B2 UPPER INTERMEDIATE

Part 1 Listening Answer & Audioscript

1B 2C 3C 4B 5A 6B 7C 8A
Audioscript
1
As restaurant manager, I feel responsible for the quality of the food we
serve. So it’s up to me to check the ingredients that have been delivered
overnight to make sure they are of sufficient quality, and to produce a menu
for the day. The cooks arrive at about ten a.m. to prepare lunch and I’ll take
them through the menu. Because lunch is concentrated over a short period
of time it can get very busy and very hot. But unlike some kitchens, we tend
to divide the jobs up according to who likes doing what, and that includes
cleaning pots and pans and clearing the place before dinner.
2
It’s a factual book, a chronicle of the twentieth century and it’s wonderful. I
mean it’s terribly bitty and it’s not going to give you a lot of information nor
be good for school work. That’s what’s really nice about it. Here is a
reference book which it is fun to dip in and out of. It’s hardly going to help
anyone write an essay and it avoids being geared to any school syllabus,
unlike so much of what is published today. But for anyone who likes little
details, you know, you can look up your date of birth, for example, and see
what else happened then, it’s a very good book.
3
Man: So, there’ve been some dramatic events in Victoria Street this past
week, what with Mariela deciding not to marry Jason, and Stephen leaving
home in the middle of a family row. Are next week’s episodes as exciting?
Woman: Well, I can’t give away the whole story, but I don’t think you’ll be
disappointed! I can tell you that Stephen’s mother is forced to tell her
husband the secret she’s been hiding for years, which leads to more
fireworks and a few tears. And Jason refuses to accept Mariela’s decision,
so you’re going to hear a lot more from him, and look out for some
surprises there.
4
We get people to the taxis, that’s the first priority, and to the trains. We
make sure they get on early and get comfortable seats. These days many
passengers have a lot of luggage and they want assistance with it. So we
provide a much-needed service. We even take people down to the
Underground or to places in the surrounding streets. But the majority of
users are airline passengers with a lot of bags and perhaps accompanied
by elderly relatives, young children and so on. Obviously they can’t manage
everything on their own.
5
I exercise in the form of dance. At one time, I did aerobics because
exercise is more interesting with music, but I’ve since moved on to line
dancing. It’s less energetic, but I go three times a week. I run my own
business, work hard, and it’s just a way to cut off rather than watch
television. It’s also a challenge keeping up with the new steps. I think young
people sometimes take exercise too far, get over-concerned with how they
look, when they’ll never be able to keep it up at that sort of pace. Whereas
line dancing struck me as something I could sustain as part of my normal
life.
6
Man: Well, what did you think of that, then?
Woman: Brilliant! I’ve never tasted anything like it! I wish you I’d tried this
place sooner. I mean, I’ve been walking past it for years.
Man: Why didn’t you?
Woman: Well, to be honest, I never thought I’d be able to afford it, but it’s
actually quite reasonable. Mind you, I think they could have tried a bit
harder with the presentation. I think if food looks good on the plate you
automatically expect it to taste good. Yours was okay, but I think they could
have made more of an effort with mine.
7
In practical terms, the place I’m in doesn’t matter too much. As long as I
have the necessary tools, you know, pencil and paper and, of course, my
keyboard. Once I’m started, I go over things again and again – must be
very dull if anyone’s listening. I change a few notes here and there, but
basically I tend to stick with an idea once I have it. I guess home’s the best
place in a way because there I’m relaxed enough to let my imagination flow
and that’s what you need to do, in order to produce a good piece …
8

Well, I’m sharing with two other girls … I know, it was supposed to be me
and one other person, but there’s a shortage of accommodation,
apparently. Anyway, the room’s rather cramped. But it’s great. There’ve
been three parties so far, and it’s still the first week. It’s an incredibly noisy
place, with doors banging and people laughing and shouting till the small
hours. Yes, I suppose we’ll have to get down to work soon, though I don’t
know how we’ll be able to, packed into that little space – none of us is very
tidy …

