American Big Picture B2
Upper Intermediate Transcripts
Ctrl + click on the track name in the table below to jump to the relevant page.
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
4.6 5.6 6.6
4.7 5.7
4.8 5.8
5.9
R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
R12
R13
R14
R15
R16
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
R11 7.6
7.7
8.6
9.6
9.7
9.8
R17 10.6
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
R18
R19
R20
R21
R22
11.6 12.6
11.7 12.7
11.8
Unit 1, Transc
Transc rip t 1.1
Maria: This photo reminds me of me and my friends. We always meet up at the station
whenever we go out because we all take the train into town. I’m not sure what’s happening
here, though... The girls look like close friends but the guy might just
j ust be a passerby, asking
for directions or something.
Didier: There’s a lot of construction work in Nigeria at the moment, and my job
jo b is
organizing construction teams. I’m really busy all the time... so most of my friends are
organizing
coworkers. That’s true for a lot of people, isn’t it? The only time I see my other friends is
when I run into them, you know, at the supermarket or places like that.
th at.
having a family meal like this. Taking
Taking care of two young children is
Zubeida: Ah yes, I love having
a lot of work but it’s fun, too. I’m lucky because I get a lot of help from my husband’s
family—
family
—although my mother-in-law’s
mother-in-law’s always calling, you know, to ask about the
th e children!
children!
Anna:
An
na: I’ve played the cello all my life and on Wednesdays I practice with a group of
musicians. It’s pretty informal—you don’t have to come every week, you can just show up
whenever you like. Sometimes everybody comes and the hall’s really crowded!
crowded! I get along
well with the other musicians.
musicians . There’s one guy in particular who I’ve been talking to a lot...
I think he’d like to ask me out... but he’s kind of shy!
shy!15
15
Olga:
When
I broke
up with
my last
boyfriend
thought
I’d We
never
guy
But a few
months
later,
a friend
introduced
meI to
Roman.
gotmeet
alonganother
so wellnice
and guy.
had. so
much in common that six months later we decided to get married. This is our big day. We
invited everyone we knew—
knew—friends, family, in-laws, colleagues, er... ex-roommates…
ex-roommates… It
was the best party I’ve ever been to.
Kurt: This is my favorite sport. I play on a handball team in Germany. It was a natural
decision for me because my father was a handball player, too, and he taught me about the
game... The thing I like best about it are my teammates. We play together, we go
g o out
together… It’s great. I get along really well with all the guys on the team.
Transcri pt 1.
1.2,
2, page
page 6
Hi! My name’s Suzanne Green. I do a podcast every week as part of my web page. This
week I’m looking
looking at profile photos. I love photography and I noticed that my friends have
an incredible variety of profile photos online. So I’ve asked them to send me their favorite
photo and do a short interview with me to explain, you know, why they chose it. First, II’ll
’ll
tell you about my photo. It’s my profile photo and it’s me inside an old tree! I chose it
because it’s really unusual—it
unusual—it makes you wonder how the photo... how it was taken and
whether it’s a real tree. It is, by the way! Also, I love the outdoors. This photo was taken on
a long country walk.
Transcri pt 1.
1.3,
3, page
page 6
S = Suzanne J = Jacques D = Dave G = Gina
1
S: OK, my first interview is with Jacques, my ex-roommate. Jacques, this is an interesting
photo—it’s
photo
—it’s your profile photo, isn’t it? But why didn’t you use one of yourself… you know,
something more personal?
J: Well, I did think about it but I felt a little shy, especially because I’ve changed a lot since
college. I mean, the Eiffel Tower is more impersonal but it’s special to me. I used to work
there and I have great memories of it.
S: I remember! You sold tickets one summer, didn’t you?
J : Yeah, exactly. I worked with fantastic people. We
W e got along really well and we’re all still
friends. So, I guess I posted this photo to remind me of a happy time in my life.
2
S: OK, Dave. Thanks for being on my podcast.
D: No problem, Suzanne.
S: I haven’t seen this photo before…
D: You have seen it—you’re
it —you’re in it! That’s you in the
t he middle! Don’t you remember?
S: Oh yeah, I do! We were on the umm... the geography field trip just after our exams.
Who’s the guy on the left, though—the
though—the one in the blue T-shirt…
T- shirt… I don’t remember him.
D: I think he was a friend of Nina’s.
S: And, um… didn’t something happen to him
him that day?
D: Yes, something did happen! He climbed a tree on a dare and fell out on the way down.
S: Oh, yes! He didn’t hurt himself though, did he?
X -ray.
D: No, he didn’t break anything... but he ended up having to go to the hospital for an X-ray.
cr azy!
S: I remember now… Poor thing, that was crazy!
3
S: This is typical of you and your friends, Gina!
G: Hey, no it’s not! I don’t
don ’t always post pictures like this.
S: Yes, you do. I expected some nice artistic photos... and I get you and your friends on a
night out.
G: Well,
OK, OK,
I guessdoes
it’s not
but it’s
funny,
isn’t
it? who took the photo?
S:
everyone
lookartistic...
like they’re
having
fun.
So...
G: My sister-in-law did.
S: And do you worry that people will see you out partying? What about, you know, your
coworkers... or your boss?
don’t. They can’t see them! I’m very careful about the privacy settings on my
G: No, I don’t.
account so you can only see my photos if you’re one of my close friends.
S: So have you posted more photos like this online?
G: Y
Yes,
es, I have! But, like I say, I don’t let everyone see them. That could be dangerous!
Transcri pt 1.4 page 6
S: This is an interesting photo—it’s
photo—it’s your profile photo, isn’t it? But why didn’t
didn ’t you use one
of yourself… you know, something more personal?
J: Well, I did think about it but I felt a little shy, especially because I’ve changed a lot
since college. I mean, the Eiffel Tower
T ower is more impersonal but it’s special to me. I used to
work there and I have great
g reat memories of it.
S: I haven’t seen this photo before…
D: You have seen it—you’re
it —you’re in it! That’s you in the middle! Don’t you remember?
S: Oh yeah, I do!
D: He climbed a tree on a dare and fell out on the way down.
S: Oh, yes! He didn’t hurt himself though, did he?
S: Well, everyone does look like they are having fun. So... who took the photo?
G: My sister-in-law did.
Transcri pt 1.5, page 7, Pronunciation exercises 1 and 2
S: This is an interesting photo—it’s
photo—it’s your profile photo, isn’t it? But why didn’t
didn ’t you use one
of yourself… you know, something more personal?
J: Well, I did think about it but I felt a little shy, especially because I’ve changed a lot since
college. I mean, the Eiffel Tower is more impersonal but it’s special to me. I used to work
there and I have great memories of it.
S: I haven’t seen this photo before…
D: Oh
Youyeah,
have Iseen
it —you’re in it! That’s you in the
t he middle! Don’t you remember?
do! it—you’re
S:
D: He climbed a tree on a dare and fell out on the way down.
S: Oh, yes! He didn’t hurt himself though, did he?
Transcri pt 1.
1.6,
6, page 10
10
Interviewer: Today we’re discussing this question: What’s more important to you, friends
or family? These days families are more dispersed. Family members often live far away
from each other. More women go out to work, children leave home earlier and people in
some countries are having fewer children. As a result of all th
this,
is, friends have become more
important than family in many people’s lives. We
W e have two students from the university
with us today to discuss this question
question—
—Craig from Australia and Marcela from Mexico.
Thanks for coming on the show. So, Craig, what’s more important, friends or family?
g ood relationship with my family but they
Craig: Er… That’s a difficult question. I have a good
live in New Zealand and I’ve lived here in Sydney for five years now. I left home when I
was 18. I don’t see much of my parents these days since the flights to New Zealand are
expensive. I hang out much more with friends and probably feel closer to them. I’d share
any problems with them first. I know I can always count on my good friends. When
W hen I
decided to break up with my girlfriend last year, I talked it over with a couple of friends
friend s first.
I didn’t tell my parents until… I don’t know, until much later.
Interviewer: So, are you saying your friends
fr iends are more important than your family?
fa mily?
Craig: Well, I guess so. I’m an only child, so friends have always
a lways been important. I get
along well with my mom and dad, but my friends and I share the same interests and
experiences, you know, and have some great
gr eat times together. We really enjoy ourselves,
going to the beach and parties and things like that. When I go
g o away… for the weekend, or
on vacation, it’s usually with friends. They’re the people
p eople I feel closest to.
friend s are the new family?
Interviewer: Thanks, Craig. So, Marcela, do you think friends
Marcela: Well… my family is also dispersed, like Craig’s, as my parents live in Mexico
City but I have relatives living in Brazil and the USA. But I still think family is very
important. I have a big family and we spend a lot of time together. I mean, I fight with my
brother a lot but we always make up and he’s a great guy. He can take care of himself but
when he has a problem, he asks my parents for advice. I had problems in college and I
dropped out for a while but my parents were really supportive and gave me good advice.
I’m studying in Sydney for a year but when I go back I’ll live with my parents. It’s common
in my country for children to live at home until they get married. It’s very unusual for young
single adults to live by themselves. Sometimes I ask myself if my relationship with my
family has changed now that I’m older and I’ve moved away for awhile. I think it has but
I’m still very close to my parents and my brother.
fr iends?
Interviewer: But how important are your friends?
Marcela: I have four or five close friends and they’re really important to me. I love
socializing with them. I took up Pilates recently
r ecently and I go with one of my best friends. But
friends come and go, you know? Your
Y our family is always there for you, which is why they’re
more important than anyone, I think.
th ink. My parents were injured in a car accident recently
and my brother immediately flew all the way from Chicago to be with us.
Transcri pt 1.
1.7,
7, page 12
12
1
A: So, where are you from, Luigi?
B
Milan.
Milan. Home of AC and Inter! That was a great
great game last night, wasn’t it?
A : Ah,
B: Er, well, I’m not really a big soccer fan, to be honest.
2
A: Hi, I’m Mick. You’re Claudia, aren’t you?
B: That’s right. Hi, Mick.
A: Where are you from, Claudia?
B: Austria.
A: Really! I took a trip to Austria once. We went walking in the mountains and visited some
friends, er, near Innsbruck.
B: Wow! That’s very close to my home town.
to wn.
A: Really? You don’t come from Watten,
W atten, do you?
B: Yes, I do!
3
A: ...Potato
then IChips
became
the managing
the
Division
for a few director
years. of the company. I’d been the sales director in
B : Potato chips? Speaking of food, I think I’ll get something to eat. You don’t know where
the cafeteria is, do you?
A: Oh, yes. It’s down the hall.
4
Senso-Ji! It’s a really old part of town. And today you’re going to
A: Hi, Neil! Welcome to Senso-Ji!
see the oldest temple in Japan.
B: Fantastic! I’m really looking forward to it. We don’t have anything like this in the
th e U.S. …
So, It’s really hot today, isn’t it?
A: Yeah, it’s not normal for this time of year. I think you’ve brought the sun with you!
5
A: Where are you from, Sara?
B: A city named Bogota in Colombia.
A: Really? There’s another student here from Colombia. Have you met her—Vera?
her—Vera?
isn’t she?
B : Vera? She’s the girl with the red hair, isn’t
A: That’s right.
B : Yeah, I met her this morning. She’s from a town near Bogota..
6
A: Do you live alone, Jamila?
B: No… I live with my children.
A: Oh, you have children! Are they boys or girls?
B: A boy and a girl.
A: Do either of them look like you?
B: As a matter of fact, I have a photo of them.
them. Would you like to see it?
A: Of course. Oh... that’s a lovely picture.
Transcri pt 1.
1.8,
8, page 12,
12, exerci
exerci se 4
I’m not really a big soccer fan, to be honest
I took a trip to Austria once.
I think you’ve
you’ve brought the sun with you!
Speaking of food, I think I’ll get
g et something to eat.
She’s the girl with the red hair, isn’t she?
she?
I have a photo of them. Would you like to see it?
Transcri pt 1.9, page 12 Question s Tags
1 That was a great game last night, wasn’t it?
2 You don’t come from Watten, do you?
3 She’s the girl with the red hair, isn’t she?
Transcript 1.10, page 13
C: So … I’m thinking of moving out of the apartment.
D: Why? I thought you loved it!
C: I do, the location’s great but Lydia’s becoming
becoming really difficult to live with.
D: Why? What’s the problem?
C: Well, the thing is, she’s really forgetful. She’s always leaving the iron on when she goes
out. Or when she goes
g oes to the store, she forgets to buy things like milk or bread, even
e ven when
I ask her to.
D: Have you talked to her about it?
C: Yes, but... every time I try to talk to her, she just changes the subject.
D: Hmm... that is a problem.
C: And it’s not just that. She never does any housework either. She won’t
won’t do anything
unless I ask her.
D: Oh.
C: She’s a good friend but she’s awful to live with. I just don’t know what to do!
Transcript 1.11, page 13
C: She’s a good friend but she’s awful to live with. I just don’t know what to do!
alwa ys helps.
D: Hmm... I’m not sure but I think talking always
C: But like I said, it hasn’t worked.
D: Well, I think in that case, you have to get angry with her. Shout at her. Otherwise, she
won’t do anything.
C: But that’s not me. I never get angry about anything, do I?
D: That’s true. What else could you do?
C: Well, I’m waiting for ideas.
D: Erm... I suppose you could do your shopping separately—
separately— buy your own bread and
milk, and write your name on it or something. Then she’ll have to buy her own.
C: Well, at least there would be food in the refrigerator
refrig erator then but it wouldn’t help with the
other problems.
D: OK. Well... one other thing you could do is put a list of jobs on the refrigerator door, with
your name or Lydia’s name next to each one. Cross off all the jobs when they’re done.
C: We’ve tried
tried that—it
that—it didn’t work either.
D: Well, you could always try complaining about her on Facebook. She’s obsessed with it
so she’s bound to see it. Then she’ll know how angry you are.
C: Denise! Yes! That’s it! That’s what I’ll do. She’ll see that, for sure!
Unit 2, Transc
Transc rip t 2.1, page
page 15
Speaker 1
I have to say I’m a fan of conventional medicine because it works! When I get a cold or the
flu, I take painkillers or cough syrup or whatever, and they relieve the symptoms. You can
buy that kind of medication in any drugstore. If I feel sick, I take my temperature and make
an appointment to see the doctor. If I get an infection, I usually take antibiotics. That is if
the doctor writes a prescription for them, but you know, they’re not always necessary.
Speaker 2
I think alternative medicine is a viable option and it really does
doe s work. I use an acupuncturist
for problems like a stomachache, a cold or the flu, and it really helps
h elps a lot. It works by
acting on the energy, or chi, that flows through your body. My dad gets backaches a lot
and he swears by his chiropractor. It’s a mistake to think that conventional Western
medicine is the only option for treating illness.
: Speaker 3
It’s probably good to use different
d ifferent types of remedies for medical problems. For example,
exam ple, I
get a flu vaccination every winter, but I use arnica cream on a bruise or rash. I think herbal
remedies are a good alternative, especially since some conventional medicines have
strong side effects. In many countries, like mine, traditional healers
hea lers and natural remedies
remed ies
are still popular and seem to work.
Transcri pt 2.
2.2,
2, page 18
18
I = Intervi
Intervi ewer L = Laura
I: Why did you decide to become a doctor, Laura?
L: Well, I was always good at science subjects in school, and I really enjoyed
e njoyed them. I also
used to work as an assistant to a paramedic in the summer. It was part of a volunteer
project. I loved it... That’s what convinced me to become a doctor.
I: Was studying medicine tough?
pre med for six months, which involved classes, volunteer work
L: Yes, very. I had to do premed
and research, before applying to med school. Then I did four years of med school to get
my degree, one year of social service, um, one year of residency and... four years of
specialization in pediatrics.
service?
I: Wow. That’s more than ten years. And where did you do your social service?
L: They sent me to a small village in a remote region of Oaxaca. I was in charge of a small
clinic. The culture was completely different from the city. I wasn’t used to living in such a
small community where everyone
everyone knows everyone else. I mean, I’m from one of the
biggest cities in the world!
I: I imagine there was a lot to get used to! What other differences were there?
L: Well, when people were sick, they often went to a curandero or traditional healer.
Occasionally, they would come to the clinic, for medication or bandages for a cut or sprain
or something. But for many illnesses they were content to see the curandero.
successful in treating people?
I: And were the curanderos successful
L : Most of the time I think they were... They have excellent knowledge of herbal medicine
me dicine
and massage. Pregnant women often go to a traditional midwife to give birth,
bir th, sometimes in
an adobe sauna, “a temascal.” They also do ritual cleansings with herbs and eggs or other
objects. You know, I don’t object to traditional medicine, I think it works well in many
cases. Curanderos play an important role in rural areas, they’re highly respected and
trusted members of the community.
I: What about your job now?
L: Well, I have my practice as a pediatrician and I work as a pediatric surgeon in the
National Children’s Hospital in Mexico City. I normally operate
opera te three mornings a week and
the rest of the time I see patients in my office.
I: Have there been any recent changes in medicine that affect your job?
L: Oh yes, patients have much more
mor e access to medical information via the Internet. Self
Self-diagnosis and self-medication are more common than they used to be. Now many parents
an d made a
bring their children in and they’ve already checked the symptoms online and
diagnosis. They know the entire contents of the relevant Wikipedia article! Sometimes I
project an X-ray
X-ray on the wall and they start doing their own assessment of their child’s
illness! In the beginning it was frustrating, but now I’m getting used to it. Doctors are more
used to dealing with this situation these days.
I: Finally, what do you like best and least about being a doctor?
L : I love operating and treating patients and seeing them in the children’s ward getting
better. I used to hate all the paperwork but now I have an assistant to help me!
Transcri pt 2.
2.3,
3, page 19
19
1 It was part of a volunteer project .
2 For many illnesses, they were content to see the curandero.
3 They also do ritual cleansings with herbs, eggs or other objects .
4 I don’t
don’t object to traditional medicine.
