Level Test — Test 2 (High B1-low C1)

Мohammed Ali won his first world title in 1960. After he (9)___ an Olympic gold medal he became a professional boxer. His religious beliefs (10)___ change his name when he became champion. If he had lost his first fight with Sonny Liston, no one would have been surprised. He has travelled a lot (11)___ as a boxer and as a world famous personality. He is very well known (12)___ the world. Many people (13)___ he is the greatest boxer of all time. To be the best in the world is not easy. Like any top sportsman he (14)___ train very hard when he was fighting. Even though he lost his title, people will always remember him as a champion.

The history of the aeroplane is (15)___ short one. For many centuries men (16)___ to fly, but with (17)___ success. In the 19th century, a few people succeeded (18)___ in balloons. But it wasn’t until the beginning of the last century that anybody was able to fly in a machine (19)___ was heavier than air, in other words, in (20)___ we now call a “plane”.

The first people to achieve “powered flight” were the Wright brothers. (21)___ was the machine which was the forerunner of the Jumbo jets and supersonic airliners that are such a common sight today. They (22)___ hardly have imagined that in 1968 not much more than half a century later, a man (23)___ landed on the moon. Already man is taking the first steps towards the stars. Although space satellites have existed (24)___ less than fifty years, we are now dependent (25)___ them for all kinds of (26)___ . Not only are they being used for scientific research in space, but also to see what kind of weather is coming.

By 2030 there will have been satellites in space for eighty years and both the “space superpowers” are planning to (27)___ massive space stations built. When these are completed it will be the first time that astronauts will be able to work in space in large numbers. For all that, in many ways the most remarkable flight above all was that of the flying bicycle, which the world saw on television (28)___ across the Channel from England to France, with nothing (29)___ a man to power it. As the bicycle-flyer said, "It’s the first time I realise what hard work it is to be a bird!”

Charles Walker is a teacher at a comprehensive school in Norwich. He (30)___ the staff of the school in 2003 and has been working there ever since. Before (31)___ to Norwich he taught in Italy and in Wales, and before that he (32)___ a student at Cambridge University. So far he (33)___ in Norwich for as long as he was in Wales, but he likes the city a lot and (34)___ like to stay there for another two years or, (35)___ he puts it, until his two children have grown up a bit.

He met his wife, Kate, in 1992 while he was living abroad for a while, and they got married in 1996. Their two children, Mark and Susan, (36)___ both born in Norwich. The Walker’s boy, (37)___ is four, has just started at nursery school, but (38)___ sister will be staying at home for another couple of years, because she is nearly two years (39)___ than him. Charles and Kate Walker used to live in the country but now they have children they have moved into the city. Charles wanted a house near the school (40)___ get to work easily. Unfortunately, (41)___ one the two of them really wanted was too expensive, so they (42)___ buy one a bit further away. By the time the children go to secondary school, which Charles and Kate really hope will be in Norwich, the Walkers (43)___ living there for at least ten years. They can’t be sure if they will stay but if they don´t their friends won’t be too surprised.