B1 English Reading – Short Story & Grammar Quiz
Owen was feeling annoyed. He had promised his sister, Daisy, a giant birthday cake, but he was not a good baker. If he didn’t follow the recipe exactly, the cake would be a disaster. He wished he had taken that baking class last year.
He had bought the most expensive ingredients, thinking that would help. His kitchen looked like a battlefield. Flour was everywhere! He had tried mixing the butter, but it was not soft enough. If he had softened the butter correctly, the mix would have been smoother. He couldn’t believe how difficult it was to bake just one cake. He kept telling himself to stay calm.
Suddenly, the smoke alarm went off loudly. Owen had put the cake in the oven, but he had forgotten to set the timer! The smell was terrible. He wished he were a better baker, or at least that he had set the timer! If he tried again, he would definitely ask for help. He appreciated Daisy’s patience, even though she didn’t know about the burnt cake yet. He realized baking wasn’t his strongest skill. He would have to find an alternative for Daisy’s birthday treat.