When are we masters of a language? For many of us, this moment occurs when we can lift up a newspaper in the language we are learning and read the articles, almost forgetting that they are not in our native language. English reading exercises can help you get there.

Let’s read an interview that was published in England’s Guardian newspaper this month and see if we can answer the questions afterwards.

Alexa Chung, 27, was raised in Hampshire. She became a model at 16 and in 2006 co-presented Channel 4’s teen music show, Popworld. She went on to become a presenter on T4 and MTV, and is a contributing editor for British Vogue. She has a Mulberry bag named after her. On 1 April at 7pm, she presents Gonzo on MTV Music. She lives in London with Alex Turner, the singer in Arctic Monkeys.

When were you happiest?
Playing ping pong in LA.

What is your greatest fear?
Frogs and public speaking.

What is your earliest memory?
Waving my brothers and sister off to school as my mother held me.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Forgetfulness. I leave valuable possessions scattered around the globe.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I trip over on an almost daily basis. Getting sleeves hooked on door knobs is another classic.

Property aside, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
Chanel 2.55 handbag at Heathrow airport during a hangover.

What is your most treasured possession?
My photographs. I’ve been documenting everything since I was a teenager.

Where would you like to live?
In the treehouse I saw in Todd Selby’s book.

What would your super power be?
Ability to shoot spiderwebs.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My ears and my incredibly fine hair that goes flat despite hours of back-combing.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Littering the floor with clothes.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?
A palm tree. I’m obsessed with them.

What do you owe your parents?
My father taught me how to draw horses – for this I shall be eternally grateful. My mother does a great line in self-deprecation; she taught me about humility.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Alex Turner.

What does love feel like?
Like there’s nothing you can do about it.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Realising adults don’t know everything.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I’m obsessed with the 60s. Everything looked great.

How often do you have sex?
Does anyone ever answer this?

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A walk-in wardrobe!

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
At school, a careers adviser asked me what I wanted to be and I said fashion journalist, so writing for Vogue has provided me with the opportunity to fulfil a dream.

What keeps you awake at night?
I’m scared of the dark.

How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who inspired women to dress for themselves.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Not everything happens for a reason. Sometimes life just sucks.

Questions

After reading this interview, how would you define Alexa’s personality?

From her replies, what do you think is Alexa’s attitude towards the interviewer?

What do you both like and dislike about Alexa’s answers?

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Who do you consider to be a fashionable celebrity?

Alexa uses some difficult words: trip, self-deprecating, spiderswebs, back-combing. Do you know what they mean? No, then take some classes with us and we will be happy to help you out.

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