Loading the car with Vanessa: Present perfect

Short stories with a twist are Vanessa Clark's speciality, and I'm always eager to read what surpise she has thought up this time in her short story for Spotlight. This month, her story "Loading the car" is also included on Spotlight Audio. The topic is perfect for the summer month of August, because she is writing about loading the car with camping equipment.

Do you like camping? I think the world is divided into two classes: those who love it and those who hate it. I happen to be a big fan, and have spent many nights in a tent, on the hard ground, in all kinds of weather, just to be close to the smells and sounds of the great outdoors. But have you ever spent more than one night in a wet tent? What about Vanessa's protagonist? Does she like it?

Listen to the beginning of the story:

Have we heard enough to be sure that she is the camping type? Listen once again and take as many notes as you can, using pencil and paper. Try to remember every word. Then come along and do the listening comprehension and grammar exercise on the next page. Let's review the present perfect simple and continuous.

Anne Hodgson