LTE 

 

 

   

London Tests of English 

 

 

 
 
 

             Session One: May 2007 

 
 
 
 
 

   

 
 
 

            Tape Script       
            
                  Level 3 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone! Today’s test is the London Tests of English, Level Three. The 
theme of this test is Extreme Sports. This test lasts two hours. There are five 
tasks. Tasks One and Two are listening. You must listen to the tape and write 
your answers in this booklet. Good luck! 

 
Task One: The Life of Muhammad Ali  
 
You are at college and your class is working on a sports project. You have 
chosen to do your research on extreme, or dangerous, sports. You listen to a 
radio programme about Muhammad Ali, a famous American boxer. 
 
Listen to the radio programme and put a cross next to the phrase that best 

completes each sentence, as in the example. 
 
You will hear the programme twice. Do as much as you can the first time and 
finish your work the second time.  
 
You have one minute to read the sentences. 
 
 

[ONE MINUTE PAUSE] 
 
 
Listen carefully. The programme starts now. 
 
 
[TONE/BEEP] 
 

[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 
 

Welcome to Sporting Heroes, Radio Europe’s weekly programme about famous 

sports people. Today’s show is about Muhammad Ali, the world-famous American 

boxer.  

 

Muhammad Ali was born on January 17 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. However, the 

name that’s so famous today wasn’t his original name. He was first named Cassius 

Marcellus Clay, after his father, who in turn was named after a nineteenth century 

politician called Cassius Clay. Ali’s grandparents admired Clay because he fought 

against slavery. Ali changed his name after becoming a Muslim. 

 

So, how did his boxing career begin? In 1954, Ali parked his bicycle outside a 

Louisville department store. He came out of the shop to discover that someone had 

taken it, and approached a police officer named Joe Martin, saying he wanted to 

punch the thief. Officer Martin was coach of the Louisville boxing programme, and 

told Ali that if he wanted to punch someone, he should learn to fight properly. The 

next day, Ali went to Martin’s gym and began boxing lessons. Ali credits Martin with 

teaching him how to ‘float like a butterfly and sting like a bee’ as he later 

described his style. In 1960, Martin accompanied Ali to the Rome Olympics. It was 

the young boxer’s first international competition and he managed to win the gold 

medal. 

 

Standing at 1 metre 93 centimetres, Ali had a highly unusual style for a 

heavyweight boxer. He carried his hands at his sides, rather than the normal boxing 

style of keeping the hands high to protect the face. Instead, he relied on his ability 

to avoid his opponent’s punches. On October 29, 1960, Ali won his first professional 

fight against Tunney Hunsaker, a police chief from West Virginia. The former 

library assistant was well on his way to stardom. 

 

In the 1960s, America was at war in Vietnam, and Ali, by this time world 

heavyweight champion, was called upon to fight as a soldier for his country. 

However, he failed a writing and spelling test, so wasn’t allowed to join the army. 

Then, in 1966 the test was changed, and he was told to become a soldier. He 

refused, saying that he didn’t believe in military service, and as a result was 

banned from boxing in America. His passport was taken away and for several years 

he was unable to box at all.  

 

Eventually, Ali went on to have an extremely successful boxing career, beating 

champions like Joe Frazier and George Foreman. He also pursued a career in film, 

and has starred as himself in several movies. However, on October 2 1980, he 

became unwell during a fight and was knocked out. Afterwards it was revealed that 

at the medical examination before the fight, Ali had complained of tingling in his 

hands and slurred speech. Doctors had discovered a medical condition, but decided 

to withhold the information so that the fight could go ahead. His health has 

declined since, and he has devoted the rest of his life to charitable work.  

 

And that brings us to the end of this programme. Please join us again next week….. 

(fade…) 

 
 
[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 
 
 

You will now hear the programme again. 
 
 
[TONE/BEEP] 

 
[REPEAT RECORDED TEXT] 
 
[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 
 
That is the end of Task One. Now go on to Task Two. 
 

 

Task Two: Three Extreme Sports 
 
You listen to another radio programme, where three young people who take 
part in extreme sports are interviewed.  
 

