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Recording 02
Lisa: Hello? Millie: Hi, Lisa – I’m in the shopping centre. Lisa: Hi, Millie. What are you doing? Millie: I’m looking round the shops. It’s Saturday. Lisa: Yeah, of course. Honestly, you buy new clothes every Saturday! Millie: Well, nearly every Saturday. Lisa: You’re always buying new clothes! So, what are you looking for today? Millie: One of those new skirts. You know, like everyone’s wearing this autumn. Lisa: Well, I’m not wearing one, I’m wearing a pair of old jeans. Is there anything special you want to talk about? Because actually, I’m cleaning my room. Millie: Yes, there is, only you’re being so impatient, you don’t deserve to hear it. Lisa: OK, sorry. I’m listening. Millie: Well, you know that leather bag you want, like the navy blue one you lost? Lisa: None of the shops have one. Whenever I go into town I always look, but I never find a blue one. Millie: Well, I’m in front of a shop window and I’m looking at a navy blue bag right now. Do you want it? I can buy it for you. Lisa: Oh, yes! Those bags sell really fast because everyone thinks they’re really cool as well as useful. Millie: Yeah, and navy blue bags are getting really fashionable. Lisa: I know. It’ll be gone if I wait till Monday. I’ll pay you when I see you. Millie: OK. Lisa: Oh, thank you, Millie. Sorry I was cross. Millie: That’s OK. Bye. Lisa: Bye.
Recording 03
Examiner: You will hear an interview with a man called Martin Holloway who is a sound engineer. For questions 1–7, choose the best answer (A, B or C). Presenter: In our series about careers in the arts, I’m talking today to Martin Holloway, who is a sound engineer. Martin, tell us how you spend your time. Martin: Good morning, Jake. Well, each event I do is different, but I usually set up the equipment before the show, do the sound checks and look after the sound during the performance. Of course it’s not my fault if the band isn’t very good and what you hear is out of tune or something. People sometimes call me a disc jockey but I have to explain it’s so much more than that. This weekend, I’m working at a music festival and I mostly work out of doors.
There’s lots of outdoor work if you want it, as we can also work on films and TV. Presenter: And how did you get into the business? Martin: I went to university to study sound recording. While I was there I played in several bands but I wasn’t really serious about it. I also worked behind the scenes at lots of student gigs and shows, though, mixing the sound. While I was doing that I got to know quite a few professional sound engineers and a couple of them offered me paid work. That was ten years ago. My course was fantastic, of course, but it wasn’t enough to get me started. Presenter: So when does a project actually begin for you? Martin: Some people think we just turn up on the day. For a big event I might be there for a few days. For a smaller one I get there early before the band starts rehearsing. But it all begins before that when the booking is made with the band or their agent. I get a call and I start sorting things out straight away. I also always visit the place where it’s all going to happen a few days before the actual show. Presenter: So what’s it like during a show? Martin: Well, if I’ve done all my preparation properly, normally there really isn’t much for me to do at all and that’s how it should be. I talk to the band and make sure they’re happy with everything before the show– it’s hard to do so while they’re playing. And I refuse to work with equipment that I think might break down. Presenter: You must notice a great difference in the equipment from when you first started? Martin: Definitely. You can’t compare the sound you get now. And we can all afford fantastic equipment as it’s so much cheaper, but that doesn’t particularly benefit me as I usually use the band’s equipment or what’s available at a venue. For me, the fact that everything is getting smaller all the time – I can carry a whole day’s recording in my pocket – that’s helped me enormously. Presenter: So if someone wants a job like yours, what should they do? Martin: Get lots of experience, make contacts and ideally do a course. You can pick up some of the technical stuff by volunteering. But I’m always telling people who want to be a sound engineer and they never listen – they just don’t realise that what’s crucial is being able to get on with people and get them to understand what you need them to do. If you can’t do that, then you won’t get the jobs. An interest in music means it is more enjoyable, of course, and most of us have been in bands but we weren’t necessarily much good at it! Presenter: And are there any disadvantages?
Recording scripts
Grammar and Vocabulary for First and First for Schools
Martin: I’m willing to work anywhere. I’ve worked in the mountains in freezing temperatures, in the desert, in hot tiny theatres – but that variety appeals to me. I’m not a very patient person and I spend a lot of time hanging around between setting things up and the show actually happening – I don’t enjoy that. And some people hate being on the move all the time but I don’t mind living out of a suitcase. Presenter: Thank you, Martin, for talking to us. [Now listen again]
Recording 04
Gran: Hello, Jack! Come in. Jack: Hello, Gran. How are you? Gran: Fine, thanks Jack. What about you? Jack: Oh, you know, too much college work. We had an exam on Thursday. But I went to London last Saturday with some mates. We had a great time. Gran: Oh, yes? I suppose you spent all your money. Jack: No, it wasn’t really expensive. We caught the coach, so it was only ten pounds return. Gran: But isn’t it slow? Jack: Well, we did some revision for our exams while we were travelling, so it didn’t matter. Gran: Well done. Where did you go? Jack: Oh, you know, round the shops. Gran: That’s what I did too, but not in London. I was hoping to find a new jacket. But there wasn’t anything I liked. Jack: And then we went to see a film. But the brilliant thing was, when we were queuing for the cinema, we saw a really famous footballer. He was buying a burger from a stall near us like an ordinary person and all the crowds were walking past but nobody noticed him except me. Gran: So did you get his autograph? Jack: No, I didn’t want to embarrass him. Gran: Ooh, when I was your age, I used to collect all the autographs of film stars and singers and so on. I would go up to town on my own and wait outside the theatre till they came out. Jack: Really? Gran: Yes. And I used to scream at pop concerts. I really enjoyed myself when I was a teenager. But don’t tell your mother. She never used to do anything like that. She was always worrying about her homework. Jack: OK. So do you want to hear about the club we went to after the cinema? Gran: You bet! Jack: Well, it was really …
Recording 05
Lucy: Can you hold the doors a minute, Mike? I’ve got a big bag here. Mike: Hi, Lucy. Nice to see you. Up to the fourth floor? Lucy: Yes, please. Have you just finished work? Mike: Actually, I finished at lunchtime today because they’re replacing our computers. So I’ve been at the gym this afternoon. Lucy: Are you going out tonight? Mike: No I don’t think so. Why? Are you inviting me somewhere? Lucy: Oh no, I’ve got lots of work to do. I’ve actually spent all day trying to write a history essay and I still haven’t finished it. I have to hand it in tomorrow. I started it last week … Mike: Well, sorry, I can’t help you with that … (After you.) … I never enjoyed studying history at school and I wasn’t very good at it either. Lucy: I don’t need any help with the essay. But you can help me by not playing your saxophone. Mike: Huh? Lucy: I’m sorry, I just can’t stand it any more. I’ve lived next door since June and you’ve played the saxophone every night for at least an hour. Mike: But I thought you liked it. I’ve lived here for two years. Nobody’s ever complained before so I’m really surprised. This is the first time anyone has asked me not to play. Why haven’t you told me this before? Lucy: I’ve tried lots of times but I was afraid of sounding rude. Mike: So would you like me to play more quietly? Lucy: No, Mike. I don’t want you to play at all. Tonight and ideally never again. Mike: I tell you what. I’ll learn some new tunes. Why don’t you suggest some? Lucy: Ohhhh! …
Recording 06
Mother: Hi, Richard. I’m home. Where are you? Richard: Upstairs, Mum. In my room. Mother: Oh, Richard! Whatever have you been doing? Richard: I’ve been painting my room. Mother: Yes, I can see that. But why did you change colour halfway through? Richard: Well I’d done the ceiling, and I’d painted one wall, when I ran out of paint, so I went to the shop for some more. But then I realised the second pot was a slightly different colour. That’s why it looks a bit odd. Mother: But why were you painting anyway? I thought you’d planned lots of things to do with your friends. Richard: Oh, they were all busy in the end. And yesterday afternoon I was bored. I’d been to town for a few hours – you know round the centre. I’d done the
Recording 08
Examiner: You will hear a tutor talking to a group of students about a geography trip to New Zealand. For questions 1–10, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
Good morning. I know you have a folder with all the information about our geography trip to New Zealand but I want to go over the main points. As you know, our flight departs at 10.30 so we need to be at the airport at 8.30.
