FCE Practice Test Plus 1
Test 5 Paper 1 (Reading) Part 3
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You are going to read an
extract from a book about a biking adventure. Seven paragraphs have been
removed from the extract. Choose the most suitable paragraph from the list A-H
for each gap (15-20). There is one extra paragraph which you do not need to
use. There is an example at the beginning (O)
Mark your answers on the
separate answer sheet.
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Bikes
on Kilimanjaro
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We had succeeded in reaching the top of the mountain with our bikes
still in working order. The next challenge was going to be coming down. We
melted enough snow to provide us with water for the descent.
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0
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H
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Then the whole lot was dropped into the top of my rucksack. The tent
was plastered with ice, which added to the weight.
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15
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And we had the bikes on top of that. When we pulled our bikes out of
the snow to make our conclusive exit from the mountain, the sun was dropping
down with increasing speed towards the black cliffs of Uhuru Peak and there
was total silence
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16
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Nevertheless, our immediate objective had been fulfilled; that of
cycling to Uhuru Peak. Unfortunately, much excitement and experimentation
with the bicycles had to be abandoned.
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17
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But principally, we had not done everything we had planned with our
bikes because of the constraints of time in the modern society 3,000 miles
away to which we were bound. Before starting the descent, we sat down to
consider what we had gained from this experience.
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18
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And only by living under stress with others can we form true bonds. It
was certainly sad to leave Kibo summit, but we were in no doubt that there
would be other adventures. Setting off down a mountain towards warmth and safety
normally encourages a spring in the step.
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19
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The combined weight of rider, bike and rucksack was over 130 kilograms;
a lot for a pair of brakes to hold in normal conditions. I was sitting as far
back as possible on the bike seat, keeping the weight as far rearwards as
possible on the steep slope. I could just reach the handlebars with
outstretched finger
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20
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After that incident we experimented with other varying modes of
downhill travel. Most ended with wild, uncontrollable slides and somersaults.
But with every metre descended we felt better. Until we suddenly realised
that our adventures on the mountain side were being observed from below. A crowd
of mountain climbers had been following our every fall through binoculars!
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A
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Part of the reason for this had been our
physical stale. We had suffered a number of minor injuries on the way up,
which had delayed our ascent. Getting to the top had left us with little
energy for any extra bicycle riding.
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B
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However, that afternoon I was barely
capable of lifting one foot above the other. In the first section of our
descent there were many large racks, so we were carrying our bikes down. At this
point, I decided to try to ride the bike down, something that ended in
disaster
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C
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It was so quiet and calm that I could
almost hear the creak of ice in the northern glacier. It was sad to say goodbye
to the peak because we were leaving the adventure before we had really got
started on the more exciting bits.
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D
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What I didn't realise until the whole
ensemble was travelling at high speed, was that I couldn't see where I was
going. The rucksack I was wearing on my chest had been pushed upwards into my
lace, leaving me totally sightless
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E
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Instead of that, the bike turned over
and the large rucksack took off down the slope in a series of giant hops.
Picking up the bike, I wondered whether I'd ever recover the sack.
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F
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When we'd got everything packed up, we found
we had the biggest and heaviest loads we'd ever seen. Each of us had one of
the huge expedition rucksacks to carry, stuffed to the brim.
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G
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In spite of the sadness we felt, we
knew that we had learnt a little more about ourselves and a drop more about
other people. It is only by pushing ourselves to our limits that we get to
explore ourselves.
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H
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This added up to several pints of
valuable liquid in plastic containers, which weighed a ton. Sleeping bags,
assorted socks and spare layers of clothing were packed away.
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ANSWER
KEY
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
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20
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F
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C
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A
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G
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B
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D
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