新标准大学英语 视听说2 听力原文

Unit 1 College culture



Listening in

Passage1
V/O
Hi, I’m Nick Carter, and this is SUR, your university radio station. This morning we went around campus to ask freshers – now half-waythrough their first year – the question, “How are you finding uni?” Here are some of the answers we got.

Speaker 1
It’s cool. It’s everything I hoped it would be. I’m very ambitious, I want to be a journalist and I want to get to the top of the profession. I’ve started writing for the university newspaper so I’ve got my foot on the ladder already.
Speaker 2
I’m working hard and the teaching is as good as I expected. And I’ve made some good friends. But I’m very homesick. I’m Nigerian and my family’s so far away. I went home at Christmas for a month – that really helped, but man, I miss my family so much.
Speaker 3
“How am I finding uni?” It’s great. It’s not perfect, nothing is, but, like, I’ve got a brilliant social life, just brilliant, and I’ve made lots of friends. For the first few months I just didn’t do, really enough work. But I – I talked about it with my parents and I’m working harder now and getting good grades.
Speaker 4
Actually, I’ve been quite lonely to be honest. I’m a bit shy … everyone else seemed to find it so easy to make friends straight away. But things have been better recently – yeah, they have. I’ve joined a couple of clubs and like, it really helps to get to know people when you have shared interests. So, yeah – I’m feeling a lot happier now.
Speaker 5
Uni’s great, I love it. My only problem – and it’s quite a big problem – is money. My parents are both unemployed so, you know, they can’t help me financially. My grant just isn’t – it’s just not enough for me to live on, so I’ve taken a part-time job as a waitress – a lot of people I know, like a lot, have had to do the same. I don’t want to have huge debts at the end.
Speaker 6
I love my subject, History, and I’m, I’m getting fantastic teaching here. I want to be a university lecturer and that means I have to get a first. I have a good social life but work definitely comes first for me.

Passage2

Oxford and Cambridge – two universities so similar that they are often spoken of together as
“Oxbridge”. They’re both in the UK, fairly near London, and both regularly come top in any ranking of the world’s best universities.

The two universities began within a century of each other. Oxford University, now 900 years old,
was founded towards the end of the 11th century. In 1209 there was a dispute between the university and the townspeople of Oxford. As a result, some of the Oxford teachers left and founded a university in the town of Cambridge, some 84 miles away. Ever since then, the two institutions have been very competitive.

Unlike most modern universities, both Oxford and Cambridge consist of a large number of colleges. Oxford has 39 and

Cambridge 31. Many of these colleges have old and very beautiful architecture, and large numbers of tourists visit them.

In all UK universities, you need good grades in the national exams taken at 18. But to get into Oxford and Cambridge, it’s not enough to get A grades in your exams. You also have to go for a long interview. In these interviews, students need to show that they are creative and capable of original thinking.

Through the centuries, both universities have made huge contributions to British cultural life.
They have produced great writers, world leaders and politicians. Cambridge, in particular, has produced scientists whose discoveries and inventions have changed our lives.

Among the great university institutions is the world’s most famous debating society, the Oxford Union, where undergraduates get a chance to practise speaking in public. Cambridge’s comedy
club

Footlights has produced many first-class comedians, while some of the UK’s most famous actors and actresses began their careers at The Oxford University Dramatic Society, known as OUDS. Then there’s the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, which takes place every year in March or April, and is watched on television all over the UK.

So with all this excellence in so many fields, it’s not surprising that the ambition of clever students all over the world is to attend either one of these great universities.

Unit 2 Mixed feelings



Listening in

Passage1
Presenter
We’re fortunate to have as our guest today Dr Jenna Hudson, who has just written a book about how colours affect us in our surroundings, especially in the world of advertising. It’s called Market Colours. Dr Hudson, which are the most common colours in advertising and marketing?
Dr Hudson
Well, of course, it depends what image the marketing team wish to project with their products. So for example, we often think of blue as a cold colour, but it also makes you feel peaceful, quiet, and it doesn’t suggest strong emotions. So it’s a favourite for banks and insurance companies, who wish to suggest the image that they are trustworthy. And for selling products, it’s often used to
suggest something is pure and fresh.
What about red?
You can sell almost anything with red. It’s a hot colour, which suggests a feeling of energy and even passion. It grabs your attention, and can make people buy almost anything. You often see red on magazine covers. But if you use it too much, it looks cheap and may make people tired. And orange has a similar effect to red, it’s upbeat and happy, it suggests pleasant feelings and images. Most people react well to orange, and it’s especially popular in advertising and on packaging for baked food.
What about yellow, for instance?
Yellow is the colour of sunshine and it’s a positive, happy colour, so it’s used a lot in advertising. But it’s also often used for warning signs, direction signs, and so on, where you have t

o read the message quickly and at a distance.
What about less popular colours for advertising?
Surprisingly, green isn’t used much in advertising except for garden products. It’s friendly and restful. It can be cool and soothing, the colour of apples and mint, but it can also be quite strong and many people associate it with unpleasant ideas of decay or slimy creatures. But most colours are not primary colours, they’re a combination. Absolutely. So yellow-orange is common, and often used to give animpression of style and class, it looks like gold. But it’s not often used in letters because it’s not very strong. And yellow-green reminds people of feeling sick.
Blue-green works well as a cool colour, suggesting freshness, and is sometimes
used for toothpaste products, bathroom products, food and household cleaning products. It has many of the advantages of blue without the disadvantages of green.
Fascinating.Thank you very much, Dr
Scripts
Hudson. Market Colours by Dr Jenna
Hudson is on sale from next week,
priced ￡15.99 …

