CoreListeningMay/June2010

You will hear each item twice.

[1] 2 Where does Denica find the weather report?

[1] 6 Where exactly is Tiana’s accommodation for her overnight journey to be found?

[1] 6 Where exactly is Tiana’s accommodation for her overnight journey to be found?

Listen to the following interview about a mobile banking service for rural communities, and then complete the details below.

Listen to the following interview about a mobile banking service for rural communities, and then complete the details below.

Listen to the following interview about a mobile banking service for rural communities, and then complete the details below.

Routes: mainly coastal.

Advantages for rural communities:

Social: employees get to know customers well.

Social: employees get to know customers well.

Business: customers can pay bills, obtain cash, get insurance and different currencies.

Business: customers can pay bills, obtain cash, get insurance and different currencies.

Business: customers can pay bills, obtain cash, get insurance and different currencies.

Summer request stops: in .............................. car parks.

Mobile banking service: vital to the communities it serves.

Current annual production: ..............................

Current annual production: ..............................

Generations of involvement in company: great grandfather, grandfather, father, the speaker and his son.

Generations of involvement in company: great grandfather, grandfather, father, the speaker and his son.

Range of publicity products: catalogues, .............................. , children’s ..............................

Range of publicity products: catalogues, .............................. , children’s ..............................

Children’s product range includes: .............................. models, [1] plain bright bricks.

Logo meaning: ..............................

More ambitious products: robotic and animation sets.

More ambitious products: robotic and animation sets.

Architecture began: when two bricks were put together.

Listen to the following interview about the benefits of singing, and then indicate whether each statement is true or false by putting a tick in the appropriate box.

Listen to the following interview about the benefits of singing, and then indicate whether each statement is true or false by putting a tick in the appropriate box.

Listen to the following interview about the benefits of singing, and then indicate whether each statement is true or false by putting a tick in the appropriate box.

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) All people are natural singers when very young. (b) In 1941 the director of a cereal company said that singing helps digestion. (c) Singing can open up the airways of people with asthma. (d) There are no funds for the promotion of singing. (e) 1200 people in a study benefited from learning to sing. (f) When we sing it boosts our oxygen intake. (g) Fewer colds and flu can be a positive effect of singing. (h) Singing in a group can help a patient to recover. (i) The speaker recommen

True False (a) Space tourism is aimed at people from the business world. (b) The spaceship is called “Tourist Spacecraft”. (c) The round trip will take 3½ days. (d) Practice flights are taking place for 18 months. (e) There are 2,500 tourists on the waiting list. (f) The deposit to secure a place on a space trip is £100,000. (g) The speed of the journey will be over 2,000 kilometres per hour. (h) Passengers will be able to experience weightlessness like astronauts. (i) So far the project has cos

True False (a) Space tourism is aimed at people from the business world. (b) The spaceship is called “Tourist Spacecraft”. (c) The round trip will take 3½ days. (d) Practice flights are taking place for 18 months. (e) There are 2,500 tourists on the waiting list. (f) The deposit to secure a place on a space trip is £100,000. (g) The speed of the journey will be over 2,000 kilometres per hour. (h) Passengers will be able to experience weightlessness like astronauts. (i) So far the project has cos

True False (a) Space tourism is aimed at people from the business world. (b) The spaceship is called “Tourist Spacecraft”. (c) The round trip will take 3½ days. (d) Practice flights are taking place for 18 months. (e) There are 2,500 tourists on the waiting list. (f) The deposit to secure a place on a space trip is £100,000. (g) The speed of the journey will be over 2,000 kilometres per hour. (h) Passengers will be able to experience weightlessness like astronauts. (i) So far the project has cos

True False (a) Space tourism is aimed at people from the business world. (b) The spaceship is called “Tourist Spacecraft”. (c) The round trip will take 3½ days. (d) Practice flights are taking place for 18 months. (e) There are 2,500 tourists on the waiting list. (f) The deposit to secure a place on a space trip is £100,000. (g) The speed of the journey will be over 2,000 kilometres per hour. (h) Passengers will be able to experience weightlessness like astronauts. (i) So far the project has cos

Worldwide top toy: PLASTIC/HUMBLE building BRICK; [1] the same winner this year as in 1960/50 YEARS AGO [1]

First manufacture of bricks: Material used: WOOD

V2 The online weather forecast shows rain in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

*V1 Listen everyone, your exchange partners are coming here to stay from the 12th to the 22nd of

*V1 I have found a recipe for a lovely celebration cake; it says it serves 8 people.

*V1 I have found a recipe for a lovely celebration cake; it says it serves 8 people.

V2 OK, read me the ingredients so that I can write us out a shopping list.

We’ll also need some chocolate to spread over the top of the cake, or, if you prefer, we could use cream instead.**

Today we are joined by a bank employee who carries out a great and necessary service for those who live in remote and rural areas; she brings a bank to their doorstep – a bank on wheels – isn’t that correct Katrina?

This is my job and I love it; it’s varied and interesting and no two days are ever the same so I can’t get bored.

V2 Yes, the scenery in my mobile area is stunning.

V2 Yes, the scenery in my mobile area is stunning.

I’m treated to sea breezes, I hear seagulls call, and I can choose whether to stop to eat my lunch on top of a cliff, under a shady row of trees or by the beach.

I’m treated to sea breezes, I hear seagulls call, and I can choose whether to stop to eat my lunch on top of a cliff, under a shady row of trees or by the beach.