5 They know the entire contents of the relevant Wikipedia article!
6 Sometimes I pr o ject an X-ray on the wall.
Transcri pt 2.
2.4,
4, page 22
22
J = Jackie P = Pharmacist
J: Hello… do you speak English?
P: Yes, I do.
J: Oh, thank goodness. I wonder if you could help me? I fell down in the street and hurt my
arm.
I think
mighthappened?
be broken. Would you mind taking a look at it?
P: Not
at all.itWhat
J: Well, I was taking a photo of a building and I stepped back and tripped over a hole in
the sidewalk. I landed on my arm and it’s really painful.
P: OK, take a seat and I’ll take a look at it.
J: Thanks. Could you tell me if it’s broken?
with out an X-ray.
P: Possibly, but you should really see a doctor. It’s often difficult to tell without
J: Yes. The thing is, I’m only here for a few days and I don’t really want to go to the
hospital.
P: Well, let’s take a look. Hmm, that’s a nasty bruise. OK, can you make your hand into a
fist and squeeze it?
J: Yes… ow, that really hurts!
P: OK, I think you need to go to the hospital for an X-ray.
J: OK. Would it be possible to bandage it for support?
P: Yes, of course. I’ll just get a bandage.
J: Thanks. And can you give me directions to the hospital?
P: Of course. Take the second street
street on the left and it’s three blocks away.
J: Thanks. Do you have any idea how long I’ll have to wait to see a doctor?
P: I’m sorry, I don’t. It could be quite
qu ite a long time.
J : OK. Well, thanks very much for your help.
P: No problem. Come back here if you need any more help.
Transcri pt 2.
2.5,
5, page 22
22
1 I wonder if you could help me.
2 Would you mind taking a look at it?
3 Could you tell me if it’s broken?
4 Would it be possible to bandage it?
5 Do you have any idea how long I’ll have to wait?
Unit 3 Transcri pt 3.1, page
page 25
I = Interviewer N = Nick
I: Nick Barber is an expert in long-distance
long-distance sailing and he’s here with us to talk about this
fascinating topic. Nick, how dangerous is around-the-world solo sailing?
extremely dangerous. First, you have to deal with storms,
N: As a matter of fact, it’s extremely
extreme temperatures, high winds and huge waves. Um... equipment can fail and there’s
the possibility of being hit by large ships... not to mention sleep deprivation and loneliness,
which can be the hardest things to deal with! But as long as you prepare carefully and sail
intelligently,
the dangers
be avoided.
So, what qualities
doescan
someone
like Jessica need to complete a voyage like this?
I:
N: Well, physically, you need to be in great shape. Psychologically, you need to be brave,
resilient and very self-sufficient. You also need a very positive attitude and a lot of
experience sailing alone in difficult conditions.
cond itions.
I: And what kind of equipment would
would she need for a voyage like this?
N: Well, good
good waterproof clothing definitely, as you’re always wet in these conditions... and
thermal underwear to protect you from the cold. A good pair of sailing gloves is essential
since you spend a lot of time pulling ropes and sails.
I: What about safety?
N: Life rafts and life jackets are essential, of course, in case the boat sinks or you fall
overboard. You also need medical supplies—
supplies—a very large first aid kit with antibiotics,
bandages, painkillers, and so on.
navig ate using the stars anymore!
I: What about navigation? Sailors don’t navigate
N:
Well, no,
has advanced a lot! Most boats have radar and GPS navigation
systems,
thattechnology
kind of thing.
I: And one final question, Nick—
Nick—how do you sleep on a long-distance solo voyage?
N: That’s a good question! Most
Mo st solo sailors use the technique of sleeping for 15 to 20
minutes at a time, using an alarm clock to wake them up. But if weather conditions are
bad, you may not get a chance to sleep at all.
Transcri pt 3.
3.2,
2, page 25
25
Speaker 1: I think a trip like this is too dangerous for someone so young. She’s obviously
a very courageous and resourceful young woman but I think her parents were incredibly
irresponsible to let her do this. If anything had happened to her, there would have been a
massive rescue operation. In my view, she was reckless to undertake this voyage, though
I am glad she made it, and it is an amazing achievement.
Speaker 2: I really admire Jessica for what she’s done.
d one. OK, so she’s young, but she must
be very mature. She’s also a very experienced sailor. A trip like this is risky
r isky but she was
well-prepared
wellprepared and had all the latest equipment. In sailing terms it’s an incredible
achievement. Whether some official body calls her voyage a “record” is beside the point,
it’s an inspiration to see what a you
young,
ng, determined person can achieve.
Transcri pt 3.
3.3,
3, page 27
27
Daniel Defoe wrote Robinson Crusoe after he had read about a real sailor on a desert
island: Alexander Selkirk. In 1705, Selkirk was working on a ship when he suddenly
demanded to be left on a remote island off the coast of Chile. While he had been sailing on
the ship, he had realized that the captain was incapable of controlling it. He had learned a
number of skills in previous jobs
jo bs that helped him survive on the island. When he was finally
rescued, Selkirk had been living on the island for four years. Afterward, he went back to
sea and eventually he died of yellow fever while he was traveling around the coast of
Africa.
Transcri pt 3.
3.4,
4, page 28
28
Speaker 1
My hobby can be very dangerous because lots
lots of things could go wrong. There’s always
the danger of avalanches or rock falls and, of course, if you fall, you could be seriously
injured. But it’s so exciting I don’t
d on’t care about the risks. It’s worth it! Whenever
W henever I’m ice
climbing, I really feel... I r eally feel alive. I go as often as I can. Anyway, I’m an
experienced climber and I’ve had lots of training, so this reduces the level of risk.
Speaker
2
I’m not a thrill
seeker at all. I don’t want to put my life in danger. A few years ago some
friends convinced me to go white-water rafting. The organization was very professional
and obviously, took all the necessary precautions, but I still found it absolutely terrifying.
We got into trouble at one point and someone fell out of the raft. I’ve never been so scared
in my life. I would never do it again!
Speaker 3
I guess I’ve done this about 20 times now. It’s an incredible experience, especially for me
because I don’t think of myself as a thrill seeker. I don’t do things like this normally, but I
love sharks and I really wanted to get up close to them. You need to do a few hours scuba
training before you can go down, and the dive operators warn you about the sharks and
their behavior and everything beforehand. In the dive cage you can watch them safely.
You can’t take risks with wild animals like these.
Speaker 4
Iadrenaline
would never
go Ibungee
jumping
or paragliding
anything like
that,sobut
do like
ana thrill
rush.
love going
on extreme
rides ator
amusement
parks
I guess
gIuess
I am
seeker in my own
own way. It’s silly really but I go as often as I can and I love every minute of
it. There’s very little risk since all the machinery is checked very carefully. The only
problem is I always spend a lot of money!
Transcri pt 3.
3.5,
5, page 29
29
I = Interviewer A = Dr. Aziz
I: This morning we have Dr. Mischa Aziz with us in the studio to talk about risk taking. Why
do people take risks and what kind of people are risk takers? Let’s examine these
questions carefully. Doctor Aziz…
A: Well, Brian, people take risks for a number of reasons. First, it gives you an adrenaline
rush—it’s
rush
—it’s the same reason we watch horror movies. They’re
Th ey’re frightening, but this gives you
a buzz, which is exciting.
I: But not everybody enjoys horror movies.
mo vies. Not everybody is a risk taker.
A: Mm
Mm…
… that’s very true. Scientists believe there may be a genetic element to risk
taking—
taking
—certain genes may make people want to take risks so risk taking is something
you’re born with. We haven’t discovered
d iscovered the exact gene yet, but we’re sure it’s there.
I: And why do we have this gene—what’s
gene—what’s the point of it?
A: Well, we’re still trying to find out. But everything is in our body for a reason, and this
gene has a purpose,
purp ose, too. Dr. Marvin Zuckerman, a professor at the University of Delaware,
believes it’s part of human evolution. Our early ancestors—
ancestors — early man—
man—constantly needed
to find new sources of food. That involved finding, hunting and killing large animals. To do
this, to leave your home and go to new places, involves risk. But early man needed to take
risks to survive.
I: But why do we still have this gene today?
A: That’s a good question! Why do we have the urge to take risks in modern life? The risky
element of life is slowly disappearing.
disappearing . Much of (modern life is extremely boring
boring—
—working
in an office all day, for example. People often want some element of risk, some danger, in
their lives but they don’t get it. We don’t need to hike through forests to hunt large animals,
so instead, people do things like extreme sports.
I: Like my 16-year-old
16-year-old son. He’s really into extreme sports like bungee jumping. He’s
always going rock climbing—
climbing —I never see him on weekends!
A: And that’s normal. Obviously,
Obviously, teenage boys are the biggest thrill seekers of all. This is
because they have more testosterone than older men.
I: And men have more testosterone than women.
A: Exactly. This testosterone makes boys want to do adventurous things and to take risks.
That’s
why
theyiflove
sports.
But it’s
just
for teenagers,
as I say. Anyone can
be a risk
taker,
theyextreme
have these
genes,
this,not
um,
need
for adrenaline.
I: I see. Well, I’m afraid we have to stop there. Mischa, thank you for coming in today and
explaining everything so clearly.
Transcri pt 3.
3.6,
6, page 31
31
1 Sadly, several of the rescue
r escue workers are now missing.
2 Tragically, many other people were killed in that powerful storm.
3 Fortunately, I had my cell phone with me.
4 Luckily, Weber made a decision that saved his life
Transcri pt 3.
3.7,
7, page 32
32
J = Josh S = Scott
W ales next week.
J: Hey, I hear you’re going to Wales
S:
Yeah, to?
that’s right.
J Where
Snowdonia—we’re
—we’re taking a rock climbing course there. Should be lots of fun.
S: Snowdonia
J : Definitely! It’s really beautiful there—we
there—we did something similar two summers ago.
S: Really? Where did you go?
think it was the… the Llanberis
Llanber is Outdoor center? ... or something like that.
J: Oh, um, I think
go ing. It’s the Outdoor Action Adventure Center?
S: Hey, it sounds like where we’re going.
J: Yeah, that’s it. You’ll have a great time! It’s a fantastic place and the people are lovely.
Remember to pack some good waterproof clothing, though—
though —it can get really wet.
S: So I’ve heard! They sent us a list of stuff to bring. It’s my first time, I’m really excited…
and a little worried, too. Is it really difficult?
J: No, not at all. Although, you might want to take some band-aids in case you get
blisters—there’s
blisters
—there’s a lot of walking to do. And if you’re taking new boots,
b oots, make sure you use
them a couple of times before you go. If you don’t, your feet’ll start to hurt pretty quickly!
S: I’ll remember that!
J: What are you doing afterward? Are you going to travel around a little, also?
S: Yeah, we’ve never been to Wales before so we’re renting a car. We want to see some
of the coast and travel down to Cardiff maybe.
J: You want to be careful on those little country roads and allow plenty of time to get from
place to place. The roads and highways get pretty packed in summer. I wouldn’t drive
down the coastal highway if I were you. You don’t want to get stuck in a traffic jam for half
your trip. The inland
inland highway’s quicker and the scenery’s still spectacular. If you have time,
stop off in the Brecon Beacons. There are some great walks there.
S: Mmm… I think we’ll have had enough of outdoor activities by then! We want to go
g o to
Cardiff for the summer festival.
J: Yeah, good idea! I’d forgotten about the festival. There are some great concerts,
especially down at the bay. But remember
re member be careful with your money and
a nd valuables.
There are big crowds for some of the events, and there’s always the danger of
pickpockets.
S: Yeah, like any big crowds, I guess.
J: And you definitely shouldn’t take your
your car down there. I’d take a taxi. It’s really difficult
difficult to
find a place to park.
S: Thanks… good tips!
Transcri pt 3.
3.8,
8, page 32
32
1 You want to be careful on those little country roads.
2 You don’t want to be stuck in a traffic jam.
3 You might want to take some band-aids.
band -aids.
Transcri pt: 3.9
3.9,, page 33
A = Ayaka L = Laura
A: Hello?
L: Hi, it’s Laura!
A: Laura? Good to hear from you. How are you?
j ob and everything… But what about you?
L: I’m fine, thanks. Very busy with the new job
How’s life in New York?
A: It’s OK. But to be honest, it’s been very tough adapting to life here. I’m not used to living
in such a big city.
L: I know, it’s a big change for
f or you! So, what are you finding most
mo st difficult?
r eally lonely. I don’t know anyone here... and it’s really difficult to meet
A: Well, I just feel really
people and make friends.
L:
I’m sorry
to hear that. But what about work? What are your coworkers like? Is there
anyone
nice?
A: Yes, they’re all really nice, but they have their own lives outside work. We sometimes
go out for a drink on Fridays, but that still means I spend the whole weekend alone.
L: Oh, no, that must be really hard on you. What about interests? Are there any classes
you can take or anything?
A: Well, I go to a yoga class once a week and, I’ve finally taken up salsa dancing!
L: That’s fantastic! So have you met anyone in the classes?
A: Not really. I don’t want to sound negative, but... no one really speaks
speaks to me. And when I
try talking to people, they’re perfectly nice and
a nd everything, but they don’t seem to want to
have a conversation.
L: That sounds really difficult. I’m sure it’ll get easier over time, though. If you see the
same people every week you’ll
you’l l soon get to know some of them.
A: Yes, you’re probably right, it’s just a question of time. But that’s not
n ot all! The worst thing
is, my apartment was robbed last week while I was at work!
L: Oh no, what did they take?
A: My TV and some jewelry…it wasn’t
wasn’t valuable, but it had,
had , you know, sentimental value.
L: Of course! You must feel terrible.
A: It was horrible... and now I feel really nervous being alone in the apartment.
L: Oh, you poor thing, you are having a bad time! Did you report it?
A: Yes, of course. The police were really helpful and I’ve had the locks changed now. The
good thing is I have some really nice neighbors and they’ve been very helpful and
supportive.
L: You did the right thing, Ayaka! And knowing the neighbors is always a good thing.
thi ng. It’s
always difficult at first when you move to a new city, but things will get better soon. I
promise!
A: I know. I’m sorry to complain so much... but it’s good to have someone to talk to.
L: Don’t worry about it, I completely understand! I’m always here for you. And remember,
I’m coming to see you soon. So start organizing a fun weekend!
A: Sure. I’ll get started right away!
a way!
Review A Transcr ipt R1,
Review
R1, page 34
Speaker 1: We usually meet up in a café when we finish work on Friday. It’s a great place
to hang out. We do
d o talk about the office a little, especially
e specially our boss, but we talk about
abo ut other
things, too. We’re all about the same age and we get along well together.
Speaker 2: I took up Chinese last year and I’m still in the beginners’ group. I think the
others are better than me, though. They
Th ey understand a lot more. The class is right after
work
so I 3:
often
up late and
It’s show
so annoying!
Shemiss
losessomething
absolutelyimportant.
everything and then expects me to help
Speaker
her look for it.
it. We argue about it a lot, but we always make up afterward. She’s not always
an easy person to live with, but most of the time we get along well.
Speaker 4: We were in college together, but she dropped out after a few months. I only
met her a couple of times but she lives near me now. We run into each other all the time at
the mall and places like that. We’re not really friends and we don’t have a lot to talk about.
It’s usually just “Hi,” “How are you” and “Good“Good-bye”
Transcri pt R2
R2,, page 34
We usually meet up in a café when we finish work on Fridays. It’s
It’s a great place to hang
out.
I took up Chinese last year. I often show up late and miss something important
We argue about it a lot, but we always make up afterward. Most of the time we get along
well.
We were in college together, but she dropped out after a few months. We run into each
other all the time.
Transcri pt R3,
R3, page 35
1 Would you mind lending me your cell phone?
2 Do you have any idea where the nearest post office is?
3 I wonder if you could recommend something for insomnia.
4 Can you tell me what time the
th e supermarket closes?
5 Would it be possible to give me a lift to the bus stop after class?
Transcri pt R4,
R4, page 37
1 You might want to wear a wetsuit to protect you from the cold.
2 You definitely shouldn’t go too fast or it might be difficult to stop.
3 You want to be careful if the waves are really big.
4 When you buy sneakers, make sure they’re half a size larger than your regular size.
mountain in the middle of a blizzard.
5 You don’t want to get stuck up a mountain
6 I wouldn’t wear old shoes as this can cause injuries.
Transcri pt R5,
R5, page 37
1 Monika I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling down, Eti. I think the key is to be more self -
sufficient. You could always sign up for a news website with audio podcasts. This is a
great way to improve your listening skills. You might want to get a conversation exchange
partner, too. Whatever you do, don’t get
g et demotivated. Don’t just study English… live it!
2 Sachi
Sachi ko I’m always playing video games
games when I should be studying English! It was the
same when I was studying for my exams.
e xams. Then my father gave me a study day planner
and suggested I “block out” times for studying. For example, I spend thirty minutes
Skyping a friend in the States every Friday morning. I set myself little goals at the start of
each week, like “I’m going to learn ten words about architecture.” Then at the end of the
week I can say I’ve improved.
Unit 4, Transc
Transc rip t 4.1, page
page 38
S = Steve M = Maureen
podcast, Maureen Coffrey talks about her work as an image consultant.
S: In this week’s podcast,
Maureen, hello.
M: Hi, Steve.
S:
can youRight
tell us
unow,
s something
about
who
you’re
working
with
at the filming
moment?
Certainly!
I’m working
with
a band
ban
d from
Brazil.
They’re
th eir new
their
M: So
video and the song is all about reinventing yourself.
S: Great!
M: Well, the band members all want to change their look for the video. We’ve been looking
at lots of different ideas and I’ve brought along some photos to show you.
S: Uh, these are great. Where’s this guy from?
