workbook Listenings
Module 1, page 12 (CD 5, Track 01)
Interviewer: 
My next guest is Sophie Willis. She has
written a book about having a fabulous
holiday even if you’re on a budget. Sophie,
can you tell us why you wrote the book?
Sophie: 
Well, several years ago, I had lost my job,
so I didn’t have much money. I was feeling
sad, and I thought a holiday was what
I needed. So, after I had done research
about how I could go on holiday as cheaply
as possible, I went on an unforgettable trip
to Egypt.
Interviewer: Egypt?
Sophie: 
Yes. Ancient Egypt was one of the most
interesting and oldest civilisations in the
world. The trip wasn’t very expensive at all.
When I got home and told my friends and
family how little money I had spent, they
said I should write a book about it. So,
I did!
Interviewer: 
OK. And you’re going to share some of
your ideas with us today, right?
Sophie: 
Right! First, you should do some research
to find a holiday destination that isn’t
too expensive. See if any of the low-cost
airlines fly there. Then book your plane
tickets and hotels in advance to get the
lowest prices.
Interviewer: Good advice. What else can we do?
Sophie: 
Try to avoid travelling during high season –
prices are much higher then. In addition,
places are always so overcrowded.
Interviewer: 
That’s true. Obviously, staying at a
luxurious hotel is too expensive, so
what recommendations have you got for
accommodation?
Sophie: 
If you’re alone or with friends, I’d
recommend staying at a youth hostel. Their
rates are usually the lowest.
Interviewer: What if you’re travelling as a family?
Sophie: 
It’s often cheaper to book a flat instead of
a hotel.
Interviewer: 
I guess that means that we’d have to cook
our own meals, though.
Sophie: 
True. But think of the money you’re saving!
Interviewer: 
Sophie, your book includes some funny
anecdotes. Can you tell us one of them?
Sophie: 
Sure. While I was visiting the Pyramids of
Giza, …
IH-017-774 Options ESO 4 © B Burlington Books
Module 1, page 19 (CD 5, Track 03)
Host: 
Welcome to our podcast, Fashion Freaks. Today,
we’re talking to some teens, and we’ll start with
Tara, who is interviewing James.
Tara: 
You always look very stylish, James. Are you
interested in fashion?
James: 
Thanks for the compliment, Tara. Yes, I guess
I am.
Tara: Why?
James: 
Well, I think that clothes are a way to let other
people know something about who you are. And
I think it’s important to make a good impression
on people.
Tara: 
Hmm. I suppose so. But I don’t want to make the
effort to look good all the time.
James: It doesn’t take much effort.
Tara: No?
James: 
No. I mean, I’m just wearing ripped jeans and
a hoodie today.
Tara: 
But somehow, you still look stylish! How come?
James: 
I like to buy the best brands. That way, even if it’s
just jeans and a hoodie, it still looks good.
Tara: 
Ah, so that’s your secret! But what about the
price tags? Buying the best brands is expensive.
James: 
It can be, yes. What I do is just buy a few really
nice items instead of lots of cheap clothes.
Tara: 
But then you won’t have a very wide range of
outfits to choose from, will you?
James: 
That’s why you have to choose carefully. I don’t
buy many things, but I get ones that I can wear
in different combinations, so that I have lots of
different options.
Tara: Oh, right. That’s a good idea, James.
James: 
I read it in a fashion magazine once and
I decided to try it. And yes, it’s true that each item
of clothing costs more at first, but because the
quality is better, it lasts longer.
Tara: 
Good point. I always get the cheapest clothes
I can find, but very often, they don’t last long.
I bought a pair of boots last month. They only
cost me €15, but they already have holes in them.
James: 
Exactly. So now, you’ll need to buy some new
ones. These boots cost €150, but I’ve had them
for about five years and they’re still in one piece.
Tara: Well, two pieces, really.
James: Ha ha. OK. Two pieces.
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Module 2, page 24 (CD 5, Track 04) Module 2, page 31 (CD 5, Track 06)
Paulo: 
Hey, Janet. Sorry I’m late. Thanks for inviting me Steve: Hello, Anne. How was your trip to Tokyo?
to the carnival.
Anne: 
It was great, thanks, Steve. It’s a beautiful
Janet: 
Hi, Paulo. No problem. Luckily, our bus to the country, and the people and the language are
carnival is delayed. wonderful. But I found some aspects of the
culture a bit strange.
