ENGLISH FILE 4TH EDITION UPPER INTERMEDIATE AUDIO SCRIPTS

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FILE TEST 1
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 Well, my interview was in Manchester, an hour from my house by train. It was
in the afternoon and there were plenty of trains, so I wasn’t worried about
getting there on time. What a mistake that was! When I got to the station to
catch my train, there was a sign which said that all trains were cancelled
because a tree had fallen across the track. There was a replacement bus
service but it was much slower. There was no way I could’ve made it on time.
2
Speaker 2 To be honest, I didn’t expect to be offered an interview, so I hadn’t really
thought about what I should wear. I mean, it was a trendy fashion company
so I guessed I’d just go along in my newest outfit. Well, when I go to the
interview venue – a posh hotel – I was shown to the waiting room. It was full
of men and women dressed in very smart suits and holding briefcases. I was
so embarrassed!
3
Speaker 3 It wasn’t a difficult question really. I’d prepared really well but the atmosphere
in the room was kind of intimidating. I mean, I hadn’t expected there to be four
interviewers! I guess nerves got the better of me. I was so keen to make a
good impression, but when that first question came, I just froze – I couldn’t
say a thing! I just felt those four sets of eyes on me, waiting expectantly. It
would’ve helped if I’d had a glass of water or something!
4
Speaker 4 I expected to be asked some tough questions at my university interview, so I
had prepared really thoroughly. But when I got into the interview room, the
guy looked at my application and said, ‘So, it says you play the guitar in your
spare time. Tell me about it.’ Well, we had a sort of weird, informal chat for
the rest of the interview and all the time I was thinking, why isn’t he asking me
any academic questions? I can’t have got in! But I needn’t have worried – I
did get in!
5
Speaker 5 I’d never been to one of those corporate interviews before. I thought it’d just
be a couple of business executives asking me questions, but I was shown to
a room with several other people. We were told we were going to participate
in several rounds of interview. The first was a ‘group’ interview where we all
had to say why we were worth employing. People would be eliminated after
each round. Well, I just got up and left. I mean, who’d want to work for a
company that puts that much pressure on their employees?

Listening 2

Presenter So, in the studio we have Angela Hamilton, a professional psychologist. She’s
going to talk to us today about how our personalities are formed. Angela,
welcome to the show.
Angela Hello Michael, thanks for inviting me.
Presenter So, Angela, as I understand it, the ‘nature versus nurture’ debate is one of the
most controversial in psychology. What exactly is it all about?
Angela Well, … ‘nature’ refers to our unique physical make up. You know, the genetic
factors that we inherit from our parents which make us who we are – from our
physical appearance to our personality characteristics.
Presenter OK, I get it …
Angela And ‘nurture’ refers to the environmental factors that influence who we are.
For example, how we were raised, our early childhood experiences, our social
relationships, and our culture.
Presenter Uh huh, I see. So, what do you think, is it nature or nurture that makes us who
we are?
Angela Mmm, well that’s a difficult one to answer. You see, different branches of
psychology have opposing theories, and despite decades of scientific studies,
they just can’t agree. Biological psychology claims that our personality is the
result of genetic influences. On the other hand, behavioural psychology
argues that environment has the biggest impact on our characters. I tend to
agree more with the behavioural psychologists – that environment plays the
biggest role in shaping our personalities. However, I recognise that genetics
are involved too.
Presenter Okay, so it sounds pretty complicated. Can you give some examples of
nature versus nurture?
Angela Of course. Let’s think about academic success… when a person performs
well academically, it could be due to nature – in other words that they are
genetically programmed to be academic. Or, is it due to nurture – because of
their environment? For example, because they had access to good resources
– books, computers, encouragement from their parents, a successful brother
or sister to compete with.
Presenter OK, so it’s not so straightforward, is it?
Angela No, not at all. Many of our physical characteristics, such as eye, hair, and skin
colour are definitely down to nature though.
Presenter So, how about personality? Can I blame my absent-mindedness on my
parents?
Angela Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. While eye colour is undoubtedly due to
genes, things like height and life expectancy are programmed by nature, but
also influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. In my opinion, it’s the
same for personality. Scientists haven’t yet found a specific gene for being
easy-going or bad-tempered or well-behaved. However, you often find that
people with those characteristics had parents or other family members with
the same characteristics.
Presenter So, why do you often get siblings – brothers and sisters – who have grown up
together in the same environment and been raised by the same people, with
completely different personalities?
Angela Well, the thing is that we’re all unique. Whether we grow up together and
share the same parents or not, we’ll all be different from each other.
Throughout our lives we interact constantly with our environment – we
change and adapt – every experience we have shapes our personalities and
makes us what we are. And that uniqueness is a great thing. Nature or
nurture? I don’t think we need to debate because it’s both …
Presenter Angela, thank you. That was absolutely fascinating.
Angela Thank you, too.
FILE TEST 2
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 Well, I’m really glad it happened on the last day of our holiday rather than the
first! I’d had a great week of skiing and avoided injury. Then, would you
believe it, I slipped on the steps as I was carrying my suitcase down to the
airport bus. I couldn’t walk – the pain was incredible. I was taken to the local
medical centre and they bandaged my ankle and sent me to the airport by
taxi. I was so embarrassed. When I returned home, everyone assumed I’d
had a dramatic skiing accident!
2
Speaker 2 I’ve never known pain like it. I felt sick and dizzy … and there was a loud
noise which sounded like a helicopter was taking off right beside – almost
inside – my head. I knew immediately that it was an infection and I needed
antibiotics. I went to the doctor but I could hardly hear what he was saying. It
took a day or two for the antibiotics to take effect. I had to take a lot of
painkillers during that time, and I didn’t get much sleep.
3
Speaker 3 I was on a long bike ride … about 35 miles through the countryside. I had
plenty of water, snacks, and a lightweight waterproof jacket. I thought I’d be
fine as the weather was mild. But then as I was coming through the hills, the
temperature dropped unexpectedly. Soon it was pouring with rain and I just
got colder and colder. I started to feel really unwell but I knew I couldn’t stop
in the middle of nowhere. Finally, I came to a small village – I walked into a
café and fainted.
4
Speaker 4 Seriously, I’ll never eat food from there again. I’m so disappointed … we’ve
been going there for years and it’s always been good food – really reliable.
But then I’ve heard the chef has changed recently ... It tasted fine but I knew
quite quickly that there was something wrong. You know, I started to I feel
kind of funny … Well, within three hours we were all vomiting. We called them
the next day to complain, and guess what? They offered us a free takeaway
next time. Well, I won’t be risking that again!
5
Speaker 5 Well, I had absolutely no idea I had a problem with them. I mean, I’d been
stung before, and it really hurt, but it’d never been as bad as that. I was just
sitting there, chatting with my friends, drinking coffee … and eating cake.
Then suddenly I felt a sharp sting on my throat. Instantly it started swelling up
and I couldn’t breathe – I fainted and woke up in hospital. I used to try and be
calm around wasps, but I’ll run away from them from now on.

