Lesson 1
'This Is Your Life' is one of the most popular programmes on British and American television. Every week a famous person is invited to a television studio, without knowing that he or she will be the subject of the programme. The compère meets the person outside the studio and says 'This is your life!' The person then meets friends and relatives from his or her past and present. Studio 4 is where the programme is recorded. The programme begins at eight o'clock. It's 6:45 now and the director is checking the preparations with his new production assistant (PA). The subject of tonight's show will be an actor, Jason Douglas. The compère, as usual, will be Terry Donovan.
Director: Let's just check the arrangements. We're bringing Jason Douglas here in a studio car—he thinks he's coming to a discussion programme! The driver has been told to arrive at exactly 7:55. Now, the programme begins at eight o'clock. At that time Jason will be walking to the studio. Terry Donovan will start his introduction at 8:01, and Jason will arrive at 8:02. Terry will meet him at the studio entrance ... Camera 4 will be there. Then he'll take him to that seat. It'll be on Camera 3. Jason will be sitting there during the whole programme. For most of the show Terry will be standing in the middle, and he'll be on Camera 2. The guests will come through that door, talk to Terry and Jason ... and then sit over there.
Director: Now, is that all clear?
PA: Yes ... there's just one thing.
Director: Well, what is it?
PA: Who's going to look after the guests during the show?
Director: Pauline is.
PA: And where will they be waiting during the show?
Director: In Room 401, as usual. Pauline will be waiting with them, and she'll be watching the show on the monitor. She'll tell them two minutes before they enter.
PA: I think that's everything.
Terry: Good evening and welcome to 'This is Your Life'. This is Terry Donovan speaking. We're waiting for the subject of tonight's programme. He's one of the world's leading actors, and he thinks he's coming here to take part in a discussion programme ... I can hear him now ... yes, here he is! Jason Douglas ... This is your life!
Jason: Oh, no ... I don't believe it! Not me ...
Terry: Yes, you! Now come over here and sit down. Jason, you were born at number 28 Balaclava Street in East Ham, London on July 2nd, 1947. You were one of six children, and your father was a taxi driver. Of course, your name was then Graham Smith.
Terry: Now, do you know this voice? 'I remember Jason when he was two. He used to scream and shout all day.'
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Jason: Susan!
Terry: Yes ... all the way from Sydney, Australia ... She flew here specially for this programme. It's your sister, Susan Fraser!
Jason: Susan ... Why didn't you tell me ... oh, this is wonderful!
Terry: Yes, you haven't seen each other for 13 years ... take a seat next to him, Susan. You started school at the age of five, in 1952, and in 1958 you moved to Lane End Secondary School.
Terry: Do you remember this voice? 'Smith! Stop looking out of the window!'
Jason: Oh, no! It's Mr. Hooper!
Terry: Your English teacher, Mr. Stanley Hooper. Was Jason a good student, Mr. Hooper?
Mr. Hooper: Eh? No, he was the worst in the class ... but he was a brilliant actor, even in those days. He could imitate all the teachers?
Terry: Thank you, Mr. Hooper. You can speak to Jason, later. Well, you went to the London School of Drama in 1966, and left in 1969. In 1973 you went to Hollywood.
Terry: Do you know this voice? 'Hi Jason ... Can you ride a horse yet?'
Jason: Maria!
Terry: Maria Montrose ... who's come from Hollywood to be with you tonight.
Maria: Hello, Jason ... it's great to be here. Hello, Terry. Jason and I were in a movie together in 1974. Jason had to learn to ride a horse ... Well, Jason doesn't like horses very much.
Jason: Like them! I'm terrified of them!
Maria: Anyway, he practised for two weeks. Then he went to the director ... it was Charles Orson ... and said, 'What do you want me to do?' Charles said, 'I want you to fall off the horse'. Jason was furious. He said, 'What? Fall off! I've been practising for two weeks ... I could fall off the first day ... without any practice!'
Interviewer: Good morning, sir. I'm from radio station QRX, and I wonder if you'd mind answering a few questions for our survey today.
David: Uh ... sure, why not?
Interviewer: What's your name?
David: Uh, my name is David George.
Interviewer: David, what do you do for a living?
David: I'm a professional baseball player.
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Interviewer: Really?
David: Mm-hmm.
Interviewer: That's terrific. What do you do for fun?
David: Well, I like to read the classics—you know, Dickens, Shakespeare, ... uh ... books like that.
Interviewer: Fabulous. And what's the most exciting thing that's happened to you recently?
David: Just call me Dad. My wife and I ... uh ... had our first baby.
Interviewer: Oh, (Yeah. A little girl.) that's wonderful.
David: Mm-hmm.
Interviewer: Who do you admire most in this world?
David: Well, I admire my wife ... uh ... she's terrific. She's going to be a great mother, great mother.
Interviewer: Terrific. What do you want to be doing five years from now?
David: Well, ... uh ... five years from now I'd like to be a father of five. I'd like to have lots of kids around the house.
Interviewer: That's fabulous.
David: Yeah.
Interviewer: Thanks very much for talking to us, David.
David: Well, thank you.
Interviewer: Good morning. I'm from radio station QRX, and I wondered if you'd mind answering a few questions today for our survey.
Suzanne: Not at all.
Interviewer: What's your name?
Suzanne: Suzanne Brown.
Interviewer: Suzanne, what do you do for a living?
Suzanne: I'm a lawyer.
Interviewer: A lawyer? And what do you do for fun?
Suzanne: I like to run.
Interviewer: Uh-huh. Running, like—
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Suzanne: Jogging.
Interviewer: Jogging. And what's the most exciting thing that's happened to you recently?
Suzanne: I got to run in the Boston Marathon.
Interviewer: Congratulations. And who do you admire most in the world?
Suzanne: Oh, well, I'd have to say Martin Luther King, Jr.
Interviewer: Mmm, yes. And what do you want to be doing five years from today?
Suzanne: Well, dare I say win the Boston Marathon?
Interviewer: Wonderful. Thanks a lot for talking to us today, Suzanne.
Suzanne: You're welcome.
Interviewer: Good morning, sir. I'm from radio station QRX, and I wonder if you could answer a few questions for our survey this morning.
Adolfo: Oh, yes, yes.
Interviewer: What's your name?
Adolfo: My name is Adolfo Vasquez.
Interviewer: Adolfo, what do you do for a living?
Adolfo: I'm a dancer.
Interviewer: A dancer. And what do you do for fun?
Adolfo: I watch ... uh ... musical movies.
Interviewer: Musical movies. And what's the most exciting thing that's happened to you recently?
Adolfo: Oh, about six years ago I moved to United States, (Uh-huh.) and that's quite exciting for me.
Interviewer: Yes, that is very exciting. What do you—who do you admire most in the world?
Adolfo: I admire a lot ... um ... Sophia Loren, the movie actress.
Interviewer: I understand completely. (Mm-hmm.) What do you want to be doing five years from now?
Adolfo: I like very much what I'm doing right now, so I really would like to keep doing it.
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Interviewer: Very good. (Mm-hmm.) Thanks for speaking to us today, Adolfo.
Adolfo: Okay. You're welcome.
Interviewer: Good morning, Miss. I'm from radio station QRX, and I wonder if you could answer a few questions for our survey.
Linda: Sure.
Interviewer: What's your name?
Linda: Linda Montgomery.
Interviewer: Linda, what do you do for a living?
Linda: Uh, well, right now I'm going to beauty school.
Interviewer: Beauty school?
Linda: Yeah.
Interviewer: Uh-huh. And what do you do for fun?
Linda: Oh, what for fun, I hang out with my friends—you know, go for pizza, stuff like that.
Interviewer: I understand. What's the most exciting thing that's happened to
you recently?
Linda: Oh, this was so great! (Yeah?) Four of my friends and I, we went to a Bruce Springsteen concert. We actually—we got tickets.
Interviewer: Wonderful.
Linda: It was the best.
Interviewer: Who do you admire most in the world?
Linda: Who do I admi—I guess (Mm-hmm.) my dad, (Uh-huh.) probably my dad. Yeah.
Interviewer: And what do you want to be doing five years from now?
Linda: I would love it if I could have my own beauty salon.
Interviewer: Uh-huh.
Linda: That would be great.
Interviewer: Thanks very much for talking to us today.
Linda: Okay.
Announcer: And now, at 10:50 it's time for \"In Your Own Words\
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interview people with unusual stories to tell. Here to introduce the programme is Patricia Newell. Good morning, Patricia.
Patricia: Good morning, and good morning everyone. With me in the studio now is this morning's guest, Trevor Cartridge. Good morning, Trevor.
Trevor: Good morning, Patricia.
Patricia: Trevor, you have one of the most unusual stories I've ever heard. Yet, nowadays, you seem to lead a very ordinary life.
