Part 1

Before a record is accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records, it must pass the following tests. First of all, there must be at least two witnesses. The witnesses must be known to the public, so they can’t be simply friends or members of your family. In fact, relatives are not allowed to act as witnesses to a Guinness world record. The best witnesses are usually people who work for the city or government, such as policemen, judges, or leaders. The witnesses must read the Guinness rules before the attempt is made, and then write and sign their statements. Second, you must be able to prove that you broke the record in some other way, usually by sending in an article about the attempt from the local newspaper. It’s also important to take pictures of the record attempt and film it if possible. If you want to break a record, the most important thing to remember is to ask for the rules before you do anything. The Guinness Book of World Records has rules for all sorts of attempts, and you will need to know exactly what you should and shouldn’t do. The editors at Guinness can also help you by giving you the latest information about a certain record. If you are trying to break an existing record, you need to know if the record has already been broken. If you are trying to set a new type of record, you need to find out if the editors will accept it. If the record is dangerous, you must know about strict safety rules and follow them. There are many strange records in the Guinness Book of World Records, but the editors will not allow any records that are very dangerous.

Part 2

Even if you do set a new record, it isn’t sure that your record will be included in the book. There are a few basic rules for Guinness records. First, officials must be able to measure the record. Second, as mentioned before, independent witnesses must observe the record and send in a statement. Third, a record must be objective. That means that a record such as “most beautiful girl” or “best friend” won’t be accepted. A record should also be interesting to as many people as possible. Records that have to do with things that happen only once, such as “the first…,” won’t end up in the book. It is also important that the editors can make rules so that anyone who wants to try to break the record will have a fair chance. If these basic rules are met, the record will be accepted as a Guinness world record. However, a record won’t appear in the book unless it is chosen by the editors. The editors of the Guinness Book of World Records have to make many difficult decisions. People are very creative and send in all kinds of exciting records. It isn’t always easy to choose the right ones for the book. The book is read by people all over the world, and the editors must select records that represent the spirit of the Guinness Book of World Records-that is, amazing feats and achievements that show just how wonderful the world of world records is!

Unit2

LISTENING TEXT

H: Henry M: Mike, an elephant hunter

H: Mike, what was it that you heard about my brother’s journey?

M: I heard that he went looking for Solomon’s Mines.

H: Solomon’s Mines? Where are they?

M: I don’t know. I know where they’re said to be.

H: Tell me, please!

M: Well, South African elephant hunters usually don’t care much for the life and culture of native blacks. But sometimes you meet a man who takes the trouble to listen to them, and understand the history of this dark land. It was such a man who first told me the story of Solomon’s Mines, now thirty years ago. His name was Brown. I listened carefully to him, for I was young at the time, and this story of an ancient civilisation and its treasures took a great hold upon my imagination. He asked me whether I’d ever heard of the Suliman Mountains up in the northwest of the country. He said that that’s where Solomon really had his mines, his diamond mines. I asked him how he knew that. He answered that an old witch had told him all about it. She said that there were great wizards among the people who lived across those mountains. The wizards had learnt what they knew from white men a long time ago. They also had the secret of a wonderful mine of “bright stones”.

H: So did you go and look for that place?

M: No, I didn’t. I laughed at this story at the time, but I didn’t forget it. Twenty years later I heard something more about it from a man passing through. When he left he said that if we would ever meet again he would be the richest man in the world. One evening, while sitting in front of my tent, I saw a figure, apparently that of a European, for it wore a coat, coming out of the desert. The figure crept along on its hands and knees, then it got up and walked a few yards on its legs, only to fall and crawl again. Who do you suppose it turned out to be?

H: That man, of course.

M: Yes, or rather his skeleton and a little skin.

“Water! please, water!”he begged.

I gave him water with a little milk in it, and then he fell asleep. He had a fever and in his dreams he talked about Suliman’s Mountains, the diamonds, and the desert. “There it is!”he cried, pointing with his long, thin arm, “But I shall never reach it, never. No one will ever reach it!”

Unit 3

Listening text

Part 1

(Woman, Australian accent)

Bush fire

An Australian woman is talking on a radio programme about her escape from the bushfires near Sydney in 1994.

The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was to watch the TV news. I could see that the situation was bad, and they showed a map where the fires were. Outside in the garden I couldn’t see the sun, as the sky was full of smoke.

I decided I’d better prepare to leave. My daughters were staying in town and my husband was abroad, so it was up to me to decide what to do. I packed a suitcase of clothes and another case of useful things. It’s difficult in this kind of situation to know what to take with you. So, I took my passport and my bankbook and all the money I had. I took also my diary, my address book and my camera. Finally I took our wedding photographs, as I didn’t want to lose those.

