StartUp 4 Assessments

ExamView Audio Script

UNIT 1

Unit 1, Section 1, Listening

F2: Hello, I’m Janet Summers, and this is Storytime, our weekly podcast, which gives
listeners the chance to call in and share their stories. Last week, we asked
listeners to tell us about their favorite gift. We have some callers on the line ready
to go. First up is Daniela from Miami. Daniela, tell us your story.
F3: OK, here goes. When I was a young girl, I loved to play dress up. Once while my
mother was in the kitchen cooking, I went quietly into her room and opened her
closet to find one of her dresses to wear. I chose her bright red dress that had
beautiful pink and yellow flowers on the bottom. After putting on the dress, I
searched through the drawer where she kept her jewelry and put on some of her
rings and bracelets. For the final touch, I put on a pair of her shoes. Just as I
began walking around the bedroom, I saw my mother standing at the door. I was
afraid she would be angry, but instead she just laughed and asked if I wanted her
to do my make-up! Of course, I said yes. That day I felt so beautiful. A few years
later, when I was a bit older, she gave me the dress as a gift. To this day, it is still
my favorite dress.
F2: What a great story. Thanks, Daniela. Next, we have Calvin calling from Texas.
Calvin, tell us your story.
M2: OK, well when I was a child, I had a favorite blanket. My mom bought me a blue,
cotton blanket with a soft brown bear on it for my birthday. I slept with the blanket
every night because I believed that it kept me safe. As I got older, I brought the
blanket everywhere. I brought it with me on my first plane ride. And, I even used
it in my tent on my first camping trip. When I got older, I put the blanket away in
my closet and forgot about it. Years passed by, and I never thought about the
blanket, until the day that I was moving into college. Before saying goodbye, my
mother handed me a box. When I opened it, I saw my blue blanket! It reminded
me so much about the past time. I knew that bringing this blanket would help me
miss home a little less.
F2: Wow, that’s such a sweet gift. Mothers are the best!

Unit 1, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: Are you going to the baseball game later?

F1: No, I'm going to the soccer game.

M1: I learned some Chinese last year.

F1: Oh yeah? I learned some Spanish!

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Unit 1, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: That's a really beautiful birthday gift.

F1: I really like your bracelets.

UNIT 2

Unit 2, Section 1, Listening

Local Weather Report

M3: Good morning, this is Kevin Jones with your Thursday weather report. Get your
umbrellas out. It’s been raining all morning, and it isn’t stopping anytime soon.
There may be thunderstorms with heavy rain and strong winds all through Friday.
The National Weather service has sent out a flood warning in effect through 10
P.M. tonight for the northern New York area. We are expecting as much as 4.5
inches per hour of rain.

Be careful if you need to get on the road today, as many roads are already
flooded, and trees have fallen down. If you need to get out, check the traffic
reports before you go. The Local Government Association has warned
homeowners and businesses to continue following the weather forecasts, and be
prepared to turn off gas, electricity, and water if your home becomes flooded.

Looking on the bright side, the sun should return on Saturday morning, just in
time to enjoy a beautiful weekend.

OK, now over to Kate for a traffic update. How is it out on the roads today?

Unit 2, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: neither
them
thirty
those

F1: authentic
month
something
than

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Unit 2, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: Have you ever driven in the snow?

M1: No, I haven't.

F1: The streets have flooded in my neighborhood.

Unit 3, Section 1, Listening

Experiences from Abroad

F2: Hi, and welcome back to Good Humor! On today’s show, we’re talking to people
who have lived abroad and had a funny experience because of the different
culture. Up next we have Peter. Peter, are you ready to share your story?
M2: Yes, I am! When I was in my twenties, I moved to Venezuela to teach English.
One evening, my friend, Jose, invited me to his house for a dinner party. He told
me that the party began at 8 PM. So I got ready and walked over to his house. It
was 8 o’clock when I arrived. I was right on time. To my surprise, Jose opened
the door in a bath towel. He was surprised to see me, and he asked what I was
doing there so early. I replied that it was 8 PM, and that’s when I thought the party
began. He told me that in Venezuela when you're invited to someone’s home,
you shouldn't arrive at the time the party starts. Instead, you should arrive
emphasis at least 15 minutes later. Because I was so early, Jose suggested that
I start cooking the food while he took a shower. I learned never to be on time.
F2: Lesson learned! Thanks for sharing, Peter. I think we have time for one more
story. Irina, are you on the line?
F3: Yes.
F2: OK, tell us your story!
F3: I was born and raised in Russia, so when I moved to the U.S., I wasn’t sure what
to expect. I remember my first day in California when a woman smiled at me as I
was walking down the street. I was so confused. I didn’t remember meeting this
woman. Her smile made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure how to respond. I
continued on to the local café to pick up a coffee. At the café, the woman behind
the counter gave me a big smile and asked, “How are you?” When I replied and
told her that I was tired and not feeling very well, she seemed surprised. Was I
expected to reply, “Fine, and you?” even when I wasn’t feeling well? I couldn’t
understand why Americans were always smiling. They couldn’t always be happy.
In Russia, it isn't usual to smile at strangers. And we don’t ask strangers how
they are doing. I found it unusual, but eventually, it was something that I learned
to do. Now, I smile at everyone!
F2: Thanks for sharing, Irina. Well, that’s all we have time for today. Until next time,
keep smiling!

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UNIT 3

Unit 3, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: suggest
suggestion

M1: comfortable
uncomfortable

Unit 3, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: Grace is turning 16 tomorrow.

F1: This report is 70 pages long.