M: He’s from Polynesia in the Pacific. His face and body are covered in beautiful tribal
tattoos. It’s also common in Polynesia to get a piercing like this red one in his ear.
S: So what are you going to do with this look?
M: We’ve decided to make the drummer look like this. We’re going to paint these designs
on his face, just for the video, and he’s going to grow a beard and a mustache.
S: And where was this second photo taken?
M: It’s Brazil. Bodybuilders work out near the beach in Rio. This photo is for the group’s
singer.
S: But he’s really skinny, isn’t he?
M: Yes, he is. But he wants to put on weight for the video—
video—you know, build up some
muscle. So he’s going to go to the beach to work out with these guys. He’s already
already shaved
his head because he thinks that makes him look tougher!
S: OK. And the last photo? The girl is from Japan, isn’t she?
g uitarist loves this goth look so we’re going
g oing to recreate it for
M: Yes, she is. The band’s guitarist
him! This teenage girl is from Tokyo.
Tok yo. Every weekend she dresses up like this and hangs
out at Harajuko subway station with lots of other teenagers dressed up in different
d ifferent styles—
styles—
goth, hip hop, punk, etc. Goths put on white makeup so they look very pale. The contrast
of the girl’s black and dyed blue hair looks amazing, doesn’t it? And I love the straight
bangs—it’s
bangs
—it’s a really impressive look.
S: So you’re going to use this look for the guitarist?
M: Yes, I am. It’s going to be great!
Transcri pt 4.
4.2,
2, page 38
38
1 His face and body are covered in beautiful tribal tattoos.
2 It’s also common in Polynesia to get a piercing like this red one in his ear.
3 He’s going to grow a beard and a mustache.
4 Goths put on white makeup so they look very pale.
5 The contrast of the girl’s black and dyed blue
blue hair looks amazing.
6 I love the straight bangs-it’s
bangs-it’s a really impressive look.
Transcri pt 4.
4.3,
3, page 40
40
S = Shantum K = Kate
S: Hi, Kate, I was looking at your website yesterday. It’s really good. You’ve already had
almost a thousand hits.
Thanks,, Shantum. I’ve had the site for about a month now. Did you see that I’ve just
K: Thanks
added a blog?
S: Yeah, I did. What kind of things are you going to write about?
K: Oh, social issues, I guess. I’ve just posted an entry about tanorexia.
S: Tanorexia? What does
does that mean? I’ve never heard of it.
K: Well, it’s a fairly new thing. It means being addicted to using tanning beds to get a tan.
Experts started using the word in about 2004.
S: Right…
K: In the past, people didn’t use tanning beds much so we didn’t really hear about the
problems they can cause. But in recent years it’s become very fashionable in some
cultures
towith
havetanning.
a tan and
to be
all year
around.
some
obsessed
They
go tanned
to tanning
salons
all theBut
time,
andpeople
this canbecome
be really bad
for the skin. Experts have advised people to avoid using tanning beds too often since they
discovered a link between them and long-term damage to the skin, even skin cancer.
S: That’s crazy, isn’t it? People don’t stop doing it even when
whe n they know the risks. And
even if you don’t damage your skin or get cancer, you end up with lots of wrinkles! Surely
it’s better to be fair! In India, we have the opposite situation. Here many people think a fair
complexion is more attractive so many people
peop le use skin-whitening creams. In August, I
went back home for my sister’s wedding and everyone was saying how pale she looked—
as a compliment.
K: Hmm, the complete opposite then!
S: Yeah, and many famous people advertise this kind of product, like Shahid Kapur—he’s
a big Bollywood star, a very famous actor.
K: So are skin-whitening creams a big business?
S: Yes, they are. And men have started using them more and more; the sale of creams
such as these to men is growing by nearly 30 percent per year. And the
t he market hasn’t
peaked yet. I’m sure these products will become even more popular.
Transcri pt 4.
4.4,
4, page 40
40
The underlined words a schwa sounds, that is, they are not clearly pronounced.
They go to tanning salons all the time, and this can be really bad for the skin.
Transcri pt 4.
4.5,
5, page 40
40
1
2
3
4
I’ve had the site for about a month now.
What kinds of things are you going to write about?
What does that mean? I’ve never heard of it.
We didn’t really hear about the problems they can cause.
Transcript 4.6, page 45 8
H = Host P2 = Paulina S = Silvia M = Manami C = Chizoba
H: Hello! There’s been a lot of buzz on our website about our question of the day: Do you
have a different personality when you speak a different language? People who are
normally fairly serious say they become more lively and animated in Italian. Confident
people suddenly become self-conscious
self-conscious when they’re expressing themselves in another
language.
We’ve
had callers
from
all First,
over the
worldPaulina,
giving their
question
so
let’s speak
to some
of them
th em
now.
we have
fromresponses
Poland. to this question
P2: In Polish I’m really lively and talkative,
ta lkative, but in English I’m quieter and more serious. I
hate making mistakes so I’m more self -conscious in English. I have to think things through
more so I’m not as spontaneous, and often I won’t say something at all unless I know I can
say it correctly.
H: Thanks, Paulina. That sounds very stressful! Next, let’s hear from Silvia who is from
Spain.
S: I usually speak English at home because
because my husband’s from the States and I used to
live there. I find it very good
g ood for organizing things. I always use it to make lists and
arrangements. I have to think hard to use English grammar correctly so it makes me feel
more precise. But in Spanish, I can
can really be myself. If I’m feeling depressed
depr essed or really
happy or excited, I have to speak Spanish.
H: Thanks, Silvia. And now to Manami from Japan.
M:
I speak
Japanese,
obviously,
Portuguese
my secondand
language
since
Brazil
for five
years. My
years.
speakingand
is really
g ood inisPortuguese
good
I’m very
wittyI lived
wheninI
speak this language. I say things I can’t imagine saying in my first lang
language.
uage. I tend to be
more serious in Japanese, but I feel more laid back and easygoing in Portuguese. I’m
going to Brazil
Brazil next month and I’m looking forward to using it again. I love it!
H: Thanks, Manami! And now we have Chizoba from the UK.
C: Hi! I’m from London... and Nigeria. My parents are from Nigeria and they both speak a
language called Yoruba. It’s kind of a second language to me because
b ecause I’m not perfect in it.
I mean, writing is really difficult, and I make quite a few mistakes, but I don’t really feel any
different when I speak it—maybe
it —maybe because I grew up with this
t his language? I’m very outgoing
and talkative in whatever language I speak!
H: Thanks, everyone. Don’t forget to add your comments on our web page if you want to
join the conversation. Bye for now!
now!
Transcri pt 4.
4.7,
7, page 46
46
1 A: They’re really getting on my nerves.
B : The people in number 27?
A: Yes. The father’s OK, I suppose, he’s fairly
f airly friendly… but his kids!
grown-up daughter, don’t they?
B : Hmm. They have a grown-up
A: That’s right. She’s driving me nuts. She’s selfish, rude and totally inconsiderate! She’s
always parking her car in front of my entrance. And she bought this dog, but she never
cleans up when it makes a mess outside my door. I’ve tried talking to her but it doesn’t
doe sn’t
make any difference.
B: Typical! She just couldn’t care less.
2
C: Have you met the new manager?
D: Oh, what’s his name? Michael… Watson, Wilson?
C: Williams. Michael Williams. He’s not exactly strong on people
p eople skills.
a nd he’s in charge of human resources! In fact, he’s really
D: You can say that again… and
rude.
ye t.
C: He might just be shy, I suppose… he doesn’t know anyone yet.
D: Hmm. The thingS that annoys me most ARE his e-mails.
e- mails. They’re short, impolite and
really badly written! Everything he says is like an order.
C: I know. It really annoys me the
th e way he tells you to do things. And he never says please
or thank you.
comes!
D: Absolutely! Ooh, wait, here he comes!
3
E: Thank goodness that’s over! My twelfth graders are
a re so difficult! They’re driving me
crazy!
F: I’m not surprised! That Ann Jackson’s so disruptive and she always looks as if she’s on
her way to a party.
Well,, she probably is! Ryan Stephen’s the main problem, though. He’s noisy, badly
E: Well
behaved and completely disrespectful. And I can’t stand the way he keeps interrupting me.
F: Yeah… he’s a strong character, too. They all follow
fo llow him because they think he’s cool
cool.. I
think he could do a lot more, but he’s so lazy.
E: Definitely. He’s not stupid,
Transcri pt 4.
4.8,
8, page
page
1 She’s selfish, rude and totally inconsiderate!
2 They’re short, rude and really badly written!
3 He’s noisy, badly behaved and completely disrespectful.
Unit 5, Transc
Transc rip t 5.1, page
page 48
Speaker 1
In my country there’s lots of good street food. I’m not sure how healthy
h ealthy it is because it’s
usually fried. The most typical Indian street food is chaat, a crispy fried bread that can be
spicy or sweet. It’s
I t’s delicious with sour chili sauce and lassi, a creamy drink made with
buttermilk.
Speaker 2
I have a really busy job and I like to go out after work so I don’t have much time to cook. I
tend to eat canned and packaged food. The food’s a little bland I suppose, but it’s quick
and easy to prepare. There are no surprises in my cupboards:
cupboard s: cartons of milk, cans of tuna
fish, bags or cookies or crackers...
Speaker 3
We
havegrilled
a big family
fmeat
amily or
meal
lunchtime.
usually have
saladfry
to start
with,always
then some
fishatwith
steamedWe
vegetables.
Wesoup
don’t or
usually
food—
it’s so greasy and unhealthy. And we don’t boil vegetables because you lose all the
vitamins that way.
Speaker 4
This is my favorite restaurant and they make the best mole, a typical Mexican sauce.
There are different types of mole, including black, red, green and yellow. Some moles are
really hot and spicy, but there are mild ones, too. The ingredients include chili peppers,
spices and tomatoes and sometimes a litlle chocolate!
Speaker 5
In the mornings, I just have coffee, but nothing to eat for breakfast.
bre akfast. I have it in the
traditional Arabic style—
style—black and very bitter. I often have a cup with my sister on
o n our way
to work. She prefers it sweet, though, so she adds cinnamon and lots of sugar.
Speaker 6
You haven’t had a real barbecue until you’ve had an Australian barbie! We don’t just grill
hamburgers and sausages, but lots of fresh
fr esh seafood, too. Sometimes we roast vegetables
or bake potatoes as well. They go
g o really well with the salty seafood. And, of course, we
always have great music, great beer and great fun!
Transcri pt 5.
5.2,
2, page 50
50
M = Malcolm; J = Josella
Part 1
M: Today’s podcast is on the “frightening future of food.” We’re speaking to leading food
expert,
Josella
Graf. Josella,
I was very
concerned
to hear
that chocolate will soon be as
expensive
as caviar.
I love chocolate.
Why
is this
th is going
to happen?
J: Well, I’ll explain. Growing cacao beans to make chocolate is incredibly hard work for
farmers and it’s very badly paid. In Africa, where a large amount of the world’s cacao is
produced, many people are leaving the farms to find work in the cities, where they can
have a better life. That’s going to continue in the future. So there are fewer people
producing cacao,
cacao, but there’s an increasing demand for chocolate. This means it will
become much rarer and more expensive in the near future.
Part 2
M: That’s very interesting. Should we look at another problem? What’s happening to
bananas?
banana that we eat most is the
th e Cavendish banana. You can’t grow
gro w
J: Well, the variety of banana
this plant from seeds; you need to cut a leaf or part of another plant and put it in the
ground. This means that every Cavendish banana plant is identical—
identical—an exact copy of the
very
first plant found in Southeast Asia.
M: Right.
J: This means they all have exactly the same genes, and the genes don’t change so the
plant can’t become resistant to disease. What can kill
k ill one plant can kill
k ill all of them. And
now there is a disease killing the Cavendish banana.
M: And what disease is that?
fu ngus that’s slowly killing banana plants around
J: It’s called Black Streak disease. It’s a fungus
the world and we don’t have a cure for it.
M: But, how much damage can one disease do?
J: Well, in the 1960s the most popular banana was the Gros Michel. But people stopped
growing Gros Michel bananas because another fungus, Panama disease, was destroying
them.
M: So the future doesn’t look good for the Cavendish banana?
eventually.
ly.
J: No, it doesn’t. It’s bound to disappear eventual
Part 3
M: So, bananas, chocolate. What else is in danger?
J: Well, next week I’m traveling to the USA. I’m going to speak with almond farmers there.
Their almond production is falling every year.
M: And why is that?
need bees to pollinate almond flowers, but something strange
J: It’s to do with bees. You need
is happening to the world’s bee population.
M: What exactly?
J: Well, they’re starting to disappear. It’s called “colony collapse disorder.” One day, all the
worker bees leave their colony —they just disappear suddenly. Nobody knows why they
disappear—so far it’s a complete mystery.
M: Presumably this means other food plants are in danger. What other plants need bees
to pollinate them?
J: Well, there are a lot. For example, melons, apples and avocados all depend on bees.
And the list goes on.
M: Well, Josella, thank you for talking to us about the frightening future of food. Don’t
forget that next week’s podcast comes online at
a t the usual time: 11 a.m. on Monday
morning. Bye for now.
Transcri pt 5.
5.3,
3, page 54
54
C = Claire; J =Dr.John Baxter,
C: It’s lunchtime and around the world, people will be reaching into the kitchen cupboard
for a can of tuna fish. But when you open that can, do you think about where it comes
from?
In a restaurant,
youquestions,
if thewe
fishhave
on your
plateand
is wild
or farmed?
Should
even care?
To answerdo
these
qknow
uestions,
biologist
fishing
expert Dr.
Johnyou
Baxter here in the studio. Good afternoon.
J: Hello, Claire.
C: Dr. Baxter, why are these questions important?
ar e in
J: Well Claire, it’s really because of overfishing. Many species of fish in the wild are
danger like the blue fin tuna, for example. It’s possible that by 2020 we won’t be fishing for
blue fin tuna. The species will be extinct because of overfishing. In fact,
f act, by 2050 many
species will have completely disappeared.
C: So is there anything we can do about this?
J: Well, one answer is to eat less fish, but I doubt that will happen. There’s an increasing
demand for fish as the media makes people more aware of its health benefits. It’s full of
protein and vitamins and also low in fat. And of course, food like sushi is very fashionable,
too.
C:
Are you
that it’s impossible
imposs
ible
to prevent
no. saying
One possibility
is to eat
more
farmedoverfishing?
fish. In fish farms, large numbers of fish
J: Well,
are bred commercially in tanks or cages so they’re more readily available. Though
T hough
obviously fish farming has its environmental problems, too.
C: And what kind of fish are produced in farms?
farms?
J: Well, this is also part of the problem. They mostly produce fish that are carnivores—
carnivores—they
eat other fish. So to produce one kilo of food for farmed fish, you need four and a half kilos
of other, smaller fish. That’s a lot of fish needed to produce the fish we actually want to
eat.. In the long term this isn’t good for the environment.
eat
C: So are there any solutions to this?
J: Well, the obvious solution is to produce more plant-eating fish on farms. For example,
there’s a freshwater fish called tilapia that is a herbivore so you don’t need to kill other fish
to produce it. But it’s a question of psychology. We need to encourage people to eat more
of this type of fish.
C: And how can we do that?
J: Well, restaurant chefs can create tasty recipes with tilapia that are just as delicious as
salmon or tuna, which people eat more of at the moment. Like at the Red Lobster seafood
restaurant, where I’m going next week.
C: And will you be ordering the tilapia?
J: Of course!
C: And are there any other fish that have a smaller impact on the environment?
J: Yes, shellfish is often a good choice. Some shellfish like oysters and mussels feed
themselves and they can even live in semi-polluted waters. I would advise people to eat
more of those.
wee k we’ll be speaking with another expert
C: Dr. Baxter, thank you. Now, this time next week
on the fishing industry, Louis Bertrand from Quebec.
Transcri pt 5.
5.4,
4, page 55
55
1 I’ll
I’ll have written the report by Thursday.
2 I won’t have confirmed the meeting.
Transcri pt 5.
5.5,
5, page 55
55
By 2050……
1 I will have written a novel.
novel. They will
will have
have traveled the world.
3 He will not have become
become a millionaire.
millionaire.
4 We will not have found a cure for cancer.
Transcri pt 5.
5.6,
6, page 56
56
P = Panya J = Jessica
Egyptian breakfast.
J: So, Panya, you’re going to show me how to make a traditional Egyptian
P: That’s right, Jessica. It’s called ful medames. It’s an ancient Egyptian dish, nearly a
thousand years old, but it’s still a really popular breakfast in Egypt!
J: So how’s it made?
P: Well, it can take a really long time to prepare—
prepare —mostly because you need to soak and
simmer the fava beans.
J: Fava beans?
right—the main ingredient! So first you need to soak the beans in water for eight
P: That’s right—the
to ten hours.
J: OK. That’s a long time!
P: I know! Then you drain the beans and put them in a large pan. Next add some
tomatoes,
onionyou
andjust
garlic.
that make sense?
say Does
that again…
J: Sorry, could
P: Of course, add some tomatoes, onion and garlic to the beans. Then
Th en cover the mixture
with water and bring to a boil. You need to be careful it doesn’t boil over, though. Then
turn the heat down and leave the ingredients to simmer overnight.
J: When you say “overnight” do you mean for another ten hours?
P: That’s right!
thi nking you’ve already prepared
J: That is a very long preparation time. So am I right in thinking
these beans?
P: Yes, this is the bean mixture I cooked last night!
J: And is that the only way
way of doing it?
P: Well, you could use canned beans, but that’d be cheating!
J: OK, so what happens next?
P: Next you mash the mixture with a spoon, like this, to make it soft. Do you see what I
mean? Do you want to go on mashing it?
J: Sure.
you can stir in some salt and lemon juice. Are you
P: And once the beans are soft, you
following?