Out in the garden the sky was getting blacker, and the wind which had been blowing hard for two days was getting stronger. I could now hear the sound of the fire which was only a mile or two away. I was expecting the police to drive by and warn people. Suddenly I noticed little pieces of burning wood falling out of the sky. They landed on the ground and started to burn the grass. I didn’t wait a moment longer. I got into my car and drove down the road. The smoke was thick and at times it was difficult to see the road. Animals were running across the road, trying to escape the fire. There were dogs, a few horses, and lots of kangaroos. Five miles down the road I came to a long bridge over the river. Once on the other side, I knew I was safe.

Part 2

(A = Radio announcer; male or female, Australian accent)

A: Good morning, listeners. Still hot and dry today and we would like to remind you that people in the following areas may need to leave their homes: Green Hill, Jonestown, and Wesley. The fire is still burning and we advise you to stay tuned for more information. You may have to leave the area if the winds change, so please take the following actions:

If you have a car, check that it is working properly and park it where you can easily get to it. Close all doors, roll up the windows, and leave the keys in the car. Put emergency supplies in the car. You will need water, some food, a first-aid kit, a radio and a flashlight. Put important documents, such as your bankbooks and passports, in a plastic bag.

Make sure that you are wearing good clothes. Put on heavy shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and gloves. Bring a towel that you can use to protect your face.

Call a friend or relative who lives in a safe area and ask if you can stay with them.

Close all windows and doors in your house and remove the curtains.

Turn off the gas.

Fill buckets, bathtubs, and other containers with water.

If you are asked to leave the house, you must do so immediately. Bring only what you need and tell someone when you leave and where you are going. Try to stay calm and listen to the radio for instructions. Choose a road that looks safe and keep an eye on the fire and the wind.

Unit 4

Listening text

G = Guide V = Visitor

V: Excuse me, can you tell us something about the history of Kew Gardens?

G: Botanical gardens have a long history in the UK, beginning with the foundation of the Oxford Botanical Garden in 1621. Kew Gardens was developed (built) in the 16th century. International importance came under the guidance of Sir Joseph Banks. He changed Kew from a royal collection of strange plants to a serious scientific research centre.

V: So what is the purpose of Kew Gardens today?

G: The motto forming the inspiration for Kew Gardens is simple but clear: “All life depends on plants.” The main purpose of Kew is to come to a better management of the earth’s environment. We try to do that by increasing knowledge and understanding of plants. After all, they form the basis of life on earth.

V: How can Kew Gardens reach this goal?

G: Kew wants to achieve this by:

developing a global collection of plants and show it to the public;

undertaking worldwide research into botany;

supporting the conservation of plants in the UK and overseas;

and informing and educating the wider public about Kew Gardens and their work.

V: If I may ask, what is there to see at Kew Gardens?

G: Kew has many plants in glasshouses and more than 20 different specialized gardens, such as the Rock Garden, Rose Garden, Woodland Garden and the Winter Garden.

V: I hear that they also have a Grass Garden. What can be interesting about that?

G: The Grass Garden shows a great number of different grasses. In economic sense, (Economically speaking) the grass family is one of the most important plant families. It provides most of our food, feeds our cattle and provides building materials such as bamboo and straw. Only three different bamboos are shown in the Grass Garden. More can be found in the Bamboo Garden. Over 120 species of bamboo planted there come from all over the world.

V: Well, I’m afraid that’s a bit boring for me. I think I’d have a look at the Rose Garden.

G: Of course, the Rose Garden attracts most visitors. It has 54 rose beds, each containing a different variety of rose. The roses are all arranged by the colour of their flowers. Shades of red are closest to the Palm House, while the lighter-coloured roses, such as the white and yellow ones, are planted near the edge of the garden.

Unit 5

Listening text

Part 1

Harry, Jenny, and Brian are discussing their advertisement plans for a new product.

H = Harry; J = Jenny; B = Brian

H: So, how much money have we got to spend?

B: Seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Jenny, what do you suggest?

J: I suggest that we use mainly TV, cinema, and print.

B: I see, magazines and newspapers. Can you give us your reasons?

J: Sure. First, our product looks good. So it would be a waste of money to use radio. Second, our product moves well, and it moves fast. So I want people to see it on the roads in our ads, going through the hills, that kind of thing.

B: What about advertising boards?

J: No. I prefer magazines and newspapers, and we haven’t got the money to do all three. So people will see the ad on TV and in the cinema. Then they’ll be able to read about it when they’re sitting down, reading their newspapers and magazines.

