​Monkey Nuts: Multiple Choice Vocabulary Test (Level B2/C1)

Guiltily, I ( 1) _______ my husband Bill’s dinner into the oven. Shepherd’s pie, his favourite. I was hoping it would soften him up when he got home... and (2) _______ out what I’d done. There was no way I could hide it from him. And sure enough...

“Hello love,' had a good day?” he said, striding in. “Put the kettle on, I’m parched.” Hanging up his coat, he headed into the bathroom. “Argh,” he screeched. He ran out, white faced. “There’s a flipping monkey in our bathroom,” he (3) _______ . “Erm, yeah, I know.”

I replied, rather quietly. Obviously, not hearing me, he went on, “It must have (4) _______ from the zoo. God knows how it got in here. I’ll call them.”

“No, don’t,” I said, grabbing the phone. “She’s my monkey.” Bill ( 5) _______ at me.

“What do you mean, she’s your monkey? Have you gone quite mad, woman?”

“I (6) _______ out for some Bourbons and bought a monkey instead,” I admitted shame-faced. I knew it sounded completely bonkers - but it was true. I’d seen the advert for a monkey for sale in the local paper. I loved animals, and monkeys were my absolute favourite. Somehow, when I’d started walking to the local shop to buy groceries, my feet had taken me instead to the address (7) _______ the monkey for sale. And I’d brought back home a furry little friend. I looked anxiously at Bill as I finished telling him my story. To my (8) _______ , he cracked up, laughing loudly.

“You really are nuts,” he giggled, hugging me. He (9) _______ back to the bathroom to take another look at our pet. “She really is a cute little thing,” he admitted, finally.

“Can she stay with us, then?” I asked, feeling anxious.

“Go on then,” Bill laughed. We called her Bonnie, and we both loved (10) _______ her around. But I don’t think Bill quite knew what he had let himself in for. That was 20 years ago, and, since then, my house has been home to a lot more exotic (11) _______ from around the world.

Sadly, Bill passed away several years ago, so my animals have been a great comfort to me.

After being (12) _______ a license, I’ve managed to take in 77 different varieties of animals at my three-bedroom semi. I’ve looked after 18 different types of monkey, tiny pigmy hedgehogs, and reptiles. Most of them were sick or injured when I took them in. I’ve even moved to a bigger place to (13) _______ them all. The poor mite would probably have died without me - but that’s what I’m here for. Yes, my home’s a zoo - and I wouldn’t have it any other way.