H. Q.

Mitchell - Marileni Malkogianni

LEVELS
B 1/B 2

Go for ZNO
Listening Comprehension
Contents r

Unit 1 People, family and relationships............................................................. 4

U n it 2 Leisure...................................................................................................... 6

Unit 3 Education.................................................................................................. 8

U n it 4 Food......................................................................................................... 10

U n it 5 Shopping and m oney.............................................................................. 12

Unit 6 Travelling and tourism............................................................................ 14

Unit 7 Art and culture........................................................................................ 16

U n it 8 Sport......................................................................................................... 18

U n it 9 Health...................................................................................................... 20

Unit 10 Science and technology..........................................................................22

U n it 11 Nature...................................................................................................... 24

U n it 12 Modern life.............................................................................................. 26

Unit 13 Society..................................................................................................... 28

U n it 14 Ukraine and English speaking countries............................................... 30

Listening transcripts 32
Unit 1 People, family and relationships
Task 1

PRE-LISTENING TASK
Read the statements below and tick True CT) or False (F). Then read the Exam tip and check
your answers. Which statements are false? Why?

1. When you read the instructions, you get to know the topic of the recording.
2. After reading the questions, you just sit and relax.
3. When you listen to the recording for the first time, you try to get the general idea.
4. You do n’t have to listen to the recording the second tim e if you have already answered
all the questions.

You will hear some information about the connection between birth order and personality. Decide
whether the following statements are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Eldest children are likely to be creative.

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2. Eldest children don’t have self-confidence.
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3. Youngest children don’t get enough attention.
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4. Only children like telling others what to do.
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5. The parents of only children often put them under a lot of pressure. □
Task 2

PRE-LISTENING TASK
Read the exam tip and answer the following questions:

1. W hy is it im portant to underline the key words in a question?

2. Why is it im portant to also listen carefully during the second listening?

Exam tip
• Before you listen, read the instructions carefully to learn what the text is going to be about.
• Then read the questions and options, and underline the key words. This w ill help you focus
on the more relevant parts of the recording.
• During the first listening, listen for the key words. This will help you choose the correct option.
• Check your answers during the second listening. Rem em ber that you must pay attention to the
general m eaning of what is said, not just to individual words.

You will hear a talk about lying. Listen and answer the questions 1-5. Choose A, B or C.

1. W hat’s the main reason that people tell a w hite lie?

A. They want to fool people.
B. They don’t want to upset someone.
C. They don’t have a serious opinion.

2. The speaker says that

A. liars tend to move their gaze away.
B. people w ho are m aking up a lie at that m om ent look upwards.
C. looking up means that a person is trying to rem em ber something.

3. The stress caused by being interview ed by the police m ight make som eone
A. tell a lie.
B. avoid cooperation.
C. embarrassed.

4. When people are questioned about a crim e they didn’t com m it, they may appear guilty because
they
A. have actually com m itted a different crime.
B. have som ething else to hide.
C. feel they have to lie.

5. A person is lying when they

A. change the details of a story or offer too many details.
B. narrate a story with as few details as possible.
C. insist what they say is the real story.
r ^ Unit 2 Leisure

Task I

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Is there a leisure centre in the area you live? If yes, w hat is it like and how could it be im proved?
If no, how convenient do you think it w ould be to have one in your area? Why?

• What features of a leisure centre can make being a m em ber there a pleasant experience? Why?

You will hear a woman talking about a leisure centre. Listen and answer the questions 1-5.
Choose A, B or C.

1. How long did it take to renovate the leisure 4. In the sports hall, there are three
centre? A. tennis courts.
A. a couple of days B. squash courts.
B. a week C. volleyball courts.
C. a month
5. Where is the clim bing wall?
2. The group sw im m ing lessons are aimed at A. near the sports hall
A. children. B. in the sports hall
B. adults. C. upstairs
C. children and adults.

3. Next to the sw im m ing pool, there is a

A. waiting area.
B. p la y ro o m .,
C. sports hall.
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What can young people do in their free tim e in your area?

• What do you do in your free time?

You w ill hear an in te rv ie w w ith Jan e t A nderson, a w ell-kno w n Sco ttish actress, ta lkin g a b o u t how
she sp ends her leisu re tim e. Listen and answ er the q u e stio n s 1-6. C hoose A, B or C.

1. When she is not rehearsing or perform ing, Janet

A. goes to the theatre or cinema.
B. does activities that give her the opportunity to im prove as an actress.
C. does arts and crafts.

2 . Janet has
A. never directed before.
B. directed film but not theatre.
C. interviewed a film director.

3. Currently, Janet is
A. reading a book titled T h e C o u n t o f M o n te C r is to for pleasure.
B. w riting the script for a play titled T h e C o u n t o f M o n te C ris to .
C. reading about the tim e period in w hich T h e C o u n t o f M o n te C r is to takes place.

4. Janet likes to
A. prepare meals for her friends.
B. read fictional books about crime.
C. play m usic with friends.

5. Janet
A. had wanted to learn the trum pet for a long time.
B. had been looking for a trum pet for a while.
C. found the trum pet by chance.

6. When it com es to sports and exercise, Janet

A. prefers activities that are energetic.
B. thinks she is too old to do certain sports.
C. enjoys yoga because it helps relieve stress.
 r Unit 3 Education
f

Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you want to go to university w hen you finish school? Why? / W hy not?
• What job would you like to do when you finish your studies? Why?

You will hear a conversation about school and university. Listen and answer the questions 1-6.
Choose A, B or C.

1. What does Nancy believe she w ill probably end up being in the future?
A. a lawyer
B. a waitress
C. unem ployed

2. What has Sean dream t of since he was a child?

A. being dressed in a suit
B. sitting and discussing m oney
C. being surrounded by fans

3. What does Nancy suggest Sean should do?

A. study business adm inistration
B. becom e a singer
C. study business adm inistration and becom e a singer

4 . When can Sean and Nancy apply to universities?

A. 14 May
B. 20 April
C. 14 April

5. How long will it take to get to the furthest university in the future?
A. 30 minutes
B. 20 m inutes
C. 10 m inutes

6. What w ill Nancy have to buy for her arts and crafts project?
A. glue
B. coloured paper
C. scissors
• Why is it im portant for young people to learn foreign languages nowadays?

• Would you like to go to a language school in Great Britain? Why? / Why not?

You w ill hear a teach er g ivin g in fo rm atio n a b o u t langu ag e schools. D ecide w hether the fo llo w in g
statem ents are True or False, and w rite T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Language schools in the UK give their students a chance to see the country.
□
2. Language schools stay open all year long.
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3. The courses can only be attended by young people.
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4 . The students spend most of their tim e in the classrooms.
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5. The teachers com e from various English-speaking countries.
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Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you like watching TV shows about cooking? Why? / Why not?
• Can you cook? What is your speciality?

You will hear a famous chef talking about his career. Decide whether the following statements
are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. The ch e f’s first job was in the kitchen of a hotel.

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2. The chef was born in Ireland.
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3. The ch e f’s restaurant in Dublin was very successful.
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4 . The chef was discovered by a TV producer.
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5. The chef appeared in more than a thousand shows.
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Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you believe that eating healthily is expensive, and that people eating on a tight budget can only
buy unhealthy food?

• How do you think food affects our mood and behaviour?

You will hear an interview about how important a healthy diet is for children. Listen and answer
the questions 1-6. Choose A, B or C.

1. What does Jam ie say about diet at a young age?

A. Recent research on the topic was criticised.
B. It can help develop the body physically but not mentally.
C. It can affect how clever som eone is.

2. How can nutrition affect behaviour?

A. A poor diet can make people sleepy.
B. Lack of vitam in C can cause stress.
C. A poor diet can cause sadness.

3. What does Jam ie say about breakfast?

A. It im proves students’ school performance.
B. It must include eggs and fruit.
C. It should be eaten one hour before school.

4 . What is true about food and brain perform ance?

A. Only breakfast can boost brain performance.
B. Too much food can slow down brain activity.
C. Students can eat specific foods to boost their brain performance.

5. To avoid gaining weight, students should

A. work out and eat nutritious food.
B. avoid eating certain types of food.
C. do a lot of physical exercise.

6. How can obesity affect students?

A. Students may feel uncom fortable w hile studying.
B. Students may avoid taking part in certain activities
C. It can affect students’ concentration levels.
r

Task I

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Where do you usually shop?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of shopping in a big superm arket?
• What are the advantages/disadvantages of shopping in an open-air market?

You w ill hear a d ia lo g u e betw een a m o ther and her son. Listen and answ er th e q u e stio n s 1-5.
Choose A, B o r C .

1. Andy's mum doesn’t like the present because it’s

A. too colourful.
B. blue.
C. too expensive.

2. Andy chose the particular item because his dad

A. had told him to buy it.
B. doesn’t have anything similar.
C. wears clothes of this type.

3. Lately. A n d y’s dad has been

A. silly.
B. happy.
C. depressed.

4 . A n d y ’s dad has very few

A. shirts.
B. ties.
C. T-shirts.

5. W ho believes that the present is expensive?

A. Andy
B. A n d y’s mum
C. both of them
 Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What influences you when you are shopping?

• Do you trust advertisem ents? Why? / Why not?

• Are you aware of any tricks that advertisers use? How do you avoid them?

You will hear part of a radio report on advertising. Decide whether the following statements
are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. The speaker believes that using psychology to persuade people to buy is wrong.

□ □ □ □
2. Blue and red are colours that are used to inspire positive feelings in custom ers.

3. People react more strongly when they feel that they are m issing out on something.

4 . Great reductions in price always happen on items that were originally a lot more expensive.

5. Food stylists try to im prove the appearance of food by using better quality m aterials than

□
those that they are selling.

■ 't
Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What has been your best/worst travelling experience? What happened?
• W hich is the most interesting place you have visited? Why?

• Have you ever been in danger w hile on holiday? How?

You will hear a man called Raymond Plum talking about his travelling experiences.
Listen and answer the questions 1-5. Choose A, B or C.

1. Raymond becam e interested in travelling because

A. he had a relative who liked travelling.
B. he saw a television program m e about travelling.
C. his friends invited him to go travelling with them.

2. What does Raymond like most about travelling?

A. eating different types of food
B. visiting different places
C. m eeting different people

3. Raymond usually earns m oney on his travels by w orking

A. in a restaurant.
B. in a hostel.
C. in a school.

4 . What does Raymond say about danger?

A. Some places are more dangerous than the place w here you live.
B. Local people can cause dangerous situations.
C. Different places have different kinds of danger.

5. What hasn’t Raymond seen yet?

A. the Northern Lights
B. Machu Picchu
C. the Great Pyram id of Giza
I

Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Have you ever been abroad? Where?