Passage2
Presenter ：What makes you embarrassed, Sally?
Sally ：Oh, I’m easily embarrassed. If anybody notices me or looks at me, I get very embarrassed. When people sing me Happy Birthday on my birthday, I get very embarrassed.
Presenter ：And what makes you upset?
Sally ：When people are selfish, people who think only of themselves. And cruelty – I can’t bear people who are cruel, especially to animals or children.
Presenter ：Jake, what makes you depressed?
Jake ：I hate it when it rains, and I don’t like people who look down on me, who think they’re superior to me without any reason.
Presenter ：And what makes you angry?
Jake ：When people don’t behave properly in public, bad behaviour like dropping litter or people pushing each other on the bus or the train.
Presenter ：Andrew, what makes you cheerful?
Andrew ：I like to see everyone around me being happy and having a positive attitude towards the future, optimistic people.
Presenter ：And what makes you jealous?

Andrew ：Well, to be honest, I just never feel jealous. I can’t see the point of it.
Presenter ：Monica, what makes you proud?
Monica ：I’m proud when I’m successful, especially in my work. Being recognized by my boss for what I can do makes me feel really proud. Oh, and my family. I’m very proud of them.
Presenter ：And what makes you nervous?
Monica ：Every time I teach a new class. The night before I’m very nervous. You don’t know what the kids are going to be like and how they might behave, or if they’re going to like you.
Presenter ：Anything else?
Monica ：Doing interviews like this.


Unit 3 Crime watch


Listening in
Passage1
Patrick ：I read a funny story today in the paper – true story.
Steve ：Go on, then.
Patrick ：OK. This 72-year old guy stole a pair of trousers from a department store in Paris. A
security man saw hi

m and alerted the police and they were waiting for him when he came out of the shop. The shoplifter started running, but the policeman soon caught up with him. The man thenbit the policeman on his arm several times.
Steve ：He bit the policeman?
Patrick ：Yes – you have to remember, he was 72.
Steve ：I’d forgotten that.
Patrick ：Problem was, it didn’t hurt the policeman at all, ’cause the guy had forgotten to put his false teeth in before he left home.
Steve ：Very funny!
Patrick ：And the moral of the story is –
Steve ：Always remember to wear your false teeth if you’re going to bite someone.
Patrick ：That’s good. I read a funny crime story the other day. Let’s see … yeah … this guy …
this guy robbed a supermarket somewhere in America – I can’t remember where exactly – anyway, he got away with about 4,000 dollars. The next week the local newspaper reported the story but said he’d stolen 6,000 dollars. The thief rang the newspaper office to complain. He said, “Look, I only took 4,000 dollars. I’m wondering if the supermarket manager took another 2,000 and said I’d taken it. I did not take 6,000, I promise you.”
Steve ：He was probably telling the truth.
Patrick ：He probably was. Anyway, the newspaper managed to keep the guy talking while they
rang the police. And the police traced the call – the guy was ringing from a phone booth – and they arrested him while he was still talking to the newspaper.
Steve ：That’s good. Stupid guy! I’ve got another true story … This – this – old guy was in court for some crime – and he fell asleep. His case began and his lawyer stood up and said, “My client pleads not guilty.” The man suddenly woke up, but wasn’t sure what was happening. He jumped up and shouted, “I plead guilty! I plead guilty!”
Patrick ：So what happened?
Steve ：The judge allowed him to plead not guilty.
Patrick ：That’s the best, I think.

Passage2
Presenter ：You’re listening to Kevin Fallon and my topic for today is street crime. Being
mugged is something that can happen to anyone – and it’s a very frightening experience. So it’s positive when you hear of someone who was attacked by a mugger and defeated them – especially when that person is a woman. Anna Black was attacked by a mugger. She’s here to tell us about it.
How long ago did this happen, Anna?
News 24/7 Unit 4

Anna
Just over a week ago. The day it happened,
I was coming home from work a bit later
than usual – I think it was about seven. I
was on my mobile phone, talking to my
husband.
Presenter
And it was still daylight?
Anna ：Yes. Anyway, suddenly, someone pulled my hair from behind – and at the same time they grabbed my mobile phone. Now, I’m a karate black belt –
Presenter ：Really!
Anna ：Yes, I practise three times a week – so I’m ready for situations like this.
Presenter ：I bet you are.
Anna

：Yes, I can react very fast. So as soon as this guy grabbed me, I did what you’re told to do in these situations.
Presenter ：And what’s that?
Anna ：I fell backwards onto him.
Presenter ：You fell backwards onto him!
Anna ：Yeah! I’m tall and quite heavy – so we both fell to the ground together.
Presenter ：Goodness!
Anna ：I er, yeah – I was ready to hit him but then next thing I knew, two men had seized
the guy. They were driving past and they, they stopped to help. They were big strong guys. They called the police who came in five minutes.
Presenter ：So the mugger was arrested?
Anna ：Yes, he was.
Presenter ：Do you think, if that hadn’t happened, you could have injured him?
Anna ：Oh, I’d like to think so. I’m a black belt, that’s what I’m trained to do.
Presenter ：Well, it’s great to hear of women coping well in situations like this. Perhaps we
should all learn karate.
Anna ：I think it’s a good idea to have some kind of defence training. Yes, especially if you
live in an area that isn’t very safe.

