Directions: In this section, you have two short passages. After each passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it and mark your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only. Magda: Good morning, Mrs. smiles. It's wet, isn't it? Mrs. Smiles: Yes, it is, isn't it? How are you today? All right? You haven't been studying too hard, have you? You look a bit pale. Magda: I don't, do I? Well, I haven't been out much lately. I don't like this weather a bit. Why, we haven't had a dry day for weeks, have we? Mrs. Smiles: No, I don't think we have, Let's see, you'll be going back home next month, won't you? Magda: Oh no, I'm not going back yet. My sister's coming over first. Mrs. Smiles: Oh, is she? You're looking forward to that, I expect. How long is it since you saw her? Magda: Nearly a year now. Yes, I am looking forward to it very much. Mrs. Smiles: She's coming over here to study? Magda: Yes, that's right. I shan't go back home until she's settled down. I don't think I ought to, ought I? Mrs. Smiles: Well, no, she's younger than you are, is she? Magda: Yes she's only eighteen.
Mrs. Smiles says, "You're looking forward to that." This means, Magda was ______ her sister's arrival.
expecting with pleasure
Understanding Phrases in Conversation: Looking Forward
The question asks us to interpret the meaning of the phrase "You're looking forward to that" as used by Mrs. Smiles in the conversation with Magda. We need to understand this phrase based on the context provided in the passage.
Analyzing the Conversation Context
Let's look at the relevant part of the dialogue:
- Mrs. Smiles asks Magda if she will be going back home next month.
- Magda replies, "Oh no, I'm not going back yet. My sister's coming over first."
- Mrs. Smiles then says, "Oh, is she? You're looking forward to that, I expect."
- Magda confirms, "Nearly a year now. Yes, I am looking forward to it very much."
The phrase "looking forward to that" from Mrs. Smiles refers to Magda's sister coming over. Magda explicitly confirms this by saying, "Yes, I am looking forward to it very much."
Meaning of "Looking Forward To"
The idiom "looking forward to something" means to feel pleased and excited about something that is going to happen. It implies anticipating a future event with a positive feeling, typically pleasure or eagerness.
Evaluating the Options
Now let's consider the given options and see which one best fits the meaning of "looking forward to" in this context:
| Option | Interpretation | Fit with "Looking Forward To" |
|---|---|---|
| 1. expecting with pleasure | Anticipating the event with happiness. | This directly matches the meaning of looking forward to something positive. |
| 2. preparing hard for | Making significant preparations for the event. | While some preparation might be involved, "looking forward to" focuses on the feeling of anticipation, not necessarily hard work. |
| 3. thinking greatly about | Thinking about the event a lot. | Thinking about something a lot doesn't always imply pleasure or positive anticipation. You can think greatly about a problem, for instance. |
| 4. watching with joy | Observing the event with happiness as it happens. | "Looking forward to" is about anticipation before the event occurs, not observing it during or after. |
Based on the analysis, the phrase "looking forward to that" means anticipating the event (the sister's arrival) with pleasure.
Conclusion
Magda is anticipating her sister's arrival with positive feelings because she hasn't seen her for nearly a year. Therefore, "expecting with pleasure" is the most accurate interpretation of "looking forward to that" in this conversation.
Revision Table: Key Phrases and Meanings
| Phrase | Context | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| It's wet, isn't it? | Referring to the weather. | Asking for agreement that the weather is wet. |
| You look a bit pale. | Observation about Magda's appearance. | Suggesting Magda seems unwell or has not been outside. |
| Looking forward to that | Referring to the sister's visit. | Anticipating the event with pleasure. |
Additional Information: Reading Comprehension Strategies
To effectively answer reading comprehension questions based on passages:
- Read the passage carefully first to understand the main idea and context.
- Pay attention to details, character interactions, and specific phrases.
- For questions about specific phrases or sentences, go back to the passage and read the surrounding text to understand the context.
- Consider the author's or speaker's tone and intent.
- Evaluate all options given before selecting the best one. Eliminate options that are clearly incorrect or not supported by the text.
- Understand common idioms and phrases, as their meaning might not be literal. "Looking forward to" is a good example of an idiom.
Similar Questions
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Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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