Paulo: 
I really want to experience what a carnival is like
here in the north-east of England. Steve: Really? Like what?
Janet: 
I think you’ll love it. I always do. I moved to Anne: 
Well, the way they bow to greet people for one
the south of England about three years ago, so it thing! There were so many rules about when you
gives me a chance to connect with my roots. bow, how low, etc., that I couldn’t remember
I was born in Newcastle, which is very close. them all.
Paulo: So, what’s the carnival like? Steve: 
OK. But if you think about it, bowing is no
stranger than shaking hands.
Janet: 
Well, it’s very different from the carnival that
you’ve seen back home in Brazil! Anne: I suppose so.
Paulo: 
No other carnival is as big as that one! But Steve: 
When we travel, it’s important to be aware of
it’s not the size of a carnival that is the most the way we see our own culture as being normal
important thing. So, what can I expect to see? and other countries as being strange. Instead, we
need to remember that there’s no such thing as
Janet: 
There’s a parade, and it’s customary for the
a strange culture – to the people who are part of
people in it to wear colourful costumes.
that culture, everything they do is completely
Paulo: Is there music? normal.
Janet: 
Oh, definitely. There are bands that play lots of Anne: 
Yes, I guess it all depends on your background.
different types of music all day long. I mean, if you’ve always seen people shake hands
ever since you were a small child, this seems
Paulo: 
What is the thing that you like the most about the
normal to you.
carnival?
Steve: 
Exactly. As we grow up, we learn all the rules
Janet: 
I love to join the crowd watching the parade
about customs like shaking hands without
because there’s such a great atmosphere. It’s
realising it. We just copy what we see people like
the type of carnival which is all about bringing
our parents do. This means we accept it as the
people from the whole community together.
correct way to do something.
Paulo: 
It sounds great – I prefer carnivals that are
Anne: 
Now that I think about it, I don’t even know why
meaningful and not just a big party.
we shake hands to greet people.
Janet: I agree.
Steve: 
I think that in the past, it was a way to show that
Paulo: So, there’s a parade and music. What else? you came in peace and weren’t holding a weapon.
Janet: 
There’s also street theatre. Reckless Invention are Anne: 
So, I guess there is some logic to it. Do you know
here this year. why Japanese people started to greet people by
bowing?
Paulo: Who are they? I’ve never heard of them!
Steve: 
I think it was a respectful gesture to someone
Janet: 
It’s a group of people who create and perform
more important than you. It showed that you were
street theatre. They’re amazing!
harmless.
Paulo: I can’t wait to see them.
Anne: That’s really interesting.
Janet: 
When we get there, let’s get something to eat and
Steve: 
In my opinion, we should concentrate on what we
then go to see when they’re performing.
have in common with people from other cultures.
Paulo: Good plan. Ooh, is that our bus? Yes, there are differences in how we communicate
and behave, but we’re actually all very similar.
Janet: 
Erm, what does it say on the front? 57? No, it’s
56. So, yes, that’s the one.
Paulo: Great. Let’s go!

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Module 3, page 36 (CD 5, Track 07) Module 3, page 43 (CD 5, Track 09)
Karen: 
On this edition of The Adventurous Life podcast, Harry: 
Today, on our programme about healthy eating,
we’re joined by Kai Winston. we’re interviewing Jenny, who has just opened
an organic food shop on Park Street. Jenny, your
Kai: 
Hello, Karen.
shop looks really lovely.
Karen: 
Kai, you have recently returned from a year on
Jenny: 
Thank you, Harry.
a ship with Sea Shepherd. Can you explain what
Sea Shepherd is and what it does? Harry: 
I’d like to begin the interview with the reason
some people prefer not to buy organic food – the
Kai: 
Sea Shepherd is an organisation that started in
price. Organic food is so much more expensive,
1977. It tries to stop the destruction of the oceans
isn’t it?
and the wildlife that lives there.
Jenny: 
It does cost a bit more, yes. But I think it’s worth
Karen: 
That sounds like important work.
it.
Kai: 
Yes. There are many threats that we need to
Harry: 
Why?
take action against. For example, whales are
still hunted legally by countries like Japan Jenny: 
Well, for one thing, it’s healthier. Chemicals
and Norway, there are oil spills from drilling aren’t used to grow it or to keep it fresh. So,
accidents at sea and huge quantities of fish are our bodies aren’t exposed to lots of harmful
caught illegally. chemicals.