Trevor: Yes, Patricia. I'm a dentist. I live and work in London.
Patricia: But at one time you used to have a different job?
Trevor: Yes, I was a soldier.
Patricia: A soldier?
Trevor: That's right.
Patricia: And how long ago was that?
Trevor: Oh, about two thousand years ago.
Patricia: That's right. Trevor Cartridge believes that he was a soldier in the army of Julius Caesar. He remembers coming to Britain with the Roman army two
thousand years ago. Trevor, tell us your remarkable story ... in your own words!
Trevor: Well, funnily enough, it all began because I wanted to give up smoking.
Patricia: Give up smoking!
Trevor: Mm, I used to smoke too much and I tried to give up several times, but I always started smoking again a few days later. In the end I went to a hypnotist. He hypnotized me, and I stopped smoking at once. I was delighted, as you can imagine.
Patricia: Yes?
Trevor: That made me very interested in hypnotism, and I talked to the hypnotist about it. He told me that some people could remember their past lives when they were hypnotized, and he asked if I wanted to try. I didn't believe it at first, but in the end I agreed. He hypnotized me, and sure enough, I remembered. I was a Roman soldier in Caesar's army.
Patricia: You didn't believe it at first?
Trevor: I didn't believe it before we tried the experiment. Now I'm absolutely convinced it's true.
Patricia: What do you remember?
Trevor: Oh, all kinds of things, but the most interesting thing I remember is the night we landed in Britain.
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Patricia: You remember that?
Trevor: Oh yes. It was a terrible, stormy night. There were a hundred or more of us in the boat. We were all shut in, because the weather was so bad and most people were sick, because it was very stuffy. There was a terrible smell of petrol, I remember. Lots of men thought we should go back to France. It wasn't called 'France' then, of course.
Patricia: And there was a smell of petrol?
Trevor: Yes, it was terrible. The weather got worse and worse. We thought we were going to die. In the end the boat was pushed up onto the sands, and we climbed out. I remember jumping into the water and struggling to the beach. The water was up to my shoulders and it was a freezing night. A lot of men were killed by the cold or drowned in the storm, but I managed to get ashore.
Patricia: You did?
Trevor: Yes. There were about ten survivors from our boat, but even then our troubles weren't over. We found a farmhouse, but it was deserted. When the people read the newspapers, and knew that we were coming, they were terrified. They took all their animals and all their food, and ran away into the hills. Of course, there were no proper roads in those days. Well, we went into the house and tried to light a fire, but we couldn't even do that. We always kept matches in our trousers' pockets, so naturally they were all soaked. We couldn't find anything to eat, except one tin of cat food. We were so hungry, we broke it open with our knives, and ate it. We found a
tap, but the water was frozen. In the end we drank rainwater from the tin. We sat very close together and tried to keep warm. We could hear wolves but we didn't have any weapons, because our guns were full of seawater. By the morning, the storm was over. We went on to the beach and found what was left of the boat. We managed to find some food, and we hoped there was some wine too, but when we opened the box all the bottles were broken.
Patricia: So what happened?
Trevor: We waited. Finally another boat came and took us away, and we joined the other soldiers. I remember going into the camp, and getting a hot meal, and clean clothes. It was wonderful. We were given our pay, too. I remember the date on the coins, 50 BC. It was an exciting time.
Patricia: And did you stay in Britain?
Trevor: Oh yes, I was here for five years, from 50 BC to 55 BC. I enjoyed my stay in Britain very much.
Patricia: And then you went back to Rome?
Trevor: I can't remember anything after that.
Patricia: Well, Trevor Cartridge, thank you for telling us your story, in your own words.
(1) Bob, do you think you could possibly turn off that radio? I'm (pause) trying
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to write a letter.
(2) A: I don't want a double room. I want a single room.
B: I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid 43 (pause) is the only single room available at the moment.
(3) A: Just look what I've got.
B: Let me see. Fifty pounds! (pause) Where on earth did you get it?
(4) A: Oh bother the Sex Discrimination Act. Surely they can't force me to take on a married woman.
B: They can't force you to, Mr. Clark, but (pause) you mustn't discriminate against someone just because they're married.
(5) A: I'm glad I'm not a princess. It must be a dreadful life.
B: Dreadful? (pause) I wouldn't mind being a prince.
(6) I'm a reasonably hard-working person. But (pause) I'm not a workaholic.
(7) A: Had your brother been nervous about it himself?
B: Well, he didn't say, but possibly (pause) he had been.
The Knowledge
Becoming a London taxi driver isn't easy. In order to obtain a licence to drive a taxi in London, candidates have to pass a detailed examination. They have to learn not only the streets, landmarks and hotels, but also the quickest way to get there. This is called 'The Knowledge' by London cab drivers and it can take years of study and practice to get 'The Knowledge'. Candidates are examined not only on the quickest routes but also on the quickest routes at different times of the day. People who want to pass the examination spend much of their free time driving or even cycling around London, studying maps and learning the huge street directory by heart.
The Underground
Travelling on the London underground (the 'tube') presents few difficulties for visitors because of the clear colour-coded maps. It is always useful to have plenty of spare change with you because there are often long queues at the larger stations. If you have enough change you can buy your ticket from a machine. You will find signs which list the stations in alphabetical order, with the correct fares, near the machines. There are automatic barriers which are operated by the tickets. You should keep the ticket, because it is checked at the destination.
Lesson 2
Interviewer: Is film editing a complicated job?
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Film Editor: Oh yes, a lot of people probably don't know how complicated a job it can be. It's far more than just sticking pieces of film together.
Interviewer: How long does it take to edit a film?
Film Editor: Well, it depends. You can probably expect to edit a 10-minute film in about a week. A 35-minute documentary, like the one I'm editing at present, takes a minimum of four to five weeks to edit.
Interviewer: Can you explain to me how film editing works?
Film Editor: There are different steps. 'Synching up', for example.
Interviewer: What do you mean by synching up?
Film Editor: It means matching sound and pictures and that is usually done by my assistant. The film and the sound tape have numbers stamped along the edge which have to be matched. The details of the film and the sound are also recorded in a log book, so it's quick and easy to find a particular take and its soundtrack. This operation is called logging and is again done by my assistant.
Interviewer: So what do you usually do yourself?
Film Editor: A lot of things, of course. First, I have to view all the material to make a first selection of the best takes. There's a lot of film to look through because to make a sequence work the way you want, you need a lot of shots to choose from.
Interviewer: Does that mean that you have to discard sequences?
Film Editor: Oh yes. On average for every foot of edited film, you need twelve times as much unedited film and therefore you have to compromise and, of course, discard some of it.
Interviewer: What do you do after selecting the material?
Film Editor: First of all, I prepare an initial version of the film, a 'rough cut' as it is called. That means that I actually cut the film into pieces and stick them together again in the new order.
Interviewer: And after this 'rough cut' what happens?
Film Editor: Well, after the 'rough cut' comes the 'fine cut' when the film takes its final form. The producer and the director come in for a viewing. Some small changes may then be necessary, but when the 'fine cut' has been approved by everyone, this is the final version of the film.
Interviewer: At this point is the film ready for distribution?
Film Editor: Oh no. After the final version of the film has been approved, there is the dubbing, there are voices, music, background noises and sometimes special effects to be put together for the soundtrack. And after the dubbing, the edited film is sent to the 'neg' cutters.
Interviewer: What do the 'neg' cutters do?
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Film Editor: They cut the original negatives on the films, so that these match the edited film exactly. And after all that comes the best part—I can sit down quietly with my feet up and enjoy watching the film!
Man: Hi.
Woman: Hi.
Man: What'd you do last night?
Woman: I watched TV. There was a really good movie called Soylent Green.
Man: Soylent Green?
Woman: Yeah. Charlton Heston was in it.
Man: What's it about?
Woman: Oh, it's about life in New York in the year 2022.
Man: I wonder if New York will still be here in 2022.
Woman: In this movie, in 2022 ...
Man: Yeah?
Woman: ... New York has forty million people.
Man: Ouch!
Woman: And twenty million of them are unemployed.
Man: How many people live in New York now? About seven or eight million?
Woman: Yeah, I think that's right.
Man: Mm-hmm. You know, if it's hard enough to find an apartment now in New York City, what's it going to be like in 2022?
Woman: Well, in this movie most people have no apartment. So thousands sleep on the steps of buildings. (Uh-huh.) People who do have a place to live have to crawl over sleeping people to get inside. And there are shortages of everything. The soil is so polluted that nothing will grow. (Ooo.) And the air is so polluted they never see the sun. It's really awful.
Man: I think I'm going to avoid going to New York City in the year 2022.
Woman: And there was this scene where the star, Charlton Heston, goes into a house where some very rich people live.
