the whole chain assembly, with the larger front derailleur by the pedals and the smaller back derailleur attached to the hub of the back wheel, looks very much like a bicycle of 50 years ago. But the cogset might now be made up of anything between 10 and 30 cogs, allowing the rider to choose that number of gears. Even the average cyclist can now take on the steepest hill! Another feature that makes pedalling so much easier now is the fact that the saddle height can be adjusted. Under the saddle here is the seat post. This is the part of the frame that can be adjusted, so that the rider is at exactly the right height – this feature is on every bicycle now, from a child’s first bike to an expensive racing bike. Now, safety. We said that there were frequent accidents on the high wheelers we looked at earlier. Modern bicycles are so much safer – safer all the time in fact – and, of course, serious riders wear plenty of protection anyway. On the diagram here, you can see there is a shock absorber. This is at the top of the fork above the front wheel. If there is impact, the shock absorber compresses and literally takes the shock. These are featured on all motor vehicles as well as bicycles. Finally, I want to mention spokes. Some people ask why bicycle wheels have spokes and you probably wonder why I mention them now, since bicycle wheels have had spokes since their conception. Well, the wheels have spokes because a solid wheel would be so heavy that the bicycle would be impossible to ride. With advanced materials, some racing bicycles do now have solid wheels, but certainly not the majority. What has changed over the years is the shape of the spokes. At one time spokes were made of wood, so had no tension or compression. For many years, spokes were designed to be …
039
Female: Mm, OK. What about number two, then? Male: Well, it’s definitely not c. The text says nothing about the future. I think it’s a – the extract is all about memories.
Female: No. The extract is about memories, but this part says we are frequently told to live for the moment. That means that people are led to believe they should think about now. The answer is b. I’m quite confident about this one.
Male: OK, I see what you mean – perhaps you’re right. Female: OK, number three – we both thought this one was difficult. There are a couple of words I don’t know. I think the answer is c. I think ‘reliving high school glories’ means thinking about proud moments – you know, what he succeeded in. I don’t really know glories, though, so I’m working it out from the context.
Male: No, I don’t think so. The student is struggling, so he finds something difficult. He thinks back to something that was also difficult at school. I’m not sure, but my answer is b.
Female: Well, we’ll just have to disagree. We’re not agreeing on many answers!
Male: No. Well, what about number four, then? I prefer these true, false, not given exercises.
Female: My answer is true. Everyone does feel nostalgic about school lunches. Now, there are even restaurants that serve food which people liked at school.
Male: Maybe, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right answer. The extract just gives thinking about school lunches as an example of nostalgia – I mean, what makes one person feel nostalgic. It certainly doesn’t say that everyone reminisces about school lunches. No, I think the answer is NG.
Female: Mm, yes – you might be right. Let’s go on to number five.
Male: I think the answer here is NG. The extract doesn’t say anything about this.
Unit 4 Reading 1
E Before you check the answers to Exercise D, listen to some students talking about them. Which student gives the correct answer to each question? Write (M) male or (F) female. Male: OK, I’ve got my answers. Shall we compare? Female: Hang on a moment. I’m still thinking about number three and number seven.
Male: Yes, I thought number three was quite tricky – but also number eight – I’m not sure about number eight.
Female: OK, well, let’s compare, then. Number one, I think the answer is c. The text mentions children’s bricks and catapults and I think that activities like these always make you feel nostalgic.
Male: Mm, I don’t think so. Those are just examples of nostalgia. The text says, ‘the tiniest trigger’. I’m not sure about trigger, but tiniest means smallest. My guess is that trigger means make something happen – like the trigger on a gun. I think a is the right answer.
Female: I disagree. The extract says, ‘even for the least sentimental of us’. That line provides the answer. It’s saying that people who are not especially sentimental – that is not especially sensitive or emotional – are also affected by nostalgia. My answer is false.
Male: OK, and number six? I think this one’s true. Female: Mm, I’m not sure that the information is actually given. I’ve put NG.
Male: No, the information is definitely given. It says that thinking about the past for half an hour can make you feel better about your current situation. That means how you live now.
Female: So, you think that ‘contemplating’ means thinking about?
Male: Well, yes I think so – anyway, I’m pretty sure the answer is true.
Female: Well, for number seven. I don’t know the answer. I’ve put not given because I can’t say that it definitely is given. Male: I’ve put true. I think ‘an antidote’ is something that relieves or cures an illness – you know, a kind of
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