H: I get the idea. Then customers can read the detailed product information and check the prices.

J: Exactly.

H: So no advertising boards. When do you want the advertising to start, Brian?

B: May the 1st. That gives us three months to run to August 1st when most people like to buy their new cars.

J: I see. So we’re talking about three months. And have you thought of a headline?

H: What about this one: “The new Century 505 - the car you always promised yourself”?

Part 2

Four people in an advertising firm are discussing a future advertising programme.

B= Bob

A: OK. Our plan is to produce an advertisement for this computer which is made by one of China’s biggest computer producers, FFQ Computer Corporation. Any ideas?

B: I think it would be a good idea to have comments from people who are already using it. They can express their satisfaction with the product.

C: Well, maybe that’s not such a good idea. Do you think managers want to read what users think about a new piece of office equipment?

D: I agree with Bob. I think we should have a picture of the computer and give a description of the product.

B: I’m afraid I can’t agree with you. That’s a good way of giving information, but it’s not a good way of persuading people. For one thing, it’s boring, and people aren’t going to read an ad that looks boring. For another thing, one computer looks very like another. People aren’t going to remember the name of the product.

A: So what exactly are you suggesting?

B: I suggest that we ask users of this machine what they think about it. We can photograph them using it too. Then we can put their comments at the top of the advertisement in big print. We can bring in some humour too. People enjoy reading humorous ads.

D: The disadvantage with carrying out interviews is that it may take a long time. No problem, we can do some telephone and email interviews with our users.

C: How can we find out who are using these computers?

A: Easy. I’ll ask the company for a list of recent customers.

Unit 6

LISTENING TEXT

R = Reporter O = Mrs Ouyang

Mrs Ouyang runs a little restaurant in southern Yunnan. Five years ago she lost everything in an earthquake. Listen to her experiences and how the restaurant was rebuilt.

R: Mrs Ouyang, five years ago a heavy earthquake struck this area and destroyed almost all buildings in this village. The earthquake also hit your house badly. Can you tell us what happened?

O: In two weeks’ time it will be exactly five years ago that the earthquake destroyed our village. My husband and I had been running a restaurant for several years. Before that, he had worked as a taxi driver. All his savings had gone into the restaurant, and on that terrible day everything was destroyed. My husband was killed in the second shake. He shouldn’t have gone back into the restaurant. It was a stupid thing to do, but he thought he would have enough time to save a few important things.

R: What happened in the weeks after the quake and how did you get over it?

O: I moved to a nearby village with my sister. The death of my husband was of course the worst thing. I cried for many days. I wished I had died in his place. I lost all hope of a happy life.

R: What made you decide to reopen the restaurant?

O: There were two reasons. First of all, I had to make a living. But more important, I did it to honour my husband. The restaurant had been his great achievement. I felt there was no better way to remember him than by reopening the restaurant and continuing the business.

R: Was it easy to reopen the restaurant?

O: No, it wasn’t. My friends and relatives put some money together, a total of about 30,000 yuan. I received 8,000 yuan of financial aid from the local government and 25,000 from a foreign disaster relief organisation. I was also able to take out a loan of 50,000 from the bank. With the money and all the help I got, I opened the restaurant on the same location where our old one had been.

R: Do you often think about the disaster?

O: Yes, I do. I thought the earthquake was the day my life ended, even though I had not lost my life. But look here, I managed. I did not know I had the strength to pull through.

Unit 7

LISTENING TEXT

S = Cook O = Oliver B = Mr Bumble

Nine-year-old Oliver lives in a workhouse where the boys are given three meals of thin porridge a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll on Sundays. The workhouse is run by Mr Bumble, the headmaster. The room in which the boys are fed, is a large stone hall. The cook, assisted by one or two women, uses a big spoon to pour the porridge into the bowls. One spoonful, and no more -- except on holidays, when two spoonfuls and a piece of bread are given.

The bowls never need to be washed. The boys clean them with their spoons till they shine again, and when they have performed this operation, which never takes very long, the spoons being almost as large as the bowls, they sit staring at the cook. Boys usually have good appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered this slow starvation for three months. At last they got so wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, said to his companions, that unless he had another bowl of porridge per day, he was afraid he might some night eat the boy sleeping next to him. He had a wild, hungry eye; and they all believed him. The boys hold a meeting, casting lots who should walk up to the cook after supper that evening, and ask for more. The lot falls to Oliver Twist.

The evening arrived; the boys took their seats. The cook served the porridge, and the boys prayed. The porridge was eaten, and the boys whisper to each other, and nod at Oliver, while his next neighbours push him. Child as he is, he is desperate with hunger, and feels miserable. He rises from the table and advancing to the cook, bowl and spoon in hand, he says:

O: Please, sir, I want some more.