Man: Uh-huh.
Woman: He can't believe it, because they have running water and they have soap.
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Man: Really?
Woman: And then he goes into the kitchen and they have tomatoes and lettuce and beef. He almost cries because he's never seen real food in his life, you know, especially the beef. It was amazing for him.
Man: Well, if most people have no real food, what do they eat?
Woman: They eat something called soylent.
Man: Soylent?
Woman: Yeah. There's soylent red and soylent yellow and soylent green. The first two are made out of soybeans. But the soylent green is made out of ocean plants. (Ugh.) The people eat it like crackers. That's all they have to eat.
Man: That sounds disgusting.
Woman: Well, you know, it really isn't that far from reality.
Man: No?
Woman: Yeah. Because, you know the greenhouse effect that's beginning now and heating up the earth ...
Man: Oh, yeah, I've heard about that.
Woman: ... because we're putting the pollutants in the atmosphere, you know?
Man: Mm-hmm.
Woman: I mean, in this movie New York has ninety degrees weather all year long. And it could really happen. Uh ... like now, we ... we have fuel shortages. And in the movie there's so little electricity that people have to ride bicycles to make it.
Man: You know something? I don't think that movie is a true prediction of the future.
Woman: I don't know. It scares me. I think it might be.
Man: Really?
Woman: Well, yeah.
The native Americans, the people we call the 'Indians', had been in America for many thousands of years before Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492. Columbus thought he had arrived in India, so he called the native people 'Indians'.
The Indians were kind to the early settlers. They were not afraid of them and they wanted to help them. They showed the settlers the new world around them; they taught them about the local crops like sweet potatoes, corn and peanuts; they introduced the Europeans to chocolate and to the turkey; and the Europeans did business with the Indians.
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But soon the settlers wanted bigger farms and more land for themselves and their families. More and more immigrants were coming from Europe and all these people needed land. So the Europeans started to take the land from the Indians. The Indians had to move back into the centre of the continent because the settlers were taking all their land.
The Indians couldn't understand this. They had a very different idea of land from the Europeans. For the Indians, the land, the earth, was their mother. Everything came from their mother, the land, and everything went back to it. The land was for everyone and it was impossible for one man to own it. How could the White Man divide the earth into parts? How could he put fences round it, buy it and sell it?
Naturally, when the White Man started taking all the Indians' land, the Indians started fighting back. They wanted to keep their land, they wanted to stop the White Man taking it all for himself. But the White Man was stronger and cleverer. Slowly he pushed the Indians into those parts of the continent that he didn't want—the parts where it was too cold or too dry or too mountainous to live comfortably.
By 1875 the Indians had lost the fight: they were living in special places called 'reservations'. But even here the White Man took land from them—perhaps he wanted the wood, or perhaps the land had important minerals in it, or he even wanted to make national parks there. So even on their reservations the Indians were not safe from the White Man.
There are many Hollywood films about the fight between the Indians and the
White Man. Usually in these films the Indians are bad and the White Man is good and brave. But was it really like that? What do you think? Do you think the Indians were right or wrong to fight the White Man?
Interviewer: Today, there are more than 15 million people living in Australia. Only 160,000 of these are Aborigines, so where have the rest come from? Well, until 1850 most of the settlers came from Britain and Ireland and, as we know, many of these were convicts. Then in 1851 something happened which changed everything. Gold was discovered in southeastern Australia. During the next ten years, nearly 700,000 people went to Australia to find gold and become rich. Many of them were Chinese. China is quite near to Australia. Since then many different groups of immigrants have gone to Australia for many different reasons. Today I'm going to talk to Mario whose family came from Italy and to Helena from Greece. Mario, when did the first Italians arrive in Australia?
Mario: The first Italians went there, like the Chinese, in the gold-rushes, hoping to find gold and become rich. But many also went there for political reasons. During the 1850s and 1860s different states in Italy were fighting for independence and some Italians were forced to leave their homelands because they were in danger of being put in prison for political reasons.
Interviewer: I believe there are a lot of Italians in the sugar industry.
Mario: Yes, that's right. In 1891 the first group of 300 Italians went to work in the sugarcane fields of northern Australia. They worked very hard and many saved enough money to buy their own land. In this way they came to dominate the sugar
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industry on many parts of the Queensland coast.
Interviewer: But not all Italians work in the sugar industry, do they?
Mario: No. A lot of them are in the fishing industry. Italy has a long coastline, as you know, and Italians have always been good fishermen. At the end of the nineteenth century some of these went to western Australia to make a new life for themselves. Again, many of them, including my grandfather, were successful.
Interviewer: And what about the Greeks, Helena?
Helena: Well, the Greeks are the fourth largest national group in Australia, after the British, the Irish and the Italians. Most Greeks arrived after the Second World War but in the 1860s there were already about 500 Greeks living in Australia.
Interviewer: So when did the first Greeks arrive?
Helena: Probably in 1830, they went to work in vineyards in southeastern Australia. The Greeks have been making wine for centuries so their experience was very valuable.
Interviewer: But didn't some of them go into the coalmines?
Helena: Yes, they weren't all able to enjoy the pleasant outdoor life of the vineyards. Some of them went to work in the coalmines in Sydney. Others started cafes and bars and restaurants. By 1890 there were Greek cafes and restaurants all over Sydney and out in the countryside (or the bush, as the Australians call it) as
well.
Interviewer: And then, as you said, many Greeks arrived after the Second World War, didn't they?
Helena: Yes, yes, that's right. Conditions in Greece were very bad: there was very little work and many people were very poor. Australia needed more workers and so offered to pay the boat fare. People who already had members of their family in Australia took advantage of this offer and went to find a better life there.
Interviewer: Well, thank you, Mario and Helena. Next week we will be talking to Juan from Spain and Margaret from Scotland.
(1) A: It doesn't sound much like dancing to me.
B: It is; it's great.
A: More like some competition in the Olympic Games.
C: Yeah. It's (pause) good exercise. Keeps you fit.
(2) A: But you can't just start dancing in the street like that.
B: Why not? We take the portable cassette recorder and when we find a nice street, we (pause) turn the music up really loud and start dancing.
(3) A: We have competitions to see who can do it the fastest without falling over.
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Malc's the winner so far.
B: Yeah, I'm the best. I teach the others but (pause) they can't do it like me yet.
(4) A: You're reading a new book, John?
B: Yes. Actually, (pause) it's a very old book.
(5) A: Now, can you deliver all this to my house?
B: Certainly. Just (pause) write your address and I'll get the boy to bring them round.
(6) A: Good. I've made a nice curry. I hope you do like curry?
B: Yes, I love curry, I used to work in India, as a matter of fact.
A: Really? How interesting. You must (pause) tell us all about it over dinner.
The Foolish Frog
Once upon a time a big, fat frog lived in a tiny shallow pond. He knew every plant and stone in it, and he could swim across it easily. He was the biggest creature in the pond, so he was very important. When he croaked, the water snails listened politely. And the water beetles always swam behind him. He was very happy there.
One day, while he was catching flies, a pretty dragon fly passed by. 'You're a very
fine frog,' she sang, 'but why don't you live in a bigger pond? Come to my pond. You'll find a lot of frogs there. You'll meet some fine fish, and you'll see the dangerous ducks. And you must see our lovely water lilies. Life in a large pond is wonderful!'
'Perhaps it is rather dull here,' thought the foolish frog. So he hopped after the dragon fly.
But he didn't like the big, deep pond. It was full of strange plants. The water snails were rude to him, and he was afraid of the ducks. The fish didn't like him, and he was the smallest frog there. He was lonely and unhappy.
He sat on a water lily leaf and croaked sadly to himself, 'I don't like it here. I think I'll go home tomorrow.'
But a hungry heron flew down and swallowed him up for supper.
Lesson 3
Clerk: Hello, sir. What can I do for you?
Customer: Hi. Uh ... I have this ... uh ... cassette player (Mm-hmm.) here that I bought about six months ago. And it just ruined four of my favourite cassettes.
Clerk: Oh dear, I'm sorry.
Customer: So I ... um ... wanted you to fix it. I'm sure it will be no problem, right?
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Clerk: Your sales slip, please?
Customer: Yeah, here it is. Uh.
Clerk: I'm sorry, sir. Your warranty's expired.
Customer: Well, it ... uh ... ran out ten days ago, but I'm sure that you'll ... you'll ... fix the machine for free, because the machine was obviously defective when I bought it. I ...
Clerk: I'm sorry, sir. Your warranty has run out. There's nothing I can do.
Customer: No. No, look. No. I didn't drop it off a building or anything. I mean, what difference can ten days make? I mean you ... you can—
Clerk: Sir, I'm sorry, we have the six-month rule for a reason. We can't ...
