Read the text and answer the questions below (1-7).

Conquering Raw Deal & Predator

While much of the north end of the country lay buried under a blanket of the cold white stuff, a group of American four-wheel drive fanatics in Arizona decided it was high time to hit the trails. It was a bright February day weather just perfect for desert wheeling. Our destination for the day was a group of trails near the small town of New River. This area could be considered high desert and is riddled with Palo Verde trees, and other arid-climate vegetation. Since it was the dead of winter, much of the area was relatively green due to recent rains. There were also a variety of wildflowers in bloom.

A group of trails snake through this region of the state. Some are hill trails that traverse more mountainous terrain and offer extensive views of the desert. Others, such as the ones we sought, are wash trails that follow the meandering paths carved in the canyon floors by flash floods and rain run-off. These washes are scattered with rocky outcrops and surface boulders, providing hard core challenge for rock crawlers.

Our group, specially hand-picked for this day of off-road adventure, included a small collection of Toyota trucks and Ford 4-Runners. With adrenaline flowing, hubs locked and gear shifts in low position, we dropped into the sandy trail that winds its way to what is called Raw Deal. Rated a 3.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, Raw Deal is a deceptively easy-looking course. It's rough and it offers an intriguing challenge, even to those who count themselves among the best. It is relatively wide for this type of trail, and therefore suitable for a range of vehicles. It offers enough room to spread out, so that obstacles can either be tackled full-on, or, if the driver so chooses, be driven around.

Toward the end of Raw Deal, there are two paths back the main dirt road. One is an easy wash, but the other offers an optional obstacle or two. A particularly interesting spot is a deep rock cleft that is almost always partially filled with water. The lie of the land here is such that you're in constant danger of tipping over if you don't watch every play of the steering wheel: the chance of this happening is usually determined by tyre diameter and vehicle width.

Having completed the first leg of our journey in decent time, our group opted for another trail in the area. The Predator trail carries a 4.5 rating and does so due to a number of narrow rock obstacles. Similar to the other trails here, Raw Deal included, it is short in length, but big on challenge. Given the recent winter rains, there was also a fair bit of standing water in the low areas. This made some of the deeper ravines more interesting and left your tyres soaked, making it tougher to grab traction when climbing the rock faces. The rocks strewn along this wash are of the particularly nasty variety, which are rough on wheels and tyres, and wet tyres are even more vulnerable.

Though the individual obstacles on Predator don't carry specific names, you can be sure they've been called a few by those that have been beaten by this trail. There are narrow passes, rock ledges, and tight turns to contend with. Paint marks on some of the canyon walls are none-too-subtle reminders of the times when sheet metal has kissed unyielding rock. Wider vehicles may certainly find the fit a bit too tight for comfort.

As our group meticulously picked its way through the terrain, several of us struggled on some of the larger obstacles. We all made it through in due time, but not without a few mishaps. We punctured two tyres and had to change them while a sudden downpour drenched us to the skin. Still, despite the ruined tyres, and the colds we were all sure to come down with, all of us agreed it was all part and parcel of an action-packed day of wheeling.

1. According to the first paragraph it seems that

A. a cold climate is essential for four-wheeling.

B. four-wheeling is most challenging in forested areas.

C. the area mentioned is green all the year round.

D. wet weather is not ideal for four-wheeling.

2. The trails mentioned in the second paragraph

A. were specially built for four-wheeling.

B. have been shaped by natural forces.

C. are too dangerous for vehicles.

D. have been carefully cleared.

3. According to the writer, the Raw Deal trail

A. is the most dangerous of its kind.

B. is more difficult than meets the eye.

C. can only be used by trucks.

D. is fairly straightforward to drive on.

4. The two paths which diverge from Raw Deal

A. lead to an unpaved route.

B. are equally treacherous.

C. return you to your starting point.

D. present potentially hazardous conditions.

5. The writer points out that the Predator trail

A. is less challenging than Raw Deal.

B. can damage your vehicle.

C. requires rock climbing skills.

D. is constantly immersed in water.

6. What does the writer say about the Predator trail in the penultimate paragraph?

A. People have defaced it with graffiti.

B. It can cause people to lose their tempers.

C. Larger vehicles will find it impassable.

D. It consists of fairly uniform terrain.

7. From the text it would seem that four-wheeling is a sport that

A. can be practised in all weathers.

B. is only for professional sportspeople.

C. does not require any physical fitness.

D. requires no particular skills.

Завідувач кафедри __________ Т.І. Крехно Викладачi _______________І.С. Лученцова

_______________ А.О. Пікалова

_____________ C.О. Тимошенко

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