Karen: 
How does Sea Shepherd stop these things from Harry: 
That’s true. I’ve heard that’s more and more of
happening? a problem.
Kai: 
It’s got 12 ships and several smaller boats. It sails Jenny: 
And what also worries me is that the chemicals
all over the world to stop people who are harming that are put onto crops go into the soil and then
the oceans. into rivers.
Karen: 
That’s very brave! Is it dangerous trying to stop Harry: 
I know. And the effect that has on the wildlife is
people who are breaking the law at sea? terrible. But my salary doesn’t really allow me
to buy organic food.
Kai: 
Well, some of the people were unhappy when we
stopped them, but we weren’t in danger. In fact, Jenny: 
The price is a problem. But, because it’s so
there have never been any injuries on the Sea expensive, make sure that you don’t waste
Shepherd boats. anything! It’s terrible how much food is wasted in
this country – and that costs money.
Karen: 
So, Kai, why did you decide to join Sea
Shepherd? Harry: 
That’s a good point. Wasting less is better for the
environment.
Kai: 
I felt that all I ever did was talk about protecting
the planet, but I had never actually taken action. Jenny: 
Another thing is, you don’t have to buy the
So, I decided that it was time to stop talking and organic version of everything. For a start, you
do something useful. should buy organic milk.
Karen: 
Had you known anything about working on a ship Harry: Yeah? Why?
before you joined?
Jenny: 
Well, organic milk stays fresh longer than
Kai: 
No! I made a lot of mistakes at first. But the ordinary milk.
people there taught me everything, and I slowly
Harry: 
Really? I didn’t know that.
improved.
Jenny: 
Yeah, so you will probably waste less – it’s better
Karen: 
What do you plan to do next?
for the environment, better for your health and
Kai: 
I haven’t stopped working with Sea Shepherd, but maybe you will save some money!
I help them on land now. I organise events and
Harry: 
Thank you, Jenny. You’ve given us something to
educate people about our activities.
think about. I hope your new shop is a success.
Karen: 
Well, it sounds like a great organisation to be
involved with. Thanks for telling us about it.

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Module 4, page 48 (CD 5, Track 10) Module 4, page 55 (CD 5, Track 12)
Felicia: Hey, Tom. What’s wrong? Tony: 
Hello, Tabitha. It’s good to see you back at
school.
Tom: 
Hi, Felicia. I’ve just had an argument with
my mum. I told her I wanted to be an online Tabitha: Hey, Tony. Thanks.
influencer, and she said it wasn’t a proper job.
Tony: Is your leg better now?
Felicia: Ah, I see.
Tabitha: Yes – at last.
Tom: 
It’s a great job. You can make lots of money and
Tony: 
Emma told me that you had to spend a few
you have the freedom to work on something that
weeks in bed after you broke it. I guess that got
interests you.
a bit boring!
Felicia: That’s true. There’s a lot of competition, though.
Tabitha: 
It was at first. I just lay there doing nothing and
I read somewhere that 75% of people under
feeling angry that I couldn’t do the things
the age of 17 said they’d love to be an online
I wanted to do.
influencer!
Tony: Like what?
Tom: Wow! That’s a lot of people!
Tabitha: 
Well, playing football and tennis, mostly. But
Felicia: I know. And you need a lot of subscribers: about
then I watched a film called My Left Foot, and
1,000 before you can apply to get money from
that film changed my attitude.
adverts on YouTube.
Tony: How come? What’s it about?
Tom: 
Ah. I’ve only got 250 subscribers. I think
companies pay people to advertise products in Tabitha: 
It’s about someone called Christy Brown who
their videos, don’t they? I could try that. suffered from an illness called cerebral palsy,
so he could only move his left foot. But he
Felicia: Yes, but you have to be careful. If your videos are
learned how to do things using only that foot
just long adverts, people will stop watching them.
and he became an amazing artist and author.
Tom: Hmm. Yeah.
Tony: Really? Is it a true story?
Felicia: And if you promote poor quality products, people
Tabitha: 
Yes. He grew up in the 1930s. His family
will stop trusting you.
was very poor, and his mother had 12 other
Tom: There’s a lot to think about, isn’t there? children, but she still supported him.
