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AUDIOSCRIPTS
and you also need a good mechanical understanding of
Listening Test 1 how each particular car works in order to get the best
out of it.
Part 1 (page 24)
Extract Three
Extract One
M: Man W: Women
M: Man W: Women
M: Do you have a story to tell or do you just love writing?
M: For me a holiday is that inevitable mix of having privacy
Our short-story competition has great prizes and could
and quietness, and yet not feeling completely cut off
set you on the path to greater things. You could win
from what’s going on in the world. I don’t like that
a first prize of £1,500 and see your story in print in a
feeling of being cocooned that seems to appeal to
top weekly newspaper. The nine finalists will all get the
some people, you know, that kind of pretending that the
chance to attend the glittering National Book Awards
rest of the world doesn’t exist. So, access to the main
dinner in London – where they’ll rub shoulders with
satellite channels is a must as far as I’m concerned –
the big names who’ll also be up for awards, as well as
though I limit myself to the main bulletins and only stay
hearing whether they’ve impressed the judges with their
tuned if there’s a story that I’d like to hear more about.
own efforts. Moira Blake, who heads the panel, is with
W: Well, as a musician, I travel on tour as well as for me now. Any advice, Moira, for anyone thinking of having
recreation, so the actual travel part is hardly the main a go?
attraction. But I have to admit that I also like to keep
W: Well I’d say first read lots of different short stories to
in touch with what’s going on wherever I am – though
get into the shape and rhythm of them – any good ones
I can live without the TV actually. Perhaps that’s why I
will do – and you’ll see they don’t always have a twist
could never stand a holiday that went on beyond, say,
at the end. Then, once you start writing, be yourself –
ten days. I start going a little bit crazy then, you know,
don’t imitate others, it’s your story, your spark, just keep
you get beyond feeling rested and start feeling restless.
it very tight. The real secret is to keep your time frame
At least on tour, you’ve got work to occupy you as you
nice and simple. You’ll get into hot water if you try to
travel from place to place.
construct a sweeping family saga within the word limit!
Extract Two
Part 2 (page 26)
I: Interviewer M: Man
When it comes to trekking destinations, Nepal has to be
I: How fit do you have to be to drive a Formula One car? one of the best. With eight of the world’s ten peaks over
M: As fit as any other world-class athlete. 8,000 metres, the landscape in itself is enough to leave you
awestruck, even before you catch sight of Mount Everest.
I: So do you train on the move?
It might seem unthinkable, but you don’t need to be
M: Yes, wherever I happen to be. I don’t particularly like the
particularly adventurous, nor experienced, to tackle the
monotony of a gym routine. I prefer to do sports that I
Himalayas. You just need the right gear, a modicum of
enjoy, such as jet-skiing, cycling and swimming, that give
physical fitness and the right attitude. Having said that, it’s not
you a similar sort of workout.
something to be taken lightly, either. So here are some points
I: Is there a part of your body that you have to work on worth considering.
more than any other?
Firstly, when to go. Certain times of year are better than
M: My neck muscles have to be very strong to deal with others. The winter months are cold, yet settled, but snow
the incredibly high G-forces that you experience when will make some routes impassable, whilst the monsoon rains
braking and cornering. There are really no effective gym from May to September make trekking uncomfortable and
exercises for this. The best thing to do is to drive the car sometimes downright dangerous. October and November,
a lot in testing. when the air’s clear and fresh and it’s reasonably warm, are
I: So are you a natural behind the wheel? probably your best bet. Failing that, March and April are next
M: I think everyone who reaches the level of F1 has basic best, but views can be hazy at that time.
driving talent. But on its own, it’s not enough. You have There are a number of popular routes, but allow more time
to fine-tune your driving to suit any car, that’s the key, than you think you’ll need. One of your party’s bound to get

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sick or need a rest, so just keep in mind that it’s not a race. It’s what makes it funny. I know these things. I’ve read
Choose your travelling companions carefully – you don’t want about them in books.
to find out too late that you’re stuck with someone who can’t I: Yes tell me about the books – because you really mean
keep up or who sets too fast a pace. that, don’t you?
Trekking in Nepal isn’t always easy. In fact people say it can K: Indeed I do. There’s one particular book I admire. It’s
feel like you’re walking in pudding, such is the effect of walking called Laughter, and it’s by a neuroscientist called Robert
at altitude. You can’t predict whether this feeling will hit you, Provine, he’s the world’s leading expert on laughter. It
but if you take it slow and drink plenty of fluids, the majority wasn’t his intention, but it reads like a kind of ‘How To’
of people cope well enough. book for comedians. Did you know, for example, that
But you do need to get the right equipment. Appropriate in the comfort of your own home, you rarely laugh out
footwear and a good first-aid kit are always essential – and loud, no matter how funny a joke or situation might be?
people know this – but if you’re going above 3,000 metres, But in a café, chatting amongst friends, you’ll laugh at
it can get cold at night, and the commonest problem’s an almost anything without fail. Most of the time, laughter’s
inadequate sleeping bag. So get a good quality one – by simply a nervous mechanism, a breaking of tension.
which I mean a full-price known brand from an authenticated Audiences laugh at comedians because those around
supplier. Cheap imitations – and this applies to backpacks, them are laughing too. It’s a social thing, according to
socks and gloves too – locally made products with famous Provine. And so, as a stand-up comedian, all I do is break
labels sewn on, may be a false saving in the long run. their collective tension. I lift the audience up and then
Of course, you can join organised treks where everything is drop them.
organised – all you need to do is walk, which can be quite I: It’s probably safe to assume that not all comedians
comforting. But going it alone can be very rewarding – not approach comedy quite so theoretically, isn’t it? I mean,
to mention cheaper, if you’re up to it. But you’ll need to carry you’re university educated, aren’t you?
your own supplies and tent, which can be very demanding, so K: You’re probably right, but then, that’s me, I’m afraid. I’m
hiring a porter’s a good idea. And remember that a guide is not particularly proud of the fact but, there you are. Yes,
simply that, and while they’ll generally act as a translator, they I did mathematical science as my degree subject. I’ve
won’t carry your gear – you’ll need a porter for that. always loved words, adored English at school, but was
What’s more, it’s important to ascertain the credentials drawn inexorably towards numbers and I loved every
of guides before you put your life in their hands. Although minute of it. But the trouble with maths at university
there are agencies locally, finding one through a guesthouse level is it attracts some incredibly clever, focused people,
is usually the safest option. Also don’t forget that many local which doesn’t exactly make for a fun social life. That’s
people try to make money as porters and guides, but have how I came to join the debating society, and that kind of
inadequate clothing and equipment. Take responsibility for got me noticed because I have a way with words as well
their welfare and kit them out properly before you agree to with numbers. And before I knew it, I was writing for the
go with them. university newspaper as well, doing orientation meetings
So before I go on to … for new students – I loved anything with an audience –
you see, I couldn’t help myself.
Part 3 (page 27) I: So that was the beginning of your career as an
I: Interviewer K: Kevin entertainer, really.
K: Well, sort of. After graduation, I began working for a
I: My guest today is the Irish comedian Kevin Burke, now a local newspaper, writing a weekly column that was 700
familiar face on our TV screens. Kevin welcome. words of whimsical nonsense. It was fun, but I wasn’t
K: Hi. set on journalism, so I started dabbling in stand-up
I: And it’s generally a smiling face we see too, isn’t it Kevin. comedy – just testing the water in various clubs at first. I
But are you really like that, or is there another you: hustled and gigged wherever possible, gradually building
‘behind the painted smile’, as it were? up my act, and always on the lookout for the next
K: Well, I’m always being asked that. The cliché that every opening. Then, one day I landed a TV spot in Ireland,
comedian carries within a black heart is fundamentally hosting a children’s programme. From there, I kind of
untrue. I’m afraid my childhood unfolded without major hopscotched over to comedy.
incident and to date, there’s been very little trauma in I: Is that the way to do it, then?
my life. So I’m sorry to disappoint everyone, but I’m a K: Yes, once your name’s known, you get asked to do a few
fairly well-adjusted human being. People wrongly tend different kinds of programmes, which I did. After that,
to assume that comedians will be prone to depression. doors start opening up, in all directions, you learn what
It’s probably because the comedian is always finding to accept and what to avoid. I once did a quiz show and
humour in everyday misery. That’s how comedy works. it was disastrous. I won’t be doing that again, but it was