UNIT 4

Unit 4, Section 1, Listening

Movie Review of We Are One

M3: Hi and welcome to Lights, Camera, Action! The podcast where I share my
opinion about the latest films before you go to the movies. I’m your host, Victor
Canon. First up today is We Are One. This seems to be the year of science
fiction films!

Set in a time in the future, We Are One tells the story of a society where
machines are fighting for equal rights with humans. I know, I know, it sounds like
a typical science fiction film, but it’s much different. Many screenwriters attempt
romance in science fiction films, but few are as successful as director and
screenwriter, Brian Sanders, was in We Are One.

The movie is adapted from a science fiction novel written by best-selling author,
Sara Kearns. Kearns wrote an interesting story, and Sanders did a great job
making the story come to life on the big screen. It’s not usual for films to be as
good as the book, but in this case, it might be even better!

The film tells the story of Jack Swanton (played by Grant Kileen), a software
engineer, and Roberta (played by Sarah Silvers), a human-like machine that he

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 designed. Jack doesn’t believe that machines should have the same rights as
humans. That is, until he falls in love with Roberta.

The actors are known for their roles in other famous sci-fi films, but they didn’t
give their best performance in this one. So, although the acting could be better,
the plot is definitely good enough for a visit to the theater. I give it two thumbs up!

Unit 4, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: Lynne used her computer to shop online.

F1: I used to read every night before sleeping, but I’m too tired these days.

Unit 4, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

M1: She likes jazz.

M1: Get out of town!

UNIT 5

Unit 5, Section 1, Listening

Baby Shower

M3: Hello, and welcome back to Let me Hear It. Today we’re talking about surprise
parties. We have Georgia on the line. Georgia, tell us your story!
F3: A few years ago, my sister, Mary, was pregnant with her first baby. In the U.S., it
is normal to have a surprise party called a “baby shower” for the soon-to-be
mother about a month before the baby is due to arrive. The idea is to shower the
expecting mother with gifts that she will need when the little one arrives. I wanted
the party to be casual and fun, so I invited all of Mary’s family and friends and
planned to surprise her at her home.

On the day of the party, I spent all morning preparing a table with all of her
favorite snacks—chips and salsa, guacamole, cheese and crackers, hummus
and pretzels, and lots of drinks. Only 20 guests were coming, but there was
enough food for 50 people! The guests began arriving at 2 P.M. Mary’s husband,
Dan, was scheduled to arrive home with Mary at 2:30 P.M. Everything was
happening as planned when I received a phone call at 2:20 P.M. It was Dan. He

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 was at the hospital with Mary. The baby would be coming sooner than expected.
I couldn’t believe it!

After hearing the news, I collected all of Mary’s friends and family in the living
room to tell them that the party would be changing locations. Everyone helped to
collect the food and decorations, got into their cars, and drove to the hospital.
When we arrived, Mary was quite surprised to see us all. The room was crowded
with friends and family, and we enjoyed some food and watched Mary open her
presents. After a little while, the doctors told us that we needed to leave the room
for a bit because the best present of all was on its way—a little baby girl. So, we
moved to the waiting room to continue the party. It turns out that the surprise
baby shower I planned was actually a birthday party!
Unit 5, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: fish

M1: measure

Unit 5, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: brunch

F1: wood

UNITS 1-5

Units 1–5 Test, Section 1, Listening Part A

Discount Divas

F4: Hello, I’m Miriam Arias, and welcome to Discount Divas. Today, we’re talking
about antique stores. While many of you may think antiques are expensive, there
are a surprising number of deals you can find at an antique store. Here are
stories from several listeners who found some great deals at antique shops!

First up is Gina from Santa Barbara. Gina tells us: “I really enjoy traveling, and I
always like to buy a little something to bring home with me. I don’t really like all
the stuff you usually find in souvenir shops though. It just doesn’t feel special.
Instead, I usually try to find an antique store. That way I can get something that
has local history and culture. On a recent trip to England, I went into an antique
store that had all kinds of old photos, postcards, and maps. I found this small
black and white map of Ely—the town I was visiting. It was perfect! And the best
part? The clerk gave it to me for free!”

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 You can’t find a much better deal than free! Next is Tam from Austin. Tam writes:
“I love going into antique stores and looking for old glass products—glasses, jars,
vases, anything I can find. Some of the less common pieces can be a little bit
expensive, but most of them are really cheap—usually just a couple of dollars!
I’ve collected a variety of colors and sizes. The styles are so much more
interesting than the new ones you can find in stores, and I feel good about buying
used items. It makes me feel like I’m helping the environment!

Our final story is from Craig in Salt Lake City, who got a motorcycle for $50!
Craig wrote: “I used to drive past this antique store on my way to work every day.
They had this old-fashioned motorcycle sitting in front of the store for months.
One day, I finally stopped to ask about it. It was built in 1942, but it looked even
older. All the paint was gone and the metal was dull. It didn’t run, so the guy at
the shop agreed to sell it to me for $50. It actually looked worse than it was. After
a few hundred dollars and a few months of work, it worked like new!”

Units 1–5 Test, Section 1, Listening Part B

International Weather Report

F2: In international weather:

A powerful storm moved across the Iberian Peninsula late Tuesday night. Strong
winds of 110 miles per hour caused damage in central Portugal. Hundreds of
trees fell down, and major highways across the region are now closed. This is
one of the strongest storms to hit the country in decades. Over 300,000 homes
and businesses are still without power. Areas that were affected by last month’s
wildfires are now in danger of experiencing landslides. Local officials are asking
people to follow all orders to evacuate.

