activities were divided according to age, but in the final hour of the day the 50 or so
children came together for the daily competitions. I didn't miss home, nor was I in a
A8 The speaker thinks that if you are in sport
1) any sport will be traumatic.
2) you can do without injuries.
3) your back and ribs always hurt.
A9 How much time does she devote to skiing?
1) From January till July.
2) One year.
3) All her life.
A10 Is she afraid to push off at a competition?
1) Never. She is fearless.
2) Yes, and she likes it.
3) Yes, and that annoys her.
A11 How does she get into the competition mood?
1) By being on her own.
2) By having a good time with friends.
3) By watching TV and listening to music.
A12 What's her new leisure activity?
1) Sewing.
2) Shopping.
3) Gardening.
A13 When does she snowboard?
1) At different sports events.
2) 'On holidays.
3) She can't do it.
A14 Speaking about her dreams coming true, the sportswoman is
1) realistic.
2) ambitious.
3) pessimistic.
Tell us how you got into skiing?
Well, my family is all skiers, my parents and grandparents, and it was just something
we all started doing. It started when I was about 5 and spent all that time with my
family. I live close to the ski resorts so when I was old enough to go alone, I started
going after school with my friends and I got into that.
How many days out of the year do you think you spend on skis?
Every year I am going to count, but I never do, so I don't know. I spend a lot. This year
was a little less because I've been injured. This year I am up here where I live till
July (A9), so I spend a lot of days on snow.
What are some of the most memorable injuries that you've had?
Um, well, I think the most memorable will be what I am going through now, and that
would be I broke my back, and so I have been out of the scene for, I don't know, two
and a half months now and it's just been so hard. Urn, and just having a broken back is a
pain and you can't do everything you want to do, but, uh, I've broken ribs so that's
probably another one because it was all in the same area. You've got to expect some of
the worst things to happen if you are in sport, for sure (AS).
Now, when you're about to start in a tournament, or even when you're going to try
a new jump, do you ever have that split-second of fear?
Oh yeah, for sure! But I think it's good. Every new jump or first time you're trying it,
you feel scared, and I like that, f like getting that fear (A10) and not knowing and then
going for it and accomplishing it. Or maybe you fall and you get up and try it again, but
eventually it's such a great feeling that when you do get it, it makes you just want to
keep going until you do get it, so yes. All the time I get that feeling, for sure.
So how do you prepare yourself psychologically for a competition?
Um, I like being around my friends and laughing and just having a good time and
playing around and not taking it too seriously. I always like listening to music, so music
makes me want to dance, the thing that I like best. And if I'm having a good time and
laughing with my friends and dancing at the same time, then that's when I know
I'm going to do really well (All).
What do you like to do in your free time? I don't know, I like doing everything and
like all kinds of sports, from surfing and skateboarding a bit and mountain biking. I just
haven't quite got back into that yet, but summer's coming so it'll be good pretty soon to
do that stuff. I like sewing and cooking. And I've been into gardening lately because
it's really nice! (A12) It's been taking up all my free time these days. Urn, I love
shopping of course.
Okay, so you have grown up on skis, but have you ever tried snowboarding?
Oh yes! I love snowboarding! Because I end up doing a lot of events with the
snowboarders, and so we always switch because they want to ski and I want to
snowboard (A13). 1 love it. I've been on skis all my life, so it's totally different. I'm not
worried about falling, г almost want to fall just trying things!
Is there anything outside of skiing that you haven't done yet but you would like to
do?
Um, yes, for sure, I would love to become a rock star! I'm a really great singer when I'm
in my car alone and the music is really loud, so I think that would be pretty fun. But I
don't see that happening! I don't know, I just want to keep having fun at whatever I am
doing and there are a lot of dreams that I'd like to accomplish, but a lot of dreams
that are distant, and I don't know, we'll see what happens (A14).
Test 8
A. The speaker's work and hobby preferences coincide.
Speaker 4
Being a freelance journalist, I have lots of free time to go to the gym, swim and have a
sauna, which is so relaxing. I have to read a lot due to my type of work so it became
one of my favourite»forms of spending my free time too. I don't read much fiction
anymore so now it's nonfiction mostly. I read and I never get bored.
B. The speaker spends time riding a horse, (extra)
C. The speaker's favourite pastime helped her earn her living once.
Speaker 1