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useful experience at the time. But TV feels comfortable recommended it and I couldn’t be bothered looking through
for me and I’m happy to go along with most of the advertisements to find an alternative. As it happened, I got
whatever comes along. But I’m definitely happiest when quite a lot out of the course. I found out about some new
I am on stage. It’s certainly where I think I’m best, and marketing techniques that sounded just right for a project I
TV can’t capture that somehow, although the TV work is was working on. I think the people I work with were really
just as challenging in its own way. impressed, actually, when I suggested using them. So who
I: How do you account for your success on stage, then? knows, perhaps I’ll be given a bit more space to do things my
way in future.
K: The game of comedy’s all about owning the stage,
and from a physical point of view, it’s beneficial that Speaker Four
I’m a larger man. From my lumbering presence alone,
Basically, I wanted to spend more time in the office and less
I can’t really help but dominate the stage. People think
time on the road, but I needed better IT skills to do the
I’m older than I am actually, which also helps – people
deskwork. I’d read about these IT courses in the newspapers,
feel uncomfortable if comedians look too young or
but I knew my boss wouldn’t pay for me to go on one,
vulnerable. I’ve always looked like everybody’s dad.
because there’s no training budget in our department. Then
When I was nine, I looked eleven, and so on. Once, I
one evening I got talking to a chap on the train who’d just
based an entire show on me looking older than I was. I
done one. He made it sound so good that I decided to pay
asked the audience to guess my age: the average turned
my own way – thinking it might be an investment in the long
out to be 37 … I was 29 at the time. Sad, eh? But as
run. And I was right. Thanks to that certificate, I’ve got an
someone who applies scientific logic to much in my life,
interview for a job at a higher grade next week!
I’ve come to see the positive side of that too!
I: Kevin, there we must leave it. Thanks for being with us Speaker Five
today.
People laughed when I said I was going to do a course on
Part 4 (page 28) time management. I mean there are courses you can do that
give you points on the salary scale, but that wasn’t one of
Speaker One them. Anyway, my ex-flatmate who’s a travel agent had done
I knew I’d have to do a course – everyone in my office it and it had certainly helped her. Deadlines had always been
has – it’s part of our staff-development programme. The a problem for me, that’s why I was never put on new projects,
management let you choose it as long as it’s relevant to your and that annoyed me. Anyway, I did the course and not only
work. I’d read about mine in an online magazine – a proper did I find out how to organise my workload better, but I
write-up by someone who’d done it, not an advertisement was also put into a group with some really high-powered
– and it sounded OK. By chance, I booked the same dates recruitment consultants. It was through them I found the new
as a friend in the finance office, so we had a good laugh. I job I’m starting next Monday!
don’t think I gained much from the course though – I’m still
earning the same – but I’ve noticed that I am being given a
Listening Test 2
few different things to do in the office now, so maybe it was
worth it.
Part 1 (page 50)
Speaker Two
Extract One
You see lots of courses advertised in trade journals and on
M: man W: women
the web, but it’s hard to know which one to pick. In the end,
I took the advice of my boss who seems to know what she’s M: The long-awaited new release from the band Sharpie is
talking about, and did one on problem solving. The course was out this week, 18 months after their last album. Does it
great, really focused with excellent trainers and I came away live up to your expectations Sally?
feeling much better equipped to face the demands of my job,
W: Well to be honest, I was probably one of the few
more self-assured. It remains to be seen whether it leads to
people not to have any particular expectations, because
an increment on my salary or promotion, but it was a good
I thought their last album was over-rated really. So,
choice for me. I even met some interesting people working
although I’m sure it’s going to sell by the bucket-load,
from rival firms, but we didn’t swap contact details or anything
it doesn’t do much for me really. There are one or two
– perhaps we should have done?
reasonable songs, and there’s nothing to object to, but
Speaker Three for me it’s just more of the same.
M: Well, I think that’s a bit harsh. I mean the songs are
Basically, we go on these courses every year, and they’re
strong, and that’s always been the band’s strong point
usually a waste of time. My colleague had warned me that this
– though it’s not clear from the sleeve notes which of
one was hopeless, but you never know who you’re going to
them wrote each one actually, which always annoys me.
meet, so I went anyway. The tutor on last year’s course had

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W: I know what you mean, I couldn’t read the handwritten savings, earned out in the big wide world, to fall back on,
scrawl on the cover, but actually all that info’s on the so the stakes aren’t so high.
website, to which there’s a reference, so the marketing
people have obviously picked up on the fact that some Part 2 (page 52)
of us may actually want to know these things. Hello. In today’s programme, we’re talking about the office
M: Oh right. I’d missed that little detail. of the future. The technological revolution has led to many
changes in office work. Offices now look very different to
Extract Two
how they did 50, 30, even 20 years ago, because the kind of
W: women M: man work that people do in them has changed along with all the
hardware that office life now calls for.
W: So what did you think of this morning’s lecture? I
A few years back, people were looking forward to what
reckon he must have said the word ‘sophisticated’ or
became known as the paperless office – something that
‘sophistication’ at least 50 times.
seemed to be just around the corner. But today, demand for
M: Well it’s not only him, is it? The word’s so much part paper seems to be as strong as ever, despite so much work
of the lexicon of the design industry that it’s become being done on screen. So it’s hard to plan for the office of the
imprecise and more or less meaningless as a result, don’t future – who knows what the future will bring, and which of
you think? today’s wild predictions will become reality.
W: There could be something in that, you know. Do you One person who has given some thought to office design,
think that’s why every now and again designers turn however, is the architect Francis Duffy, who has suggested that
away from all that and go for that sort of naïve look workplaces could be divided into four distinct categories, each
instead? You know, rejecting what seems complex and with a different kind of design which would reflect the kind of
refined and going back to what’s childlike and simple. work done in them, be it accountancy, general administration
M: You mean like that Italian furniture that looks as if it’s or design work, and the kind of people who work there.
made out of Lego? I mean it’s brilliantly versatile – you The first type of office design he describes he calls ‘The Hive’.
can fit the bits together in different ways like kids do The reason for the name lies in a comparison with a beehive
with Lego. occupied by busy worker bees. This type of office is suitable
W: Yeah I think it’s great. But, you know, at the end of the for individuals doing work which is characterised by routine.
day, the effect that furniture creates is still quite chic, Typical hive organisations include telesales, data-entry, banking
isn’t it? I bet the lecturers would still go on about how and basic information services.
‘sophisticated’ it is. The second type of office he calls ‘the cell’. This is because
M: Yeah. I guess they would. it reminds him of the tiny room allotted to each monk in a
monastery. Cell offices are ideal for people doing individual
Extract Three
work where concentration is needed – people who have
I: Interviewer K: Kevin relatively little need to interact with colleagues. These are
often highly autonomous people who occupy their workspace
I: But you’re no stranger to country life, are you John? only occasionally because they often work elsewhere, at
J: No, when we first married, Jo and I felt that we could home for example, or in a client’s office or perhaps on the
do life better. We went to live in a house in the middle road. According to Duffy, typical occupiers of cells include
of a field with no running water or electricity – in fact lawyers and computer scientists.
nothing much apart from our absolute determination to The third type of office is ‘the den’. These are busy, interactive
live self-sufficiently. We were idealists, trying to create a places, where it’s easy to work informally with colleagues.
new world. I mean, with the benefit of hindsight, it was a Dens are associated with highly interactive, but not necessarily
hopeless endeavour, we kept goats and chickens, planted highly autonomous jobs. Den spaces are specifically designed
vegetables, built a wind turbine, all that – but after ten with teamwork in mind and usually have an open-plan layout
years we were forced by financial pressures to move to facilitate this. Typical occupations requiring dens include a
out. But we’d tried and, given the chance, I must say I’d range of jobs in the media and in advertising.
do it all over again.
The final category, Duffy refers to as ‘clubs’, because they suit
I: Which you’re about to do really. a rather small group to which membership may be restricted.
J: Not exactly. The wind turbine and vegetables, yes, the These offices are for what Duffy defines as creative work, as
animals eventually too I hope, but I think we’re now opposed to the simple handling of data. Individuals occupy
more realistic about what’s achievable, especially in a space on an ‘as needed’ basis, moving around to take
retirement. Because these days it’s easier to live in a advantage of a wide range of facilities. If Duffy is right, this kind
‘green’ way – for want of a better word – without of office would be suitable for people working in information
feeling the need to be purist about it. We’ve got our technology, for example, or perhaps in management
consultancies.

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So what kind of office would you like to work in? Do Duffy’s They’ll be curious, but their first response is rarely to
ideas make any sense to you? We’d love to hear … attack us. I think the secret is to respect the fact that
we’re intruders in their environment – if you go looking
Part 3 (page 53) for trouble, I’m sure you can find it – with sharks or
I: Interviewer A: Alex N: Nina whatever – and some people do just that, maybe
thinking they’ll get good shots – but that’s not the sort
I: My guests today are the photographers Alex Mustard of underwater photography I want to get into.
and Nina Hanna who specialise in underwater shots. I: What advice would you each give to budding
Their co-operation has resulted in the book entitled The underwater photographers? Nina?
Art of Diving. Alex, turning to you first, there are some N: Well, underwater photography’s becoming incredibly
great shots in the book, but how much is luck and how accessible. Most digital compact cameras are relatively
much judgement? cheap and most can now be used with very good plastic
A: With wildlife shots, it’s not always the case that you can housings. The most important thing is to choose your
get the animals to behave in a way you want. When subject very carefully – find something colourful, that
you spend a lot of time in the ocean though, you get to you can get close to, that’s not going to swim away, and
predict behaviours and you get used to knowing when that’s a medium size – if it’s not too big or too small,
and where you’re going to get particular shots. I was you’ll be more likely to get it in the shot.
able to plan a great deal, but often there’s only a split I: Alex?
second to capture the shot you have in mind. With the
A: More professional shots require wide-angled lenses to
photographs of divers it’s different. You’ve got more
get the best results, and you might want to consider
control because the dive is a co-ordinated effort that’s
using different colour filters. But with most of the
well planned. Even the smallest things are so hard to
compacts you’ll produce great quality snaps if you follow
communicate underwater that absolutely everything has
Nina’s advice.
to be organised before.
I: So what’s next for you both?
I: And Nina, did you get any surprises doing the book?
A: Well, in July we’re planning a trip to Sardinia. It’s where
N: One of the areas I’ve always thought we were going
some of the nicest diving in the Mediterranean is to be
to struggle with was free-diving, you know, going down
found – all clustered within easy reach of the airport
to great depths without oxygen or equipment. I didn’t
at Olbia. There’s a few wrecks, but that’s not really the
really ‘get’ free-diving until I saw it for myself. But when
draw for us, it’s more the underwater landscapes – like
you watch it in the ocean, when you’re sitting there at
the soft corals and the fish life they support – and of
fifteen or so metres in very clear water and you see the
course the water’s lovely and warm. We should get
divers come down those lines past you, disappearing
some good shots!
into the blue it’s incredible. They’d disappear for several
minutes while you watch, realising how much breathing I: Well all the best for that, and thanks for joining me
you’re doing, until they come back up again – on a single today.
breath! I wanted to get across in the shots just how
Part 4 (page 54)
fragile the free-divers looked, framed by the vastness of
the ocean. Speaker One
I: What are your favourite shots, Alex?
I mean it was a nice house on the whole. I was sharing with
A: There’s a whole genre of shots – the ones of divers
five other girls, and had a big room – quite comfortable by
having a good time underwater. For some unknown
student standards actually. It was the commuting by bus to
reason, the most sensible, important people, from
college that got me down – I was wasting hours a week on
nurses to managing directors, can’t resist mucking about
it. My new place isn’t in such a nice area, but it’s just round
once they’re underwater. I’d never really seen this in
the corner from college, and the gym’s nearby too. I knew
photos before and it soon became a main theme of the
the rent would be higher because I’m on my own here, but I
book – to get across the playful, graceful and fun nature
hadn’t realised I’d end up paying more for gas and electricity
of being underwater. When someone sees a turtle while
– it’s the price you pay for independence apparently. Anyway,
scuba diving, they do an impression of a turtle! The
I’ve signed a six-month contract with the landlord, so I’ll be
amount of times you end up bursting out laughing into
staying.
you regulator – it happens every single dive.
I: Did you have any scary moments Nina? Speaker Two
N: There’s a golden rule underwater – you always need
At first I was glad of it being a small place – you know cheap
to know what’s behind you. Some wildlife is potentially
to furnish, easy to clean and all that – but then later it got
dangerous, but there are very few things in the ocean
to feel a bit cramped. That’s when I started looking round.
that are actively aggressive. We’re not their natural prey.