In Spain, strong winds and rain from the same storm caused damage to multiple
roads and bridges in the northeast. 1500 people had to evacuate when a river
flooded in Zaragoza. While the worst of the storm is over, officials are asking
people to wait a few days before returning to their homes.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit an island off the coast of Greece at 2:35 A.M. The
earthquake caused damage to 74 homes and businesses. No injuries have been
reported and flights are continuing as normal. Officials are encouraging tourists
not to change their travel plans.

Units 1–5 Test, Section 1, Listening Part C

Expect the Unexpected

F3: Welcome back to the show! We’ve all been there. We think we’ve planned well,
and then something goes wrong. We have a couple of listeners on the line to
share their stories of plans gone wrong. First up is Cassie. Hi Cassie! Let’s hear

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 your story.

F2: Hi! So last year, my husband had to fly from London to New Orleans for a family
emergency. I usually plan all of our travel, and since he had a pretty busy work
schedule, he asked me to book his flight. I asked him about dates and times,
looked up a couple of different flights, and then asked him to pick one. There was
nothing really unusual about it. I’d done the same thing dozens of times before.
On the day of his flight, we packed up the car and I drove him down to the airport
in London. We went up to the machine to check him in, and it didn’t work. We
tried again, and then we tried a different machine. Nothing was working, and we
were starting to get frustrated. Finally, I asked for help. The airport staff took one
look at the screen and laughed. We were a day early! I was so embarrassed!
Luckily, my husband wasn’t mad. He found it funny. That’s usually the kind of
mistake he makes! Now, I always double and triple check the dates on my flights.
Especially if I’m flying across multiple time zones!

F3: Thanks, Cassie! Next on the line is Drew.

M2: Last June was my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary, and my brother and I
wanted to do something special for them. My brother suggested that we buy
them new living room furniture. Their old set was over thirty years old.

A week before their anniversary, our parents left for Costa Rica, and they asked
us to check on the house while they were away. It was the perfect opportunity to
take out the old furniture, bring in the new set, and surprise them! A few days
before their return, my brother and I moved all the old furniture out of my parents’
house. The new furniture was scheduled to arrive the next day, and my brother
agreed to stay at the house to receive it. I didn’t hear from him, so I just assumed
everything went well. A big assumption, I know!

I picked my parents up from the airport, and when we walked through their front
door, the living room was completely empty. “We’ve been robbed!” my mother
shouted. I had to explain why their furniture was gone, and then I had to call my
brother to find out what happened. I was so mad! The delivery was delayed, and
he didn’t think to tell anyone!

Units 1–5 Test, Section 1, Listening Part D

Movie Review - The Way Down

M3: Good morning and welcome to Film Friday. I’m Chuck Withers. We’re right in the
middle of our summer film festival season and today we’re reviewing international
films. There have been some good ones this summer! Let’s start with The Way
Down. It was filmed entirely in Chile and Argentina with a cast of American and
Chilean actors. While some of the film is in Spanish, it is director Mat Silva’s first
attempt at a mostly English-language film. The film stars American Brian Long—

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 you may know him best from his roles in various comedies—and Chilean Tony
Estevez.

Jerry—played by Brian Long—goes to South America to recover from a painful

experience. He’s not completely prepared for the challenges of traveling through
an unknown country. And when he gets into trouble in the Andes Mountains, a
young Chilean—played by Tony Estevez—is there to help. It’s a beautiful story
about a friendship between two very different people who have experienced very
similar losses.

The plot is simple, yet intelligent, which allowed Silva to focus on the scenery and
on his actors. The mountains are really the stars of this film. You’ll want to leave
the theater and buy the next ticket to South America. And anyone who’s seen
Brian Long in a comedy needs to see this movie immediately. His ability to adapt
to a serious role, so different from any other role he’s played before, is amazing.
And don’t be surprised if Estevez starts appearing in blockbusters soon, too.
Pain, anger, love, strength, you name it, and he can play it.

This is a beautiful story shot in a beautiful setting. I think we’ll be seeing a lot
more from Mat Silva and his young stars in the future.

Units 1–5 Test, Section 1, Listening Part E

Different Food

F4: Food. It’s such a big part of our lives. It plays a role in our family gatherings and
friendships. We love it. We hate it. We can’t live without it. This week on Life
Stories we’ll hear about the role of food in your lives. Our first story comes from
Jed in St. Louis.

M3: So, I actually just moved to St. Louis a few months ago. I’ve moved a lot over the
years, and I’ve learned a few tricks for making friends right away. One thing I
always do is join a gym. Not one of those big gyms where no one ever talks, but
a small gym where you can’t avoid saying hello. I found a great one here in St.
Louis, and not long after I joined, they started planning a summer party. I thought
it would be a good way to get to know people, so I decided to go. All I had to do
was bring some food.

Now, I like to run and work out, but I don’t exactly eat healthy. I would rather eat
donuts and greasy French fries than salad and salmon. I just try not to eat too
much junk food! However, in my experience other people who spend lots of time
in the gym eat much better than I do. So, to be safe, I decided to make
something healthy for the party. I searched online for some hummus and
guacamole recipes, went to the store and found fresh beans, avocados, and
tomatoes, and even made my own crackers!

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 I felt pretty good about myself as I walked into the party. Then I saw all the other
food on the table. Nachos, fried mozzarella sticks, chocolate cheesecake… At
that moment, I realized my mistake. I was making assumptions about what kind
of food a whole group of people prefers! I like lots of different kinds of food, why
shouldn’t they? Especially at a party! Now, before I cook for other people, I just
ask what they like. And I usually get a lot of different answers.

Units 1–5 Test, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: I loved those earrings you wore last night.

Units 1–5 Test, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

M1: completion
complete
completely

Units 1–5 Test, Section 2, Pronunciation Part C

F1: How was school?