Listening 2

So, most of you may know that this week is National Friendship Week … so I’ve decided to
talk about friends, and more specifically, to explore the concept of BFF or ‘Best Friends
Forever’, which is kind of fashionable right now. But what does it actually mean? And is there
too much pressure to have a best friend?

This is supposed to be a light-hearted talk but I think it’s important to acknowledge the recent
reports in the media related to loneliness. Research suggests that as a society, we’re
lonelier than we’ve ever been before. And while the traditional image of loneliness is that it
only affects the elderly, the high rate of loneliness among young people is really quite
shocking. This may not actually mean that young people have fewer friends – it’s more about
the pressure they feel to have ‘successful friendships’. In fact, I recently read that over
80% of millennials reported that they felt like they had to live up to the expectations of
others, and if they didn’t, they would become socially isolated. That’s pretty shocking really.

And I suppose that’s where I come to the BFF question. Do we really need a best friend?
And if so, do we need to prove it with a BFF hashtag? Whether we actually have a best
friend, or a small group of close friends, or a wider circle of friends and acquaintances, we all
feel alone at times – and nothing will ever change that.

So, there’s something I have to admit – and I think I’m being pretty brave doing it – I don’t
have a best friend. This has not always been the case. At secondary school, I had a best
friend called Charlotte. When we met in week one, we just clicked and we were together all
the time after that – from then until fifth year. After school and at weekends I’d either be at
her house or she’d be at mine. If we weren’t together for some reason, people would ask
where the other one was. We wore similar clothes, and we liked the same bands and the
same boys. But then one day she came to me in tears and told me she was leaving – her
family was moving to a town far away. Well, I was so unhappy. And lonely. We’d tackled our
teen years together and spent all our time together. How would I survive without her? When
she was gone, I didn’t really know how to be on my own, and I soon realized I hadn’t really
taken the time to get to know my classmates very well. They all had their own established
friendship groups. After a couple of months, I gradually began to hang out with other kids
and made a really nice group of friends, but I still felt there was something missing. Looking
back now, I think it was the habit and security of having a BFF. Charlotte and I have kept in
touch, and we still see each other every year or so, but we don’t have a great deal in
common as adults – just a lot of fun shared memories.

So, I don’t have a best friend. Not because I can’t find one, but because I no longer feel the
need for a BFF. I have a mix of university friends, old flatmates, colleagues, and people I’ve
met through various activities over the years. I like them all for different reasons and
between them they cover every aspect of friendship: shared interests, emotional support and
advice, quiet nights in, and wild nights out. None are the ‘best’ perhaps because I get what I
need out of a combination of all my friendships.

Am I missing out on the whole ‘best friends forever’ phenomenon? Well, no, I don’t think so.
In fact, I think perhaps it would hold me back these days because I’d miss out on these
wonderful diverse friendships I have now. Sure, I don’t spend as much time with any of them
as I’d do if I had just one BFF, but I don’t think that matters. In fact, in a way, it makes life
easier because I don’t have to drop whatever I’m doing when my BFF calls. I can be myself
and make my own decisions without having to discuss them with someone else.

The thing I’ve learned about friendships is that they change and develop as our lives do, and
that’s OK.
FILE TEST 3
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 My friends and I are planning a trip around Europe at the moment so I’ve
been busy researching the best destinations and finding out about cultural
attractions and interesting activities we can do there. We’re on a budget so
I’ve borrowed this book from the library. It has lots of ideas for affordable
travel and accommodation options. The only problem is, every destination in
the book sounds amazing but we can’t visit all of them!
2
Speaker 2 I just love a good crime novel. You know, a real page-turner; the kind you
start reading and then you just can’t put down! I’ve been known to eat
breakfast and clean my teeth in the morning without putting a book down.
Obviously, I have to work so I have to fit reading in somewhere! The one I’m
reading now is a bit scary, I must admit, so I don’t read it after dark!
3
Speaker 3 When I was young, my uncle lived in Japan. I was fascinated by his photos
and stories when he visited. Anyway, for my twelfth birthday he gave me
some ‘manga’. It looked like a thick comic but it didn’t have many words.
Those it did have were written in Japanese kanji but I could follow the story
from the dynamic comic-style pictures. I’m not sure you could call it reading
but it stimulated the imagination in the same way.
4
Speaker 4 Well, at the moment I’m reading a very technical book about how to use my
new laptop for work. I’m a graphic designer so I need to have some quite
sophisticated software to create my artworks. I was used to using my old
laptop but it was getting quite slow so I needed to upgrade. Wow, I never
expected to have to read so many pages – it’s going to take ages to get
through it!
5
Speaker 5 To be honest, it’s a while since I’ve read a physical book. I tend to do most of
my reading online nowadays. I’m training to be a chef and I’m keen to open a
small café business so I spend most of my time looking at recipes and videos.
I’m really enjoying the community aspect too – you know, you can post a
question and people will get back to you with ideas and advice. It’s great!
Listening 2

Sarah My name’s Sarah Jason and I’m here today to talk about how I became a
writer. I guess I should start at the beginning ... talk about what inspired me and why I
decided to go for it and write my first story. Well … when I say 'my first story', I mean
the first I wrote as Sarah Jason the author, because the first ever story I wrote was
very, very long ago when I was a child. I can't remember learning to read. I feel like
I've always done it. But my mother tells me that I read my first book aloud to her
when I was just three years old. Back then we didn't have tablets or e-readers – just
old-fashioned paper novels. And my room was absolutely stacked with them. Some
days I used to come downstairs with two or three books and just sit and read them
one after the other. On nice days, I'd go outside and swing on my swing whilst
reading, or carry a book around the garden with me. In the winter, I remember once
taking my sledge out into the snow and sitting in it ... reading. As I got older – about
ten or eleven – my brother and I would make up adventure stories together. We'd
discuss the characters and then draw them. After that we'd take turns to write
paragraphs, or he would write the first half of the story and I'd write the second. I
absolutely loved the thrill of it. And that's never changed. In fact, I still have a couple
of those collaborative stories we wrote together.