Customer: Well, but you can bend the rule a little bit.
Clerk: ... make an exception for you. Then we'll have to make an exception for everybody. (Well, but look ...) You could say it's only a month, it's only two months.
Customer: I just lost twenty dollars worth of tapes.
Clerk: Sir, I'm sorry, it's too late.
Customer: It actually ate the tapes. I mean, they're destroyed. I mean—
Clerk: Well, sir, you knew (I ...) when your warranty ran out. You should (Well ...) have brought it in before. It was (Well ... look ...) guaranteed for six months. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do.
Customer: Paying for this is adding insult to injury. I mean, surely you're going to make good on this cassette player. It's ... it's ... it's a good cassette player, but it's just defective. I mean, I can't pay for this.
Clerk: Well, sir, I'm sorry, you should have brought it in earlier.
Customer: But surely you won't hold me to ten days on this.
Clerk: Sir, the rules are the rules. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do.
Norma: You know, Brian, it doesn't look like you've vacuumed the living room or cleaned the bathroom.
Brian: No, I haven't. Ugh. I had the worst day. I am so tired. Look, I promise I'll do it this weekend.
Norma: Listen, I know the feeling. I'm tired, too. But I came home and I did my share of the housework. I mean, that's the agreement, right?
Brian: All right. We agreed. I'll do it in a minute.
Norma: Come on. Don't be that way. You know, (What?) I shouldn't have to ask you to do anything. I mean, we both work, we both live in the house, we agreed that
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housework is ... is both of our responsibility. I don't like to have to keep reminding you about it. It makes me feel like an old nag or something.
Brian: Sometimes you are an old nag.
Norma: Oh, great!
Brian: No, it's just that I don't notice when things get dirty like you do. Look, all you have to do is tell me, and I'll do it.
Norma: No, I don't want to be put in that position. I mean, you can see dirt as well as I can. Otherwise—I mean, that puts all the responsibility on me.
Brian: It's just that cleanliness is not a high priority with me. There are other things I would much rather do. Besides, the living room floor does not look that dirty.
Norma: Brian.
Brian: Okay, a couple crumbs.
Bob: Mr. Weaver, I have been with this company now for five years. And I've always been very loyal to the company. And I feel that I've worked quite hard here. And I've never been promoted. It's getting to the point now in my life where, you know, I need more money. I would like to buy a car. I'd like to start a family, and maybe buy a house, all of which is impossible with the current salary you're paying me.
Mr. Weaver: Bob, I know you've been with the company for a while, but raises here are based on merit, not on length of employment. Now, you do your job adequately, but you don't do it well enough to deserve a raise at this time. Now, I've told you before, to earn a raise you need to take more initiative and show more enthusiasm for the job. Uh, for instance, maybe find a way to make the office run more efficiently.
Bob: All right. Maybe I could show a little more enthusiasm. I still think that I work hard here. But a company does have at least an obligation to pay its employees enough to live on. And the salary I'm getting here isn't enough. The rent's rising. The price of food is going up. The reflation is high, and I can barely cover my expenses.
Mr. Weaver: Bob, again, I pay people what they're worth to the company, now, not what they think they need to live on comfortably. If you did that the company would go out of business.
Bob: Yes, but I have ... I have been here for five years and I have been very loyal. And it's absolutely necessary for me to have a raise or I cannot justify keeping this job any more.
Mr. Weaver: Well, that's a decision you'll have to make for yourself, Bob.
Here is an extract from a radio talk on marriage customs in different parts of the world by Professor Robin Stuart:
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Despite the recent growth in the number of divorces, we in the West still tend to regard courtship and marriage through the eyes of a Hollywood producer. For us it's a romantic business. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy asks girl to marry him, girl accepts. Wedding, flowers, big celebration.
But in other parts of the world things work differently. In India, for instance, arranged marriage is still very common. An intermediary, usually a married lady, learns that a young man wishes to get married and she undertakes to find him a suitable bride. The young couple meet for the first time on the day of the wedding.
In Japan, too, arranged marriages still take place. But there things are organized in a different way. A girl wishes to find a husband, and the girl's mother, or an aunt perhaps, approaches the mother of a suitable young man and the young couple are introduced. They get a chance to have a look at one another and if one of them says 'Oh, no, I could never marry him or her', they call the whole thing off. But if they like one another, then the wedding goes ahead.
In parts of Africa, a man is allowed to have several wives. Now that sounds fine from the man's point of view, but in fact the man is taking on a great responsibility. When he takes a new wife and buys her a nice present, he has to buy all his other wives presents of equal value and, although we are obviously speaking of a male-dominated society, the wives often become very close and so, if there is a disagreement in the family, the husband has three or four wives to argue with instead of just one.
Now, most listeners, being used to the Western style of courtship and marriage,
will assume that this is the best system and the one with the greatest chance of producing a happy marriage. But pause and reflect. Marriage must always be something of a gamble. Going out with somebody for six months is very different from being married to them for six years.
It is true that American women, brought up in the United States, who married Africans and went to live in Africa, have sometimes found it exceedingly difficult to assume the role of the wife of an African living in Africa. However, my observations have led me to believe that various forms of arranged marriage have just as much chance of bringing happiness to the husband and wife as our Western system of choosing marriage partners.
Dentist: There we are. Now, open wide. Now, this won't hurt a bit. You won't feel a thing.
Patient: Aaaagh!
Dentist: Come along, now. Open your mouth. I can't give you the injection with your mouth closed, can I?
Patient: I ... I ... I don't want an injection. I hate needles.
Dentist: But it won't hurt you, I promise. None of us likes injections but sometimes they're necessary.
Patient: It will hurt, I know.
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Dentist: Not at all. Look, I often deal with little children and they never complain; they're always very brave. Now, open wide.
Patient: I don't want an injection.
Dentist: But how else can I take out your tooth? It would hurt even more without an injection, wouldn't it? And the reason we're taking it out is because it's hurting you, isn't it? Once you've had an injection and I've taken out the tooth you won't have any more pain at all. So let's be brave. Open wide.
Patient: Aaaagh.
Dentist: But I haven't touched you yet. What are you shouting for?
Patient: You're going to touch me.
Dentist: Well, of course I am. I can't give you an injection without touching you. As soon as you've had the injection your gum will freeze and you won't feel a thing.
Patient: How do I know what you'll do while I'm asleep? You might rob me.
Dentist: Now, let's not be silly. You won't go to sleep. We don't do that nowadays. This will just freeze the area around the tooth so that you can't feel any pain while I'm pulling out the tooth. That's all. You won't go to sleep. You can watch everything I do in that mirror above you. Come along now.
Patient: I don't want to watch. I'll faint.
Dentist: Then don't look in the mirror. But there won't be a lot of blood. I promise you.
Patient: Blood! Blood! Why did you have to say that? I can't afford to lose any blood.
Dentist: Now let's not be silly. You can't take out a tooth without losing some blood.
Patient: Blood ...!
Dentist: But it's a tiny amount. You'll make it up in a day.
Patient: A night.
Dentist: All right, in a night, then. But as I said it's only a small amount of blood ...
Patient: Blood! Blood!
Dentist: ... and it isn't going to kill you.
Patient: Kill! Kill!
Dentist: Oh, don't be silly; of course it won't. You can't die from having a tooth pulled out.
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Patient: Die! Die!
Dentist: I shall get cross in a minute.
Patient: Cross! Cross!
Dentist: Now look, I've had just about enough of this. You come in here screaming in pain, saying that you've been in agony all night because you bit on a bone or something, and you ask me to do something to stop the pain but the minute I do try to do something you won't let me. Now, just what exactly am I expected to do? You're a grown man and I'm a very busy lady. I have a lot of patients waiting in the other room and you're taking up my time, which is very expensive. Now, pull yourself together and let's get on with it.
Patient: I can't. Couldn't you just give me some painkillers?
Dentist: Well, I could, but that isn't going to solve the problem. On the other hand, perhaps that's the best thing if you're so nervous about me doing the extraction today. Yes, perhaps that's best. You take some painkillers and let's make an appointment for next week when you're feeling less nervous. Now, which day would you like, Mr. ...? Sorry I didn't catch your name.
Patient: Dracula.
Man: Rose (hic). Rose (hic). Rosemary. Can (hic) can you (hic) help me?
Rosemary: What's the mater? Oh, you've got the hiccups.
Man: I've had them for (hic) three hours (hic, hic).
Rosemary: Oh, there must be something we can do. Now, what are the different remedies for hiccups?
Man: I've tried everything (hic) I can think of.
Rosemary: Have you tried holding your breath?
Man: I've tried (hic) holding it (hic) but I hiccuped.
Rosemary: Well, you obviously haven't held it long enough.
Man: How can (hic) I hold it long enough when I (hic) hiccup in the middle?