J: Mm, I think so. Can I just check something? Are there any spices in it?
P: Oh, yes, there are. I also added a little cumin before I mashed the beans.
J: Cumin, of course, that’s what I can smell.
P: Next you grill some Egyptian flatbread to serve it with.
J : What exactly do you mean by “flatbread”?
P: It’s just a kind of simple, thin bread.
br ead.
J: Oh yes, of course. And is it served with anything else?
P: Yes, you can serve it with boiled or fried eggs. Today I’m going to fry some eggs in a
little olive oil.
J: Mmm, delicious.
P: And finally, you serve the bean mixture
mixture warm with the bread and the eggs.
J: Mmm, it looks and smells delicious. But one thing I don’t understand is why you make
such a big, spicy meal for breakfast.
Muslim festival of Ramadan,
Ramadan, people don’t
P: Ah. Well, you must remember that during the Muslim
eat during the day. They fast. So it makes sense to have a really big breakfast.
Transcri pt 5.
5.7,
7, page 56
56
A: O K, so you take three
three eggs and break them into a bowl.
B Sorry, could you just say that again ? Was that three or four?
A Well, it depends how many people are eating.
eating. One egg per person is usually enough.
Does that make sense?
B Yes, perfect sense! Do you use the whole egg or only the whites?
A The whole egg. You beat the eggs and then you
you add them to the bacon and
mushrooms in the pan.
B Am I right in thinking that the bacon and mushrooms have already been fried?
A Yes, that’s right. So you add the eggs, and let it cook slowly while you stir. Are you
following?
B Yes! On a low flame, right?
A Yes, that’s right. And keep stirring the whole time. It only takes about tw
two
o minutes.
Transcript 5.8, page 56
1 Does that make sense?
2 Sorry, could you just say that again?
3 Do you see what I mean?
4 Are you following?
5 Can I just check something?
6 What exactly do
do you mean by “flatbread”?
Transcri pt 5.
5.9,
9, page 57
57
D = Dorota S = Sam
S: You know Dorota, I’ve never had Polish food before.
D: Oh, it’s delicious, you’ll love it! Typical dishes
d ishes use lots of cabbage, meat and cream.
S: Mmm. I don’t understand anything on the menu, though.
D: Don’t worry, I’ll explain it. Well, we usually start with soup. There are two here. I’d
recommend the barszcz, beetroot soup. It’s really popular in Eastern Europe.
S: Hmm… what does it taste like?
b eetroot, it has other things... like onions and garlic in it, and
D: It’s delicious! As well as beetroot,
vinegar, which gives it a sour flavor.
S: Hmm…
D: But if you’re not sure, you could have the zurek. It’s a white sausage and potato soup. It
comes with a boiled egg in it. And most importantly,
importantly, it’s usually served in a bowl made of
traditional Polish bread! It takes a long time to prepare!
S: Mmm, that sounds interesting. I’ll have zurek, then.
D: OK, and I think I’ll have the... barszcz. And for the main course, I’d really recommend
golabki.
S: Golabki? What’s that?
D: It’s very typical. It’s cabbage stuffed with ground meat—pork
meat— pork and beef—and rice. It’s
baked in tomato sauce and served with sour cream.
S: That sounds nice, I’ll definitely try that…
(PAUSE)…
(PAUSE)
…
W hat
S: Hmmm, that was absolutely delicious! So, what about a dessert? I still have room! What
are typical Polish desserts?
D: Well, we have lots of different cakes. Makowiec is the most typical and tasty Polish
dessert.
S: What’s it made with?
D: It’s a kind of sweet bread made with poppy seeds. It also has almonds, raisins and
honey in it. Ideally, it shouldn’t taste too sweet.
S: Should
we try that then?
D:
Yeah, let’s!
S: And what are kawa and herbata?
D: Coffee and tea!
S: I’ll have coffee… er kawa!
D: Good. You’re learning some Polish already.
Unit 6, Transc
Transc rip t 6.1, page
page 59
Karen: I really like street performers. You know, musicians, mime artists and even those
artists who draw pictures on the sidewalk. I like listening to street musicians as well,
especially on the subway.
subway. Some of them are really good. It’s really uplifting to hear live
music on the way to work!
Kinuko: I like all sorts of entertainment, but I don’t really like circuses. They’re very
depressing. I think it’s cruel to keep wild animals in those conditions, and it’s humiliating for
them to do
all those
I guesslast
circus
are very puppet
talented,
though.
When
I wenttricks!
to Thailand
year,performers
I saw a traditional
play
called the Hun
Shane:
Lakhon Lek. It was amazing! The puppets were all about a meter tall, and each one had
three puppeteers to move it. The puppeteers are also classical dancers so the way the
puppets move is really elegant and realistic.
Vishal: I love the movies! My favorite director is probably
prob ably Quentin Tarantino. His movies
are always action-packed, and the special effects are usually amazing! His latest script is
for a Western
W estern and I can’t wait to see that! I also really like Indian movies a lot. I mean, the
plots can be a little predictable but they always have a big cast so they’re
they’re really visually
interesting.
Julie: I really like stand-up comedy. I love how comedians think about everyday things in
such random and unusual ways. They’re hilarious! But if you go to a live show, don’t sit
next to the stage; the comedians always make you the focus of their jokes
j okes and that can be
pretty embarrassing!
Helmut: There’s nothing like the atmosphere in a theater when the curtain goes up and
you see the stage and scenery for the first time. It’s like being transported to a different
world! And I find a really good performance is much more moving and emotional than
watching a movie. I love the energy between the performers and the audience.
Transcri pt 6.
6.2,
2, page 62
62
Part 1
H = Host M = Miquela,
H: Welcome to our weekly spotlight show. Today the spotlight is on unusual hobbies and
cultural heritage. Our first caller is Miquela from Barcelona. Hi, Miquela! Can you tell us
about your hobby?
M: Hi, Kevin. I’m a casteller . A castell in Catalan is a human tower! So castellers are
people who construct
construct human towers. It’s a popular tradition at festivals all over Catalonia.
My father’s a casteller and through out my childhood I wanted to be one, too. I was about...
16 when I started training with my local group. We had our photo taken last week and
appeared in the local newspaper.
H: So how high are these towers, Miquela?
M: They usually have four or five layers of people, but some have eight or nine!
Surprisingly, accidents aren’t very common, but there are always ambulances standing by,
just in case. There’s only been one fatality in the last 30 years.
H: Well, it sounds amazing. And difficult!
M: Yes, it takes years of training and practice. You need to be really strong, with great
balance and lots of courage! You can’t show any weakness!
H:
old is the
tradition?
M: And
Er, ithow
originated
around
the end of the 18th century in Valls, near the city of Tarragona.
H: So how are the towers constructed exactly?
M: They’re built in two stages. The bottom layer is built first. It’s called the pinya and it’s
made up of men because they need to be really strong, you know, to support the rest of
the tower.
H: Of course!
M: Once the castellers in the pinya think the base is strong enough, they give a signal. A
band starts playing traditional music and the crowd goes completely silent; you can really
feel the tension and excitement.
e xcitement. The upper layers of the tower are built as quickly as
possible so the strain on the bottom layer isn’t too much.
H: And who climbs to the top?
M: Usually very young children because they’re the lightest and most agile. The enxaneta
is the person who climbs to the very top. The tower is complete when he or she raises
ra ises four
fingers.
Thisdo
is you
saidthink
to represent
th e
the
Catalan flag.
f lag.
H: So what
the future
offour
this stripes
traditiononis,the
Miquela?
M: Well, I think it has a very important future. The tradition is very strongly linked to
Catalan identity. And it brings local communities together as well—
well—family, friends and
neighbors.
H: Well, thank you for coming on the show, Miquela, and telling us about this fascinating
tradition.
Part 2
H = Host D = Daniel –
H: Now, on to our next guest, Daniel from Australia. So Daniel, tell us about your unusual
hobby.
D: Hi, Kevin. Well, I play a traditional Australian aboriginal instrument, the didgeridoo.
H: OK. Can you tell us a little bit more about it?
D: It’s believed to be the world’s oldest wind instrument. It originated in the north of
Australia. The oldest records of
of Aboriginals playing the didgeridoo date back 2,000 years.
H: That’s incredible. So when did you start playing it, Daniel?
D: Well, when I was a kid we lived in the Northern Territories of Australia and I was always
fascinated by the sound of this instrument. So I started playing when I was 13.
H: And is it difficult to play?
D: No, not at all. You can learn to play a basic note in like, two minutes!
H: And what’s the instrument made of?
D: It’s made of the trunk or branches of the eucalyptus tree, which is native to Australia.
H: And is the instrument made by Australian
Australian Aboriginals?
D: Well, actually, 99.9% of didgeridoos on the market are not made by Aboriginals. But I
had mine made especially for me by an Australian Aboriginal. It’s believed that if an
instrument is made by an Aboriginal then it has a spirit that lives inside it. But not by any
Aboriginal, only one who has the didgeridoo as part of
of their cultural heritage.
H: That’s fascinating! So how do you play
p lay this instrument? You must need a lot of breath!
D: Yeah, definitely! You blow into it to produce a vibration that echoes down the tube and
comes out as a very low, rich buzz. A common mistake learners make is to use all the air
in their lungs to play one note. You need to learn to keep plenty of air in your lungs at all
times.
H: What other sounds can you make with the instrument?
D: Umm, well, players can also tap out rhythms on the side of the didgeridoo using their
fingers or sticks, that kind of thing.
H: But Daniel, in this digital era with so many electronic instruments, does the didgeridoo
have a future?
D:
I think
It hasculture,
a very we
richmust
cultural
heritage. Despite
all theto
damage
hasYes
been
doneso,
to definitely.
the Aboriginal
do everything
in our power
protectthat
it.
H: Thank you so much for being on the show, Daniel.
Transcri pt 6.
6.3,
3, page 63
63
1 creativity
creativity 3 decision 5 loneliness
2 curiosity 4 excitement 6 neighborhood
Transcri pt 6.
6.4,
4, page 63
63
flexibility government, happiness, parenthood, revision
Transcript .6.5, page 66
G = George C = Camilla
G:
Oh…what’s wrong, George? I was enjoying
enjo ying that.
C: Hey,
G: I’m fed up. I spend all day practicing, but I don’t think
th ink I’ll ever make money from playing
the guitar. People don’t want to pay for music anymore. They just download everything for
free.
C: But surely real music is about
abo ut doing what you love, not making money from it! In most
cases, people just play music for themselves, it’s so difficult to make a career out of it.
h ave two jobs – like me! And more often than
G: I know, it’s often the case that musicians have
not, they make more money from their other job.
C: But you play the guitar beautifully. I can’t believe you find it tough to get work.
G: Well, I do. What often happens is I end up performing on the street or the subway or
money!
Really?
ly? I didn’t know that!
C: Real
G: Yeah… obviously I don’t make much money from it but, you know, it has its benefits. I
can reach a big audience for free whenever I want. And you get a good feel for whether
people like your music. Plus, you never know when a producer might walk by!
C: Sounds like that’s a great way to get your music heard. I know some people hate street
performers, but I think they add so much color and culture to the city. And they’re better
than that awful muzak you hear everywhere
everywhere—
—in stores, restaurants, offices, the elevator!
It’s everywhere!
G: I know! I mean how can you possibly concentrate at work with that constant
background noise?
C: Well, I’ve read that, generally speaking, people get more work done and feel happier if
music’s played in the workplace. It makes the job feel less boring.
G: Really? I think it would drive me nuts.
C: Yeah, and in places like banks and stores it supposedly makes people feel calmer.
Apparently, if slow music is
is played in a grocery store, people tend to move around it more
slowly. As a rule, the more time they spend in a store, the more they buy. Or in a
restaurant, they spend more time there and
a nd eat and drink more!
G: Ah, so it’s more of a science than an art?
C: Exactly! Anyway, George, don’t give up, you’re really talented and you never know
when you might get a break.
Transcri pt 6.
6.6,
6, page 66
66
1 In most cases people just play music
music for themselves.
themselves.
2 It’s often the case that musicians have two jobs.
3 More often than not, they make more money from their other job.
4
oftenspeaking,
happens people
is, I endget
upmore
performin
performing
on the
streets
streets.
.
5 What
Generally
workgdone
and
feel happier.
6 As a rule, the more time they spend in a store, the more they buy.
Review B, Transcri pt R6, page 68
Review
1
A: This video link is really getting on my nerves! It keeps stopping for no reason!
B : Well, it is free so you can’t complain!
2
A: I can’t stand the way my mother-in-law is always criticizing me!
it— try not to let her get to you.
B: It’s best to ignore it—try
3
A: What annoys me the most is bad service in restaurants.
B:
4 Well, waiters aren’t very well paid so it’s not surprising.
A: The next door neighbor’s dog is driving me crazy! It barks all night long.
B: There’s not much you can do about noise if you live in an apartment.
Transcri pt R7 , page 69
This is my favorite dish. It’s really quick and
a nd easy to prepare, and I love the spicy, creamy
flavors. The main ingredients are green vegetables, cream, chili and olive oil, with garlic
ga rlic
and black pepper for seasoning. You just heat the olive oil in a pan, add the garlic and
chilli and cook for one minute. Then add the cooked vegetables, cream and black pepper
and cook for three minutes. Finally, boil some pasta in pan of salted water, drain and add
the sauce. It’s that simple!
Transcri pt R8
R8,, page 69
A: So, this is the taco place I was telling you about. They have fantastic quesadillas!
B: Ok. Am I right in thinking that’s a type of taco?
A: Yeah, that’s right. It’s a tortilla served
ser ved with melted cheese.
cheese . And you can add other things
like meat or vegetables. Does that make sense?
B : Mmm, yeah, it sounds good! But can I just check something? Will the food here be
really spicy?
A: No, I don’t think so. You can decide how much chili you want. While we are talking
about food…
B: Mmm?
A: Well, one thing I don’t understand is why you say “hot dog” in English for a sausage in a
bun. It’s a really strange name. Do you see what I mean?
B: Yes, I guess it is! Um, I’m not sure where the name comes from. There is a breed of
dog called a dachshund and they’re sometimes called sausage dogs in English.
A: What? Can you say that again?
B: You know the breed of long, thin dog called a dachshund? In some countries they’re
also called sausage dogs.
A: Ah, I see!
Transcri pt R9
R9,, page 20
It is claimed that Clint Eastwood is already
alre ady a movie legend. Gran Torino (2008) was
directed by Eastwood, who also starred in the movie. Eastwood played the role of a retired
auto worker and Korean War veteran. He helps the son of his Hmong neighbors, who try
to steal his car: a Gran Torino. The movie is set in Detroit and it was given positive
reviews. It is considered to be one
o ne of Eastwood’s best movies.
Transcri pt R1
R10,
0, page 70
1 As a rule
rule,, I don’t go to live concerts as they’re too expensive.
2 More often than not, big groups charge a fortune for the tickets.
tickets.
3 What often happens is you end up kilometers
kilometers away from the stage.
4 And in most cases
cases,, the sound isn’t great.
5 Generally speaking
speaking,, I’d rather listen to classical music
m usic than rock music.
Transcri pt R11,
R11, page 71
re ally bad! Nobody
Rikhil: I can’t stand the way I sound in English. My pronunciation is really
says so, but I know it’s true because I often have to repeat myself to be understood. I’d like
to speak more clearly.
Agata:
Ag
ata: I’m going to work hard to sound like a native speaker. More often than not, people
want
to Ihave
a British
accent,my
butmistakes
I think American
English
is nicer.
always
try to correct
when I speak
English
and I expect to be
Frank:
corrected by my teacher, too. I hope I’ll have passed the advanced speaking exam by this
time next year.
Narumi: I know I make a lot of errors but I don’t mind as long as people understand me,
you know what I mean? It annoys me when people take ages to express themselves!
themselves! I’m
going to work on my fluency
f luency from now on, not grammar.
Chenoa: Friends from home are surprised when they hear me speak English because I
sound like a different person. I’m normally very self-conscious but recently I’ve been
making an effort to be more outgoing in order to practice my conversation skills! Maybe it
sounds strange but it works!
Unit 7, Transc
Transc rip t 7.1, page
page 72
Speaker 1
Oh, I read about this story in the newspaper... This woman tried to go shopping in her
pajamas, but the supermarket staff told her that her clothes were unacceptable! It was very
funny, really. She must have felt very foolish. The
T he supermarket said that it wasn’t illegal or
immoral to shop in pajamas, they were just worried that allowing people to shop dressed
like that might offend some customers. I think their decision was fair... I mean, dress codes
in the USA are generally pretty flexible but you have to draw the line somewhere!
Otherwise people will just become more and more careless about things like this.
Speaker 2
We made a big mistake when we were on vacation in the Dominican Republic. We wanted
to visit the famous Higuey Basilica, one of the most noteworthy cathedrals in Latin
America. Unfortunately, the
the man at the door refused to let us
us in. He wasn’t impol
impolite
ite or
anything, but he explained that we were “dressed.” Inappropriately.
Inappropriately. We both had shorts on
and I had bare shoulders. Although they can give you a scarf to cover your shoulders, we
couldn’t cover our legs so we weren’t allowed to go in. I was really disappointed.
d isappointed. According
to my guidebook it was OK to wear shorts anywhere in the country. It turned out to be full
of inaccurate information, really kind of useless. I’ll get
g et a more reliable one next time.
Speaker 3
Last year, I was on vacation in Thailand. On my first day, I went to visit a Buddhist temple.
The woman at the gate was really helpful but just as I was about to go in, she asked me
politely to take my shoes off. Wearing shoes
shoe s in a Buddhist temple is considered
disrespectful. I was a little embarrassed
emb arrassed because I’m always really careful when I go
abroad andread
andread up on local customs and dress codes, things like that. I think it’s
irresponsible to arrive somewhere without doing any research. Anyway, my shoes were
expensive
I didn’t
worry
about
leaving
leaving
outside.
knowtr
there
are dishonest people
around, butbut
most
of the
people
I met
whilethem
traveling
wereI very
trustworthy.
ustworthy.