Of course, I went on to study literature at university and I loved it. But after I
graduated, I found I was in debt. I needed a job to pay off my student loan so I
trained to be a teacher and began working in a secondary school. And although I
quite enjoyed teaching, I missed being creative. I studied novels with the children in
my classes but they weren't the kind of novels I wanted to read, and I had to teach
the same ones repeatedly. So, I decided to try writing a short story or two. I didn't
have a lot of free time but I realized that if I didn't do it then, I never would. So I'd just
write a little each day – sometimes only a few lines. But it's not just the physical
writing that makes you a writer. You have to use your imagination; you have to think
and almost 'feel' the story. The characters and plot line develop over time. So ... I
daydreamed a lot ... and I kept a notebook and pencil with me at all times. If I saw
anything inspiring or interesting, I'd take notes. I'd listen in to conversations on buses
and 'steal' a couple of lines of dialogue from them, or I'd see an interesting face in a
crowd and imagine the character of that person – what their personality was like,
where they lived, what they were interested in. Then they'd become a character in
my stories.

I wrote several short stories before I was brave enough to send one to a magazine to
see if they would publish it. They rejected me ... and so did the next magazine, and
the next. But I didn't give up. I read a lot, but I don't like everything I read. At first
when I was rejected by publishing houses, I felt like I'd failed, but then I realized that
everyone has different tastes in literature. If they don't like my story, maybe someone
else will. After several months of rejections, I finally got a story published by a
magazine in North America. I was so thrilled. And would you believe it? A publisher in
the UK got in touch to ask if he could publish it too. The ridiculous thing is, his
publishing house had actually rejected the story two months earlier. He didn't even
realize!

So, that was the start of my career. I think a lot of people give up at the rejections
stage, and that's understandable, but sad too as it could be a missed opportunity. I
won a couple of short story competitions and then I started to feel like I was ready for
my first novel. I took the brave move of giving up my teaching career and started
writing full time. Well, when I say writing, you know what I mean. Some of the time
I'm writing, the rest of the time I'm thinking of a good story!
FILE TEST 4
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 I used to buy loads of clothing online, and if I didn’t like them, I’d just return
them and get a refund. But then I read an article online about shop returns –
and how millions of returned clothing items are wasted because companies
send them to landfill. They say it’s just too time consuming to clean and resell
them. Now I only buy from brands that make items from recycled fabrics and I
never return them – I give them away, or sell them via social media.
2
Speaker 2 I’m really concerned about the effect of chemicals on the environment. I read
recently that the average apple tree is sprayed with insect-killing chemicals
thirteen times a year. Well, I don’t like the idea of eating them now. And think
of the effect of those chemicals on the environment. I’ve decided to buy
organic food products from now on.
3
Speaker 3 Last year I decided to become a vegan – not eat or use any animal products
– to reduce my carbon footprint. But things aren’t always so straightforward.
I’ve since discovered that many vegan products contain soya beans and that
vast areas of rainforest worldwide are being cleared to grow it because of
increased consumer demand. If this continues to happen, the rainforest will
have disappeared by the time my grandchildren have grown up. Now I’ve
decided just to eat healthily and buy local.
4
Speaker 4 I’m trying to be an environmentally responsible shopper but it isn’t easy.
Companies know that consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact of
their shopping, and while many of them sell genuinely ‘green’ items, some try
to ‘greenwash’ their image – you know, advertise their products in a way that
makes them sound more environmentally-friendly than they actually are. I’d
like to think that our shopping habits are going to continue to get more
environmentally friendly in the future but this can only happen if businesses
are honest about their environmental profile!
5
Speaker 5 I used to be OK about buying items in packaging because I thought it would
all get recycled. Then I saw a TV documentary which revealed that a large
 proportion of the plastic items we put in the recycling bin ends up being
dumped in landfill or burned. Since I discovered that, I’ve been trying to buy
items without packaging, and I always refuse to take free bags in shops. I’ve
also joined some online campaigns which ask the food industry to reduce
packaging and find more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Hopefully it’ll
make a difference ...

