By Ajarn Helen Jandamit
Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post
University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.
Read the following story from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
As the editor-in-chief of Fast Bikes Thailand, Poravit Sreshthaputra is one of those lucky people who can combine his passion with his career.
The local version of the UK’s best-selling sports bike magazine aims to be as fast, informative and reader-friendly as the original.
How has your life changed since you became editor-in-chief?
Since the launch of Fast Bikes Thailand two months ago, I’ve been really busy but I’m better organised now. I have less free time because I have to work seven days a week. The job requires me to go out to test motorcycles, do interviews and attend functions. Every day is different, so I’m enjoying the job.
What’s the main attraction of motorbikes?
Motorcycles all have different features and riding one for the first time is like meeting a new friend.
Riding big bikes is like an adventure. We’re talking about travelling, racing or even the daily commute, and to me, there’s always a great feeling about it. It’s different from driving cars.
What has been your most thrilling ride so far?
It was my dream to ride to Northern Thailand. Finally, I went on my first long round-trip, about 2,500 kilometres from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, then back to Bangkok. I was scared riding around the many corners on the mountains for the first time!
How important is training for big-bike riding?
If you ride a small motorcycle, like 110cc, and think you can ride a big bike, you’re wrong. Different strategies and techniques are required for riding a big bike, and if you don’t understand these techniques you can easily crash. With a powerful bike that can go up to 250 kilometres per hour, it can be dangerous. You need to be well trained in basic riding first, and possibly intermediate riding later on. It will help to keep you safe on the road.
Why do you think big bikes have become more popular recently?
Five to six years ago, there weren’t many dealers and you would probably have had to pay about 500,000 to 600,000 baht in cash or make a 50 percent down-payment to buy a big motorcycle.
How do you conduct your test rides?
We always conduct test rides according to strict safety rules, on a race track with the rider in full safety gear.
Are sexy girls necessary for every issue?
Around 90 percent of our readers are men. Of course they want to look at beautiful things but our centre spread is not just about sexy girls.
Our second issue is very exciting. We hope that we can provide something new for Thai and international readers when it comes to riding.
Exercises
Section 1
Read through the story. Then, answer the following reading comprehension questions.
1. What does Poravit Sreshthaputra do for a living?
a. He works as the editor-in-chief of Fast Bikes Thailand magazine.
b. He rides big bikes to Chiang Rai.
c. He conducts test rides according to strict safety rules.
2. Why does Poravit enjoy his job?
a. He works seven days a week.
b. He is given free motorcycles.
c. Because every day is different.
3. Which of the following best describes the UK version of Fast Bikes magazine?
a. It is not informative or reader-friendly.
b. It is the top-selling magazine in Thailand.
c. It is the UK’s best-selling sports bike magazine.
4. Which of the following does the writer believe about big bikes?
a. It used to be much easier to buy a big bike.
b. Big bikes have become more popular recently.
c. Big bikes are dangerous, especially for long rides.
5. What does Poravit think about training for big bike riding?
a. He says that it is very important.
b. He doesn’t think that it is important.
c. He says that training is required by law.
Section 2
Read through the story again. Then, decide whether the following statements are true or false.
6. Fast Bikes magazine is unique to Thailand.
……………………………………………………
7. Poravit’s most thrilling ride was from Bangkok to Chiang Rai and back.
……………………………………………………
8. There were more big bike dealers in Thailand six years ago.
……………………………………………………
9. According to Poravit, a 110cc motorcycle is a small bike.
……………………………………………………
10. Poravit said that he works seven days a week.
……………………………………………………
Section 3
Read the following sentences. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
11. There weren’t many ____________ selling big bikes five or six years ago.
12. There are sexy ___________ in every issue.
13. I was very _____________ riding around the corners.
14. A powerful ____________ that can go up to 250 kilometres per hour can be dangerous.
Section 4
Find words in the story that are synonyms of the following words.
15. Merge ………………..
16. Perilous ………………..
17. Frightened ………………..
18. Fundamental ………………..
Section 5
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Different techniques are required for riding a ………. 19………… bike. If you don’t understand these ………. 20…………, you can slide off the corner, off the road ………. 21 ………… even crash. A powerful bike that can go ………. 22 ………… to 250 kilometres per hour can be dangerous. You need to ………. 23 ………… well trained in basic riding first and possibly intermediate ………. 24 ………… on to stay safe on the road.
19.
a. bigger
b. big
c. the biggest
20.
a. techniques
b. technicians
c. technicalities
21.
a. so
b. however
c. and
22.
a. over
b. next
c. up
23.
a. have
b. been
c. be
24.
a. after
b. later
c. further
Vocabulary
- informative (adj): giving useful information
commute (n): the journey that a person makes when they travel to work each day
intermediate (adj): having more than a basic knowledge of something but not yet advanced
strict (adj): that must be obeyed exactly