• Which countries w ould you like to visit? Why?

You will hear a radio report from Delhi on a national celebration. Listen and answer the questions
1-6. Choose A, B or C.

1. Today is a special day in India because

A. it’s India’s flower day.
B. it’s India’s independence day.
C. they celebrate G andhi’s birthday.

2. The w eather is
A. warm and sunny.
B. warm and cloudy.
C. too hot.

3. On the backs of some vehicles in Delhi there are

A. pictures of spinning wheels.
B. flowers and birds.
C. am using messages.

4. The guide read from G andhi’s collected works

A. on the bus.
B. outside the m em orial walls.
C. at Gandhi's memorial, Raj Ghat.

5. The visitors to the m em orial took off their shoes

A. inside the w alls of the memorial.
B. outside the w alls of the memorial.
C. next to the m arble platform.

6. At the memorial, people left

A. flags with doves.
B. flags with peace signs.
C. flowers.

page 15
Unit 7 Art and culture

Task t

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you like going to the theatre? Why? / Why not?

• Have you ever perform ed on stage? If yes, did you enjoy it?
• Would you like to be famous? Why? / Why not?

You will hear a conversation between two friends. Decide whether the following statements
are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Tim othy knew about K im b erly’s interest in the theatre. □

2. Kim berly has not gained much from joining a theatre group. ( 1

3. K im berly thinks acting can help Timothy. CD

4 . Everyone in K im b erly’s theatre group is a professional. □

5. K im berly believes it is hard to succeed in show business. □

Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• W hich festivals have you been to? Which one did you enjoy the most? Why?

• What do you think a m edieval festival might be like?

• What could be special about it?

You will hear an interview about Khotyn Festivals. Listen and answer the questions
1-5. Choose A, B or C.

1. What is true about Khotyn Fotress?

A. It was the venue of a festival in the m edieval period.
B. It was built by the Vikings.
C. An im portant battle took place there.

2. The num ber of participants in each team should be

A. at least eight.
B. more than fifty.
C. at least fifty.

3. The fighters taking part in the festival

A. go through strict tournam ents in Ukraine.
B. are chosen in their own countries after some tournaments.
C. use modern fighting techniques.

4. All the battles are

A. copied from previous battles.
B. prearranged.
C. real.

5. What can visitors to the festival do there?

A. They can cam p there.
B. They can experience life as it was in the past.
C. They can design gam es for children.
POINTS FOR DISCUSSION
• What is your favourite sport? W hat do you like about it?
• What are the most popular sports am ong young people in Ukraine? Why?
• What sports facilities are available in the area where you live? Do you use them? Why? / Why not?

You will hear a sports commentary on the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. Listen and
answer the questions 1-6. Choose A, B or C.

1. During the swim m ing race

A. it was raining.
B. it was very windy.
C. there were big waves.

2. The bicycle race covered a distance of

A. 4 km.
B. 100 km.
C. 179 km.

3. W hose strong point is running?

A. K ing’s
B. Johnson’s
C. Ram sey’s

4 . Who was the w inner of the 1987 Ironman Triathlon com petition?
A. Pete Ramsey
B. Ronnie Johnson
C. Spencer King

5. What happened to Ramsey towards the end of the race?

A. He hurt his face.
B. He injured his head.
C. He fell down.
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Why do you think sports achievem ents are considered im portant?

• What w ould you like to be able to accom plish in sports?

You will hear someone talking about parkour. Decide whether the following statements are True
or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Parkour becam e well known in France in the 1980s.

□
2. Jum ping from one roof to the next is the only m ovem ent in parkour.
□
3. Parkour is done by both men and women.
□
4 . M em bers must have moral values.
□
5. Parkour can have long-lasting negative effects on your health.
□
r i unit 9 Health

Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you go to the gym? Why? / W hy not?

• What can people do to keep fit and stay healthy?

You will hear a dialogue between a man and a woman who meet up in the gym. Decide whether
the following statements are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Both Peggy and Jerem y have problem s with cholesterol.

□
2. Peggy used to have longer training sessions in the past.
□
3. Peggy d idn’t have any problem s with w eight in the past.
□
4 . Jerem y hasn’t been to the gym before.
□
5. Peggy and Phil are relatives.
□
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What is first aid? What is its purpose?

• Should students be taught first aid? Why? / Why not?

You will hear an interview on first aid. Listen and answer the questions 1-6. Choose A, B or C.

1. What is true of Dr Robert Moore?

A. This is his first guest appearance on the radio programme.
B. He regularly gives advice on the radio programme.
C. He previously gave advice on what to do after an accident.

2. What is the purpose of first aid?

A. to take care of the patient yourself
B. to avoid calling a doctor
C. to make sure the victim is safe until help arrives

3. What procedure is recom m ended to stop bleeding?

A. washing the w ound carefully with som e water
B. changing the bandage often if bleeding continues
C. raising the bleeding part and bandaging it

4 . Second-degree burns are characterised by

A. the red colour of the skin.
B. severe dam aging of the skin.
C. blistering of the skin.

5. Cold water can be used to treat

A. first and second-degree burns.
B. third-degree burns.
C. second and third-degree burns.

6. How could you relieve the pain caused by sunburn?

A. by applying yoghurt
B. by applying any type of oil
C. by w earing a T-shirt or a hat

ri
V ' i
Unit 10 Science and technology
Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Are you interested in scientific discoveries? Why? / W hy not?
• What is, in your opinion, the m ost im portant scientific discovery ever made? Why?

You will hear an interview with a man called Henry Stimpson, who is a tour guide at the Science
Museum in London. Listen and answer the questions 1-5. Choose A, B'or C.

1. What does Henry Stim pson say about the objects on display in the museum?
A. There are alm ost 15,000 of them.
B. They are displayed on five different floors.
C. They can all be touched by visitors to the museum.

2. W hich invention did most visitors to the museum believe to be the m ost im portant?
A. the X-ray m achine
B. the w ashing m achine
C. the control section of the A po llo 10 spacecraft

3. What is true about the screen where science film s are shown?
A. It is w ider than four buses.
B. It is located in the m iddle of an exhibition.
C. It is one of the biggest in the UK.

4 . The tours at the Science Museum

A. must be booked in advance.
B. do not have to be paid for.
C. last a long time.

5. Visitors can
A. eat their own food in certain areas.
B. eat in one of the cafes next to the museum.
C. have a picnic next to one of the exhibitions.
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you like playing com puter games? Why? / W hy not?

• In what ways can com puter games help us learn?

You w ill hear an in te rv ie w w ith a co m p u te r program m er. Listen and answ er the q u e stio n s 1-5.
Choose A, B or C.

1. What do most adults think about com puter games?

A. They are meaningful.
B. They are a waste of time.
C. They m otivate students to do better at school.

2. How did Jam es feel about com puter games before com ing across brain games?
A. He wasn’t very fond of them.
B. He thought they helped im prove memory.
C. He knew they could help with brain training.

3. The goal of Nintendo’s Brain Age game is to

A. make your brain age independent of your body age.
B. match your brain age to your body age.
C. lower your brain age.

4 . Brain Age and BrainWare Safari are sim ilar in that

A. you have to access the Internet to play them.
B. both help im prove m em ory and understanding.
C. both are played on a console.

5. What conclusion has Jam es reached about brain games?

A. They are a fun way to improve your mental skills.
B. They are sim ilar to doing exercises from a textbook.
C. The tasks are too focused on entertaining to show any significant results in brain training.
Ultit 11 Mature

Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• W hy are rainforests im portant to our planet?

• What do you know about clim ate change?

You will hear some information about rainforests. Decide whether the following statements
are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Rainforests do not grow in Asia.

□
2. The Earth’s clim ate is affected by rainforests.
□
3. More than half of the w orld’s rainforests have disappeared.
□
4 . Rainforests are being destroyed only because people need wood.
□
5. Some rainforest plants are used to make medicines.
□
 Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• How necessary do you think bees are to the w orld’s ecosystem ?

• What can be done to help anim als w hich are in danger of becom ing extinct?

i You will hear an expert talking about bees. Decide whether the following statements are True
i or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. There are alm ost 2 ,0 0 0 species of bees in Europe.

□
2. In intensive farming, anim als are kept inside.
□
3. Bees absorb m ore pesticides than other insects.
□
4 . The varroa mite is a virus.
□
5. Seventy crop species are pollinated by bees.
□
r ^
Unit 12 Modern life
Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What are the problem s that young people face today?

• Would you ask for help/advice from a helpline / an advice forum? Why? / Why not?

You w ill hear an in te rv ie w ab out a te le p h o n e helpline. Listen and a nsw er the qu e stio n s 1-5.
Choose A, B o r C.

1. What is Youth Connect?

A. a radio station
B. a telephone com pany
C. a helpline

2. How is Youth Connect different?

A. It puts callers through to people who can help them.
B. It helps both adults and teenagers.
C. The staff meet the callers personally.

3. The caller who had trouble sleeping

A. had experienced a traum atic experience.
B. was suffering from stress.
C. was advised to take tim e off from school.

4 . Callers w ho are lonely

A. often move to a big city.
B. all receive an inform ation pack.
C. can speak to a local youth worker.

5. Youth Connect can

A. telephone for further inform ation.
B. send callers useful advice.
C. only contact callers by email.
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you know anything about callisthenics? If not, what do you think it is?

• What kind of activities do young people do in your area?

• Do you know any unusual activities that people do in Ukraine?

You will hear a radio programme in which athlete Eric Dunn talks about a form of exercise
known as callisthenics. Decide whether the following statements are True or False, and write T
or F in the boxes on the right.

□ □ □ □ □
1. Callisthenics has its roots in ancient Greece.

2. Eric Dunn has been training kids in his area for four years.

3. Callisthenics targets specific m uscle groups.

4 . The kids who train with Eric have stopped eating meat.

5. Under certain conditions, callisthenics can strengthen two very im portant organs in the body.
Ultit 13 Society
Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• What do people in your neighbourhood do to help each other?
• Would you consider doing volunteer work? Why? / W hy not?

You will hear a talk on crime prevention. Listen and answer the questions 1-5. Choose A, B or C.

1. The speaker congratulates

A. the police force on raising awareness of crim e prevention.
B. the chairm an of the meeting on giving such a good speech.
C. m em bers of a neighbourhood watch schem e on reducing crime.

2. The speaker says that those intending to go away

A. must put all valuables in a safe.
B. should let passers-by know that they are leaving.
C. should pack the car w here others cannot see them.