Listening 2

Presenter So, today as part of our Climate First series, I’m speaking to Mike Stephens,
a climate scientist. As you know, a lot of the talk about climate change these
days is pretty depressing, but there are some really positive things happening
to tackle the issue, and that’s what we’ll be talking about today. Mike, thanks
for coming in.
Mike Hello Isabelle, good to be here.
Presenter So, I’m really looking forward to hearing about some of these creative
solutions …
Mike Yes, as you say, climate change is a serious issue, but that’s no reason to
give up and do nothing about it. Of course, many human inventions have
been harmful to the environment, so it’s really important that we turn our
attention to using our scientific knowledge to help reverse that damage.
Presenter Yes, we think we’re really clever – and of course we are – but we can’t go on
creating products and systems that destroy our own planet, can we?
Mike Exactly. There’s a lot of work to be done to reverse the damage. We need
inventions that will protect the Earth, and … hopefully … help environments to
heal and get better again. So, I’d like to talk you through just a few of the ones
I think are really interesting.
Presenter Brilliant. Sounds interesting …
Mike OK, so first on my list is drones that plant trees. We don’t need to invent a
machine to clean the air for us because we already have the natural
equipment to do that for us – trees. Trees absorb the carbon from our fossil
fuel emissions, they filter air and water, they return nutrients to the soil, and
they provide essential food and habitats for wildlife. The problem is, right now,
we’re cutting them down faster than we can plant them. We’re already
planting trees by hand but man power alone can’t match the rate of industrial
deforestation. That’s where the technology comes in – drones can fly into
 areas that humans can’t reach. BioCarbon Engineering, a UK-based
company, aims to plant one billion trees per year using drones. First, they’ll
use mapping drones to research an area and determine the best planting
strategy. Then, planting drones will fly six feet above the ground firing seeds
into the soil. Now that’s pretty clever.
Presenter Yes, it is! And what about our oceans? I mean, they’re in a real mess right
now, aren’t they?
Mike Well, yes, but we may have a solution there too. If our plastic use continues,
by 2050, the world will have twelve billion metric tons of plastic waste in
landfills. That’s a piece of plastic around the size of a car, for every human on
the planet. But an accidental scientific discovery might change all that. You
see, a team of researchers in Japan has discovered an enzyme that can
break down plastic in a matter of days. Considering it currently takes
hundreds, if not thousands, of years for plastic to break down, that’s a
massive improvement. It won’t solve the problem alone though – we’d have to
stop putting plastic in the sea altogether to do that. To effectively address
climate change, we also need to change people’s behaviour. We can’t rely on
technology alone to solve all our problems.
Presenter Mmm. And what about energy? Are there any clever solutions happening in
that area?
Mike Yes, there are. We already have some effective solar panel technology, but of
course it only works efficiently when the sun shines. As a wet weather option,
scientists in China are looking at ways they can extract energy from
raindrops.
Presenter Raindrops, really?
Mike Yes, it’s a genius idea, isn’t it? Another one is …
FILE TEST 5
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 It’d been such a terrifying experience. I mean, we hadn’t expected to go so
far, but we just must’ve taken a wrong turn. Soon we were completely lost
and it was so hot. We realized we were walking around in circles so we
stopped and tried to remember our survival skills. We made a shelter for
shade and got a fire going to boil water from the stream nearby. The next day
we just sat there waiting to be rescued. When the helicopter finally came, I
just burst into tears.
2
Speaker 2 I knew it’d be a challenging route but I was determined to finish. I’d been
preparing for months by then and was really fit. But that doesn’t really make
much difference to how tired you feel. I’ve run in a lot of mountains but these
were so steep. Six hours running over rocks, down narrow paths, and through
rivers and streams. It really was tough. Words can’t express how tired I was
as I stepped over the finish line.
3
Speaker 3 I would never have imagined Jean as an adrenaline seeker. I mean, she
doesn’t seem like the risk-taking type at all. I didn’t think she’d ever do
something like that! When she made the announcement at work, I nearly fell
off my chair. Skydiving! No-one could speak at first – we were absolutely
shocked. I have to say, I really admire her for it! I wish I was brave enough.
Maybe next time I’ll join her …
4
Speaker 4 We’d set our hearts on buying that house. It was perfect for us in every way.
The space, the garden, the lifestyle it would provide. We had the money too
and could just imagine ourselves living there. We’d planned where we’d put
the furniture and everything. But when we rang the agent to make the offer,
he said the owners had decided not to sell after all. Words can’t describe how
we felt.
5
Speaker 5 It happened at my friend Tanya’s 40th birthday party. Anyway, her husband
James had organized a surprise party for her at the village hall, and the
guests had been asked to arrive early. Well, I was standing near the door
 when Tanya arrived. I was about to rush forward to give her a hug when
another Tanya walked through the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes – she’d
never told me she had an identical twin! I was utterly confused all evening. I
couldn’t work out who was who …

Listening 2

Jed Hello everyone, I’m Jed. Thank you for coming along to my talk this evening. I’m sure
some of you may already have experience in how to stay safe outdoors when you’re
doing adventure sports or exploring wilder areas. Anyway … whatever your level of
expertise, I hope that you’ll go home with some useful hints and tips for surviving in the
wild.

It’s important to point out that no two ‘lost in the wilderness’ scenarios are the same.
Medical issues, allergies, phobias, and anxieties can all determine how being lost will
affect an individual’s ability to survive in their own unique set of circumstances. So,
know your strengths and your weaknesses and plan ahead. Most importantly, don’t
plan an outdoor activity unless you’re suitably experienced. It might sound a bit unkind,
but if you choose to go out into wild places without the relevant skills, you could be a
risk to yourself and others.

So, make sure you learn as much as possible about the landscape you’re planning to
explore. And always tell someone where you’re going and what your plan is. That way
if you don’t come back, they’ll know there’s a problem.

Next, pack a survival kit. Most survival stories begin with ‘I wasn’t planning to go that
far …’. Whether you’re going out for a day’s walk in the mountains, or a week-long
camping trip in the woods, always carry a survival kit with you. It can be small but it
must have the essentials such as dry clothing, a knife, a survival blanket, and a
medical kit.

I think most people will be aware that their main threats to survival are hypothermia
and dehydration. Always take a lightweight but warm jacket. Even in summer the
weather can change, leaving you exposed and cold. Nights can get chilly regardless of
daytime temperatures.
Water that looks clean can contain bacteria or parasites which will make you sick if you
drink it. But you can only survive three days without water so don’t go thirsty – drink
lots BUT make it safe by boiling it. And that leads me on to the next essential … Don’t,
whatever you do, forget to take a lighter. The ability to light and maintain fire,
especially in difficult weather conditions, is essential. It’ll dry your clothes and keep you
warm, boil water, cook food, and signal your location to rescue teams. And perhaps
most important of all, it gives you that psychological boost you need to get through the
darkest hours. So, I can’t stress this enough – you may have done a course in natural
fire lighting, but in a survival situation your priority is to stay alive so use the quickest
option available.