Units 1–5 Test, Section 2, Pronunciation Part D

M1: summer

UNIT 6

Unit 6, Section 1, Listening

Stop Yourself from Burning Out

F1: Hi, and welcome back to Your Best Self, your daily podcast with advice about
how to live a better life. I’m your host, Dana Drucker.

Have you ever felt so stressed, like no matter what you did, things weren’t going
to get better? Have you ever felt that you had so much to do, but didn’t want to
do any of it? Well, then you might have experienced burnout. Today, I’m going to
discuss four ways to stop burnout before it’s too late.

First, get enough sleep. Sleeping is important for your health and happiness.
Science has shown that you need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, so sleep should not
be missed. Unfortunately, coffee cannot take the place of missed sleep.

Next, exercise a few times a week. I know, you’re probably thinking, “How could I
possibly find time to exercise?” But, it’s so important for your mental and physical

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 health. Regular exercise lowers levels of stress. And it even makes you perform
better at work! There's always a way to fit a little exercise into your day.

Another thing that’s important is to learn to say “no.” Schedule free time on your
calendar and use that time to do something that you want to do—read a book,
drink a cup of tea, attend a yoga class. You’ll be much happier if you sometimes
make time for yourself rather than what someone else wants you to do.

And finally, take time off! When you are starting to feel stressed, put on an out-of-
office message and go completely offline. In order to really relax, you need to
forget about work for a bit. Take a day off to just do nothing!

If you can do these things, you are much less likely to burn out. OK, that’s it for
this week’s episode of Your Best Self. Until next time…

Unit 6, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: I love running, but that's enough for now.

F1: Would you like more rice?

Unit 6, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

M1: Jake was going to tell Jim about the concert tonight.

M1: There's a yoga class at 4 P.M., but I gotta pick up my kids from school.

UNIT 7

Unit 7, Section 1, Listening

Babysitter Instructions

F1: Hi, Kelly! It’s Sarah. I’m just calling to see if you received my email with all the
details about watching my son, Jake, this weekend. It’s my first time away for a
whole weekend, and I’m just a little nervous. Could you call me back so I can go
through some information with you?

F2: Hi, Sarah. Sorry I missed your call. I read the attachment in your email, and I
don’t have any questions. I’ll see you and Jake tomorrow!

F1: Hi, Kelly! It’s Sarah. It’s been a few hours, so I thought I would check in. I hope
it’s going well. Give me a call when you have a minute.

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F2: Hi, Sarah—I was watching TV with Jake when you called. Jake’s fine, but I can’t
figure out how to connect to the Wi Fi. Can you tell me where I can find the
password?

F1: Kelly—Sarah here. The details for the Wi Fi are in the email. The network name
is Peterson Home and the password is our phone number, 5-1-5-7-8-5-1-9-9-5. I
wrote this in the email, but I usually don’t let Jake watch TV or any videos on the
Internet. Please read or play with him instead.

F2: Hi, it’s Kelly again. I’m connected to the Internet. It’s 2 P.M. now and Jake seems
like he might be hungry. I’m not sure what to give him for lunch. Oh, I see some
eggs in the fridge! I guess I’ll give him that!

F1: Hi, it’s Sarah. I hope it’s not too late, but please don’t feed Jake the eggs. Eggs
make him sick. Did you read my email? His lunch is on the top shelf in the fridge
—some hummus and bread with an apple. He usually eats lunch at noon, as I
said in my email. He is probably very hungry at this point.

F2: Sarah, you were right. Jake didn’t like the eggs. And now he won’t stop crying.
Do you think he needs to go to sleep?

F1: Hi. As I said in the email, which you clearly didn’t read, Jake always sleeps for an
hour after lunch. But, it’s 5:30, and if he goes to sleep now, he won’t sleep
tonight, so please keep him awake until around 7 P.M. You know what, my plans
just changed, and I’m actually on my way home right now…

Unit 7, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: I wish I had a job that was as laidback as Sally’s.

M1: Yes, but sally is just as busy as you are.

Unit 7, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: My computer ran out of memory.

M1: I hope mine doesn’t run out of it.

F1: I need to check this bag in at the airport.

M1: Do we need to check our bags in?

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UNIT 8

Unit 8, Section 1, Listening

F2: It’s that time of year again. Time for stuffy noses, watery eyes and other signs of
allergies. Today on “Protect Yourself,” we’re talking about seasonal allergies, or
allergies due to an increase in pollen—the stuff produced by trees, flowers, and
plants—in the spring and fall, and how to deal with them. I’m your host, Melanie
Reed, and here with us today is Dr. Nico Mendes. Nico, thanks for joining us.
M2: Thanks for having me, Melanie.
F2: First, Dr. Mendes, how do you know if you have seasonal allergies?
M2: Well, there are a few symptoms. It might be allergies if you’ve had a stuffy nose
and sneezing for more than two weeks; if your eyes are filled with water; and if
your symptoms get worse after spending some time outside. But if you have a
fever or other symptoms, it’s probably not allergies.
F2: I think I might have allergies! Is it possible to develop allergies later in life?
M2: Yes, it’s possible to develop allergies no matter how old you are. People often
experience allergies for the first time when they move to a new place.
F2: Oh, no! So, what should I do to be safe during allergy season?
M2: There are a couple of things you should do if you have allergies.
First, try to stay inside during the mid-to-late afternoon when the pollen is at its
highest levels. Hot, dry, windy days are the worst. And keep your windows closed
to protect the air inside your house.

