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UNIT 3

Tapescript for Exercise 2a (p. 38)

Carl

I’ve been dreaming about going to Russia for ages. When I was young, I read a book about St Petersburg, the Venice of the north, and since then I’ve had a yearning to actually see it for myself. At last, I’m off – the day after tomorrow. It’s a cultural tour so we’ll spend lots of time at the Hermitage Museum, the largest art gallery in Russia. We’ll also visit the fabulous Grand Palace which dates from the 18th century and take a tour of the gardens and pavillions that are scattered through the park. St Petersburg is the home of the Kirov Ballet, too, so I’m definitely going to try to get tickets. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a fantastic trip.

Sonya

I’ve always wanted to visit Australia and finally this year I’ve managed to save up enough money to do it. It’s going to be brilliant! I’m flying in to Cairns and then I’m going to visit Dunk, Lizard and Bedarria Islands. I can’t wait to walk along the white sandy beaches and go surfing off the beach. I’m going to go snorkelling and scuba diving around the Great Barrier Reef. There’s a glass bottom boat tour that I’m going to take too, I’ll see lots of exotic tropical fish and the spectacular coral gardens in the reef. The highlight of my holiday though, is definitely going to be swimming with the giant potato cod on Lizard πsland. I may even get the chance to touch it!

Rick

I’m going to the Czech Republic this year. It’s somewhere that I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things about it and my travel agent set me up with a really good package deal. I’m going to stay in Prague for two days and visit the historic Prague Castle with its magnificent gallery and treasury. I’m going to sit in the Old Town square and admire the interesting mix of different styles of architecture that Prague is famous for and visit some of the museums. Then I’m going to visit one or two of the many medieval chateaux and ancient castles in Bohemia and some picturesque traditional villages where people still wear traditional folk costumes. I’ll be eating lots of traditional food while I’m away too, like goulash, dumplings and sauerkraut. I can’t wait!

Moira

I’m a very active person and not the sort who can sit still for very long, so that’s why I’m going to Canada. I’m going hiking through the forests and mountains near Lake Superior where I expect to see lots of animals like moose, deer, beavers and maybe even a bear! It’ll be great to enjoy the beautiful unspoilt countryside. I’ll be camping out every night, which I think adds to the adventure. I’m going to visit Algonquin Park

and spend a few days crisscrossing the park’s many trails. Then, I’m going kayaking and white-water rafting and after that I am going to see the spectacular Niagara Falls. I am really looking forward to it. It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime!

Tapescript for Exercise 5a (p. 40)

Weather forecaster:

Good afternoon. I’m Gail Winters with the weekly worldwide weather forecast. Let’s start off in Latin America. Here, you can see Havana, Cuba, where the weather is beautiful at the moment. Anyone heading off to Cuba for their holidays this summer will be pleased to hear that this is the perfect time to go. There are no signs of the tropical storms which sometimes hit the island at this time of year. It’s hot, dry and sunny, with temperatures expected to be in the high thirties all week. Taking a look at the rest of the continent, now, you can see that ... (fade) ...

... we’re going to head right across the Pacific Ocean now and take a look at Hong Kong where it’s the beginning of the rainy season and the rains are expected at any time, although they haven’t arrived yet. At the moment, it’s very hot and humid there with temperatures reaching 35oC. The weather is also fairly hot and sticky in the rest of Asia ... [fade] ...

... let’s move down into the southern hemisphere again and see what the weather is like in South Africa. Now, as you can probably tell from the chart, the rain has certainly arrived here. On the west coast the weather is very wintry indeed. In Cape Town it has been raining and windy all week. They’re having very wet, cool weather there and last night the temperature fell to below freezing for the first time this year. The temperatures are much the same throughout the rest of South Africa ... [fade] ...

... so we’ll head back up to Europe for a look at the weather there. As you can see, the weather in the Swiss Alps here is very mild at the moment. I know many people hear the words “Swiss Alps” and conjure up images of snow on the mountains and all the great skiing that goes with it, but at this time of the year the climate is much more pleasant, although it can be quite changeable. In Geneva today it is warm and dry, if a little bit breezy. A high temperature of 18oC is expected. So to take a quick look at the rest of Europe, then, ... [fade] ...