So … we’ve covered skills and equipment, but having these things doesn’t guarantee
your survival. Mental attitude has as much to do with it as anything else. What would
you do if you found yourself lost? Well, most importantly, don’t panic. Stop, sit down,
and look around. Many people get desperate when they discover they’re lost.
Survivors will often say things like ‘I wish I hadn’t walked off in a random direction
hoping to find the right path again. I ended up making the situation ten times worse.’
So, try to stay calm and consider you basic needs: shelter, water, food, and protection.
Save your energy – you don’t have to start acting a hero in an adventure movie; only
perform the tasks that are absolutely necessary for your survival. Remember, if you
told someone your plan, the rescuers will be looking for you …
FILE TEST 6
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 I was so excited when I became a student and moved into my first rented flat.
I really enjoyed living with my flatmates and cooking for myself, but the one
big problem I had was the bed. It was so uncomfortable. I just couldn’t get
used to it. I finally gave up and started sleeping on the floor. It was much
more comfortable!
2
Speaker 2 When I moved to the city, I had a terrible time with loud traffic outside. I just
couldn’t get used to it, especially at night time. I would lie awake for hours.
But then a friend suggested I play some gentle music at bedtime to reduce
the effect of the noise from outside. Thankfully it worked. If it hadn’t, I think I
would’ve moved somewhere quieter.
3
Speaker 3 The worst time I’ve ever had trying to sleep was when I was on a gap year in
Australia. You know those noisy Australian birds that have a really loud call –
the kookaburras? Well, they start communicating with each other early – I
mean really early – about 5 o’clock in the morning! And my apartment was
next to a park. There was a tree just outside my bedroom window, and I’d be
woken up by those noisy things every day. No matter what I did, I couldn’t
block out the sound.
4
Speaker 4 I’d never had a problem sleeping until I moved to Canada. I knew the daylight
hours in summer are much longer up north, but what I hadn’t realized is that
there’s virtually no darkness at all! The first year I ended up getting what the
locals call ‘summer fever’. I had so much energy, and I just didn’t feel like I
needed any sleep. I started to go a bit crazy … but now I’m used to it!
5
Speaker 5 My weirdest experience with sleep was when I went to New Zealand. You
know, the time difference is huge in comparison to the UK so I expected to
feel the effects – but I hadn’t realized how much. That first night I’d fallen
asleep almost immediately because I was so tired from travelling. I thought I’d
sleep for hours, but in the middle of the night I woke up suddenly, and I was
wide awake. Later that day I fell asleep during lunch.
Listening 2

Presenter So, our regular listeners will know that this month we’re looking at sleep and
how it influences our health. In the studio this morning we have Professor
Anja Bern, a sleep expert. Now, Anja, you’ve been researching the effect of
sleep patterns on teenagers. What have you and your team discovered?
Anja Well, I must begin by saying I feel very sorry for teenagers. In societies
worldwide, they are being criticized for staying up late, and then lying in bed
in the morning, refusing to get up. They’re called lazy and unresponsive. And
I think that’s totally unfair.
Presenter Well, yes, but I have two teenagers and I have to admit, their bedtime habits
aren’t very good. I mean, they don’t even seem to try and fall asleep before
midnight. How can they expect to get up early for school in the morning if they
don’t sleep for long enough?
Anja Well, that’s a very common argument, but it is based on a misunderstanding.
You see, science has proven that there is a genuine biological reason why
teenagers can’t get up early. Or indeed, fall asleep early.
Presenter I see. Could you tell us a bit about your research, please?
Anja So, our research has shown that teenagers’ body clocks are set differently –
they actually have a different sense of time from children or adults. We all
have a 24-hour cycle that determines when we sleep and when we’re awake,
but in teenagers this gets later, reaching its latest point by the age of around
twenty years old. Then, after the age of twenty, our sleeping and waking
times gradually get earlier again.
Presenter Really? That’s very interesting …
Anja Yes … biological time determines when you feel sleepy. It’s different from
social time, which is determined by clocks and schedules – society’s
expectations.
Presenter So, how does that affect teenagers?
Anja Well, when there is a difference between biological time and social time,
people can become sleep deprived. So, for example, the official early morning
start times for school and university classes are usually between 7:30am and
8:30am. These are just too early for teenagers and young adults, whose body
clocks are set to a later schedule. This really is having a negative impact on
our young people.
Presenter Yes, I see what you mean. I know both of my children struggle to get up in the
morning. I can see how difficult it is for them, and that’s why I’ve felt so
frustrated when they haven’t tried to go to bed earlier. Now I understand …
Anja Yes. Unfortunately, many teenagers are losing two or three hours of sleep per
night during the week because of having to get up for school. You know,
people talk about ‘sleeping in’ at the weekend to ‘catch up’ on sleep. That
actually doesn’t happen at all. Once you’ve missed those valuable hours of
sleep, you can’t get them back again – and this is a real risk to teenagers’
health. Our research shows that young people who don’t get enough sleep
are more likely to become overweight and suffer from depression. They often
perform badly at school and take less exercise. This is so unfair as it isn’t
their fault – they’re already disadvantaged by lack of sleep.
Presenter So, what can be done about this?
Anja We have published a report which recommends that classes for teenagers
and young people should always start after 8:30am at the earliest. But we
would suggest a 10am start for younger high school pupils to guarantee
improved health benefits. And an even later start – 11am or even 12pm – for
older teenagers, aged 18 to 20.
Presenter That sounds like good advice.
Anja Yes, it’s a start, but we need to see society change too. School staff and
parents need to be more understanding. Instead of criticizing young people
about their sleep habits and school performance, they need to let them sleep
and wake later to match their biological clocks. The result will be that we raise
healthier, smarter, happier teens. And that’s what we all want, isn’t it?
FILE TEST 7
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 Look at those kids fishing. Do you remember that time when we went fishing?
I think we must’ve been about eight or nine years old. It was raining really
heavily but we were determined to catch a fish. Mum and Dad were really
enthusiastic at first, but eventually they ended up sitting in the car. We were
there for four hours and the only thing we caught was colds!
2
Speaker 2 Well, I’ve learned over the years that my mother-in-law – much as I love her –
can be a bit argumentative. And we have very different views when it comes
to politics. Anyway, I’ve been in a few heated discussions with her in the past
and they never end well. So now, if she mentions her opinion on anything, I
politely change the subject.
3
Speaker 3 It’s really important that you don’t walk along George Hill Road. You know, it
seems like a quiet country lane, but the cars do come along it really fast – and
there’s no real pavement so it really isn’t safe for pedestrians. If you need to
go into town, I’d rather you take the bus. I’ll give you the bus fare so you don’t
have to take it out of your pocket money.
4
Speaker 4 I can’t believe it! I worked really hard on that essay and then that new
professor read it. She called me in to her office this morning and asked me
who had written it! I said I had but she didn’t believe me. She said it was too
good and I must’ve copied it from somewhere. I’m so offended – I’d never
copy anything! I’m going to complain to the director of studies!
5
Speaker 5 So, we finally got into town, and it was busy … and really hot. After about
twenty minutes of driving around, I eventually found a parking space. I knew
we were running late, but not so late that we’d miss the appointment. But
then, would you believe it, my daughter just would not get out of the car. You
know how stubborn three-year-olds can be …
Listening 2

