locked.
your father report make sure that c Out in the hall Paul turned the light on and
Andrea to the the operation is listened.
police?’ successful.’

Cambridge English Readers © Cambridge University Press 2009 www.cambridge.org/elt/readers PHOTOCOPIABLE

 Worksheet
Level 4

A Matter of Chance David A. Hill

d Paul and Sandra decided to push the car
Chapter 17
down the road.
e None of the shots hit the car. 1. Who ...
a only had a few injuries?
Chapter 15 b stayed a long time in hospital?
c died immediately?
1. Match the beginnings and endings.
d went to prison for ten years?
1 Sandra had saved a only stopping for
e was warned to drive carefully?
them some time food and petrol.
f was allowed to return to his business?
2 They drove south b Andrea had been
Paul Sandra Andrea
through the night, delayed.
the guard Mr Rovello
3 Sandra phoned her c that they had slept
father too long.
After reading
4 Paul suddenly woke d by cutting the tyres
up and realised of both cars. Choose some of these activities.
5 Sandra wasn’t e and they arranged
1. After reading A Matter of Chance, how important
worried because to meet at the
do you think chance has been in your life?
border.
2. Would you like to live and work in a foreign
Chapter 16 country, like Paul and Jacky? Why or why not?
3. Which chapter from A Matter of Chance can you
1. What does Paul or Sandra say in each situation? remember most clearly? Why?
1 There was the a Paul: ‘No. This 4. Who are your favourite and least favourite
silver Mercedes is OK. They’re characters in the story?
overtaking a big following.’ 5. Paul gradually became suspicious of Sandra.
lorry. Make a list of everything he noticed.
2 The car obviously b Sandra: ‘Careful, 6. On page 69, Sandra phoned her father to tell
didn’t like this very Paul. Look ahead!’ him what had happened. Write the telephone
much. conversation.
3 Both cars had c Sandra: ‘And 7. Make your own activities for other students to
moved out to there’s Andrea, do, e.g. write some True / False questions.
follow us ... too! Look!’
4 I flashed my d Sandra: ‘I don’t
headlights several think you’d better
times ... go any faster.’
5 In the far distance e Sandra: ‘And look!
I could see a There’s a police car
large lorry in the on the bridge
emergency lane. ahead.’

Cambridge English Readers © Cambridge University Press 2009 www.cambridge.org/elt/readers PHOTOCOPIABLE