Unit 4 News


Listening in

Passage1
Phil ：Hello.
Tony ：Hello, is that Phil Taylor?
Phil ：Speaking.
Tony ：Hi, Phil, my name’s Tony, and I’m a reporter for SUN.
Phil ：The uni paper! I suppose you want to talk to me about the fire.
Tony ：Yes, if it’s OK with you. We’d like to do a piece on the fire for next week’s paper. Can
you tell people how it happened?
Phil ：Yeah, OK, it probably is a good idea.
Tony ：So when can I come and see you?
Phil ：Um … Wednesday afternoon? Three o’clock? I’m in South Block, Room 18.
Tony ：OK, I’ll be there.
…
Tony ：OK, so let’s get started. When did the fire happen?
Phil ：Two days ago.
Tony ：November the 10th. OK, so tell me how it
happened.
Phil ：Um … It was about 11 pm. I decided to fry some chips, I used quite a lot of oil – I was
deep-frying. Um … And I put the chips in. And then my girlfriend rang.
Tony ：OK.
Phil ：We’d had a quarrel, and I was pretty upset, so we started talking, and I completely forgot
about the chips and went back to my room.
Tony ：You fool!
Phil ：Thanks. We talked for a quite long time. Next thing I knew, there was this smell of smoke,
and someone was shouting, “Fire! Fire!” And I realized immediately of course, it was my chips! And I rushed out of my room – the kitchen was next door – and … well … there were flames all over one wall.
Tony ：And it was all your fault!
Phil ：It was. But people were in the kitchen throwing blankets over the flames, and someone had already called the fire brigade and they came – in ten minutes I think – and put it out very quickly.
Tony ：So what was the damage?
Phil ：They’re gonna to have to replace the cooker, two kitchen units, repaint one wall.
Tony ：Sounds pretty bad.
Phil ：It could have been a lot worse.
Tony ：Can I take a

photo of you for the paper?
Phil ：Do you have to? Oh, OK.
Tony ：Thanks. It’ll be front page news.
Phil ：Oh dear! Haven’t you got anything else to write about?
Tony ：Not this week. There’s not much happening on campus. I’m joking. You’re on Page 2.
Phil ：Thanks!

Passage2

Presenter
Today’s discussion is about reality TV programmes, the programmes loved by millions and hated by just as many. We have three people on our panel – Tricia a student at Liverpool University, Rick from Luton, and Karen who is a full-time mum.
Panel ：Hello.
Scripts
Presenter ：So let’s begin with a very obvious question. Do you watch reality TV programmes and if so, why?
Tricia ：Yes, I do, I love them, I’m addicted to them, I’m afraid.
Presenter ：Addicted to them?
Tricia ：Yes, I think all my friends are really. I guess it’s just, you know, fascinating to watch real people put under a bit of pressure and then see how they behave.
Presenter ：That doesn’t sound very nice exactly.
Tricia ：No, it isn’t. But reality TV isn’t very nice actually.
Presenter ：Karen, how about you?
Karen ：Yes, well I watch them but I’m not like Tricia. I’m definitely not addicted to them.
I can take them or leave them. But I do like to watch property programmes.
Presenter ：Property programmes?
Karen ：You can learn a lot from them. And it’s – it’s great to see real people buying a property and then doing it up, the mistakes they make, that kind of thing. And yes, you know, there’s the human interest factor as well.
Presenter ：Rick –
Rick ：I can’t stand reality TV. I mean, OK, if it’s a property programme or a gardening programme, fine, but most of them are just – they’re set up to humiliate people.

Tricia ：Not always.
Rick ：I disagree. People are on show. It’s like watching animals in a zoo. I mean, would
you appear on a reality show?
Tricia ：Maybe. I don’t know. Probably not.
Rick ：There you are you see? You don’t want to be humiliated.
Karen ：Some people do very well on reality shows. They win a lot of money.
Rick ：OK, that’s true, but – standards on reality shows can be pretty low, you can’t deny it.
Presenter ：Tricia, what have you got to say to that?
Tricia ：Well, it’s true, yes.
Karen ：I agree with Rick.
Presenter ：So, next question …

Unit 5 War


Listening in
Passage1
There are many war novels but the novel I’m going to talk about today is unusual because it’s
war seen through the eyes of a child. The “eyes” are those of J G Ballard, one of Britain’s most respected novelists.
Let’s begin with some information about Ballard. He was born in 1930, in Shanghai, where his father was a businessman, and he was only 11 years old when the city was occupied during World War II. Ballard and his family were placed in a prison camp and he has said that his experiences there affected him so de

