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【阅读理解】Reading: The Third Attempt
The text came at 6:42 a.m., precisely when Liu Wei was hoisting his hose onto the roof of his van.
"The IELTS test centre in Jinan is closing," it read. "Your slot on May 11 is cancelled."
He stood there, a 27-year-old structural engineer from Zibo, and felt an odd twist in his stomach.
His entire calendar had been built around that single date.
He had paid 2,170 yuan, roughly a week's wage, and told his boss he needed a personal day.
Now the message felt like a rude little hammer.
Liu had been preparing for eighteen months.
Each morning, before his shift at a state-owned construction firm, he would immerse himself in listening drills.
His fluency had climbed from a band 5 to a solid 6.5, a slender but meaningful gain.
His wife, Zhang Min, a paediatric nurse, would leave notes on the fridge: "Focus on task 2."
He had used an app to personalize his study plan, tracking his probability of hitting band 8.
The app was nearby, buzzing with hope. It forecast an 87 percent chance if he kept grinding.
That number had become a keystone of his identity.
On a grey Sunday in April, he took the train to Jinan for a preliminary mock test.
The carriage was packed; a vendor sold roasted yams near the aisle.
He met a fellow candidate named Arun, a 34-year-old physiotherapist from Manchester, who was preparing for a different reason — to certify his English for an Australian visa.
They shared tea. Arun had a latent talent for timing himself; he would skip breakfast and work for consecutive hours.
His calories came from biscuits, a habit that had corroded his digestive comfort.
"I have a tendency to overthink," Arun admitted. "My wife says I manipulate my own clock."
Liu laughed. He liked this stranger.
The cancellation, however, was the first crack.
Over the next three weeks, Liu scrambled to find another test date.
The nearest available slot was in Nanjing, 320 kilometres away.
He negotiated with his manager for an unpaid leave.
The train ticket cost 480 yuan, plus two nights in a budget hotel.
His savings took a hit. Zhang Min began to struggle with the budget; their grocery bill felt like an offensive joke.
She would clamp her mouth shut when he mentioned another mock.
"You are not a machine," she said one night. "Your body is not a grid for data."
He felt accused, then guilty, then stubborn.
He told himself this was a temporary hardship, a necessary sacrifice.
But the implication of her words seeped into him.
The second attempt, in Nanjing, was a disaster.
A fire alarm disrupted the listening section. He lost six minutes.
His reading score dipped. The test centre staff were apologetic but firm: no refund.
Liu sat on a granite bench outside, watching students scurry like ants. He felt a wretch.
He had spent 11,000 yuan on prep materials, mock tests and travel.
His contract at work was up for review; his boss mentioned a possible promotion to deputy team leader.
But Liu's focus had slackened. An administrative error in his project report caused a delay of two weeks.
"You seem distracted," his boss said, not unkindly. "Is everything fine at home?" Liu lied.
In late June, he received an offer. A private engineering firm in Chengdu wanted him, with a 30 percent salary hike.
He could start in August. But the job required occasional overseas travel, and his English needed to be operational.
He had to pass the test. He enrolled again.
This time, he changed his approach. He stopped relying on the app's forecast.
He read academic articles on urban drainage — his niche — and noted the texture of each sentence.
He practised speaking with a neighbour, a retired historian from Xi'an, who would inscribe corrections in a small notebook.
"Your rhythm is improving," she said. "But do not let the score define you."
It was a quiet, rational voice. He listened.
On a humid Tuesday in August, Liu sat the test for the third time.
He was calm. The room was air-conditioned; the chairs were horizontal to the floor.
He finished writing with four minutes to spare.
Two weeks later, the result appeared: band 7.5.
He could not believe it. He called Zhang Min from the office lavatory, his voice shaking.
She cried. He cried. But the celebration was brief.
The Chengdu firm had already appointed someone else. The position was gone.
Liu took a walk along the river, past solar-powered lamps and elderly couples dancing.
A child chased a stray dog. He felt the evening breeze on his neck, ethereal and cool.
He still had his old job. He still had Zhang Min.
The test
Questions
1. What was Liu Wei doing when he received the cancellation text?
A. He was having breakfast with his wife. B. He was taking a train to Jinan. C. He was lifting a hose onto his van. D. He was practising listening drills.
2. How much had Liu spent on preparation materials, mock tests and travel by the time of the second attempt?
A. 2,170 yuan B. 11,000 yuan C. 480 yuan D. 30 percent of his salary
3. What does the word "corroded" most nearly mean in the sentence "a habit that had corroded his digestive comfort"?
A. Improved B. Damaged C. Replaced D. Ignored
4. Why did Liu change his approach for the third attempt?
A. He had more free time after quitting his job. B. He wanted to rely more on the app's forecast. C. He realised the score should not define him and focused on his niche. D. He was advised by his boss to take a different course.
5. What is the best title for this passage?
A. Life of a Paediatric Nurse B. The Chengdu Offer C. The Third Attempt D. A Visa for Australia