Tapescript for Exercise 9a (p. 41)

Speaker 1

This year I will be staying at the Regent again. All the staff are friendly and co-operative, from the manager to the chambermaid. The facilities are excellent, too. There’s a heated swimming pool, and a fully equipped gym, so I can keep fit during my stay. The restaurant is fantastic and there’s

a very cosy lounge where I like to relax in the evenings. I think I’ll just book myself into my usual suite, order room service and completely relax for my entire stay. Well, I deserve a bit of luxury!

Speaker 2

In two weeks we are going on an all expenses paid trip to the Bahamas. We’ve booked a first class cabin and I can’t wait to set sail. Brian is a bit nervous, though. I’ve told him that there’s nothing to worry about. After all, there will be a fully-trained and very experienced crew on board. He says that we will probably get bored, but there’s going to be plenty of entertainment. I’m especially looking forward to dining at the captain’s table, which is a special privilege for first class passengers. I just can’t wait till we are sitting by the pool soaking up the sun.

Speaker 3

We are the kind of people who like our home comforts. So, whenever we go on holiday, we take them all with us! We just pack up our belongings, hook up to the car and get out on the open road. We have everything we need with us. We’ve even got a fully equipped kitchen. Everything is very compact. The furniture either converts into something else, or folds away to make extra space. It’s really liberating, too. If we don’t like a certain area, we can simply move on. The beauty of being mobile is that we can tour a whole area and choose the best places to stop.

Speaker 4

Well, my friends and I are all at university, and we don’t have a lot of money to spend on holidays. We have a budget to stick to every day, so we try to find the cheapest places to stay. Of course, the accommodation is very basic. We usually have to share rooms and sleep in narrow bunks and we use our own sleeping bags, as sheets and blankets are not provided. The good thing about them is that they have cooking facilities and communal dining halls, where you can meet travellers from all over the world. That’s great, because you can sometimes pick up tips on other places to stay, as well as on places to avoid!

Tapescript for Exercise 10a (p. 41)

Claire

I was very worried about travelling on my own because that’s usually when things go wrong. I had tried to prepare for every eventuality. I thought I might get airsick so I took a travel sickness pill, which didn’t work. I considered the possibility that my luggage might get lost so I had a spare change of clothes in my hand luggage. I even worried that the flight might be delayed so I had a book to read to pass the time. Nevertheless, I had no idea that my worst fears would come true and the plane would have to set down in the middle of nowhere due to engine trouble.

Tim

I can assure you I won’t be staying there again. It started off quite well. I checked in all right and I was pleased to find the room was quite spacious and clean. I can’t stand staying in tiny rooms. The other guests kept to themselves and didn’t make too much noise. I only ordered room service once because the food was so terrible, but when I got the bill I nearly had a heart attack. I couldn’t believe how much I had to pay. It was disgraceful!

Pam

I never thought something like that would happen to me. I am a very organised person and I always carry a spare tyre in case I get a flat. I also have an extra gas bottle for the cooker in case I run out. Little did I know, though, that the main battery would go flat and I would be unable to recharge it on site because there was a general power cut in the area. I had to use candles for the rest of my stay and wait for the power to come back on so I could recharge the battery and go home.

Tapescript for Exercise 31 (p. 46)

Why not treat your family to a great winter weekend in Wales this month? Breakaway is offering special family weekend breaks with luxury accommodation in the Snowdonia region, for just í200.

With its relaxing log fires, stunning lakeside view, extensive gardens and woodland walks, the beautiful 18th century Bron-y-Byth Hotel is the ideal base for visiting Snowdonia’s many attractions. Take a ride on the Welsh Highland Railway or visit one of Snowdonia’s many castles – some as much as 800 years old. Snowdonia is also renowned for walking and rock climbing, offering some of the most spectacular routes in the world.

The hotel’s suberb facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, and a fully equipped gym. There is also a supervised games room to keep the children happy. All ensuite rooms are attractively decorated and provide airconditioning, a colour television, telephone and even a hairdryer. Other facilities include 24-hour room service as well as a laundry service. Guests are particularly recommended to take advantage of the Bron-y-Byths’ excellent restaurant which boasts delicious traditional Welsh dishes. Be sure not to miss a taste of roast Welsh lamb with mint sauce or a fine selection of tasty Welsh cakes and cheeses.

Breakaway’s unbeatable offer is available from now until January 4th. It is all inclusive and suitable for 2 adults and 2 children. To book, call Breakaway on O180 2278954.

