1. Read the text about BASE jumping and choose the correct answers (a-c) to complete gaps 1-5.
BASE jumping
BASE jumping is an extreme sport. It is 1) _____ to skydiving, but there are important differences. Firstly, the jumps are much lower – usually no more than six hundred metres. And secondly, there is no aircraft. 2) _____, participants jump from some kind of bridge, building or cliff. The first BASE jump took 3) _____ in 1912 in New York, when Frederick Law jumped from the Statue of Liberty. In the 1960s and 70s, the sport became more popular, partly 4) _____ to film-maker Carl Boenish. He made documentaries about BASE jumping and also 5) _____ of the name. He died in 1984 while he was jumping in Norway. BASE jumping is a thrilling experience, but it is very risky too.
1) a alike b like c similar
2) a However b Otherwise c Instead
3) a part b place c off
4) a thanks b because c according
5) a invented b decided c thought
Show answers
1) c 2) c 3) b 4) a 5) c
Transcript
BASE jumping is an extreme sport. It is similar to sky-diving, but there are important differences. Firstly, the jumps are much lower – usually no more than 600 metres. And secondly, there is no aircraft; instead , participants jump from some kind of bridge, building or cliff. The first BASE jump took place in 1912 in New York when Frederick Law jumped from the Statue of Liberty. In the 1960s and 70s, the sport became more popular, partly thanks to film-maker Carl Boenish. He made documentaries about BASE jumping and also thought of the name. He died in 1984 while he was jumping in Norway. BASE jumping is a thrilling experience but it is very risky too.
Listening Strategy
The information that you need to understand in the recorded text may be expressed differently in the task.
– Listen out for synonyms of key words in the task. Key words are content words such as adjectives, nouns and verbs.
– Also listen out for ways in which words with the opposite meaning, or negative verbs, correspond with key words in the task.
It’s rather cold today. >> It isn’t very warm today.
We won the match. >> We didn’t lose the match.
2. Read the Listening Strategy. Then listen to Alex talking about wingsuit flying. Write the words he uses instead of the underlined words.
1) He spent a long time trying to find the right sport.
‘__________.’
2) He disliked team games when he was a teenager.
‘__________.’
3) He thinks wingsuit flying is a great feeling.
‘__________.’
4) Unfortunately, it is expensive.
‘__________.’
Show answers
1) ages 2) didn’t enjoy 3) amazing 4) it isn’t cheap
Transcript
I spent ages trying to find the right sport. I played team games like football and volleyball when I was a teenager, but I didn’t enjoy them. I prefer to be in control – so I like individual sports. When I was nineteen, I discovered wingsuit flying. It’s an amazing feeling, because it really is like being a bird: you can choose which way to fly. I love it! The only problem is, it isn’t cheap. For that reason, I can’t do it as often as I want to.
3. Listen to three other people talking about the extreme sports in the photos above. Match speakers 1-3 with photos A-C.
Show answers
Photo A: speaker 2 Photo B: speaker 3
Photo C: speaker 1
4. Listen again. Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? To help you, listen for synonyms or antonyms of the underlined words.
Speaker 1
1) When he first saw the sport, he thought it looked impossible.
2) He thinks the sport feels worse when you’re actually doing it.
Speaker 2
3) She wanted a sport that was physically difficult.
4) She often thinks about the risks involved in her sport.
Speaker 3
5) He was familiar with the sport before he went to Nicaragua.
6) He found the experience not very exciting.
Show answers
1) T 2) F 3) T 4) F 5) F 6) F
Transcript
1)
I started doing it about five years ago. At that time, I didn’t know what the word ‘creeking’ meant! But I was already a fan of kayaking and I suppose I was looking for a new challenge. The first time I saw it, I thought, hey, this doesn’t look possible! You can’t take a kayak down a waterfall! But actually, it doesn’t feel quite as bad when you’re doing it because you’re in control ___ most of the time. And now, I just love creeking. The adrenaline is amazing. I can’t go back to ordinary kayaking ___ never!
2)
Free soloing is the most extreme form of climbing because it doesn’t use any equipment at all – no ropes, no safety gear, nothing. It’s just the climber and the cliff or mountain. I started doing it ten years ago, because I was looking for a physical challenge. It needs a lot more strength than ordinary climbing – you need strong fingers, hands and arms in particular. And of course, it’s dangerous sometimes, but I don’t think about that. For me, it’s all about testing self, not about risking life.
3)
When I first told people I was into volcano boarding, people thought I was joking. That’s because most of them didn’t know anything at all about the sport. I didn’t know anything about it either, until I was in Nicaragua on holiday three years ago. I visited a volcano called Cerro Negro – the name just means ‘black hill’. It’s a young, active volcano – and the best place in the world for volcano boarding. So I decided to try it. It takes 45-minutes to walk up the volcano. Then just a few minutes to surf down it. It was amazing – really thrilling. But very hot!