CAMBRIDGE IGCSE™ ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: UNIT 1 TEST
Unit 1 test
Reading exercise
Read the article about a swimming club, and then answer the questions.
Coastline swimming club
Club information
Welcome to Coastline, a sea-swimming club based in the south-west of England.
We set up Coastline following the success of our windsurfing school, which has been extremely popular with
locals and tourists alike since 2015. Coastline is just as successful, demonstrating the growing interest in sea-
swimming. In fact, since our launch in 2018, the club’s membership has increased by nearly 80% and we’re
always happy to welcome new members.
We focus mainly on training sessions for competition swimming. We also welcome people who prefer to swim
without the racing element, although the skills that are essential for competition – you’ll need to learn to swim
in a straight line, for example – are useful in general sea-swimming. It’s actually not easy to stay in a straight line
when you don’t have a swimming-pool lane for guidance!
Coastline sessions
To book your first swim session, please email us with details of your previous experience. We’ll then arrange
for you to come for a level assessment with a coach, which helps place you in a suitable ability group. You’ll have
six-monthly progress updates, to keep you on track and to check that you’re still in the right group. Having the
chance to practise swimming with others is vital as races often feel quite crowded. While some people like to
push to the front, others are happy to stay further back until the final 100 metres, so we’ll help you work out
your favourite race position – this is something everyone should do, as it has a big effect on your performance.
Cambridge IGCSE™ English as a Second Language – Carter, Carter, Fountain & Thomson © Cambridge University Press 2022 1
CAMBRIDGE IGCSE™ ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: UNIT 1 TEST
Many people like to wear wetsuits during their session. As well as keeping you warm, they actually help you float.
Not everyone likes them though, so the choice is yours. We have to be able to see you in the water, however,
and the best way for us to do that is if you wear a bright-coloured swimming cap. Wearing a cap is a requirement
for anyone getting in the water, and you can buy one from the club shop if you need to.
All sessions are accompanied by two coaches, who generally remain on the Coastline boat a few metres from the
group. By recording videos of swimmers from here, they can observe individual strengths and weaknesses for
discussion back on shore. Of course, they’re ready to jump in if needed, but actually being in the water with
swimmers doesn’t give coaches as much opportunity to spot issues with technique.
Competitions
Our annual race is a major event! While our general swimming sessions take place in Southlands Harbour – a
perfect training environment – regular competitors know that in the past we’ve headed to Brant’s Bay for the
annual competition. It’s stunning there, but the water can be rather rough. Swanley Sands, however, has quieter
water and so this will be the location for the race from now on. For anyone who taken part before, we’ll be
running a special session prior to race day, as it’s important to experience conditions in new race spots.
1 When did Coastline swimming club start?
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1]
2 What will anyone wanting to join the club complete before their first swimming session?
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1]
3 What do all swimmers need to bring to their swimming session?
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1]
4 How do the coaches make it easier to see what improvements swimmers should make?
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1]
5 Where will the next Coastline annual swimming race take place?
_________________________________________________________________________________ [1]
6 What tips are given to help swimmers prepare for a race?
Give three details.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
[3]
[Total: 8]
Cambridge IGCSE™ English as a Second Language – Carter, Carter, Fountain & Thomson © Cambridge University Press 2022 2