Firstly, why New Zealand when it’s so far away? We could of course go to the European Alps to see mountains, but in New Zealand we can see a huge variety of landscapes, not only mountains but also volcanoes, and of course it’s surrounded by oceans. So that’s why we’ve chosen it – there’s plenty to keep us busy.
During our first week we’re staying in a very rural area on the South Island which has stayed much the same over the last thirty years – there is some tourism now but agriculture remains the main employer although the emphasis isn’t quite the same. Where most farmers used to keep sheep, there are now more cows and recently also deer. So we will be looking at why that has happened.
We are spending our second week in an even more remote part, on the west coast. There, our main focus will be the beaches. Many of them are surrounded by forests and are quite difficult to get to but there are roads or tracks down to all the ones we want to study.
While we are in that part of the island we’re going on a couple of boat trips. You’ll be able to see the amazing trees which cling to the cliff sides, and the birds of course. You might be lucky and catch sight of a penguin – the yellow crested ones which live round there and are not often seen.
The weather on the west coast is very changeable so it’s important to have clothes for every season – hats and sunglasses as well as waterproofs as I expect we’ll have some rain – but most people are aware of that. What they don’t expect is the insects – they’ll be waiting for us so you need a very good repellent to stop them biting. We’ll be working all day and we’ll go for a walk every evening. If it’s fine I hope you’ll get some good shots of the sunset – it’s one of the best places in the world for that. And if you’re interested in bird watching you’ll have time for that too. Maybe we’ll see some of the fishing boats too as they return after a day at sea.
Our last week is in Queenstown. It’s really important that you have a questionnaire ready so make sure you prepare that this week before we start travelling. You’ll be going out talking to visitors and businesses and when you get back you’ll write a report, which you can use as the basis for a dissertation about tourism later on.
There’s a free weekend when we arrive in Queenstown which is a very active place. Most tourists have a go at some of the
extreme sports like sky diving and river surfing but our students usually decide to go walking, probably because it’s cheaper but also the scenery is stunning and you really get to see more of it on foot than if you’re jet skiing at top speed. You all have a list of essential equipment. We’re staying in fairly remote areas so we probably won’t get a chance to buy much. Bring comfortable walking shoes and make sure you have a bag to carry everything in. You need a minimum of one notebook – ideally, one with a hard cover that won’t fall apart if it rains. And of course plenty of pens and pencils. We’re hiring everything we need for our overnight stays, the majority of which will be spent in tents – four people in each – but we are also spending the odd night in hostels and basic hotels. Now, any questions? [Now listen again]
Recording 09
Simon: Good afternoon, my name is Simon Trite and I’m here from Hightime Radio Corporation to interview you. Now that you’ve had time to settle in, we’re going to do a series about your adventures here on Wildrock. So, er, how are you finding life here in the wild? Pretty exciting, huh? Woman 1: Actually, we’re about to leave. Simon: What? You can’t be! You were going to stay here for at least a year. Man 1: Look, we’re fed up. We’re fed up with the cold. Woman 2: And the wind. Woman 1: And the mud. Man 2: And the rain. Simon: It’s not raining now. Man 2: But it’s going to rain soon. See those clouds over the hill? Simon: Huh? Man 2: So, we know it’s going to rain. Woman 1: And it’s the same almost every day. So, we’re going to pack up our stuff, we’re going to send a message to the mainland, and we’re going to leave. Woman 2: As soon as possible. Simon: Everyone’s going to be very surprised when you arrive. Aren’t you embarrassed to let the weather defeat you? Man 1: By the end of this week, we’ll have survived longer than anyone else in a place like this. Man 2: By the end of this week we’ll have been living here for nearly six months. And that’s enough. Simon: But surely it’s not really that bad? Woman 2: No? Man 2: Tell you what, why don’t you try it? Simon: What? Man 2: Yes, you can stay here. We’re going to go to the mainland.
Woman 1: We’re going to eat a big hot meal as soon as we find a restaurant. Man 1: And we’re not going to talk to any reporters until we’ve had a long sleep in warm, dry beds. Simon: Wait for me! … You aren’t going to leave me here all alone, are you? … Hey! That’s my boat! Oh no. Now what am I going to do?
Recording 10
1 Look in your mirror – is it time for a change? Come and work out at Transformers Fitness Centre. Together, you and Transformers can make you a stronger, slimmer and more self-confident person. Our professional advisers will help you to plan a sensible route to better health. Call in this weekend for a friendly welcome and see our excellent facilities. We’re at 25 Market Street and we’re open from eight in the morning till eight in the evening.
2 Looking for a really wonderful day out next summer? Come to the best wildlife park in the country. We’ve got the most magnificent lions here at the Animal Wonder Park, in addition to the funniest monkeys you’ve ever seen. Phone 273156 for our amazing brochure and take advantage of our special offers for families.
3 Do you have a full-time job? Do you feel tired all the time, trying to keep the house clean as well? Don’t wear yourself out – call The Sparklers. You’ll come back to fresh carpets, shining sinks and surfaces and no sticky finger marks on the paintwork. Phone 273989. You’ll be surprised by our reasonable prices.
4 Hurry on down to the Games Centre in Spice Lane! There are fantastic savings on new and pre-owned games for everyone. We’ve got the greatest variety of games ever! And astonishing deals this week only! The Games Centre has thousands of special deals – the latest road races and fantasy lands, stunning graphics, the most thrilling battles. Come to the Games Centre today!