Second, a simple thing you can do is take off your shoes outside of your door,
take a shower and change your clothes as soon as you get home. That way any
small pieces of the outside world that are on your clothes, shoes, hair, and skin
are gone!
F2: Excuse me. Oh no, what if it’s too late? What can someone do to stop their
symptoms once they start?
M2: Of course, you can go to your local drugstore and get some medicine, but if you
would prefer not to take medicine, there are some things you can try, like eating
a little honey each day, drinking something hot, like tea or soup, or breathing in
some wet air from a hot shower.
F2: Thanks, Dr. Mendes. I think that’s all we have time for today—I think I need a cup
of tea…

Unit 8, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: vaccine

M1: climb

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Unit 8, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: I can visit my doctor tomorrow.

F1: I can't come to work tomorrow because I have the flu.

UNIT 9

Unit 9, Section 1, Listening

Buy Old, Sell New

F3: Last year, thousands of people bought a cheap house, repaired it themselves
and tried to sell it at a higher price. In fact, the number of people who tried
“house-flipping” was higher than ever before. Today on Self-Taught, we’re talking
with professional house flipper, Henry Dilbert. Henry, can you tell our listeners
how you started house flipping?
M2: Well, fifteen years ago, my wife and I were searching for a house, but the houses
where we wanted to live were too expensive. So, we decided to buy an old house
and repair it. During the next two years, I put on a new roof, built an open kitchen
and added a bathroom. It was hard work, but I enjoyed it, and in the end, I was
quite satisfied with the result. I spent about $50,000, and the house price
increased by $100,000. I thought, “Hey, I might be able to make a living doing
this.”
F3: Wow, how did you learn how to do all those things? Did your father teach you?
Or did you take some classes?
M2: Nope, not at all. When I started I knew nothing about home repair. I had to teach
myself everything with online videos. I started from the easiest things—like
painting—and moved onto the harder projects, like fixing the roof. With some
time and a lot of practice, I mastered the basic skills and felt more confident
trying harder projects. Then, I decided to try to fix another house!
F3: And now you’ve flipped more than ten houses! What advice can you give
someone who is interested in trying this?
M2: Well, knowing how to find and buy a house at a good price is the most important
skill to have. I had to read a lot online to teach myself about this. For your first
house, find a house that needs basic work and simple updates and stay away
from anything that needs big changes. It’s important to know what you should or
shouldn’t spend money on. For example, things like new lights don’t cost much,
but they are important to some people.
F3: Interesting… any advice about repairing the house?
M2: Buying and selling the house is the hard part, repairing it is the easy part! You
don’t need to know anything about fixing a house to get good at flipping houses.
You just need to know how to find, hire, and manage the people who can.

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F3: Makes sense! Well, we’re out of time for today. Thanks, Henry, for sharing your
story and some advice with us. For our listeners who’d like to learn more, you
can visit henryhouseflips.com. Until next time…

Unit 9, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: I took a picture of my food.

F1: Are you satisfied with your job?

Unit 9, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

M1: This morning, I went grocery shopping.

M1: The power went out while I was asleep.

UNIT 10

Unit 10, Section 1, Listening

A Moment that Changed My Life

F2: We’ve all experienced a time when something happened that changed the
direction or our lives. Today we’re talking with Danielle Westly about a moment
that changed her life. Danielle, welcome to the show.
F4: Thanks for having me.
F2: Danielle, could you start by giving us a little background about yourself?
F4: Sure, when I was a child, I was afraid of everything. I was the child who was
afraid of the dark—the one who would never go down the big slide at the park.
As I grew older, I was still afraid to take risks—I was always the last one out of all
my friends to try something new.
F2: OK, now tell us what happened.
F4: Well, for my 21st birthday, when my friend asked me to travel with her to Japan, I
agreed. I had never been out of the country, but she had traveled a lot in the
past, and although I was a little nervous, I thought everything would be fine as
long as we were together. On our second day in Japan, we were on the train
during rush hour, you know, the time when the train is crowded with people,
everyone is coming home from work. When our stop came, my friend got off, but
I wasn’t fast enough. The doors closed, and I was still on the train without her! I
became really nervous and started to cry. I couldn’t believe that here I was, alone
in a foreign country, where I didn’t speak the language, without a cell phone or

15
 any way to contact my friend. And I was lost. I had no idea how to get back to my
hotel.
F2: Oh, no! So, how did you find your way back?
F4: With the help of the train station workers and some basic sign language and
drawings on a piece of paper, I was able to find my hotel. But, here’s the
interesting part. When I entered the hotel room, I suddenly felt very calm. I
realized at that moment that I could be OK on my own in a foreign country. I
made a choice to be less afraid.
F2: So, how is your life different now?
F4: My life is so different now! I travel abroad all of the time, and I even prefer to
travel alone. In fact, last year I volunteered at a school in Vietnam, and next year
I’m planning to do some research in Africa.
F2: Wow, that’s amazing how one experience could change your life in such a big
way…
way…

Unit 10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: What would you do if you didn't go to college?

F1: Which homeless shelter did you volunteer at?

Unit 10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

M1: Judy didn't understand that you were there.

M1: Sam decided to move out west to find a job.

UNITS 6-10

Units 6–10 Test, Section 1, Listening Part A

Fitness Friday

F2: Good morning and welcome to another Fitness Friday episode! Today, I’m going
to talk about staying fit while on vacation. I don’t know about you, but I have the
hardest time sticking to a fitness routine while I’m on vacation. However, there
are many ways you can combine your vacation and your training, and none of
them require you to run on a treadmill in the hotel gym. Here are three of my
favorites.

The first and easiest way to keep fit on vacation is by joining an active tour. For
example, instead of taking a bus tour around a city, look for a walking tour. There

16
 are plenty of them available in most major cities, and some of them are even
free! You can also join cycling or running tours if you’re looking for something
more intense. All of these tours combine fresh air and exercise with information
about the history and culture of the area you’re visiting. It’s like a two for one
deal!