PART 2 LISTENING

Answer & Audioscript

9 travel agent(‘s) / travel agency 10 poster 11 Changes
12 (local) (African) farmers 13 three / 3 weeks
14 motorbike / motorcycle 15 (the) (local) women
16 traffic (noise) 17 (piece of) furniture 18 gardening
Audioscript
Interviewer: Visitors to the small Devon village of Whimple might be
forgiven for looking twice as they pass the garden of Elizabeth Holmes. In
the middle of the garden there stands a traditional African hut, a reminder
of the two years Elizabeth spent in Africa as a volunteer. Elizabeth, what
persuaded you to leave your secure job in a travel agent’s and go to
Africa?
Elizabeth: Well, I’d been feeling restless for ages. I wanted to see the real
world, not just tourist places. Then, I was at the dentist’s one day, waiting to
go in, and I’d read all the magazines in the waiting room, so I started
looking at a poster – it was all about volunteers working in Africa.
Interviewer: And it interested you?
Elizabeth: Yes, I took down the name and address and applied. I had an
interview locally and did some aptitude tests. Then just before I left for
Africa, there was a training weekend in London, which they call ‘Changes’
and which gives you some idea of what you’re letting yourself in for.
Interviewer: What particular skills could you offer?
Elizabeth: I had a degree in economics and I had done some teaching at
one time. What they wanted to send me to Africa to do was to train local
farmers in the marketing of their produce. I flew out with fifteen other
volunteers, all going to do different things, like nursing, teaching, and so on.
When we got there, we were supposed to have a four-week course at a
training centre learning something about the local culture and the basics of
the language – you know, greetings and things like that. Anyway, there was
a problem and it only lasted three weeks in the end – not enough really.
Interviewer: Did it take a long time to get used to your new lifestyle?
Elizabeth: I found it quite difficult for the first few weeks, but after that I
settled in very well. My area covered 1200 square kilometres, and I had a
truck for long-distance travel, but for more local trips I rode a motorbike.
Interviewer: How did you get on with the local people?
Elizabeth: Very well. The men were very polite but they tended to keep
their distance – unlike the women, who were always inviting me to meals.
They showed me how they wove and dyed material to make clothes for
themselves and their children. I used to get magazines sent from England
and we’d spend ages looking at them.
Interviewer: I expect you found it very different when you returned to
England?
Elizabeth: Yes, I certainly did. After two years of living very simply, I found
the supermarkets especially overwhelming – just the enormous choice of
food. Also, the traffic disturbed me. I had to move from my flat in the city to
a small cottage in the country just to get some of the peace and quiet I’d
become accustomed to in Africa.
Interviewer: And what are you working on at the moment?
Elizabeth: Well, I didn’t want to just go back to working in someone else’s
office so I set up my own business, which I run from home. I deal in African
furniture. I brought some small pieces back with me as souvenirs and
everyone loved them in Britain. However, I’m still in touch with the
organisation that sent me to Africa as a volunteer. I organise events to raise
funds and give talks about my experience to encourage other people to go.
Interviewer: Has the experience in Africa changed you at all?
Elizabeth: Oh yes, in many ways. I used to spend all my time working, but
now I make sure I have more time for gardening – my favourite hobby.

Interviewer: Well, I’d like to thank Elizabeth for coming into the studio
today. If you’re interested in …

PART 3

Answer & Audioscript

19 E 20 A 21 D 22 B 23 F
Audioscript
Speaker 1
Man: Some people still think that leaders are born, not made. They say,
no matter how hard you study and how many diplomas you collect, at the
end of the day, if you’ve got natural skills, such as a strong character, that’s
all you’ll need. I think that’s nonsense. Leadership is all about commanding
respect. If a boss says to me, for example, ‘Look, your computer skills need
upgrading’, I’ll think, ‘Right, this person has a degree in computing, I don’t,
so he must be right’. But if it’s the other way round, then you feel, well,
maybe I should be boss!
Speaker 2
Woman: Well, the sort of leaders that I actually admire … are not the …
top dogs in suits … with a degree in management and a belief that nobody
can do things as well as they can. One thing I’ve learned from all my
experience in different jobs is that, to be a really good boss, you have to be
good at encouraging the people under you to decide on important issues …
creating a situation in which other people can shine. Of course this does
not mean the boss’s job is any easier; it’s still a challenge, but so much
more rewarding for everyone.
Speaker 3
Woman: Since I left school, I’ve done a number of short-term office jobs,
and I must say I’m beginning to realise how important it is to have the right
sort of person directing your work. To develop all my potential, I need to be
told when I’m doing something well, and also the areas where I could
improve … I think the earlier you get formal and informal feedback, the
better. Otherwise you develop bad habits … some of my workmates don’t
agree with me, when I say it’s good to meet regularly with your boss, they
think I’m trying to be better than them.
Speaker 4
Man: Of course we all want bosses who are knowledgeable and who bring
energy to the job, and I must say, in my opinion, most people who reach top
job positions do possess these qualities. However, what really matters is
the ability to bring people together. Leaders often mistakenly encourage
people to work on their own, kind of, in isolation, because they are afraid of
the strengths of groups, they think maybe they’ll criticise, or even join
forces against the leader … Such leaders need to go on management
courses, to look at good examples of leadership …
Speaker 5

Man: Well, in the organisation where I work, each department has a

leader, a boss … and because I’ve worked in six of these departments, I’ve
had six different bosses! I must say there’s been very little to complain
about … except that we are being asked to do an enormous amount of
extra work and some of the bosses don’t seem to be doing long hours, like
the rest of us. It is true that after work, they may have to attend special
management courses, or meet individual members of staff to discuss
performance, but this only happens occasionally …