Recording 11
Commentator: And here I am at the city stadium and the sun is shining. And finally the players are coming onto the pitch. As I was saying earlier, there were such terrible traffic jams in the city today that the match is starting late. Most of the spectators have been waiting patiently in their seats since two o’clock but now as the players come out they’re cheering happily. ( sound ) And the whistle goes. Rossi has the ball and is running steadily down the pitch but, oh no, the game has hardly
started – only two minutes have gone – and he’s fallen heavily on the ground! He’s so experienced in these kinds of conditions that he rarely falls. But he’s OK and he has the ball. Now Parker is running quickly towards the goal to take the ball from Rossi. Parker is playing incredibly well. But of course that’s what we expect from him. Last week he scored the winning goal to take his team into the semi-final. It’s often Parker who scores that important goal. And he has, he’s scored! And the crowd are roaring really loudly so it’s difficult to make myself heard. That was a marvellous goal by Parker.
Recording 12
Mina: Hello Dad. Dad: Ah, Mina. Have you charged your phone at last? Mina: Yes, I have. Why? Dad: You didn’t check your phone this morning, did you? Mina: What are you talking about? Dad: I sent you three texts and you didn’t answer. Mina: Have you been checking up on me? Dad: No, I haven’t. I was just starting to get a bit worried. You promised to phone me yesterday, didn’t you? Mina: Yes, I did. But I forgot to charge my phone, sorry. Dad: OK. I sounded angry, I’m sorry. Mina: So am I. I don’t want to have a fight about it. Dad: Neither do I. You know your mother and I miss you when you’re away at college, don’t you? Mina: Yes, of course I do. Dad: And you’ll definitely come home for mum’s birthday at the weekend, won’t you? Mina: Don’t worry, I will. You can meet me at the station, can’t you? Dad: Yes, I can. Your train gets in at six, doesn’t it? Mina: Yes, it does. That’s great. Mum doesn’t know I’m coming, does she? Dad: No, she doesn’t. Let’s keep it a surprise for her, shall we? Mina: Oh, yes, let’s. See you on Friday then. I’m really looking forward to seeing Mum’s face. Dad: So am I! OK darling, see you then! Mina: See you, Dad – bye!
Question 7
You hear a teacher talking to a group of students.
So for our school trip tomorrow. You should all bring waterproofs just in case of rain although the forecast says the showers will clear up by the morning. But you never know, the rain might come back later. It’s quite chilly today but temperatures will rise as the sun is going to come out, apparently, by midday. So you’ll also need hats and sun cream. You won’t forget them, will you? Luckily the humid weather we had last week isn’t going to return till Friday, when we’ll probably have thunderstorms, so we might have to move the sports day to next week. [REPEAT]
Question 8
You hear two people talking about someone they met.
Man: It was a great evening, wasn’t it? And it was good to meet Leo’s friend, Connor. Woman: The New Zealander who’s staying with him? Man: Yeah. He was fun – he made everyone laugh. Woman: You didn’t really think his jokes were funny, did you? I wanted to hear what Leo had to say about his new job – the rest of us could hardly get a word in. Man: I suppose he did rather dominate, now you mention it. But he also had some good stories about living in a small town – some of it was fascinating. Woman: I think half of it wasn’t true. [REPEAT]
Recording 14
1 I’m Angela, and I’m a sales executive for a company which makes furniture. An important part of my work is travel. I drive thousands of miles every year and that can make it quite hard to get exercise. I do care about my health, though, and when I stop I usually buy fruit to eat rather than biscuits or sweets. If there’s any available, that is.
2 I’m Ken and I work at a garage. I mainly drive the recovery truck – that’s the vehicle that helps motorists when they break down. Some people just keep driving without thinking ahead. It’s the phone calls from drivers who’ve run out of petrol that really annoy me. Or the other thing is, I’m called out by the police after an accident. Some firms charge a lot of money for that, but I don’t think we’re too bad. Anyway, motorists have got insurance – or they should have!
3 I’m Charlie and I’ve got this job delivering pizzas for a fast food restaurant on a motorbike. It’s OK, I can usually get round the traffic jams. I got my motorbike licence last year and I need cash. I’m a student. My subject’s chemistry. I hope I won’t need a job like this after I’ve graduated. I want to find a job with a reasonable salary.
4 I’m Hazel and I’ve been driving a taxi now for three years. I can’t say I enjoy this sort of work. The traffic’s terrible
here. But I’ve got three kids and I’ve got to pay for food and clothing and so on. There’s a lot of unemployment round here, so I mustn’t grumble, really, I suppose.
Recording 15
Krish: Hi Ahmed. What are you doing walking on the beach? Shouldn’t you be at school? Ahmed: Oh, I’ve finished school. I’m going to college next month. I’m hoping to train to be a chef. Krish: Really? Well, you know I’ve worked as a chef for the last five years? I work at the Grand Hotel now. In fact I’m head chef there so you need to talk to me if you want to know what the job is really like. Ahmed: Well, what is it really like then? I’d like to work in a hotel like the Grand. I’m sure it’s really exciting and you get to meet all kinds of celebrities. Krish: Actually, no. Chefs have to spend their time in the kitchen. The celebrities don’t come to our part of the hotel very often. Ahmed: But you get lots of time off, don’t you? Look, you’re walking on the beach now at lunchtime. Krish: Yes, but it’s my day off today so I needn’t think about the hotel kitchen today. Ahmed: Well, normally then, what’s it like? You don’t have to work all day, do you? Krish: I have a break in the afternoon but I need to get up early. I have to start work at 6.30 every morning and I have to stay until all the food is cooked and served in the evening. It’s very late by then, well after midnight. Ahmed: Mmm, sounds like it’s quite hard work. How many days off do you get? Krish: In my last job, I had to work every day except Monday. At least here I have two days off every week. In the high season, that’s summer of course, I’ll have to work longer hours because the hotel will be full. Listen, I must go now, I’ve got to do a whole lot of things this afternoon. But you must come to the hotel one day. You can have a look around and I can show you the kitchen and you can see what we do there. Ahmed: Mmm, thanks. I’m not so sure any more about being a chef. Krish: Well, you haven’t got to decide yet. Come and see me and we’ll have another chat. Ahmed: OK Krish, thanks.
