What keeps the shelter going?
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The caretaker in a fictional travel diary earned only a bare subsistence from the shelter, covering basic food and lodging without money for comforts or expansion. Bread, beans, and warm drinks provided sustenance for the travelers waiting inside, giving them nourishment rather than an elaborate feast. An abatement of the noise outside finally allowed the caretaker to explain where newcomers could leave their bags. The guests learned that the modest building could meet immediate needs only if everyone used its limited space considerately.
The caretaker's subsistence depended on enough travelers contributing the agreed small amount to cover the shelter's essential running needs. Guests shared the available sustenance and saved unopened supplies for the people still expected that evening. The abatement of noise continued after a delivery cart moved away from the entrance, making ordinary conversation possible again. The group organized the benches and baggage together, preserving a workable refuge without mistaking its basic provisions for an unlimited store of resources.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.