3. The speaker advises people to

A. em pty their letterbox before they leave.
B. cancel all their deliveries.
C. mow their lawn before they leave.

4 . The speaker says that an ideal hiding place for a thief is

A. an outdoor building.
B. a garden.
C. a nearby shop.

5. According to the speaker, most break-ins happen

A. during the day.
B. at night.
C. when people are away.
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• How can the Internet benefit society?

• Do you think the Web protects or invades human rights?

You will hear part of a radio programme about how the Internet affects society. Listen and
answer the questions 1-6. Choose A, B or C.

1. Why is the Internet such a powerful tool?

A. It has a huge num ber of w ebsites with lots of information.
B. It is guaranteed to defend our freedom of speech.
C. Alm ost anyone can use the Internet to express themselves.

2. What do some people think should be banned?

A. open access to som e sites
B. certain com edy w ebsites
C. public message boards

3. What does the speaker use as an exam ple when discussing freedom of speech?
A. two people having an argum ent online
B. som eone using Internet message boards to make racist remarks
C. two people w ho do not use the Internet correctly

4 . What problem atic issue does the speaker discuss regarding the Internet?
A. People are too easily connected via social media.
B. People can abuse the Internet.
C. It can be hard to avoid offensive material.

5. What does the speaker suggest should not be tolerated?

A. people arguing online
B. over-policing on Internet message boards
C. people suffering abuse online and in the real w orld

6. People are often abused online because

A. no one is policing the Internet.
B. other users want to insult som eone they know.
C. Internet users can remain anonym ous.
Unit 14 Ukraine and English speaking countries

Task 1

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Who is the person in the picture

and what do you know about him?

You will hear somebody talking about the inventor, Igor Sikorsky. Decide whether the following
statements are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

1. Aviation was the first thing Igor Sikorsky decided to study.

□
2. Some of Sikorsky’s inventions were not successful.
□
3. Sikorsky contributed to world aviation with more than one invention.
□
4 . Sikorsky’s com pany was founded in the United States in 1939.
□
5. Igor Sikorsky was 72 when he died.
□
DISCUSS
• Look at the pictures of these fam ous people. What do you know about them?
• Do you know any other Ukrainians w ho are internationally famous?
Task 2

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

• Do you read books? What is your favourite book? Why?

• Which Ukranian w riters do you know?

• What do you know about Agatha Christie?

You will hear some information about Agatha Christie. Decide whether the following
statements are True or False, and write T or F in the boxes on the right.

□ □ □ □ □
1. Agatha Christie’s father died in the First W orld War.

2. Agatha Christie com pleted part of her education abroad.

3. Agatha Christie started w riting detective stories before the outbreak of the First W orld War.

4 . Agatha Christie used her experience of w orking in a pharm acy in some of her books.

5. Some of her novels were w ritten under a different name.

 Listening transcripts
Unitl
Taskl
Some scientists claim that there is a connection between
the order that children are born in and their personality.
For example, if you’re the eldest child in your family,
you're probably multi-talented and creative and you
like to keep yourself busy. Eldest children believe in
themselves and are good at leading and organising
others. They’re perfectionists and they always want to
be the best, which also means they can give themselves
a hard time if they don’t succeed. They like to hang out
with their friends and they’re usually the leaders of their
group. However, they can also be bossy and sometimes
they forget to ask their friends for their opinion.
On the other hand, youngest children like being the
centre of attention, and they get a lot of it from their
parents, perhaps too much. Youngest children benefit
from having older siblings, since older siblings pass on
everything they have learnt. Also, youngest children are
much more competitive than their brothers and sisters,
and they always want to prove they are as good as them.
But what if you’re an only child? Well, according to this
theory, if you’re an only child, you’re more mature than
people from larger families. Only children usually don’t
have problems dealing with their teachers because
they’re always around adults. They also love being
in charge, so whatever job they do, they can become
successful in no time. However, the parents of only
children often give them a hard time because they
always expect them to do well. Another difficulty only
children may have is feeling uncomfortable when
dealing with large groups of people.
Of course, many children do not fit into the categories
described above, and furthermore, everyone has the
possibility to change many times in their lives in a
positive way.
Task 2
How many of you present here are liars? I see some of
you are beginning to feel uncomfortable. No hands? Do
you deny ever having lied to someone? Well, you don’t
!
,
need to be embarrassed. Every one of us has lied at
some point in our lives. Even those of us who consider it
immoral and teach our kids not to. Think about it. ‘Hey
Sarah. How was your weekend?’ your friend asks. ‘Great!’
you say. Truth is: it was horrible, but you don’t want
people to know. Or, your wife cooks for you and you say,
‘That was delicious,’ but really you’re just being polite,
the food was too salty or too bland. This last one is a
white lie, mostly told not to hurt someone's feelings. It’s
not considered serious.
But how about more significant lies - how can you
vmsrn
tell when someone is trying to fool you? Firstly, one
common myth is that people look up when they’re lying,
something that has been shown to be untrue. Scientists
claim that people move their eyes upwards when
they’re trying to recall memories, rather than when
they’re making something up. Likewise, just because
someone gets anxious, blushes or changes the way they
speak doesn’t guarantee they are lying. Some people
feel nervous just because someone in authority wants
to speak to them, or blush because they are simply
embarrassed. Often, people who are questioned for a
crime display the signs of lying, even though they are
not, because they are trying to hide something else,
something that has nothing to do with the reason they
are being interviewed. For example, someone might find
the police at their door, asking to come in to find proof
that they stole something. This person may refuse to
let the police inside, and his body language may seem
guilty, but in reality he is uncomfortable because he
doesn’t want them to find out about an embarrassing
hobby he has - collecting dolls, for example.
However, there are a few signs that point to the fact
that someone is lying. I’m going to refer to some basic
indications and then we’re going to be looking more
closely at body gestures and facial expressions. A sure
sign that someone is shamelessly lying is if you catch
them changing their story every time they recount it.
Changing some details or even key events means they
are reinventing the storyline as they speak. A very
detailed story should also keep you alert. The reason is
that, when we truly go through a bad experience, we are
so emotionally unsettled, that we don’t notice a lot of the
things that go on around us. On the other hand, a person
who is making up a story will try to include as many
details as possible, thinking that that will make their
story sound real. Another obvious indication of a liar
is body language. Recorded interviews with criminals
may show them saying, ‘No, I didn’t do it,’ but at the
same time unknowingly nodding their heads. Referring
to everyday lying, someone might say, ‘I love it!’ when
opening the gift you gave them, but smile after they say
that, not while saying it. Their body matches their words
but not at the same time because they have to think
of smiling. They don’t do it naturally. Now, let’s look at
some pictures...
Unit 2
Taskl
Welcome to our newly-renovated leisure centre. As
some of you know, it took a month to do the renovations
and we are hoping to open in a couple of days, or a

week, at the latest. This tour will show you just what
our members can expect. As you enter the centre, we
have our swimming pools on your right. Let’s just head
through the reception here... and the first pool you see is
our learner pool, which has a moving floor so the water
depth can be changed depending on the class. This pool
will mostly be used by our swimming school, which will
run group swimming lessons all through the year for
children of all age groups. Advanced swimmers and
adults will use our main swimming pool, which is just
next to the learner pool. Again, this pool has a moving
floor, and there are also three diving boards placed at
different heights. Our changing rooms are just through
that door there, at the end of the main swimming pool.
Alongside the two pools, we have a waiting area where
parents can sit and watch their children while enjoying a
cup of coffee or a healthy snack from the cafe here. We
are also in discussion with a local company about the
possibility of opening a playroom in this area as well.
If we go through the waiting area, we reach the sports
hall. As you can see, this area can be used for a variety
of sports: tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, even
football. If you turn and look to your left, you’ll see we
also have three new squash courts. In a minute, we
will head up the stairs and go on to take a look at our
gym and health centre... but first, I want to show you all
something very exciting that’s new to our centre - and
indeed to our town.
If you could all just make your way across the sports hall
and through this door over here on the right... thank you.
This is our new climbing wall. Obviously, we are the only
place in the local area to have a climbing wall, and we
definitely haven’t cut any corners, as you can see. Before
we go upstairs, I should mention that the climbing
wall will be part of a different membership plan to the
standard one which covers the rest of the facilities at the
centre. This is because all climbers will first need to take
a beginner’s course and learn to use the wall safely. Now,
the... (fa d e o u t)
Task 2
Man With us today in the studio is thirty-five-year-old
Scottish actress, Janet Anderson. Janet is
here to tell us a little about what she does in
her free time. So, Janet, what do you do when
you are not rehearsing or performing?
Janet Well, theatre and film are my life’s passions,
so even when I am not rehearsing for
something, I am always learning new things
about the craft of acting or about directing.
I often attend seminars and workshops
held by talent agents, casting directors and
other industry professionals who share
Listening Transcripts
r 1
their knowledge and expertise. There are
always skills that you can learn and master
as an actor, and there is also a lot of room
for personal growth and development. I
also read a lot and watch programmes and
interviews about film and theatre. It helps
me stay on top of developments in the
industry.
Man Do you direct as well?
Janet I haven’t directed yet, no, but I do spend a
lot of my time studying the techniques of
great masters. When I listen to interviews
with great film directors, I learn a great deal
about acting, and perhaps, in the future, I
will actually direct my own film.
Man Are you preparing for a performance at the
moment?
Janet Yes, I am playing a role in a performance
of T h e C o u n t o f M o n te C ris to next spring.
So, I am reading a lot at the moment. I am
reading the script obviously, but I’m also
reading about the history of the period,
partly because I enjoy reading about history,
but also because it helps the performance of
a role if you understand what the characters’
lives would have been like.
Man That makes sense. So, what things do you
like doing in your free time that have nothing
to do with work?
Janet Well, I like going out for a meal with friends.
My best friend has just opened a cafe
restaurant in the centre which serves great
food. What else? I like walking around the
city on my own, especially very early or late
when there are not many people out and
about. I also enjoy curling up on my sofa
to read a good mystery book. You know,
the whodunnit type that has you trying to
solve the mystery behind a murder. Oh, and
I have just taken up playing the trumpet! It’s
been just a month! Fortunately, none of my
neighbours have complained yet!
Man Did you take up the trumpet for a role you
will be playing?
Janet Oh, no! I listen to a lot of jazz music and I
particularly like the sound of the trumpet. I’d
always wanted to learn an instrument, and
then I saw a trumpet in the window of a local
shop. They usually only sell guitars, so it
caught my eye. I thought, why not?
Man And how’s it going? Is it a difficult instrument
to play?
Janet Well, it was at first, but I’m taking lessons,
 Listening transcripts
and my teacher is very good and very
patient!
Man How about sport or exercise?
Janet Well, I definitely try to keep fit, and recently
I started practising yoga. I’m surprised how
much I enjoy it! I used to do much more
vigorous sports, like basketball and hockey.
But that has changed now. It’s not that I’m too
old for these activities; I just don’t enjoy them
as much as I used to. I think that yoga is more
my kind of thing. Not only does it keep me fit,
but it also helps me clear my head and relax,
which is important because my profession is
both very demanding and stressful.
Unit 3
Taskl
Nancy Can you believe it? It seems like only
yesterday we were in our first year, and now
this is our final year at secondary school.
Sean Yeah, it’s amazing how fast time goes by.
Nancy Anyway, have you decided what you are
going to study at university?
Sean Well, my dad wants me to study business
administration so that one day I can take
over the family business.
Nancy You’re so lucky you have a job waiting for
you once you finish university. I’m going to
study law, but with all the competition and
unemployment in this town, who knows if I’ll
ever get a job as a lawyer? I’ll probably just
end up serving people in restaurants.
Sean Come on. It isn’t that bad. My problem is that
I can’t imagine myself in a suit with a bunch
of middle-aged men discussing money all
the time. Ever since I was a child, I’ve dreamt
of becoming a singer and being followed by
my fans everywhere I go.
Nancy Have you talked this over with your dad?
Sean Yes. He thinks I'll only be wasting my time if I
don’t go to university.
Nancy I know! Why don’t you do a part-time degree
in business administration at university and
work as a singer at weekends too?
Sean That’s exactly what I was thinking myself. By
the way, when do we have to apply?
Nancy Let’s see. It’s 20 April today, and applications
begin in the second week of next month, on
the fourteenth, to be exact.
Sean Hopefully, we will get accepted at one of the
local universities.
Nancy Yeah, they are all centrally located and
it only takes thirty minutes to reach the
furthest university.
Sean Actually, with the new motorway that they
are building, it will be ten minutes faster.
Nancy That will be great, but building a road is a big
project and by the time they finish, we will
have graduated from university.
Sean Speaking of finishing projects on time, have
you started working on your arts and crafts
project?
Nancy Well, I still need to buy some things like glue,
coloured paper, and some markers.
Sean I can give you some coloured paper and
markers if you like.
Nancy Great! Do you also have a pair of scissors?
Sean Yes, I do.
Nancy Brilliant! That means I only have to buy one
thing.
Sean Hey, I almost forgot. Do you... (fa d e o u t)
Task 2
Teacher It’s funny how some people seem to have
a knack for learning a second language,
while others find it quite difficult. Generally
speaking, though, many hours of hard work
and study are involved. That’s why many
students go to language schools, which
make language learning quicker and easier.
In countries like the United Kingdom,
for example, special language schools
have been established for those who are
interested in visiting the country and
learning the language at the same time.
These schools do not run all year round, but
only for a few weeks during the summer.
Many would think that these schools are
only for the young, but in fact just the
opposite is true. People of all ages are
welcome and attend them for a number of
reasons. Some find it necessary to learn
English for job purposes, while others have
to sit special exams to enter a university
or just want to improve their English. But
for whatever reason they learn English, the
good thing is that different age groups are
not put together. In actual fact, people of
similar ages are put in the same class; that
way, they’re more likely to have things in
common.