Recording 16
Woman: This is the Fly-the-web helpline, Nina speaking. How can I help you today? Man: I want to go on a week’s holiday. I’ve been looking at your website but it’s not always very clear. I want to go somewhere sunny but not too …
Woman: I’m sure we can find something for you. Have you looked at any of our special deals? Are you interested in anywhere in particular? Man: Well, I was wondering … Woman: The all inclusive resorts on the Mediterranean coast are all very good value. They’re all near an airport. In fact, I went to a fantastic place myself last year with some friends of mine to see what it was really like. It’s got discos, nightclubs, and the restaurants are self-service: you can help yourself to as much food as you want. And it’s only a few metres from the hotel to the beach. Or you could have one of our breakfast only deals, at the same resort. But you’ll have to book quickly. Everyone’s going for them this year. Man: Neither of those would suit me. I was looking for something a bit … Woman: OK, well, maybe you’d prefer one of our island centres. My brother’s friends had a brilliant time at one, so I can really recommend them. Are you going on your own? Man: Yes, I’ll be by myself. Woman: Well, we can book apartments which you share with three other people. That’s better because you get to know each other really well. You’d have fun there. And each apartment has its own balcony with a view. Man: I’d rather have my own apartment, thank you. There’s a page called Walking Tours. It has some good destinations. I’m interested in either France or Switzerland. Woman: Mmm, oh those pages are out of date, I’m afraid. They’re last year’s tours. I don’t know why they’re still on the website, nobody wanted to go on them. We haven’t got anything like that this year. But we do a multi-centre coach tour of France, seven cities in seven days? Man: Sounds like it’d mean spending a lot of time sitting on the coach. All I want is somewhere quiet – anywhere that I can relax will be fine. Maybe in the mountains. All the places near the coast seem rather busy. Woman: Well, most of our holidays are by the sea. But what about a camping holiday in the countryside? In a big campsite with really good facilities, and lots of friendly activities like discos and barbecues. Man: I don’t think you quite understand. Every holiday you’ve mentioned is the kind of holiday I would hate. None of these holidays appeals to me at all. It’s a waste of time looking at your website. Woman: Well, if that’s how you feel. … Man: Yes, sorry to have taken your time. Woman: Phew!
Recording 17
Sophie: Mum … Mum: Yes Sophie? Sophie: Will you lend me ten pounds? Mum: What for? Sophie: And can you lend me your new jacket? Mum: My new one? Sophie: Yes, and … Mum: And what? Sophie: Can you give me a lift to town now? Mum: Start again. You want to borrow ten pounds, you want to borrow my new jacket and you want me to give you a lift to town now? Anything else? Sophie: Oh … will you get me some shampoo later? You know that nice one? Mum: Well … Sophie: And can you collect me from the city centre at midnight tonight? Mum: Right. Shall we go through them one by one? You can borrow ten pounds, but you already owe me ten pounds, so you’d better not spend too much. You definitely can’t borrow my new jacket. Sophie: Oh Mum … Mum: I will give you a lift to town, but not till four o’clock, because I’m busy right now. Sophie: But I need to go now. Mum: You could walk of course, or take the bus. You should get more exercise anyway. You’ll go past a shop that sells shampoo then. I haven’t got time to do that. And you really ought to be more polite. I feel like saying no to everything when you speak to me like that. Sophie: OK, sorry, I’ll wait till you’re ready. So would you please give me a lift? And could you collect me from the city centre at midnight, do you think? Mum: Yes, I will … but you’d better leave me to finish what I’m doing now or I’ll change my mind. Sophie: OK then.
Recording 18
Examiner: You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about advice they received. For questions 1–5, choose from the list (A–H) what each speaker says about it. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters which you do not need to use. Speaker 1 I’m thinking about going to live in Canada. I’ve looked at loads of websites but I really need to talk to someone who can tell me how easy it would be to get a job there and how much it would cost to live. So my friend Zoe suggested I talked to a couple of Canadian friends of hers. They said things like ‘You really should go skiing in Whistler’ and ‘You could go hiking in Cape Breton’,
Rachel: Hello, James, are you still there? … Oh, we’ve lost him, I think. Hope one of those sharks hasn’t come to visit! We’ll talk to James again …
Recording 21
Woman: Four burglars have escaped from custody only hours after being sentenced to ten years in prison. They were being transferred from the law courts in Manchester to Strangeways Prison. They had been found guilty of stealing electrical goods and money from shops in the Manchester area. It is thought that they were all members of the same gang. They escaped from the van in which they were being transported when the driver was forced to stop because of a tree across the road. It is believed that the tree was placed there by other members of the gang, who had been informed of the route to be taken by the van. A full investigation of the events leading to the escape has been ordered and anyone with information is asked to contact the police to help with their inquiries. And now over to Simon for the weather forecast …
Recording 22
Double X: You wanted to see me, Mrs Seymour? Seymour: Yes, come in, Double X. I have an important mission for you. I want you to follow a man and find out all about him. If you find him, I’ll be extremely pleased. Double X: Who is he? Seymour: If I knew that, I wouldn’t be giving you this job! Here’s a photo of him. Double X: But this is all out of focus. It’s impossible to tell what he looks like. Seymour: If we had a better picture, we’d give it to you. Anyway, we’ve had an anonymous tip-off, so we know he’s a spy and we know he works in London. Double X: Didn’t your source tell you who he works for? Seymour: If she’d told us that, I wouldn’t have needed to ask for your help. Double X: So the source is a woman? Seymour: Yes. She phoned and then sent us this photo through the post. But we couldn’t trace her number. Double X: That’s bad. It would give me somewhere to start if I knew her phone number. It’s a pity we haven’t got a better photo – it’s just a man standing beside a door. Seymour: It is a bit clearer if you look at it with your eyes half closed. Double X: Hmmm. Wait a minute. There’s a number on the door. Forty-two. Oh no! It can’t be. But it is. Seymour: What? What is it?
Double X: Well, this is very embarrassing. But I’m afraid that’s my front door. And the man standing outside it is … me!
Recording 23
Man: Today I’m going to explain how to make one of my own favourites – I think I enjoy making it as much as eating it. You need a large tin and I’ll give you a complete list of ingredients at the end. First of all, beat the butter and sugar together. Continue doing this until the mixture begins to look pale and fluffy. Then pour in the eggs. Avoid adding the eggs all at the same time:you should add them slowly and keep beating all the time. Next, add the flour, and don’t forget to add the baking powder, or you’ll end up with a biscuit rather than a cake. Now for the fruit. I recommend using sultanas and apricots but if you prefer to use dates or raisins, that’s fine. Some people like to add some nuts too but you needn’t include them if you prefer not to. If you decide to use nuts, chop them up small. Mix everything together and pour the mixture into the tin. Bake in the oven for about one and a quarter hours. Remember to check if the fruit cake is ready after about an hour, as everyone’s oven is slightly different. Let the cake cool for about half an hour. If you want to ice the cake, mix up some icing sugar with water. I suggest adding a little lemon juice as well. Don’t try to ice the cake until it’s completely cold. If you decide not to ice it, just sprinkle some sugar on top. One word of warning, don’t expect to have much fruit cake left after a couple of hours – it’s delicious. My family can’t resist it. And now here’s the list of ingredients you need …
Recording 24
Guide: Is everybody here? Good. Now listen carefully. I hope you’ve all had a good day today. I wish the weather were better for you. It’s very unusual to have so much snow and rain here at this time of year. Some of you were asking about tomorrow. Well, we’re going unless the weather gets much worse during the night. OK? So, provided that it doesn’t snow too heavily tonight, I’ll see you back here at six o’clock. Set your alarms for 5.30. We’ll take our breakfast with us because we won’t reach the top of the mountain unless we set out early, before it’s light. So be here tomorrow morning with everything you
need. You’ve all got a list – you need a whistle in case you get separated from the rest of the group, warm waterproof clothes and gloves, and a good pair of boots. Don’t forget the maps I gave you. I’d rather you didn’t bring large cameras as they’ll be a nuisance. Now, is everyone happy and looking forward to tomorrow? You all look rather worried. There’s really no need. As long as we all stay together and you follow my instructions, we’ll have a great time. I’ve never lost anyone up there yet! I wish you’d come a few weeks ago when the weather was better because we could’ve done so many more walks then. Never mind, there’s always next year. It’s time we had dinner now so if anyone has any questions, you can ask me on the way to the dining hall. Let’s go in.
