C1 English Reading – Short Story & Vocabulary Quiz
After forty years, the day of Arthur’s resignation finally came. He was a renowned architect, known for his buildings worldwide, yet his upcoming retirement brought a strange mix of joy and worry. For decades, his vocation had been his main fixation, leaving little time for anything else. His co-workers offered frank congratulations. Others quietly engaged in speculation about how he would handle so much free time.
Arthur’s wife, Clara, planned an extravagant party. It was overwhelmingly kind of her. But Arthur dreamed more of a quiet retreat to their humble cottage by the lake. That small, personal place held his most precious memories. His only objection to the big party was this deep wish for simple peace.
He imagined long days without deadlines or the occasional hostile client. He planned to relish every moment, painting and reading. He even thought about making a detailed schedule for his first few weeks to fit in all the things he wanted to do so badly. But he knew that would be a contradiction to his new freedom. The idea of waking up with no alarm, no commute, and no urgent emails was seemingly simple, and it had a strong allure. It was a deeply coveted peace he had worked for his whole life. As the office clock struck five for the last time, Arthur felt a distinctive calm simultaneously with a thrill for what was next. His true life was just about to begin.