FCE Practice Test Plus 1 Test 5 Paper 1 (Reading) Part 3

FCE Practice Test Plus 1

Test 5 Paper 1 (Reading) Part 3

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.

Bikes on Kilimanjaro
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.
0	H
Then the whole lot was dropped into the top of my rucksack. The tent was plastered with ice, which added to the weight.
15
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
16
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.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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
20
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!

A	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.
B	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
C	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.
D	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
E	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.
F	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.
G	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.
H	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.

ANSWER KEY

15	16	17	18	19	20
F	C	A	G	B	D