C: What!

O: Please, sir, I want some more.

The cook was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. Amazed, he stares at Oliver before aiming a blow at his head with the large spoon and screaming for the headmaster.

C: Mr. Bumble, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!

B: For MORE! Calm down, sir, and answer me clearly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten his supper?

C: He did, sir.

B: That boy will be hung. I know that boy will be hung. I was never more convinced of anything in my life, than that that boy will come to be hung.

Unit 8

Listening text

1 Part 1

(Female; since this is supposed to be a Chinese student, I suggest that we use a Chinese person who speaks English well.)

A: I am an International Business major at a Finance and Economics University. My major courses focus on international trade and finance, but English is also very important. Many of the textbooks we use are in English and some of our courses are taught in English, either by Chinese professors or visiting foreign teachers. At first, it was very difficult to understand what the teachers were saying. We take most of our courses here in China, but we also have the opportunity to study abroad for one year. Our university cooperates with universities in Europe, New Zealand, and the USA. I would like to study in Europe, perhaps in Germany or France, because I believe that the European Union will be an important business partner for China in the future. If I study in Germany or France, I can also learn a third language, which would be very useful.

The most difficult thing, in my opinion, is to understand all the technical terms. I was pretty good at English in middle school, but we only learned everyday English. Now I have to read long articles and textbook chapters that deal with difficult issues. Some of the words are only used in business, so most dictionaries don’t explain what they mean. I sometimes fell as if I had two majors-English and business. First I have to understand what the terms mean in Chinese, then learn the English words for them. Still, I like my major and I think that it will help me find a good job. My dream is to work in a Chinese import and export company and travel around the world.

2 Part 2

(Male; since this is supposed to be a Chinese student, I suggest that we use a Chinese person who speaks English well.)

B: Before I went to college, I thought that university life would be fun and easy. My friends told me that we would have lots of fun once we passed the entrance exam. If anyone ever says that to me again, I will let them know how wrong they are! Sure, it’s fun to be a university student, but it is also hard work. We have a lot of homework, and we have to write many papers and essays. I’m an English major, so most of my courses are about English. The first two years, the courses were similar to studying in middle school. We learnt more grammar and vocabulary, but we also had spoken English classes. In my junior year, I began studying other courses. I chose Linguistics because I am interested in languages, and I also took a few non-major courses. I like English best, but I know that I also need to learn more about other subjects.

Studying a language in college is different from studying other subjects. It is difficult to improve, so you have to spend a lot of time on reading, writing, and speaking. You almost have to “live in English,” that is, you have to use English all the time, not just in class. Our university offers a lot of help: there are many books, DVDs, and tapes that we can borrow, and there are different activities that help us practice our English, such as debate competitions, the university radio station, and conferences and meetings. I decided to become a teaching assistant for one of my foreign teachers. As a teaching assistant, I meet with a small group of freshman students every week. The meeting is their homework for their speaking class, and my job is to lead the discussion and help the students with their English. It is a wonderful way to practice my English-you learn a lot when you have to help others-and I enjoy making friends with students from other majors.

Unit 9

Listening text

Part 1

In 2004, the World Health Organisation, WHO, warned of a possible outbreak of another serious disease which may be even more deadly than SARS. The WHO believes that it is likely that bird flu will spread to human beings in the next few years. If it does, up to seven million (see note 1)people could die from the disease.

Diseases like bird flu are caused by viruses, that is, tiny things which change and become more dangerous over time. When a new type of a common virus changes, it may be able to get past the body’s immune system. If that happens, humans are in great danger until a cure or treatment becomes available.

There have always been viruses and people have always gotten sick, of course, but as we saw with (???What’s your question? As explained in the next sentence, SARS spread very quickly etc.) SARS, the situation is more difficult today. People travel more than ever before, which means that the diseases can spread quickly and across large areas - in fact the whole world.

Scientists are already working on drugs that will prevent or limit the effect of a new virus, but the process takes time. It is just as important to make sure that countries, especially poor countries, are prepared to deal with the disease. New diseases usually affect poor areas the most, so we must help develop health care in all countries.

One reason for the WHO warning is that big new diseases tend to happen regularly, usually every 20 to 30 years. In the 20th century, there have been three large outbreaks: the Spanish flu in 1918-19, which killed between 20 and 40 million people(note 2); the Asian flu of 1957, killing one million (note 4) people; and the 1968 Hong Kong flu, which killed about 750,000 people (note 3). It has been 36 years since the Hong Kong flu, so scientists and doctors think that the next deadly challenge is just around the corner.