Rosemary: Now what's the other thing I've heard? Now come along, something to do with a glass of water. That's right, you have to drink from the other side of a glass. Have you tried that?
Man: Well, how (hic) do you mean (hic) drink (hic) from the other side of a glass?
Rosemary: Well, you know how you drink normally ...
Man: Yes (hic).
Rosemary: Then you drink from the opposite side.
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Man: You mean (hic) you turn the glass round (hic)?
Rosemary: You bend over with your head towards the floor, then you put your lips to the far side of the glass and you try to drink it like that.
Man: Ah, (hic) you mean like this?
Rosemary: Oh no, you're getting it all over the carpet. Now what's the other thing? Key down the back of your neck.
Man: No (hic), that's for when your ... your nose's bleeding.
Rosemary: Oh, is it? What about a coin on your forehead?
Man: I've never (hic, hic) heard of that (hic).
Rosemary: Now what's that other thing for hiccups? A shock, a shock. I'll have to frighten you ... Erm ... let me burst a paper bag.
Man: (Hic) But (hic) I know you (hic) are going to frighten me so I (hic) won't be frightened, will I? (Hic)
Rosemary: Now what else is there? Now, look, I know. I'll give you five pounds if you hiccup again, you give me five pounds if you can't.
Man: Yes, all right.
Rosemary: Did you understand what I said?
Man: Of course I did. You give me five pounds if I hiccup again.
Rosemary: Yes, but you stopped hiccuping, so that means you owe me five pounds.
Man: Oh, no!
(1) A: But the whole office complains that I smell of garlic for a week after we've been to the French restaurant.
B: Well, how about (pause) the Chinese then?
(2) A: Look,if you're determined to eat, why don't you go down to the take away and bring us back a nice packet of fish and chips?
B: Fish and chips?
A: Well, it's better than nothing, isn't it? Go on. It's down the road and if you're quick, (pause) they'll still be hot when you get back.
(3) A: Hurry up and you'll be in time for the next programme.
B: Not if (pause) there's a queue.
(4) A: Hi George. Where are you off to?
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B: Home, do you want to come and listen to some jazz?
A: Yes, that sounds (pause) a good idea.
(5) A: But I don't think I'm going to take it.
B: Why not? Not enough money?
A: No, it's not that; the money's good. About 200 a week. It's just that we'll be working in a hotel playing for the tourists and they just want the same old tunes over and over to dance to and I get so bored. It's not like playing music, it's like being a machine.
B: I wouldn't mind (pause) being a machine for that money.
(6) But if all I wanted was money I could do an ordinary job. I play drums because (pause) I want to play drums.
Sleep
It's clear that everyone needs to sleep. Most people rarely think about how and why they sleep, however. We know that if we sleep well, we feel rested. If we don't sleep enough, we often feel tired and irritable. It seems there are two purposes of sleep: physical rest and emotional or psychological rest. We need to rest our bodies and our minds. Both are important in order for us to be healthy. Each night we alternate between two kinds of sleep: active sleep and passive sleep. The passive sleep gives our body the rest that's needed and prepares us for active sleep, in which
dreaming occurs.
Throughout the night, people alternate between passive and active sleep. The brain rests, then it becomes active, then dreaming occurs. The cycle is repeated: the brain rests, then it becomes active, then dreaming occurs. This cycle is repeated several times throughout the night. During eight hours of sleep, people dream for a total of one and half hours on the average.
Lesson 4
Announcer: And now over to Marsha Davenport for today's weather forecast. Marsha?
Weather reporter: Thanks, Peter. Well, as you can see from the weather map, there's varied weather activity across the United States and Canada today. Let's start with the west coast, where it's raining from British Columbia down to northern California. The high in Seattle will be 50 degrees. Southern California will be in better shape today—they'll have sunny skies and warmer temperatures. We're looking for a high of 78 degrees in San Diego. The mid-west will be having clear but windy weather. Oklahoma City will see a high of 65 and sunny skies, with very strong winds. Down in Houston we're looking for cloudy skies and a high of 69. Over to the east in Miami we expect the thermometer to reach 64 degrees, but it'll be cloudy and quite windy. Up in the northeast, it looks like winter just won't let go! New York City will be having another day of heavy rains, high winds, and cold temperatures, with a high of only 35 degrees expected. Further north in Montreal it's even colder—28 degrees, with snow flurries expected today. Over in Toronto it's sunny but a cold 30 degrees.
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And that's this morning's weather forecast. We'll have a complete weather update today at noon.
News anchor: Good evening. I'm Charles McKay, and this is the 5 o'clock evening news. The top story this hour: The town of Delta has been declared a health hazard. The entire town of Delta was closed down by government authorities yesterday, after testing confirmed that the town had been poisoned by the dumping of toxic chemicals in town dumps. Suspicions were first aroused three weeks ago, when 200 people telephoned the hospital complaining of headaches, stomachaches, faintness, and dizziness. An investigation revealed that toxic wastes had leaked into the ground and contaminated the water supply. People were being poisoned by their drinking water and by the fruits and vegetables they were eating from their gardens. In fact, any contact they had with soil or water was dangerous. Government authorities have ordered all residents to leave the area until the chemical company responsible for the toxic waste can determine whether the town can be cleaned up and made safe again.
And now here's Sarah Cooper with tonight's Consumer Report. Sarah?
Consumer reporter: Thank you Charles, and good evening. There was some good news for beer drinkers today: A recent study of 17,000 Canadians shows that people who drink beer moderately are healthier than people who drink other alcoholic beverages, such as wine or liquor. Researchers say they don't yet know exactly why this is so. They found, however, that moderate beer drinkers reported less illness and appeared to have a lower risk of death from heart disease. Good health seemed to be connected to the amount of beer consumed and the regularity
of drinking. People who drank beer one or more times a day reported the least amount of illness. Heavy drinkers, however—people who drank 35 or more pints of beer a week—reported more illness.
The war against cigarette smoking is heating up again. Legislation was introduced today that would make it illegal to advertise cigarettes, cigars, or any other tobacco product in any form of media. That means ads would be banned from newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and billboards. The legislation would also prevent tobacco manufacturers from sponsoring sporting events and from giving away free samples. This is the strongest anti-smoking legislation that has been introduced to date. Cigarette manufacturers insist that the legislation would be useless. In fact, they claim that in parts of the country where advertising has already been prohibited, cigarette smoking has actually increased.
That concludes the Consumer Report for tonight. Let's go over now to Jerry Ryan and find out what's happening in the world of sports. Jerry?
Sports announcer: Thanks, Sarah, and good evening sports fans. It was an exciting day in world soccer. Mexico defeated France 7 to 6, in a close game that offered spectators plenty of excitement. The game between Canada and Argentina ended in a tie, 3 to 3. And in a game that's still in progress, Italy is leading Haiti 2 to 1, with 30 minutes left to go.
Tune in tonight at 11 for a complete sports update.
Reporter: Well here I am at the Brooklyn Academy of Dramatic Arts. I'm asking
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different students here about their favourite forms of artistic entertainment. Pop or classical concerts? Art galleries or the theatre? The ballet or the opera? The first person I'm going to talk to is Benny Gross. Benny comes from New York and he's 20 years old and he's studying the piano. Benny, hello and welcome to our programme.
Benny: Hi, thanks.
Reporter: So, first question Benny—have you ever been to an art gallery?
Benny: Yes, lots of times.
Reporter: And the ballet, have you ever been to the ballet?
Benny: Yes, a few times. It's all right, I quite like it.
Reporter: And what about classical concerts?
Benny: Yes, of course, many many times.
Reporter: Erm—next—have you ever been to an exhibition, Benny?
Benny: Oh, yes—I love going to photographic exhibitions.
Reporter: Do you? Now, next question—what about a ... folk concert?
Benny: No, never. I think folk music is awful.
Reporter: Ok. And the opera? Have you ever been to the opera?
Benny: Yes. Two or three times. It's a little difficult but I quite like it.
Reporter: And a pop concert?
Benny: No, never.
Reporter: And finally—have you ever been to the theatre?
Benny: Yes, once or twice, but I didn't like it much.
Reporter: Ok Benny. Now the next thing is—which do you like best from this list of eight forms of artistic entertainment?
Benny: Well I like going to classical concerts best because I'm a musician, and I love classical music.
Reporter: Ok and what next?
Benny: Erm let's see—next, art galleries I think. And then, exhibitions.
Reporter: OK—art galleries, then exhibitions. Then? The theatre?
Benny: No, I don't think so, I don't really like the theatre.
Reporter: The ballet? The opera? Which do you prefer of those two?
46
Benny: The opera.
Reporter: So of the theatre and the ballet, which do you prefer?