Another way to combine exercise and travel is to sign up for a destination

competition. For instance, if you like running and you want to visit Portugal, sign
up for a marathon in Lisbon. The race will give you a reason to travel there. And,
on race day, you’ll see 26.2 miles of the city streets. The best part? After burning
all those calories during the marathon, you won’t feel guilty about any of the great
food you’ll eat on the rest of the trip!

Finally, if you’re really serious about your fitness, you can take a fitness vacation,
or “fitcation.” Take a walking vacation and travel on foot from hotel to hotel in
England or campground to campground in America, enjoying the local culture
and scenery along the way. Or, go on a multi-day cycling tour of the Italian Alps.
If you want something more relaxing, try a yoga retreat.

Okay, that’s it for today. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to book my next
vacation now!

Units 6–10 Test, Section 1, Listening Part B

Conference Voicemail Back and Forth

F3: Hey, Merit, how’s the conference? Are you learning a lot? Your presentation is
Friday, right? A box arrived for you today. Do you think it’s the video equipment
you ordered? I can try to send it to your hotel. Just let me know.

F4: Hi, Courtney. The conference has been great. It’s not as busy as I expected, but
it’s been really productive. I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. Just keep the
box. I got the equipment I need here, so I’ll probably just return what I ordered.
How are the plants? Have you been watering them? Don’t forget to check the
tomatoes. They should be ready to pick any day now!

F3: Thanks for the reminder, I totally forgot about watering the plants. Sorry! Did you
leave a schedule for me? I can’t find it anywhere. Also, Paul, the neighbor in the
house behind ours, came by to check in with us about the fence between our
houses. He put together a budget for repairs and painting. He’s really organized!
Do you want me to wait until you get back to get started?

F4: Hey, Courtney! Thanks for the photos! The tomatoes look great. Save some for
me! The watering schedule should be hanging next to the calendar. Oh, and I’m
not sure when I’ll have time to look at Paul’s budget, I’m trying to focus on the
conference. Can you ask him to wait on the fence until I get back?

17
F3: Hey! How was your presentation this morning? I hope it went well. Send me your
flight information, please. I can’t remember what time I’m supposed to pick you
up, but I’ll see you in the morning!

Units 6–10 Test, Section 1, Listening Part C

Allergies

M2: Hello everyone and welcome to Wellness Wednesday on the Healthy Living
Network. I’m Alex Russo, and I’m talking to Dr. Mia Schneider of the Global
Allergy Institute. Welcome, Mia.
F2: Thank you, Alex.
M2: I don’t know about our listeners, but spring is not my favorite time of year. I know
the plants are waking up when I start coughing and sneezing.
F2: It sounds like you probably have some seasonal allergies, Alex. Over 50 million
Americans experience symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and headaches when
they’re around certain types of plants.
M2: Wow! Is there anything we can do about it?
F2: Well, allergies aren’t contagious, so avoiding crowds or staying home won’t help.
But there are a few ways to keep them from getting bad. One solution may be
allergy shots. Now, these only work for certain types of allergies, and you have to
get multiple shots over the course of months or even years. But they do work for
some people.
M2: That sounds like a lot of time with a doctor.
F2: It can be. But there are other ways to help control your allergies. I can share four
easy ones that simply require you to avoid plants and their pollen. First, check
the weather each day. If the pollen count is high, you may want avoid spending
too much time outside. If you have to go outside, do it in the morning or evening
when the air is usually clearer. Second, keep your doors and windows closed at
home and while you’re driving. This will help prevent the plant pollen from getting
into your house or your car. A third thing you can do is to clean your house
regularly to get rid of any pollen that may have entered your house. And finally,
shower when you get home to remove any pollen from your skin.
M2: What about food? I’ve heard some foods can cure allergies.
F2: There are some studies that have shown spicy foods can help clear up a stuffy
nose, but you should really talk to your doctor about any changes to your diet.
And if your symptoms just won’t go away, you can also talk to your doctor about
medications that might help.
M2: Well, Dr. Schneider thank you so much for your time. I’m Alex Russo and this is
the Healthy Living Network.

18
Units 6–10 Test, Section 1, Listening Part D

You Did It!

F3: Hello and welcome to the podcast. I’m Alana Span and this is You Did It!—a
show where listeners tell us how they mastered a new skill. Our first story comes
from Khalid in San Diego. What skill have you mastered?
M4: Well Alana, I don’t know if I would call it a skill, but I’ve become quite good at
surfing.
F3: I imagine it takes some skill to surf. How did you start?
M4: I moved to California last year, and when I saw all the surfers in the ocean every
day, I wanted to try it. But lessons are very expensive, and I didn’t want to pay for
a lot of them, so I started by watching videos.
F3: Can you learn to surf from a video?
M4: You can practice some of the steps at home. I practiced lying on my stomach
and jumping to my feet over and over until it became really easy.
F3: What else?
M4: When the ocean was really calm, I rented a surfboard, went out into the water,
and practiced standing up on it.
F3: Wait, don’t you need waves to surf?
M4: Of course, but I wasn’t ready for waves yet. As soon as I was, I finally decided to
pay for one lesson.
F3: And how did it go?
M4: It was great! The instructor was surprised that I caught on so quickly.
F3: Thanks, Khalid. Next is Ines in San Francisco. What’s your skill, Ines?
F2: Well, I taught myself how to make chocolate.
F3: Oh, yum! How did you learn, Ines?
F2: Well, it’s taken several years, Alana, but it started with a book written by a
chocolate maker here in San Francisco.
F3: Like a recipe book?
F2: Kind of, but when I was reading it, I realized it wasn’t like following a recipe for
cookies or a pie. Making chocolate is more complicated. So, I started watching
videos as well.
F3: Did they help?
F2: Of course. I started by learning how to make chocolate from cocoa powder,
sugar, and butter.
F3: Were you happy with the results?
F2: Yes, but I really wanted to learn the whole process—from cocoa bean to
chocolate bar. To do that, I had to buy some expensive tools. But I’m happy I did.
I’ve mastered plain chocolate and now I’m working on different flavors.
F3: Sounds delicious!