Part 2

There are three kinds of viruses that cause flu: A, B, and C. Type A is the virus that causes bird flu. As the name suggests, the virus is usually found in birds. It can also infect humans, pigs, horses and other animals. There are several different kinds of the Type A virus. (Only Type A has several kinds? Yes. Only type A has “subtypes,” but both B and C are “groups” of viruses. If you think it is confusing, or unnecessary, you can delete the stc. Influenza Type B Unlike influenza A viruses, these viruses are not classified according to subtype. Influenza Type C These viruses are not classified according to subtype.) Type B viruses are usually found only in human beings. They have been responsible for some flu outbreaks, but they are not considered as dangerous as Type A viruses. Type C viruses are not considered very serious. They are found in humans, but do not cause serious illnesses.

The most dangerous thing about the flu viruses is that they change. When humans are infected with a virus, the body develops a defense for it. If viruses didn’t change, we would not have the worry about the viruses we know. Unfortunately, every new generation of virus is slightly different from the older ones. That means that our body doesn’t recognise the virus and can’t protect itself from it. This kind of change is not very fast and doctors and scientists can change the medicines we use to help prevent the virus from causing serious illness.

The other kind of change, however, happens very quickly and is more serious. If a virus changes in this way and becomes a new type of virus, the body is defenceless. The virus can spread easily from one person to another and reach far across the world. Fortunately, this kind of change doesn’t happen very often.

The WHO now believes that a new, dangerous virus will appear soon and that we must prepare the best we can. We must improve health care in all countries and cooperate with each other so that we can discover and prevent new viruses.

Unit 10

Listening text

G: Welcome to the Mark Twain House and Museum. Mark Twain is America’s most famous writer. Do you know any books written by Twain?

S1: Ehm, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and eh, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

G: Yes, very good. Twain wrote these books while he lived in this house. He loved the house because it reminded him of his youth, and from the window he could hear the sounds of his own children and their friends playing on the banks of the river.

M: Is the house still the way it was when Twain lived here?

G: Yes. The house has been restored to the way it was when Twain lived here, between 1881 and 1891.

M: How long will the tour take?

G: The tour takes about two hours, and the group must stay together. Please, don’t touch anything.

M: Oh, can you make it a bit shorter? I don’t think the kids will stay quiet for such a long time.

G: Fine. Entering the house from the south, we are now in the hall. Immediately on the right is the drawing room, a rather formal room, where Twain received guests. The door on the left leads to the guest bedroom. The two doors in front lead to the rooms on the north side of the house: the dining room through the door on the right, and the library through the door on the left. Let’s first take a look in the library.

S2: I think I don’t want to see the library.

M: Shut up, Dave.

G: As you can see, the room called the library does not very much look like a library as we know it. The library is one of the nicest rooms in the house. Here, Twain recited poetry or read aloud stories to his family and friends.

S1: Look, they’ve got greenhouse.

G: Yes. The small room on the west side, off the library was filled with large, green plants. Twain’s daughters called it The Jungle. From the library, we can pass on to the dining room. Twain and his family had most of their meals here. The kitchen is located off the dining room, to the north.

M: Can we have a look at the kitchen, please?

G: I’m afraid the kitchen is closed to the public until the summer of next year.

M: Oh, what a pity.

G: Let’s go and have a look upstairs.

M: I think the children are getting tired. What is there to be seen upstairs?

G: The second floor has three bedrooms, another guest room and the schoolroom. The third floor has a servants’ room, a guest room and the largest of the rooms, where Twain wrote his books.

M: Shall we go upstairs?

S1: I want to go to the bathroom.

G: You can have a look at the bathroom on the second floor.

S1: Can we use it?

G: I’m afraid not.

M: Shall, we just go and have a look at the school room then?

S2: No, thanks. I want to go home.

M: Well, OK then. Let’s visit the museum shop. Then you can go to the toilet, and we can eat an ice-cream before we go home.

Unit 11

LISTENING TEXT

Dialogue 1

T: Teacher J: Jeff

T: Take a seat, Jeff. What can I do for you?

J: Well, I’d like to have another talk with you about my career choices.

T: If I’m remembering well (not wrong), you are going to be a sales assistant, right?

J: Yeah, well. I’ve changed my mind again. I want to become a vet. I really like working with animals.

T: Oh, but that’s quite a big change from what we talked about last time. Are you sure about this?

J: Yes. I think working as a vet I can earn much better wages.

T: But Jeff, look here. You aren’t that good at maths, and last time you said going to college was not for you. How will you be able to do that? (The purple parts seem to be not closely related to becoming a vet?)

