Task 1 Read the text about an incident between a driver and a female cyclist. Put the following events (A–K) into the order in which they took place. There is one extra event that you should not use. Write your answers in the spaces provided. The first one (0) has been done for you.
Bike rage Sooner or later most cyclists encounter bike rage, but staying safe isn't always about following the rules of the road Sometimes I think cyclists should never be allowed on the road. Two wheels at 15mph are no match for two tonnes of steel machinery at 30mph or more – especially when driven by an enraged motorist. I haven't yet been threatened by a motorist wanting to chew at my ear, nor been confronted by a gorilla on roller skates, but I have come close. One night in late autumn, at about 9pm, I was heading home, taking my normal route. I had thrashed out my ideal route between work and home, based not only on distance but also quietness and quickness of roads. At one particularly nasty and unavoidable four-lane junction near Oval tube, where the A23 to Brighton meets the A3 to Portsmouth – two of London's most dangerous roads for cyclists – my safety strategy is always to try to stay ahead of the traffic. I took off on green from the lights, and managed to reach about 17mph just after the bend. For the driver behind me, this was still not fast enough, even though the lights ahead were turning red. He beeped his horn at me, expecting me to move into a lane that was already full of traffic whizzing by into Brixton. I held my position and he beeped again. I turned to look at him. He was on his mobile phone. At the lights I tried to explain, without a single expletive, that he might have endangered me by forcing me out of his way and into the path of another vehicle, all while driving on his mobile phone. The Highway Code after all defines cyclists as "other road users requiring extra care".
I thought nothing of it. Until he stepped out of his car and started yelling at me. I had no idea what he was saying as I moved away from the lights. He overtook me and cut me up, trying to get me to stop. He waited for me in laybys and tailed me for several miles. I didn't feel like I was in immediate danger, but I didn't think he wanted to invite me for a cup of tea and a nice chat. So I memorised his number plate, "just in case". After seeing his car drive past me for the sixth time, before a particularly dark stretch of road near my home, I called the police. I was surprised and impressed by how seriously the police took my call. A car was sent to look for the driver within minutes as I waited for the police outside a bar in Clapham with a rather large, if bemused, bouncer on the door. My main concern was that the driver might find out where I lived if I continued home on my bike. I admit, it's not really the best use of police time in Brixton, but they slung my bike in the police van and delivered me and my bike to the door, just as my then-partner pulled up in a cab, looking slightly concerned. Seldom now do I remonstrate with dangerous or thoughtless motorists, least of all at night. I ride aggressively, but keep my mouth shut, or smile. Have you ever had a bike rage experience that got out of control?
A
The driver tried to frighten the cyclist.
B
The cyclist was given a lift in a police car.
C
The cyclist tried to get away from the traffic lights as fast as possible.
D
The cyclist phoned for help.
E
The cyclist rides in a determined way and stays silent.
F
The police found the driver in front of a bar.
G
The driver honked at the cyclist.
H
Officers responded to the cyclist’s request at once.
I
The female cyclist was riding home in darkness.
J
The cyclist got the number of the car.
0 I
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Q8
Key: Bike rage 0 I
Q1 C
Q2 G
Q3 A
Q4 J
Q5 D
Q6 H
Q7 B
Q8 E
Justifications 0/J After an introductory paragraph, the text says: “One night in late autumn, at about 9pm, I was heading home, taking my normal route.” The correct answer is I (The female cyclist was riding home in darkness). Q1/C The text then says: “I took off on green from the lights, and managed to reach about 17mph just after the bend.” The correct answer is C (The cyclist tried to get away from the traffic lights as fast as possible). Q2/G The text then says: “He beeped his horn at me, expecting me to move into a lane that was already full of traffic whizzing by into Brixton. I held my position and he beeped again.” The correct answer is G (The driver honked the cyclist). Q3/A The text then says: “I thought nothing of it. Until he stepped out of his car and started yelling at me. I had no idea what he was saying as I moved away from the lights. He overtook me and cut me up, trying to get me to stop. He waited for me in laybys and tailed me for several miles.” The correct answer is A (The driver tried to frighten the cyclist). Q4/K The text then says:”So I memorised his number plate, "just in case".” The correct answer is J (The cyclist got the number of the car). Q5/D The text then says: “After seeing his car drive past me for the sixth time, before a particularly dark stretch of road near my home, I called the police.” The correct answer is D (The cyclist phoned for help). Q6/I The text then says: “I was surprised and impressed by how seriously the police took my call. A car was sent to look for the driver within minutes as I waited for the police outside a bar in Clapham with a rather large, if bemused, bouncer on the door.” The correct answer is H (Officers responded to the cyclist’s request at once). Q7/B The text then says: “I admit, it's not really the best use of police time in Brixton, but they slung my bike in the police van and delivered me and my bike to the door, just as my then-partner pulled up in a cab, looking slightly concerned.” The correct answer is B (The cyclist was given a lift in a police car). Q8/E The text then says: “I ride aggressively, but keep my mouth shut, or smile.” The correct answer is E (The cyclist rides in a determined way and stays silent).