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The new place is definitely roomier, but it’s a long way out about this week’s painting, which you’ll remember can
of town. There’s a reasonable bus service, but I miss being be seen on our webpage. Mark?
able to pop out to the shops any time I want – there’s none M: Thanks Sandra. Yes today’s picture is by John Audubon,
worth going to round here, but I only found that out too who by coincidence was born this very day in1785,
late. I’m yet to see what the bills will be like, but the landlord who’s the most celebrated American ornithological
seems nice enough and it’s a quiet neighbourhood, so I’ll put artist. And as this is also the season when swallows
up with it for the moment. make their annual migration from south to north, I’ve
Speaker Three selected an illustration of that particular bird from
Audubon’s monumental work The Birds of America as
I think people at work were rather shocked when I said I this week’s picture. The birds are shown with two chicks
was moving to the country. But I’d had enough of nine-to- peeping from a hole in a sand bank. And in a moment I’ll
five in the crowded city and so took advantage of a chance tell you about his technique. But first, the man himself.
to work from home – working for the same employer, but Audubon was an impulsive, larger-than-life character with
doing it all online. I thought I’d miss the convenience of city a propensity for self-mythologising. Born in what is now
life, but the village shop is surprisingly well-stocked and there’s Haiti in the Caribbean, the son of a French merchant, he
even a daily bus service into the local town. I’ve always lived was educated in France. At the age of 18, he was sent to
on my own, so I was surprised at how cut off I felt at first. America to oversee his father’s estate near Philadelphia,
Fortunately, I’ve now met some of the neighbours, so things where he spread the completely unfounded rumour
aren’t quite as bad and I’m beginning to get involved in local that he was of royal descent. Having little interest in
activities a bit more. estate management, he gradually squandered his family’s
money while exploring the wilds of America, indulging
Speaker Four his two principal passions: hunting and drawing birds.

I’ve settled in a bit better now, but I knew the cost of living Extract Two
would be higher here and that I wouldn’t be able to afford
W: women M: man
such a big place. I’ve found a small flat though, over a shop,
which isn’t too expensive. At least I don’t have to share!
W: If you’re planning to redesign your living space, maybe
But when I complained about the inadequate heating, the
take down internal walls, move door openings, or even
landlord said basically ‘take it or leave it’. It was a shock really,
build an extension, getting a clear mental image of your
but the neighbours told me that he always says that and he’ll
different options can be a difficult process. It’s all very
probably do something in the end. Basically, the firm wanted
well sketching out a few ideas on paper, but getting a
to move down south and my job came too – so I didn’t have
grasp of how your new home will feel to walk through
much choice. I was living in a scruffy area before, polluted and
is something that many of us leave to chance – which,
lacking in basic facilities, but it was cheap.
considering the expense of these kind of projects, is
Speaker Five really quite a significant risk, isn’t it Luis?
M: Well Amy, it needn’t be. The good news is that if
I mean it’s much better here. In my last place I had to put you’re willing to invest a little bit of money and, more
up with miserable flatmates always finding fault with the importantly, time in formulating your ideas, it can be
cleaning, saying I was untidy. We had a very big bust-up and I greatly minimised. One of the most rewarding ways
walked out – at least on my own I can live how I like, though is to invest in one of the many home design software
I didn’t really want to live alone. I decided to join a gym or a packages currently available for home computers. In
sports club of some kind to make some new friends, and was essence, these mean you can automatically translate
surprised to find that there’s nothing closer than a half hour’s a simple 2D drawing into a 3D model of your home
bus ride away. Still, my new neighbour’s got an old car he which can be viewed from any angle, in theory enabling
wants to sell, so I might see if I can buy that, because I don’t you to get a great feel for the new spaces you’re
want to feel I’m dependent on public transport. intending to create, or to spot any potential problems at
the design stage.
Listening Test 3 Extract Three

Part 1 (page 72) W: women M: man

Extract One W: Last autumn, a newspaper TV critic praised one

wildlife programme in fulsome terms saying: “It ticks
P: Presenter M: Mark all the usual boxes for the sort of thing it is: hushed
P: So now over to Mark Amos, who’s going to tell us narration, pounding orchestral soundtrack, and beautiful
photography, of course.” A few weeks later, another

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journalist previewing an episode of another wrote: example, where something that in itself may be interesting
“Maybe it’s because we’re jaded by the brilliance of this the first time you do it, becomes boring when you have to
series, but tonight’s programme is a shade disappointing. do it over and over again. This we can define as ‘repetitive’
For the most part, the animals we witness are not boredom.
winners, either. Wolverines may be vicious, but they But it’s hard to grasp the concept of boredom itself, because
won’t win any prizes at the natural history beauty it doesn’t really have any qualities of its own. Dr Svendsen,
pageant.” author of the book The Philosophy of Boredom talks about
M: I know what you mean, the standards are pretty high a lack of personal meaning, as perhaps summing up what
and so any reviewer uses that as their starting point – boredom is.
it’s hard for the filmmaker to impress us any more with Other researchers have looked at how boredom affects
this kind of programme. people, to determine whether some personality types cope
W: I don’t deny that, but what alarms me is this sort of tacit better than others. What they have found is that people often
agreement between critics about the criteria by which assume that the opposite of boredom is excitement. That’s
nature films should be judged – dramatic music, plenty why parents take their bored children to a theme park. But
of violence, big, charismatic animals and ‘breathtaking’ often boredom is more to do with lack of social interactivity
photography. No prizes for the wolverines of this than it has to do with lack of physical activity or thrill – so
world – nor, sadly, for thought-provoking sensitivity, quiet parents might be better off taking their children on a picnic
reflection, intelligence – all of which I think count for a where they would meet new people and make their own
lot more. entertainment.
So, clearly boredom is something that we have to take …
Part 2 (page 74)
Part 3 (page 75)
Today we’re talking about boredom. What is it and how can
we cope with it? Now if I said: “How would you like to go I: interviewer E: Emma
on a space mission to find out more about the planet Mars?”
you’d probably find the prospect quite thrilling, and I think it’s I: My guest today is Emma Stoneham, who’s Managing
unlikely that you’d say: “Oh no how boring!” Director of the local racecourse, a business with a
But in actual fact, boredom is likely to be one of the biggest turnover of over £2 million a year. The surprising thing
challenges for people going on such a mission. Mars, after all, about Emma is that, at the age of 24, she’s the youngest
is a long way away and the round-trip will take around 17 racecourse MD in the country. How do you come to
months – rather a long time to spend in a small spaceship, know so much about racing, Emma?
where there’s little in the way of entertainment. What’s E: The industry’s in my blood – it’s as simple as that. I get
more, add on the training and preparation stages, and you’d a fantastic buzz out of every aspect of it, and I always
probably be giving up two to three years of your life to such a have. I went to school not far from a racecourse, where
project, so you’d need to be pretty committed to it. my dad worked, so it was a fair bet I’d get hooked on
But it’s coping with the boredom of the actual trip that the sport from an early age. I started helping him out
interests the European Space Agency, so they’ve set up a in his work at the racecourse from about the age of 14.
simulation. They’re locking 12 volunteers up in just such a Sometimes I used to go racing with my friends. We’d
small space for exactly that length of time in order to study sneak in for free and watch the horses, it was great fun.
how they’ll cope with the boredom. The aim is to gain insight I: But you’re well qualified for the job too, aren’t you?
into both individual human behaviour and group dynamics E: Oh yes, I mean I did a general business studies degree at
under the kinds of conditions astronauts would experience university and could’ve gone into any one of a number
on a mission to Mars. of industries. But even then, the racing bug kept on
On the real trip, lack of space, lack of privacy, a high workload nibbling away. I eventually realised I really wanted to
and the stress associated with mechanical breakdowns, etc. have a go at it. I didn’t want my dad to be accused of
will all lead to all sorts of tensions. But it is thought that these nepotism, however, so I decided to make my own way.
tensions will actually come to the surface when the astronauts After graduating, I got a place on a two-week intensive
have less to do. In moments of boredom, therefore, course run by the British Horseracing Board. I was
dissatisfaction concerning the limited variety of available food, lucky, there aren’t many places going and there’s no
or the infrequent nature of contacts with family and friends shortage of competition for them. The course focuses
may well become the focus of the astronauts’ feelings. on all aspects of racing, so there was lots to learn, but I
So what is boredom? Well there is actually more than one absolutely loved it.
type. There are, for example, activities such as listening to a I: And two jobs down the line, you’re an MD. Tell us about
boring lecture, or waiting for a delayed plane in an airport, race days.
which tend to be of a temporary nature. This ‘situational’ E: Race meetings take place every two-to-three weeks
boredom contrasts with the boredom of a routine job, for