19
Units 6–10 Test, Section 1, Listening Part E

Steal This Job

F3: Welcome to another episode of Steal This Job. I’m your host Kyra Kelly, and
today I’m talking with Yuko, Chief Financial Officer for the charity Minute Homes.
If you’re not familiar with them, they build small houses for use after natural
disasters. How did you get started with Minute Homes, Yuko?
F4: Well, I helped build my first home in 2006. I was taking a business class, and my
professor wanted us to work with a charity as part of a class project. I didn’t really
know what I wanted to do, so I picked the first charity he suggested. It was an
organization that was helping people rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina.
F3: Did you have any building experience?
F4: Not at all! And I thought I was just going to be helping with the business side of
things. After all, that’s what I was studying. But they wanted me to help build
houses, so that’s what I did. And these weren’t small homes, these were one to
two thousand square foot homes!
F3: Did you enjoy volunteering?
F4: I loved it! It was really hard work, but it felt good to make something. And to give
it to someone in need. Some of the families we helped had been in homeless
shelters for over a year. Many people don’t realize how long it takes to rebuild
after a disaster like a hurricane or flood.
F3: How did that experience lead to your current job?
F4: While I was volunteering, I met Julian, our CEO. He had just started Minute
Homes. As I said, it takes a long time to rebuild after a disaster and Julian
wanted to get people out of shelters and into homes a lot faster. So, he designed
several small homes—they’re all around 200 to 300 square feet—that can be
built quickly and moved easily. He needed more employees, so he asked me to
work for him after graduation.
F3: And are you looking for someone to take over your job?
F4: Yes, I am. I’m not leaving the company, but I’m going to spend the next year
focusing on trying to raise more money. If we had more money, we could add
features to make the homes a bit more comfortable, like extra windows or solar
panels for power. These things aren’t necessary, but for someone who has just
lost everything, they make a difference.
F3: There you have it. If you’re interested in Yuko’s job, you can find more details at
www…

Units 6–10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

M1: I have to see that movie. I'm going to go see it this weekend.

Units 6–10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: As soon as you can, you should call your boss.

20
Units 6–10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part C

M1: The alarm went off while I was sleeping...

Units 6–10, Section 2, Pronunciation Part D

F1: What would you like to do for fun?

End of Course, Section 1, Listening Part A

Expert in Antiques

M2: Hello listeners, and welcome to the show, People in the Community. Today I’m
talking with Mary Still, who is an expert in antiques and who owns an antique
store downtown. Mary, what kinds of items do people ask you about?
F3: Well, their personal, antique possessions. I love helping people learn about the
items. For example, last week a man brought in a beautiful, round clock. It was
his grandparents’, and he said the clock held special memories for him. He
remembered hearing it every morning when he stayed as a child with his
grandpa and grandma. They had a farm, and when it was 5 A.M., it was time to
get up and help his grandparents with the farm animals.
M2: Neat! Was the clock worth any money?
F3: Oh, yes! It was still working and, after I researched it, I discovered the maker of
the clock was very famous!
M2: Wow! What else have people called you about?
F3: Yesterday, a man called me about a smooth, glass dinner plate. It was a gift from
his mother, who had bought it in Germany years ago. It was brown, and had a
surprising rectangular shape. For such a small, old-fashioned dish, the man
could have sold it online for a lot of money if he wanted to. But he said it was too
special for him to sell.
M2: That’s interesting. What about jewelry? I'm sure these things can be worth a lot!
Do you know a lot about antique rings and earrings?
F3: Well, items such as rings and earrings might be worth something, but it really
depends. A woman brought in some modern, metal earrings once. They looked
very expensive, but they weren’t. They were very special to the woman though
because her father had given them to her mother on their wedding day. Even
though the earrings weren’t valuable, I enjoyed helping the woman learn about
her past.
M2: Oh, thank you for this interesting conversation, Mary!

End of Course, Section 1, Listening Part B

A New Job

M3: Welcome back to It’s All in a Day’s Work, where we help you with your work

21
 problems. Our next caller is Gisela. Hi Gisela, go ahead.
F4: Hi, I just started a new job. I really like what I do, and my new co-workers.
Everyone is nice and we meet frequently to brainstorm ideas. When we aren’t
talking about work, we joke around and laugh a lot. However, this is the first time
I’ve worked in an open-space office. I’m used to having my own office with a door
that I can close if I have a deadline to meet. Anyway, yesterday I had a lot of
work to do. I really needed to focus on my work, so I put on some headphones
and listened to music from my computer. The day went quickly because I was so
busy trying to stay on schedule with my project. I actually don’t remember talking
to anyone the whole day!