Tapescript for Exercise 33 (p. 46)

Janet: Dave, I thought you were still in Brazil! Dave: No. I got back last week.

Janet: What was the trip for; business or pleasure?

Dave: I went for Carnival, and it was fantastic. Definitely the trip of a lifetime.

Janet: Ooh! Tell me all about it.

Dave: Well, the flight was a bit tiring. It took 10 hours, but when I arrived I was whisked straight to a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro near the Copacabana Beach where I had a swim after my nap.

Janet: That sounds lovely. Tell me about the carnival. Was it as good as everyone says?

Dave: It’s fantastic. The parades were really spectacular. The dancers were brilliant – I don’t know where they got their energy from. They danced the samba all night long. The costumes were incredible, too. I went to the Sambodromo, a street which is specially designed for samba parades, and danced the night away, too.

Janet: Wow, I’m really jealous. How long were you there for? Dave: I went for 10 days. Carnival only lasts for 5 days, though, so after the festival was over I tried to spend the rest of my holiday relaxing on the beach.

Janet: What do you mean you tried?

Dave: Well, the nightlife is so good it’s difficult not to go out all the time. There are some great restaurants and really fantastic nightclubs, too. It’s a really exciting city with such a mix of nationalities. I met lots of interesting people.

Janet: Don’t tell me you need a holiday to recover from your holiday!

Dave: Yes, something like that! I’ve got my photos developed, though if you’d like to pop round one evening and have a look at them.

Janet: I’d love to, thanks.

Tapescript for Exercise 35 (p. 46)

News Item 1

LOST LUGGAGE FOUND 3 YEARS LATER

Bob Williams, 43, from Birmingham, England, got a surprise this week when his lost luggage finally turned up 3 years after he went on holiday. Bob went to Mexico in August, 1998, with his wife, Sheila, on Air America flight 257. They had no idea at the time that one of their suitcases would go on a magical mystery tour around the world for the next three years.

Apparently, the suitcase was mislabelled at Birmingham airport and went to Malaga, in Spain. From there it was redirected to LA International, where the Williams had changed planes, and someone in the lost property office there forwarded it to Melbourne, Australia, on the basis of an old label, where it sat unclaimed for the next 18 months. Finally, the case was opened and it was forwarded to Mr Williams at his home address.

“It took me totally by surprise,” said Mr Williams. “I thought it was lost forever. I’m just a bit worried now about what to tell the insurance company.”

News Item 2

DESERT ISLAND DREAMERS

Two British tourists stranded for 3 days on a deserted Thai island, were rescued yesterday by a local fisherman. Brothers Paul and Darren Asquith from Merseyside say they will not be taking legal action against boatman, Mr Nok Sor, who waited 1 1/2 hours for the boys to show up on the beach of Ko Phan before he left them there last Friday. Six other tourists who made the trip back to the mainland with Mr Sor claim he was extremely anxious to sail home before dangerous weather conditions made their return journey impossible. When asked why they had missed the boat, Darren explained that he and Paul had fallen asleep while sunbathing on a beach on the other side of the island.

Tapescript for Exercise 50b (p. 51)

Kate: Okay. I think we’re ready to write a reply to this fax, now. Do you have the details in front of you?

Sarah: Yes, I’m ready.

Kate: Right now, can I just double-check those dates, then? Sarah: The um, the 6th to the 16th September, that’s 10 days and eleven nights.

Kate: Right, I’ll just make a note of that. Oh and have you booked the bus?

Sarah: Yes, I called them yesterday, so that’s all organised. They’ll pick us up at the school at 9 so we should arrive at Hawthorn Park at around 12:45. Just in time for lunch.

Kate: Great. Now, lets look at the rooms. There’ll be the two of us, and 15, no 16 girls altogether. So we’ll need one twin room for the teachers and I think we should put the girls in four, four-bed rooms. According to the brochure that Joe sent us, that will work out the cheapest; especially with their school discount. Oh, do we need another room for the driver?

Sarah: No, he’s going to stay with someone locally, so we don’t have to worry about him. Just the five rooms.

Kate: That’s something to be grateful for. Now I just have to remember to ask them what sports facilities they have. Sarah: Yes, and do we have to book these facilities before we use them?

Kate: Good idea.

Sarah: Don’t forget to ask for information about the local area. Joe said that they could organise some things for us. Can he arrange a visit from a local historian?