eply that it was 40 years before he felt able to write about them. “Twenty years to forget and 20 years to remember.”
The result of Ballard’s experiences was a semi-autobiographical novel called Empire of the Sun, published in 1984. It quickly became a success and in 1987 it was made into a movie by Hollywood director, Steven Spielberg.
Let’s move on to the novel itself. Empire of the Sun tells the story of how a young boy, Jim Graham, survives the Japanese occupation. Interestingly, Jim is J G Ballard’s first name and his second name is Graham.
Also, Jim is the same age as Ballard – 11 – when the occupation begins. At the start of the story, Jim is living with his parents in a wealthy part of Shanghai. When the invasion begins, many of Shanghai’s inhabitants flee from the city and Jim’s parents do the same. But the
boy becomes separated from them and finds himself all alone. He goes back to their empty home and lives alone there. Inevitably, he’s found and then he’s sent to a prison camp.
It’s a terrible four years, but the boy somehow survives. He steals food, finds ways of getting in and out of the camp, and is befriended by some Americans and a Japanese boy.
Is there a happy ending? Yes and no. Jim sees many people die; his Japanese friend is killed by the Americans. But at the end of the war, he gets back to Shanghai and is reunited with his parents.
Jim’s experiences are terrible, as a child who discovers the depths of human cruelty. But he learns
also about the strength and courage that is possible, even in these circumstances. Both the great power and the truth of the novel come from the fact that it’s based on the author’s own
experiences. The general opinion of critics is that Empire of the Sun is one of the best war novels ever written – so read it, it’s worth it.

Passage2


Host
On Women’s World today, we look at women’s role in the Second World War and the important part they played in it. In the First World War, women had worked in factories and as nurses, both at home and at the front. In the Second World War, women were even more essential to the war effort. Doris Watts was just 18 when the war began and Mavis Grey was only 20.
Host
Do you remember how you felt, Doris, the day the war was declared?
Doris
Oh yes … of course I do. I felt frightened of course, but we had known it would happen. The first thing, more than anything I think, that I felt was … was that I wanted to do something! You know, do something useful, so I joined the Land Girls.
Host
Ah, yes, the Women’s Land Army. That was an organization started in the First World War. Women worked in agriculture as the men were away fighting. Did you enjoy the experience?
Sporting life Unit 6
Doris
Not really. It was very hard work, very physical. You never saw anybody except the officer coming to inspect your work. So when I heard about the WAAF I signed up.
Host
That’s the Women’s

Auxiliary Air Force. WAAF, for short. So why the WAAF?
Doris
I’d always thought planes were very exciting. And it’s silly but I liked the light blue uniforms.
Host
That’s a good enough reason! Now, Mavis, you were in the WAAF at the same time as Doris. Can you tell us more about it?
Mavis
Yes. Organizations like the WAAF were a way for women to join the armed forces, since they weren’t allowed to fight. Instead, the army, the navy and the air force all had support services, which women could join.
Host
And Doris. What kind of things did you have to do?
Doris Oh, well, a lot of different things. I worked in transport and catering. We were very young but we were given a lot of responsibility.
Host
And what did you do, Mavis?
Mavis
Various jobs but eventually I worked on a ighter station, tracking the German bombers
as they flew towards London. It was very exciting.
Host
Was it ever dangerous?
Doris
Yes, we were always in danger of being bombed. They tell me that over 1,500 young women lost their lives. I was lucky.
Host
And what about social life?
Mavis
We did have some wonderful parties. And of course I met my husband, Eric. He was an electrician at the station.
Host
One last question, Doris. Do you think women’s work in the forces changed things for women?
Doris
Without a doubt. Oh absolutely! After the war the position of women could never be the same again – we’d contributed so much.
Host
Doris and Mavis, thank you both.

Unit 6 Sporting life




Listening in
Passage1
Speaker 1
And David Seaman is in goal for the England team down to our right … it’s difficult to get used to the change of team colours here … I’m looking at the white shorts and thinking they’re English players, but they’re not. For this match it’s the Germans who are wearing white. I hope the English players don’t have the same problem, we don’t want them to pass the ball to the Germans. Now Gascoigne for England passes to McManaman for the first time … McManaman is immediately
surrounded by three German defenders … he brings the ball to the near side of the pitch … still McManaman for England, crosses the ball to Pearce … Pearce takes a shot! … saved by the German Ziegler, and picked up by Ince only 25 yards away from the German goal … good effort by Ince, aims at the goal! … and Kopke, the German goalkeeper pushes the ball over the top of the goal. So a corner kick for England.

Speaker 2
A great shot by Ince, I’m sure he knows that Pearce set that up for him, but Kopke put the shot out of danger.

Speaker 1
He does like to punch the ball, that Kopke in the German goal … England’s first corner of this semi-final … Gascoigne will take it …
Here comes the corner kick from Gascoigne … and Shearer’s there and Alan Shearer scores for England … England have scored after only two minutes’ play … with a corner kick by Gascoigne … ai

med at the near post, and Alan Shearer heads the ball into the German goal … It’s an absolute dream start for the semi-final … Shearer has got his fifth goal of the tournament … Would you believe it? It’s England one, Germany nil!