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with 70 to 100 horses at each meeting, and crowds of Part 4 (page 76)
up to 6,000. We get all the big names – owners and
Speaker One
jockeys – and we try to look after them well, because
their efforts underpin the entire sport. The way it works
I was surprised even to be nominated for this award, I mean
is that we release the dates of our meetings, and they
there are much better people out there than me. I went
then decide which ones they want to fit into their
along, thinking: enjoy the ceremony, don’t worry too much
schedule – it involves a lot of intricate planning. There
about whether you win or not. The piece of mine that was
are so many different characters in the racing industry
singled out for praise was about an expert in landscape
and you have to try to cater for them all. They’re great
gardening who’d never given an interview before, which made
people and there’s a real sense of camaraderie –
a bit of a splash in one of the weeklies, but my regular column
everybody knows everybody.
was mentioned too. The actual evening was a bit of a let-
I: But you enjoy those days? down actually, not as glamorous as I’d imagined, no television,
E: Whenever racing is going on, I get such a buzz from but when my name was called, all I could say was: “Thank
it – there’s just so many different reasons you can enjoy you”. I hadn’t even prepared a speech!
it. You can go as a family, take part in a company event,
have a great day out with colleagues from work, or get Speaker Two
all dressed up and have a picnic – it’s for everyone. For
Getting this award was really important for me because my
me, running the racecourse, it’s living on the edge a
work has come in for a fair bit of criticism over the last year,
lot of the time because whatever comes up has to be
especially from one particular newspaper reviewer. So I felt
dealt with, but that’s what makes it fun. When things get
vindicated in a way. I got it for a full-length feature I shot about
hectic, I just keep thinking, it’ll be fine, it’ll be fine, and
computer games and how they’re meant to actually stimulate
never get bored with it. I also see my job as all about
the brain. They showed a bit of it at the ceremony, which was
passing on the enthusiasm I have to everyone around
a glittering affair, with all the soap stars in their designer outfits.
me, that’s important.
I mean they were all sitting on the edge of their seats as the
I: But things can go wrong, I imagine? envelopes were opened, because that side of the business is
E: Oh they do, yes. Our two-day midwinter event usually really competitive. But I stayed cool – for me it’s not about
brings in an excellent crowd, it can be the busiest of the publicity.
the year, but the weather can be a problem. We knew
several weeks ahead that the day was likely to be hit Speaker Three
by frost, and we’d taken all the precautions we could,
It was a big moment for me when the chair of the judges
including laying sheets on the course, such as on the
opened that envelope. I mean, I did really feel my book had
take-off and landing points near the hurdles. On the
the edge over the other nominees, though their writing is
day, however, the ground was still incredibly hard, and
good of course. We all three needed the cash prize – and
the welfare of the horses and jockeys had to take
exposure in the media’s always welcome – but hopefully the
precedence – we had no choice but to call it off. Of
others will get increased sales out of it too. The ceremony
course, if we lose a meeting like this, it still means we
itself was fun. I’m not very good at being in the spotlight, but I
have to pay staff and other costs too, but any other
rose to the occasion and we got a good write up in the local
decision would have been irresponsible.
newspaper. I even met somebody who’s going to help me
I: So you made big losses? design my own website, which is really exciting.
E: It was a blow. It means we will have to work harder than
ever to make this year’s meetings a success, but we’ll do Speaker Four
it. We simply have to put what has happened behind
I think they gave me this award because of my work on
us, concentrate on the months ahead. Fortunately, we’d
television, though it’s actually my website that one of the
already drawn up a master plan to update facilities at
judges went on about at the ceremony. I didn’t actually design
the racecourse, and we’d sold off some land so that
it, of course, just provided the content, but it does encourage
a hotel can be built. It’ll improve our events business
people to have a go themselves – plan their own planting and
if we’re able to offer accommodation on site. So
ground levels and things, even if they haven’t got a big plot. I
by making adjustments to the budgets for that, we
had to laugh at all the fuss they made at the ceremony. Both
can absorb any losses – but it’s all still going ahead
my daughters ended up shedding a few tears, but they know
regardless.
I love being the centre of attention, so all in all it was a lovely
I: Emma, best of luck with that and thank you for joining evening. It’s really fashionable now my line of work, which is
us today. amazing really.

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Speaker Five shot on that very theme there now. It was taken by
Gavin Warren of Glasgow, who talked us through it.
I got the award for my spring collection, which was rather G: The shot was taken outside the old Stirling library. It’s a
dark – no floral prints or pastel shades this year. The people major hangout for punks and skateboarders. You see a
on the panel went on about it so much that they began kid with his board standing next to this goth girl sucking
to get on my nerves actually, but I suppose I shouldn’t be a lollipop. I just happened to be passing with my camera
ungrateful. It’s known as a bit of a media circus actually, the and thought it’d be a great place for a shot. The goths
ceremony, and it certainly lived up to its reputation this and punks all turn up in their gear and pretend to be
year. All the other winners over-reacting like mad, making tough and annoy everybody. In fact the library’s started
big speeches, runners-up biting back the tears, trying not to to play classical music to try and discourage them, but
sound disappointed. All for the TV cameras, needless to say, they keep coming. I just got this single shot before these
but the catwalk’s always great fun if you like people-watching, two realised what I was up to, and it just appealed to
and actually there were some great outfits on show. me.
P: And Gavin wins a fully automatic zoom …
Listening Test 4
Extract Three
Part 1 (page 92) W: women M: man
Extract One W: So playing games is big in your family then?
I: interviewer D: Dave M: Yes, my children have an evening playing board or card
games at least once a week, more often if they wish, and
I: For serious pop-music fans, my next guest, Dave the choice of actual activity is left up to them. But then
Roberts, is something of a hero. Dave’s the editor of again, because people need to interact, we’ve agreed to
the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, a book that ration the amount of free time which gets spent looking
catalogues the singers, bands and songs that made it at television or computer screens.
into the charts over the decades. Dave, it must be a W: Right.
huge undertaking.
M: And then we have regular music and poetry evenings,
D: The public perception seems to be of an aircraft hangar as well as games sessions and nobody in the family
full of researchers beavering away, compiling the book, gets away without taking centre stage. We let visitors
but that’s quite a long way from the truth. It’s actually a do karaoke or tell jokes if they’re not too keen on
small editorial team which has a body of experts that performing and, although some of our relations say they
can be called on when needed. At the drop of a hat, find the thought of doing that excruciating, afterwards
they can tell you all sorts of detailed information – it’s all they’re always thrilled to have taken part.
in their heads.
W: And they still come to visit you?
I: And do you get many complaints?
M: Most of them.
D: Tons of emails actually, usually in the few weeks after a
new edition’s come out. For the most part they’re of Part 2 (page 94)
the: ‘The catalogue number for Roy Orbison’s Pretty
Cranes are huge, spectacular birds, tall and elegant on the
Woman has two numbers transposed in it’ type.
ground with a large impressive wingspan in the sky. By their
Fortunately, they aren’t usually major errors on our part
very presence, cranes demand attention. Perhaps that’s why
– just typos – and we take the emails as a compliment
they have featured heavily in Asian art, literature and legend
because they show how much people care about the
for thousands of years and why they are seen as a symbol of
book.
peace and happiness in India. In Africa, they are an emblem of
Extract Two the Zulu royal family and the crane is South Africa’s national
bird. There are a total of 15 species of crane worldwide, seven
P: presenter G: Gavin
of which are under threat, and three of these are found in
southern Africa. It is these three species that I want to update
P: So next to our photo competition. Don’t forget this
you on this evening.
month’s brief is fashion – which means anything from
icons of street style to wannabe catwalk models – send In terms of total populations, the Wattled Crane is down to
us your photos now of you and your friends on the about 280 individuals, the Blue Crane about 21,000 and the
theme of fashion, for the chance to win a camera and Crowned Crane about 3,500, so none of them has what we
have your shot showcased on our website alongside the might call healthy numbers. So what are the main reasons
judges’ comments. And you can see last week’s winning for the decline in crane numbers in southern Africa? Habitat
destruction comes top of the list. Cranes are generally found