Benny: Erm, the ballet I think because there's the music. I can always enjoy the music if I don't always like the dancing.
Reporter: Right, well, thanks very much, Benny.
Benny: You're welcome.
Reporter: My next guest is Kimberley Martins. What are you studying here, Kimberley?
Kimberley: Modern dance. I want to be a professional dancer when I leave.
Reporter: OK, so here we go. First question—have you ever been to an art gallery?
Kimberley: Yes, lots of times.
Reporter: And have you ever been to the ballet? Stupid question I think.
Kimberley: Yes, a bit. Of course I have. I go almost every night if I can.
Reporter: And what about classical concerts?
Kimberley: Yes—there are classical concerts here a lot—the other students perform here and I go to those when I can.
Reporter: What about exhibitions—have you ever—?
Kimberley: Oh yes, lots of times—I like exhibitions—exhibitions about famous people—dancers, actors, you know—
Reporter: Mmm. And what about a folk concert? Have you ever been to one of them?
Kimberley: No, I don't like folk music very much.
Reporter: What about the opera?
Kimberley: No, never. I don't really like opera. It's a bit too heavy for me.
Reporter: A pop concert?
Kimberley: Yes. I saw Madonna once. She was fantastic—she's a really great dancer.
Reporter: And have you ever been to the theatre?
Kimberley: Yes, I have.
Reporter: Right. Thank you Kimberley. My next question is—which do you like
48
best of all? And I think I know the answer.
Kimberley: Yes—ballet, of course. After that, exhibitions. And after that, art galleries.
Reporter: OK.
Kimberley: Erm, what's left. Can I see the list?
Reporter: Yes, of course.
Kimberley: Erm, let me see—oh, it's difficult—I suppose—what
next?—er—classical concerts, pop concerts, the theatre. Well, I think pop concerts next, I like going to those. Then I don't know. Classical concerts or the theatre? Classical concerts I think. So that leaves the theatre after them. OK?
Reporter: Great. And many thanks for talking to us, Kimberley.
Kimberley: You're welcome.
Salesgirl: Yes?
Mrs. Bradley: Six packets of Rothmans and three of Silk Cut please.
Salesgirl: Six Rothmans ... and three Silk Cut. That's ... six fifty fives—three pound thirty ... three Silk Cut—one forty-four ... That's four pound seventy-four altogether. Thank you. 26p. change ... and your stamps.
Interviewer: Excuse me madam.
Mrs. Bradley: Yes?
Interviewer: I wonder whether you'd help us. We're doing a survey on smokers' habits. Would you mind ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Well ... I'm in a bit of a hurry actually
Interviewer: It'll only take a few minutes. We'd very much appreciate your help.
Mrs. Bradley: Well all right. I can spare that I suppose.
Interviewer: Thank you. You are a smoker ... of course?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes I'm afraid I am. My husband is too. As you can see ... I've just bought the week's ration.
Interviewer: Would you describe yourself as being a heavy smoker?
Mrs. Bradley: Heavy ... no. I wouldn't call three packets of twenty a week heavy smoking. That's not even ten a day. No ... a light smoker. My husband ... he's different ...
Interviewer: Yes?
Mrs. Bradley: I get in twice as many a week for him. He smokes twenty or more a
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day.
Interviewer: You wouldn't describe him as a chain-smoker ...?
Mrs. Bradley: No ... he's not as bad as that.
Interviewer: Right ... Thank you Mrs. ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Bradley. Doris Bradley.
Interviewer: ... Mrs. Bradley. You and your husband smoke cigarettes I see. What about cigars ... a pipe ... Does your husband ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh he's never smoked a pipe. He's the restless, nervy type. I always associate pipe-smoking with people of another kind ... the calm contented type ... As for cigars I suppose he never smokes more than one a year—after his Christmas dinner. Of course I only smoke cigarettes.
Interviewer: Right. Now let's keep to you Mrs. Bradley. When and why—if that's not asking too much—did you begin to smoke? Can you remember?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes ... I remember very well. I'm thirty-two now ... so I must have been ... er ... yes ... seventeen ... when I had my first cigarette. It was at a party and—you know—at that age you want to do everything your friends do. So when my boyfriend—not my husband—when he offered me a cigarette I accepted it. I remember feeling awfully grown-up about it. Then I started smoking ... let's see now ... just two or three a day ... and I gradually increased.
Interviewer: I see. That's very clear. Now ... Might I ask if you have ever tried to give up smoking?
Mrs. Bradley: Yes—twice. The first time about six months before getting married. Oh that was because I was saving up and ... yes ... I used to smoke more in those days. Sometimes thirty a day. So I decided to give it up—but only succeeded I'm afraid in cutting it down. I still smoked a little ...
Interviewer: And the second time?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh the second time I did manage to give up completely for a while. I was expecting ... and the doctor advised me not to smoke at all. I went for about ... seven or eight months ... without a single cigarette.
Interviewer: Then you took it up again.
Mrs. Bradley: Yes ... a couple of weeks after the baby was born. It was all right then because the baby was being bottle fed anyway.
Interviewer: Good. That's interesting. So if you'd been breast-feeding you would have gone for longer without smoking?
Mrs. Bradley: Definitely. It's what the doctors advise. Though not all mothers do as their doctors say ...
Interviewer: Now Mrs. Bradley. When do you smoke most?
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Mrs. Bradley: Erm ... When I'm sitting watching TV or ... or ... reading a book ... but especially I'm with ... when I'm in company. Yes ... that's it ... when I'm with friends. I never smoke when I'm doing the housework ... never ... There's always too much to do.
Interviewer: Do you ever smoke at meal times?
Mrs. Bradley: I always have ... one cigarette after a meal. Never on an empty stomach. Which reminds me—I must be going. My husband will be waiting for his lunch. And Keith ... he's my son.
Interviewer: Just one more question and that'll be all.
Mrs. Bradley: Well if you insist.
Interviewer: How would you describe the effect that smoking has on you?
Mrs. Bradley: What do you mean?
Interviewer: Well ... Does smoking—for example—make you excitable ... keep you awake ...?
Mrs. Bradley: Oh no—quite the contrary. As I told you before I smoke most at times when I'm most relaxed. Though quite honestly I ... don't really know whether I smoke because I'm relaxed or ... er ... you know ... in order to relax. Now I really must be ... Please excuse me. I see you're ... you're carrying a tape-recorder. This won't be on the radio, will it?
Interviewer: No Mrs. Bradley ... I'm afraid not. But we do thank you all the same.
Mrs. Bradley: Right. Goodbye.
Interviewer: Goodbye Mrs. Bradley.
(Pause.)
Salesgirl: How's it going then?
Interviewer: Fine. Give us a packet of Seniors, will you. I'm dying for a smoke.
Salesgirl: That's 60p.
Interviewer: What about you. Don't you smoke ...?
(1) Interviewer: Why do the actors wear roller-skates?
Designer: Well, they're all playing trains, you see.
Interviewer: Trains?
Designer: Yes, singing trains and they have to skate all round the audience at very high speeds. We've designed special lightweight costumes for them out of foam rubber, otherwise (pause) they'd be exhausted at the end of each performance.
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(2) I found it took me rather a long time to get into the book. I mean, I kept wondering when we were going to begin with the plot, when we were going to get the actual story. Apart from that I must say that (pause) I enjoyed it very much.
(3) I found it very exciting and moving. I couldn't put it down and (pause) I stayed up very late to finish it.
(4) Well, I do agree with Jane that the book took a long time to start. In fact, for me, it's only honest to say that (pause) the book never really got started at all.
(5) I'm one of those impatient readers who want to get straight into a book from the beginning. Otherwise (pause) I tend to skip parts that don't really hold my interest.
(6) A: I'm afraid I did quite a lot of skipping with Alan Bailey's novel. And with over five hundred pages it was a bit of a disappointment really.
B: Yes, I must admit that (pause) it was rather long.
Books Belong to the Past
Sir,
I visited my old school yesterday. It hasn't changed in thirty years. The pupils were sitting in the same desks and reading the same books. When are schools going to move into the modern world? Books belong to the past. In our homes radio and television bring us knowledge of the world. We can see and hear the truth for
ourselves. If we want entertainment most of us prefer a modern film to a classical novel. In the business world computers store information, so that we no longer need encyclopaedias and dictionaries. But in the schools teachers and pupils still use books. There should be a radio and television set in every classroom, and a library of tapes and records in every school. The children of today will rarely open a book when they leave school. The children of tomorrow won't need to read and write at all.
M.P. Miller
London
Lesson 5
Herbert Wilson and his wife went to the Isle of Wight for their summer holiday. But they were by no means pleased with their hotel. As soon as they returned home, Herbert decided to write to the Manager of Happytours.
Herbert: Can you spare a moment, dear? I want you to listen to this letter.