As I got ready to leave, I checked my email one last time and saw that a co-
worker had sent me a message. He asked me, “Gisela, are you mad at me? It
seemed like you were avoiding me today.” I was so embarrassed! What should I
do? I definitely was not mad at him, but I guess I was avoiding everyone to get
my work done. I’m frustrated!
M3: Congratulations on the new job, Gisela! Now don’t worry, this is an easy problem
to fix. I can offer you a few suggestions. The best form of communication is clear
communication, right? Many companies changed to open-space offices because
some people thought it would help employees communicate more easily.
However, as you experienced, when you have a big project, sometimes you need
to work alone, and you don’t have time to chat. Because you didn’t communicate
clearly with your co-workers first, there was a misunderstanding. All you need to
do tomorrow is talk to your co-worker in person. Explain that when you have a
big deadline to meet, you have to work by yourself and you don’t have time to
chat. Then the next time you have a big project to complete, tell your co-workers
before you begin, and before you put on the music! I’m sure they will understand.
Good luck!

End of Course, Section 1, Listening Part C

Movie in Review – Moon Food

M2: This is Pascal Méndez with this week’s Movie in Review. Released a month ago,
the science fiction movie Moon Food has made less than a million dollars.
However, I wanted to see it because it stars my favorite actors, Penelope Russo
and George Howard. It’s directed by Leah Thomas, a director who is mainly
known for some good action and adventure movies. Adapted from the science
fiction book, On the Moon, I am surprised the movie was not doing well and
wanted to find out for myself what happened.

The plot begins in the present day, with scientists Tao and Luisa just about to
leave their laboratory. Since they were college classmates, they have been
researching ways to grow food on the Moon so that people can live there some
day. As Tao closes the laboratory door, the plants quickly begin to grow out of
control. What is happening? And will Tao and Luisa escape?

22
 Up until this point, the movie follows closely the plot of the book. But then the
movie takes a different direction altogether, and whether intentional or not, there
are some rather unfortunate changes to the characters. Tao is intelligent and
kind in the book, but in the movie, the actor is almost silly, giving the impression
that he doesn’t care about his dream of living on the moon. Played by the
amazing actor Mike Lee, Tao’s character was definitely not his style. It was sad
to see Lee given such a poor opportunity to show his fantastic skills. The
character of Luisa, played by actor Sandra Castro, is also very different in the
movie than the book. Castro is a wonderful actor, but she has no chance to bring
her character to life. Unlike the Luisa of the book, who is strong and smart, the
Luisa of the movie is shy and never offers any good ideas.

If you want to compare the differences between a good book and a movie made
from it, this is the movie for you. But don’t waste your money if you are looking
for an adaptation of the book’s amazing story line as you won’t find it in the
movie.

End of Course, Section 1, Listening Part D

My Story

F3: Good morning everyone, and welcome back to the podcast A More Relaxed You.
Today, I’m going to tell you about how much better I feel after I started to
manage my stress.

First, find out what is worrying you. Why was I stressed? I was burned out from
work. I had been working long hours and rarely made time for myself. It wasn’t
until I got sick that I realized I needed to take time off. I talked to my boss and
took a vacation for a week. I was going to go on a trip, but changed my mind. I
decided to stay home and read, relax, and meet with a different friend for coffee
every day. It was wonderful! Now that I’m back to work, I realize how important it
is to keep a work-life balance.

Another thing I did was to start jogging. I set some goals and now I have more
energy. Before, I would spend my whole days sitting: I used to sit during long
hours at work, and when I would get home, I’d spend the evening sitting on the
couch! Not exercising will definitely make you feel worse. Do what I did and start
with small changes. You’ll feel great even with moderate activity!

Finally, the last thing I started to do to manage my stress was to go offline.

Before I was constantly checking my phone to see if someone had texted me.
Sure, at work I have to be connected to the Internet, but I would check my phone
for text messages from my friends very often and as a result I couldn’t
concentrate well and would feel more stressed. I learned that it's good to take a
break from your phone, every day. By doing that I have noticed that I feel less

23
 stressed and enjoy each day more! You can do it, too!

Until next time!

End of Course, Section 1, Listening Part E

Guess What I Can Do Now?

F4: Good afternoon. It’s time for the show, Guess What I Can Do Now? Our guests
will share something they learned how to do. First, let’s hear from you, Olga.
F5: Hi, I’m proud to say I learned how to drive, at my age! My whole life I was too
afraid to learn!
F4: That is exciting. Did someone teach you?
F5: Yes, my oldest daughter taught me. Then I studied using a textbook about driving
rules on my own. I passed the test the first time! I felt so proud of myself.
F4: That’s wonderful! It must feel great to go wherever, and whenever, you want.
F5: It is.
F4: Our next guest is Bart. Tell us about you, Bart.
M4: Well, I used to get very nervous speaking in front of a group. Just thinking about
it made me feel very unhappy. But I started going to a class called “No Fear
Public Speaking”, and now I’m proud to say, I’m not afraid to speak in front of a
group anymore! It’s easy now.
F4: That’s terrific. What did you do in the class?
M4: We took turns giving a small presentation. After each presentation, the rest of the
class gave advice to the speaker. The best part was learning from classmates
who felt the same way as me.
F4: Great! Next is our last guest, Lydia. Lydia, what are you proud of learning to do?
F3: I learned to not be afraid to fly in an airplane.
F4: You didn’t like to fly?
F3: No. Ever since I was a little girl, I haven’t liked it. I didn’t even know why! But I
read a book about facing your fears. The first step was to stop asking, “what if?”
The next time I had to fly, I felt a lot better. I was in control of my thinking.
F4: That’s cool! Until next time, everyone!

End of Course, Section 2, Pronunciation Part A

F1: The Chinese language class costs a hundred and fifty dollars!
M1: But, that includes four classes.

End of Course, Section 2, Pronunciation Part B

F1: mother
thriller
author
theater

24
End of Course, Section 2, Pronunciation Part C

M1: Make sure you check in with the teacher.

End of Course, Section 2, Pronunciation Part D

F1: When Sam lost his job he had to make a decision.

25