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in wetlands and these areas are very much under siege in away to join the circus, but it was very much against my
southern Africa, where water is a very scarce resource. parents’ wishes when I went. They really thought I should
Another major problem for cranes is poisoning by agricultural be getting some qualifications, I don’t think they saw
pesticides. These birds will eat anything from small mammals much of a future in it.
and reptiles to fallen grain, so are vulnerable in areas that have I: But what qualified you then for the circus ring? Did you
been sprayed, for example. The growing use of electricity is have an act?
evidence of development in southern Africa and cranes are T: No, it wasn’t like that really. The curious thing is that I
the frequent victims of collisions with the power lines that never longed to be a performer. I didn’t fancy leaping
now criss-cross the landscape. Small wonder, then, the cranes about on the back of a horse or juggling. No, right from
have been in decline. But things are changing. the start, the thing that was uppermost in my mind was
In South Africa, crane conservation has become one of the the idea of stepping out into that ring, wearing the big
major thrusts in endangered species conservation. With the hat, and welcoming people to my circus. So at first, as
Endangered Wildlife Trust, one of southern Africa’s most far as I was concerned, it was just a matter of getting
effective environmental conservation organisations, acting as practical experience of how the circus worked. I was
an umbrella body for a number of hands-on conservation happy doing any job that was going actually.
units. I: And before long you did set up on your own, didn’t
For the Wattled Crane, a unique population-boosting you? How did you manage that?
programme has been introduced, called ‘isolation, rear and T: I suppose I was about 22 and my Dad, who’d come
release’. Chicks are either bred in captivity or one of the two round to the idea in the meantime, helped me by
eggs normally laid in a wild clutch is removed. After artificial lending me some capital, which I added to my own
incubation, the chicks are reared by ‘crane mums’. These are savings to invest in my first tent. From then on, I was the
local women who dress up as cranes and are trained to boss. I only had a few acts, but later I teamed up with a
behave like cranes. When fully reared, the chicks are released friend and the circus has been a partnership ever since.
into the wild in pre-selected, safe areas. I’d been in business for about five years, when I realised
Modern technology is also being used with the Blue Crane. I really needed more administrative support, and that’s
Some adult birds are now being fitted with miniature where Anita came in.
transmitters and through satellite tracking. The earth station I: And what made you join the circus Anita?
is in France and South Africa’s network of airports is also
A: Well, unlike Tony, I never harboured any dreams of going
involved, they are being followed around the country to
off with the circus. In fact the idea had never crossed my
determine their movements.
mind. But when Tony’s tent arrived in Manchester where
So, from a situation at the beginning of this decade when I was living, I’d just been going through various family
southern Africa’s cranes looked as though they might not difficulties and I was ready for a change of scene. The
even make it into the next century, it now seems that the idea of just travelling around as the booking office clerk,
cranes will be flying into the future with confidence. which is the post that I saw advertised, appealed to me.
Part 3 (page 95) I thought it would offer a means of escape for a while.
T: She stepped into the role of personal assistant about
I: Interviewer T: Tony A: Anita five years later. She was a qualified secretary so it was a
natural progression.
I: Today in the studio, as part of our series of interviews
with famous duos we have two people who’ve worked A: I can’t ever remember being asked to become your PA
together for more than 15 years. Tony Morland is actually, it just sort of happened. But having been with
the boss and Anita Meadows is his personal assistant. the circus for a while, I’d picked up a lot about what
Nothing unusual in that you might think, but what makes was involved in the running of the show, and I gradually
this duo a little different is the fact that the business just took more on, you know, I just did what needed
which they both help run is in fact a travelling circus. doing. And I’ve since been on both word-processing and
Welcome to you both. accountancy courses to help me cope with it all.

A: Hello.
T: Now, I don’t know what I’d do without her. I love the
circus, but the paperwork would drive me crazy and it’s
T: Hi.
getting worse.
I: Now, Tony first, you own the circus. So do you come
A: You can say that again, and it also includes a fair amount
from one of those traditional circus families, was it in the
of diplomacy, which, let’s say, isn’t really Tony’s style.
blood?
T: She also arranges things like work permits for foreign
T: Hardly. I had an unremarkable childhood up to the age
artists. That can be a real hassle. We have a lot of laughs
of 15, But I’d seen my first circus at the age of about
sometimes though. My handwriting always comes in for
eight, and from that moment on I’d set my heart on
a lot of stick – Anita’s the only one who can decipher
being part of that world one day. I didn’t exactly run
it. And she is very willing to work long into the night if
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necessary. So as long as everything gets done, I don’t Speaker Four

mind if she takes the odd afternoon off to do her
own things. There’s no clockwatching or standing on As a single person, I’d had one or two lonely holidays abroad
ceremony here. on my own, so I loved the friendly meals with everyone eating
together. Most evenings ended in a sing-song, it was lovely. You
A: I guess that’s where we really see eye to eye, in that laid
can do all sorts of other activities, like throwing pots or trying
back approach. Without that it wouldn’t work and I’d your hand at wildlife photography. But as I hadn’t so much
have moved on years ago. as looked at a book since my schooldays, I was keen to get
I: Anita, Tony, thanks very much for joining me this back some of my old fluency. The tutors are great, they realise
morning. you’re on holiday and so no-one’s going to rap vour knuckles
A: Thanks. if you don’t turn up for a class. Anyway, I could make just as
much progress chatting to the locals, and they certainly had
Part 4 (page 96) plenty of time for me.
Speaker One Speaker Five

I have an old-fashioned belief in life-long self-improvement. I I was quite nervous at first, though there was no need to be.
also have that need for tutorial guidance which is so typical of The group included a lot of people who, like me, were just
musicians. So, the idea of a holiday where you lock yourself up looking for inspiration. One couple had won the holiday in
in the country with a group of like-minded people to learn a a competition, some had been before, but they didn’t seem
new skill, it really appealed to me. There were about a dozen to be much the wiser for it. My only criticism is that it could
of us. All ages and backgrounds seemed to represented, have been more hands-on. We spent a lot of time watching
which was brilliant, and we sat learning our lines all day. Then demonstrations when we could have been chopping or
after dinner, what we’d prepared would be performed and peeling ourselves. Because we had the afternoons free, we
discussed. It was hilarious and afterwards we all kept in touch didn’t get on top of one another, and as our efforts literally
and swapped photos, so I’ve got lots of memories to look provided a topic of conversation at mealtimes, it was all very
back on. relaxed, and it was difficult not to get on with each other.

Speaker Two
Listening Test 5
It’s amazing how quickly people tune into a situation and
organise themselves. Although we’d all opted for a self- Part 1 (page 112)
catering package, the group soon set up a rota for providing
the evening meal, which left us free most days to concentrate Extract One
on the task in hand. I’m not sure that what we learned
I: interviewer S: Sean
couldn’t have been gleaned from one of those paperbacks
entitled How to pen a best-seller, but we had a lot more fun I: Now Sean, as a teenager you did various bits of TV
doing it. The group psychology was fascinating to watch as it work before being signed up to a major soap at 16.
unfolded. As characters began to emerge, it became clear that What was that like?
the least prepossessing members of the group were going to
S: Weird. I was 16, in London for the first time and earning
turn out to be the most gifted.
money – but I was still growing up. I’d intended to go
Speaker Three to drama school, but they kept extending my contract
because my character was so popular, so that didn’t
One unexpected aspect of the course was that we all happen. I was even offered a recording contract at one
became experts on the physical characteristics of lop-eared point, though I can’t sing!
goats, so often did they feature in our representations of the I: So it wasn’t so great?
various landscapes. There were also many outings, including a S: I feel much more relaxed about it now, looking back, but
lovely meal in a local farmhouse, it was all very well organised. at the time I was just thinking this wasn’t the way my
But it was the clear air and the sparkling perspectives that career was meant to be going. So I quit. I was eighteen
really encouraged me to try something new at home. Some and it wasn’t what I wanted in life. People said I was
people were rather shy, but that suited me, and everyone making a big mistake; that I’d sink without a trace.
tended to get on with their own work. The tutor would give I: But you didn’t …
a demonstration in the morning, then wander round from
S: No, though I still get a bit pigeonholed as the pretty
easel to easel, giving advice about brushwork, etc. She was
soap star, and nine times out of ten when I get sent
scrupulously fair with her time.
scripts I can guess which part they want me to play – so
I go for that tenth one every time! But actually I’ve been
pretty lucky – getting quite a bit of film and theatre
work, so I can’t complain.

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Extract Two Have you ever wondered why it is that some people are very
precise and graceful in their physical movements, while others
M: man W: women
are always bumping into things and falling over? It seems to
M: When I first began editing tape, years ago, I was have very little to do with intelligence, because some of my
fascinated by how much you can tell from a voice, you cleverest friends are clumsy, but they’re very good at other
know – tension, passion, uncertainty. Sitting late at night things in life. Does any of this sound familiar to you?
cutting and tidying up recordings, hearing the ‘ums’ and What started me on this train of thought was reading a
‘ers’ and breaths and laughs and moments of emotional description in a biography of a distant relative of mine called
hesitation through my headphones, I’d feel quite intimate John who lived in the last century. It said: “John’s smart
with the person I was working on. Did you find that appearance belied a lack of physical co-ordination that could
Jane? lead to drama – he regularly fell into rivers and lakes and
W: Absolutely. And that means you have a responsibility household objects, such as vases and table lamps, in other
to ensure, first of all that the edited version makes people’s homes were not safe when he was around.” Well, in
sense, but also that it also sounds like the person. So a nutshell, that’s me too!
sometimes you put back a few of the ‘ums’ and ‘ers’ and Even as a child, I was always good at drawing, and people still
pauses. comment on my speed and agility at anything requiring careful
M: That’s right. Because let’s face it, on the radio voices work with the hands. I can cook, make my own clothes and
really matter. have neat handwriting. Why is it then that I was always walking
into doors and tripping over the edges of carpets? Why was I
W: When I started out, people had really fixed ideas about
never able to do gymnastics? And why have I always been so
what made a good radio voice – and I didn’t have one
hopeless at any sports which use a ball?
– or so I was told – and that I’d never make a radio
performer. That’s why I went into editing. Nor does this sort of thing entirely seem to run in families.
Adam, my younger brother is, by contrast, quite good at the
M: Just goes to show how things have moved on, doesn’t it?
sporty kind of things. I’ve watched him playing tennis with
W: I suppose it does. his friends and feel not so much jealous as rather frustrated
Extract Three at seeing the ease with which he plays. He’ll never be a
champion, but at least he doesn’t make a fool of himself like
W: women M: man me!
W: I mean, you were brought up in Africa, so going back did But there again, Adam is well-known in the family for having
you find it had changed? what have become known amongst us as ‘little accidents.’ The
latest one happened in a smart department store in London.
M: In many ways, not at all. There’s still plenty of empty
As I stepped off the escalator on the fourth floor, I heard
space that it’s possible to get lost in, areas where mobile
Adam fall over with a thud behind me. Somehow, his shoelace
phones don’t work and there’s no internet access. We
had got caught in the moving staircase and he’d tripped up.
live in a world where anyone can find you anytime and
He was alright, but we couldn’t get his trainer free and in the
say: “I need your 500 words by the 30th.” In Africa you
end he had to take it off and call for help.
can be inaccessible in an invasive world.
Why do things like this always happen to him, and why do I
W: Sounds like the sort of thing kids do on their gap year.
always manage to drop anything of any value that I pick up? Is
M: It’s a bit tougher than that actually, especially going alone it just a way of attracting attention? Or is it because I’m rather
as I did. It’s not something to be taken on lightly, and it short on the things called ‘motor skills’ – you know the ones
certainly wasn’t a holiday. the brain is meant to pick up in infancy. If any listeners have
W: Right. We hear a lot about ‘development’ and there’s all any thoughts on the matter, I’d love to hear from you – the
the charity work going on, so I thought you might have number to ring is …
noticed some results of all that.
Part 3 (page 115)
M: I think a lot of that hype is actually counter-productive.
Unless Africans themselves are involved in the projects, I: interviewer B: Barbara
they don’t do any good. Small-scale projects seem
to work, things with local involvement rather than a I: My guest today is Barbara Darby. Her name has
big international profile – but I didn’t go looking for appeared on the credits of many well-known films.
development or projects – that wasn’t my brief. Although her role in making those films successful was
crucial, you’ve probably never heard of her because she
Part 2 (page 114) works as a casting director. Barbara,welcome.
B: Hello
Hello. My name’s Stella Faulds and in this evening’s edition of
‘What Makes us Tick’, we’re looking at the issue of clumsiness. I: So it’s quite a big responsibility, is it, Barbara, finding the
actors for a film?