Felicia: Yes. And even if you are successful, not everyone Tony: 
Wow! So, why did this film have such a big
lasts very long as an influencer. influence on you?
Tom: Why not? Tabitha: 
Well, I was lying in bed with a broken leg, but
I was still able to use my arms and my other
Felicia: Well, sometimes, subscribers instantly stop
leg and talk. And I knew that my leg would get
watching an influencer’s videos when they find
better. Christy Brown couldn’t speak and he
out that they said something that isn’t true – you
knew he would never be able to use more than
know, to make themselves look good. It’s easy to
just his left foot.
accidentally say something that upsets people and
suddenly lose lots of viewers as a result. Tony: But he didn’t let it stop him, did he?
Tom: So, my mum may be right! Tabitha: 
Exactly! Although he had to struggle with
everyday life, he succeeded in achieving
Felicia: Well, your videos are great. You’re good at
incredible things. So, I thought that since I had
explaining how to take great pictures and I’ve
no choice but to sit in bed, I’d use the time to
certainly learned a lot about photography from
practise the guitar and study Japanese. I even
them. There are lots of people sharing their
did a bit of painting – but it wasn’t as good as
knowledge about how to be an influencer online.
Christy Brown’s!
You should do some research and see if you can
earn money from it.
Tom: 
That’s a good point. Anyway, why do you know
so much about it?
Felicia: I want to be an online influencer!

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Module 5, page 60 (CD 5, Track 13)
Ted: 
If you’re like me, when there’s a storm,
you get inside as fast as you can. My next
guest – Professor Wendy Nichols – does
the opposite. She gets as close to the
centre of a storm as possible. So, Professor
Nichols, why are you a storm chaser?
Prof Nichols: Hi, Ted. I don’t like being called a ‘storm
chaser’! It makes it sound like we just
enjoy getting into risky situations!
Ted: Ha ha! Sorry. What should I call you?
Prof Nichols: A scientist! We study storms to learn more
about them.
Ted: But why do you need to get close to them?
Prof Nichols: It’s the only way of getting the data we
need.
Ted: 
Why do you think it’s so important to
understand storms?
Prof Nichols: Mainly so we can help with weather
forecasts. We know quite a lot about what
causes storms, so we can predict a lot of
them …
Ted: 
But not all of them.
Prof Nichols: Exactly. Sometimes storms come with
very little warning. If I’m able to give an
accurate forecast, people will have enough
time to get somewhere safe before the
storm hits.
Ted: 
So, what’s it like chasing … sorry …
studying storms up close? I suppose it can
be frightening. Or is it exciting?
Prof Nichols: Some people love the excitement. For me,
though, in a big storm, when you feel your
car moving from side to side, it’s quite
frightening. But I just try to concentrate on
collecting the information.
Ted: Wow! That does sound frightening.
Prof Nichols: But most of the time, it’s actually very
boring! I’ve spent many, many hours
sitting in a car, freezing cold, watching as
it pours with rain while waiting for a big
storm that never came!
Ted: 
Not as exciting as I thought! Well, thank
you for coming to speak to us today.
Next …
Module 5, page 67 (CD 5, Track 15)
Emily: Hey, Gideon.
Gideon: Hello, Emily. Where are you heading to?
Emily: I ’m meeting Claire. We’re going to the museum,
then to the theatre, and then to a Mexican
restaurant. We’re so lucky to live in this
amazing city with so much to do all year round,
aren’t we?
Gideon:  P
 ersonally, I don’t like the city. When I have any
free time, I like to visit the countryside.
Emily: Really? I prefer spending time in the city.
Gideon:  D
 o you? You prefer high-rise buildings, concrete
and pollution to green trees, fields and fresh air?
Emily:  E
 very time I’ve been to the countryside, I’ve
had a horrible time. One time I went camping
with my family and it poured with rain the
whole time. We were freezing cold and there
was nowhere to go to warm up.
Gideon:  W
 ell, yes, if it rains when you go camping, it
isn’t much fun. But it’s not always raining and
cold in the countryside.
Emily:  hat’s true. I’ve also stayed in a tent when it
T
was boiling hot. When you are hot in a tent,
there’s no way of cooling down. I like having
air conditioning.
Gideon: Ha ha! OK.
Emily: I don’t like the animals either.