Transcri pt 7.
7.2,
2, page 76
76
S: Hi, everybody, I’m Sanjay and today’s talk is on red tape and how to survive it.
Government agencies
agencies at all levels can be difficult to deal with if you don’t know your way
around. The advice I’m going to give you today is: think RACE, that’s R-A-C-E.
R-A-C-E. To explain,
let’s have a look at two situations. The first one’s at an embassy. A man is being handed
back his visa application form. It’s been denied. Why do you think this
th is happened?
M1: I don’t know, he might have forgotten an important document.
W1: Or he could have made a mistake on his form; that’s easy to do!
M2: He couldn’t have read the form carefully… or found out the right information, or
something.
W2: Or he may not have fulfilled
fu lfilled all of the requirements.
S: Yeah... any, or all, of those reasons
easons
could another
be true.
But the resultand
is the
same.
He’s
wasted his time. He’s going to rhave
to make
anoth
er appointment
come
back
another
time. Poor guy! This could have been avoided. So my first tip for dealing with bureaucracy
is “R” for “Research.” Find out exactly what process you need to go
g o through, which papers
you need to fill out and what rules you need to take into account. Make a list of all the
documents you need and write down any questions you have. There’s no point standing in
line for hours, only to find out you’ve forgotten something and have to go home emptyemptyhanded. Make sure you’ve found out everything you need to know before you arrive—
arrive—
from the website or another official source.
M1: The thing is, there always seem to be new rules… you can’t know everything… it can
be so frustrating.
S: That’s true, there will always be challenges when you’re dealing with red tape. So my
next tip is “A” for “Accept.” Accept the rules and don’t complain! In this particular case the
man needed to find out exactly why his application had been rejected, find out what he
could do to improve his application, accept the situation and try again. Rules and
processes may seem crazy. They can make you feel powerless and that the system is
against you, but there’s usually a good reason for them. They’re there to stop people
bending the rules or breaking the law. So accept the rules and do all you can to comply
with them. Now, let’s move on to the next situation. A passenger has been stopped at
customs. The customs officer has asked him to open his bag. Look at this photo. What
W hat do
you think is happening?
W1: Look at the customs officer’s face! He looks really serious. He must have found
something suspicious in his case. I think the man’s in trouble…
M1: Maybe not, maybe it’s not his case. He looks like he’s getting angry…
W1: Mm, yes, not a very good idea at customs control these days!
S: Very true! So my next tip is, “C” is for “Calm.” Never raise your voice or lose your
temper with officials, even if you’re ready to explode with anger. This will only make the
situation worse. Take a deep breath, smile and demonstrate a cooperative attitude. If you
smile and stay calm you will find that people are very ready to help. If you become
aggressive or offensive, you won’t get what you want.
W1: Yeah, but sometimes that’s easier said than done. Some situations are just so
frustrating!
M2: Yeah, sometimes you just don’t know what you’ve done wrong…
S: That’s why we need “E.” E is for “Explanation.” If you have problems with an official, or
a process or a procedure, you have a right to an explanation. In this case, the customs
official must tell the man what he is suspected of and explain what his rights are. Officials
often want you to hear and understand their side of the story before they listen to yours.
So
you
listen
carefu lly
carefully
and ask
questions
if necessary.
the rules,
youmake
don’t.sure
If you
listen
carefully
you’re
more
likely to find
a solution.They
Youknow
may find
a
loophole—
loophole
—that is, an inconsistency or omission—
omission —that gives you some room to negotiate
and get what you need!
… So that’s it. Think R-A-C-E
R -A-C-E when dealing with bureaucracy. And remember,
bureaucracy can be just as frustrating for the people who are administering it as for the
people who are trying to get through the paperwork so keep calm, be friendly and you
have a much better chance of getting what you want.
Transcri pt 7.
7.3,
3, page 77
77
I
suppose
I
could
have
p ut my keys in your bag.
put
1
2 Her parents might not have let her come!
3 Careful! You could hurt yourself!
4 Don’t worry, he may not come.
5 They couldn’t have closed the pool.
poo l. Lots of people go there
Transcri pt 7.
7.4,
4, page 80
80
C = call center worker. M = Man
C: Good afternoon, Helpline, how can I help you?
M: Oh, finally, a human being! My flight’s been delayed but no one has given us any
information. I want to know what’s going on.
o n.
C: I’ll do my best to help you, sir. I’m afraid a lot of our flights have been delayed today due
to bad weather.
M: Yes, I can see it’s due to bad weather. But the problem is no one’s telling us anything.
There are enormous lines at all the information desks.
C: That’s to be expected in this
th is situation, sir. You need to wait for further announcements.
M: Look, I know it’s not your fault but this is really frustrating!
Flight AA234 to Chicago has been canceled due to bad weather conditions.
M: Oh great! First they
th ey said the flight was delayed, and now they’re saying it’s canceled.
C: I’m very sorry to hear that, sir.
M: I’m waiting here with my wife and kids. What are we supposed to do now?
C: You should be able to book another flight online.
M: Book another flight online? Do you have any idea how difficult that is? I looked on my
iPad and there are no flights available for the next two days!
C: I’m very sorry sir, but that is the present situation regarding flights.
M: Well, I’m afraid that just isn’t good enough! You need to add more flights! We don’t live
here. We’re on vacation. All I’m asking for is a flight home.
C:
youI see.
are unable
fly,vouchers
you should
able tocan
getwe?
vouchers
forthere
a hotel
tonight.
We cantoget
forbe
a hotel,
We stay
forfor
free?
How do we
M: IfOh,
go about that?
C: If you go to the information desk, you can get the vouchers.
M: And the hotel provides dinner?
C: Yes, the voucher covers the cost of your meal.
you
u should have better plans in place.
M: That’s something, I suppose. But I really think yo
This isn’t the first time it’s happened.
e veryone.
C: I’m sorry, but that’s the best we can do. The weather has surprised everyone.
M: Yes, I understand that. Thank you.
Transcri pt 7.
7.5,
5, page 80
80
1 Oh, finally, a human being!
2 Yes, I can see it’s due to bad weather.
3
they
saidany
theidea
flighthow
wasdifficult
delayed,
and
4 First
Do you
have
that
is?now they’re saying it’s canceled!
5 That’s something, I suppose.
Transcri pt: 7.
7.6,
6, page 81
D = Dave S = Sandra
D: I tell you Sandra, this neighborhood is getting worse and worse.
S: I know, I can’t believe how much antisocial behavior there is these days. Vandalism,
littering—
littering
—the list is never ending.
D: But there’s no point complaining to the city council, they never
never do anything about it.
d ifference by talking to the kids at school. Why
W hy don’t we ask
S: Maybe we could make a difference
our classes to look at one of these problems and come up with ideas for solving it? We
could send the best ideas to the city council.
D: That’
That’s
s not a bad idea. So which problem do you think affects people most?
S: Well, what concerns me most is graffiti.
g raffiti. It’s all over the neighborhood and makes it look
ugly and messy.
D: Hmm, I’m not sure I agree. Surely the top priority has to be noise? Graffiti doesn’t
bother me that much, I think some of it’s actually very impressive... But sometimes I can’t
sleep at night because of all the street noise—
noise—you know, music from cars, kids hanging
around on the street, people coming home from clubs… things like that.
S: Hmm, well, I guess graffiti isn’t such a big issue. But something else that really bothers
me is speeding. The speed some of these drivers go at is terrifying, especially along West
Green Road. Some of them must do about 60 kilometers an hour, it’s
it ’s so irresponsible in a
residential area.
D: I know! It’s especially worrying for people with children. You’re right, I agree
ag ree that we
should focus on speeding more than noise. Noise isn’t going to kill anyone!
S: Exactly! Another thing people feel strongly about is dog waste —or rather dog owners
who don’t clean up after their pets’ in public areas.
D: I know, it’s absolutely disgusting… but again it’s not really a danger to anyone. I think it
should go at the bottom of the list.
S: OK – so... speeding is top of the list, followed by noise... then graffiti and dog waste
last.
D: So let’s get our students to look at speeding first and if that goes well, they can look at
some of the other issues.
Transcript 7.7
1
J:
Sarah,
good
to see
you. How
are you? store a few minutes ago and, as I was
Hi, Jim.
Listen,
I was
in Mason’s
department
S: Hey,
leaving, I saw this girl take a pair of sunglasses and put them in her bag when she thought
no one was looking!
J: Really? Did you report it, Sarah?
S: Well, no. I didn’t want to make a fuss.
J: But it’s stealing. It’s like taking stuff from the supermarket.
S: I know, but it’s not like mugging someone, is it? She wasn’t hurting anyone.
J: Well, it may not be as serious, but it’s still wrong. There are professional criminals who
shoplift expensive stuff like jewelry and clothes that they can resell.
S: I know. But I feel sorry for kids
k ids who do it to be cool and get caught. Some girls at my
son’s school had to do community service, and another boy actually
actually ended up with a
criminal record.
J: Well, they must have done it more than once. School kids usually just get a warning. I
think
thereagree.
should
be much
penalties,
though.
S: I don’t
They’re
justtougher
kids, they
don’t know
what they’re doing. They feel pressure
to have the latest styles and gadgets and things. Or they’re bored and they do it for a
laugh or, you know, to show off.
J: Well, I think they need to learn that there are serious consequences for their actions,
otherwise they’ll just keep
keep on doing it.
2 C = Carla A = Alex
C: Hey, Alex. What’re you doing?
A: Oh, just downloading a couple of singles I heard on the weekend.
C: Oh. Did you buy them from iTunes?
A: No, I got them from one of those, er, file sharing sites.
careful—you know that’s illegal.
C: Right. Well, you need to be careful—you
A: But everyone does it, no one does anything about it.
C: Well, it’s still stealing, Alex... You wouldn’t steal a CD from a store or anything, would
you
so why
do itbuy
online?
A: Well,
I would
more CDs if they weren’t so expensive. I’m a student, I can’t afford it.
Anyway, I can’t believe
believe the music industry loses that
that much money because of file sharing.
sharing.
C: Well, the industry says sales have gone down a lot in recent
re cent years.
A: Yeah, but I often use the sites to decide whether I like a particular album and if I do, I’ll
go out and buy it legally!
C: Well, whatever. You know you could get a prison sentence of up to five years, or a
massive fine. I’ve heard of people being fined, like, $250,000 dollar s!
pre vent real crimes.
A: Yeah, well that’s not very likely, is it? They’re too busy trying to prevent
Transcri pt 8.
8.2,
2, page 86
86
D = David Host J = Jackie N = Nicky A = Andy
have been taken in by a scam of some kind at
at some time,
D: Almost everyone will have
especially if we live in, or travel to, a big city. Today we listen to two victims of crime, who
were taken in by extraordinary confidence tricks. Then crime expert Jackie Shell explains
why these tricks are so often successful. Good afternoon, Jackie, thank you for joining us.
u s.
J: Thank you, David.
D: So, first let’s listen to Nicky’s story.
N: I was taking money out at an ATM when someone grabbed my arm. I turned around
expecting to see a friend, but there was this man who told me that I’d dropped some
money. He bent down and picked up a $10 bill, which he gave me. Of course, this
distracted me and when I turned
turne d back to the ATM my money was there,
th ere, but my card had
gone. It took me 10 minutes
m inutes to cancel it, but when I went to the bank the next day I
discovered
he’dintaken
$700
from my
me— or even
me—or
filmed me—
me—that
putting
my pin
number,
thenaccount.
grabbedHe
themust
cardhave
whilewatched
I was distracted
and
quickly gone to another ATM. Afterward I felt
fe lt so stupid. I wish I hadn’t been fooled so
easily! If only
only I’d covered my hand when I entered my pin number! I wish I could turn the
clock back and be more alert!
D: So, Jackie, why was she fooled so easily? I’m sure I would’ve realized something was
wrong immediately!
J: Well, that’s easy to say, David, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to get confused in
a situation like this, even if you’re normally a suspicious person. This scam works by
creating confusion. The person seems to be helping you, which makes you want to trust
him. I mean, why would he be giving
giving you money if he’s trying to rob you? But at the same
time, you know something isn’t quite right and this distracts you. While you’re trying to
make sense of the situation, you don’t
don ’t notice what the thief is doing. And by the time you
realize what’s happening, it’s too late.
D:
Hmm, ISUPPOSE
see what you
Now, our
second
message
from Andy. (WHERE
(W HERE IS THIS
PERSON
TOmean.
BE FROM?)
THIS
VOICE
W ONT is
WONT
DO)
A: We were on a trip to the city and we’d gotten a little lost. We were looking at the map
and trying to find our way when two men approached us. They were wearing uniforms and
told us they were “tourist police.” They asked us to open our bags so they could search
them. They looked very serious, and we didn’t speak the local language so we didn’t
question them. But as soon as we opened our bags, they grabbed my wallet and passport
and my wife’s camera and ran
ra n off. I can’t believe how naïve we were! If only I’d left my
valuables in the hotel safe. I wish there had been some real police officers around to stop
them!
D: Hmm, poor Andy. What do you make of this situation, Jackie?
authority
uthority
J: Well, the bogus tourist police trick is very common. This trick works on the a
principle.. You’d be amazed what most law
principle
law-abiding
-abiding citizens will hand over to a person in
uniform! A police officer, security guard, traffic cop: who questions
q uestions these people? People
generally
respect
There
many
rules
in our lives
that we’relike
expected
Those who
tend toauthority.
follow rules
areare
more
easily
deceived
in a situation
this. to obey.
D: That makes sense! I don’t think I’d argue with an authority figure either! After the break
we’ll hear more of your scam stories and learn about ways to keep safe…
Transcri pt 8.
8.3,
3, page 87
87
1
2
3
4
I wish the world
world were a safer place.
He really wishes
wishes he had listened to your advice.
If only I could help you.
Sam wishes she hadn’t told him the truth now.
Transcri pt 8.
8.4,
4, page 88
88
Today a very real courtroom drama is playing out before our eyes. Sixteen-year-old Marvin
Duthie is sitting in the dock at the county courthouse. He has been
b een charged with vandalism
and attempt to damage public property.
prope rty.
This morning Marvin’s head hung low as his mother testified on the witness stand. Her
face was pale and her voice trembled. She didn’t dare catch Marvin’s eye because they
both knew that if she had not contacted the police, Marvin wouldn’t be on trial here today.
Marvin had been having trouble at school. When his favorite teacher and mentor, Mr.
Glasby, took early retirement and left the school, things got worse. Who knows, if Mr.
Glasby had stayed on another year, Marvin might still be in school instead of in a
courtroom. Marvin got involved with a gang at school. He started hanging out with his
h is new
friends
andhe
spraying
graffitiat
around
the wasn’t
town. When
mother
found out
to talk
to him, but
just laughed
her. She
happyhis
with
the situation,
butshe
shetried
wasn’t
too
worried either—after all, there are much worse crimes than painting graffiti. And if Marvin
and his friends had stuck to graffiti, things might not have turned out so badly. But soon,
painting illicit messages on trains and railroad
r ailroad property lost its excitement. The boys had
moved on to something new, something much more dangerous.
Mrs. Duthie told the court how she had started checking
checking the messages on Marvin’s phone
and how she found out that the boys had been vandalizing the local railroad tracks. She
was terrified. Not only was Marvin putting his
h is own life in danger by
b y wandering onto the
tracks, but the damage they had caused could have resulted in a catastrophic accident. If
a train had been derailed, Marvin and his friends could have been responsible for multiple
deaths and injuries. She phoned the police in a panic and did something no mother ever
wants to do: she reported her son. The police investigated and found some damaged
tracks and a screwdriver with Marvin’s fingerprints on it.
When
Marvin
was
arrested,
his grandmother
that
had
been withto
her
when the
crime
was
committed.
If it wasn’t soclaimed
common
forhe
fam
family
ily members
lieall
to day
protect
each other, the police might have believed her, but her evidence was confused and
contradictory. Marvin was put on trial along with three of his friends.
Today Marvin pleaded guilty and said that he truly regretted what he had done. The court
has heard all the witnesses, including his former mentor, Mr. Glasby, and the jury is
currently considering its verdict. Marvin could receive a fine of up to $1,000 or even be
sent to a reform school or juvenile detention center. But as it is his first offense, he is more
likely to be sentenced to community service and given a second chance.
Transcri pt 8.
8.5,
5, page 90
90
1
A: Hi, Jerry, good weekend?
B: It was OK, but guess what happened to me at the game! I had my wallet stolen!
A: Oh, no! What happened?
B: Well, it was in my back pocket and someone just took it. It was stupid to bring It to a
crowded stadium, I wish I’d just left it at home.
A: What a nightmare! How much was in it?
B: Thankfully not much, but they got my credit
cre dit card. I canceled
c anceled it right away though… Oh,
before I forget, have you e-mailed
e-mailed Shane about the finance meeting? It’ll be in Room 602
at 3:30.
A: No, I haven’t. I’ll do that now.
B: Thanks, Lauren.
2
A: I’ve nearly finished this report—at
report—at last!
B : Oh, good, you’ve
you’ve been working on it for ages, haven’t you? By the way, have you heard
about the new ID cards we’re getting? They’re putting in a new
n ew security system.
A: Mm, I know. We have to get our photos taken tomorrow, don’t we? I suppose it’s a good
idea. Talking about security, did you hear that Nicky had her iPhone stolen yesterday?
B: Really? Where? In the office?
A: Yes. Someone took it from her purse.
B : That’s awful. Who could have done that?
A: I don’t know. I guess we all need to be really careful with our cell phones. That reminds
me, have you seen the new Blackberry touchscreen phone?