Margaret: Go ahead, then.
Herbert: Dear Sir, my wife and I arrived home last night after a holiday arranged by your firm, in Jersey. We stayed at the hotel described in your brochure as a
56
comfortable, medium sized hotel, with a magnificent view of the sea, offering courteous, old fashioned service and excellent food, served in a relaxed friendly atmosphere.
Margaret: Yes, that's what the brochure said.
Herbert: In fact the hotel is situated at least half a mile from the sea. Our room overlooked a car park ...
Margaret: Through the gates of which motor vehicles were constantly arriving or departing.
Herbert: Yes, that's good. The food was strictly beef burgers and chips or fish and chips. Wine was available, but at exorbitant prices, and as for the courteous, old fashioned service, the majority of the staff were foreign and virtually incapable of speaking or understanding the English language.
Margaret: Yes, that's quite true.
Herbert: In addition to this, we were most unhappy with the arrangements for our journey home. We were instructed to catch the 11:00 am ferry ...
Margaret: Wasn't it 12:00?
Herbert: No, 11:00 ... but this was apparently delayed and we did not get away till 6 o'clock in the evening. Now that our holiday is over, it seems fairly pointless writing this letter, but I should like you to know that we were most disappointed
with the hotel and travel arrangements and shall certainly not be booking any future holidays through Happytours. Yours faithfully, Herbert Wilson.
Margaret: Yes dear, that's a very good letter.
Miss Bush is talking to a travel agent in London.
Travel Agent: Good morning. Can I help you?
Miss Bush: Hello. Er, my name's Miss Bush and I'm intending to go to a conference in Sydney for three weeks.
Travel Agent: I see. Er, do you want the excursion fare or the full return fare.
Miss Bush: Now, can I get a stopover on an excursion fare?
Travel Agent: Yes, you're allowed only one stopover on the excursion fare.
Miss Bush: Oh, only one.
Travel Agent: Yes. But of course, if you pay the full return fare then you can have unlimited stopovers.
Miss Bush: Oh that's much better. Yes. You see, the thing is that I've got two weeks' holiday after the conference and I've never been out that way before at all to Australia or the Far East, and I, I wanted to go, you know, shopping or seeing Hong Kong or India or somewhere round there.
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Travel Agent: Yes. Uhum.
Miss Bush: Um, where exactly can I go?
Travel Agent: Well, lots of places. There's Singapore or um, Teheran, Kuwait, Athens, you've really got quite a lot of choice you know.
Miss Bush: Mm. Well, it sounds marvellous. Um, how much would that cost? How much is the full fare?
Travel Agent: The full fare? Well, that's really quite a lot. It's £1204.
Miss Bush: (laughs) Yes, a thousand two hundred and four. Well, it's once in a lifetime, you know, I've never been.
Travel Agent: Mm.
Miss Bush: The thing is, actually that, um, I'm absolutely terrified of flying. I've never done it before.
Travel Agent: Oh dear. Uhum
Miss Bush: And er, um, I'm hoping that I can persuade my two friends, who are also going to the conference, to stop over with me on the way back.
Travel Agent: Yes, that would be a good idea, yes.
Miss Bush: Mm, yes. By the way, one of them's in Cairo at the moment. Would it be possible for me to stop over there on my way to Sydney?
Travel Agent: Yes of course. There are plenty of flights to Cairo and, and then plenty more onwards from Cairo to Sydney. And then you can stay, there, in Cairo, for as long as you like.
Miss Bush: Oh that's great? Now, the thing is, I think I'd better go and persuade Mr. Adams that, you know, he'd like to stop with me in Cairo ...
Travel Agent: I see.
Miss Bush: ... go and discuss it with him and then come back to you in a day or two, if that's all right.
Travel Agent: Yes. Certainly. Of course, madam.
Miss Bush: Oh, thank you very much. OK. Goodbye.
Travel Agent: Thank you. Goodbye.
Gillian felt slightly uneasy as the porter unlocked the gates and waved her through. St Alfred's Hospital was not an ordinary mental institution. It was the most exclusive institution of its type in the country. You had to be not only mentally ill, but also extremely wealthy to be accepted as a patient. She parked her car outside the main entrance of the imposing eighteenth century building. She paused on the steps to look at the superb ornamental gardens and surrounding parkland. An old
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man in a white panama hat was watering the flowerbed beside the steps. He smiled at her.
Old man: Good afternoon, miss. A lovely day, isn't it?
Gillian: Yes, it certainly is.
Old man: Are you a new patient?
Gillian: Oh, I'm not a patient. I'm just here to do some research.
Old man: Will you be staying long?
Gillian: I really don't know. I wonder if you could direct me to Dr. Carmichael's office?
Old man: Certainly, miss. Just go through the main door, turn left, walk down to the end of the corridor, and it's the last door on the right.
Gillian: Thank you very much indeed.
Dr. Carmichael was waiting for her. He had been looking forward to meeting his new research assistant. He himself had always been interested in the special problems of long stay patients. Dr. Carmichael was very proud of his hospital and she was impressed by the relaxed and informal atmosphere. She spent the mornings interviewing patients, and the afternoons writing up the results of her research in the gardens. Some of the patients were withdrawn and depressed, some seemed
almost normal. Only one or two had to be kept locked up. She found it hard to believe that all of them had been thought too dangerous to live in normal society. She often saw the old man in the panama hat. He spent most of his time working in the gardens, but he always stopped to speak to her. She found out that his name was Maurice Featherstone. He was a gentle and mild-mannered old fellow, with clear, blue, honest eyes, white hair and a pinkish complexion. He always looked pleased with life. She became particularly curious about him, but Dr. Carmichael had never asked her to interview him, and she wondered why. One night, at dinner, she asked about Mr. Featherstone.
Dr. Carmichael: Ah, yes, Maurice. Nice old chap. He's been here longer than anybody.
Gillian: What's wrong with him?
Dr. Carmichael: Nothing. His family put him here thirty-five years ago. They never come to visit him, but the bills are always paid on time.
Gillian: But what had he done?
Dr. Carmichael: I'll show you his file. It seems that he burnt down his school when he was seventeen. His family tried to keep the incident quiet. Over the next few years there were a number of mysterious fires in his neighbourhood, but the family did nothing until he tried to set fire to the family mansion. He was in here the next day. Maurice never protested.
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Gillian: And that was thirty-five years ago!
Dr. Carmichael: I'm afraid so. If I'd had my way, I'd have let him out years ago.
Gillian: But he can't still be dangerous!
Dr. Carmichael: No. He's had plenty of opportunities. We even let him smoke. If he'd wanted to start a fire, he could have done it at any time.
Gillian was shocked by the story. She became determined to do something about it. She wrote letters to Maurice's family, but never received a reply. He had never been officially certified as insane, and legally, he could leave at any time. Dr. Carmichael was easily persuaded to let her talk to Maurice.
Gillian: Maurice, have you ever thought about leaving this place?
Maurice: No, miss. I'm very happy here. This is my home. And anyway, I've got nowhere to go.
Gillian: But wouldn't you like to go into the village sometimes ... to walk around, to buy your own tobacco?
Maurice: I've never thought about it, miss. I suppose it would be nice. But I wouldn't want to stay away for long. I've spent twenty years working on this garden. I know every flower and tree. What would happen to them if I weren't here?
Gillian realized that it would be unkind to make him leave the hospital. However,
she found out that the next Saturday was his birthday. She arranged with the staff to give him a party. They wanted it to be a surprise and Dr. Carmichael agreed to let him go out for the afternoon. There was a flower show in the village. Maurice left at two o'clock. He seemed quite excited. They expected him to return about four o'clock. The cook had made a birthday cake and the staff had decorated the lounge.
Gillian was standing in the window when she saw him. He was early. He was walking up the drive towards the house, whistling cheerfully. Behind him, above the trees, several thick black columns of smoke were beginning to rise slowly into the clear blue sky.
1. The student, puzzled about a particular point, decides to ask a question. As so often happens when under pressure, he tends to concentrate most of his attention on the subject matter and he pays practically no attention to the language. Consequently, (pause) he fails to employ the correct question form.
2. 2. However, even though the student does employ an appropriate question form, (pause) difficulties may still arise.
3. 3. The basic difficulty may, in fact, be one of several different types. It may lie in the student's limited aural perception, in other words, (pause) the student may not have clearly heard what was said.
4. 4. Learners of English have, for example, said to me such things as \"See me here tomorrow\" or \"Explain this\". Fortunately, as I deal with non-native speakers and as I understand their language problems, I interpret this as inadequacy in the
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language rather than rudeness. Other teachers, however, (pause) may feel angry at receiving such orders.
