B2 English Reading – Short Story & Grammar Quiz
Hazel, a young slave, would spend her days working hard in the fields, her body tired under the hot sun. She moved as though her very soul were tied to the ground. Her life was a constant struggle, a steady routine of difficult labor. She knew that unless she found a way, her status would remain unchanged forever.
She dreamed of freedom, a concept that was such an important idea in her harsh reality. The overseer, whose voice was a strict and terrifying sound, would always watch them, making sure no one dared to stand up. Despite the constant pressure, Hazel kept a tiny spark of hope alive within her that one day she would live free.
One night, a new slave, an old man whose eyes held a deep wisdom, was brought to their shelter. He had some small, strange pieces of paper with him. If she could learn to understand these symbols, she thought, she might find a way to escape. She practiced in secret for months, determined to break free. Finally, it was worth the effort. The old man’s messages revealed a hidden path, a chance for a risky project. One dark night, following the old man’s instructions, Olivia finally slipped away from the fields. She ran as though the wind were carrying her, toward the distant lands where freedom was a legal right. She succeeded.