Presenter So, I have with me in the studio today, Elina Petrova. Now, Elina is a social
historian and she’s here today to tell us a little bit about her new TV series
which is starting later this week. Elina, welcome to the studio.
Elina Thank you for inviting me, Ross.
Presenter So, Elina, you’ve made a TV series about people’s beliefs and superstitions
about the body throughout history …
Elina Yes, that’s right. I’ve always been fascinated by this. We all seem to be
obsessed with appearances, but this isn’t just a modern phenomenon. It’s not
just created by social media or advertising. Throughout history, people have
had beliefs and superstitions about appearance … and how that relates to our
characters, and also to our future prospects. Each episode in the series will
focus on a different aspect of appearance.
Presenter It sounds interesting. I know you won’t want to give away too many secrets
about the series, but can you give us a few examples?
Elina Of course.
Presenter Mmm … perhaps you could start with me. I mean, I have red hair. What does
that say about me, and my character?
Elina Oh, great idea! Let’s start with hair … so, red hair is traditionally associated
with a fiery temper.
Presenter Yes, I’ve heard that.
Elina Yes, did you know that both Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth had red hair?
Many people have said this was the reason they were such strong characters.
The Scots especially, valued red hair. It was seen as a sign of great strength
and determination. We talk more about that in one of the episodes.
Presenter OK, I’d like to see that. Are there any other interesting ideas related to hair?
Elina Well, yes, lots actually. Perhaps it’s not surprising that long hair suggested
physical strength. And some people used to say that if a man had hair
growing on his forehead, he would have a long life.
Presenter Mmm, I’m not too sure about that one. My grandfather is completely bald and
he’s 98!
Elina OK, I’m not claiming all these sayings are true! But one superstition I think
most people still go along with is ‘never pull out a grey hair’. Apparently, if you
do, ten more will grow in its place.
Presenter OK, I won’t be doing that with mine then …
Elina Yes, and there’s an old wives’ tale I’ve read which says you can’t trust a man
whose eyebrows meet in the middle – it’s a sign that he’s dishonest.
Presenter Oh dear. That sounds like my brother-in-law!
Elina Well, you can’t identify a criminal based on appearance – at least not
anymore – but trained criminal psychologists are supposed to be able to spot
a liar by studying the movements of their eyes. Historically, the eyes are the
source of many interesting sayings and stories because they are supposed to
be ‘the window to the soul’. You know, they reveal so much about a person.
Of course, you’ll have heard stories about the ‘evil eye’. You may have seen
the eye-shaped symbols that several cultures use outside their houses to
protect them against evil.
Presenter Yes, I’ve seen those in Portugal. Are there any body superstitions from other
countries you can tell us about?
Elina Well, I’m from Russia and we have quite a few of them. The first is if your
cheeks are burning – you know, like you’re embarrassed. If only the right
cheek is burning, it means your loved one or a close friend is thinking of you.
Presenter And if your left cheek is burning …?
Elina Enemies are gossiping about you!
Presenter Ah, yes. We have a similar saying in English, but we say ‘my ears are
burning’.
Elina Yes, I’ve heard it! Another Russian saying relates to body language. In
Russia you must not whistle in the house. In the past, people believed that
evil spirits communicated by whistling, so if you whistled you would call them
into the house, and that would bring lots of bad luck!
Presenter Mmm, that’s an interesting one.
Elina Yes, and another interesting one is from Belgium. Apparently, if
you sneeze during a conversation, it proves you are telling the truth!
Presenter Well, these beliefs certainly are fascinating. I can’t wait to watch the show and
hear more about this.
Elina Yes, thank you. As I said, today was just a sample of what we discuss in the
programme. You can learn more about the historical details in the TV series…
FILE TEST 8
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 Mr Boardman had been the main suspect in the police’s investigations for
several years. However, when it came to the trial, the jury decided that there
was not enough evidence to prove that he had committed the crime. As a
result, he has been released and this morning walked away from the court as
a free man.
2
Speaker 2 Early this morning, a member of the public contacted the police to say that
she had seen a man acting suspiciously in the car parking area behind the
bank. Police acted immediately. They surrounded the bank and caught the
robber as he emerged. The man has now been taken to police headquarters
for questioning.
3
Speaker 3 According to the judge, although it was the young woman’s first offence, the
crime was serious enough to earn some time in prison. He ordered a three-
year sentence but with the option for early release for good behaviour.
4
Speaker 4 Police had long suspected that Mr Anderson was involved but they had never
managed to provide enough evidence to prove he was guilty. However, the
evidence this time was clear – his fingerprints were found at the scene and a
search revealed that he had hidden the stolen car in his girlfriend’s garage.
5
Speaker 5 There has been an increase in the number of crimes of this nature recently.
Local police have warned that any damage to property, whether it belongs to
individuals or the public authorities, will be thoroughly investigated and those
responsible will be brought to justice. They hope that tough action will put an
end to antisocial behaviour in the area.
Listening 2

Mia I’m studying film and TV this term and I’ve decided to look into why certain genres are
gaining popularity. In particular, television crime dramas. You know, the kind where
you watch one episode and then you can’t wait to see the next, and the next …

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like there’s a new – and hugely successful –
crime series available for streaming. Which raises the question: why are we all so
obsessed with crime? I mean, most of us would never consider committing a crime,
but we love watching it on TV. I did a bit of research, and this is what the experts have
to say about it.