The classes are small, and this gives students
the chance to make new friends, quickly. The
programmes these language schools offer
are quite full and very interesting. Forget
about traditional teaching methods. In fact,
only one third of the lessons take place in
classrooms. Most of the learning is done
outside the classroom, where you not only
practise the language, but also experience
English culture firsthand, although you don’t
really get to meet as many English people
as you’d expect. Probably because you’re
not there very long. As for the teachers,
they’re not only from the United Kingdom,
but from other English-speaking countries
as well. A typical day would involve a couple
of hours of lessons before lunch and some
art, like painting or pottery in the early part
of the afternoon. Or, if the students enjoy
physical activities more, they can play a
game of tennis or do some other sport. After
dinner, there’s a variety of things to do, like
going to the theatre or a club, just to name
a few. There’s always something to please
everyone.
Unit 4
Taskl
Man You know, I left school at fifteen, and the
first job I applied for was a kitchen porter in
the Continental Hotel in London. However,
the first place I actually worked at was at
the Ney Flower Restaurant. I was offered
the position of trainee chef and I worked
there for five years. Then I went to Ireland,
where I opened a restaurant in the small
town where I was born. You see, my parents
came to London when I was eighteen
months old, and I spent many years there.
That’s why most people think I was born in
England. Within two years, the restaurant
had become so successful that I decided to
open one in Dublin as a stepping stone to
eventually opening one in London. However,
it was not as successful as I hoped it would
be, but, as the saying goes, every cloud has
a silver lining, and that is when I first caught
the attention of the television people. Perry
Ashton, the producer, was in Dublin for a
friend’s party. He came into the restaurant
the next afternoon with some other people
Listening Transcripts
and had the set menu. He was so impressed
he asked me to make a guest appearance on
a weekend variety show he was producing.
I went on the show, and, as the saying goes,
the rest is history. I recorded 1,200 shows
of C o o k in g U p A S to rm . These days I am
semi-retired except for making special guest
appearances now and then. I do most of
my cooking at home, but I’m afraid my kids
would rather go to the local burger bar than
experience Thai or French cooking.
Task 2
Presenter On today’s programme we have nutritionist
Jamie Evans with us to talk about the
importance of youngsters having a good
diet. Welcome, Jamie.
Jamie Thanks for having me, Bill.
Presenter We all remember our mums telling us to
eat our greens up, otherwise we wouldn’t
become big and strong. Were they telling us
the truth, Jamie?
Jamie Yes. The food we eat determines the way our
bodies develop, not just physically, but also
mentally. A recent study shows that our early
years are especially critical. It was found
that toddlers who were fed on a diet packed
high in fats, sugars, and processed foods
had a lower level of intelligence than those
fed on pasta, salads and fruit. The scientists
involved in the research stressed that a good
diet was vital in a child's early life, as the
brain grows at its fastest rate during the first
three years of life.
Presenter Are there any benefits related to a nutritious
diet after that age, Jamie?
Jamie Of course! For a start, a child’s behaviour
can be greatly improved with the help of
a balanced diet. Numerous studies have
reported a link between poor diet and
hyperactivity and sleep problems, but the
symptom that is most affected by diet is
mood. Without the correct intake of food, we
tend to become impatient and express anger
more easily. Our bodies also exhibit signs of
stress when our vitamin C levels drop, so we
should try to eat at least five portions of fruit
and vegetables a day to keep them high.
Presenter Can the correct diet also help children get
better results at school?
r ^
Listening transcripts
Jamie Yes, very much so. One of the biggest
mistakes a child can make is to skip
breakfast. Several studies have indicated
that eating breakfast helps children perform
better at school. They are more attentive,
less fidgety and recall more information in
the classroom when they eat a nutritious
breakfast, compared to when they don’t. A
good breakfast might include: a boiled egg
and toast, cereal with milk, or a selection of
fruit.
Presenter And what about when exams approach?
Should students eat certain foods to boost
their brain’s performance?
Jamie Well, apart from the advice about eating a
balanced diet and never skipping breakfast,
there is a range of foods which have been
proven to increase brain activity. Foods such
as eggs, nuts and yoghurt both revitalise
the brain and reduce feelings of anxiety and
stress that students are prone to before an
exam.
Presenter Very useful information, Jamie. Is there
anything else you’d like to pass on to our
listeners before we sign off?
Jamie Yes, there is actually. It is especially
important that students combine healthy
eating habits with physical exercise
in order to keep their body in shape.
Obesity can play a destructive role in a
child’s performance at school. Aside from
contributing to health problems that may
make achieving academic success more
challenging, obesity can often make
students feel uncomfortable with their
appearance, and therefore they avoid
participating in class discussions or any
activities which may place them in the
spotlight.
Unit 5
Task 1
Andy Mum, I’m back!
Mum Oh, hi, Andy. Did you get anything?
Andy Yes, check this out!
Mum You are joking, right? That’s not for your dad.
Andy Why not? It’s the latest fashion.
Mum That’s the problem. Your dad is not a
teenager. Also, he never wears those
colours.
Andy I know, but I thought he could do with a
change.
Mum Oh, don’t be silly, Andy. It’s much too bright
for your father.
Andy Yes, bright and happy! Just what Dad needs.
He’s been a bit depressed lately, so I think
this will cheer him up.
Mum But blue, pink, green and yellow?
Andy Why not? Blue is his favourite colour anyway.
Mum So why didn’t you get him a plain blue shirt
or a tie?
Andy He already has a lot of shirts and ties, but he
has hardly any T-shirts. I’m sure he’ll love it.
Mum I don’t know. Anyway, how much did you pay
for it?
Andy £45.
Mum Pardon?
Andy £45. They gave me a special discount.
Mum A discount? You can’t be serious! £45 for this
horrible piece of rubbish?
Andy I agree, it’s a lot, but it’s hand-painted.
Mum Hand-painted? I don’t care. I just can’t
believe you spent so much on a... (fade out)
Task 2
Whether we love or hate shopping, most of us have
to shop several times a week. Today we’re looking
into some of the tricks that advertisers use to get us
to choose one product over another or even to buy
something we weren’t even looking for. Plus, we will
be considering the question: ‘Is it okay for advertisers
to lie?’ First off, there’s nothing wrong with advertising
something you want to sell, as people need to know that
your product exists. And marketers will naturally look
to use psychology when selling something, whether
it’s using the colour blue to make TV viewers trust a
product, the colour red for excitement or to stimulate
the appetite, or using smiling children in an ad to make
us associate a product with a happy emotion.
But today, the emphasis will be on advertising that goes
beyond positive psychology and into the arena of tricks
and lies. If you’ve ever bought a plane ticket online, you
may be familiar with the message that appears: ‘Only
one seat left!’ Just when someone is about to browse
other websites and look for cheaper deals, they are put
into a sudden panic to buy now. Research has found
that this statement is rarely true. This practice is based
on the theory that people are more affected by the idea
of losing out on an opportunity than gaining one. In the
same way, if a product is only offered for a short time
period, shoppers are more likely to buy that particular