Passage2
Matt ：Now it’s time for Critic’s Choice, with news and reviews about the latest films. Good evening, Jack, seen anything good at the cinema this week?
Jack ：Good evening Matt, yes, I’ve seen one of the best sports films of recent years.
Matt ：Sports films? That’s not usually a type of film which appeals to you.
Jack ：You’re right, but this time it’s different. I’ve been to see a film about mountain climbing, it’s not really your typical sports film. It’s more man against the mountain.
Matt ：Tell us more.
Jack ：I’ve been to see Touching the Void, which is the story of a pair of mountain climbers in the
Peruvian Andes.
Matt ：Is it a true story?
Jack ：Yes, it is. In 1985, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates set out to climb the 7,000-metre Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes. Simpson and Yates were young, fit and confident they would succeed.
Matt ：So what happens?
Jack ：Simpson and Yates’ style of climbing involved moving quickly up a mountain with very few supplies and no base camps, which is risky. You can’t make any mistakes.
Matt ：I think I can guess what happens next.
Jack ：And sure enough after climbing well for three and a half days, disaster strikes. Simpson falls and breaks his right leg. With no food or water, the climbers know they have to get
off the mountain – fast. Yates is determined to find a way to get his friend home, and he has to lower Simpson down the mountain. Simpson is in agony, but Yates has no choice except to ignore his partner’s cries of pain because otherwise he’ll die. Well, for a while, things go well. But suddenly Simpson, at the end of the rope, fails to respond to Yates’ signal. Yates is unable to move any further and has no idea why Simpson is not responding. So Yates holds on with all of his strength, all too aware that eventually his strength would give out and both would fall. But what Yates doesn’t know is that he has lowered Simpson over the edge of a crevasse. Simpson is hanging in mid-air from the vertical face of the mountain. He’s unable to climb back up the rope and he’s got frostbitten fingers and can’t communicate
with Yates above him.
Matt ：So what happens?
Jack ：Well, I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
Matt ：But …
Jack ：But Yates hangs onto the rope for an hour, getting weaker. For any climber, cutting
the rope that binds him to his partner is unthinkable.
Matt ：Sounds very exciting. So what about the direction and the filming?
Jack ：The director is Kevin Macdonald, and he tells the story by cutting from interviews to shots
of the climb itself. But it’s the message of the film which interest

s me. You see, in the end, the impression left by the film is astonishment that a human being could do what Joe did, which is to survive.
Matt ：Thanks Jack, this week’s Critic’s Choice is Touching the Void, on general release in all cinemas from next week.

Unit 7 Animal planet

Listening in

Passage1
It’s hard to believe but in America there are 68 million dog owners and 73 million cat owners. In the UK, which has a human population of 61 million, there are 6.8 million dogs and 9.58 million cats.

All over the developed world, the pet population is increasing. At the same time, people are spending more and more money on their pets, particularly on their dogs.

The most extraordinary example to date is that of Leonara Helmsley, a childless American billionaire. When she died, she left her dog, a white Maltese called Trouble, 12 million dollars. While Helmsley was alive, nothing was too good for her little dog. He shared her bed, was dressed in expensive clothes and wore a diamond collar. His meals were prepared by a chef and presented to him on a silver tray.

The problem was that Trouble lived up to his name and bit people. But Leonara didn’t mind – she
loved him and he loved her. And so after her death, he got his reward – a lot of money that he didn’t know he had and couldn’t use anyway.
Americans were shocked by this story, but the fact is that more and more rich Americans are leaving their dogs money when they die – 250,000 dollars is not unusual. In Britain, people don’tspend as much money on their dogs as Americans but they do spoil them. At Christmas, 46 per cent of dogs can expect to receive toys, and biscuits. And one in ten dog owners say they dress their pet up for the special day.

One woman was in the news in America for designing 120 outfits for her dog, which has its own wardrobe, and a $17,000 bed that it doesn’t actually sleep in. Its owner has a very successful dog boutique that sells – yes, you guessed it – designer clothes for dogs.

Now dogs may enjoy all this attention, but spoilt dogs can create problems for their owners. Dogs need a master and if their master acts like their friend or parent, they start behaving badly, attacking other animals, and damaging property – often their owner’s homes. Yet, often, this doesn’t make their owners love them less – dogs are their children, after all.

Passage2

Interviewer：
One of the most exciting creatures in the sea is the blue whale. Daniel Cameron is a film-maker who has been filming blue whales for ten years in the south Atlantic. First of all, tell us why you
have this fascination with blue whales.

Daniel ：
Well, it seems obvious to me, really. They’re extraordinary creatures. They’re the largest mammals that have ever lived on earth. They – they can be as long as 33 metres – that’s more than 16 times
taller than a human being. And they’re also the loudest animal on earth – the

noise they make is louder than a jet plane. I’ve heard them – very, very loud. And when they come to the surface to
breathe, their blow – well, it’s usually about ten metres high.

Interviewer ：That’s amazing.
Daniel ：And I forgot to say, they live for at least 80 years.
Interviewer ：But their numbers are declining, aren’t they?
Daniel ：Yes, well, at the start of the 20th century there were between 275,000 and 300,000
blue whales in the sea. Now there are probably, probably under 5,000.
Interviewer ：And that’s as a result of …?

Daniel
… well, of whaling, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific. And also, climate change is beginning to destroy the food they eat, krill.

Interviewer ：So they’re an endangered species?

Daniel
Yes. We’re not at all sure they’ll survive. That’s partly why I film whales – to raise awareness of them and let people know how extraordinary they are. We don’t want to lose them.

Interviewer ：Is it very difficult to film them?
Daniel ：It’s very difficult. The thing is, we know very little about them so they’re very hard to find. We – we had a boat with 12 men and often the weather was so bad that we couldn’t go to sea. We had a small plane that we used to locate the whales and the plane would find them alright, but, but it would take hours for the boat to get there, and by the time we got there – the whales had gone!
Interviewer ：That must have been very frustrating.

Daniel
Yes, it was. But then sometimes we’d meet another whale while we were on our way out. We’d see its blow – as I said, it’s about ten metres high – and that’s quite something to see. And then one day – finally – we managed to film a whale feeding. None of us will ever forget that.