Kate: Right. I’ve written that down, too. I think I’ve got everything I need now to write to Joe with the final details.

UNIT 4

Tapescript for Exercise 2b (p. 52)

Speaker 1

Solar power is safe and clean. It does not pollute the environment and it is a very powerful, cheap renewable resource. Solar power has always given us light and heat but now thanks, to solar technology, we are finding ways to store this power and use it as an alternative source of energy. Solar energy can be turned into electricity and used to run small gadgets like calculators. It is also used to heat water and to heat and cool factories, warehouses and other large buildings. Solar power batteries are also available. They capture and store the sun’s energy so that it can be used when needed.

Speaker 2

We have been using windmills for hundreds of years to pump water so this form of energy is nothing new. However, today we are using wind turbines to turn this energy into electricity. The wind turbines have large blades which catch the wind. These blades are connected to a generator which produces electricity. Wind factories or farms are used to create enough electricity to run homes and communities. Unfortunately, areas which don’t get enough wind have to use other sources of power as well.

Speaker 3

Hydropower is another natural source of energy. Fast moving streams or rivers have been used for hundreds of years to power grain and saw mills. Now they are used to create electricity. They can even create electricity for whole cities. By building dams across bodies of water we can redirect the flow through hydroelectric plants. Some hydroelectric power plants can even store the power to be used later. Hydropower is a safe and natural way to produce electricity as long as care is taken not to flood the surrounding areas or interfere too much with the natural flow of the water.

Tapescript for Exercise 5 (p. 54)

Children’s TV presenter:

Now it’s time for ‘Did you know’. Today all our interesting facts are about our own planet - the Earth. Okay, here we go. Did you know that the Earth is the fifth biggest planet in our solar system? It has a circumference of 40,000 km and a diameter of about 12,760 km although this changes depending on where you are because the Earth isn’t perfectly round.

Did you know that from outer space the Earth looks blue because of all its water? 70% of our planet’s surface area is covered by seas and oceans, 97% of the world’s water is salt water and only 1% is good enough for us to drink.

Okay, now let’s read some viewers’ letters and see how much you know about the Earth. Here’s one from Sarah Brown in Bolton who says: “Did you know that the highest point on Earth is the top of Mount Everest at 8848 m above sea level?” Well done Sarah. That’s very interesting. “Do you know what the lowest point is, though?” Well, Ryan Jones from Leeds does. He tells us that it’s the Dead Sea which is 400m below sea level. Thank you Ryan. Sarah and Ryan will both recieve a ‘Did you know’ pen.

Now it’s time for this week’s competition ...

Tapescript for Exercise 31 (p. 60)

Janet: Sandra, did you hear the smog alert on the news this morning?

Sandra: No, what did it say?

Janet: That people with breathing difficulties should stay indoors all day today.

Sandra: Oh dear. You know the air used to be so clean here on the island. That’s why I moved here.

Bill: Yes, me too. Ever since they built that factory over on the east coast, the air we breathe has been getting dirtier and dirtier. Yesterday it was pumping out enormous clouds of thick grey smoke, so I’m not surprised there’s a smog warning today.

Janet: It’s more than just the factories, though. I think we’re all partly to blame. We all drive when we could walk or even catch the bus. And the tourists coming to the island don’t help either.

Bill: What do you mean, Janet?

Janet: Well, you know, they all bring their cars across or hire them here, and that doesn’t help the situation at all.

Sandra: It’s not just the air pollution, though. It seems that the whole island is becoming one big environmental disaster. Bill: You’re right, there, Sandra. Whenever I go to the beach or take a walk in the countryside, I see rubbish wherever I go. I really don’t know why people have to dump their rubbish in such beautiful areas. It makes me really mad!

Janet: I know what you mean, Bill. I saw someone throwing some litter out of the window of their car as they were driving past. I shouted after them, but they didn’t take any notice of me.

Bill: I pick up rubbish when I see it and I try to recycle when I can, but it’s just not enough to make a difference.

Sandra: And on top of everything, there are more trees being cut down every day. Do you know that they’re clearing the land over near the lake to build another tourist resort?

Janet: It won’t be long before we don’t have any forests left on the island at all. And that means all the birds and animals that live in the forest will disappear as well. Everything that’s beautiful will disappear and then no-one will want to come here anymore.