product now than waste time looking around.
We also looked into huge discounts. ‘An amazing seventy
per cent off! Original retail price of jacket £139.99, our
price £49.99!’ In truth, the starting price was never
£139.99, but somewhere a lot lower. It’s just a way to
make buyers feel they are getting a great deal they can’t
possibly turn down, when in fact a couple of months ago
the original price was almost the same. Next, we talked
to some food stylists. These are people whose job it
is to make food look good for a photo shoot or TV ad.
Very little is real in the world of food advertising. Since
ice cream would melt under hot lights, those delicious
scoops of ice cream in the cones are actually coloured
mashed potato. And that crispy looking cereal in a bowl
of fresh milk? Well, the milk is really glue, used to keep
the cereal from sinking into the bowl and looking soggy
and unattractive. Next, we are going to look at how
advertisers use complicated expressions that sound
like serious science to make products appear more
credible... (fa d e o u t)
Unit 6
Task 1
Raymond My name’s Raymond Plum and I’d like to
talk to you about travelling around the
world. I’ve been travelling since I was
seventeen and have visited over sixty
countries. A lot of people seem to think
that I became interested in travelling
due to a member of my family doing the
same thing. Others believe that it was my
friends who encouraged me to start seeing
different parts of the world. While it’s true
that my family and friends have always
supported me, I started making plans for
my first two-month trip after watching a
travel programme on TV. I fell in love with
travelling as soon as I arrived in my first
foreign country, which was Colombia. I was
fascinated by the culture, and I wanted to
find out more and more about the way of
life there. This curiosity led to my trip lasting
two years instead of two months. I am a very
sociable person, so I really enjoy talking to
people from different places - but, even
more than that, I love tasting the traditional
dishes from each region that I go to.
You’re probably wondering how someone
can afford to travel for such long periods
of time. Well, unless you’re rich, which
I’m not, you simply have to work on your
travels. You can work in a hostel or a
hotel, which will probably also provide
Listening Transcripts
you with accommodation; if you have the
qualifications, you could work in a school
teaching English, as I usually do, or in a cafe
or restaurant. There are many ways you
can make enough money to continue your
journey.
Safety is something that is also on a lot of
travellers’ minds. It’s not that other places
are more dangerous than the place you are
setting off from... there are just different
types of danger. It’s important to act
sensibly and avoid any situations that could
put you in danger. If you speak to some local
people, they may be able to give you some
valuable advice.
I try to concentrate on the positives that
travelling can bring, though. I’ve been
lucky enough to see the sun set over the
Himalayas, admire the spectacular Machu
Picchu, and visit the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Right now, I’m planning a trip to Alaska to
see the Northern Lights. I’ve heard they’re a
wonderful sight.
Anyway, before you think about making the
trip of a lifetime, you need to make some
preparations. Make a plan of where you...
(fade out)
Task 2
Delhi is a city which wakens all the senses. It is bursting
with colours, smells, sounds and tastes. The morning
started with a delicious, leisurely Indian breakfast at ten
at the hotel: Moong Dal Cheela - crispy Indian pancakes
made from chick pea flour, filled with cottage cheese
and vegetables. It was a completely different taste
sensation from what I usually eat for breakfast. The
dining room was full of flowers this morning, as today is
a special day. It’s 2 October - the birthday of Mahatma
Gandhi, who has inspired people over many generations
with his commitment to nonviolence and who led India’s
independence movement in the 1930s and 40s.
Today is a national holiday in India and I’m in Delhi with
a group of tourists and locals celebrating Mahatma’s
birthday We left the hotel at eleven in the morning, the
temperature a pleasant 26 °C, the sky a cloudless blue
and the air full of the smell of carnations, dahlias and
roses. We travelled in a spacious air-conditioned tourist
bus decorated with flowers. The transport in Delhi is
very colourful. The vehicles are painted with pictures
of flowers and birds and with funny messages on the
backs of vehicles to other drivers. There were twenty-
four passengers on the bus - foreigners from all over
the world: sociology and politics students, writers,
r
Listening transcripts
historians, a group of musicians from Bristol and even an
eco-friendly fashion designer from Holland, inspired by
Gandhi’s spinning wheel movement.
Our day tour started with a trip to the Raj Ghat, a
memorial to Gandhi in New Delhi. On the way there,
the guide on the bus read out quotes from Gandhi’s
collected works. One which stayed with me was a well
known quote from Volume 47: ‘I shall work for an India
in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country,
in whose making they have an effective voice, an India
in which there will be no high class and low class of
people, an India in which all communities shall live
in perfect harmony.’ When we arrived at Raj Ghat, we
had to remove our shoes before entering the walls.
The memorial to Gandhi is a simple, yet grand square
platform of black marble decorated in bright orange
flowers and with a flame that is always kept alight. A
huge crowd was there to pay tribute to the great man
with garlands of flowers to place at the memorial. There
were people of all ages there, all inspired by Gandhi’s
sim plicity and dedication to freedom and nonviolence.
There were people from all walks of life. The government
offices, banks, post offices and schools are closed today,
and there were several groups of school children there,
holding flags with doves or peace signs painted on them
and bunches of flowers.
Next stop is the train station. I have always dreamed
of taking a train journey in India, and my destination is
Agra to see the Taj Mahal, ‘Crown of Palaces’, one of the
wonders of the world.
Unit 7
Task 1
Timothy Where were you last night? I must have
called you at least three times.
Kimberly I had a rehearsal with my theatre group.
We’re putting on a play next month.
Timothy Hold on a minute. I didn’t know you were in a
theatre group.
Kimberly Yes, I joined one a couple of weeks ago.
Timothy Really? How did you become interested in
acting?
Kimberly Well, I had gone to see a play a few weeks
before, and I got hooked.
Timothy What do you mean?
Kimberly Well, believe it or not, Ihad never been to a
theatrical performance before, but from the
moment the curtain rose, I knew that acting
on stage was what I wanted to do, or at least,
try.
Timothy So you joined a theatre group?
Kimberly Yes, and apart from being great fun, it
has also helped me a lot. It has made me
more self-confident. You know, it’s open to
everyone, and it would not be such a bad
idea if you joined too. It could do wonders
for you.
Timothy How? -
Kimberly We all know how shy you are, so, if you take
a drama class, it can actually help you get
over your shyness.
Timothy I don’t know anything about acting.
Kimberly That’s all right. We are all amateurs in my
class.
Timothy I might come and check it out one day. And
do you see this acting of yours just as a
hobby or as something more than that?
Kimberly I know this sounds a bit too much, but I hope
to become a famous actress one day.
Timothy I was afraid you’d say something like that.
Come on, Kimberly! You can’t be serious!
Kimberly Why not? I think I’m very talented.
Timothy OK, but do me a favour. Don’t leave
university.
Kimberly Of course not! I know how difficult it is to
get into show business, so I want to have
something to fall back on.
Timothy Good, I’m glad we got that straight. Now one
more thing, can I have your autograph, Miss
Big Shot?
Kimberly Go ahead and make fun of me. Have your fun
now, but don’t come to me when I’m rich and
famous. I’ll be too busy posing for pictures.
Task 2
Interviewer Welcome to C u ltu re To day. Our guest
today is Ivan Pavluk, who is on the
organising committee of the festivals
at Khotyn Fortress, one of the most
important landmarks in Ukraine. So, Ivan,
could you tell us a little about Khotyn
Fortress and how the festivals began?
Ivan Well, let me begin by thanking you for
having me here. Khotyn Fortress, which
was built in the medieval period, is a
symbol of historic power in Ukraine. Many
battles took place there, so it used to
play a central role in holding off enemies.
Indeed, one of the most important battles
was the Battle of Khotyn in 1621 because
it had a profound effect on the future of
 Europe. Also, the fortress was located
on important transportation routes,
like the famous ‘from the Vikings to the
Greeks’ trade route, therefore connecting
Scandinavia and the Byzantine Empire. So,
the fortress is the most fitting place for a
medieval festival. The Khotyn Festivals,
which are held annually, are organised by
the Historical Medieval Battle International
Association. The first festival was held at
the fortress in 2010 and it was called the
Battle of the Nations. It took place between
national teams of different countries.
Apart from Ukraine, the countries that
participated in the battle included Russia,
Belarus and Poland, and in the following
years, other countries joined in. There are
now more than thirty countries taking
part.
Interviewer And what does someone who wants to
participate in the battles have to do?
Ivan Actually, it is quite a long procedure
and there are some rules. Each country
can have up to fifty fighters; however,
each team must consist of at least eight
warriors. Before that, though, the people
who want to take part have to go through
strict qualifying tournaments in their home
country so that the best fighters can be
chosen. The warriors must wear identical
equipment to that worn in medieval
times, and must use their weapons for
combat according to the techniques used
back then. This is done to ensure that
fighters of the period between the twelfth
and fifteenth centuries are accurately
represented.
Interviewer So, let me get this straight. The
participants have to fight each other using
weapons like they used in medieval times,
right?
Yes, that’s right*. It’s actually a competition
Ivan
of strength and skills. There are many
forms of combat that take place. However,
no combat is copied from past battles,
arranged or scripted beforehand. Battles
involve full-contact fighting and all
victories and defeats are real. The most
important thing is that the festival should
have the atmosphere of medieval times.
Interviewer So, what can visitors who are not
participating in the battles do at the
festival?
Ivan Oh, there’s plenty to do there. Visitors
can experience what the camp was like
for Slavic warriors. They can also learn
a wide variety of skills, such as how to
make medieval armour and weapons,
how to shoot a crossbow, and there’s even
dancing. In addition, they can take part
in archery competitions and different
medieval games. The historic fairs and
the medieval taverns add to the whole
atmosphere, which is really captivating.
There are even games especially designed
for children. The Khotyn Festivals are
certainly like no other.
Interviewer Well, that really sounds interesting and I...
(fa d e o u t)
Unit 8
Task 1
Bruce What a remarkable race!
Wayne Yes, Bruce, and it looks like Peter Ramsey is
going to win this year’s Ironman Triathlon
World Championship.
Bruce He looks tired, though, Wayne.
Wayne Well, yes, he does. They say that the Ironman
Triathlon competition is one of the toughest
sporting events on the planet.
Bruce And all that rain in the morning didn’t help
the four kilometre swim.
Wayne Hmm, you’re right - but luckily the waves
weren’t so bad... and the rain stopped before
the next stage.
Bruce Yes, luckily it did. It would have made cycling
really difficult. However, that strong wind
from the sea did put a strain on the cyclists.
Wayne I know what you mean. But Ramsey faced it
successfully and he managed to stay ahead
quite easily - 179 km of amazing riding
strength!
Bruce Now getting back to the marathon, he’s
only got a few hundred metres left. Peter
Ramsey’s in the lead, with Spencer King
following...
Wayne Well, running is Ramsey’s strong point, but it
seems that King is catching up fast...
Bruce This could be quite a finish! Ramsey’s twenty
seconds ahead of Spencer King. Is that
enough for him to win?
Wayne It reminds me of the 1987 World
Championship where Ronnie Johnson won
in the last ten minutes, and he...
Wayne and Bruce OhhhM!
Bruce He’s fallen, Wayne! Ramsey’s on the ground.
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Listening transcripts
Wayne He must have slipped. Get up, Pete!
Spencer’s right behind you!
Bruce He looks injured. But wait... he looks all right
now and he’s getting up... he’s running again!
Yes, come on, Pete! Run!
Wayne There’s still fifty metres to go....
Can he make it?
Bruce I’m not so sure... you can see the pain on his
face... and Spencer King has almost reached
him.
Wayne Amazing scenes here in Hawaii! The
two runners are almost neck and neck...
Ramsey’s struggling...they’re heading for
the finish line... yeeees! Despite his accident,
he’s won, Bruce! He’s made it! He is the new
Ironman Triathlon World Champion!
Task 2
Parkour is a modern activity which is practised in
urban areas and can be done alone or in a group. The
name derives from the French word p a rc o u rs , which
means ‘the path or the way through’. It was invented
by Raymond Belle for military training and was later
modified during the late 1980s by his son, David Belle
and his group of friends, the Yamasaki, as a physical
activity. Parkour became popular in France in the late
1990s and 2 0 0 0 s through documentaries, films and
advertisements.
The activity involves running, jumping, climbing,
swinging, doing flips and other movements. Basically,
it is running and jumping from one point to another,
sometimes over obstacles. There are a variety of
movements such as tic-tac, kong vault and gap jump
which have been developed over the years. Gap jump,
which means jumping from roof top to roof top, is the
most popular. People that practise parkour are called
traceurs, however, female participants may also be
referred to as traceuses. The first meeting of traceurs
from different cities took place in July 2002. These
meetings are called jams, and during a parkour jam, the
traceurs train for hours or even for several days. New
members are accepted into a parkour group only after
an existing member’s recommendation. There is also a
code of behaviour and some principles that members
have to follow. For instance, they have to be honest,
humble, hard-working and be willing to make sacrifices.
All the members have exactly the same status; no one is
considered superior to anyone else. In addition, parkour
is seen as a philosophy by its lovers. What I mean is that
they take it as a way of life and believe that there are no
obstacles which cannot be overcome in life. For them, it
means making progress and enhancing their life.
EE
Nevertheless, parkour is considered one of the most
dangerous alternative sports. There are many injuries
which can result from doing parkour. Some of the
injuries may be acute, ranging from sprains and bruises
to painful bone fractures. You can also seriously hurt
your back, head or neck which would cause a lot of pain
and may lead to paralysis. Apart from acute injuries,
there may be problems caused by the constant use of
your limbs. These problems may gradually lead to a
painful chronic condition. All these negative aspects
should be taken into consideration before someone
decides to take up parkour. The key to preventing
injuries which may be sustained while doing parkour
is to respect the sport and be aware of your limits. You
have to take training seriously and be disciplined. If you
are a member of a group, you have to learn to work with
others. Perseverance is the name of the game because
you need to repeat a challenge successfully at least ten
times to say that you have achieved your goal. All in all,
if you love this activity, there is ‘a way through’, as the
meaning suggests.
Unit 9
Taskl
Peggy Hi, Jeremy! How are you? I must say I’m
surprised to see you here.
Jeremy Doctor’s orders!
Peggy Really? I didn’t know you had health
problems.
Jeremy Idon’t. Not yet, that is! But if Idon’t do
something, I’ll be looking at cholesterol and
stomach problems sooner than I thought. It's
stress, you know!
Peggy Tell me about it! My GP told me that the little
bit of cholesterol I have probably comes
from stress.
Jeremy You? I thought you were as fit as a fiddle.
Everyone knows what a health freak you are.
I mean, you go to the gym every day.
Peggy Oh, please. I come here three evenings a
week. That’s hardly every day.
Jeremy How long do you work out for?
Peggy For about an hour and a half. It used to be
two hours in the beginning. I was quite a bit
overweight, you know. That’s what brought
me here in the first place.
Jeremy I know what you mean.
Peggy Oh, you’re nothing like I was when I first
came here. Has the doctor put you on any
special diet?

