Debts: Multiple Choice Grammar Test

It was a (1) _________ walk from the bus to the nursery school where Juanita had left her little daughter this morning on her way to work. Juanita hurried, knowing she was late. The little girl ran toward her as she entered the small playroom in the basement of a private house. (2) _________ the house, like others in the area, was old and in disrepair, the school rooms were clean and cheerful — the reason Juanita (3) _________ the school in preference to others, though the cost was higher and it was hard for her (4) _________ . It was obvious from the stillness around that the other children were all gone. Miss Ferroe, who (5) _________ and ran the school, came in and looked (6) _________ at her watch. ‘Mrs Nunez, as a special favour I agreed that Estella could stay after (7) _________ , but this is too late... Other parents observe the school’s closing time.’

‘It won’t happen again, I promise,’ said Juanita. ‘Very well. But since you are here, Mrs. Nunez, may I remind you (8) _________ pay the last month’s bill for Estella.’ ‘I really am sorry, Miss Ferroe. It will be paid on Friday. I’ll have my paycheck then.’ The school fees, Juanita decided, would have to come out of her pay this week, as she had said, and somehow she must manage until the payday after that. She wasn’t sure how.

Her wage (9) _________ at the bank was $83. Out of that there was food to buy for the two of them, Estella’s school fees, plus rent of the tiny flat they lived in; also the finance company would demand a payment since she (10) _________the last. Before Carlos, her husband, left her, simply (11) _________ and disappearing a year ago, Juanita had been naive enough to sign finance papers together with her husband. He (12) _________ suits, a used car, a colour TV on credit, all of which he took with him. Juanita, however, was still paying and the installments seemed to stretch on into a limitless future.