Upper Intermediate Unit 10 Audio Script
UNIT 10 Recording 1
E = Edith Bowman J = James King
E: Right, another two couple of films to look at. Now, I heard about this and I really want to see it. Are you starting off with Let the Right One In ?
J: I certainly am. Creepy, creepy horror film this one. It’s the story of a twelve-year-old boy, real loner boy, real kind of geek at school, bullied at school, who befriends his new neighbour, who’s a twelve-year-old girl. She happens to be a vampire. And this is set in very snowy and very bleak Sweden. It’s a brilliant, brilliant film, it really is very, very good, because I think it’s so bleak, because it’s a very – although it is a horror film, it’s a very quiet horror film, you know it’s very sort of slow, and really carefully paced, really not showy at all. And because of that, I think really, really chilling and actually sometimes you’re laughing, and the most horrific things are happening on screen because this boy, you know he’s in love with this girl, he wants to help her. You know, and even though really horrible things are happening on screen, you actually giggle a bit, and I love that ... when you really don’t know how to feel, you just feel uncomfortable.
E: Almost the film is running your emotions for you.
J: Absolutely. And I think a really unforgettable film. They are going to do an American version of this, which could be quite good. I think it’s the guy who made Cloverfield , Matt Reeves has said that he wants to make an American version of this. But go and see this original version because it really, it really does show you that, you know, in horror films, restraint can be a very powerful thing, and it doesn’t just have to be really loud and just loads of blood and guts. You can have something that’s really poignant and –
E: … and beautiful.
J: ... and beautiful at the same time as being really chilling. And the two kids in this are well, just awesome. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I’ve seen it, it’s a really special film, Let the Right One In.
E: How many stars?
J: One, two, three, four, five stars!
E: Yay! Oh, wow ...
UNIT 10 Recording 2
The story centres on the relationship of two young adolescents: twelve-year-old Oscar, who is bullied by other kids, and Eli, a young girl who he makes friends with. However, Eli is a vampire and she needs blood, which gives Oskar a real possibility of striking back against the bullies.
UNIT 10 Recording 3
peace and quiet
leaps and bounds
pros and cons
on and on
rough and ready
now and then
sick and tired of
ups and downs
through and through
give and take
UNIT 10 Recording 4
Conversation 1
W = Woman M = Man
W: So here we are in Greenwich Village.
M: It looks very different from the rest of New York.
W: Yeah, the streets are quite narrow and the buildings aren’t as high.
M: It does look quite village-like.
W: Yeah, but it’s quite big. It extends out west that way to the Hudson River, north above Washington Square. We’ll go up there in a bit.
M: And you lived here?
W: When I first came to New York, yeah. In an apartment just around the corner, on West Third Street. Actually, you can see the building over there.
M: Near The Blue Note Jazz Club?
W: Yeah.
M: I’ve heard of The Blue Note.
W: It’s pretty famous. There are some great jazz clubs around the neighbourhood, and that’s one of the best. We can see a show there one night if you want.
M: That’d be great.
W: Now up here on the left is the Café Reggio. It’s where I used to hang out and read when I wasn’t working.
M: Looks good.
W: Their cappuccino is great. The story goes that the original owner brought cappuccino to America. You can see the original cappuccino machine inside.
M: Cool. We could stop and have a coffee.
W: Maybe a bit later? Let’s head over to Washington Square Park and then circle back.
M: OK – lead the way!
…
W: A lot of these clubs we’re walking by have a real history. As I’m sure you know, Greenwich Village has always been a centre of artistic life – very bohemian. It’s always attracted famous writers, dancers and poets. And in the sixties, it was a big part of the folk music scene: Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, you know.
M: Before my time! Now what’s this?
W: This is Washington Square Park. We’ll walk into the park on this side. Can you play chess?
M: A bit, yeah.
W: Any of these guys here would be happy to challenge you to a game of chess. They’re here all day, every day.
M: Maybe next time – I’m not that good! What’s the arch over there? It looks like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
W: Well it should, that’s the Washington Square arch. It was modelled on the Arc de Triomphe and built in 1889 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as president.
M: Could we sit down a second? I need a break.
W: Why don’t we retrace our steps and go back to the Café Reggio?
M: Sounds good. I could really do with a coffee.
Conversation 2
W = Woman M1 = Man 1 M2 = Man 2
M1: So, this is Radcliffe Square.
W: Wow! Is this right in the centre then?
M1: Pretty much.
M2: What’s that?
M1: Hold on. Let’s just get off our bikes … Right, so that building in front of us is the Bodleian, named after the founder – Thomas Bodley. Believe it or not, despite the fact that it’s circular, it’s actually a library.
W: Cool!
M1: Yeah, it gets a copy of every book published in the UK.
M2: Who can use it?
M1: Any student at the university. Of course, each college also has its own library – you know the university’s divided into colleges, right?
M2: Right. How many colleges are there?
M1: Just under forty. Well, thirty-eight to be exact.
W: So that means thirty-eight libraries?!
M1: Mm but they’re not all as big as the Bodleian. Anyway, we’ll need to get back on our bikes for the next bit …
M1: Can you hear me if I talk as we cycle along?
M2: Yeah.
W: OK, but don’t go too fast. I’m not very steady on this thing!
M1: So, here’s the famous Bridge of Sighs, connecting two sides of Hertford College.
M2: I’ve seen the original.
M1: What, of the bridge? In Italy, you mean?
M2: Yeah, it’s in Venice. Beautiful.
M1: OK. We’ll go past New College and then onto the High Street.
M2: Is that New College there?
M1: Yep.
W: How ‘new’ is new?
M1: Roughly 1370.
W: You’re kidding!
M1: No, really! Interestingly, the oldest college was actually only founded a hundred or so years earlier! Uh-oh, watch out on this corner …
M1: That’s the ‘Schools’. It’s where the students take their exams. Apparently, the biggest room can seat somewhere in the region of 500 students although I haven’t seen it myself. Anyway, we’re turning right here. The street’s cobbled, so be careful.
M2: How many students are there at the university in total?
M1: To be honest, it depends. In term time, you’d probably get upwards of twenty thousand.
M2: Many international students?
M1: Some, but most are from the UK. We’ll finish by cycling down this way to Christ Church. We can actually go inside if we’re quick. It’s well worth a visit.
M2: Christ Church is another college?
...
hakerek91