Changing what we eat at the club

B2 First Reading and Use of English — Part 6

Gapped text

You are going to read an article about a sports club that started serving lunch. Six sentences have been removed from the article. For questions 37–42, choose from sentences A–G the one that fits each gap. There is one extra sentence you do not need to use.

Changing what we eat at the club

At our Saturday sports club, players often stayed to watch the next match. However, they rarely stayed long enough to eat together. We thought an affordable lunch might encourage them to do so. (37) _____ The replies made it clear that speed mattered as much as price, especially to parents who had children playing at different times.

Our first idea was to offer sandwiches made to order. On the trial day, however, one volunteer had to take the orders and make the food. (38) _____ By the time the last few customers reached the counter, the next match had already started.

For the second trial, we set out a small selection of sandwiches and fruit in advance. Customers could see what was available as soon as they arrived. (39) _____ That left us free to talk to customers instead of spending the whole break making food.

We thought people would ask for more choice, but it was the portion size that caused the most discussion. Some younger players wanted only half a sandwich. (40) _____ Offering two sizes turned out to be simpler than expanding the menu, and we wasted less food.

A month later, one of the teams offered to take over the stall for a Saturday. We were pleased, but the volunteers from that team had never worked there before. (41) _____ The list told them what needed to be ready before the first match and what could wait until later.

We now have enough volunteers to run the stall every week. The best sign that the idea works is what happens after the food has been served. (42) _____ Some even bring folding chairs so they can watch the next match together.

Missing sentences

A. There was no need to explain the choices or prepare individual orders.

B. So we asked members what would make them more likely to buy lunch at the club.

C. We gave them a short checklist rather than expecting them to remember everything.

D. Others wanted a larger lunch because they were playing again later.

E. Instead of leaving straight away, people sit down and stay to chat.

F. A queue soon stretched from the counter to the door.

G. The organisers had already decided to cancel the remaining matches.