The Missing Painting
Do more with this exercise
Read how Elena checks a surprising story before it appears in her town newspaper. Then answer the questions.
Reading text
caption
words printed under a picturetheft
the act of taking something that belongs to another personcaption
words printed under a pictureevidence
facts that help show what happenededitor
a person who checks a newspaper before it is publishedcaretaker
a person who looks after a buildingcanvas
the material used for a paintingcaption
words printed under a picturecaption
words printed under a pictureeditor
a person who checks a newspaper before it is publishedcaption
words printed under a picturetheft
the act of taking something that belongs to another personsource
a person or record that gives information for a reportheadline
the title of a news storyPractice exercises
Choose the correct answer
Read the story and choose the best answer.
1.What did the first photograph show?
2.Why had Sam moved the painting?
3.Who else confirmed that the painting was safe?
4.What happened to the original news page?
Right or wrong?
Decide whether each statement agrees with the text.
5.Elena’s editor wanted her to verify the story before publishing it.
6.Sam said the painting had become wet.
7.The first caption explained the reason for the empty wall.
Complete the sentence
Use a word or phrase from the story.
Listen and choose
Listen to each sentence and choose the answer.
11.What did the editor ask Elena to do?
12.What had damaged the wall?
13.What did the news page remove?
Listen and write
Listen and type the sentence you hear.
14.Listen and write the sentence.
15.Listen and write the sentence.
16.Listen and write the sentence.
Frequently asked questions
What level is this story?
It is for B1 readers and practises reported speech, say and tell.
Why did Elena use two sources?
She wanted to check Sam’s account with Rosa, the artist, before publishing.
Can I listen more slowly?
Yes. Play the story at 0.75× or replay individual sentences.
Answer key
1. What did the first photograph show?
Answer: An empty wall
The first photograph showed an empty wall at the art centre.
2. Why had Sam moved the painting?
Answer: To protect it from a wet wall
Rain had damaged the wall, so Sam moved the painting to safety.
3. Who else confirmed that the painting was safe?
Answer: Rosa, the artist
Rosa knew about the move and was pleased the painting was protected.
4. What happened to the original news page?
Answer: It changed its caption
It changed the caption and removed the theft claim.
5. Elena’s editor wanted her to verify the story before publishing it.
Answer: True
He told her to check the story before repeating the claim.
6. Sam said the painting had become wet.
Answer: False
The wall was wet, but the painting itself was dry.
7. The first caption explained the reason for the empty wall.
Answer: False
It left out the fact that the painting had been moved for safety.
8. Sam ___ Elena that rain had damaged the wall.
Answer: told
Told takes the person receiving the information directly after it.
9. Rosa ___ that she knew about the move.
Answer: said
Said introduces Rosa’s reported words without an immediate listener.
10. Elena explained that the painting ___ safe.
Answer: was
The report places the painting’s safe state in the past with was.
11. Listening question 11: Elena’s editor told her to check the story before repeating the claim.
Answer: Check the story
He wanted her to check the claim first.
12. Listening question 12: He told Elena that rain had entered through a window and damaged the wall.
Answer: Rain through a window
Sam said rain had entered through a window.
13. Listening question 13: The original news page then changed its caption and removed the theft claim.
Answer: The theft claim
It removed the unsupported claim about theft.
14. Dictation 14
Answer: Sam said that he had moved the painting to a safe room on Sunday.
Said that introduces Sam’s reported account.
15. Dictation 15
Answer: He told Elena that rain had entered through a window and damaged the wall.
Told Elena that names the person who heard the report.
16. Dictation 16
Answer: She explained that the painting was safe and the wall needed repairs.
Was and needed place the reported information in the past.