Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Unit 1, Page 11 (CD 5, Track 1) Alice: That’s what it says here. He received a PhD in
molecular genetics and cell biology at the age
Lynn: Hi, Mum! I’m in New York. of 18.
Mum: Good! How are you? How was the flight? Brad: Wow! He is definitely a genius.
Lynn: Great! I sat by the window, so I was looking out Alice: Yes, and his parents knew he was a genius from a
of the window when the plane took off. The cars very young age. By the time he was two, Sho was
and houses below us became smaller and smaller. already reading and by the age of three, he was
It was fun to watch. playing the piano.
Mum: What did you do during the flight? Brad: Playing the piano at three? Maybe that’s not so
Lynn: I watched two films. I had my own screen on the amazing – my sister started playing the piano
seat in front of me, and I played computer games. when she was four or five.
I played a lot of games. In fact, I broke one of my Alice: Yes, but wait till you hear this. One day, Sho’s
records. mother was playing a difficult waltz on the piano.
Mum: Nice. About five minutes after she left the room, she
Lynn: I also looked at the information about the flight was shocked to hear Sho playing the same waltz!
on my screen. A year later, at the age of four, he was also
Mum: What do you mean by information about the composing his own music.
flight? Brad: Amazing! Where’s he from?
Lynn: Well, while the plane was flying over the Irish Alice: He’s American, but his father is originally from
Sea, the screen showed exactly where it was. Japan and his mother from Korea.
Later, the screen showed us where we were above Brad: What’s he doing now?
the Atlantic Ocean. We were flying about 10 Alice: According to Sho, he is now living out his dream –
kilometres above the ground. And do you know he’s entered medical school and he’s learning to be
how cold it was outside? It was -50º C! That’s a doctor.
because we were so high!
Brad: Nice. He sounds like a good person, not just a
Mum: Interesting. And darling, what did you eat on the really clever one.
plane?
Alice: Yes, he does. In the article it says something like:
Lynn: I had chicken and potatoes. The food wasn’t bad. Sho believes that one person can change the world,
Mum: Did you feel lonely on your own? and he’s never felt it’s enough having a high IQ.
Lynn: No, I was fine. Two American women were sitting What really matters is contributing to society.
next to me. They told me a lot about New York.
They were very nice. Unit 3, Page 27 (CD 5, Track 5)
Mum: That’s lovely. So, what’s happening now? Katie: Hey, Ross.
Lynn: Well, the time is 3 pm here in New York. That’s a Ross: Hi, Katie … Wow! It’s a text from my cousin Sam
five-hour difference from London, right? in Los Angeles. He’s going to be here on Thursday
Mum: Right, five hours. It’s 8 pm here. So Lynn, you for about eight hours.
must find Aunt Clare now. I’m sure she’s waiting Katie: Why is he coming to London for only eight hours?
for you. Ross: He’s changing flights on his way to Greece. He’ll
Lynn: Mum, Aunt Clare was waiting for me when I got have enough time to come into town before his
off the plane. Here, you can talk to her yourself. flight to Athens.
I’m giving her my phone. Bye, Mum … Katie: That’s really fun. It’s an extra little trip. I did it
once, in Amsterdam. Your suitcase goes onto the
Unit 2, Page 19 (CD 5, Track 3) next flight – so you can just take your backpack
and passport and go and see the city.
Alice: Hey, Brad. Have you ever heard of Sho Yano?
Ross: Yeah, exactly. And here, it’s only a 15-minute ride
I’ve just read a magazine article about him.
on the Heathrow Express train from the airport to
Brad: No, Alice, I haven’t. Who is he? What has he the city centre.
done? Katie: The Underground also runs to and from the airport
Alice: Well, he’s only 21 years old and he’s already got … and it’s much cheaper than the train. The
his third degree at university! Heathrow Express costs over £20 now!
Brad: Really? Three degrees? He must be a genius! Ross: Yeah – but the Underground takes a lot longer.
Alice: He is. He’s got an IQ of over 200. Listen to this: Katie: That’s true. So – what time will he be here?
He started studying for his Bachelor of Science Ross: He’ll probably get into town by about 10.30 in the
degree at university at the age of 9 and he morning. But I’ve got a maths exam, so Sam’s
graduated with top marks in 2003 at the age of 12. going to be on his own until two o’clock.
Brad: Are you serious? A first degree in science at the Katie: I’m sure he’ll be fine, Ross. He can buy a
age of 12? guidebook.
Ross: Yeah – and a map, too.
Katie: If the weather’s good, maybe he’ll want to explore
Hyde Park before meeting you. It’s less than a
kilometre from the train station.