Bill: Come on, you lot. Moaning isn’t going to change anything. We have to do something to get our beautiful island back.

Tapescript for Exercise 33 (p. 60)

Fran: Our guest speaker this morning is the famous animal rights activist John McKenzie. He is here today to discuss the growing problem of our endangered animals. Welcome to the show John, and thanks for joining us today.

John: Hello, Fran. Thanks for inviting me onto the programme. Fran: I understand, John, that you are working with several different environmental agencies to try to increase people’s awareness of how serious the problem of our endangered species really is.

John: You’re absolutely right Fran. Most people are aware that certain animals are in danger of becoming extinct but, unfortunately, the media tends to focus only on the exotic animals like elephants, pandas and tigers. There are countless other animals, birds and fish that are also becoming extinct. In fact, there are very few animals on our planet which are not in danger!

Fran: Really? Are things that bad?

John: Oh yes. We can see the signs everywhere. For example, we all know how polluted our planet has become. Well, if pollution is affecting our air and water, then naturally all the creatures who breathe the air and live in the water are also suffering. Cutting down trees to grow crops or build houses is another major factor. We are destroying the animals’ natural habitats so there is nowhere for them to live or find food.

Fran: OK John. So what the listeners and I need to know, is what we can do about it.

John: One important thing we can all do, is to be more careful about the souvenirs we buy when we are abroad. Many countries are still selling leopard skin coats and crocodile bags, belts and shoes. They are also using animal shells, such as the sea turtle’s, to make sunglasses and jewellery. Although most of these products are officially banned, they are still being made and sold. But, if we stop buying these products, they will have to stop killing animals to produce them.

Fran: What about at home, is there anything we can do in our own neighbourhoods?

John: There most definitely is Fran. First of all, we can try to clean up our environment. The less pollution we produce, the more chance animals have of surviving. We can also keep an eye on what is happening around us. It is illegal to hunt or kill many animals in the UK, so if you notice anyone breaking these laws you must report them to the authorities. Also, if there is a zoo in your area, you can make sure that the animals are being well looked after. If you notice that the animals are not healthy and happy or are being mistreated, make sure you tell someone in charge. And don’t forget, if you notice a problem has not been fixed, you can always go to your local newspaper, radio or TV station. There is nothing like negative publicity to get something done quickly.

Fran: Well John, I think we have all learned a lot today. Good luck in your continuing struggle to save our endangered species. Thank you for coming in and I hope you will come back.

Tapescript for Exercise 35 (p. 60)

Speaker 1

One of the most successful recycling programmes around today is that of the aluminum can. This programme, which began in 1968, has shown us the value and importance of recycling. Recycling aluminum helps the environment in two ways. Firstly, 95% less energy is used to recycle a can than to make a new one. Secondly, by recycling them, we are keeping cans out of our overflowing rubbish dumps and landfill sites.

Speaker 2

Last weekend thousands of people showed up at Centre City zoo. The unusually large turnout was due to ‘plastic recycling day’. In an effort to help the environment, the zoo offered 50% off the cost of admission to anyone who brought in a clean, empty plastic bottle for recycling. Visitors to the zoo watched plastic recycling demonstrations and learnt about all the recycled products available. It was such a successful event that similar events are planned for the near future.

Speaker 3

Summer is nearly over and, this September, as the children get ready to head back to school, here are some environmentally friendly tips to keep in mind. Firstly, try to reuse whatever your can from last year. You may be able to buy second hand books as well. Then, make sure you buy only recycled paper and notebooks. If you really must buy something new, make sure it’s something that can be used again next year – and the next.

Speaker 4

A UK based charity has found a way to use cardboard recycling to help adults with learning disabilities. The scheme involves a shop called ‘Scrap for Play’ where shredded cardboard is made into bedding for horses and farm animals. The trainees are sent to pick up the used cardboard from local businesses and taught how to use the shredding machine. The shredded cardboard is then sold to local farmers, who use it to make warm bedding for their animals. This scheme is providing job training and employment for people in need, while at the same time helping the environment.

Speaker 5

The next time you use your phone card to call a friend or make dinner reservations, you could be helping to feed a starving child in India. A new scheme means that each card can be traded in by a child at a soup kitchen for a meal of bread, lentils, vegetables and dessert. So, save your old phone cards and recycle them. You could be saving a child’s life.