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B: The job of a casting director is a highly-skilled one I: But you took a break from your career at one time,
actually, because without the right cast, there’s no movie. didn’t you.
Although experience counts of course, intuition is the B: That’s right. I was working on a film which was set in
essential quality for the job, and that’s not something the rain forests of South America. I loved the place, but
you can learn. You signal things to the audience through I had such a horrible time on the film that as soon as I
the kind of actors you cast and those signals have got came back, I put my whole office into nine bin bags and
to reflect the central message of the script and the threw them out of the window. I said: “if that’s what the
director’s vision. film industry is about, I’m giving up.” I stayed away for
I: So how do you go about it? nine months.
B: It’s an odd process, because it’s not just about casting I: But what went wrong, why did you give up?
a certain number of actors in roles. The dynamic is B: The worst aspect of the job is that the casting stage is a
incredibly important: if you have a comedian, you have stressful time in the making of a film. It takes a lot longer
to cast a particular type of person against them. And it’s than people think – a big film can take six months. An
also about energy: if one person has quite a low-energy awful lot of other people’s frustrations can land on you,
style, then you need someone opposite them to gee and I’ve never really learnt how not to take it personally.
them up a bit. When I meet an actor, I’m trying to find I guess it goes with commitment.
a quality in that person that reflects into the part in an
I: But in the end they tempted you back, didn’t they?
interesting way, although actors don’t really like people
saying that, as they believe they can act every part. But B: The only reason I came back was because one of my
that’s how I do it. favourite directors handed me a lovely script. It wasn’t
even that I wanted it – I’d got plenty of theatre work
I: And do you do the whole range of films, do you get to
which I was enjoying …
choose?
B: I do say no to quite a lot of scripts. I only do films that I Part 4 (page 116)
feel have something important to say, or that see life in Speaker One
an interesting way, or are being made by people that I
know I like. After I’ve read the script, I start to have ideas It was during a public transport strike. I’m a district nurse and
and talk to people. I was stuck in a traffic jam, running late for an appointment
I: And the director leaves it all to you? with a patient. As I passed a showroom window, I saw this
B: Well, I do all the preparatory work. The first stage is moped and so I jumped out of the car, rushed in, and 15
that agents send in photos, video tapes and resumes of minutes later, the sale was complete. I’d had one as a teenager,
actors that I’ve requested or that they think are good. so I knew how to operate it. I haven’t looked back since. It’s
I watch loads of tapes. If I like an actor, I’ll meet them, not made for speed, but you can still glide past cars in jams, so
or go to see them in a play. Then they go to meet the it doesn’t seem slow. I do still get behind schedule sometimes,
director who makes the final selection from my short but I couldn’t fit in as many home visits without it – critical in
list. On average, they see about eight or nine actors per these days of financial stringency in the health service.
part, but I see many more. When I take on a film, I’ll cast
Speaker Two
the whole thing, even if a person doesn’t speak in a role.
I: So how did you get into this in the first place? My father drove for a living and was also a keen amateur
B: I didn’t so much choose my career as fall into it actually. racer and so for me, the cars came before the drum kit
I was hanging around London, working as a stagehand actually. But thanks to the runaway success of the band I’m
at the National Theatre and I met someone there who in, I’ve been able to indulge my passion. I started with a 1927
thought I’d be good at it. He was an agent and he got Austin which I only paid £20 for. I learnt the rudiments of
me a job as an assistant. I’ve always been drawn to the mechanics on that. My father’s view was that part of the fun
bright lights, and this was a step up from what I’d been of running old cars was getting them working. It’s nice to
doing. think he’d be proud of me ’cos I’ve got more than 30 at the
moment, including the Austin. Speed in itself has never been
I: And you were ambitious?
the big thing – it’s more about getting the maximum from the
B: Yes. I don’t believe anyone who does well isn’t. I
car.
was initially attracted by the glamour of it all, but I’m
definitely not driven by money, because I still don’t have Speaker Three
any. What absolutely drives me now in all parts of my
life is that I don’t want to be old and have regrets. We I’m a social worker and I cycle to the office every day. I
are all able to do something successfully, and I think it’s a started after I got fed up with being squashed like a sardine
shame if you don’t achieve that. in the tram. My bike’s a cross between a mountain bike and
a racer. I got it off a friend who’d put it together from various

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old bikes. This type of cycling’s very invigorating. It’s healthy W: No, I didn’t mean that. But it is mood music.
and really sets me up for dealing with difficult situations. You M: Yes, I’d really like to hear them live – to see if they can
get plenty of those working with the homeless. Although I create that sort of sultry late-night sound on stage –
view cycling as doing my bit towards conserving resources, it’s it’s the sort of thing that might not sound the same in
hardly a political statement and I love going out in the car at broad daylight. I mean, they are young, but they’ve been
weekends with my husband. Fortunately, we’re both working, playing together for a good few years actually and I think
so we can afford one. they’ve developed a really interesting style.
Speaker Four W: Yes. I quite agree. I take back everything I said last week.

Extract Two
Modern cars are technically better, they go faster, but they
don’t have character. They’re part of the faceless homogeneity M: man W: women
of life today. I wish I’d lived in the early 20th century, when my
present car was hand-built by craftsmen. No two were ever M: In these hectic days when it’s hard to know where the
exactly the same. Life then had more style and individualism, home ends and the office begins, it’s almost essential
and not only for the ruling classes. I used to have a wonderful to turn part of your home into dedicated office space.
collection of about 50 vintage cars, which I’d open to the Whether it’s used to work from home and cut out the
public at weekends. But when the recession hit my firm, I had commuting or pound your credit card with internet
to sell them all. So, I’ve lost fortunes as well as made them, shopping, the humble ‘table in the corner’ that once
but that’s what being an entrepreneur is about, so I have no served as a work station is now a thing of the past.
regrets. Ergonomics, lights, electrical sockets, privacy and even a
bit of style are the order of day. But striking the balance
Speaker Five
between functionality and domesticity is still the key to
creating the perfect home office space. I asked design
I’ve got quite a good bike actually, but I’m not a passionate
consultant Debbie Brewer to bring me up to speed on
enthusiast. I got into it when I was a starving law student and
what it’s cool to have.
a car was beyond my means. Twenty years later, I still ride one
every day when visiting clients. It’s a very cost-effective way W: I’ve seen a clear trend for high-speed internet access
of getting about. In my job, punctuality’s important. The more and wireless systems which allow homes to become
weight and power you have, the easier it is to get free of the a bit more web- and work-friendly. The functional
traffic, but I don’t go in for speed much. I believe in wearing trestle, whether in wood or steel, is therefore a must.
all the gear, though, which puzzles people. Sometimes I’ll turn It provides simple support and allows you to move
up for a lunch with a company chairman I’m representing in freely around – though some people insist on putting
court and get taken for a dispatch rider who’s looking for the either drawers or filing cabinets underneath to create
mailroom. something not a million miles away from the old
kneehole desk of days gone by.

Listening Test 6 Extract Three

W: women M: man
Part 1 (page 132)
W: Getting there is painless. The flight is only one hour from
Extract One London, so you have all the fun of take-off and landing
M: man W: women without too much of the sitting-in-a-cramped-space bit
that we’ve all come to love so much with the budget
M: So what did you think of the album now that you’ve airlines. An excellent feature of the city, though, is that it’s
had a chance to listen to it properly? Do you still feel not that good for shopping. So once you’ve bought the
it verges on the sentimental? That’s what you said last obligatory souvenir from the market, you’re not likely to
week when I played you a bit. be tempted to spend any more money. And because it’s
W: No. I agree that was a bit of a hasty comment on my not much of a culinary capital either, you don’t have to
part. It’s atmospheric music, kind of nostalgic in places, traipse round trying to locate the best place to get the
which is odd given that they’re really young this band – absolutely authentic fondue or pancake.
it reminds me of sort of 1970’s film noir – if you know M: That’s right. You just feed anywhere in order to keep
what I mean. yourself going for the sightseeing, most of which is
M: I do know what you mean, but whilst I agree that it done on foot and which is certainly worth the effort.
creates a certain atmosphere, I couldn’t see it as a film Pleasant though wandering around the medieval centre
soundtrack somehow. can be, you have to be careful – the streets are a maze,
so there’s plenty of room for map-reading nightmares.