Jeremy Not really. He’s just given me a list of foods
that are recommended and another with
foods that should be avoided.
Peggy That's not bad. You know the saying ‘you are
what you eat’.
Jeremy If that’s the case, you are looking at a load of
quickly prepared sandwiches.
Peggy That’s no good. No wonder you suffer from
stress if you do everything quickly.
Jeremy You’re absolutely right. From now on, I plan
to have at least one cooked meal a day.
Peggy Good for you. Have they recommended a
programme for you here?
Jeremy Not yet. I just got here.
Peggy First day, eh?
Jeremy Yeah, if you don’t count last Monday when I
came in to register and find out about prices
and times.
Peggy Well, it’s a good idea if you talk to one of
the trainers. They take everything into
consideration and they make suggestions
about which machines to use and for how
long. I could introduce you to my cousin,
Phil. He’s really good.
Jeremy Actually, I know Phil! He’s my neighbour.
It was him that recommended this place. I
didn’t know you were family. I’m waiting for
him at the moment. I saw him on Monday
and we arranged to meet here today.
Task 2
Announcer It’s twenty-five minutes past the hour, here
on Sunshine Radio, and time for a special
item on first aid, prepared by our very
own medical consultant, Dr Robert Moore,
who last week gave us excellent advice on
preventing accidents in the home.
Doctor Thank you, Stanley. Good evening to
our listeners. First of all, you must all
remember one thing when administering
first aid - you are not doctors. The main
purpose of first aid is to help relieve the
victim ’s pain and anxiety and to prevent
their condition from becoming worse,
before more skilful treatment is available.
So, send for professional help if the
problem is serious. But most importantly,
don’t panic, just act quickly! Knowing what
not to do in an emergency is as important
as knowing what to do.
Now, let’s get more specific. What do you
do if you have to deal with heavy bleeding?
Listening Transcripts
r ^
In most cases, you can stop bleeding by
applying pressure to the wound itself and
by arranging the body so that the wound is
on a level higher than the heart. If possible,
hold a sterile dressing or clean cloth firmly
in place on the bare wound by means of
bandages. Do not remove or change it,
even if it becomes soaked in blood, as
this will result in more blood being lost.
And how about burns? First and second-
degree burns affect the surface of the skin.
First-degree burns are the least serious
and make the damaged area turn red. In
the case of second-degree burns, blisters
form. Third-degree burns are deeper and
the most difficult to treat. In cases of first
or second-degree burns, cold water or
maybe even an ice pack will do the job of
relieving the pain. To stop further infection
DO NOT and I mean DO NOT burst any
blisters! It’ll make matters worse. If you
have to deal with third-degree burns, put
sterile dressings without any medication
on the burn, and get medical attention.
Finally, sunburn doesn’t normally have
to be treated by a doctor unless the case
is serious. You can relieve the pain by
applying a cold cream or, in an emergency,
yoghurt or salad oil on the skin affected.
Remember to stay out of the sun while
recovering, and always wear T-shirts and
hats afterwards because the skin is very
sensitive. Well, we’re out of time, so burns
caused by chemicals will just have to wait
until next time. I’m Dr Moore.
Unit 10
Taskl
Interviewer With the school holidays getting closer
and closer, we’ve invited Henry Stimpson,
who is the head tour guide at the Science
Museum in London, to talk to us. So, what
does the museum have to offer families,
Mr Stimpson?
Henry Well, I can safely say that there is enough
to keep a family entertained for the best
part of a day. Over 15,000 objects can be
seen displayed on the five floors of the
building, and a number of these can be
touched and tried out by visitors.
Interviewer Can you give us an idea of the type of
things people can see?
Henry The museum covers a wide range of
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Listening transcripts
inventions and discoveries, but some
of the most popular are one of the first
washing machines and the control
section of the Apollo 10 spacecraft.
However, in a questionnaire, visitors to
the museum voted the X-ray machine the
most important invention on show in the
museum.
Interviewer That’s interesting. What else can families
do there?
Henry Well, when they want to take a break from
the exhibitions, they can sit back and enjoy
some amazing 3D science films on one of
the biggest screens in the UK. It is actually
taller than four London buses.
Interviewer That sounds great! Tell us a bit about the
guided tours, Mr Stimpson.
Henry There are a number of tours available
daily, which cover a range of exhibitions,
and the good news is that they are free
and no booking is required. They are really
useful for those who are in a hurry or who
want to find out that little bit more about
the exhibitions.
Interviewer What about food? Is there anywhere to eat
inside the museum?
Henry There sure is! There are five cafes inside
the museum which serve snacks, light
refreshments and a selection of main
meals, and for those who’ve brought
their own food, there are picnic areas in
different parts of the museum, away from
the crowds and the exhibitions.
Interviewer OK, and how easy is it for people to get to
the museum?
Henry Incredibly easy. There are... (.fade o u t )
Task 2
Interviewer I’m very excited to have with us today
James Kraft, a successful computer
programmer. He’s here to tell us a little bit
about computer games. James, for most
adults, computer games are a nuisance,
aren’t they?
James Just so. They are usually the cause of
many arguments with their children. After
all, computer games are what keep their
children from performing well at school
or engaging in a number of meaningful
activities. For them, computer games
cannot teach their children anything, and
time spent playing them is time lost.
Interviewer Is this true?
James Well, it depends on what it is you are
doing. Let me begin by saying that even
though I work with computers, I was not
a fan of computer games either. That is,
of course, until I came across a computer
game for mental workouts. Otherwise
known as ‘brain games’, these games aim
to help you get a little mental exercise.
Before becoming familiar with these
computer games, I had read an article
about how important regular practice is in
improving memory and reasoning. I was
looking for something that could engage
me to such an extent that I’d be willing to
do it on a daily basis. That’s when I came
across these brain games.
Interviewer I’ve heard that there are a number of
electronic puzzles and games available
on the market that claim to give a good
mental workout.
James Yes, there are. That’s why I tried a couple
to see what they were all about.
Interviewer And?
James Well, the first one was Nintendo’s Brain
Age. This game came out in April 2006.
It’s actually a game for adults. The concept
is similar to another game called Brain
Training. The main idea is that your brain
has an age of its own that is independent
of your body’s. The aim of the game is
to get the age of your brain as low as
possible. The ultimate goal is a brain age
of twenty. I won’t tell you what my brain
age was like when I first started playing
the game. The shock I received kept
me playing diligently until I managed to
lower my brain age to one that I felt was
more acceptable. The exercises vary from
reading aloud to quick arithmetic and
wordlists for memorisation.
Interviewer Now, you also tried another game,
BrainWare Safari, which was developed by
a company called Learning Enhancement
Corporation. So what was that game like?
James Well, Brain Age and BrainWare Safari are
similar in that both use a gamelike setting
to give you the opportunity to get some
mental exercise by using logic puzzles and
memory challenges. Furthermore, both
aim to improve cognition and memory.
One of the differences is that Nintendo
games are played on a console, whereas
BrainWare Safari requires you to access