Unit 8 Time off


Listening in

Passage1
Speaker 1 Jacob

Interviewer： Can you tell me what your favourite type of music is?
Jacob ：Yes, I can. If I’m pushed, I mean I like a lot of different types of music; but the music of my youth, that glam rock of the 70s beats them all. Interviewer Yes, and do you play any musical
instruments or …?

Jacob ：Yeah, I do attempt to play the instrument that I would love to play well, which is the guitar – the kind of, guitar hero, lead guitar. That’s what I’d like to do.

Interviewer ：Yeah, so, who’s your favourite musician? Do you have a favourite singer or group?
Jacob ：Well, again, all those glam rock bands, there was T-Rex and Slade, David Bowie – they were all brilliant but the kings of them all were Queen.
Interviewer ：Oh, yes. Yeah. And what kind of music … Is there any kind of music that has any special memories for you?
Jacob ：Well, yeah. I mean, really, it is Queen and, I have to say, when we were kids, we all learnt the words to Bohemian rhapsody.
Interviewer ：Bohemian rhapsody.
Jacob ：And I’ll never forget it, as long as I live.
Interviewer ：Yeah.

Thank you.
Speaker 2 ：Patti
Interviewer ：What’s your favourite type of music?
Patti ：Oh, well, I just love classical music. I just … it’s so relaxing. I often have it on, particularly Bach, I think, is just beautiful.
Interviewer ：Oh yes. And do you play a musical instrument?
Patti ：No, I don’t, actually. I, I started to play as a kid. I played a little piano, a little
guitar. I wish I had kept up the piano. It’s a great instrument.
Interviewer ：Yes, yes. And do you have a favourite musician? A favourite singer or a group?
Patti ：Oh, gosh, well, I tell you, I think Ashkenazy is just amazing. The pianist? You know him?
Interviewer ：I know Ashkenazy.
Patti ：He is just one of my gods. Amazing.
Interviewer ：And is there any music, which has special memories for you?
Patti ：Oh yes, sure. I think, all the music from my wedding. Just – oh – it just really brings back memories of the day. We had, we had the whole congregation sang Wonderful world. You know that? You know that song? Is that Louis Armstrong? I see trees of green – oh, that one. Even the photographer was weeping, I tell you. Louis Armstrong. That’s great. Thank you.
Gene ：What’s your favourite type of music? Well, I’m going to have to cheat here because I have two very favourite kinds of music, both at different ends of the musical spectrum. There’s classical music, which I love, orchestral, symphonic music. And then, at the other end there’s sort of pop music, which I just grew up with and I love. So, pop meaning the Beatles …? The Beatles – certainly, yeah, absolutely. The Beatles.
And do you play any musical instrument … or would you like to play one?
I never took up an instrument. I have three sisters. They all had piano lessons.
I never got to have any piano lessons and now I really miss them, so I would like to learn the piano; but I am just too old for that.
And do you have a favourite musician? A special singer or group?
Well, as, as I said, I grew up during, during the 60s and the 70s so a lot of the groups, like Three Dog Night, Credence Clearwater Revival and, of course, the Beatles. So, a lot of those groups there …
Right. Yes. So music from the 60s and 70s?
Yep.
And is there any music which has special memories for you?
I have to go back to the Beatles. In 1964, it was just a few months after Kennedy had been assassinated and suddenly, you know, the mood in the States was very low – a lot of confidence had gone out of the States and then suddenly, there was this huge revival of, of life, this huge new music coming over from Britain and so the Beatles, with I wanna hold your hand and She loves you – just fantastic. I’ll never forget it.

Interviewer ：Great. Thank you.

Passage2

Speaker 1
Interviewer
Tell me about leisure activities in the States. What kind of spectator and participation sports are there?
Speaker 1 ：OK, well, the four most popular ones a

re baseball, basketball, American football
of course, and ice hockey.

Interviewer ：Yeah, and what about – em – indoor activities, rather than sports. The kind of
things that you do inside?

Speaker 1 ：Well, you could say, could say martial arts. That’s very popular. Tae Kwon Do –
that sort of thing. Bowling. And movies.
Interviewer ：Yeah.
Speaker 1 ：Watching television, of course. The average American, I think, watches television about two and a half hours a day.
Interviewer ：And, apart from sports, what other outdoor activities are there?
Speaker 1 ：Cycling, tennis, golf, walking and jogging of course and now, more and more people are playing soccer.
Interviewer ：Right. And what kind of cultural activities are very popular in the States?
Speaker 1 ：We all like going to concerts, I think. Er, a lot of people now are joining book clubs.