I usually have the help of a colleague; she helps me with the actual banking but I do most of the driving from place to place.

V2 Oh yes – you see we have a sort of planned route whereby we make 13 scheduled stops each week, always in the same place – at a crossroads perhaps, by the village shop, or in a sea front car park.

V1 Your customers must really appreciate you.

Our unique job is very important for our rural customers socially as well as for business.

Luckily our bank recognises and encourages our caring sort of role here.

Luckily our bank recognises and encourages our caring sort of role here.

V2 Yes, for example, our customers can pay bills, draw out cash, arrange for insurance and collect money in other currencies if they need this for overseas travel.

V2 Yes, for example, our customers can pay bills, draw out cash, arrange for insurance and collect money in other currencies if they need this for overseas travel.

I am constantly aware of this and try always to provide service with a grateful smile.

V2 We experience ice on the roads and strong winds in winter here so I often have to hang onto the steering wheel tightly.

But generally we manage to go out every day.

Following world-wide research it’s been revealed that our favourite children’s toy is not electronic.

Following world-wide research it’s been revealed that our favourite children’s toy is not electronic.

V2 Thank you, we are very pleased with the results of this extensive research.

We are delighted to confirm that our bricks remain as popular today as they have done since they were first launched.

We are delighted to confirm that our bricks remain as popular today as they have done since they were first launched.

Someone else must have my 60 brick quota.

V1 Do you still make the bricks on your original factory site?

V1 How have you kept your product so popular when there are so many new items competing for children’s interest – games, computers, robots?

V2 We produce catalogues, newsletters, a free children’s magazine with up-to-date news of new models and we have even opened theme parks.

We also rely very much on customer satisfaction and hope they will recommend our products to their friends.

Children love re-enacting scenarios with our little superhero plastic models.

Children love re-enacting scenarios with our little superhero plastic models.

Even our logo when translated into English means “play well”.

V2 Actually there are many adult enthusiasts around the world.

They build ambitious models, then meet for conferences and display their designs.

They build ambitious models, then meet for conferences and display their designs.

They build ambitious models, then meet for conferences and display their designs.

Some of our products are very sophisticated; for example, our animation and our robotic packages and these appeal especially to the adult market.

Some of our products are very sophisticated; for example, our animation and our robotic packages and these appeal especially to the adult market.

V1 A famous architect once said that architecture began when two bricks were put together and you certainly have helped many generations to do that.

If you think about it, we all sing happily and naturally for the first few months of our lives while our voices find their own pitch; we use this to meet our needs as a baby.

We sing as we wake up or in the bath or shower or even while we work.

And the whole process of singing brings with it more benefits.

The director of a famous breakfast cereal firm said in 1931 that singing promotes health by helping breathing, circulation and digestion.

If you suffer from asthma or any breathing difficulties then singing helps you to relax and opens up your airways giving you more control over how you breathe.

V2 Yes even governments all over the world acknowledge the health benefits in singing and are pouring money into projects to get children to sing.

V1 And one university is trying to get singing paid for as therapy by its national health system, isn’t it?

They studied 12,000 people who had been ill and then began to sing maybe as part of a choir or just at home by themselves.

Often the singing helped the patients to recover after strokes or heart attacks.

Better airflow in your chest should also lessen the possibility of bacteria there and reduce the risks of colds and flu.

Better airflow in your chest should also lessen the possibility of bacteria there and reduce the risks of colds and flu.

V2 I think so, but it is more than just the physical aspect of singing which helps us.

Psychologically singing makes us feel happy and content, it lifts the spirits.

And it generates excitement and enjoyment.

Unfortunately, though, many of us have lost this natural desire to sing to our babies or as a family around the piano or even to mark moments of celebration or sorrow.

Now “space tourism”, as holidays in space are known, has become reality for everyone.

The “Tourist Spaceship 1” has recently been introduced.

Test flights and training sessions as well as safety checks are currently being carried out on the new tourist spaceship.

Trial flights are taking place over a period of 18 months from a base in a desert near California in order to ensure safety and the smooth running of this new type of tourism.

Trial flights are taking place over a period of 18 months from a base in a desert near California in order to ensure safety and the smooth running of this new type of tourism.

Trial flights are taking place over a period of 18 months from a base in a desert near California in order to ensure safety and the smooth running of this new type of tourism.

Trial flights are taking place over a period of 18 months from a base in a desert near California in order to ensure safety and the smooth running of this new type of tourism.

More than 250 potential space tourists are already on the waiting list for a flight into space.

At the highest point of the spaceship’s route, passengers will be able to unclip their seatbelts and float around as they experience weightlessness for between four and six minutes.

A sum of £74 million has been invested in the space tourism project so far.

Qualified long haul aeroplane pilots are training to become spaceship captains.

Qualified long haul aeroplane pilots are training to become spaceship captains.

A couple from Spain made the news headlines by spending eight whole days aboard a space station at a bargain price of £20 million per person.

The couple said that seeing the Earth from space, surrounded by a really thin layer of atmosphere should help people wake up to the importance of protecting the Earth.

The couple said that seeing the Earth from space, surrounded by a really thin layer of atmosphere should help people wake up to the importance of protecting the Earth.

The new 3½ hour space tourist flight will now make what used to be lengthy and complex space visits into a nice afternoon’s outing.**