Recording 25
Newsreader: Good morning. Here is the news for Wednesday the fifth of September. The Prime Minister is in Washington to attend an international trade conference. He’ll spend two days at the conference and after that he’ll have talks at the White House with the President. At the weekend he’ll fly to Mexico. Singer Moira MacNab has suffered problems at the start of her tour of Europe with the cancellation of her London concert. She had been holidaying on the north coast of Africa before her tour and was injured on the plane coming to England. Her flight hit bad weather as it was flying across the Mediterranean and she was hurt by a case which fell from an overhead locker. However Moira says that she will be quite well by the weekend when she is due to appear in Edinburgh. A footbridge over the motorway between London and Oxford has collapsed, causing serious delays, with traffic jams stretching beyond the beginning of the motorway. Emergency services are at the scene but part of the motorway will remain closed until this afternoon. And the local news: Police have arrested a man who was holding a bank manager hostage. They were called to the bank on the High Street late yesterday afternoon when a security man standing by the door of the bank heard shouting in the manager’s office. The manager was released during the night and the gunman gave himself up early this morning. And now back to Annie for some more music.
Recording 26
Andy: Hi, Dawn! I’m home. Dawn: Andy! Where have you been? And what’s happened to your jacket? It’s filthy! Andy: OK, OK, there’s no need to shout at me. Actually I had a bit of an adventure on the way home. Dawn: What happened? Andy: Well, I was driving up Wellbourne Road when I saw flames coming out of an upstairs window. I called the fire brigade on my phone and then I thought I’d better see if I could do anything. I decided I’d better try and go in. I thought perhaps someone was in there. I got in by breaking a window. Dawn: What! How? Andy: I remembered the toolbox I keep in the car for emergencies … Dawn: Oh, yes. Andy: … and smashed a window by hitting it with a hammer. The room was full of smoke, so I covered my face with a handkerchief. There wasn’t anyone on the ground floor, and I was just wondering if I could go upstairs when a neighbour arrived and the fire brigade. They said the house was empty – the owners work in town. Dawn: You could have been in real danger. Andy: Oh, not really. Well anyway, then the fire brigade were in control, so I went to my car. Then the owners arrived. Dawn: Poor things. Andy: Well, it wasn’t so bad because luckily, I’d called the fire brigade before the fire had spread too far. Dawn: I hope they thanked you for saving their property. Andy: Oh, yes. Dawn: Do they know how it was started? Andy: By an electrical fault, they think. Anyway, do you forgive me for being late? Dawn: Don’t be silly! I can’t be angry with you now.
Recording 27
Jasper: Welcome, everybody, to Claremont Castle. I’m Jasper Claremont and this has been my family’s home, where we’ve lived for over four hundred years, since the time of Edmund Claremont, who first lived here in 1600. This room is the great hall and the paintings you can see here are our oldest portraits. The painting we’re looking at now shows Edmund himself. Do you see the ship in the background? It’s the one which he commanded during a famous naval battle. This victory was the reason why he became a national hero. He was given the piece of land where Claremont Castle now stands as a reward. The next painting shows Edmund’s wife Margaret, who he married in 1605. She’s wearing all the family jewels. They had four sons – George, Henry, William and Andrew.
Recording 30
This is a tropical rainforest. It’s also sometimes called a jungle. The trees are probably very old as they have very thick trunks. It’s usually quite dark in the forest as not much sunlight gets through the trees. The plants that grow under the trees tend to have large leaves in an effort to get as much light as possible. The soil in the rainforest is often very poor so the trees have shallow roots, but some of them still manage to grow very tall with few branches near the bottom. They put all their energy into reaching the light! Rainforests are full of wildlife, from insects and snakes on the forest floor to monkeys and butterflies higher up.
Recording 31
People often associate my country with cold and darkness and it can, of course, get very cold here in the far north of the world! In winter there isn’t much light, and in some places the sun doesn’t rise for a whole three months. We have more hours of summer than other countries further south, but the weather is nowhere near as warm, even though the light is much stronger and brighter. The climate is generally dry, which makes it feel warmer. Minus 10 degrees Celsius, for instance, seems a very pleasant temperature to us! The temperature is mostly below freezing except for short periods in the summer. If you’re born here, like I was, you just get used to it.
Recording 32
Well, I’m a keen athlete, so I try to eat a balanced diet. I consume a lot of protein, especially fish and lean meat, and plenty of fruit and veg. That’s no problem, because I like those things and I love crunchy salads. But I also need quite a lot of carbohydrate to give me energy, so I tuck into pasta and baked potatoes. I love milk but I try not to overdo cheese and cream. I can’t resist chocolate either – I eat less now, but I don’t think I’d want to cut it out of my diet completely! Anyway, I eat larger than average portions at mealtimes because I do so much exercise I don’t ever put on weight. I have reduced my salt intake though – I never put it on food, and I avoid junk food, which is full of salt and fat. I go to a training session two evenings a week with my local team. I’ve also joined a gym and I go there three times a week. I’ve never smoked, which is obviously a good thing, and I drink a huge amount of water – you really need it if you do a lot of exercise. And I also try to get eight hours sleep a night – I find it makes a big difference. I think I’m fit, and being fit helps me deal with stress, and any problems that come up.
Recording 33
I’ve always been able to sing in tune. My father has no interest in music but the rest of us have always counted it among our hobbies and enjoy playing and listening to music. I love picking
out a tune on the piano, although I’ve never really learnt to play properly. I got to quite a high standard in cello and violin, though. And when I was at school, I sang solo in the school choir. I wouldn’t want to do that now but I do belong to a rock choir, which I just love. Unfortunately, I hardly ever get to go and hear other people playing in concerts as I live a long way from the nearest town, but I sometimes make a special trip with a friend. I’ve always got something playing in the car too, or else I have my headphones on. I’m really into classical music but I also adore rock, and world music too.