J: I will work very hard.

T: Listen, Jeff. This may be a disappointment, but I think this is not a good idea. I know it sounds good, but it requires many years of study to become a vet. I’m not sure whether you can manage that. Think it over, will you?

Dialogue 2

L: Lizzy M: Ma Lin

L: Hi, Helen. How are you doing? It’s only a few more months.

M: A few more months? What do you mean, Lizzy?

L: The exams, of course! Aren’t you getting nervous?

M: Nervous, why?

L: Well, don’t you think it’s all (they’re) important?

M: It’s ( They’re) important, but why should I worry? I think I’ve always been quite a good student, so I think (delete this?) I have nothing to fear.

L: Quite good is not good enough, you know. If you want to go to Peking University, you’ve got to come out first.

M: I don’t want to go to Peking University. I want to go to a local university, here in our own province.

L: How can you say that? You’ve got to try your best.

M: I will, but I’ve already made up my mind. I don’t want to live in a big city far from home. Even if I get a top score, I will stay here. You know, studying at a local university you’ll have less competition and better chances of graduating as the No 1. (more opportunities)

Unit 12

Listening text

Part 1

Conversation at a private education institute between Julian (J) and a female teacher (T)

J: Good morning, I saw your advertisement in the paper for Chinese courses and I dropped by to get some more information.

T: Great, which course are you interested in -General Chinese or Business Chinese?

J: Well, I’m not sure, what’s the difference between them?

T: The General Chinese course is for beginners. It covers everyday situations – you know, shopping, booking tickets, ordering food in a restaurant, things like that. It’s very popular with people intending to visit China for a holiday.

J: I see, so is it mainly Chinese conversation, or does it include learning to read and write as well?

T: It mainly deals with spoken Chinese for beginners, but students do learn to recognise about 300 characters – enough to read simple passages.

J: Mmm, and the Business Chinese course?

T: That’s a more intense course for people who need to use Chinese for business situations (delete “situations”?). Most of the students work for corporations who have projects in China. It teaches a specialised vocabulary that’s used in meetings, reports, letters and so on. There’s a lot of speaking practice in this course too, but it places more stress on developing reading and writing skills than the General Chinese course.

J: Is it suitable for beginners?

T: Well, some beginners do choose this course, but they find the workload quite tough. I suggest you take the General Chinese course first because most students find it helps them to have a basic knowledge of the language.

J: I see. And what about the cost? . . . [fade out]

Part 2

Professor Smith is giving an informal presentation to a group of students aged about 17 or 18.

Hello everyone, thanks for coming. Well, we all know that exams are stressful and cause anxiety. Today, I’m going to explain what happens to your body when you feel anxious, and then give you some advice that might be helpful to you.

To start with, it’s important to understand that anxiety is a normal, natural response to stress or fear, and in fact it’s quite useful. Anxiety causes physical changes which prepare your body and mind to face challenges. So feeling anxious about an exam is okay and actually helps you to perform well.

Anxiety becomes a problem, however, if you experience it too frequently or over a long period of time. In this situation, it becomes difficult to concentrate and you may find you get upset easily or lose confidence. It’s also common to suffer from extreme tiredness and to have difficulty sleeping.

Now, I recommend a 3-step approach to beat anxiety: Firstly, use breathing exercises to reduce your body’s physical stress. Secondly, use positive thinking methods to calm your mind and improve your concentration, and thirdly, plan your study schedule using the “Eating an Elephant” approach.

[titters and ‘eating an elephant?’ from audience]

What do I mean? Well, if I asked you to eat an elephant, you’d probably feel you couldn’t do it. You’d start to worry, feel stressed and experience anxiety. But if I gave you an elephant steak – say, about this size – could you eat it?

[murmers of agreement and ‘yes’ from audience]

Yes, so eating an elephant is easy if you cut it into smaller pieces and just eat one piece at a time. And when you study you should “cut up” your workload into small pieces and concentrate on one piece at a time, rather than the “whole elephant”.

Ok, let’s look at each of the 3 steps in more detail . . .[fade out]

Unit 13

Listening text

Dialogue 1 Two teenage girls

J: Julie L: Lucy

L: Hi Julie, Oh no! Aren’t you ready yet? You know, Colin will be offended if we’re not on time.

J: Sorry, but I can’t make up my mind what to wear. What do you think – this or the dress?

L: Well, the blue skirt and pink blouse are very pretty, but I think your red dress is better for a party, it’s more elegant.

J: Right, the red dress it is, have a seat, I’ll only be 5 minutes.(Can we say so?) Its quite common in informal speech

L: Ok, but be quick . . .Oh what a lovely necklace!