B: No, what’s it like?
A: Amazing! I’m going to start saving
saving for one.
3
Apprentice
A: Of
Hey,
did you
watchit The
night?
B:
course,
wasn’t
hilarious!
I can’t last
believe
how stupid they are sometimes! Mind you,
that car challenge was really difficult...
A: Oh, changing the subject, did you hear about Marcela’s car?
B: No, what happened?
A: It was stolen while she was at the beauty salon.
B: That’s terrible. Wasn’t it new?
A: Yes, she’d only had it about a month.
B: Incidentally, she borrowed my GPS the other day. I wonder if it was in the car?
A: I don’t know. Presumably
Presumably not or she would have mentioned it. I hope you get it back. All
right then, I have to catch the bus in five minutes. I’d better go. See you later!
Transcri pt 8.
8.6,
6, page 90
90
1 Before I forget, have you e-mailed Shane about the finance meeting?
2
By the way,
way
, have
you heard
about
new
ID cards
we’re
getting?
3 Talking
about
security,
did you
hearthe
that
Anita
had her
iPhone
stolen yesterday?
4 That reminds me, have you seen the new Blackberry touchscreen phone?
5 Changing the subject,
subject, did you hear about Marcela’s car?
6 Incidentally, she borrowed my GPS the other day.
minutes.
7 All right then, I have to catch the bus in five minutes.
Unit 9 Transc
Transc ri pt 9.1, page
page 93
1 The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing a
thing exactly right.
2 We create our fate every day. Most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our
own behavior.
3 A wise man turns chance
chance into good fortune.
4 Prosperity in the form of wealth works exactly the same as everything else. You will see
it coming into your life when you are unattached to needing it.
5 Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited
for, it is a thing to be achieved.
Transcri pt 9.2, page 94,
94, List ening exerc ise 1
H = Host
Host T = Teresa Nieto
Part 1
H: This week’s In the Mind program is all about lucky rituals. With us today is psychologist
Teresa Nieto, who’s going to talk about
abo ut lucky rituals, why we have them and, most
mo st
importantly, whether they actually work. Teresa, hi! Can you start by explaining what a
lucky ritual is?
T: Hi! Well, sometimes we find ourselves in situations that make us very anxious. So a
lucky ritual is a special action we always carry out in a particular situation because we
believe it will bring us luck, or prevent bad luck. It’s fear of the
th e unknown that makes us
develop lucky rituals. Human beings usually prefer regularity, and we like to have rules or
explanations for why things happen. Lucky rituals
r ituals can help us feel calmer and less anxious
because they make us feel that we have more control in a situation, even if it isn’t true.
Let’s look
look at examples of situations that make us nervous.
n ervous.
Part 2
anxiety —finding your way around a new place,
T: First, traveling commonly causes a lot of anxiety—
language barriers, airports and so on. It’s very common for travelers to have routines,
r outines, such
as
choosing
books
take with
But
ritual
that
I find
f ind most
interesting
Russian
one.favorite
In Russia,
it’s to
common
forthem.
people
tothe
sit on
their
packed
luggage
for a is a
moment before leaving the house. This is supposed to bring good luck. I don’t think
anyone in Russia travels without doing this!
Another situation that stresses people out is a job interview.
interview. But did you know that 84% of
candidates wear a lucky item of clothing to an interview? That’s six out of ten people! Top
of the list is lucky underwear, followed
f ollowed by lucky shoes!
For many young people, the thing
th ing that causes the greatest stress is exams, as so much
depends on how they perform. Surprisingly, quite a few exam rituals involve hair!
ha ir! Often
people don’t cut their hair before an exam because they believe it’ll keep knowledge in.
Some students don’t wash their hair for a week or so before an exam!
Personally, what causes me the most anxiety is performing on stage. Luckily I don’t have
to do it often! But I can totally understand why actors are so superstitious. There are
hundreds of theatrical rituals—things
rituals—things that you must or mustn’t do or say! For example, it’s
considered
extremely
unlucky
say until
the last
of a play
completes the
play must
not betosaid
the line
opening
night.during a rehearsal. The line that
Part 3
P: So Teresa, do you think that
t hat lucky rituals actually work?
T: Well, of course, I don’t believe that an object or action itself has the power to cause
good or bad luck. But our minds are extremely powerful. It’s incredible how a strong
strong belief
that something good or bad will happen can often make it come true. In addition, as I
mentioned earlier, believing something is lucky makes you feel more confident and in
control and that can help you perform better in a situation and bring about a good result.
So to an extent, yes, I do believe lucky rituals can work.
Transcri pt 9.
9.3,
3, page 94
94
1 It’s fear of the unknown that makes us develop lucky rituals.
2 What causes me the most anxiety is performing on stage.
3 The thing that causes the greatest
g reatest stress is exams.
stresses people out is a job interview.
interview.
4 Another situation that stresses
Transcri pt 9.
9.4,
4, page 98
98
A: In our podcast last month we had a discussion about youth unemployment. This
month’s podcast topic isn’t quite as serious as
a s the last one. Today we’ll discuss
d iscuss working in
the television and movie industry. Most people think this profession is impossible to get
into unless you have the right
r ight family or connections. “Good luck with that,” your friends
fr iends say
with a smirk when you tell them of your intentions. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you
know.” So how much of an advantage do the right contacts give you in this industry?
B: Well, it’s certainly very competitive and jobs are always scarce. An important factor is
having relevant industry experience.
experience. However, it’s very difficult to find paid work
experience. In addition, television and movie
mo vie companies are usually in capital cities, where
living costs are far higher than in other parts of the country. Bear in mind that you may
have to work without pay for a year or more to get work experience… so who’s going to
pay your bills in the meantime? Wealthy parents might come in handy here.
A: But it’s not the only way, surely? You could always take out a bank loan if you’re
running low on cash or work part-time for pay?
B : Yes, of course, but it’s slightly easier if your family or friends help you. And
An d to continue,
how do you get that
th at important work experience placement in the first place? Creative
industries are nowhere near as open as other professions. You need contacts. If you have
a relative in the industry and you want a job, they’ll take care of it for you.
A: But surely training is just as important as contacts? My cousin works in Bollywood in
India.
I lost touch
with him
a while
but
I got
an e-mail
last week
saying
got aand
job
as an assistant
director.
Hefor
didn’t
have
any
industry
contacts.
He went
to he
filmjust
school
got the right training.
B: But that’s not the norm in Bollywood. He must have had a lucky break. The Indian
movie industry runs along similar lines—it’s
lines—it’s about who you know more than your skills.
Bollywood isn’t any less competitive than Hollywood and even talented people have a lot
of trouble getting into the industry. And your cousin still had an advantage that many
don’t—
don
’t—he
he went to film school. How do you know the right college to go to and how to
apply? I bet he went to a good school so it was easier to get into college.
A: Yes, I think he did… So it all comes back to having the right connections?
B: Well, not always.
always. There are plenty of examples of “rags to riches” stories, too. For
example, in 1945, a photographer was taking pictures at a factory when he caught sight of
one of the workers. Her job was to spray plane parts and inspect parachutes. The
photographer thought she had a very interesting look and encouraged her to contact a
modeling
took
his advice.
got rid
factory
job andShe
became
a very
successfulagency.
model, She
which
eventually
led She
to a career
care
er of
asher
a movie
actress.
changed
her
screen name to Marilyn Monroe.
A: From factory worker to star of the silver screen—
screen—talk about a lucky break!
importa nt part, too, though you might not become
b ecome quite as
B : Yes, luck can play an important
famous as Marilyn Monroe!
Transcri pt 9.
9.5,
5, page 99
99
1 Life is much easier if you have rich parents.
p arts of the country.
2 Living costs in capital cities are far higher than in other parts
3 The media is nowhere near as open as other professions.
4 The right training is just as important as contacts.
5 It’s a little easier to get into a top university than it used to be.
Transcript 9.6, page 100
Conversation 1
A: Jon, are you coming to watch TV?
B Yes, in a minute... Where did you put the lottery ticket? The drawing is on in five
minutes.
kitc hen, where I always put it.
A: It’s on the notice board in the kitchen,
B : It’s not, I’ve already looked. This place is a mess; I can’t find anything.
A: Oh, come on! It’s not that bad.
B: Yes, it is! I’m always cleaning up after you. You never do anything around the house!
No wonder you lose everything!
Don’t exaggerate! I do my share of the cooking... and I do the gardening.
B : You must be joking! The garden looks like a jungle! And anyway, it only needs work in
summer. I do all the cleaning, washing, ironing… I have a job, too,
to o, you know. Just
because I work from home doesn’t
do esn’t mean I watch TV all day!
A: I know, but I have been working longer hours than you recently.
B: You can’t be serious! Just because you get home late doesn’t mean you work more
than me!
A: OK, OK, I understand what you’re saying. Look, let’s watch this program and then we
can talk it over.
B: But I need to find the lottery ticket!
A: We’ll worry about that if we win but we’re not going to! We have a better chance of
being struck by lightning!
Conversation
2 think of the revised proposal for the website?
So, what do you
A:
q uite what we’re looking for.
B: It’s certainly much better but it’s still not quite
A: Well, we’ve done a lot of work on the design and made the site more user -friendly. It’s
much easier to navigate now. You
Y ou need to take into account that we’ve been working to a
very tight schedule.
B: That may be the case but I still think it could be clearer; there’s too much small text.
And the colors are kind of dull.
they look sophisticated. Brighter colors might
A: I’m not sure I agree with you there. I think they
look a little childish.
B: OK, I get your point but it still needs a little more
m ore work. It’s attractive and the photos are
great, but there needs to be less text.
A: I suppose you’re right. Can I ask everyone to
to send their final comments by Friday? That
T hat
way we can make any further amendments before our meeting with the client next week.
Transcript 9.7, page 100
a Oh, come on!
c You must be joking!
b Don’t exaggerate!
d You can’t be serious!
Transcript 9.8, page 101
Today I am going to discuss the question: “How much does luck contribute to success in
life?” Let me start by saying that
th at luck does play an important role
r ole in life. There’s “big“big -scale”
luck such as being born into a wealthy family or winning the lottery. But there’s also “small“smallscale” luck, such as a chance encounter
e ncounter with an influential person. In this
th is talk I’m going to
argue that success in life is not limited to luck. While there’s little we can do to influence
big-scale luck, it’s ultimately our
big-scale
our attitude and behavior
beh avior that influence small-scale luck.
In my opinion, there are three main factors that influence our success in life. The first of
these is being open to new ideas and experiences. Lucky people regularly expose
themselves to new experiences and environments, and build and maintain diverse
networks. They are more likely to create, notice and act upon chance opportunities in life.
Because of this, more opportunities come their way.
Another important point is that lucky
lucky people have a more positive outlook on life. Positive
people can deal with setbacks and challenges better than negative or pessimistic people.
They don’t give up at the first obstacle and continue to persevere in the face of failure.
They also expect their good luck to continue in the future. Because of this, they take more
calculated risks in life.
My final point is that lucky people are able to change bad luck into good fortune by
learning from past experiences. They change how they behave to reduce the chances of
bad luck in the future. It’s important to remember that lucky people are more likely to view
a disaster as an opportunity for learning and growth, whereas unlucky people in the same
situation would complain and blame someone or something else.
In conclusion, luck can affect us positively or negatively
n egatively in life. However, in most cases
there are other factors that are far more important in making a success of life.
Review C; Transcr ipt R1
Review
R12,
2, page 102
102
b eautiful park, Natsuki, so peaceful. The parks are definitely one of the
A: This is such a beautiful
best things about living in Japan... We
W e don’t have any like this in my country.
B: I should have brought you here last month when the cherry trees were in bloom. It was
lovely...
I’m sorry
you
missed
at that
sign!
Whatit.is it... a pig?
A: Hey, look
pig—a wild boar.
B: It’s a type of pig—a
A: What does it say?
B : It says that the boars are dangerous... and, er, you shouldn’t feed them.
th em.
A: Why not?
the re than in the
B : Well... they’ve started coming into cities because it’s easier to find food there
countryside. They go through people’s trash and cause a lot of damage.
A: Really? Do you see a lot of them in cities?
B : Yeah, it’s fairly common. I mean, there were some outside our house last month. They
could have attacked someone. They’re
They’re not afraid of people anymore.
A: Sounds pretty scary!
B : Well, we could have avoided it. My mother shouldn’t have left food out for the boar. She
couldn’t have done that if we lived in Kobe, for example, because there’s a law banning
the feeding of wild boar.
Transcript R13, page 103
James Vernon is awaiting trial after he robbed a bank and stole one dollar. He committed
the crime last week. He was arrested a few minutes later and was charged with robbery.
Mr. Vernon, 59, isn’t too unhappy, though. He is very sick, but he’s unemployed and has
no medical insurance. In the USA, that means he can’t be treated
tr eated in a hospital. However,
prisoners get free health care so if he is found guilty
guiltyand
and given a prison sentence
sentence,, he can
get the medicine that he desperately needs.
Transcript R14, page 104
a club
b roller skates
b helmet
d goggles
e kneepads
f racket
Transcript R15, page 104
A: You watching this?
B: Yeah, don’t change the channel, the Rugby World Cup’s about to start... New Zealand
versus France!
a nimals!
A: Ugh! Look at them! They’re just animals!
B: Hey, you’re talking about the best
b est sport in the world there!
A: The best sport? Oh, come on! You can’t say rugby’s better than soccer.
B: I am saying that. Soccer isn’t nearly as exciting as a good
goo d rugby game.
A: I’m not sure I agree with you there.
B: It isn’t. Rugby players take huge risks every time they run on to the field.
A: Yeah, but just because it’s dangerous doesn’t make it exciting, does it? I mean…
boxing’s dangerous but I don’t find it much fun to watch.
a s safe as soccer. But that’s what makes it such a good sport;
B: OK, so rugby’s not quite as
it’s so physical. You have to be in really good shape and strong to survive out there.
Soccer’s nowhere near as physically demanding, in my point of view. Plus, soccer’s all
about the money these days. I’m so sick of hearing about how much Messi cost
Barcelona, or whatever.
A: I get your point about the, erm, commercialization of soccer, but soccer players are just
as fit as rugby players, if not more so. They say a soccer player has to run 10 kilometers
during
a Imatch.
think you’re both wrong. If you asked most people these days what the best
C: Well,
sport is, they’d say basketball.
A&B: Basketball?!
C: Yeah... First, it’s easily the most
most accessible sport. You can play it even in the smallest
spaces in cities, not like trying to find
f ind a soccer field.
A: Yeah, that’s true, I suppose.
C: And it’s easy for women
women to play. How many women
women do you know who play rugby?
B: There are women’s rugby teams. Not many, I admit.
A: Look, I get your point, but basketball isn’t so much about skill as height. Basically, the
taller you are, the better
b etter you play.
C: That’s so untrue! There are lots of tall people who can’t play at all.
B: OK, but there are far more really tall people playing it professionally than people of, like,
average height. It’s definitely a disadvantage to be short.
C: You’re right there. And it is just as commercialized as soccer. You know Kobe Bryant?
He earns $31 million a year!
A: Woah! That’s more than Messi, definitely!
Transcript R16, page 105
H = Host J = Jessica
H: Today on the Modern English Student program, we’re looking at reading. We’re lucky
enough to have Jessica Perkin in the studio with us. Jessica writes short stories
st ories for
English students, and she’s going to answer your questions. Hello, Jessica. Welcome to
the show.
J: Hi! Nice to be here.
H: How did you get interested in the idea of reading as a way of improving language skills?
J: Well, when I first went to El Salvador, a friend gave me a lovely book of short stories in
Spanish. I hadn’t learned much Spanish at that point, but I read it… and it was fantastic! It
was such a fantastic feeling of… achievement, finishing an entire story in another
language. After that, the more I read, the easier it became; short stories, then magazine
articles, then eventually entire novels.
H: That’s great. OK, we’re going to take some questions now. The first comes from Farid,
who’s studying English in New York. He says, “Most of my classmates and I are trying to
improve our conversation skills. Do you think reading
r eading is useful for us?” Jessica?
J: OK, there are two main reasons why I’d say “Yes” to you, Farid. The most important
thing reading in another language gives you is motivation,
mo tivation, a feeling of “Yes, I can!,” and
that makes you want to learn more.
mo re. In addition, you come across lots of new language, not
just vocabulary, but structures,
structures, prepositions, collocations, all
all kinds. Even though you’re not
formally studying while you r ead, it gives you a more instinctive feeling for what’s correct
and what isn’t. This is just as effective for improving speaking accuracy as studying
grammar is. If you couldn’t read English, you wouldn’t be able to read more than half of
what’s on the Internet.
Internet.
H: OK, next we hear from Kumiko, who says, “I really want to read literature but my
English is nowhere good enough. I tried to read Great Expectations by Dickens, but I
found it too hard. What should I do?”
your self a challenge there! Many native speakers find
f ind
J: Well, Kumiko, you certainly gave yourself
Dickens difficult to read! You probably should have started with an easier text.
H: And what makes a text
text easier?
J: Well, the first thing that makes a text accessible is what I call “familiarity.” If you
yo u already
know
the
in your
own language,
it’ll
be they’ve
easier toread
read
in English.
er,story
students
should
only read things
th
ings
before?
H:: So,
J: Not just that, but texts about things you know about, too. For instance, if you love
skateboarding, you’ll
you’ll find it easier to read
r ead an article about skateboarding. Also, start with
shorter texts: short stories rather than long novels,
n ovels, or children’s literature, because it’s
usually shorter and simpler.
to come across? What are you
H: But what about all those unknown words you’re going to
supposed to do about difficult vocabulary? It’s not much fun looking up words in a
dictionary every few seconds.