Listen to the radio programme and complete the table below. Some information 
has already been filled in. 
 
You will hear the radio programme twice. Do as much as you can the first time 
and finish your work the second time.  
 
You have one minute to read the task. 
 

 
[ONE MINUTE PAUSE] 
 
 
Listen carefully. The programme starts now. 
 
 
[TONE/BEEP] 

 
[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 
 
 

Pres: 

Good evening! Welcome to Teenagers Today. Today we’re discussing 

extreme sports, and I have three teenagers here: Judith, David and 

Suzanne. Welcome. 

Judith, David, Suzanne (together): Hello 

Pres: 

So, Judith, you first. You have an unusual sporting interest, don’t                                         

you? 

Judith:  I guess so. I’ve been unicycling since I was six.  

Pres: Unicycling? 

What’s 

that? 

Judith:   Riding a bicycle with one wheel! My dad took me to a circus – that’s where 

I first saw it.  

Pres:      So, do you want to be a circus performer? 

Judith:   No – not at all (laughs). I do mountain unicycling – it’s the same as          

mountain biking, but with one wheel! 

Pres:     Do you need any special equipment for that? 

Judith:   Not really. Just the unicycle, obviously, and a safety helmet, in case of  

accidents. 

Pres:      Yes. Judith - about accidents. What are the risks involved with unicycling? 

Judith:   Well, it isn’t really a dangerous sport, as you’re unlikely to fall off.  But if 

you do, the main risks are that you might hurt your knees or wrists. But I 

love it – it makes me feel very free.  

Pres:      So, could anyone have a go? 

Judith:   Absolutely – anyone who’s fairly fit anyway. 

Pres:      Well, maybe I’ll give it a try (laughs). Thanks Judith. Let’s move on to 

David. What’s your sport, David? 

David:    It’s caving. I’ve only been doing it for eighteen months – not long -   but 

I’m hooked. 

Pres:      Oh, I don’t think I’d like that. How did you become interested in it? 

David:    Through a club at school. I didn’t really expect to like it, but now I go 

every week. 

Pres:      Where do you go? 

David:    Oh, just to some local hills. 

Pres:      So you don’t travel far then. What do you take with you? 

David:    Not much, really. The most important things are sensible clothing, and a 

good torch, – so that we can see where we’re going once we’re 

underground! 

Pres:      Yes, that would be important! (laughs). Now, is caving a dangerous sport?  

David:    There isn’t too much to worry about. The main danger is the possibility of 

flooding, but as long as you do your research first, the risks aren’t great. 

Pres:      Ok. David, do you need any special skills to go caving? Can anyone do it? 

David:    Pretty much. Anyone who has had the proper training can have a go – it is 

important to get plenty of information first though. 

Pres:      Thanks, David. And – last but not least – Suzanne. Your hobby is? 

Suzanne: Scuba diving. I’ve been doing it since I was 14 – so that’s for about 5 years      

now. I love it! 

Pres:      What first attracted you to it? 

Suzanne: I went on holiday to Thailand – the different coloured tropical fish there   

were just amazing! 

Pres:     I bet. I’d love to try it. Do you need much equipment? 

Suzanne: Well, I hire most things, although it is useful to have some of your own  

equipment. The most useful thing to buy is a wetsuit – the water’s cold   

sometimes! 

Pres:     Yes. Now, many people are too scared to go diving. Is it a dangerous sport? 

Suzanne: Well, any sport can be dangerous. You’re only likely to experience 

problems though, if your equipment is faulty, so it’s important to check 

everything.  

Pres:    Of course. Now, what everyone wants to know- can absolutely anyone try 

scuba diving? 

Suzanne: Yes, absolutely everyone. You don’t even need to be able to swim! 

Pres:    Well, maybe I could try…  

 
[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 
 
You will now hear the recording again. 

 
 
[TONE/BEEP] 
 
[REPEAT RECORDED TEXT] 
 
[FIVE SECOND PAUSE] 
 

 
That is the end of the listening tasks. The other tasks test your reading and 
writing of English. Now go on to Task Three.