Recording 34
Speaker 1
I’ve loved it ever since I first heard Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. It’s great to dance to because the rhythm’s so strong and your feet just go with it. I think the electric guitars you got then were great, and I love the clothes from that era, the full skirts and tight jeans. The 1950s had a great influence on all the music that followed.
Speaker 2
My mates think it’s really strange that it’s my favourite kind of music, but I love it, especially played on a saxophone. It always creates such an atmosphere, and the voices of some of the singers are so rich. It all goes back to the US, and the black musicians in New Orleans, but there’re a lot of good artists in Britain today and they’re getting into the charts now too.
Speaker 3
When I hear it I always think of Texas! The songs all tell a story – something everyone can relate to. There are things about love, and splitting up and having a hard life. Johnny Cash is probably the most famous singer, but a lot of the others have been women. The chorus is always important so everyone can sing along. I enjoy singing to it when I’m driving!
Speaker 4
Well, I go along to a club once a month to listen to it. It’s often just one or two people with a guitar singing. You do get bands too but you mostly hear them at festivals and some of them have become well known. People write their own songs or they play traditional songs from different regions that the audience know well and join in with. You get a real range of instruments like piano accordions and whistles as well as the more usual guitars and violins.
Recording 35
1 [bark] 2 [whistle] 3 [tap] 4 [sneeze] 5 [snore] 6 [bang] 7 [splash] 8 [smash]
Recording 36
I’ve played football since I was eight years old and I’m fifteen now. I play for one of the best youth football teams in my area. My brother, who’s fourteen, is also in the team. I’ve always wanted to play in the national team – the under-sixteens of course. And last week we were told that a coach was coming from the national team to watch us play. He was going to choose three really good players to take part in a youth match against another country. The big moment arrived on Tuesday and we played our match. I scored a goal just before the final whistle and I knew we’d won! I looked over at the coach and he nodded to me. The whistle blew. I knew I’d played really well and I was sure I’d be chosen. I couldn’t wait to hear my name called. I ran over to the other players but I was so excited I didn’t look where I was going – I tripped and fell over. And I broke my leg. I was taken to the hospital. Later I found out that the coach had chosen me, but of course I can’t play now. My brother will take my place – the match is on Saturday.
Recording 37
On Saturday I went to watch the match with my leg in plaster. My brother played well and our team won but I still felt really low, so I refused to clap at the end of the match, and I didn’t congratulate him on winning either. Then when we got home that evening he gave me this huge parcel. It was a football signed by some of our national players – he’d met them after the match. And he wanted me to have it. All I could think of was how badly I’d behaved … He’s great, my brother.
Recording 38
Examiner: You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1–8, choose the best answer (A, B or C).
Question 1
You hear a woman telling a friend about a conversation she had with her parents.
Man: So what happened when you told your parents about Mark and you getting married? Woman: Well, I was a bit nervous about it because I haven’t known him that long. They’ve met him a few times but they didn’t seem to get on all that well because Mark is really shy so he didn’t say much. But I was surprised at their reaction. They said they were delighted and it was what they’d expected after they saw us together. In fact, I’d expected them to be really angry. Man: Why? Woman: Because we’ve decided to go and live in Canada and it means I won’t be able to finish the course I’m doing.
Question 2 You hear a man talking about an activity holiday. Man: I’ve just got back from an activity holiday that my teenage daughter persuaded me to go on. She’d been on one and she was convinced I’d really enjoy the activities too. Well, I didn’t have very high expectations as I’d never done anything like it before. The other people of my age and older did fine – I just wasn’t very good at any of it. Although the instructors were very enthusiastic and tried hard to help me, I was just relieved I didn’t break anything. I think my daughter was a bit fed up when I told her that as she’d really thought it was the perfect holiday for me! Question 3 You hear two people talking about a film. Man: So, what did you think of the film? Woman: Well, it was good really. I liked the storyline and the characters were very convincing too. Man: They were. The actors were great – just right for the roles. Woman: Mm … and the action scenes were amazing – quite scary in fact. Man: I was sure they weren’t going to survive when their car crashed near the end. What about the final scene, though? I couldn’t make out what was going on with the main character’s son. Did he just drive away and leave them all? Woman: It wasn’t obvious, was it? I think he was going for help, though …
Question 4 You hear a couple talking about their hotel. Man: Are you glad we chose this hotel? I rather like it. Woman: Of course, the room’s great– I like the views over the river. Fancy going for a walk? It’s a lovely sunny day and I could do with some exercise. Man: Yeah, and we could see what’s on at the cinema tonight while we’re out. Woman: That’s a good idea, or maybe a concert? I saw something advertised down in the lobby. Man: Let’s have a look, then. And we’ll get lunch while we’re out, shall we? Breakfast wasn’t very filling – lots of fresh fruit and strong coffee but no eggs or anything. Woman: Mm, that suited me, but it would have been nice to have the choice.
too, because she’s spoken out about a number of important issues relating to war and women’s health, and her views have made a real impact worldwide. At the same time she’s a devoted mother, raising a large family with her partner.
Recording 41
Speaker 1
I find it’s a great thing to do if you really want to feel calm at the end of the day and de-stress. You don’t need much equipment, just a mat and some old loose clothes. The exercises are very varied, and you stretch a lot and really improve your balance. It’s incredibly relaxing. Our teacher is very good – she tries to give everyone individual advice so you can do some practice at home every day.
Speaker 2
I’ve been playing it since I was 12 and it’s really quite demanding. The court is small and the ball is very fast, so you have to have quick reactions. If you don’t move rapidly, you can end up being hit by the ball or running into your opponent or his racket – I’ve had a black eye several times. But I love it – I find it really exciting and it’s very challenging.
Speaker 3
I’ve always loved team sports, and this really is one of the best. There’s a lot of running up and down, so you get fit. But it also needs a lot of skill to use your stick well when you pass the ball and to tackle your opponents. And it’s a great feeling when you score a goal. It means you’ve used all your skills – it’s very satisfying.
Recording 42
Speaker 1
I know it’s silly but I fell out with Mike over money. I lent him some and he never gave it back. So we had this big argument and we haven’t spoken to each other for three months. I know I should get in touch with him to make up, because we were very close friends. He was my best friend in fact, and we told each other just about everything.
Speaker 2
My cousin introduced me to Francesca. The moment I saw her I fell madly in love with her, but I’ve got no idea how she feels about me! We spent the whole evening chatting and we got on really well together, but I haven’t seen her since. I’d really like to get to know her, though. Maybe she’d go out with me if I ask her.