So, according to psychologists, our fascination with crime is … well … normal. I’d like
to take this opportunity to reassure you – there’s nothing weird about enjoying a good
crime drama. Apparently, our interest in crime has a number of healthy psychological
purposes. Humans are designed to pay attention to risk and danger so that we can
avoid them. It’s a basic survival skill. Watching TV crime gives us the experience of
controlled fear. We can ‘experience’ risky or distressing situations from a distance.
Furthermore, by watching these programmes we might gain some knowledge about
the psychology of criminals that we could use to protect ourselves and our families.

Another normal but slightly disturbing idea is that evil actually fascinates us. For
thousands of years, people have gathered around the fire to share stories, and these
stories almost always involve good versus evil. Think about it … even as kids, we're
drawn to the tension between good and evil. We all had those comic books where the
goodies fought the baddies, and we played ‘cops and robbers’ games where the police
would try to catch the criminals. This fascination continues into adulthood. We love
those stories that thrill and excite our imaginations, especially where the dynamic
forces of good and evil are involved. In fact, one psychologist I read about compared
crime dramas for adults to monster movies for children. And I guess that’s true. They
are actually pretty much the same as ‘fairy tales’ for grown-ups. The goodies always
win in the end …

And then there’s the intellectual side of crime. People like puzzles, and crime stories
offer us that intellectual challenge. We just love to play the armchair detective. You
know, sit on our sofas and try to work out ‘whodunnit’ before the police authorities
catch the criminal. We want to see all the details of that genius bank robbery plan, and
see if the robbers can get away with the money without being caught. We want to
solve the crimes, figure out what drove these people to their extreme acts, because
we'd never dare to do them ourselves. Do the police have enough evidence to charge
them? Will they be sentenced or acquitted? How will the jury reach a verdict? That’s
tremendously addictive TV … you know, we get that rush of adrenaline associated with
real risk but without any serious consequences. And studies have shown that the
effect of watching crime dramas on human emotions is similar to that of riding on roller
coasters or practising extreme sports. It activates powerful survival instincts.

So, I’ve spoken about the thrill of the story, but according to psychologists sometimes
it’s the reassuring familiarity that people seek in a crime drama. Of course, crime
stories may be different from each other but they tend to share a very similar narrative.
By the end of a typical crime story, we’ve managed to identify who the good guys and
the bad guys are, and the crime is solved. This familiar pattern proves to us over and
over again that our criminal justice system – imperfect though it may be – basically
works. That’s reassuring to know.
FILE TEST 9
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 I’m really disappointed. I bought this shampoo because I thought it was
environmentally friendly. I mean, look at this label … it says ‘made with 98%
organic products’. But then I looked at the other ingredients. It’s full of nasty
chemicals just like all the other brands! Next time, I’ll read the small print on
the label before I buy something.
2
Speaker 2 I know loads of people who dislike getting adverts that target them as
individuals through their smartphones, but I don’t mind at all. I absolutely love
shopping, and targeted adverts help me find the products that I want. I don’t
mind companies collecting cookies and data about me if it helps me with my
shopping habit!
3
Speaker 3 Aargh! I’m really trying to get on with writing this article and I keep getting
these adverts coming up on my screen all the time. Have you any idea how I
can turn them off? They’re driving me crazy!
4
Speaker 4 I’ve always said that I’ve never been influenced by advertising, but I must be
on an unconscious level. I’m pretty sure I can remember just about every type
of sweet or fizzy drink advert from when I was young. We didn’t have many
ads on TV then and there was no social media – it was the clever use of
words and phrases that sold products back then.
5
Speaker 5 You know that new environmentally friendly toilet paper I’ve been buying?
Well, I’m really frustrated because I keep trying to buy more and it’s always
‘out of stock’. I guess that’s what happens when you buy a product you’ve
seen an advert for online. These ads spread so rapidly on social media – then
everyone ends up buying the same thing!
Listening 2

Presenter So, today I’m speaking to Jan Holmen, a scientist who is currently
researching ‘living buildings’. Jan, thanks for coming in today.
Jan Thank you, Lena.
Presenter So, what type of architecture projects are scientists working on at the
moment, Jan?
Jan Well, many new and exciting ideas have already been developed, but here’s
a new one you may find surprising. What if our homes were alive? I don’t
mean that they will be filled with smart technology that you can talk to. I mean
actually alive in the sense that they will have the ability to grow and repair
themselves.
Presenter Erm. That sounds a bit weird to me.
Jan Yes, I agree. The concept might seem a bit spooky and sci-fi at first.
However, we face major challenges such as over-population, lack of
resources, and climate change, so we need to think seriously about the way
we live, and how we build our man-made environment. We have some really
state-of-the-art smart cities already, and we also have some great projects
which aim to make buildings greener by planting trees and gardens on
balconies and rooftops. The next step is to actually combine architecture and
building technologies more closely with nature.
Presenter Yes, that sounds like an important step.
Jan It is. Let me give you some examples of how we think the buildings of the
future might come alive. First of all, we have buildings that grow.
Presenter Grow?
Jan Yes. We already use natural materials such as wood and stone for building,
but the Earth has many more resources that could be used. For example,
we’ve already discovered a way to use mushroom roots, or mycelium, to
create useful materials.
Presenter I heard about that. I think someone made a dress, didn’t they?
Jan Yes, that’s right. Mycelium can be thin and lightweight like fabric, or thick and
strong to make large objects. At the moment, anything that is made from
mycelium is heated up to make sure it doesn’t grow and change. The next
challenge for scientists is to see if products made from natural materials could
be kept alive and made to grow in a way that we could control.
Presenter That sounds incredible …
Jan And then there’s buildings that heal. Most buildings in cities are made from
concrete. If a crack appears in concrete, water gets in and begins to destroy
the building. This is a particular concern for the future as meteorologists have
predicted more extreme weather and flooding.
Presenter That’s a good point.
Jan Mmm, but the good news is that researchers in the Netherlands have
discovered a way to make concrete that can heal itself. The special ingredient
is a type of natural bacteria that is found near volcanoes. This incredible type
of bacteria can survive in extreme hot or cold temperatures. When it is mixed
into concrete, it remains dormant and can survive for two hundred years.
However – and here’s the magic part – if the concrete cracks and water gets
in, the bacteria become active and ‘grows’, fixing any holes in the concrete at
the same time.
Presenter That’s amazing! I guess it could save a lot of money on building repairs.
Jan Oh yes, the research team predicts that using this special concrete recipe
might add decades to the life of a building. That’s billions of pounds worth of
savings.
Presenter Well, I must say, it all sounds so positive, but are there any disadvantages to
living buildings?
Jan Well, yes, the disadvantage is that they will, of course, eventually die. And
although this is a disadvantage, it’s not as bad as it sounds. You see, the
buildings we have now also have a life span, and when they come to the end
of it, it is expensive and polluting to knock them down. Instead, imagine a city
with a life cycle where buildings return to the Earth without having a negative
effect on their environment. Isn’t that truly inspiring?
FILE TEST 10
Listening 1