J: Thanks, my grandmother gave it to me, and before that it belonged to her mother. It’s over a hundred years old.

L: Really? But the way it shines it looks like new!

J: That’s because it’s a real diamond, don’t you know that diamonds last for ever, they never look old!

L: I didn’t know that th (???) … Look lets go, and you can tell me about it on the way, it’ll be embarrassing if we’re the last to arrive.

Dialogue 2 Two teenage boys

D: Hello Alan, what’s that you’re reading?

A: It’s called The Woman in White.

D: Oh, that’s a novel by Wilkie Collins isn’t it; we’ve been reading about the Moonstone in class. Is the Woman in White a detective story too?

A: Well sort of, but in this story the person who investigates is not a policeman like Sergeant Cuff, he’s an art teacher.

D: What is it about?

A: Well, I haven’t finished yet, but at the beginning of the book the art teacher meets a mysterious woman dressed in white while he is out walking one night. It turns out that the Woman in White looks very similar to his student – Laura - so he tries to find out more about her. He discovers that the man Laura has just married knows the Woman in White and is responsible for some terrible things that happened to her. It seems that Laura’s husband is a very wicked man.

D: Sounds exciting!

A: Yes, I hope the art teacher finds out the truth before Laura’s husband does anything bad to her.

D: Mmm, can I borrow it after you finish it?

A: Sure, it may take me a while though, because it is in English and I have to read slowly.

Unit 14

Listening text

Part 1

A bee-keeper talks about collecting honey from bees.

Once upon a time, bee-keepers killed their bees every autumn. Why? You may ask. Well, the answer is this. To get some honey, bee-keepers and farmers used to put out small wooden boxes in a corner of the farmyard. Bees would come and fill the box with honeycomb. However, there was no way of getting the honey out without killing the bees. So they used to burn a chemical close to the box in order to kill the bees and then take the honey.

Now, bee-keepers use beehives to collect honey. In the beehive there are a number of wooden squares with spaces between them which can be lifted out. In late summer, the squares, which are now full of honeycomb, are lifted out. The squares are put in a special machine and turned round and round very fast for several minutes. Turning the squares round and round like this forces out the honey. The honey is then collected and poured into jars. After that, the empty squares are returned to the hive for the bees to fill with honey the following year.

Bees need food to live through the winter. That’s why they make honey. Bee-keepers can do one of two things. Either they can leave some of the honey in the hive for the bees to eat during the winter. Or else they can remove all the honey and provide the bees with a mixture of sugar and water for the bees to eat instead.

Part 2

J : James, a birdwatcher, R: Reporter

(Forrest sounds and birdsong in the background)

R: Welcome to Poyang Lake in northeastern Jiangxi. We are here with a group of people who have come to look at the famous white cranes that nest here every year. Before we talk more about the cranes, we will ask James, one of the birdwatchers, to tell us about his hobby. Hello, James.

J: Hello. It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it?

R: Yes, it is. James, you have been a birdwatcher for many years. What made you choose this hobby?

J: Well, I’ve always loved the outdoors. When I was a child, my mother would always tell me about the birds we saw. I wanted to learn about the birds, too. This hobby is a great way to combine travel, learning, and exercise.

R: Why are you here in Jiangxi today?

J: As you know, Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China. There are some 116 species of birds that coming Poyang Lake in winter. After spending the winter here, they return home. It’s a paradise for birdwatchers!

R: Why do the birds choose this place?

J: Well, it’s warm here, and there’s lots of water and food.

R: So this must be a very important place for the birds?

J: Yes, it is. The government has made laws to protect the birds and to make sure that this remains a

safe place for birds in winter.

R: Many of us know that the famous white crane comes to Poyang Lake in winter. What can you tell us about the white crane?

J: It’s one of the fifteen species of crane in the world. China is home to eight or nine of the species, including some rare and very beautiful cranes like the white crane. It is one of the most endangered crane species, and we must do what we can to protect it. The white crane divides its time between Russia and China, and Poyang Lake is one of the most important places for them.

R: Thank you. Now let’s go look at the birds!

Unit 15

Listening text

X: Xiaoyi – young adult female radio presenter *

J: Jiawei – young adult male radio presenter *

C: Chen Yu – a male middle school student*

L: Liu Yue – a female middle school student*

Part 1

J: Hi, it’s Sunday, 20 past four and it’s time for 16:20, the weekly youth culture programme for young adults presented by young adults. I’m Jiawei . . .

X: And I’m Xiaoyi. Welcome to 16:20.