Speaker 3
I have a great friendship with Jasmine. Our fathers worked together and were old friends as well as colleagues, so Jasmine and I became good friends too and we used to play together
when we were kids. Eventually we both got married and we lost touch for a while at that point. But then my brother got engaged to his girlfriend. He had a party and invited us both and we remembered how much we enjoyed each other’s company, so we make sure we keep in touch now. We phone each other every week.
Speaker 4
I don’t make friends easily but when I do we usually become close. Petra was a classmate of mine at college last year and we sometimes had lunch together. We discovered we have things in common, like we both enjoy films. So we’ve been to the cinema together a few times now, and had a coffee afterwards.
Recording 43
I do argue with my family sometimes, especially with my stepsister – we quite often fall out. But in the end, my family are the key people in my life because I know they will always be there if I need them. Of course my friends are important too but I know we might not always be close. Most of my friends like doing the same things as me – shopping, watching TV and stuff. A few of them are in the same swimming team too, so we have that in common. We occasionally fall out over something small, but generally we get on just fine. My best friend is Meena – we’re neighbours. I’ve known her since I was five years old when she moved in next door. She’s really good fun and very kind.
Recording 44
Examiner: You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about a family party. For questions 1–5, choose from the list A–H what problem each speaker mentions about the party. Use the letters only once. There are three extra letters that you do not need to use.
Speaker 1 I arrived at the party a bit late because I work till seven on Saturdays and driving there took a while because of the traffic. Anyway, we’d rented a large room above a café for my sister’s engagement party and the café made all the food. There was masses of it, really delicious stuff. The room was also great as it had windows looking out over the river. It got very crowded because the whole extended family came, including her fiancé’s family of course, and there were lots of children, so it wasn’t possible to dance or even move around much, but we managed to enjoy ourselves anyway. Speaker 2 Well, we arrived at about eight for my grandma’s birthday party, which is what the invitation said, but the party had already started. Apparently most people had got there earlier so it would be a real surprise party for Granny, but no one had told us about that, so we’d taken our time on the drive over there.
Anyway, some other people arrived even later and missed out on the food. The catering was great – there were loads of amazing sandwiches and salads, cold meat, cheese and so on, but the children ate a lot of it before the adults got anywhere near it!
Speaker 3 It was our fiftieth wedding anniversary on Saturday and we had a lovely party organised by my daughter Anna. She invited more than 80 people – I’d never realised what a large family we were, and I was almost overwhelmed by the emotion of it all … Anyway, there were lots of children – we’ve got four great- grandchildren and several great-nephews too. They were so well-behaved, all of them. There were lots from our generation too, and a few struggled to get up the two flights of stairs to the room. A ground floor room would have been better really! Anyway, we all enjoyed it.
Speaker 4 My sister-in-law had a lovely party last Saturday to celebrate qualifying as a doctor. Everyone got dressed up – well, nearly everyone. The teenagers didn’t bother but then they’re always happier in jeans, aren’t they? And there were lots of children. In fact they got a bit over-excited and rushed around until they got dizzy! They were all right, they just needed a quiet area with a TV and some toys or books. Anyway, they had a good time like everyone else. The best thing for me was that I didn’t have to think about any of the arrangements because my son took me there and just told me when to be ready.
Speaker 5 My auntie was 65 last weekend and the whole family was invited to a party. It was held in a modern hall down a little side street, and not easy to find, but we took a taxi there rather than the bus so it wasn’t a problem. It had a large balcony, so although there were a lot of people, there was plenty of room out there when you needed a breath of fresh air. The invitation didn’t say what to wear so I wore a suit – no one else dressed quite so smartly and I was a bit embarrassed. But everything went off perfectly, and the food and drink was fantastic! [Now listen again]
Recording 45
Speaker 1
Well, I commute to London every day and unfortunately I travel in the rush hour. It all goes OK if everything’s running on time. But it’s cold waiting on the platform and sometimes the carriages are very crowded and there aren’t enough seats. The fares are expensive too, but my company pays for a season ticket, so that really helps.
Speaker 2
The service in my area is quite good. There are always lots of people at the stop waiting to go into town and I see the same driver most mornings. Most people buy a pass which lasts a week or a month but you can also pay for your fare when you get on. And if you don’t know when to get off, you can ask the driver to call out when you reach your destination. We only get single-deckers around our way, no big red double-deckers like you get in London.
Speaker 3
It’s always packed in the morning and you have to go down several escalators to get to it. If the platform’s empty when you get there, you know you’ve just missed your train. Once you’re on, you have to hang on to the railing above your head if you haven’t got a seat. Oh, and you have to be careful not to stand too near the sliding doors!
Speaker 4
Well, there’s a rank right outside the station that I use quite often. Of course it can be a bit expensive because you have to pay your fare and give the driver a tip, but there’s a meter in every cab, so you know you’re being charged the right amount. And if you share with some friends, it can actually be quite an economical way of travelling.
Recording 46
Woman: Well, my sister and I usually go away together. We haven’t got loads of money, but if you book well in advance, you can get some very cheap deals on rail travel and accommodation. We usually go to Italy – we love the beautiful old towns on the coast. We stay in small guesthouses and then explore local places of interest – you know, museums, gardens, art exhibitions. It’s lovely just being out of the office somewhere that has great history and food. Boy: I really like the outdoor life and sleeping in a tent. My parents have taken us for camping holidays since we were young. We travel in our camper van, so we stay in Britain as the ferry’s expensive. We usually go to a holiday place on the south coast where you can camp, but what I like most is meeting up with my cousins there. It’s the only time we can all spend time together as everyone’s busy normally. I love swimming and snorkelling and going out fishing on a boat and we usually have a barbecue on the sand when the tide’s gone out. We also visit a few places, but not every day. I’m studying very hard at the moment so I need time to just chill and enjoy myself. So do my parents.
different shades of blue and green in the water. Just recently, though, she’s done some pictures using different shades of yellow and orange, a new series about the desert – she’s tried to give an impression of the lines in the sand and the heat. When you look at them you can almost feel the sun on your back.
People say, though, what makes her work unique is the way she portrays the light, rather than the colour she uses. It seems very natural – other artists aren’t always so successful. In addition, her pictures are very large, which is equally unusual, and she mostly uses board for her paintings in preference to canvas, because it’s smoother to work on. As for the medium she uses, she now paints exclusively in oil, although she started off experimenting with painting in acrylic and also with water colour.
I think she’s found a style of painting which really suits her, and obviously other people think so too, because her paintings are selling well, and not just to private individuals. She’s had exhibitions in several major cities, including Sydney and Adelaide, and a lot of her pictures are now bought by companies, because they consider them to be a good investment. I’d buy a few myself if I had any money to spare, but unfortunately they sell for thousands of dollars now!
The other thing about Anna is that her talents don’t stop at painting. She’s done an impressive number of other things too, including writing some short stories for children, and doing the illustrations for them. In addition, a number of her articles on painting have appeared in different magazines. And finally, she’s also planning some other commercial ventures, including launching a series of cards and calendars later this year, which I’m sure will be a great success. If you’re not familiar with her work, I recommend you look her up online – you’ll be able to see some of her best pictures on her website.
