LISTENING (50 points)

Part 1.
1. taught 6. computer-literate
2. 21/ twenty one 7. crash programmes/ programs
3. lecturers 8. restorers, conservationists
4. restoration 9. printing machines
5. mechanism of printing 10. applications
Part 2.
1. Footage 2. Air farming 3. 580 ml 4. Hong Kong 5. A valley
( of pollution )
Part 3.
1. T 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. T
Part 4.
1C 2. A 3. C 4. D 5. B

TAPESCRIPTS
Part 1.
Questions 1-6
I am here to give you a brief outline of the work of this new department. The
Department of the Printed Word has a very short history, having been created just
ten years ago. Some statistics are to start with. The first intake of undergraduate
students consisted of 20 students, which rose to 37 in the second year and we now
have about 50 in the first year, doing a wide range of courses, full and part-time.
We have a thriving research department with 17 students on the taught MA course
and 7 students doing research full-time. In all we have 9 full-time lecturers and 16
part-time lecturers who work mainly but not exclusively in our evening
department. Of the total student body, approximately 21 percent are from outside
the country, a number which has been increasing steadily over recent years.
Although students from overseas have to reach a minimum level of
competence in English before they follow a course at the university, some may
require remedial help with their English and we can offer help through the Student

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Support Services as part of the general assistance given to all students. For home
students, both graduate and undergraduate, there are bursaries to help with travel
and accommodation, for which I would advise you to contact Mrs Riley at the end
of this session.
Increasingly, we are forging external links with organizations in the
publishing world. And we have been very fortunate in that we have received
money to sponsor not just various students within the department but also
technicians and lecturers. Each year we hold a series of lectures, which are given
by external speakers in the world of printing and the media. The series of
workshops that you see around you have been built thanks to a very generous
donation which has allowed us to develop our facilities for book binding and
restoration.
Now the main work of the department relates to teaching the mechanism of
printing and as most printing is now so highly technological, all our students have
to be computer-literate. For those of you who are interested in taking a module in
this department from another department and who feel that you may not have the
necessary computer skills, don’t let the technology put you off. We have a number
of specialist technicians who can support and deliver crash programmes in the
computing technology required. As long as you can switch on the computer you
are half way there.
Questions 7-10
We have what can only be called state-of-the-art facilities especially
for those wishing to move into the publishing world working not just as printers,
but also in editing, page design, layout and book-binding. With the extensive
facilities we have for book restoration, some of our former students are now
employed as expert book restorers and conservationists, skills which were once
almost dying out. In the display you will notice samples of work on book cover
design, and as well as having all the necessary computer programmes for dealing
with printing we have some old printing presses.
Despite being largely a modern department, we do have an increasing
interest in research into the history of the printed word, ranging from early
European to Chinese and Japanese printing techniques. We have in fact some very
well-known experts on early printing in Europe in the 15 th and 16th centuries. If
this area appeals to you, you can talk to Dr Fred Clare afterwards. From China we
are lucky to have as a visiting lecturer Dr Yu, who is an authority on early Chinese
manuscripts and printing machines. If you are thinking about doing a module with

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us or you are interested in doing research after you have finished your first degree,
the person to talk to is Professor Clarkson who will be able to give you all the
details. For postgraduate research, you should really be thinking about applying
now even though we are only in December, as the department now attracts large
numbers of people and we always have many applications for each reaseach
position.
Part 2.
An English entrepreneur has started a booming business from selling bottled,
British countryside air to Chinese consumers. Leo De Watts, 27, struck upon
the idea of selling air to China after seeing news footage of pollution and smog
in Chinese cities. He guessed there was a market for cleaner air. De Watts
launched his company last year in the somewhat imaginatively named industry
of "air farming". His team "harvests" air in bottles from various locations
across Britain and ships it to China. Even though the air is cheap to collect, De
Watts puts a hefty price on his products. Chinese lovers of British air have to
pay around $115 for a 580 ml bottle of the fresh stuff.
De Watts was born in the British countryside and said he appreciates the quality
of the air in rural Britain. He now lives in Hong Kong where he sells his fresh
air at local street markets. A lot of his merchandise is sold in Chinese cities
such as Beijing and Shanghai, where pollution can be particularly bad. He said
his Chinese customers can be quite fussy about exactly what kind of air they
buy. He explained in a promotional video that: "Quite often, a lot of our orders
are bespoke. We have clients who request very particular circumstances for
their air. Sometimes we'll be at the top of a mountain, and other times at the
bottom of a valley." He added: "There's really a market for this. We've just
started."

Part 3.

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The extensive network which makes up the Grand Union Canal is, without doubt, a
truly extraordinary piece of engineering. Begun in the late 18 th century, the
majority of the canal system was built without the benefits of modern technology
or public finance. It is a truly grand canal. But why is it known as the Grand Union
Canal? From 1790 to 1929 a large number of competing, independently owned
canals were constructed, their waterwaysnot uniform in size and often unable to
carry the larger vessels from other sections. Through a series of takeovers, the
various companies eventually amalgamated and created a “union” of canals which
could form a continuous link between Birmingham, London and other important
industrial areas. Along every stretch of canal, you will find this heritage retained.
Traditionally-painted-narrow boats are still guided by original mile posts, while
working examples of mills, pump houses, ancient locks and keepers’ cottages are a
common sight on any journey.
The Grand Union Canal boasts an extraordinary variety of wildlife, from feeding
herons and hunting owls to rare water voles. Natural habitats are numerous as a
result of cleaner waters and the declining industrial traffic. The hedgerows and
canal banks have proved an ideal location for a number of diverse species to thrive
in this tranquil and often unique environment.
A car-free and carefree way to appreciate the beauty of the canal – and at your own
pace – is by walking. Whether you are looking for organized or independent
towpath walks, we can help you with your planning. Each waterway office can
supply information on circular walks, waterside pubs plus suggested routes and
specific points of interest. There are many stations within easy reach of the Grand
Union Canal. Why not try a one-way walk, returning to your starting point by
train?
We’re keen to encourage both experienced and inexperienced anglers onto the
well-stocked canal network and reservoirs. We lease certain sections to established
clubs who welcome non-members for a small daily fee. Before you fish, check
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with your local British Waterways office for information on access and
availability. Rod licenses are obligatory, and can be obtained from your local post
office.
Last but not least, the towpaths are wonderful for cycling. Free of traffic, free of
fumes and free of hills. Miles of accessible towpaths through some of England’s
finest countryside. We can all share the delights of the canal system so please be
considerate to other users. Surfaces vary from stony pathways to smooth asphalt –
but that’s all part of the enjoyment.
Part 4.

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