J: No, that’s true. What we need to remember about unknown vocabulary is that only
some words are essential to understanding;
und erstanding; some you can guess the meaning from the
context… and some aren’t very important to enjoy the story. Choosing which words to look
up is a skill that you can develop with practice. But again, you probably need to choose
something easier. I write books called “graded readers” that are specially written for
language
You can
get them at the perfect level for you so that they’re not too
difficult butstudents.
not too easy,
either.
H: Thanks for that advice. OK, we’ll be back for more questions in just a minute. Don’t go
away, because after the break Jessica will be reading from her…
Transcript R 17, page 105
1 After that,
that, the more I read, the easier it became.
2 This is just as effective for improving speaking accuracy as studying
studying grammar is.
3 If you couldn’t read English, you wouldn’t be able to read more than half of what’s on
the Internet.
4 I really want to read literature but my English is nowhere good enough.
5 You probably should have started with
with an easier text.
Unit 10, Transcript 10.1, page 106
H = Host T = Terry
T erry Landry
h ard to get
H: The credit crunch is on. Everything is expensive and for many families it’s hard
by. This is a time when people should be cutting back on their spending… and yet the
stores are full of customers. More people are taking out loans, even though some will take
years to pay off their debts. Retail expert Terry Landry explains why people keep shopping
during a financial crisis.
a t using retail psychology. They use tricks to manipulate
ma nipulate
T: The stores are very good at
customers into spending money. For example, imagine you’ve been saving up for months
to buy a new bed.
b ed. In the store you see feather
fe ather pillows and attractive, colorful duvets next
to it. So displaying similar items together tempts people to buy them. And if you’re forking
out hundreds of dollars for a bed, buying a pillow and a duvet as well doesn’t seem too
expensive.
H: I see!
b ig computer store created their display with lots of
T: Store layout is very important. One big
empty space and just a few products, with no price labels, on big pine tables. This gives
the impression that a store has a few, high-quality products, and the space makes
customers feel more comfortable and confident by giving them better access to the
products.
H: And so, because there
there are no prices displayed, you don’t know if the store is ripping
you off until you get really interested in a product?
Fruit and vegetables look fresher
T: Absolutely. Layout is important for supermarkets, too. Fruit
in natural light so they are almost always at the front. Fish and meat are in a section with
white walls and aluminium tables as
a s they look fresher in clean, white light. Supermarkets
also
know
thatmiddle
men usually
just grab
they
need inare
a store
and
Major
are
placed
in the
of the aisles
andwhat
men’s
products
placed
at leave.
the back
of the
thitems
e store.
That way they have to walk past other things to get to what they need, and may buy on the
way.
H: So you go to the supermarket because you’ve run out of shaving cream and come out
with cereal, cookies and detergent? Are there techniques for women, too?
T: Well, for example, younger women are more likely to buy clothes if they’re in disorderly
piles. It suggests that they are popular. If piles are too neat, it gives
g ives the impression that no
one is buying the clothes. I once sold hundreds of silk scarves just by leaving them in
disorderly piles in my store.
H: And what about color?
T: Yes, this can influence us to choose a product. Purple is associated
a ssociated with luxury so
supermarkets often use purple cardboard packaging to sell a premium brand, for example,
a more expensive ready-prepared meal.
H: Thanks, Terry, I never realized how much I was being manipulated…
Transcript 10.2, page 108
A = Announcer I = Interviewer C = Christopher
now we join Emma Grigson in the studio, for this week’s edition
e dition of The World
A: And now
Today.
I: Good morning and welcome to The World Today! Now, a round red rubber ball for my
dog. A set of shiny steel table knives. A huge pine writing desk. What do they have in
common? Well, I bought all of them this week and they were all made in either China or
Taiwan. And here to talk about
abo ut China’s remarkable economic success is Christopher Yu of
the Chinese Chamber of Commerce here in New York. Christopher, welcome to the
program!
C: Thank you, Emma, it’s a pleasure to be here.
I: So, Christopher, why is China growing so fast?
C: Well, Emma, for a variety of reasons.
r easons. First, today’s China now has the capacity to make
very up-to-date, sophisticated products. For example, just think about the magnificent
curving steel lines of the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the National Stadium in Beijing.
I: Mmm, yes, it’s an amazing piece of architecture.
C: Yes, well as you know, it was built for the 2008 Olympic Games, and I think it’s a great
example
ex
ample of China’s recent success. The government is very anxious to encourage
innovation, and there are plenty of creative people with new ideas and ambition, for
example, the Chinese designer of the National Stadium, Li Xinggang. But the stadium is
also an example of how we’re open to developing projects with foreign companies. It was
a joint venture with a leading Swiss engineering firm. This kind of collaboration creates
more jobs and brings the Chinese economy in closer contact with international markets.
I: Hmm, that’s really interesting. So foreign companies are attracted to China because it’s
such a creative environment?
C: Well, yes, partly, but another factor in China’s growth is its growing productivity. People
often work longer hours than in the West and, of course, we have a very large population.
At one stage, there were 17,000 people working
Stadium. Neither a U.S
working on the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
nor a European company could employ that many people at the same time.
I: Wow, 17,000 people! That’s incredible! So, it looks as if China’s economy has really
started to take off in the twenty-first century.
C: Well, actually we mustn’t think that Chinese growth is a purely modern phenomenon.
Look at the Great Wall of China. In many ways it’s a similar achievement
a chievement to the Bird’s Nest
Stadium. It was a hugely ambitious project,
pr oject, and there was nothing else like it at the time.
And you know,
China
has always
always
been
the workshop
of the world,
the for
forefront
of new
technology.
Paper,
gunpowder
and
printing
were all invented
there.atAnd
hundreds
of
years, China was the center of the world’s silk industry.
I: So, it’s all looking very positive for
f or the next few decades.
C: Absolutely! But there’s just one problem. I can’t think of a single world-famous
world-famous Chinese
brand, can you? Lenovo is a major computer maker in China and Ningbo Bird is one of its
biggest cell phone makers. But neither Lenovo nor Ningbo Bird has global recognition.
I: So why do you think that is?
Chines e companies are either owned by
C: Well, I think to a large extent it’s because most Chinese
foreign companies or just make parts of other products. So you might see a U.S
company’s name on that big square
squ are cardboard box for your computer but it was probably
made in China.
Transcript 10.3, page 109
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Well, they were all made
made in either China or Taiwan.
Well, for a variety of reasons.
Well, yes, partly, but
but another factor is productivity.
Well actually, Chinese growth isn’t a purely modern phenomenon.
So, why is China growing
growing so fast?
So why do you think
think that is?
is?
So, it’s all looking very positive for the next few decades.
Transcript 10.4, page 112
I = Interviewer R = Ryan
I: We hear a lot about unemployment but there’s another problem in the economy that is
just as serious. This is underemployment. Ryan Breeze is here to discuss it. Ryan, what
what is
underemployment?
R: This is when people with a high level of skills and training work in low-paid jobs that do
not require them to use their skills or abilities. In difficult economic times, the number
nu mber of
people in this situation increases dramatically. For example,
e xample, you may have put yourself
through college and earned an engineering degree but if you can’t get a job in this
industry, you could end up working in a store or fast-food restaurant. Recent graduates are
among the worst hit by underemployment.
undere mployment.
I: What problems does underemployment create?
R: Well, first people aren’t using their skills so this eventually affects their CV and
employment opportunities. Once you take a job, people very quickly think that job
j ob is the
only one you can do.
d o. They may not respect your work experience at interviews. Second,
you’re earning less money so your standard of living is lower than it should be. This makes
it easier to go into debt, with loans to repay. You may no longer have employment
benefits, such as vacation pay, or opportunities for professional development. Basically,
you won’t have much job satisfaction, which can lead to frustration.
Transcript 10.5, page 112
I = Interviewer R = Ryan
I: So how can people break this vicious circle of underemployment?
date . Find out as much as possible
R: I think the first thing is to keep your skills up to date.
about the industry you want to work in and make sure you have all the skills and training
necessary. It may be necessary to do additional training to make sure you’re the best you
can be for that industry.
indu stry. Research a course carefully and, if possible, find one with a grant
to
helpAnd
you what
pay for
it. can you do?
else
I: OK.
possible—you never
R: Make sure you get out and about so you meet as many people as possible—
know what contacts you might make. Use public transportation, visit the library,
bookstores, cafés,.attend conferences and workshops related to your industry. Read and
comment on blogs about your chosen industry and join professional social networks
online. This type of networking could help you find a new career opportunity.
I: And is there any other road out of underemployment?
underemployment?
R: Well, if you can’t find a good job, make one for yourself.
I: How do you do that?
R: Start your own business. If you can find friends, family or a bank who will invest in your
business, you can become your own boss.
I: Isn’t that difficult?
R: It can be. A friend of mine studied agriculture and ended up working in a flower shop
after
He wanted
to work he
for inherited
himself and
eventually
decided
to start his
h is own
flowergraduating.
shop. He was
lucky because
some
money from
his grandmother
so
that gave him the capital he needed to start up. He needed a lot of money in the beginning
to cover his costs. There are a lot of expenses when you run a business: services and
bills, stocking the store and so on. Now, he has a lovely store and he provides an excellent
service for his customers. However it was 18 months before he started to make a profit.
I: I think that would be difficult for many people to cope with.
R: That’s right. You need to be prepared. Save up money before you start your business.
You don’t want to run out of money before you see a return on your investment. But
Bu t I
would say that if you’re unhappy being underemployed, you have to take risks to break the
cycle.
pho ne in with
I: Thanks for your advice, Ryan. If you have any comments to add, please phone
your thoughts on the program. The number’s coming up after the break.
break.
Transcript 10.6, page 114
Conversation 1
A: Hello, Atlanta Car Rental.
B: Hi there. Um, I’d like to ask for
fo r information about renting a van. What’s
W hat’s your minimum
rental period?
A: Twenty-four hours.
B: Thanks, and could you tell me your daily rate?
A: What size of van will you need?
B: Just a small one. It needs to hold six or seven large boxes.
A: OK. Our daily rate for a transit van is $42.
B: That sounds all right. What documents do I need?
A: You’ll need a valid driver’s license and two proofs
proo fs of address.
B : And will I need to pay a deposit?
A: No, we don’t require a deposit but full payment must be made on the day with a debit or
credit card.
B : OK, many thanks for your help.
Conversation 2
A: Hi, I’d like to get an estimate for replacing
replacing the windows in my apartment.
a partment.
B: Certainly. We can give you a free estimate based on approximate measurements, or we
can send a designer to take measurements.
A: Would it be possible to arrange for a designer to come over?
B: Of course. Do you have a budget for the job?
A: I don’t really want to spend more than about $2,500.
B:
OK, that
we’llbe
bear
that in mind. I can send someone over tomorrow between 9 and 12.
Would
convenient?
A: That’s great, thanks.
Conversation 3
A: That all comes to $150.95.
B: Is there a discount if I pay cash?
A: No, I’m afraid we don’t offer cash discounts.
d iscounts. Do you have a loyalty card?
B: No, I don’t.
A: I’d recommend getting one if you’re going be buying a lot of DIY materials. You can
exchange your points for products
produ cts or cash.
B: That sounds great, I’ll definitely sign up for one. One other question, do you have a
next-day delivery service?
A: Yes, we do. It’s free for purchases over $100.
B: So could I arrange for this to be delivered?
A:: Yeah, of course.
A
Unit 11, Transcript 11.1, page 116
I came across this new gadget on the Internet the other day. I think
th ink it’s quite a
breakthrough—for
breakthrough
—for someone like me at least, who doesn’t know how to type! It’s a great
g reat
alternative to the conventional Qwerty keyboard, called the “fast finger” keyboard. It’s
different from a traditional keyboard because the letters are arranged in alphabetical order
to make typing easier. It’s especially good for kids who are first learning to write. Such a
simple idea but so effective! Qwerty boards are so difficult to learn on! I mean, why on
earth are the keys in that order? For those of you who don’t know, a traditional keyboard is
called a “Qwerty” keyboard because of the letters on the first six keys on the board: Q-WQ -WE-R-T-Y. Ever wondered why the keys are arranged in this unnatural order? Early
typewriters, it seems, were originally designed with the letters in alphabetical order — far
more logical—
logical—but there was a drawback. Designers noticed that the keys kept jamming,
kept getting stuck, because people were typing too fast. So they had to figure
f igure out a way to
slow typists down to stop the keys from jamming. And that’s how they came up with the
Qwerty keyboard. They re-arranged the letters in an unfamiliar order. This slowed typists
down and caused fewer jams. Of course, over time, typewriter technology improved but
keyboards stayed the same. Until now that is, when someone came up with the idea of the
fast fingers alphabetical keyboard. The inventor of the new keyboard got
this flash of inspiration after watching a me
mechanic
chanic typing information on a computer in a
repair shop. He spent ages looking for the right letters on the keyboard and had a long line
of frustrated customers waiting to be served. If only the keys were arranged alphabetically,
alphabetical ly,
she thought. A friend of the inventor also noticed how we use the same abbreviations over
and over again on the computer, especially for e-mailing, chatting and instant messaging.
So this unusual keyboard also has special keys for common abbreviations such as
a s ASAP,
FYI and LOL. So far it has not been a commercial success, mainly due to the fact that the
vast majority of keyboards are Qwerty boards and
a nd you can’t really avoid using them. But
early adopters say that once you get used to it, it really does make typing much easier. So,
just another gimmick, or a great innovation that will radically change the way we type?
What do you think?
Transcript 11.2, page 119
1 The invention that won the award helps the environment.
2 The invention, which won the award, helps the environment.
Transcript
page 120
L = Leo. G 11.3,
= Gabrielle
L: Do you need to buy a present for a special person in your life? Have you run out of
ideas? Well, what better gift than a high-tech gadget? With so many amazing gadgets out
there,
the
re, doing so many amazing things, you’re bound to find something. Gabrielle Rizzi is
with me to give us some ideas.
g eeks! For example, my grandmother wouldn’t
G: Hi, Leo. Yes, gadgets aren’t just for geeks!
normally appreciate a gadget. But she has arthritis in her fingers and has difficulty opening
things like cans and bottles and jars. So this year I got her an automatic can opener. It
opens jars and bottles as well. It looks very cool, with a rounded black, metallic design.
L: Where did you find out about it?
G: Well, I broke my arm in a skiing accident last year and could only use one hand. It was
impossible to open cans and jars with just one good hand so I bought this. It was incredibly
useful. My grandma loves it, too.
L: Great. And what’s this next one?
? loves animals. She has a house full of pets but she
G: This is just for fun really.
r eally. Myone
mom
often forgets to put out enough water for them. Or she goes out for the day and the water
dries up. So this is perfect! It’s an automatic pet drinking fountain. All
A ll you need to do is
connect it to a water supply. It has a touch-sensitive pad—
pad—see, here? The water fountain is
activated whenever the pet steps on the metal plate. See, like this dog in the photo.
L: And what about this T-shirt? It
It looks pretty ordinary to me.
G: Ah, but it isn’t! It has an built-in
built-in gadget—
gadget—see the picture on the front?
fr ont? It lights up
whenever you’re near a WiFi signal. It’s ideal for my friend Nasser, for example. He’s a
sales rep and travels a lot for work. He often needs to find the nearest WiFi hotspot. This
T-shirt tells him where it is. The stronger the WiFi signal, the more bars light up on the
front of the shirt.
L: Amazing!
G: And feel it—it’s
it—it’s nice and smooth. You just can’t tell it’s not a normal T-shirt.
T -shirt.
L: Incredible! Now what’s
what’s this? It looks like a simple lightweight plastic box... ah yes, with a
USB port.
G: This is for my 16-year-old
16-year-old brother. It’s called a Scentsciences box. You plug it into your
computer and it releases smells when you play a computer game. So if you’re in a fire, you
smell burning, or if you’re in a forest you can smell pine trees.
L: Really? Who thinks up these things?
G: I don’t know but they’re fun! Speaking of fun purchases, look at this one. It’s for my
niece. It’s a little high tech box,
bo x, with a face on it. It’s safe for small children because there
th ere
are no sharp edges. Though of course you have to be careful with the cable.
L: What does it do?
G: It’s sound sensitive so the face changes when there’s
t here’s a noise in the room. The mouth
moves in time to the sounds it picks up. It’s silly but she loves it.
console?
L: And finally, a games console?
G: Yes, that’s right.
L: I’m not really a big fan
f an of computer games... so, what’s so special about this one?
3 DS. It has 3D graphics and 3D
G: Well, I’m treating myself here! This is the Nintendo 3DS.
video recording features, with no need for special glasses. This slim, handheld device was
a truly cutting edge piece of hardware when it first came out,
o ut, and it’s still improving with
each new edition.
Transcript 11.4, page 121
Well it started with an argument… my boyfriend accused me of being totally obsessed—he
obsessed— he
said
hadI tried
even to
started
to with
feel him
jealous…
said
paidright.
moreIt’s
attention
my phone
than
did tohe
him.
reason
but I guess
gHe
uess
heIwas
the firsttothing
I pick up
in I
the morning, it’s the last thing I look at at night. And in between… well, basically I’m always
on it, checking e-mails, texts, playing games, listening to music. I guess
g uess maybe I am
obsessed, which is why I agreed to take part in the experiment. I actually agreed to hand
over my phone for an enitre week… my boyfriend bet me I wouldn’t even last a day, and at
at
the end of the first day I was beginning to think he might be right! But I didn’t give up. It got
easier as the week went on but
but I was really surprised by the things I missed… checking
the time, for example. I was late for
fo r so many things! And, of course, I couldn’t text people
to tell them I was late so I ended up saying sorry a lot more! It was so good to get it back…
but I’m really glad I did it. It showed me how much
mu ch time I wasted on my phone… and
a nd it
helped me see how annoying it can be when your girlfriend or boyfriend prefers the
company of a machine!
Transcript 11.5, page 124
Conversation 1
A: Er, what are you doing on the floor, Kirk?