Interviewer ：Book clubs?
Speaker 1 ：To be a member of a book club, do something …
Interviewer ：So just local groups … with friends?
Speaker 1 ：Yes, local groups.
Interviewer ：And you discuss books?
Speaker 1 ：Yes, you take a book each, each week or each month. You read it and then you goback and discuss it. That’s very popular now. And how about weekend and holiday activities?
Some people like hunting. I’m not one of those at all. I don’t like that. But that’s very popular in, in the rural areas. Then, of course there’s camping and hiking, also. A lot of Americans volunteer for a wide range of causes – from raising funds to helping people who are less fortunate, tutoring students, or leading Scout troops or doing youth sports, that sort of thing.
Right, yeah.
Tell me about leisure activities and sports in Russia. What do you like doing?
Well, football is the favourite sport. But, er, we like also ice hockey in the winter.
Winter sports.
And what about indoor sports? Or indoor activities other than …?
We like very much playing chess. And we are very good at playing chess. Also, television is very common and, in the cities – Moscow and St Petersburg – we like to club, go dancing.
Oh, right. Yeah. OK. Yeah. And what about outdoor activities? Well, believe it or not, collecting mushrooms. In the autumn, we like it very much. And also the skiing. Again,
the ice hockey in the winter. Very popular.
And I believe cultural activities are very important to you? What kind of things do you like doing?
In particular, the ballet.
Yeah.
And of course, the opera as well. Even the small towns have theatres and a cinema. We like the country people, the rural people, they like to watch films. They call it a “Palace of culture”.
Right. Yeah.
Interviewer ：And what kind of weekend and holiday activities do you enjoy?
Speaker 2 Well, you find the rich Russians, they very often have a dacha, which is a cottage.
Interviewer ：Right.
Speaker 2 ：In the country.
Interviewer ：Right.
Speaker 2 ：Yo

u go there for a holiday and maybe for the weekend.
Interviewer ：Right. Thank you.
Speaker 3
Interviewer ：Tell me about leisure activities in Australia. What kind of sports do you enjoy?
Speaker 3 ：Well, Australian rules football is our main spectator sport. Of course, we also love our rugby and our cricket. You know, our national teams are definitely now among the best in the world.
Interviewer ：Yeah.
Speaker 3 ：What else? We have association football. And also very popular now is horse racing.
Interviewer ：Right. And what kind of indoor activities, other than sports, do you like doing?
Speaker 3 ：We’re very much an outdoor nation but when we’re inside I think we like to watch TV and, you know, go to the movies.
Interviewer ：So, what kind of outdoor activities are there?
Speaker 3 ：Well, for this we like our cycling. Some people play golf and some play tennis. And some play lawn bowls.
Interviewer ：Right, yeah.
Speaker 3 ：Of course, you know, most Australians do live near the coast and we love to do sailing and surfing; very, very keen on our swimming and I know a lot of people do fishing as well.
Interviewer ：Right. And what about culture? Do you do any cultural activities?
Speaker 3 ：Oh yes, no, no, Australia does have its culture. We’ve got our aboriginal music and our dancing and a lot of art. And of course, we’ve got our very, very famous Sydney Opera House – you know, best in the world.
Interviewer ：Yes. And what about weekend and holiday activities? What do you like doing then?
Speaker 3 ：I think people like to be very social. We do a lot of barbies – you know – barbecues in the back garden and some people like to go bushwalking as well.
Interviewer ：Great. Thank you.
Speaker 3 ：You’re welcome.


Unit 9 Have you got what it takes?



Listening in
Passage1
Speaker 1
So how’s it all going?
Speaker 2
Well, second year exams are in two weeks, so it’s all go at the moment.
Speaker 1
It’s not going to ease up! So what can I do for you?
Speaker 2
Well, next year’s my final year and I need to think seriously about my career.
Speaker 1
I would agree with you there. Let’s have a look at your file. You’re reading English, you’re getting good grades, you got a merit in your first year exams and you’re on track for a 2:1 according to your tutor. Have you any idea what you’d like to do?
Speaker 2
I’m very drawn to publishing. I read a lot of novels and I’m quite a good critic.
Speaker 1
That’s a good start. I’m guessing you’d like to be a literary editor?
Speaker 2
That’s right.
Speaker 1
Well, I should tell you that literary editing is a hard profession to get into and it doesn’t pay very well, unless you’re at the top. You could think a bit more broadly than just literature. For example, there’s educational publishing, professional publishing and there’s also specialist publishing, s

uch as sports.
Speaker 2
I’m not very sporty.
Speaker 1
Well, I understand sport may not be your thing but … you get the idea.
Speaker 2
Yes, I do. So how do I start?
Speaker 1
First of all, you need a good degree but even before that I would contact publishers and see if they’ll offer you work experience. You won’t get paid, of course, but it’s good for your CV and you’ll learn something about the business.

Speaker 2
Right. How do I find out who to write to?
Speaker 1
All the publishers are listed in the Publisher’s Yearbook. There’s a copy in the library in the careers section, so you can use that for a start. Check the job adverts in the newspapers and maybe look at the specialist publishing trade journal, the Bookseller. That has job ads as well.
Speaker 2
Thank you.
Speaker 1
The other thing you might do is check the Internet – sometimes, the publishers’ websites offer internships or job experience opportunities for new graduates.
Speaker 2
I’ll do that.
Speaker 1
One other thing. Graduates studying English always want to be an editor, they’re quite romantic about it, but there are other departments – marketing, sales, and the production side. Don’t dismiss those.
Speaker 2
Thanks for the advice, it’s very helpful. But it’s literary editing that I want to do.
Speaker 1
Well, I wish you the best. Let me know how you get on. And good luck with your exams.

