THE VANISHING GLASS

Harry moved in front of the tank and looked attentively at the snake. He wouldn’t have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself – no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long. It was worse than having a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up; at least he got to visit the rest of the house.
The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harry’s.
It winked.
Harry stared. Then he looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren’t. He looked back at the snake and winked, too.
The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave Harry a look that said quite plainly:
“I get that all the time.”
“I know,” Harry murmured through the glass, though he wasn’t sure the snake could hear him. “It must be really annoying.”
The snake nodded vigorously.
“Where do you come from, anyway?” Harry asked.
The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.
Boa Constrictor, Brazil.
“Was it nice there?’
The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. “Oh, I see – so you’ve never been to Brazil?”
As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump. “DUDLEY! MR.DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT IT’S DOING!”
Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could.
“Out of the way, you,” he said, punching Harry in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened – one second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror.
Harry sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor’s tank had vanished. The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits.

(After Joanne K.Rowling)

USE OF ENGLISH
Task 3.
Read Martha’s email and choose the best answer A, B, C or D
Hi Bob,
You wanted to know why I’m so interested 1) ….schools these days, especially as you’re bored of 2) …! Well, I’ve wanted to go to a boarding school since I read about Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter books. Can you imagine living 3) … school, without your family? Of course, you wouldn’t be 4) … yourself, as you’d make new friends and share a room with them. I think it would be fun!
Anyway, learning about school has turned 5) … my 6) … at the moment! 7) …, I’ve just read an article about Daniel Radcliffe – the actor who’s famous 8) … playing Harry Potter. I’m crazy about him! Apparently, Daniel left school when he became an actor, so he had to learn by 9) ….
Ever 10) … he’s had a personal tutor, named Lina Wright. As a matter of fact, he was really inspired by Lina, who has become a close friend. Daniel said that Lina has made him really keen 11) … learning and has helped to build his self-confidence. I’d like some like that to be my tutor, too!
What about you?
Let me know how did in your exams!
Best wishes,
Martha