B: I’m trying to connect these cables of the new printer. It says on the box that
th at I plug them
into this socket but they don’t seem to fit.
A: What about this other socket?
B: I’ve already tried plugging it in there... That didn’t work either.
either.
A: Hmm, maybe they’re the wrong cables.
Conversation 2
A: My computer’s running really slowly at the moment. It’s driving me crazy!
B: Let’s see... it could be the antivirus software you’ve installed.
A: Really? Is it meant to slow the computer do
down?
wn? I just don’t understand.
B: Well, it might be a good idea to replace the software and then see what happens.
Conversation 3
A: Can you help me? I need to watch something online for homework but I can’t play the
video on the website.
B: It’s probably
probably incompatible with the software. Have you tried downloading a media
player?
A: No, I haven’t. How do I do that?
B: I’ll show you!
Conversation 4
A: Huh, I’ve finally managed to get the shaver to work. But it’s making a funny noise.
B: Hmm… it sounds like the battery’s weak.
A: But it’s brand new.
B: Let me see... OK, the instructions say you’re supposed to charge the battery before you
use it.
Transcript 11.6, page 124
1 Have you tried turning it off, then turning it on again?
2 I’ve finally managed to assemble the dresser.
3 It says on the box that it’ll work with any operating system.
4 You’re supposed to attach the red wire to this switch here.
5 Is the computer meant to make that sound?
6 I already tried to call the helpline but it was busy.
Transcript 11.7, page 124
1 Is it meant to slow the computer down?
2
finally
managed
to get
g et this
work!you use it.
3 I’ve
You’re
supposed
to charge
the shaver
battery to
before
Transcript 11.8, page 125
C = Colin M = Monica
C: Hey, Monica, can you come here a second?
M: What is it?
C: Well, I’m thinking of buying an ee-reader but I’m not sure which one. I’ve been looking at
some online. You know a lot about these kinds of things. Could you give me some advice?
M: Of course. So this is the first one?
C: Yeah, it’s called the Skiff.
M: OK... I think it’s designed for reading, er, newspapers and magazines mainly.
C: I know—
know—I mostly read newspapers anyway. What do you think of it?
e -readers, so it
it isn’t so convenient to carry
M: Well, on the one hand, it’s larger than other e-readers,
around. But on the other hand it’s incredibly light and thin and has the highest resolution
display. It’s also designed to be more durable than other e-readers,
e -readers, I think!
C: That sounds good. And what do you think of the Kindle?
M: It’s really popular, I know lots of people who have them now. It’s reasonably priced and
the battery lasts up to a month! One thing to bear in mind, though, is that you can only buy
Kindle e-books through Amazon, you know, to upload on it.
C: That
That’s
’s OK, I use Amazon a lot.
M: But since you read newspapers more than books, maybe the Skiff is a better option?
Though you should also consider the iPad... Of all the options, it has the greatest
functionality. You can do almost anything with it.
touch-sensitive screen, while the Kindle uses buttons.
C: And it has a touch-sensitive
M: But on the downside, it costs a lot more than the others. Another thing in favor of the
Skiff is that it’s flexible; I mean, you can actually bend it. I really like that idea.
C: They all seem to have their pros and cons. I guess I need to think about it a little more.
M: Oh Colin, you can never make up your mind!
Unit 12, Transcript 12.1, page 126
Speaker 1
I went on this incredible trip to the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. We were on a
ship named the Lord Nelson. It was like an old pirate ship or something, really
r eally massive.
We weren’t just passengers, we were sailing the ship—it
ship—it was a once in a lifetime
experience. There’s this one memory that really
re ally stands out to me… an incredible
incredible memory.
I was on night watch, it must have been about 3 a.m. and we were all up at the helm—
helm —you
know, at the back of the ship where you sail the ship from,
f rom, with the wheel and compass
and everything. We were sailing past Tenerife, one of the big islands and suddenly there
were lots of little fishing boats all around us, right across our path… it was kind of weird,
there we were on this amazing ocean voyage on this huge ship and at the same time there
were all these little fishing boats just going about their business, getting on with their dayto-day
today life… our job was to keep a course but at the same time to look out for these little
boats so we didn’t hit any. it was the dead of night so you had to look really hard. Anyway,
er, I was at the helm when the first mate, who’s the captain’s assistant, said that everyone
else had to go to the front of the ship to correct a sail that wasn’t right. So all the other
people on my team and the first mate went off to pull on some ropes and things. So there I
am sailing this huge ship with all its sails above me, the island to my left and the clouds all
lit up by the moon… totally stunning… all
a ll I can hear is the waves and the wind, and I’m the
only person there! It feels like I’m totally alone. Honestly, it was awesome. I’ll never forget
f orget
that…
Speaker
2
I was traveling
around India a few years ago, and one day I decided to visit the beach
temples in Mahabalipuram. The temples are over 5,000 years old and stand on the shore
of the Bay of Bengal, facing due East. I wandered down to the beach and there were the
temples... simple stone temples. The setting was so fantastic that I decided to get up early
the next morning and go down to watch the sun come up over the bay and over the
temples. I got up early, at about 5 o’clock,
o’clock, had a cup of wonderful sweet chai I bought from
a street vendor and walked toward the beach. The day was just about to break. There
were strings of purple and pink in the sky—absolutely
sky—absolutely breathtaking. I’d been expecting to
be alone… to be one of the only people down on the beach at that time, but when I got
there I just couldn’t believe my eyes. There were crowds of people on the beach, hundreds
of people silhouetted against the ocean and the purple-pink sky. Then I remembered they
were pilgrims, mainly young people, I had heard about them. They were on a one-month
pilgrimage, visiting various sites and one of the things they had to do was bathe in the
waters of Mahabalipuram at sunrise. But still, seeing them
th em all walking together into the
ocean, fully dressed, their clothes soaked by the waves, was truly awe-inspiring!
Speaker 3
I was taking an English course in Canada—
Canada—we were sitting in class one morning... in
January I think it was… and suddenly I noticed the teacher. She turned to look out the
window and a smile spread across her face. So we all looked. It was snowing! Big, heavy,
slow snowflakes were floating past the window. I stopped and stared, it just took my breath
bre ath
away! I had never seen snow before. There were a few of us in the class, another
Guatemalan and a couple of students from Brazil who’d never seen snow either… we
must have looked so funny, all staring out the window in amazement! She walked to the
door and we followed her out onto the street… into the snow. It was incredible, so
different,
di
fferent, so strange, so beautiful… Almost overwhelming. I swear I just stood there like a
child with my face turned up and my hands held out, catching snowflakes on my tongue.
My classmates laughed at me and then we started a huge snowball fight. We all got
completely soaked—and
soaked—and freezing! It really was amazing, unforgettable… I wish I’d had my
camera! This photo was one I took later, toward the end of the
th e day, we were walking home
along the river… it all looked absolutely spectacular.
Transcri pt 12.2,
12.2, page 129
129,, Pronunc iatio n exercis e 1
1 He insisted on paying the bill.
2 He claimed he was a coffee lover.
3 He denied approaching the lady.
b ack.
4 He promised to pay me back.
Transcript 12.3, page 129
Speaker 1
I was riding on a night train with a friend, going from Naples to Florence. We were sharing
the car with three other passengers. We spoke very little Italian and they spoke no English
or Spanish but they were so friendly. They shared their food with us—
us—huge sandwiches
made from whole loaves of bread with delicious beef and roasted red peppers. Honestly,
no other sandwich has ever tasted as good! One of the men only had two fingers on one
hand. He mimed incredible stories about how he lost the others. We didn’t really
understand but, you know, it was still fascinating. We didn’t sleep a wink all night. We
played cards, one of the men played the guitar. The time passed so quickly!
Speaker 2
There was a woman who used to play the guitar on the street I walk down to classes every
day. She played beautifully and I often left her a couple of coins. She always nodded and
smiled
andgray
saidhair
thanks.
looked
about,
50 years
oldvery
maybe.
She
was
slim and
had
very short
and She
a striking
face.
Sheer...
always
looked
serene
and
happy.
Once
I
stopped to talk to her. I asked her about her guitar and, er, where she’d learned to play.
She told me some fascinating stories about
ab out the countries she’d visited. She spoke more
than a dozen languages. I was so impressed... And then one day she just wasn’t there
anymore. I guess she’d just moved on.
Transcript 12.4, page 130
D = David K = Kris
D: Hey, Kris, I just came across this great link... you’ll love it.
K : Yeah?
D: Yeah, I was looking for some stuff for work… It’s kind of a montage of mini
mini-documentaries about Washington DC at night... and the people... the stuff people do at
night, you know, people who work nights, or have these nighttime hobbies, that kind of
thing. Some of them are just
ju st amazing. It paints this great picture of the city… you know,
what’s going on… all the people who keep going while the rest of Washington sleeps!
K: Sounds interesting…
D: There’s this one woman, right, who rescues bats, injured
inj ured bats. She goes out every night
looking for them. She’s been doing it for years. She’s rescued hundreds of them….
lady. Strange… but nice! I’m glad someone’s taking care of
K: Aw, she sounds like a nice lady.
them, I like bats.
D: So does she! She’s crazy about them. You two would get along well!
K : Er, I’m not so sure… I like my sleep!
D: She said she likes the dark and finds it peaceful and relaxing.
K: Yeah, I can see that, but even so… a little weird….
D: Well, she isn’t the only one. There are lots of clips, all a couple of minutes long. All
these things that are going on while we’re asleep in our beds.
bed s. Makes you think. Like
there’s this brother and sister who drive ambulances. She’s the medical technician who,
you know, works in the back of the ambulance, and he drives. But get
ge t this—he’s
this—he’s only 23
but... he’s been doing it for six years! How is that possible?
pos sible?
K: Well, I know you can start to drive in the States when you’re 15, or is it 16? But even
so, seems strange, I mean, surely they don’t let teenagers drive emergency vehicles, do
they?
D: Exactly. And that’s the other thing: this is a volunteer organization. They don’t get paid
for it! They work all night long for free! The sister is still a student so she goes to college
during the day.
K : That’s crazy! When do they sleep?
D: I don’t think they do! They’re on call so they might get some sleep if it’s a quiet night... if
there aren’t too many calls. They talk about how it’s different from most jobs, you know,
not just a routine. They love the excitement…
K: I would, too! Driving an ambulance through the city in the dead of night? What a
fantastic thrill that’d be!
D: Oh yeah... and then, there’s this other guy… he’s over 80 and he takes people’s
pictures for a living… out on the streets at night.
K : He’s 80?
D: Yeah. Seems like back in the 60s he had a studio in Manhattan, photography’s always
been his life, he’d first fallen in love with it in the 1940s when very few people had
cameras. Now he hangs out at the
th e same hamburger joint every weekend, taking
snapshots of people enjoying their night
nig ht out. And he has this most amazing camera. It
must be about 50 years old. It’s like a museum piece… people stop and stare at it. He’s a
real character, a local institution. He doesn’t
do esn’t just take pictures, he chats and gets to know
everyone…
I guess
doing
it when
he’sreally
like he’ll
that,still
yoube
know,
the
kind who
re100!
ally stand out. But I don’t understand,
K : I love people
who’s going to pay for a photo these days? We all have cameras on our phones!
Transcript 12.5, page 133
Simple pleasures come in all shapes and sizes. They can be solitary or they can be
shared but they are all special moments, fleeting, but precious. They can be a part of your
daily routine, or a sudden surprise. That special moment when the coin drops, when you
finally understand something—
something—or a joke that makes you laugh out loud. Simple pleasures
slow down time. They make you stop in your tracks. They make you see the things
th ings around
you in a different light. So, if it’s the moon trailing a silver path across the ocean, or the
smile on a child’s face, the effect is always the same. They inspire and they energize.
They make life worth living. So make sure you take the time to stop and make the most of
each and every special moment.
Transcript 12.6, page 134
A: I spoke to Ray last night.
B : Ray, your brother Ray?
A: Yes, of course.
B: Sorry. How is he?
A: Oh, he’s fine, fine. He’s feeling a little stupid, though.
B: Is he? What did he do?
A: Well, you know he was going to Mexico on vacation with Jackie?
B : Yeah, I remember. That was just last week, wasn’t it?
A: It was, but you’ll never guess what he did.
B : What? Go on.
A: They got to the airport,
a irport, you know, suitcases, tickets, everything.
B : Right... Then what happened?
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
They got to the check-in desk and the man asked them for their passports.
They didn’t have their passports?
passports?
Jackie did, but Ray had left his at home.
He didn’t!
He’d had it with him the week before when he went to Paris for work and it was still in
the pocket of his suit jacket.
B: No way! Jackie can’t have been very pleased.
A: No, she wasn’t very happy.
B : So what happened?
A: Jackie took the flight they’d booked and Ray had to get a later flight.
B : That must have cost a fortune!
A: It did. $450, I think he said.
B: You’re joking!
A: I know, poor thing! Anyway, they got back yesterday and they had a good time after all.
B: Well, that’s something.
A: And they brought me back a Mexican
Mexican sombrero...
B: Really? Just what you’ve always wanted!
Transcript 12.7, page 134
1 Poor thing!
2 So what happened?
3 You’re joking!
4 No way!
5
6 Go
Youon.
didn’t!
Review D, Transcript R18, page 136
A: I’d like to get an estimate for updating my bathroom, making it a little more modern.
B: Certainly, we provide free home improvement estimates. We can either visit your home,
or ask you to provide measurements and details.
A: Could I arrange for someone to come over and take a look?
B: Of course. We could send someone over on Friday morning, if that’s convenient?
A: I’m afraid I’ll be working then. Would Monday afternoon be possible?
B: Let me see... what about 4 p.m.?
A: Er, yes, that would be fine,
f ine, thanks.
B: And do you have a budget for the job?
A: Oh, probably around $1,000.
OK, I’ll make a note of that.
Just one question. Will I need to pay a deposit for any work I decide to have done?
Yes, we ask for a deposit of 10% of the quoted price.
OK. And is there a discount if I pay cash?
No, I’m afraid we don’t offer cash discounts.
No problem.
OK. So if you could just give me your address and contact details, I’ll put
put them in the
system...
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
Transcript R19, page 137
This is the novel I bought online. I’m reading it on my new iPad, which is generally good,
but has some drawbacks. It has a reflective screen, which makes it hard to read outside in
the sunshine. Anyway, the story is about a Dutch man who falls in love with a Japanese
midwife. Unfortunately, I’ve lost the cable for my iPad, which means
me ans I’ll have to wait three
weeks to read the end!
Transcript R20, page 137
A: UsTel Customer Services, Mark speaking, how can I help you?
B: Yes, hello, my Internet keeps crashing. Every hour or so the connection is lost and I
keep having to start the router again. This time it hasn’t come back.
ba ck.
A: Have you turned everything off and on again?
about ten times! Normally it does the trick.
B: Yes, I’ve already tried that about
A: OK, how do you turn off the router, sir?
B : I press the “off” button. Why?
A: Have you tried using the “reset” button instead?
B : I don’t know. Probably. I can’t remember.
r emember. Which one’s that?
A: The green one under the power button.
B : Um, no, I don’t use that one.
A: Well, the instruction manual says you’re supposed to use that button. Could you try that
for me now, sir?
th e reset button.
B : Yeah, sure… OK, so I’ve pressed the
A: And can you see a flashing yellow light?
B: I can see three lights. Is it meant to make that noise? It doesn’t normally do that.
A: I wouldn’t worry about that, sir. OK, can you try the Internet now? Is it working?
B: Er, no, I haven’t managed to restore the Internet connection.
A: In that case, you need to go to our online technical desk.
B: Oh, right. And how do I do that?
A:
go to their
It’s www.us...
A website?
Arewebsite.
you serious?
I don’t have Internet, do I?
B: Just
Transcript R21, page 138
M = Michael. D = Darren K = Katy
Conversation 1
M: I just don’t understand it. There were 80 dollars in the cupboard earlier and there are
only 35 now.
h aven’t touched the money.
D: Hey! Don’t look at me. I haven’t
M: Nobody else could have taken it, Darren. You’re the only one who knew where it was.
D: I didn’t! I swear! I mean, I wasn’t even here most of the day.
d ay. Maybe you, I don’t know,
took it for shopping or something and forgot.
M: Don’t be ridiculous! I wouldn’t forget something like that.
The game starts in half an hour and Katy’s picking me
D: Look, Dad, I have to go out now. The
up.
M: You haven’t heard the last of this!
Conversation 2
K: You won! At last! Congratulations, Darren, it was a great game.
defeat s. Thanks for the
D: Yeah, I know, it was getting a little embarrassing with all those defeats.
lift, Katie.
K: No problem. Anyway, how about we go for a drink to celebrate?
D: Sure. Or, we could go to Tino’s for pizza... if you like?
K : Oh, I don’t think I can. I don’t have much money until next week.
D: That’s all right, it’s on me.
K: But I thought you were broke, too.
D: Nah, it’s OK. My Dad, er, lent me some money.
K: But you bought the gas the other day and the coffees yesterday...
D: Don’t worry about it. I’d like to. Please let me buy you lunch. My “thank you” for, you
yo u
know, getting me here on time.
K : Well, if you’re sure… But I’m getting it next time, promise.
D: Great! Come on, then, let’s go!
Transcript R22, page 138
A: Hi, Susan,
Susan, how’s it going?
B: You’ll never guess what’s happened!
C: Darren and Katy went out for lunch together on Saturday...
D: Yeah, honestly! Amalia saw them in Tino’s.
They went out after the game to celebrate his team winning, or something.
Well, they went for pizza and he
h e paid for the meal...
Yeah, but wait... it gets better. Apparently he stole the money from his dad!
He did! I can’t believe it either. And now his dad won’t let him go out for an entire month!
Well, not really, he only has himself to blame. It was a pretty stupid thing to do.