J: We hope you are having a good weekend. We’ve got a great programme for you today, so sit back for the next two hours and enjoy!

X: Yes, indeed. We’ll be reporting on spring fashions, including all the latest trends that appeared in the Shanghai Fashion Week. And then it’s Jiawei’s regular “Sports Round Up” when he’ll be bringing you all the news from the world of sport.

J: Yup, and this week I’ll be taking a special look at winter sports and talking to Wang Lei, China’s top snowboarder.

X: All right! You know, I really want to try snowboarding sometimes. Now, don’t forget that at 5:50 it’s “Sounding Off’, when you can phone in and tell us what you think about a current issue. Today we’ll be discussing the Internet and young people. There’s been a lot of talk recently about kids spending too much time on-line, and even becoming addicted to some games. We want to hear your views, so give us a call on 5628 3131.

J: Yeah, how can we solve this problem? Let’s hear your suggestions - the phone lines are open. That’s 5628 3131. But right now, let’s have some music. It’s time for “Listener’s Choice”.

Part 2

J: Listener’s Choice is your chance to hear the music you wanna listen to. So send us your requests.

X: First up is a request from two students at No 3 Middle School in Nanchang: Chen Yu and Liu Yue wrote to us saying . . .[reading] “ Please play something by the 12 Girls Band. We think the girls are great, and we really like the way they are mixing traditional sounds with pop music.” Thanks for your email guys, we totally agree with you.

J: We certainly do. For anyone listening who doesn’t know, the 12 Girls Band is a group of 12 young - and very beautiful - women who are using traditional musical instruments in a new way. Their music is a mixture of old and modern styles.

X: Isn’t it great that this is a type of music that all the family can enjoy together, from the very young to the elderly!

J: In fact Xiaoyi, it’s a type of music that people all over the world are enjoying together. The 12 Girls Band is so popular in Japan that all the tickets for 32 concerts were sold in just 10 minutes!

X: Wow, so what have you got for us to listen to?

J: Well, I’ve been listening to their album “Eastern Energy”. It’s a fantastic CD, with so many great tracks, but I finally decided on the 12 Girls Band’s cover version of a hit song by the British group “Coldplay”. It’s called “ Clocks”.

X: OK then. For Chen Yu and Liu Yue and everyone at No 3 Middle school in Nanchang. Here is “Clocks” from the 12 Girls Band’s album “Eastern Energy” . . .

[Musical extract from the start of track “Clocks”, Eastern Energy album, 12 Girls Band]

Unit 16

Listening text

Extracts from a presentation given by a female careers advisor.

Part 1

So, you’ve seen a job you want. You sent in your application and now you have been invited for an interview. What should you do and say to make your interview a success?

Well, first of all, consider the way you present yourself. When we meet someone for the first time, we get an instant impression about what type of person he / she is. This happens in the first five minutes, and once we have decided, we don’t usually change our opinion. So when an employer meets an applicant for a job, those first five minutes are vital.

To make a good impression, you need to pay attention to two things: the way you look and your body language.

Appearance is very important, so think carefully about what to wear. This will depend on the type of job you are applying for, but as a general rule, I’d recommend that men should wear a tie. I think it’s best to avoid jeans and casual trousers; they might make some employers think you also have a “casual” attitude towards work. Women, please don’t wear short skirts or anything too tight, and don’t choose anything that is too decorated – keep it simple.

Decide what you are going to wear a few days before the interview. This will give you time to check your clothes and make sure there are no stains on them or buttons missing.

Remember the “look” you are aiming for is neat, clean and tidy. And if you look good, you will feel confident.

Part 2

Now a few tips on body language.

Two very important things that will happen in the first five minutes of your interview are the handshake and eye contact. Both of these are important if you are to make a good impression.

You should look the employer straight in the eye as soon as you enter the room, give him or her a friendly smile and shake hands firmly. (Some people think a weak handshake shows a weak personality, so do give a nice firm grasp.)

Don’t sit down until invited, and then sit up straight and look interested. Leaning forward slightly when the interviewer is speaking is a good way of showing you are listening carefully, and don’t forget to keep as much eye contact as possible throughout the interview.

You will probably feel quite nervous about your interview – don’t worry, that’s completely natural. However, nervous tension can affect your body language. Please watch out for this. It is quite common that you move about in your chair and gesture with your hands a lot, so sit fairly still and hold your hands gently together in your lap if necessary.

One last hint: Our body language always shows when we aren’t telling the truth – our eyes and body move in different ways – and some interviewers are quite skilled in spotting this. A lot of us have a tendency to, er, expand the truth a bit when we want to get that great job, but believe me honesty really is the best policy!