You will hear five different people speaking on the subject of motorbikes. For questions 19-23, choose the phrase (A-F) which best summarises what each speaker is talking about. Use the letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do not need to use.
A the perfect passenger
B a feeling of power
C a lengthy career
D the best way to learn
E a family business
F a break with routine Man: There’s nothing like getting on a motorbike, it’s wonderful. All my life, I’ve never travelled any other way. I was eleven years of age when I first started on my brother’s bike. I had my iicence in 1955 and when a company in Birmingham advertised for a test rider, I applied and got it. I had to ride all the bikes they made from 1957 through to 1978 which included hill climbs, reliability trials and speedway races. After the company closed down, I did trick riding with my brother. We called ourselves ’The Partners Dare’, but by then, of course, it was only a hobby.
Man: Well, of course, although many people start off with brothers, fathers or other family members who ride, actually before you go on the road at all in Britain, you’ve got to take a basic training course and that really gets you off on the right foot. Now, after you’ve passed that, you’re allowed on the road, but we as an organisation strongly recommend that you take further training, and this may be where Dad can help, you know. Then, after that, of course, you’re completely free to buy what you like, go on motorways, take passengers and just thoroughly enjoy motorcycling.
Woman: I’ve a passion for my bike because it takes me away from the day-to-day round of family life, as a mother, and the problems of that kind of existence. I can just put the key in, turn it, and I’m in another world. And I can be relieved of all the stresses and strains, just by riding my bike. Then, you may be going along the motorway and if cars are passing you, you do see the women sort of turn and you can lip read them saying ’you look great’ or ’well done’ and the men always give you a wave in the mirror.
Man: The motorbike seems to be an incredibly strong image. This is because it is the perfect form of transport for the individual. You don’t have to take account of any other person, you can cut through traffic, on a very simple level, but there’s also the idea of the unity of mind, body and machine. It’s really the sense of complete freedom, the sense of being completely in control of your own destiny -- it’s just great fun. You must do it, it’s wonderful, you’ll enjoy every minute of it.
Woman: My mother bought me a bike as soon as I had my licence and she used to ride thousands of miles on the back in those days and then when I started side-car competitions, she used to come with me as the side-car partner. In those days we did a lot of races together -- just for fun. She was wonderful, the same weight as me, so the balance was marvellous, and she used to enjoy it. I don’t know what the rest of the family really thought about it, but my brothers are deeply admiring now, their wives won’t let them ride motorbikes, so they look lovingly at mine sometimes.