the Internet.
Interviewer Have brain games changed your opinion
of computer games?
James They certainly have. I think that playing
them is a good way of improving your
mental skills. They’re fun, so it’s not
like doing exercises from a textbook.
But you’re nevertheless getting a lot of
practice because the tasks in these games
have been designed to make you think.
Interviewer Thanks, James. And for those parents out
there who would like to... (fa d e o u t)
Unit 11
Task 1
Man In the studio with us today we have
Professor Mary Harper, who’s going to talk
to us about rainforests and why they are so
important. Good morning, Professor. Thank
you for coming in today.
Woman Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here.
Man Well, could you start by telling us what
rainforests are and where we can find them?
Woman Right. Well, rainforests are dense forests
found near the equator. Over half of the
w orld’s rainforests are in Central and South
America. The rest are in Africa and South
East Asia.
Man I see... and could you tell us why rainforests
are so important?
Woman First of all, rainforests are the natural
habitat for many species of animals, birds,
insects and plants. What’s more, we mustn’t
forget that plants produce oxygen, which is
necessary for life on Earth. They also control
the Earth’s temperature by absorbing carbon
dioxide.
Man So, you’re saying that our planet needs its
rainforests.
Woman Oh, definitely. But the problem is that more
than fifty per cent of the w orld’s rainforests
have already disappeared.
Man That much? What, or should I say, who is
responsible for their disappearance?
Woman Well, to begin with, the trees are being
burnt or cut down because people in some
countries need the land to grow food or to
raise their cattle and sheep. It’s a matter of
life and death for them. But that’s not all.
Other people are destroying rainforests in
Listening Transcripts
r i
order to make money by selling the wood.
But, for whatever reason rainforests are
being destroyed, the results are irreversible.
Man Could you tell us some of the consequences
of this destruction?
Woman Well, one thing is that millions of animal and
plant species will become extinct. Did you
know that some of our m edicines come from
rainforest plants?
Man Really? I thought they’re all made from
chemicals in laboratories... (fa d e o u t)
Task 2
It seems to be a trait of human nature that we are more
shocked by the death of species if it happens in one
event or if there is a very visible dramatic death. In
addition, people get more emotional about animals
which have youthful features, such as big eyes and soft
fur, like bunny rabbits. This is known as the ‘cute effect’.
This might explain why there hasn’t been greater protest
about the decline in wild bees. Insects are not high up on
the list of animals which generally get human sympathy
when they die or start to disappear, although butterflies
and bumblebees do get more attention than other
insects due to their more attractive appearance.
There are 1,965 European species of bees and of this
number nine per cent are under threat of extinction. As
well as this, another five per cent of native bee species
in Europe will probably soon be under threat. Today I am
going to be explaining why we are losing so many bees,
what the consequences are and, finally, what we can do
to reverse this trend.
There are many threats to bees. One of the main threats
is from loss of natural habitat because of urban spread,
intensive farming and climate change. Intensive farming
is a practice which aims to get a high yield of crops by
using fertilisers and pesticides and where animals are
kept indoors. As well as areas of land being taken up by
farming, the chemicals used in intensive farming can
harm bees directly. There are some pesticides which
kill bees immediately if the bees are on the flowers at
the time they are being sprayed. Some pesticides affect
bee’s brains, so they can’t learn as effectively, forget
their routes and also the scent of flowers. Bees are more
vulnerable than other insects to these pesticides, as they
are not so able to get rid of the toxins.
Apart from loss of habitat, another threat to bees is the
varroa mite which is a pest that attaches to the body of
bees, spreading a virus to them and leading to the death
of a honey bee colony.
How about the consequence of losing so many bees?
Apart from the belief some people share that bees,
like any living creature, have a right to live, bees are
essential in the pollination of crops. They are the most
r
Listening transcripts
important insect that transfers pollen from one plant to
another. Pollination is needed for plants to reproduce.
Without bees, the ecosystem would suffer greatly. Many
species of plants and consequently many species of
animals simply wouldn’t survive without them. Likewise,
in farmed areas, bees play a huge role in pollination. If
it seems like protesters are making a mountain out of a
molehill, then consider how devastating the loss of bees
would be to agriculture. Of the around 100 crop species
that feed ninety per cent of the world, seventy are
pollinated by bees. Without bees, it would be impossible
to keep feeding the global human population in the
same way.
So, what can we do? Well, thanks to pressure from
beekeepers, some countries have already banned the
use of pesticides which are harmful to bees and this ban
needs to extend to other countries. Urban areas cannot...
(fa d e o u t)
Unit 12
Taskl
Tania Now it’s time to welcome Bob Hamilton, a
worker from the telephone helpline Youth
Connect! How are you doing, Bob?
Bob I’m great thanks, Tania. Glad to be here!
Tania Bob, I have a question. There are several
telephone helpline services offering
information and advice. How is Youth
Connect different?
Bob The answer lies in our name, Tania, the word
‘connect’! That’s what we try to do. We try
to put our young callers in touch with the
help or advice they need. Let me explain.
Young people, as they grow into adults, face
new worries about relationships, health
and happiness. Now this is where we, the
workers at Youth Connect, come in. We know
we haven’t got all the answers to the w orld’s
problems, but we do our best to put every
young caller through to someone who can
give them the help they need. We make the
connection.
Tania And how do you do that, Bob?
Bob I’ll give you an example. A young caller
I spoke to the other day told me he was
having trouble sleeping at night. I asked
him if something traumatic had happened
to him lately to disturb his sleep, and he
said no, but he did say that he was under
a lot of pressure at school. Aha! Stress, I
thought. So, I told him that he needed to
find a way to unwind, you know, to take his
mind off things. But, of course, I was also
able to put him directly through to the health
service helpline for young people, staffed by
psychologists and doctors.
Tania Sounds good to me, Bob. But what if you
were jlist lonely and needed to chat?
Bob It is often a very lonely experience growing
up in a big city, but fortunately, in London,
there are a number of youth support groups,
and we can put the caller in touch with a
worker like me in their local area. And if
they only want to talk on the telephone,
these support groups can offer just that. We
can also send callers an information pack
through the post or by email, and it’s full of
useful advice and contact numbers.
Tania Well, that’s about all we’ve got time for folks.
Our thanks to Bob for his time here today.
And, just to remind our listeners, if you have
any views or opinions on Youth Connect, you
can send your comments and also get more
information on our website... (fa d e o u t)
Task 2
Intro Now, callisthenics is something I’ve only just
heard about. It was introduced to me as a
fantastic way to strengthen the body without
the need for any equipment. Here to tell us
a little about this form of exercise is athlete
Eric Dunn. Eric, tell us about your experience
with callisthenics.
Eric Firstly, although a lot of people are just
learning about callisthenics now, it’s actually
been around for thousands of years, first
appearing in ancient Greece. I first learnt
about callisthenics when I accidently came
across a video somebody had posted on
the Internet of their callisthenics workout,
and I was immediately impressed. I’ve been
doing calisthenics for four years, and for
the last year, I’ve been training kids in my
neighbourhood. Before that, I had been
going to the gym for five years doing weight
training with free weights and bodybuilding
equipment, you know, the usual - weight
benches, power racks, multigyms, workout
towers...
Callisthenics is all about using your own
bodyweight to build muscle and strength.
Whereas in bodybuilding particular muscle
groups are worked on in separate exercises,
in callisthenics it is important you have

