TASK 5. (14 points)
Read paragraphs 1-8 of the article and match them with the headings (A - J) by putting
the right letter in the boxes 5.1. - 5.8. There are two extra headings.
Then, answer questions 5.9 - 5.14. by putting the number of the paragraph (1-8) in the
appropriate box. For each correct answer you will be given 1 point.
A
SMOOTH ROAD TO ADDICTION
B
CUSTOMIZED KILLING MACHINES
C
PUBLIC PRESSURE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES
D
DEPRIVED OF PROPERTY
E
UNCONVENTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
F
A FAST-MOVING EPIDEMIC
G
CALIFORNIA TO BE BLAMED MOST
H
TOUGH COURTS
I
FATAL GRADUATION
J
A LESS DANGEROUS OPTION
Paragraph 1.
5.1.
The crash that ended Alvarez’s life and ruined Bradley’s future occurred just three
weeks before the end of their final school year in California’s Valley View High School.
It took place on a warm May day on an uncrowded street in front of an elementary school.
It occurred when Alvarez crossed a double yellow line, drove his car into oncoming traffic,
and smashed head-on. At the time of the crash, Alvarez was travelling in excess of 128km/h.
He suffered a broken neck and head trauma; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The reason
for this reckless driving behaviour and his friend’s subsequent arrest? Alvarez and Bradley
were street racing.
Paragraph 2.
5.2.
Although tragic, Alvarez’s death is not unusual. The last few years have seen a steady
increase in illegal street racing in the United States. By the end of 20th century state troopers
in Massachusetts issued 190 citations for illegal drag racing on state highways. By 2001, 365
citations were given. By 2002, the number of citations topped 500. The same year, on the
other side of the country, a single California county experienced 16 fatalities and 31 serious
injuries as a direct result of illegal street racing.
Paragraph 3.
5.3.
Regulars on the street-racing circuit improve their chances of winning fans and races
by modifying their vehicles. Once a speciality niche, car modification is now a multi-million
dollar industry. Some changes are designed to improve speed making them deadly dangerous.
Other changes are strictly cosmetic. Making all of these changes can be expensive and
addictive. The results are incredible - cars that have been modified can go up to 228 km/h.
Część II
3
Paragraph 4.
5.4.
Given the devastation that street racing can cause, authorities in cities throughout
the USA, are eager to put a stop to the practice. In 2001, the city of San Diego was perhaps
the hottest place in the country for street racing. Underground racing websites featured
detailed maps of race sites in San Diego’s neighbourhoods and local news shows regularly
featured race-related accidents. Flowers placed along many roadsides honoured street-racing
casualties and politicians ran for office vowing to end the street racing epidemic.
Initially, these vows appeared to be empty campaign rhetoric. Street racing seemed
uncontrollable. However, progress toward ending the epidemic is slowly being made.
Paragraph 5.
5.5.
Simply showing up at potential racing locations to write tickets doesn’t work as a law
enforcement policy. Racers keep potential sites quiet as long as possible and scatter when
the police show up. Yes, the police may catch a few of the participants, but most are able
to get away. San Diego’s police have found it much more effective to use undercover officers
to surreptitiously film the racers at illegal street events. They capture the racers’ faces and
license plates on film and then put together arrest warrants. The following day, teams of
officers show up at the homes and work sites of racers, arresting them in front of families and
co-workers, often with the media in tow.
Paragraph 6.
5.6.
Perhaps the most potential is in a brand-new statue that would cause repeat street
racing offenders to lose their cars. Although many have had their vehicles impounded for
a time after being caught racing, none yet has had their car taken away for good. Given
the amount of money and time that many street racers have invested in their wheels,
the effects of this law could be devastating to the racing community.
Paragraph 7.
5.7.
For those who are caught racing or who are involved in an accident, the next stop after
being arrested by the police is the courtroom. It is here that the punishments for their offences
will be decided. One 22-year-old who was “just watching” street racing events was recently
sentenced to 18 months of probation, 10 days of high-way clean-up service, fined $300, and
ordered to stay away from street racing venues; and that was for the first offence. Two other
men were put on a trial for second degree murder after their street race led to the deaths of
a San Diego couple just walking in the street. This charge carries a possible lifelong prison
sentence. Although the jury decided to convict them of the lesser charges of vehicular
manslaughter with gross negligence, both men still face lengthy prison sentences.
Paragraph 8.
5.8.
Police tactics, new laws, and tough courts have worked together to make the streets
much less hospitable for illegal street racers, but the “need for speed” persists, so San Diego’s
task force decided to work with community organisations to offer a safe alternative.
RaceLeg.com operates a drag strip race course in the parking lot of the local football stadium
every Friday and Saturday night. Barriers are provided to keep the crowd safe. Admission
fees are charged, but a state grant allows the cost to be kept low - $15 each race and $5 to
watch. At first, only a dozen people or so showed up to race, but by summer 2003, 300 people
showed up to race and another 2,600 showed up to watch. It is not as much fun as the street,
but some racers admit with a shy smile that their moms like it better now.
Abridged from Current, 2004
Część II
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Which paragraph
Number
of paragraph
(1-8)
5.9.
mentions the ways of tuning a car?
5.10.
presents an acceptable compromise?
5.11.
mentions the accident which ruined a possible university career?
5.12.
states that reckless behaviour may affect innocent people?
5.13.
describes how those who died in races are remembered?
5.14.
shows that not only racers but also spectators run the risk of being
prosecuted?
TRANSFER YOUR ANSWERS TO YOUR ANSWER SHEET!
Official CKE answer key found in corpus at arkusze/jezyk-angielski-2007-maj-matura-dwujezyczna-odpowiedzi-2 (matura.lol's automatic pairing missed it). Street-racing article heading matching: 5.1 I (FATAL GRADUATION), 5.2 F (A FAST-MOVING EPIDEMIC), 5.3 B (CUSTOMIZED KILLING MACHINES), 5.4 C (PUBLIC PRESSURE TO PUT ON THE BRAKES), 5.5 E (UNCONVENTIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT), 5.6 D (DEPRIVED OF PROPERTY), 5.7 H (TOUGH COURTS), 5.8 J (A LESS DANGEROUS OPTION). (A 'SMOOTH ROAD TO ADDICTION' and G 'CALIFORNIA TO BE BLAMED MOST' are the extra, unused headings.) Paragraph-number questions: 5.9 -> paragraph 3 (car modification/tuning). 5.10 -> paragraph 8 (RaceLeg.com safe alternative). 5.11 -> paragraph 1 (Alvarez/Bradley crash near end of final school year). 5.12 -> paragraph 7 (innocent San Diego couple killed). 5.13 -> paragraph 4 (flowers along roadsides honouring street-racing casualties). 5.14 -> paragraph 7 (spectator sentenced to probation).
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