1 | TO BIKE OR NOT TO BIKE? |
2 | Perhaps the most common reason people give for not cycling is |
3 | safety in traffic. However, even in large cities, the health benefits |
4 | of regular cycling are more likely to outweigh the risk of being |
5 | injured in an accident and it's often the fastest and most reliable |
6 | way to travel. |
7 | In large cities, journeys of less than 5 miles (8km) can be made |
8 | more quickly and easily by bike. And if we cycled for just some of |
9 | those journeys we would be helping to reduce congestion |
10 | and pollution. |
11 | All the health professionals agree that cycling is good for you. |
12 | Regular cyclists have a fitness level equivalent to someone ten |
13 | years younger and the risk of heart discease is significantly |
14 | reduced. Contrary to popular belief, if you are sitting in a car, you |
15 | are exposing yourself to higher levels of vehicle pollution than if |
16 | you're on a bike. |
17 | The risk of having an accident is real, but often over stressed. It |
18 | not as great as you may fear. In fact, a cyclist is seriously injured |
19 | only once every 185,000 cycling miles (300,000 cycling |
20 | kilometres). |
21 | So look out for the blue and white cycle route signs. Cycling is |
22 | the fastest way to get around town, efficient, good for your |
23 | health, environmentally friendly and of course it can be great fun! |
Questions | |
1 | Which of the following statements best sums up this article? |
a | Cars cause major pollution in cities |
b | Cyclists should do at least 8km a day |
c | Cycling is fast, healthy and clean |
d | City traffic is very dangerous |
2 | The main purpose of this article is to: |
a | Explain the dangers of driving |
b | Describe the fun of cycling |
c | Persuade people to cycle |
d | Explain the dangers of cycling |
3 | According to the article, the risk of being injured in a cycling accident: |
a | Outweighs the health benefits |
b | Is seriously high in cities |
c | Is more likely in traffic |
d | Is often exaggerated |
4 | There is a spelling mistake on: |
a | Line 4 |
b | Line 9 |
c | Line 13 |
d | Line 20 |
5 | The phrase equivalent to on line 12 means: |
a | The same as |
b | Different from |
c | More than |
d | Similar to |
6 | The phrase significantly reduced on lines 13 and 14 means: |
a | Heart disease will decline in the future |
b | A reduction in the risk of the heart disease that a doctor can sign |
c | A reduction in the risk of the heart condition that is not measurable |
d | A reduction in the risk of the heart condition that is potentially measurable |
7 | The it's of line 5 means: |
a | The risk of being injured in an accident |
b | Cycling |
c | Travelling |
d | Common reason people give for not cycling |
8 | In line 17 over stressed means: |
a | Anxious beyond the normal state |
b | The bicycle cannot function in traffic without wear and tear |
c | People emphasise too much the risk of an accident |
d | Accidents will happen whatever is stated |
9 | You're of line 16 means: |
a | If your bicycle is receiving higher levels of vehicle pollution |
b | If you are in a car |
c | You are on a bicycle |
d | You are receiving reduced levels of vehicle pollution |
10 | What does the sentence mean beginning on line 2? |
a | Perhaps the reason given for not cycling is common and lacks refinement |
b | Without measuring this, people reason against cycling because there is safety in traffic. |
c | Without measuring this, people reason against cycling because there is a lack of safety in traffic. |
d | The writer hasn't a clue why people give common reasons for not cycling. |
11 | Rewrite the first sentence starting in line 2 to remove its ambiguity. |
12 | Rewrite the sentence beginning on line 14 starting Contrary to popular belief to reduce the number of commas without taking anything away from what the sentence states. |
Source (verbatim main text, different line numbers, questions reproduced with additional questions, coloured here): |
Edexcel (May 2003), 'Draft Document for Questions 1 to 5', Key Skills: Communication, Adult Literacy, Unit Number: U3051248/KC2T/U50500112/LIT2, London: Edexcel, 2-3. |