a strong centre. We try to connect the
different muscle groups while moving and
also while holding a position. A lot of kids I
meet are overweight from playing computer
games and eating junk food. Many of them,
though, don't have the money to go to a
gym. That’s where callisthenics is great. They
can practise in the park, the playground or
the street, using street benches for press-
ups and bars in the playground or trees for
pull-ups.
I’ve been a vegan for ten years, and the
kids that have started training with me are
changing their diets too. They’re not going
fully vegan, but they’ve cut out junk food.
The bodyweight training we do is press-ups,
crunches, squats and lunges. The dragonfly
is a good exercise too. You’re on a bench and
grab the back of it. Then you lift your body
all the way up, keeping it straight, and then
lower it back down again. Another cool one
is the human flag. You use a pole or chain
link fence and push down with your bottom
hand and pull up with your top hand. You get
your body into a horizontal position, making
a flag shape with the pole or fence. This one
takes a bit of time. You can’t do this from day
one!
The thing is that callisthenics is not just a
good option because you can do it anywhere
at no cost; there are a lot of physical benefits
to this form of exercise, and they are not
limited to increasing strength. Callisthenics
helps with the ability to move and bend
easily. It also helps with body control and
generally being in touch with your body. As
well as this, when callisthenics is done with a
lot of physical energy, it makes the heart and
lungs stronger. I highly recommend you try
callisthenics. You have nothing to lose and
everything to gain.
Unit 13
Taskl
Sergeant Gregory Humboldt Good evening and thank
you very much for the invitation to give a
speech on crime prevention at this meeting.
Before I begin, I’d like to congratulate the
White Haven Neighbourhood Watch on
actually reducing crime in the area by sixty
per cent. Well done!
Now, with the holidays almost upon us, I
Listening Transcripts
r
urge you to take a few extra precautions to
safeguard your home if you are planning
to go away. Firstly, do not alert passers-by
to the fact that you will be leaving. Don’t
put your suitcases into the car anywhere
that’s in full view of would-be burglars.
Secondly, arrange for someone to come by
regularly and collect any post that may have
accumulated in your letterbox. Remember
to cancel all milk, bread and newspaper
deliveries for the duration of your holiday.
It would also be a good idea to leave your
contact details with a neighbour in case of
an emergency. If you plan to be away for a
considerable period of time, ask a neighbour
to mow your lawn.
Now, Mr Harper, the chairman of the
committee, has asked me to give you some
general tips on protecting your home.
Exterior lighting at night is essential... Ahh...
yes... you have something to share with
us... yes... Right! That’s an excellent point!
It’s important to lock all tools and ladders
away - you don’t want to give thieves any
help. Security doors and an alarm system are
also vital. Don’t neglect outdoor buildings
either; garden sheds and workshops are
ideal hiding places for thieves, so investing
in some padlocks for added security would
be a good idea. Remember, break-ins don’t
just happen at night or when people are
away - in fact, the majority of burglaries
occur in broad daylight, so it’s important
to be on the alert at all times. Avoid being
careless - don’t, for example, leave keys in
hiding places around the house, and don’t
leave notes for family members pinned on
the front door. Right then, let me look at my
notes here... (fa d e o u t)
Task 2
Good morning. My name is Francis Dupont, and I have
been conducting research into the way the Internet is
affecting our society and our human rights. The Internet
is now an integral part of our world. We use it to buy and
sell, communicate with our friends, communicate with
our professional associates, use it to research, use it for
recreation; there is no facet of modern life that is outside
the grasp of the Internet. The Internet has provided a
platform for everyone to share their opinions. Almost
anyone in the world can log on and post their views on
social media, create a blog or respond to news articles.
From a human rights point of view, this is a tremendous
tool for people to exercise their freedom of speech.
r i
Listening transcripts
And this leads to an interesting issue. Can there be too
much freedom of speech? There are plenty of comedy
websites whose content could offend people and should,
in some people’s opinion, be banned. But, by closing
such websites, aren’t we restricting people’s freedom of
expression?
On the other hand, if one person’s views lead to another
person’s freedom being limited, where do we draw the
line? Here’s an example. On a public message board,
open to all, someone starts a conversation about
immigration. The first post is from an advocate of strict
immigration laws who wants to reduce the number of
immigrants to their country. The second post is from a
migrant who takes offence at the first post, claiming it
is racist, although no offensive language was used. An
argument follows which turns into name-calling and
open hostility. But who was in the wrong? Was anyone
in the wrong? The Internet has no equal as a public
platform. There has never been a format of expression
that is so open and accessible to the public. As I
mentioned earlier, almost anyone can post online. And
this leads to another issue: the Internet can be invasive.
If a friend of a friend of a friend posts something, you
could find yourself reading an article or looking at an
image that you find hugely offensive but have not been
able to avoid. You have the right to decide what you do
or don’t look at; however, certain aspects of the Internet
take that option away. Other people’s views can be
broadcast in such a way that we have to take notice. Is
this a violation of people’s rights?
Some would argue that it is. There are of course certain
things which should not be available online. Any form
of abuse is unacceptable, either virtually or in reality.
However, people have suffered torrents of abuse and
even persecution online, and there is little that can be
done to stop it. Policing the Internet is an immeasurably
difficult task, so the thing we should be looking at is
why there is so much abuse online in the first place.
Well, anonymity and detachment. People can be
anonymous online and therefore don’t worry about what
people think of what they say. A person posting online
could be a complete stranger to the person they are
communicating with and therefore may have little to no
concern for their emotional wellbeing. Even when we are
communicating with a complete stranger, we should try
to be sensitive and consider their emotional well-being.
After all, wouldn’t you want others to do the same for
you?
Unit 14
Task 1
Presenter ... and now we will continue our programme
on historical figures with Igor Sikorsky, who
is considered by many to be the Father of
Aviation. Igor Sikorsky was born in Kyiv
in 1889. He studied engineering at Kyiv
Polytechnic Institute, but after his trip to
Germany, where he found out about the
achievements of other famous inventors,
like the Wright brothers and Ferdinand von
Zeppelin, he decided to study aviation in
France. He returned to Ukraine and began
building helicopters and aircraft which,
unfortunately, failed to fly. However, finally,
in 1913, he came up with the idea of an
aircraft, with more than one engine. So he
built the first four-engine plane, which made
him famous all over the world. Some years
later, in 1931, he designed and built a flying
boat which was later widely used for long
voyages. After a lot of hard work, he created
the first working helicopter in 1939. By then,
he had already moved to the United States
and, in 1925, formed his own company,
the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corporation.
Within a few years, the firm became a part
of the giant United Aircraft and Transport
Corporation in the United States. Igor
Sikorsky died on 26 October 1972 at the
age of 83. His contribution to the world of
aviation is widely recognised and in 2013,
he was listed in the 51 Heroes of Aviation by
Flying Magazine.
Task 2
Nellie Agatha Miller, better known as Agatha
Christie, was born here in Torquay in 1890.
Up to 1901, she is said to have had a very
happy childhood until, when she was aged
only eleven, her father died. Before his
death, Agatha was educated at home by
both parents, who encouraged her to write
from a very young age. After her father’s
death, she was sent to Paris to receive a
formal education.
She met her first husband, Colonel Archibald
Christie, two years before the outbreak of
World War I. During the war, she volunteered
as a nurse at a Red Cross Hospital and
started writing detective stories. Her first
book, T h e M y s te rio u s A ffa ir a t S ty le s, was
published in 1920. Agatha and Archibald
Christie were divorced in 1928, but Agatha
continued to write under the name of
Christie. When World War II broke out, she
worked in the pharmacy of a hospital, where
she learnt a lot about poisonous substances.
She used this knowledge in her crime novels,
and in fact chose poison as the cause of
death of characters more often than any
other crime fiction writer did. In 1930, she
married archaeologist Max Mallowan,
whom she accompanied on expeditions
in the Middle East. These travels provided
the settings for some of her novels, such as
M u r d e r in M e s o p o ta m ia (1936) and D e a th o n
th e N ile (1937).
Agatha Christie’s most famous characters
are Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple.
Hercule Poirot is a Belgian detective, and
was introduced in Agatha’s first novel. Poirot
observes people’s behaviour and the objects
around him, and uses logic to solve his
cases. He became a long-running character
in many of Agatha's works and appears
in thirty-three novels and fifty-four short
stories, including C u rta in (1975), in which he
dies. Miss Marple is an elderly English lady
who appears in twelve books. Unlike Poirot,
she solves crimes using female intuition. It
is said that the character of Miss Marple is
based on a close relative.
Agatha Christie died in 1976. During her
literary career, she published over seventy-
two crime novels, twenty- eight collections
of short stories and nineteen plays. For this
she received a special award in 1955. She
also wrote six romantic novels under the
name of Mary Westmacott. Some of her
stories, like M u r d e r o n th e O r ie n t E x p re s s
(1934), have been made into films and
television series.
Go for ZNO
Listen in g C o m p re h e n sio n

This book is intended to prepare students for English language examinations

in Ukraine (B1 and B2 levels of CEFR). Its aim is to improve students’ listening
skills and familiarise them with examination tasks. The book consists
of 14 units, each of which is based on a different topic and includes two tasks
(the first one for B1 level and the second one for B2 level).

KEY FEATURES
• A variety of texts and topics reflecting the range used in the examinations
• Special sections with exam tips and strategies
• Pre-listening tasks and discussion points
• Listening transcripts

COMPONENTS
Student’s Book
Answer Key
Audio CDs

CEF
A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2

ISBN: 978-618-05-2734-6

★
★

★
In accordance ★
with the
Com m on
E u ro p ean
F ra m e w o rk ★
★ QQ
mm
publications
 Complete the blanks with the verbs go, come, reach or get.

better to sleep revenge on sb’s nerves

a decision rid of red off sb's back

to terms with ready an agreement down to busir

into trouble the sack lost over the top

dark in handy the job even with

Complete the sentences with the collocations / expressions in the box below. Use each one only once.

in som ebody’s shoes on top of in search of on the safe side in charge of in trouble with

1 Mr Johnson i s _________________________the com pany’s marketing department.

2 People who systematically cheat the tax system will one day b e _________________________the Tax Department.
3 The doctor insisted that I should be given a thorough check-up just to b e _________________________.
4 The children wandered around the neighbourhood _________________________their lost dog.
5 Nobody would want to b e _________________________, not with all those debts he has to pay off.
6 After weeks of hard work, Kevin was confident he was fin a lly _________________________the situation.

Complete the collocations below with the words in the box. You may use some of the words more than
once. In some cases more than one word may be correct.

bar bunch can clap flash flock pair pint set sheet swarm tube

a of pyjamas a of paper a of scissors

a of lightning a of soap a of sheep
a of beer a of sunglasses a of rules
a of traffic lights a of birds a of thunder
a of flowers a of toothpaste a of bees

Read the sentences on the left and match the phrasal verbs with their definitions on the right by writing
correct number in the box next to each definition.

A COME
1 While cleaning the basement, Icame across something Ithought I had lost stop by, visit
years ago. inherit
2 Joe came into a lot of money, which changed his life completely. find by chance
3 Why doesn’t Julie come round to our place anymore?
regain consciousness
4 The scientists took months to come up with a solution to their problem.
be taken ill with
5 Richard came down with a bad cold the day before his exams.
think of and suggest
6 t took the woman a few minutes to come round /to after she had fainted.
 unit 01
B GO
move / travel around, visit
1 They decided to go ahead with their trip despite the bad weather condit
match
2 Once you have finished cleaning, you can go on with your job.
explode
3 The doctor wanted to go over the test results with his patient.
4 That tie goes with your suit nicely. start sth

5 Luckily no one was injured when the bomb went off. continue doing

6 While visiting Rome, we went round all the major archaeological sites. turn sour, start to decay

7 The child went through a lot before recovering completely. examine / discuss in detail
8 The milk went off after only an hour in the scorching heat. suffer
9 What’s going on in there? Open the door! happen

BE
1 What's on this weekend at the theatre? leave
2 We were promised that the hard times would be over soon. support, in favour of
3 I was about to leave home when some unexpected visitors arrived. end
4 I'mfor the mayor's plan to relocate the town hall. be ready to
5 What are the boys up to? Don’t tell me they’re ruining the garden again! be shown / performed
6 I must be off now. My parents are expecting me for dinner.
do (usually sth wrong)

Words with Prepositions

A Complete the blanks with prepositions.

Adjectives Nouns Verbs

e x c e lle n t an a n sw e r a s s o c ia te D r a is e s b s th

e x p e r ie n c e d an e x p e rt c o n c e n tra te sth D r o v id e s b s th

haDDv sb (ta k e ) p r id e c o n a r a t u la t e s b sth p r o v id e s th sb

haDDv s th a r e p ly c o o D e r a te sb succeed

p ro u d a re p o rt deal S U D D lV S b s th

re s p e c t e d an o p p o r t u n it y in c lu d e s u d d Iv s th sb

r e s p o n s ib le

E Read the following sentences and complete them with prepositions.

1 Congratulations Rodney! I'm so happy__________ you and your wife.

2 Iwould be more than happy to provide y o u __________ our company's catalogue.

3 We supply all major com panies__________ our products.

4 She takes great pride__________ her work. That's why she’s the best in her field.

5 The government will provide housing__________ the homeless.

6 You shouldn’t be proud__________ yourself. What you did was wrong!

7 The government supplied food and m edicine__________ the victims of the hurricane.

8 The journalist was praised__________ his report___________ the starving children of Africa.