Cambridge FCEReading Test

Boudoir photographer Victoria Caroline Haltom received an email from a husband who was disappointed in seeing retouched photos of his wife. This is what she shared on Facebook...

Tonight I want to tell you ladies about a time I messed up really badly. When I first started boudoir, and I had a mid-forties lady book my services at a hotel in downtown San Antonio. She was a curvy, beautiful size 18. I thought she looked like a goddess, but as most women do, she had a request...

She came to me, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, "I want you to Photoshop all of my cellulite, all of my angry red stretch marks, all of my fat, and all of my wrinkles... just make it go away. I want to feel gorgeous just once."

So, I did exactly as she asked and turned her into the epitome of what every woman dreams of being. Christmas rolls around, and she gifts her husband a beautiful hand tooled album with about 30 of her images. Three days later, I receive this email:

"Hi Victoria,I am (blank)'s husband, ********. I am writing to you because I recently received an album containing images you took of my wife. I don't want you to think that I am in any way upset with you but I have some food for thought that I would like to pass on to you. I have been with my wife since we were 18 years old, and we have two beautiful children together. We have had many ups and downs over the years, and I think - well, actually I know that my wife did these pictures for me to "spice things up".

She sometimes complains that I must not find her attractive, that she wouldn't blame me if I ever found someone younger. When I opened the album that she gave to me, my heart sank. These pictures...while they are beautiful and you are clearly a very talented photographer....they are not my wife. You made every one of her "flaws" disappear...and while I'm sure this is exactly what she asked you to do, it took away everything that makes up our life. When you took away her stretch marks, you took away the documentation of my children.

When you took away her wrinkles, you took away over two decades of our laughter, and our worries. When you took away her cellulite, you took away her love of baking and all the goodies we have eaten over the years. I am not telling you all of this to make you feel horrible, you're just doing your job and I get that. I am actually writing you to thank you.

Seeing these images made me realize that I honestly do not tell my wife enough how much I love her and adore her just as she is. She hears it so seldom, that she actually thought these Photoshopped images are what I wanted and needed her to look like. I have to do better, and for the rest of my days I am going to celebrate her in all her imperfectness. Thanks for the reminder.

Regards,"

Ladies, I can Photoshop just about anything. But I encourage you to think twice about how much "altering" we do. Our loved ones cherish and adore us just as we are. This email was 100% real, and I cried like a baby with guilt for at least 6 months after that whenever I read it. I encourage you to embrace yourself just as you are!

1 – What was Victoria’s impression of the woman?

1. (a) She was surprised at the woman’s size.
2. (b) She was disappointed with how curvy the woman was.
3. (c) She was annoyed at the woman’s request.
4. (d) She thought the woman as beautiful.

2 – What was Victoria’s response to the woman’s request?

1. (a) She did as she was asked.
2. (b) She turned her into someone else.
3. (c) She photoshopped the woman’s wrinkles.
4. (d) She refused to edit the photos.

3 – The woman’s husband believed his wife had taken the pictures because

1. (a) She was unhappy with the marriage.
2. (b) She was unhappy with herself.
3. (c) She wanted to make their life exciting.
4. (d) She was not feeling secure in the relationship.

4 – When he first opened the album, the husband

1. (a) Felt sad about the pictures.
2. (b) Was surprised at the pictures.
3. (c) Found the pictures beautiful.
4. (d) Was confused about the pictures.

5 – The husband wrote the email to Victoria because

1. (a) He was upset.
2. (b) He was disappointed.
3. (c) To thank her.
4. (d) To give her some advice.

6 – The writer

1. (a) Believes people should edit their photos.
2. (b) Encourages people to use Photoshop instead of other programs.
3. (c) Advises people to be themselves.
4. (d) Reinforces how important it is to cherish our loved ones.