1
Speaker 1 When I arrived at the conference centre, a security guard asked, ‘Are you
here to give the presentation?’ I said yes, so he led me along a corridor to a
large door. He said, ‘Just go in, they’re ready.’ Well, I’d been expecting a
small audience of 20 to 30 people but when I stepped through the door, I
found myself in a huge theatre with an audience of at least 120! When I
started my speech, they all looked bewildered – they had been expecting a
presentation on health, not climate change! I was definitely in the wrong place
…
2
Speaker 2 I’d been preparing for weeks and I was really ready to give that speech. So,
finally, the moment came. I walked onto the stage and started speaking. But
suddenly there was this incredibly loud noise – I realized the fire alarm was
going off. Well, that was it, we all had to go and stand outside until they’d
checked the building to make sure it was safe. I got to finish the speech later
but my enthusiasm for it had vanished.
3
Speaker 3 Well, I’m a professional speaker now, and I think I’m pretty good at what I do.
But when I started out, I did get a little nervous. My presentation coach
watched my first official speech and gave me feedback. She told me the
content of my speech was fine but if I didn’t stand still, I’d make my audience
dizzy!
4
Speaker 4 Before I started my talk, the host had given me a glass of water. The whole
time I was speaking I was worrying about accidentally knocking it over. I
couldn’t concentrate on what I was saying. So, I decided the best thing to do
was just drink all the water to empty the glass. Well, what a mistake! I started
coughing uncontrollably. It was so embarrassing!
5
Speaker 5 I’d prepared really well, and my slides … well … they were amazing! I had all
sorts of clever graphs and tables of statistics to share with my audience. But I
shouldn’t have relied on them so much. The projector stopped working and I
had to do the presentation without them. I was really disappointed …
Listening 2

Chris Hello everyone, I’m Chris. Before we start, I’d just like to make it clear … this
isn’t a comedy show. Yes, I am a comedian but I’m not here to tell jokes tonight. I’m
here to give you, the audience, some hints and tips on how you could take that first
step into comedy too.

So … to be honest, before I became a comedian, I never really saw myself as

particularly amusing – I still don’t actually. But I’ve always loved talking and being with
other people and … I guess along the way I must’ve cracked a few jokes because I
somehow earned myself the ‘funny’ label. As a student, I’d be at a party and someone
would say to me, ‘Tell them the one about …’ Then one evening, not long after I’d
graduated from university, I was in a bar with some friends and it turned out this bar
was hosting a comedy ‘open mic’ night. You know, when anyone can go up on stage
for a few minutes and tell a funny story or try out some comedy in front of an audience.
Well, a few people had taken turns to perform and I was quite enjoying the
entertainment of it all. And then my friends started encouraging me to go up on stage
and ‘tell some jokes’. Well, I was pretty surprised to say the least but I thought, why
not? I walked up onto the stage and told what I considered at the time to be my best
joke. I only really expected to amuse my friends but to my utter disbelief, the rest of the
audience started laughing. I told a couple more jokes and before I knew it, my five
minutes were up. Afterwards, the host came up on stage and said, ‘That was your first
time? You could make a living doing this!’ He invited me back to do a longer comedy
performance, and for some crazy reason, I said yes …

I have to admit, the next time I was really, really nervous. I mean, I’ve never
particularly had a fear of public speaking but comedy’s different. At least if you’re
giving a speech, you can prepare and rehearse thoroughly so you don’t forget what
you’re saying. But with comedy, there’s that added uncertainty. You might know your
material well but will the audience actually find it funny? Well, I survived the show and
now, as you know, I’m a stand-up comedian. Not quite what my parents expected
when they paid me through medical school but … Anyway, here are a few tips to get
you started if you’re considering a career in stand-up.
 First, go to open mics and live shows. The comedy on TV gives us all a false
impression that it’ll all go well. You know, they miss the bit where the comedian tells a
joke and no-one laughs. At live comedy, you’ll see people going up on stage one after
the other. Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it doesn’t. The important thing is to
witness the failures and successes of others and think to yourself, ‘I can do that too …
even if it means making a few mistakes along the way!’ It’ll give you the self-
confidence you need to have a go yourself.

Second, prepare your jokes. Test your material on your closest friends and ask them
to be honest if they don’t find it funny. If they care about you, they won’t want you to
fail in front of an audience. Also, you don’t know for sure how you’ll react speaking in
front of a room of strangers. To avoid freezing up, it’s best to have material ready –
there’s no shame in taking a notebook with you.

Most importantly, it’s OK to feel afraid. I know several comedians who still have a
phobia of public speaking. They tell me that the fear is worse when they’re waiting to
go onstage. It tends to go away once they’re in front of the audience.

Of course, at the end of the day, none of the tips or tricks I tell you will guarantee
100% success. What’s most important is to give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out the
first time, try again, over and over again until it does. You see …