Passage2
Harry
So how was your first day of teaching, Lucy?
Lucy
It was all right – wasn’t as terrifying as I thought it would be.
Harry
Well done!
Lucy
Yes, I was frightened I’d go completely blank but it was OK. I think the students were happy. It’s the grammar I find difficult, there’s so much to cover.
Jessica
It’s extraordinary, isn’t it? We speak English, we think we know the grammar and then we do a Teaching English course and discover we don’t know anything.
Lucy
How long have you been teaching, Jessica?
Jessica
Just over two years. I did the training course and then got a job teaching in Japan – Tokyo. It was an eye-opener really – the whole thing about keeping face. You have to be so polite all the time.
Patrick
So you’re teaching English because you want to travel?
Jessica
Yes, that’s part of it, but also because I enjoy it, I enjoy the interaction with students, and also it’s a good career.
Patrick
I feel the same. So what do you want to do next?
Jessica
Marketing, I think. I’m going to do a year here, then – I hope – get a job at a language school in London, do my MA, then apply for a marketing job. Anyway, that’s the plan.
Patrick
Sounds good.
Harry
What about you, Patrick? Where have you worked?
Patrick
I did three years in Italy – Director of Studies in Rome. I want to spend a couple of years here, then work in London, hopefully become a teacher trainer. Your turn, Harry.
Harry
Well, I’m not like

you and Jessica. I’m just happy to be here, in a beautiful city doing a job I enjoy.

Jessica
You don’t see teaching English as a career?
Harry
Well, my thing is travel, for the moment anyway.
Lucy
Which countries have you been to, Harry?
Harry
I did a year’s teaching in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro – such a stunning city and stunning beaches, Copacabana, and all overlooked by Sugar Loaf mountain.
Patrick
Cool. And then?
Harry
Two years in Mexico City …
Jessica
You should be a travel writer.
Harry
I’m too busy travelling! In fact I just arrived from Spain three days ago, from Barcelona, I was teaching primary school kids.
Lucy
Great!
Harry
Well, we’re all giving our reasons for teaching English, so what’s yours, Lucy?
Lucy
Um - I think I’m going to really enjoy it, simple as that. And obviously it’s great to be in Italy. I mean Venice, what more can you ask?

Unit 10 Science fact or science fiction?


Listening in
Passage1
Presenter
Could technological advances be changing people’s identities – and possibly even society as a whole? That is the theory behind a new book on the brain by Professor Susan Greenfield. The book is called Tomorrow’s People: How 21st Century Technology Is Changing the Way We Think and Feel. Greenfield suggests that advances in technology, and the effect they are having on our lives, are changing our very idea of who we are. In other words, they are changing our identity. And this, she thinks, is a very dangerous thing. I’m joined in the studio by Dr Jane Ferris, Professor of Neuroscience at Imperial College London and Brian Thomas, Professor of Surgery at University College Hospital. Let’s begin at the beginning. Brian, how do brains work?
Brian
Well, a brain is a mass of neurons, and these neurons make connections with each other – billions of connections – and store information. We all have basically the same brain structure. It’s what we do with our brain that makes the difference. We take in information. The neurons in our brain connect all this information and make sense of it. So to some extent, it’s the information we feed our brain that helps to make us the kind of people we are – and that’s what we call our identity.
Jane
And if I can come in here, children and young people are now spending huge amounts of time on video games that are often violent, also on the web, and on mobile phones. And Greenfield believes that the result is that these technologies may be changing the way young people think and even causing changes in their
identity.
Presenter
Why exactly?
Jane
Because the information that an individual receives from computer games, for example, is very different from reality. And she fears that because of this, these technologies may be changing our sense of reality – what we see as real – and may even reduce it. And if this is happening, the result may well be changes in our behaviour.
Pr

esenter
Can you give an example?
Jane
Risk-taking is a good example – we may start taking more risks.
Brian
But she admits there’s no conclusive evidence of this.
Jane
That’s true.
Brian
I agree that Greenfield asks some interesting questions, but to say that technology can influence society to think and behave differently – we need much more research before we can accept this.
Passage2
Speaker 1
Do we really need computers? Aren’t they more trouble than they’re worth?
Speaker 2
I think that’s one of the stupidest questions I’ve ever heard!
Speaker 1
I thought you might say that.
Speaker 2
Of course we need computers. How can anyone say otherwise? They’ve revolutionized our lives. I mean, I don’t know where to begin, they’ve changed our lives so much. Look. To start with, computers mean we can communicate with anyone anywhere in the world almost instantly.
Speaker 1
That’s not quite true.
Speaker
2
Well, you know what I mean. I can send a document from London to Sydney in five minutes. If I want to conference with people there’s webcam – we can see each other on camera – do you really want me to go on?
Speaker 1
But why is it so useful, to be able to send a document to Australia in five minutes? What does it actually achieve?
Speaker 2
It speeds things up. I don’t have to put the document in an envelope, stick a stamp on it and go to the post office, stand in a queue … knowing it will take another three days to get there – at least.
Speaker 1
But why the hurry?
Speaker 2
It’s good to get things done quickly.
Speaker 1
Why?
Speaker 2
Because you get more done that way.
Speaker 1
But is that really necessarily better? Life moves so fast these days, don’t you think we should slow down a bit, enjoy life a bit more?
Speaker 2
I think computers allow us to enjoy life more. Before we had computers if you wanted to research you had to go out and get a book. That took such a long time.
Speaker 1
So what? We just did things more slowly, that’s all. Are you saying we have more time now than we did? Everyone says that actually life is moving faster and faster. And what about all the problems that computers create?
Speaker 2
For example?
Speaker 1
Identity theft is a big one. You have to admit that identify theft has increased massively since we got the Internet.
Speaker 2
The Internet isn’t the only reason why identity theft has increased.
Speaker 1
You know as well as I do that it’s a big reason …
Speaker 2
Yes, but …