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And although this is statistically regarded as a safe city Others will surely follow.
by international standards, lost tourists clutching maps There is not the remotest risk of these vast and glorious
are a bit of a sitting target for petty criminals here as spaces becoming overcrowded and no reason why properly
everywhere. regulated tourism should pollute them. Antarctica may have
Part 2 (page 134) been the wilderness reserve of a privileged elite, but I think
those days are over. A new generation of visitors will have no
Antarctica is the wildest continent on Earth, and the least interest in polluting or developing this corner of the globe.
visited. Others can be traversed, tamed, occupied, but They will love it only for what it is. Antarctica is for seeing.
Antarctica was uninhabitable until the 20th century, and
Part 3 (page 135)
remained so until technology conquered the cold. Now
there’s no reason why people shouldn’t enjoy this sensational I: interviewer L: Lynda
landscape of mountains, glaciers and islands. Here’s the
whitest snow, the brightest sun, the bluest sea and the clearest I: Now many of you will have seen and admired Lynda
sky anywhere. Buckland’s striking drawings of the River Thames in
London which were featured in a recent edition of a
Unfortunately, though, Antarctica is also the Earth’s most
leading monthly magazine. Lynda joins me today to talk
politicised continent. In 1959 the Antarctic Treaty established
about her work. Lynda, hello.
it as a neutral, non-militarised region to save it from
international rivalry and preserve it for scientific research. An L: Hi.
entire continent was, in effect, donated to one profession for I: Why the river, where did it all start?
its exclusive use and enjoyment. The outcome is controversial. L: I feel energised by drawing a living, breathing thing.
Antarctica is now dotted with some 50 national research When I am drawing down by the river, I much prefer
bases, many of them blots on an otherwise pristine landscape. it when there’s something going on, a ship’s docking or
Access to these bases is highly prized by scientists. Demand is the cranes are moving. It’s easier to feel involved, part
overwhelming, since national taxpayers foot bills that can run of the action. My paintings are about life and movement,
to $5,000 a week. as far as themes are concerned. I’m not interested in
Polar research is the most expensive, some might say landscapes as such.
overrated, on Earth. The American base at the South Pole I: And they have a wide appeal, don’t they, because we
is expanding so fast that a supply road is being driven to it can all place them, we know where we are with them.
across the ice from the coastal base. McMurdo Station, or
L: Well, that’s maybe because I’m actually quite resistant to
‘Mac City’, as it is more commonly known, is the biggest
the idea of moving into abstract art, because that’s what
settlement on the continent, with a summer population of
everyone, kind of, expects you to do. The resistance
some 2,000 supplied by regular flights from New Zealand.
stems, I think, from where I did my training. I was at a
Access to these flights is confined to scientists and support college where there was a very strong emphasis on
staff. This is a shame because McMurdo Sound, beneath the figure drawing and traditional drawing skills generally. It’d
smoking volcano of Mount Erebus on Ross Island, might have be hard to shake that off, even if I wanted to.
been the most scenic and romantic spot in Antarctica, and
I: So do you actually do the drawings down by the
it was from here that various early 20th-century explorers
waterfront?
set off on their missions to the South Pole. Their frozen huts
still survive along the shore, and are Antarctica’s only historic L: Not much of the work is done in situ, actually just the
buildings. Yet today the sound is polluted by construction sites preliminary sketches. Those then can act as my source
and jet emissions. For ten years in the 1960s it was even used of inspiration. I then take them home and work on them
as a dump for waste from a nuclear plant. and play about with them until I get an idea of how a
finished drawing might look. The drawings often take the
Yet the chief inducement to the cleaning up of the continent
form of composite images, actually.
has come from possible exposure to tourism, which explains
the continued hostility of polar scientists towards the idea. At I: So your work space is pretty important to you?
present, tourists must arrive by cruise ship, but cannot stay L: It’s funny you should mention that because when I did
overnight on land. Access is thus mostly to the islands and those particular drawings, I was working in a rented
glaciers of the peninsula nearest to South America, which has studio in South London. It was a great space, with a
the advantage of being scenically the most appealing part of nice atmosphere. It was big enough to have six or seven
the continent. In time I assume the ban on non-science bases pieces of work on the go at the same time. But it was
will crumble through sheer weight of visitor numbers. Already beginning to get me down because although it wasn’t
a defiant private company, Adventure Network International, that far away in terms of miles, it was a stressful journey
has built both an airstrip and a camp in the Patriot Hills. to get over there. I often found that ideas that were
fresh in my mind as I left the house in the morning were
draining away by the time I’d fought my way through the

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traffic. decided I’d better use it. But it was disappointing really.
I: So where do you work now? Speaker Two
L: Well, as I say, I’d had it in mind for some time to find a
work space closer to home, and then one day earlier Basically, it’s a great place if you like the outdoor life. There’s
this year, I noticed an easel in an upstairs window in one a big lake, very popular with fishermen and windsurfers, and
of the houses on the other side of the road where I the birdlife is fantastic. I booked a weekend course at the
live. I knew the girl across the road was an artist, but for equestrian centre because I’d heard that the staff there were
some reason I thought she was a designer working in a really patient with beginners, and I’d never ridden before.
potter’s studio or something. I’d never met her to talk Unfortunately, I kept forgetting the names of the different
to. So it was a pleasant surprise to realise not only did bits of equipment, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. Sadly, I
I have a painter living nearby, but she also did her work didn’t make friends with the others on the course – I tried,
there, too. but they didn’t seem interested. Anyway, I was exhausted
I: A real coincidence. by the evening, so I was glad of an early night! Though the
weekend wasn’t cheap, there were no hidden extras. Meals
L: Amazing. Seeing the easel standing there was one of
and accommodation were included – nothing special, but
those eureka moments, you know, I phoned her later
quite adequate.
on and said that I had a show coming up, and could I
rent a room on a short-term basis. As it turned out, she Speaker Three
was happy for me to take over a room as a temporary
studio. Half a dozen of us signed up for the weekend break. It meant
I: So it’s really worked out well for you. sleeping in tents, but that was a small price to pay for really
getting away from it all. Once you’re off the beaten track, the
L: I’ve only been in this studio for a couple of months,
views are magnificent - you see all sorts of wildlife – deer,
but it’s already proved to be a revelation. There’s the
birds of prey – and there’s no real climbing involved as the
obvious benefit of just having to cross the road to get
guides have got the routes really well worked out. For me,
there, and at first I was concerned about whether I’d
the only downside was the singing round the campfire before
be able to completely detach myself mentally from the
turning in at night – I could’ve done without that to be
normal day-to-day routine, which is vital. I know I would
honest. Some people complained about the food, because it
be terribly distracted if I actually tried to work at home.
was the same tinned fish every meal – but I can’t say that it
I: So tell us about the exhibition. worried me really.
L: The work I ‘ll be showing at the exhibition in September
is all new work, a lot of it produced in my present Speaker Four
studio. Working there has had a real impact on my work.
I’d booked an all-inclusive weekend break at the leisure
I think it’s got a lot to do with the fact that I can come in
centre. At least I thought I had. I mean it’s a well-known place,
and work in short bursts – one of the effects of that has
very popular with walkers and you can do climbing locally too,
been that the work has been developing more quickly
so they were fully booked. I knew I’d be sharing a room, but I
and I think the images are sharper as a result. But it’s
was pleased to be put with another angler. It’s a solitary sport,
not only that, the colours have changed, become softer,
so a bit of like-minded company in the evening’s welcome
though I couldn’t tell you why. Overall I think the effect
after a day sitting by the lake. But when it came to dinnertime,
is a much stronger image.
I was amazed to find that I was charged for drinks with the
I: And what does the future hold?
meal, whereas my new friend wasn’t. The waiter apologised,
L: Although I have started to experiment with … but said that as we’d come through different agencies, we’d
got different packages. Can you believe it?
Part 4 (page 136)
Speaker Five
Speaker One
Basically, the idea was that each person in your team was
I booked a weekend break at this particular centre because
set a sort of challenge, depending on their chosen activity;
of the range of activities on offer. I enjoy water sports like
one man had to catch enough fish for us to eat for supper,
windsurfing and sailing and thought I’d get an opportunity to
another had to get a photo of a certain type of seabird. It
combine these with something new like mountain-biking. As
was fun, and I managed to get to the top of the cliff that was
it turned out, because of the way the options worked, you
my challenge without too much difficulty. But some of the
had to choose either activities on the lake or something on
participants didn’t do so well and the people in charge got
dry land – you couldn’t mix and match. I mean it was good
quite angry with them. I think it was meant to be encouraging,
value for money, and I couldn’t complain about the food or
but I felt sorry for one woman who just couldn’t get the hang
the room itself, and there was no lack of things to do in the
of windsurfing. I mean she was paying after all.
evening. In the end, because I’d brought my board with me, I

