LTE

London Tests of English

Session One: May 2007

Tape Script

Level 3

Hello everyone! Today’s test is the London Tests of English, Level Three. The
theme of this test is Extreme Sports. This test lasts two hours. There are five
tasks. Tasks One and Two are listening. You must listen to the tape and write
your answers in this booklet. Good luck!

Task One: The Life of Muhammad Ali

You are at college and your class is working on a sports project. You have
chosen to do your research on extreme, or dangerous, sports. You listen to a
radio programme about Muhammad Ali, a famous American boxer.

Listen to the radio programme and put a cross next to the phrase that best

completes each sentence, as in the example.

You will hear the programme twice. Do as much as you can the first time and
finish your work the second time.

You have one minute to read the sentences.

[ONE MINUTE PAUSE]


Listen carefully. The programme starts now.


[TONE/BEEP]

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]

Welcome to Sporting Heroes, Radio Europe’s weekly programme about famous

sports people. Today’s show is about Muhammad Ali, the world-famous American

boxer.

Muhammad Ali was born on January 17 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. However, the

name that’s so famous today wasn’t his original name. He was first named Cassius

Marcellus Clay, after his father, who in turn was named after a nineteenth century

politician called Cassius Clay. Ali’s grandparents admired Clay because he fought

against slavery. Ali changed his name after becoming a Muslim.

So, how did his boxing career begin? In 1954, Ali parked his bicycle outside a

Louisville department store. He came out of the shop to discover that someone had

taken it, and approached a police officer named Joe Martin, saying he wanted to

punch the thief. Officer Martin was coach of the Louisville boxing programme, and

told Ali that if he wanted to punch someone, he should learn to fight properly. The

next day, Ali went to Martin’s gym and began boxing lessons. Ali credits Martin with

teaching him how to ‘float like a butterfly and sting like a bee’ as he later

described his style. In 1960, Martin accompanied Ali to the Rome Olympics. It was

the young boxer’s first international competition and he managed to win the gold

medal.

Standing at 1 metre 93 centimetres, Ali had a highly unusual style for a

heavyweight boxer. He carried his hands at his sides, rather than the normal boxing

style of keeping the hands high to protect the face. Instead, he relied on his ability

to avoid his opponent’s punches. On October 29, 1960, Ali won his first professional

fight against Tunney Hunsaker, a police chief from West Virginia. The former

library assistant was well on his way to stardom.

In the 1960s, America was at war in Vietnam, and Ali, by this time world

heavyweight champion, was called upon to fight as a soldier for his country.

However, he failed a writing and spelling test, so wasn’t allowed to join the army.

Then, in 1966 the test was changed, and he was told to become a soldier. He

refused, saying that he didn’t believe in military service, and as a result was

banned from boxing in America. His passport was taken away and for several years

he was unable to box at all.

Eventually, Ali went on to have an extremely successful boxing career, beating

champions like Joe Frazier and George Foreman. He also pursued a career in film,

and has starred as himself in several movies. However, on October 2 1980, he

became unwell during a fight and was knocked out. Afterwards it was revealed that

at the medical examination before the fight, Ali had complained of tingling in his

hands and slurred speech. Doctors had discovered a medical condition, but decided

to withhold the information so that the fight could go ahead. His health has

declined since, and he has devoted the rest of his life to charitable work.

And that brings us to the end of this programme. Please join us again next week…..

(fade…)

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]

You will now hear the programme again.


[TONE/BEEP]

[REPEAT RECORDED TEXT]

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]


That is the end of Task One. Now go on to Task Two.

Task Two: Three Extreme Sports

You listen to another radio programme, where three young people who take
part in extreme sports are interviewed.

Listen to the radio programme and complete the table below. Some information
has already been filled in.

You will hear the radio programme twice. Do as much as you can the first time
and finish your work the second time.

You have one minute to read the task.

[ONE MINUTE PAUSE]


Listen carefully. The programme starts now.


[TONE/BEEP]

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]

Pres:

Good evening! Welcome to Teenagers Today. Today we’re discussing

extreme sports, and I have three teenagers here: Judith, David and

Suzanne. Welcome.

Judith, David, Suzanne (together): Hello

Pres:

So, Judith, you first. You have an unusual sporting interest, don’t

you?

Judith: I guess so. I’ve been unicycling since I was six.

Pres: Unicycling?

What’s

that?

Judith: Riding a bicycle with one wheel! My dad took me to a circus – that’s where

I first saw it.

Pres: So, do you want to be a circus performer?

Judith: No – not at all (laughs). I do mountain unicycling – it’s the same as

mountain biking, but with one wheel!

Pres: Do you need any special equipment for that?

Judith: Not really. Just the unicycle, obviously, and a safety helmet, in case of

accidents.

Pres: Yes. Judith - about accidents. What are the risks involved with unicycling?

Judith: Well, it isn’t really a dangerous sport, as you’re unlikely to fall off. But if

you do, the main risks are that you might hurt your knees or wrists. But I

love it – it makes me feel very free.

Pres: So, could anyone have a go?

Judith: Absolutely – anyone who’s fairly fit anyway.

Pres: Well, maybe I’ll give it a try (laughs). Thanks Judith. Let’s move on to

David. What’s your sport, David?

David: It’s caving. I’ve only been doing it for eighteen months – not long - but

I’m hooked.

Pres: Oh, I don’t think I’d like that. How did you become interested in it?

David: Through a club at school. I didn’t really expect to like it, but now I go

every week.

Pres: Where do you go?

David: Oh, just to some local hills.

Pres: So you don’t travel far then. What do you take with you?

David: Not much, really. The most important things are sensible clothing, and a

good torch, – so that we can see where we’re going once we’re

underground!

Pres: Yes, that would be important! (laughs). Now, is caving a dangerous sport?

David: There isn’t too much to worry about. The main danger is the possibility of

flooding, but as long as you do your research first, the risks aren’t great.

Pres: Ok. David, do you need any special skills to go caving? Can anyone do it?

David: Pretty much. Anyone who has had the proper training can have a go – it is

important to get plenty of information first though.

Pres: Thanks, David. And – last but not least – Suzanne. Your hobby is?

Suzanne: Scuba diving. I’ve been doing it since I was 14 – so that’s for about 5 years

now. I love it!

Pres: What first attracted you to it?

Suzanne: I went on holiday to Thailand – the different coloured tropical fish there

were just amazing!

Pres: I bet. I’d love to try it. Do you need much equipment?

Suzanne: Well, I hire most things, although it is useful to have some of your own

equipment. The most useful thing to buy is a wetsuit – the water’s cold

sometimes!

Pres: Yes. Now, many people are too scared to go diving. Is it a dangerous sport?

Suzanne: Well, any sport can be dangerous. You’re only likely to experience

problems though, if your equipment is faulty, so it’s important to check

everything.

Pres: Of course. Now, what everyone wants to know- can absolutely anyone try

scuba diving?

Suzanne: Yes, absolutely everyone. You don’t even need to be able to swim!

Pres: Well, maybe I could try…

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]


You will now hear the recording again.

[TONE/BEEP]

[REPEAT RECORDED TEXT]

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE]

That is the end of the listening tasks. The other tasks test your reading and
writing of English. Now go on to Task Three.