Rita's Birthday Note
Your neighbour Rita leaves a note under your door: «Olá! No sábado faço anos. Festa em casa, às 20h. Traz algo para comer ou beber, o que for mais fácil. Não é preciso roupa especial. A festa acaba cedo porque no domingo vou ao Porto. Beijos, Rita.» On Saturday you finish work at 19:00. You live 15 minutes away on foot. You have 8 € until Monday, and the supermarket is open until 21:00. On Monday at 09:00 you have your CIPLE exam. You do not know anyone else at the party.
1. According to the note, what do you NOT need to worry about, and what do you still have to bring?
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Answer: You do not need to worry about special clothes or a big gift. You still have to bring something to eat or drink.
Why:
- «Não é preciso roupa especial» removes the worry about dressing formally - it does not mean you can go in any state, only that casual clothes are correct.
- «Traz algo para comer ou beber» is an obligation, but «o que for mais fácil» gives you the choice, so you can pick the cheapest option.
The judgement is reading a negative instruction («não é preciso») as permission, not as information about the party theme.
2. Given 8 €, the 21:00 supermarket closing time and the Monday exam, what is a sensible plan?
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Answer:
- Buy something simple and cheap (biscuits, a bottle of juice or a small soft drink) for about 3–4 €, leaving money for the rest of the week.
- Go home from work, change, and arrive around 20:00–20:15 - being late would be noticed, and the supermarket is on the way.
- Leave by about 22:30, because the exam is at 09:00 and you do not know the other guests well, so you cannot rely on someone to leave with.
Why: The note says the party «acaba cedo», which supports leaving early without offending Rita. Spending more than half your money on one evening would be a bad trade against a week of food and an exam morning.
3. Rita wrote «a festa acaba cedo». What does that tell you about how to plan your arrival and departure, and why can't you rely on it completely?
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Answer: It tells you the party is not expected to run late, so an early departure is normal and will not look rude. But «cedo» is relative and the host cannot guarantee when guests actually leave.
Why: You should still set your own limit (around 22:30) and say goodbye to Rita when you go. If you wait for the party to end before deciding, you may still be there at midnight. Reading a vague time expression as a firm timetable is the mistake being tested.