Upper Intermediate Tests Audio Script
Track 1: Progress Test Units 1–2, Listening exercise 11
M = Man W = Woman
M: OK, that’s the eggs and cheese. Let’s go over to the vegetable section. I need some organic spinach.
W: Organic? That’s a bit expensive, isn’t it?
M: Yeah, I suppose so. But it’s healthier. They don’t use pesticides and stuff.
W: How do you know? I think it’s a rip-off. Just to get people to spend more money.
M: I know what you mean. I’ve actually started growing my own veggies. I don’t grow spinach or broccoli though – so that’s why I buy it here.
W: Fair enough. Maybe I should try growing my own stuff as well.
2
I = Interviewer W = Woman
I: ... and you’ve had such a fascinating life. Are you happier than five years ago, do you think?
W: Difficult to say really. I mean, how do you measure happiness? The way I see it is, um, well, life is a series of events – or not so much events – just moments really. Every day is full of hundreds, even thousands, of separate moments, don’t you think? Some are very nice, um, like getting home from a long day, maybe sitting in the garden, admiring the beautiful flowers. Obviously there are those marvellous, more momentous events that make you feel really happy – you know, a new baby in the family, or getting a pay rise! And then of course there are the not so good moments – like opening your bank statement! And of course, much, much worse things.
But more importantly, talking about happiness – I think it has a lot to do with your personality, really. Having a positive attitude to life. I think I’m very lucky because I’ve always been quite an optimistic person; I tend to look on the bright side of things – like my dad really. He just accepts what life brings.
3
S = Student A = Student’s Aunt
S: So did you live at home then, Auntie Sue? When you were at university?
A: No, no – in those days, they encouraged us to move away from home – to learn to be more independent I suppose. I remember how excited I was to leave home. I couldn’t wait to live on my own and be a real grown up! Though, to be honest, it didn’t turn out exactly as I’d hoped!
S: Why? What happened?
A: Well, some first year students lived in college rooms on campus. They had their own rooms and everything. But I wasn’t so lucky. I was put in lodgings with an old couple who didn’t have any children. Basically they were expecting me to be a surrogate daughter I think - and spend weekends and evenings with them. It was pretty awful!
S: And did you spend time with them?
A: I did try a bit at first – but honestly, it was so boring. I ended up sleeping on friends’ floors in college at weekends and had a great time, of course! Mind you, it must have hurt the old couple’s feelings. I’m not very proud of that I must say – but what could I do? I was young!
4
N = Newsreader C = News correspondent
N: ... and finally here’s our environmental correspondent Jack Richardson, to give us the latest update on the demonstration outside Parliament this morning.
C: Thank you, Helen. Yes, 10,000 demonstrators have been here since the early hours in reaction to the government’s proposal to build a nuclear power station on the west coast.
People have come from all parts of the country, both supporters of the proposal, and those environmental and anti-nuclear groups who oppose it. Supporters say it would be the answer to the country’s energy problems, while opponents argue that not only will it endanger wildlife but also destroy the local fishing industry. The Keep Nuclear Out organisation has collected 50,000 signatures and will present their petition to the Minister for the Environment at three o’clock this afternoon. Now back to Helen in the studio.
5
A: Now that you’ve seen the flat, let’s have a coffee, shall we?
B: Yes, I’d love one. Thanks Mark.
A: So where have you been living until now?
B: New York. I’ve just got back – well, two months ago. I was doing a job placement with Reuters, you know, the news agency.
A: That sounds good. I love New York.
B: Yeah, me too. But my visa ran out so I had to come back. I’ve been staying with my parents – they’re great. But to be honest, I’ve been having terrible culture shock since I got back to London. I just can’t seem to settle down again.
A: Tell me about it. I felt exactly the same when I got back from my gap year. You have so many new experiences when you’re away; it’s really hard to adjust when you get back.
B: Totally. That’s why I want to get my own place. I need to move on, I think.
A: Good thinking. Um, do you mind my asking how long you’d want the room for?
B: No, of course not. Actually, I was wondering if you’d consider a six-month let. One of my best mates is moving down here next September and we’re planning to get a flat together.
A: Six months would suit me fine. I’m not sure what my plans are – but I’m thinking of changing my job and working abroad again.
6
F = Father D = Daughter
F: Hi Julie – you’re back! How did it go?
D: Wicked, Dad. Absolutely great!
F: Come on, sit down. I want to hear all about it – everything!
D: Well, first of all, when I got to the airfield, I checked in at the reception and they told me what was going to happen. Then I was introduced to the instructor. He was so nice. Really relaxed and friendly – so I began to feel a bit less nervous! And when I saw the plane I nearly ran away!
F: Why?!
D: It was so small and light- it looked as if it would break up if you touched it!
F: But you did get in it?