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Extract Three
Listening Test 7
W: women M: man
Part 1 (page 152)
W: I was reading an article at the weekend about how
Extract One we’re all in so much of a hurry that we don’t have time
to live properly. And it struck a chord with me because
M: man W: women
what it was saying is that, and it’s probably obvious but
M: I watched that film you lent me. it really got me thinking, is that we’ve had this amazing
W: So what did you think of it? Could you work out what it proliferation of labour-saving devices in the last one
was all about? hundred years, you know, vacuum cleaners, email and,
you know, it’s just beyond belief how many things we
M: Not all the time. But then if I’d known a bit about
have to save us time. But what do we save it for? We
the history of that part of the world, I might have
now seem to save it in order to do even more things, it
understood more. It didn’t seem to have much plot
certainly isn’t helping us to become leisured.
really.
M: Yes they were talking about it on breakfast TV this
W: Not really. Though all those references to events taking
morning. And what this woman said, which I thought
place somewhere else seemed to hold it together,
was true really, though I hadn’t realised it before, is that
certainly, but all the historical detail was lost on me too
at one time, if you had free time to spend doing what
I’m afraid. No, I meant did you understand what the
you liked, then that was a sign of status, it proved that
director was trying to say to us.
you were somebody because you didn’t have to work
M: Well, that was clear enough, the political perspective for a living. Nowadays if you have free time, it rather
I mean. Though when you rely on subtitles you can suggests that you’re unemployed or something; it’s
sometimes miss a lot – like when there are funny bits in almost a mark of shame, because we’re all expected to
the dialogue. be busy all the time.
W: Well, it was hardly meant to be a comedy, you know.
Part 2 (page 154)
M: No apparently it was quite hard going in the original
language too. But it was quite a big budget movie – so I Lewis Pugh is a keen swimmer, but no ordinary one. He’s the
was disappointed that it wasn’t visually more appealing. I only person to have completed long-distance swims in all
reckon a lot was lost in translation, as they say. five oceans of the world, including the freezing waters of the
W: Yeah, probably. Antarctic. Lewis goes swimming at the most distant points of
the earth, unprotected by a wetsuit or even body oil, plunging
Extract Two in where nobody’s swum before.
W: women M: man Lewis’s love of adventure started as a boy, encouraged by
his father who was an admiral in the navy. After taking a law
W: Only a man with Matt Ticknall’s disarming charm degree at Cambridge, Lewis worked as a maritime lawyer,
could’ve got away with the surprise he sprang on his but was too energetic to lead a conventional life and soon
wife on the last night of their romantic honeymoon. He became the first person to swim across Lake Malawi in Africa,
was considerate enough to wait until the end of their where he encountered both hippos and crocodiles.
trip to tell her that his drinks business was in a state of
Indeed, in order to meet Lewis, you have to get in the water
collapse and, with no funds left, he was thinking of laying
as he spends most of his life submerged. He’s just accepted
off the work force. He told me the background.
his biggest challenge to date: to be the first person to swim
M: She had an inkling that things weren’t brilliant, but the complete length of the River Thames, all 203 miles of
I didn’t tell her the full extent of the problem. She it. The river rises in a field on a farm in the Cotswold Hills.
married me because I’m a maverick – she had faith in Although the spot is marked by a stone, there’s not enough
me. I was ahead of my time, the market wasn’t really water to swim in for about 20 miles, so Lewis will run that
ready for the filtered apple-juice products I’d developed section. His real challenge then begins. He will swim 11 miles
and everything is timing in business. I’d completely a day, which to give you an idea is half the distance of the
misread the speed at which the market for such drinks English Channel, for 12 days – that’ll take around six hours
was growing, so I’d lost a lot of money. As it turned out, per day – increasing the mileage in the last three days as he
we weathered the storm and the long-term projections gets near to the sea..
were correct – so you see there was no need to spoil
Lewis starts swimming at 6 a.m. each day to avoid sunburn,
our honeymoon over it.
and then spreads the miles out throughout the day. After
dinner at about 6 p.m. he goes straight to bed on the boat
which is carrying him and his team of 30 people, including a
physiotherapist and a psychologist.

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When he gets to the tidal part of the river, conditions will therapist and went on a research trip around Central
become more difficult. The river moves at speed and could and South America. The following year we wrote,
easily push a swimmer off course, which could be quite mapped, illustrated and published three books. It was
dangerous. Lewis will have boats around to direct him and very hard work, but exhilarating.
stop him being washed into bridges, which could be his P: What are your plans now that you’ve stepped down as
biggest headache. There’s much less pollution in the river MD of Bradt?
these days, and there are lots of fish in it, but as he goes down
H: Well, it’ll give me a bit more time for doing what I like
river towards London, he will also face the problem of litter.
best, which is writing. I’ve just completed the ninth
Lewis isn’t just doing the swim for fun, of course. He’s a edition of my Madagascar guidebook, which is a great
committed environmentalist who’s swimming to save the relief, but I do really love sharing my experiences of
planet and, in particular, its wildlife. As he swims through travel through print. I also very much enjoy teaching
London, he’ll leave the water to present a letter to the prime travel writing, so I want to do a bit more of that, as well
minister begging the government to take global warming as pursuing my hobby of sculpture. This weekend I’m
more seriously. The following day, he’s organised an open-air following a course on metal sculpture using traditional
debate with scientists and the press about climate change, and techniques, so I’ll be pounding away at red-hot metal –
what it’ll mean for cities like London. very satisfying!
Lewis supports himself financially by doing what he refers to P: And you do work with a Madagascan charity centre,
a ‘motivational speaking’, that is describing his adventures and don’t you – can you tell our listeners about that?
his ideas to people worldwide. He tells them you can achieve
H: Yes, it’s a centre for street kids basically that has a
anything you want through courage, determination, careful
feeding programme for malnourished babies and a
planning and good team work – with such conviction and
school to help kids living on the street prepare for
charm that you have to believe him.
entering the state education system. Recently, I asked
Part 3 (page 155) readers of a consumer magazine to make baby clothes
for the centre, and now I’m surrounded by parcels of
P: Presenter H: Hilary beautifully made little outfits. The only way of getting
them to Madagascar is via tourists though, so if any
P: After 33 years, Hilary Bradt is standing down as
of your listeners are going in that direction, then my
Managing Director of the Bradt Travel Guides. I asked
website has the details. I’ve been leading tours to
her how it all began and what she plans to do next.
Madagascar for 25 years and bring groups to the centre,
Hilary, your name’s kind of synonymous with a certain
which they find a memorable experience.
kind of travel – with what some would call more
P: Is there anything that irritates you about Western
adventurous travel, but what is your own first travelling
memory? travellers?
H: I’ve long hated the assumption that real travellers never
H: Oh at the age of three, getting lost on the beach at
Bournemouth for three hours! It set a pattern for my pay the asking price for goods or services, haggling
future wanderings – the idea that you’re never lost, just over every penny as though they need the money
seeing new places! As now, I had no sense of direction – more than the vendor. There’s a myth that local people
I just set off walking and only stopped when a nice lady won’t respect you if you don’t bargain. What rubbish!
took charge and returned me to my distraught mother. Nobody minds being given more money than they
Eighteen years later, my first seriously big trip was to the expected. I also don’t think it is that necessary to travel
Middle East. I hitch-hiked there with a girlfriend for three independently either, the important thing is to shed your
months, spending less than a hundred pounds in total. own culture and its expectations.
P: But as a tour leader, you must have met plenty of
P: So, at what point did you decide to turn your passion
for travel into a career? people who are ‘real travellers’ if I can use the term?
H: Indeed. They’re the ones who make the effort to talk
H: The first book, Backpacking along ancient ways in Peru
and Bolivia, just sort of happened. My husband and I to local people and to learn about the way of life in
wanted to share our hiking experiences with others the country they visit. Above all they’re the ones who
because in those days there were no guidebooks out express delight rather than disapproval, at what they
there for adventurous travellers. But I remember very see and experience. I suppose, when it comes down to
well the decision to make a career of it. It was when it, real travellers allow the experience to change them.
we met a German publisher at the Frankfurt Book Fair That said, real travel has to be about travelling with
and learnt that he made a living writing and publishing open-ended plans. That’s why I love hitch-hiking: you
his own books. Until that point, I’d always assumed we’d have no idea who will stop or where you will end up. It’s
have to find a ‘real’ publisher if we were going to make a the same with backpacking in remote areas where you
proper go of it. So I gave up my job as an occupational have no clear idea of where the path will take you.
P: Hilary Bradt there, who’s just announced …

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CAE PRACTICE TESTS PLUS AUDIOSCRIPTS

Part 4 (page 156) Speaker Four

Speaker One I suppose you could say that it’s interpersonal skills I need, but
actually I reckon flexibility counts almost as much. I have to
Because we’re only looking for a total of ten, and there’s 50 or
be able to work the various computer systems, escort people
so waiting out there ready to parade past us, we tend to go
carrying cash, and be ready to give whatever assistance
by first impressions. They walk up and down, hand us a card
might be necessary in an emergency situation. About twelve
with their photo and details on and off they go. Then again,
hundred staff pass through here every day and you get to
we don’t want ten all looking the same, each of them’s got
recognise them after a while, but memory is not enough,
to have their own look; a bit of personality too. The designers
because that person could have been fired yesterday for all
like that because it brings the collection to life. We know
I know. And if someone’s forgotten their pass, it’s more than
straight away with the ‘nos’ and the ‘no’ pile soon gets pretty
my job’s worth to let them in. I have to phone through to get
big. Some of my colleagues say I’m too hard to please, but
authorisation.
that’s the nature of the job, I’m afraid.
Speaker Five
Speaker Two
Our department is responsible for investigating the possible
It’s difficult to explain to people why you’ve made an active
routes to environmentally friendly, safe and economically
choice not to be somewhere, but the push factors are crime,
sound production on a large scale. There is no such thing as a
pollution and the expense of everything. I did take some
typical working day and I would say that the sort of qualities
flak at first: people were upset for me because they thought
needed for the job are an analytical mind, a love of problem
I’d dropped out, as though I’d accepted second best or
solving and, above all, persistence. It can take 15 years of
something. But I’d got bored with the whole routine of city
painstaking trials and report-writing until one of our products
life, despite having my own studio. Here there’s fresh air in
goes on the market. There are many problems along the way,
limitless supply. We have telephone, email and a car, so you’re
but giving up is not an option. Problems have to be faced and
never really isolated. In fact the business is flourishing. Tourists
overcome because we have to be absolutely sure that each
buy my work and 800 people came to my last exhibition
product is both effective and absolutely safe.
which was held in the village.

Speaker Three

People ask me whether I feel threatened by the growth of

supermarkets, but really I don’t think my customers buy from
me because they can’t get organic produce anywhere else.
They know that it’s widely available. I think they’d rather come
to us because they like the idea of having direct contact with
small growers who have a responsible attitude towards the
business. We weren’t organic initially, but we always felt it was
important to harmonise with nature and we always avoided
fertilisers and chemical sprays if at all possible, so the change
to organic was gradual and we got to the point when we
were nearly there anyway, so we switched completely.

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