Exercise 2. You are going to read a magazine article. For questions 43-50, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
Life in the Fast Lane
The next generation of Formula One greats is coming up fast in karts On the grid, minutes before the start of a British Grand Prix in August, the drivers’ faces are grave with concentration. The pre-race interviews are over, and the glamour models are off the track. Fans are screaming from a packed grandstand. Squeezed into his driving seat, wearing a red, white and yellow jumpsuit and white helmet, Nelson Jones is pulling on a pair of tight black gloves. No question where he’s expecting to finish: “First,” he says before pulling down his gold visor. At the start signal, with a burst of engine noise, the drivers dart down to the first turn. It all sounds a lot like a Formula One car race, but there’s a difference - Nelson is all of thirteen years old, and he’s racing in a go-kart. What could be seen as child’s play in this rural town of Lincolnshire is in fact a proving ground for professionals. Almost all of today’s Formula One drivers owe a debt to the experience first gained in a small plastic bucket seat. It is the first step for young talent to move into professional race cars, because it introduces them to the essential basics such as finding the racing line, concentration and how to compete on the track. That track record makes karting a must for youngsters keen to make racing their life’s ambition. Nelson Jones is no different, and has actually been racing since he was eight years old. Nelson’s father, Steve, stood by his son at every step. “I believe everyone has a special talent, and when my son Nelson showed us how gifted he was with racing, even at an incredibly young age, I knew we had to do something. Racing can be really dangerous and it gets expensive, but five years ago, when I had the opportunity to buy him his first official kart, I rushed to do it. It was in a really bad state, but it was perfect for what we had in mind.” The appeal is not hard to see. Karting offers the thrills and spills of real-life racing but with less powerful machines, which can nevertheless reach speeds of 160 km/h. Nelson’s interest in racing was unstoppable; he would wake up early on weekends and work on his race kart, making modifications to increase control and speed. “He had discipline. He used to be up even before me in the mornings, getting ready for the day’s race,” says his father. After taking part in three or four local races in Britain, in which he won first place despite his young age, Nelson decided that he would go for it and have a crack at his first international Grand Prix in Germany, which he won as well. Although Nelson now travels all over Britain and Europe to take part in races, Lincolnshire remains home. Growing up there, the interest he showed in racing was not via the usual exposure to video games, like the other kids he meets at races. “We lived near a small karting racetrack and I became fascinated - I couldn’t stop talking about it. One day, as we were driving past, I made my father stop the car so I could have a better look at the karts flying by. I saw so many people, including kids my own age, and I took a liking to it straight away.” Nelson eventually got his chance to try it out. The family hired an instructor for amateurs to teach Nelson, who took him as far as the age of twelve. The instructor then informed Nelson’s father it was time to look for someone more qualified. Perhaps it is Nelson’s good fortune in having always been expertly advised that has made him so relaxed about facing the pressures of an international racing circuit. But what is it like to be so young with a schedule fully booked with races, and all eyes watching him, expecting victory after victory? “It’s good for me, as I know what I need to be doing. The public’s expectations, as well as the pressure, helps me focus and concentrate so I can race at my highest level.”
43. The writer suggests in paragraph 1 that, before the start of the race, Nelson
A. ignores the models and the screaming fans.
B. doesn’t want a long pre-race interview.
C. is confident that he will win the race.
D. is uncomfortable in his small driving seat.
44. According to the text, karting is important for future Formula One drivers because
A. it shows if young drivers have enough talent to become professionals.
B. it helps them decide whether racing is really their life’s ambition.
C. it teaches them some of the skills they need to race professionally.
D. it gives them valuable experience of driving in a small bucket scat.
45. How did Nelson’s father react to his son’s interest in racing?
A. He worried about the dangers of such a hobby.
B. He thought Nelson’s talent must be supported.
C. He realised this hobby would be very expensive.
D. He believed Nelson was too young for racing.
46. At the beginning of his racing career, Nelson
A. couldn’t sleep well on the day of a race.
B. did a lot of preparation before a race.
C. preferred working on his kart to racing.
D. needed to increase his self-control.
47. The writer uses the phrase ‘have a crack at’ to show that Nelson
A. wasn’t sure whether he would do well at this level.
B. realised it wouldn’t be suitable for him.
C. was used to winning every Grand Prix he entered.
D. thought he was too young for an international race.
48. Nelson became interested in kart racing
A. because his father often talked about it.
B. after watching other children doing it.
C. to meet other children of his own age.
D. because of his exposure to video games.
49. What does the writer suggest about Nelson’s first race instructor?
A. He lacked confidence in his teaching ability.
B. He was not qualified to teach professionals.
C. He only coached drivers under the age of twelve.
D. He decided to look for a younger driver to coach.
50. What is Nelson referring to when he says, “It’s good for me”?
A. having a full racing schedule and demanding fans
B. feeling confident that he will win race after race
C. having expert advisors who can help him to relax
D. focusing on racing at the highest international level