D: Of course I did! Anyway, then he showed me all the controls and what was what. Then we took off! Well, he took off! That was awesome! What an amazing sensation, flying up over the fields and trees, and looking down at the tiny cars and people below. Then came the most exciting bit. I steered the plane on my own. Wow! I couldn’t believe how easy it was. And much more fun than driving a car!
F: Don’t tell me you want to be a pilot then?
Track 2: Progress Test Units 1–2, Pronunciation exercise 1sensible sensible
drunkenness drunkenness
anxiety anxiety
satisfaction satisfaction
outrageous outrageous
illegal illegal
homelessness homelessness
disturbance disturbance
surveillance surveillance
refundable refundable
disappointing disappointing
Track 3: Progress Test Units 3–4, Listening exercise 21
Oh, I suppose I get irritated by the usual things – you know, waiting in queues, rude waiters, expensive gas bills, that sort of thing. One thing that makes me really furious though is when I have to phone my phone company or bank or something, to ask for information or make a complaint. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to listen to the endless lists of instructions. You know, press one if you want to pay a bill, press two if you have a problem, press three if you want to check your balance, and so on. It drives me crazy! And you often have to key in your birthday and account number on the phone pad – and inevitably, when you do finally get to speak to a real person, they ask you to repeat all the same information!
What really annoys me most is, well, what I suppose you could call ‘bad manners’. The worst thing is on public transport. You know, when you’re on the bus or train, and people talk on their mobile phones – really loudly! I usually like to read on the train on my way to and from work, and it's just so irritating to have to listen to people telling their friends all about what they did the night before, or whatever. It's just so intrusive. And if it's not that, there's someone next to you with an MP3 player, listening to music. It's great for them – they hear the real thing. But all you hear is that tinny, buzzing kind of noise from their earphones! The other thing is, I wish people would switch off their phones in the cinema and the theatre. The other day, I went to see a show, and there was a girl in front of me taking photos with her mobile. I couldn't concentrate on the music – unbelievable!
Don't laugh, but you know one of the things that really annoys me? People who spit in public – like footballers. You see them spitting all the time when you watch a game on telly. Ugh, disgusting! I mean, why do they have to do it? I bet they wouldn't do it in their own homes. I know I do have a bit of a thing about cleanliness and hygiene. You know, I can't stand seeing piles of dirty washing up in the sink – or my kids throwing their clothes on the floor when they take them off. Another thing that really upsets me is people eating in the streets, especially late at night. They come out of the clubs or pubs, and then go and buy fish and chips or hamburgers, and eat them on the bus, or walking along the road. It’s so ugly – and the smell is awful. I mean, I’m not obsessed about hygiene or anything – I just like everything to be clean and tidy.
I try not to get annoyed with things any more – it’s not worth it. It doesn't change anything, and you just get upset and stressed out. My philosophy now is, if things annoy you so much then try and do something constructive about them. I used to get really furious about all the injustice in the world – the gap between the rich and the poor, the famines and droughts, hunger and poverty, etc. I'd hear about these top executives earning millions in salaries and bonuses, and just wanted to scream. And these premier league footballers, for example, earning more money in a week than most people see in their lifetime! So I decided to do some voluntary work. I’ve been helping out at the local refugee centre, and I also help to cook meals for the homeless and the elderly. At least it channels my energy and makes me feel better about life. I wish I’d started it years ago.
I just wish there wasn’t such a terrible waste of paper everywhere. I get so annoyed. The packaging on food and things is bad enough, but that's nothing compared to the amount of junk mail we get all the time. Hardly a day goes by without getting useless letters from banks and catalogues of products you don't want. I have to take at least two black bin bags of paper to be recycled every week. And then there's all the free newspapers they hand out in the streets. You see them left on buses, and tubes and trains – or thrown on the ground, littering the town. It's outrageous. When I think of all the trees that had to be cut down to make the paper, it makes me so angry! No wonder the environment is in such a mess.
Well, I don't usually let things get to me. I’m quite a patient person on the whole. But I do worry about my husband when we're in the car together. He gets really annoyed with other motorists all the time. It could be anything really – for instance, if a car drives too closely behind us, or if somebody takes a bit longer than usual to start driving off when the traffic lights turn green, or if a car overtakes at a hundred miles an hour on a country road. I drive myself and I do realise that all these things are very irritating – and often dangerous. But Dan, that's my husband, goes completely mad. He starts shouting and banging his fists on the steering wheel. And when his face goes all red, I get really scared he might have a heart attack! To be honest, I try to avoid going out with him in the car. I get too stressed out- and extremely irritated!
Track 4: Progress Test Units 3–4, Pronunciation exercise 21
I’ll never speak to him again.
I shouldn't have lent him the money.
I hadn’t been expecting to hear from him again so soon.
I wish he wouldn't talk with his mouth full.
I just can't get used to living in the countryside.
She’s unlikely to tell us when she’s arriving.
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