Darmowe konto pozwoli wrócić do niego później.

“Sellers’ market, sir. Things are moving fast at the moment. Spring, you know.” The young

estate agent looked as though he had been born just a few weeks ago, though his attitude

was more like that expected of a long-standing member of the House of Lords. He stood

there in his tweed jacket, corduroys and check shirt, fresh from an estate management

course and looking as though he owned half of Cirencester.

Harry just said, “I am well acquainted with the seasons. What I don’t understand is why

barely fifteen hours ago you would give me the details of a property that you now tell me is

sold.”

“Well, it is not exactly sold, sir, but it is under offer.”

“Which means?”

“Which means that somebody has said they will buy it.”

“But they haven’t bought it yet?”

A slight flush appeared in the young man’s cheeks. “They have not yet exchanged

contracts. That will occur once they are happy with the survey and their solicitor’s searches.

We expect completion within the month.”

Harry was lost for words. Eventually he asked, “Is there any chance I can have a look

at it?”

“As I say, sir, it is under offer.”

“And if the client has second thoughts?”

“Very unlikely, sir. This is, after all, a highly desirable property ...”

“A highly desirable property that needs a master builder to get it habitable.” Harry pointed

to the photograph of the picturesque ruin. “Might I have the keys? If your current sale doesn’t

go ahead, you’ll have something in the way of back-up.” Harry spoke in a voice that did not

allow any contradiction. The better part of twenty years of teaching small boys had offered

ample opportunity to refine an intimidating tone; a tone that would strike someone so recently

of school age as being impossible to contradict. It did the trick. The young man said

obediently, “Of course, sir,” and handed over the keys.

It was, undoubtedly, a rash thing to do. He should have left his name and number and

asked the agent to call him if the cottage became available. If he liked it, the disappointment

of not getting it would be agonizing.

It was a perfect spring day. He stopped where he stood, barely ten feet inside the gate,

knowing that he had fallen in love with this place even before he reached the cottage itself.

Finally at the peeling front door, he pushed in the key and turned it. It opened with ease, and

he looked inside. In spite of the age of the cottage it did not smell of damp and decay. It was

just ... well ... empty. Waiting. Expectant.

-100

He went home with a heavy heart, dropping off the keys and asking to be called

if the current buyer had a change of heart. Five hours later he took the call that he had told

himself would never come. The previous buyer had withdrawn his offer. Mill Cottage was his

if he wanted it. Harry confirmed that he did.

adapted from The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh

6.1. Initially, the estate agent was reluctant to let Harry view the property because

A. its sale had already been finalized.

B. someone else had made an offer to purchase it.

C. it was in a much worse condition than in the advertisement.

D. the owner’s solicitor disapproved of unaccompanied visits to the property.

6.2. How did Harry get the estate agent’s permission to view the property?

A. He played a trick he had mastered as a schoolboy.

B. He threatened to notify the agent’s superior.

C. He accused the agent of making contradictory remarks.

D. He used his work experience to his advantage.

6.3. The text is about

A. an estate agent who talked a buyer out of purchasing a property.

B. an offer which failed to meet the owner’s expectations.

C. a buyer who was determined to have his own way.

D. a dishonest owner trying to sell his cottage.

-100

Tekst 2.

HOW ABOUT MICRO LIVING?

Carmel Place is New York City’s first apartment building consisting exclusively of micro units

– miniature apartments for single occupancy.

Dan Tomita recently moved into Carmel Place after flat-sharing in a series of larger

dwellings. He came to New York some years ago to attend university. He first learned about

the Carmel Place development when his class visited the Capsys factory where the

building’s modular units were being manufactured. When he graduated, Dan landed a job

at Ollie, a company that promises “an all-inclusive living experience at accessible prices”.

It’s a housing management provider with services including free Wi-Fi, housekeeping, and

even grocery shopping, along with an on-site community manager. Coincidentally, the first

New York City building that Ollie worked on was Carmel Place. Dan decided to move into

one of the tiny apartments there.

Downsizing to a 300-square-foot apartment was not an issue for Dan; if anything, he found

that he had too much storage space, since the unit comes with a fold-down bed. However,

he had to buy a sound machine since the apartment lacked the noise he had been used to.

That points to a major downside of micro living – loneliness. After years of sharing, living

alone has been more of an adjustment than Dan was expecting. Still, there are some

upsides. The absence of distractions definitely helps you get work done.

Dan doesn’t see his current situation as permanent. Although it is a satisfactory option at this

stage of his life, he has bigger plans for the future.

adapted from www.ny.curbed.com

6.4. After getting his degree, Dan

A. saw how advanced housing modules are designed in the Capsys factory.

B. was hired by a construction company to build Carmel Place.

C. conducted research into micro-apartments in New York.

D. started to live in a building connected with his job.

6.5. The author of the text

A. discusses living in tiny apartments using one specific case as an example.

B. analyzes the reasons behind New Yorkers’ current tendency to downsize.

C. criticizes modern trends in housing aimed at young employees.

D. praises city dwellers for their interest in micro-apartments.

PRZENIEŚ ROZWIĄZANIA NA KARTĘ ODPOWIEDZI!

-100

2.4) Zdający określa intencje

nadawcy/autora tekstu.

A

Egzamin maturalny z języka angielskiego – maj 2022 r.

Znajomość środków językowych