Gideon:  T
 hat’s ridiculous! Why don’t you like the
animals?
Emily:  ell, once I was chased by a herd of cows. As
W
soon as I got close to them, they ran after me.
Gideon: Cows don’t usually chase people …
Emily:  T
 hey were mothers protecting their young,
I think.
Gideon: Ah, OK, but …
Emily:  nd I’m always worried about the deadly
A
spiders and snakes that live there.
Gideon: T
 here aren’t any deadly spiders or snakes in this
country.
Emily: We can’t be 100% certain of that.
Gideon: O
 K. If that’s what you think, maybe it’s best you
stay in the city!

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Module 6, page 72 (CD 5, Track 16)
Collette: 
Thank goodness it’s Friday! Have you got any
plans for the weekend, Stephen?
Stephen: 
Hi, Collette. Nothing on Saturday, then
volunteering at Hillside Park on Sunday.
Collette: 
What does that involve?
Stephen: 
I help out with a sports programme for local
kids.
Collette: 
Good for you. I know it’s selfish of me, but at
the weekend, I like to do things for myself.
Stephen: 
You don’t have to feel bad. To be honest, my
reasons for taking up volunteer work were
selfish.
Collette: Really?
Stephen: 
Well, I want to be a PE teacher in the future,
so I asked the career advisor at school, Miss
Sheehan, if there was anything I could do
to help me achieve that goal. She suggested
getting some practical experience of teaching
sport.
Collette: 
That makes sense. I know you’re a gifted
athlete, but not everyone is a born teacher.
Stephen: 
Exactly. Miss Sheehan said that in her
experience, a lot of people started studying to
be a PE teacher because they thought it would
be fun and easy. But, she explained that once
they found out that it was actually a lot of hard
work, some of them dropped out.
Collette: 
So, you’re doing it to get some valuable
experience to put on your CV.
Stephen: 
That’s why I started, yes. I also wanted to know
if I had what it took to perform well as a sports
teacher. But now I stick at it because I enjoy it.
Collette: 
What do you like about it so much?
Stephen: 
Mostly because it’s so much fun! I’m an only
child, but I’ve always thought it would be great
to have a little brother or sister. Now, it’s like
I’ve got lots of younger siblings!
Collette: 
Trying to deal with lots of small children
running around isn’t really my idea of fun!
Stephen: 
You should try it. You might find you’ve got
a hidden talent for it!
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Listenings
Module 6, page 79 (CD 5, Track 18)
Bill: Hey, Natalie. I’m sorry you lost.
Natalie: Hi, Bill. I still haven’t won a single game this
year.
Bill: 
I don’t understand it. You’re such a gifted
player and in practice, you’re amazing. Then, in
competitions, you lose to players who aren’t as
good as you.
Natalie: I know. I can’t deal with the pressure.
Bill: In what way?
Natalie: Well, when we’re practising, I’m not really
thinking about what I’m doing – it all feels
so natural. But then, before a match, I get so
nervous. Then, when the game starts, I end up
thinking about every shot and I can’t perform
as well as I can in practice. I’m also very aware
of the crowd and I worry about what they are
thinking.
Bill: That sounds like performance anxiety.
Natalie: Do you think so?
Bill: 
Yes. I read an interview with a sports
psychologist a little while ago. She said it was
very common.
Natalie: Really?
Bill: Yes. What do you think about before the game?
Natalie: I start thinking that I haven’t got what it takes to
win.
Bill: 
The sports psychologist said that a large part of
the problem was a loss of confidence.
Natalie: What else did she say?
Bill: 
Interestingly, she said that people who play
individual sports had a greater chance of
suffering from performance anxiety than people
who play team sports.
Natalie: Maybe I need to take up a team sport! I can’t
afford to go to a sports psychologist.
Bill: 
Well, the interviewer asked if there was anything
people could do themselves.
Natalie: And is there?
Bill: 
Yes. She said that something called ‘positive
self-talk’ was a really valuable technique.
Natalie: What’s that?
Bill: 
Well, instead of saying negative things like ‘I’m
going to lose’ to yourself, you say positive things
like ‘I can do this’.
Natalie: That sounds simple!
Bill: 
It is. And the psychologist said that people who
stuck at it saw some great improvements.
Natalie: And it means I don’t need to give up tennis and
start playing football instead!
6