My new bicycle – B2 English Reading Test

Which person

1   bought a second-hand bike?

2   says their new bike is good value for money?

3   found it difficult to slow down at one point?

4   had to take their bike in for repair?

5   needed to put the bike together before they could ride it?

6   bought a new bicycle to replace one that had been stolen?

7   says that riding their bike up hills is tiring?

8   says they wish they had checked the size of the bike sooner?

9   had to get off their bike when they were riding to fix it?

10   compares cycling with another way of keeping fit?

My new bicycle

Four people talk about their bikes.

A   Jonas Hagen

I bought my new mountain bike online and as soon as it was delivered to my home in kit form I set to work. Once it actually looked like a bike and I’d checked that everything seemed to be working properly, I set off down the road. All went well at first, but later on I had a brief moment of panic when the brakes suddenly failed and I narrowly avoided crashing into a hedge. I adjusted them when I got home, and since then they’ve been fine. The only other adjustment I’ve had to make is to raise the seat to the maximum because it turns out this bike is for riders whose inside leg measures considerably less than mine. I should really have noticed that before I bought it.

B   Lili Huang

I originally bought my bike just for occasional use, but now I go everywhere on it. It’s great exercise, every bit as good as going to the gym. It feels just the right size for me and somehow I always feel full of energy when I’m on it, even when my friends and I ride into the mountains at weekends. I’ve only ever had one breakdown, which was when the chain broke. Fortunately there was a garage nearby, where a very kind car mechanic quickly got me back on the road. I don’t know what I’d do without my bike, which is slightly worrying because a lot of people round here have had their bikes stolen. That’s why I keep it in the hall downstairs, rather than in the street.

C   James Thompson

This is only the second bicycle I’ve ever bought. It was on offer at the local cycle shop and I think I got something of a bargain because on the whole I’ve been pleased with it. At first I had some difficulties with the gears, but I managed to sort those out while I was riding. It’s a very solid bike, though that does mean it’s rather heavy and I wouldn’t want to have to push it far if I had a breakdown. It also makes pedalling up steep slopes hard work, although fortunately most of the routes round here are reasonably flat. I don’t think it’s the kind of bike anyone would want to steal, but I always secure it with a good strong lock just in case. Recently I’ve also fitted more powerful front and rear lights so that drivers can see me better after dark.

D   Mia Doherty

I actually chose this bike in something of a hurry. I’d left my old one outside the sports centre and when I came back it had just disappeared. I reported it, of course, but that was the last I ever saw of it, and I needed a new one to get to work every day. I probably paid more than I should have done for it, though I know the previous owner had looked after it well and I haven’t had any trouble with it. Apart, that is, from a flat tyre which meant I had to stop and mend it on the way home in the pouring rain. Riding it certainly helps keep me ft, and even in weather like that I wouldn’t change it for a car. The only incident I’ve had was when a dog ran out into the road in front of me, but the brakes did their job superbly.