[Now listen again]
Recording 51
Speaker 1
My favourite programme is Big Brother. It’s so entertaining to watch a group of strangers being thrown together in a house. I find it quite compelling. I’ve watched every series.
Speaker 2
My favourite programme is still the American show Cheers. I watch all the repeats and I’ve got all the DVDs and they still make me laugh. The acting is brilliant, and I love the characters and the situations they get into.
Speaker 3
I really love Downton Abbey. The storylines are gripping. The characters become almost like good friends because you get to know them so well and you want to know what happens to them. I just love the clothes in every series too – what the women wore for balls and big events in the early twentieth century was simply stunning.
Recording 52
Girl: Well, to be honest I like both. I loved the cinema from the moment my parents first took me to see a cartoon, and the special effects you get in science fiction films today are amazing. But for me, there’s far more atmosphere in the theatre, and every performance the actors give is special, and that’s why I like it better. For example, I went to see a fantastic musical the other night which was funny and fast-moving – the audience loved it … Man: The theatre’s great of course. I’ve done some acting myself, and being on stage is quite an experience. Giving a performance in front of an audience is amazing. But what I love most is escaping from the world and going into the cinema. I love the darkness and hearing the soundtrack at full volume – film music is fantastic these days. You see exotic locations on the screen and your imagination takes off. …
Recording 53
Man 1: Offering the audience a lively view of the origins of skateboard culture in early 1970s Los Angeles, director Stacy Peralta’s film Dogtown and the Z-boys gives us a surprisingly moving and dramatic view of recent history. The film is narrated by actor Sean Penn, who is superb. He grew up in the neighbourhood between Santa Monica and Venice Beach which was nicknamed Dogtown … Man 2: Richard Gere is paired with Jennifer Lopez in Shall We Dance? , a delightful film about a lawyer whose interest in life is unexpectedly restored by a dance teacher. He first glimpses her from a train window as he travels home from work. There are some memorable dance sequences and some very convincing characters. Some of the supporting actors give outstanding performances and certainly deserve bigger parts.
Recording 54
Well, our house in the suburbs is modern and detached, like many houses in the US. It’s made of wood and we have shutters at the windows and a fence around our yard. I guess the house itself is quite spacious really. Downstairs there’s a large living room, a dining room, a study and a fitted kitchen. We also have a utility room with the washing machine, drier and freezer in it, and a basement where my dad keeps all his DIY stuff – you know, tools and paint and stuff. Upstairs there are four bedrooms. My parents’ room has an en suite bathroom and there’s also a separate shower room for us kids to use. We have central heating and air-conditioning. We need them both because here on the east coast it’s hot and steamy in summer and cold in winter. We have a big terrace out the back where we
can sit in summer. And there’s a double garage – we keep a lot of junk in there as well as the cars!
Recording 55
Well, I’ve been trying to live in a green way for quite a long time really. I’m a student still, so it isn’t that hard. Outside the block of student rooms where I live at college, there are some huge bins for collecting plastic bottles, glass, cans and things like that, and I use those every day. And there are some collection points near the lecture halls where we can leave paper and magazines and paper packaging. There are also signs in all the rooms telling us to switch off computers when we finish work and not to leave lights on. I know I should do that, but it’s so much easier to leave your laptop and TV on … But we have air conditioning installed because it gets hot in summer here, and I always turn that off before I go to bed, and in winter I always put on a warm jumper or fleece rather than having the heating on high. There’s a farm shop near the college, and all the produce comes from growers nearby. It’s grown without chemicals, which I like, but it’s much more expensive than what you get in the supermarket so I can’t really shop there. And I can only afford to use my car on long journeys, so I walk or take the bus everywhere else. My carbon footprint must be quite low!
Recording 56
Examiner: You will hear an interview with an Australian sheep farmer called Gina Ellis, who is talking about her work and plans for the future. For questions 1–7, choose the best answer (A, B or C). Interviewer: And on today’s Green Magazine programme, we have Gina Ellis, an Australian sheep farmer. Welcome, Gina. Gina: Thank you. Interviewer: So Gina, tell our listeners something about sheep farming in your country. Gina: So I’m from New South Wales, where over 30% of sheep farming takes place. But in fact there are large sheep farms right across the country, and it doesn’t only go on in the places where the temperatures are lower. But the number of sheep farmers is in decline and some farmers are moving over to cattle instead. Interviewer: I see. And I believe sheep farmers are experiencing problems at the moment? Gina: Yeah, that’s right. There are two: one to do with markets and the other with the environment. There’s a good market for meat, but the wool industry is struggling. Although Australia still produces about 10% of the world’s wool, including nearly half of the top quality merino wool, demand is falling – consumers often prefer synthetic clothing, like fleeces, which are cheaper
than woollen jumpers and equally warm. But the biggest issue for all of us farmers is climate change – there are major water shortages in farming areas, so it’s becoming harder to find enough for our animals. Interviewer: Let’s talk about the market problems a bit more. Are you looking for new uses for your wool? Gina: I am, yes. It’s been put to many different uses over the centuries. Of course carpet manufacture still takes a high percentage of our product, as it always has, and now we’re looking for other domestic uses. The most promising seems to be the idea of using it in buildings as a form of insulation. Companies developing this have found it very effective. And there’s also interest in eco-clothing – you know, clothing made from all natural products and produced organically. But it’s a specialised market and may turn out to be uneconomic in the end … Interviewer: And why are you over here in the UK at the moment? Are you looking for solutions to your business problems? Gina: Well, yes. I’m working in co-operation with ten other large farms to see if we can develop an alternative energy system which will produce enough electricity to sell as well as meeting our own needs. Clearly hydro-electricity isn’t for us, given the lack of rain and the water shortage, so I’ve been looking into ideas for using wind power. Britain has a lot of expertise in that area, so that’s why I’m here. Of course, we have potential for solar power, but I don’t think we could produce enough to sell on top of our own needs. Interviewer: That’s interesting. What made you consider these options? Gina: Well, if the predictions about global warming are correct, farmers in Australia will have to diversify
- that is, look for other ways of earning a living. That’s my reason for looking into wind power as a form of income, generating enough energy to sell some. Of course, since then I’ve begun to realise that being self-sufficient, producing enough energy for ourselves and not having to rely on other power sources at all, is attractive, and I’m starting to think in a greener way. Interviewer: I see. And what do you feel about the advice you’ve been given? Gina: It’s certainly given me a lot of food for thought and, er, taught me the advantages of a more ecologically aware approach to life and work. And now that I have the information, I’ve worked out that the financial investment is possible. We should be able to cut back on the number of animals we raise and still make a living, which as