5. 5. Today I'm going to consider, very briefly, a problem concerned with the competition for land use, that i... that is (pause) whether crops should be used to produce food or to ... should be used to produce fuel.
6. 6. A particularly interesting possibility for many developing countries has been the conversion of plant material to alcohol. Th... this is interesting because in many developing countries there is a large agricultural sector, and at the same time (pause) a small industrial sector.
The School Holidays Are Too Long
Today the children of this country have at last returned to work. After two months' holiday pupils have started a new term. How many adults get such long holidays? Two to four weeks in the summer and public holidays—that's all the working man gets. As for the average woman, she's lucky to get a holiday at all. Children don't need such long holidays. In term-time they start work later and finish earlier than anyone else.
In the holidays most of them get bored, and some get into trouble. What a waste! If their overworked parents were given more free time instead, everyone would be happier.
This isn't just a national problem either—it's worldwide. Dates may be different
from country to country, but the pattern's the same. Why should children do half as much work and get twice as much holiday as their parents?
Lesson 6
Reporter: And now, Mrs. Skinner, can you tell us your story? What happened at your farm when the earthquake passed?
Mrs. Skinner: Oh, it was terrible. I'll never forget it to my dying day. I hope I never see anything like that again. It was terrible. Well, we always get up, Jack and me, at about quarter to five. He has to milk the cows early, you see, and while he's doing that I make his breakfast. I was in the kitchen when it came. Suddenly the whole house was moving. The coffee pot flew through the window, and I was on my back on the kitchen floor. The noise was terrible. Well, I knew what I had to do. You have to get outside, you know, it's safer there. So I ran through the house and opened the front door. Then I stopped—I couldn't believe it—everything was different, everything had changed, nothing was in the right place any more. You know outside our house there is a path to the gate—there was I should say—well, the path wasn't there any more. In front of the front door was our rose garden, not the path! And next to the rose garden were the eucalyptus trees, and behind them the raspberry patch—just as before, but they had all moved, moved about five metres to the left, to the south that is. On each side of the garden path we had a line of beautiful old cypress trees. Well these had now moved right down to the end of the house, to the left again that is. And the path had completely disappeared.
Reporter: But that's incredible, Mrs. Skinner. Do you mean that everything in
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front of your house had moved—what?—five metres to the left, I mean to the south? The raspberry patch, the eucalyptus trees, the rose-garden, the two lines of cypress trees—all had moved?
Mrs. Skinner: Yes, everything had moved into the place of the other!
Reporter: But your front path had completely disappeared?
Mrs. Skinner: Yes, that's right. Oh it was terrible, terrible.
Reporter: And your husband Jack? Was he all right?
Mrs. Skinner: Yes—but the cowshed had moved too—it had moved several metres. Jack was all right—I could see him running round after the cows—all the cows had escaped you see. They were running all over the place—it was impossible to catch them.
Reporter: So Jack, your husband, was all right.
Mrs. Skinner: Well he was a bit shocked like me, but he was all right. Oh, I forgot to tell you about the granary—that had moved south too. Its normal place was behind the house and now it was near the cowshed. Can you believe it?
Reporter: Incredible, Mrs. Skinner. And the house itself—what about your house?
Mrs. Skinner: Well then we saw what had happened. Everything had moved one
way—that is, to the south—except the house. The house—can you believe it?—had moved the other way—the house had moved north. So the house went one way and everything else—the garden, the trees, the granary—went the other way.
Reporter: Incredible, Mrs. Skinner, absolutely incredible.
A funny thing happened to me last Friday. I'd gone to London to do some shopping. I wanted to get some Christmas presents, and I needed to find some books for my course at college (you see, I'm a student). I caught an early train to London, so by early afternoon I'd bought everything that I wanted. Anyway, I'm not very fond of London, all the noise and traffic, and I'd made some arrangements for that evening. So, I took a taxi to Waterloo station. I can't really afford taxis, but I wanted to get the 3:30 train. Unfortunately the taxi got stuck in a traffic jam, and by the time I got to Waterloo, the train had just gone. I had to wait an hour for the next one. I bought an evening newspaper, the 'Standard', and wandered over to the station buffet. At that time of day it's nearly empty, so I bought a coffee and a packet of biscuits ... chocolate biscuits. I am very fond of chocolate biscuits. There were plenty of empty tables and I found one near the window. I sat down and began doing the crossword. I always enjoy doing crossword puzzles.
After a couple of minutes a man sat down opposite me. There was nothing special about him, except that he was very tall. In fact he looked like a typical city businessman ... you know, dark suit and briefcase. I didn't say anything and I carried on with my crossword. Suddenly he reached across the table, opened my packet of biscuits, took one, dipped it into his coffee and popped it into his mouth. I couldn't believe my eyes! I was too shocked to say anything. Anyway, I didn't want to make a
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fuss, so I decided to ignore it. I always avoid trouble if I can. I just took a biscuit myself and went back to my crossword.
When the man took a second biscuit, I didn't look up and I didn't make a sound. I pretended to be very interested in the puzzle. After a couple of minutes, I casually put out my hand, took the last biscuit and glanced at the man. He was staring at me furiously. I nervously put the biscuit in my mouth, and decided to leave. I was ready to get up and go when the man suddenly pushed back his chair, stood up and hurried out of the buffet. I felt very relieved and decided to wait two or three minutes before going myself. I finished my coffee, folded my newspaper and stood up. And there, on the table, where my newspaper had been, was my packet of biscuits.
Inspector: Morning, Sergeant. What have you got for me today?
Sergeant: We've got that tape from Gentleman Jim, sir. It was sent to us yesterday. They want to know if it's all right to send it to his wife.
Inspector: And is it?
Sergeant: I don't know sir. I'm sure there's a message hidden in the tape, but I don't know what it is. It's been examined by half the police force in London, and nothing was found. But there is something very peculiar about that tape.
Inspector: Well, what is it?
Sergeant: Well, sir, he talks about happy memories and things. And really,
Inspector, I don't think Gentleman Jim really feels like that about anything. I don't think he means any of it. I'm sure there is something else on the tape, and it's hidden in what he says. But I can't find it.
Inspector: The tape is all right, is it? It wasn't tampered with when Gentleman Jim recorded the message?
Sergeant: The tape was carefully examined by three different experts, and they didn't find anything. Whatever it is, it's in the words.
Inspector: Well, I think I'd better listen to this tape, and see if I can find this mystery message.
Sergeant: Right you are sir, it's waiting for you.
Jim: Hello my dear wife. I want you to listen very carefully to this recording. Play it over and over again, and enjoy all the beautiful things I want to remind you about. Don't worry about me, just think about the beautiful things, and I'm sure you will be very happy, and you will find something very comforting in my words. Are you ready? I want to remind you of some really happy memories. Do you remember the day when we first met? You were very beautiful. There was a lot of sunshine that day, do you remember? There aren't many girls who are very beautiful, are there? But you were lovely. And our children. They're very beautiful. Two lovely girls, and a handsome boy, although they're all in prison now. I remember when our son was small, he had lovely blue eyes, and very beautiful gold curly hair. Do you remember the toys he used to play with? I remember his teddy bear, and also some very 70
beautiful bricks, which he used to play with on the bedroom floor. Those were happy
days. Do you remember, dear wife, the first dance we went to? You wore a blue dress and you looked very beautiful in the moonlight, and we danced until the morning, and then I took you home on my motorbike. Your mother was waiting for us, and she looked very beautiful. The next day I asked you to marry me. I don't think your mother was very pleased. She wanted us to buy the house next to her, do you remember? But we wanted a bigger house, with a very beautiful garden and we found one. I like our house very much. I remember coming home one day in the winter, and looking at our house. It looked very beautiful under the white snow, and I knew that you were waiting in the kitchen with a cup of hot soup, and my dear friend Ginger. Poor Ginger. He has been in prison too. He says that you are very beautiful. The important thing in prison is to have happy memories. And I've got
wonderful memories. Do you remember Ginger's cat? It was a very beautiful big black cat. Ginger liked it very much. He bought it fish to eat, and a very beautiful red ribbon, which he tied around its neck. I always liked Ginger's cat. I'm sorry I did not want to see you when you came. I wanted to send you this message instead. When I come home, I will buy you some expensive perfume, or a very beautiful rose. Play this recording many times, and think carefully about my words. Think about what came after all these beautiful things, and walk into the country, sit down beside the river, under a very beautiful tree, and think about me. Your loving Gentleman Jim.
Inspector: Is that all?
Sergeant: Yes, that's all.
Inspector: You're quite right. There is something very peculiar about that
message. Look, I've written some questions for you.
Inspector: Well, I think Gentleman Jim has hidden a message in the tape.
Sergeant: Yes sir, so do I. He keeps telling his wife to play the message over and over again.
Inspector: He tells her that she'll find something comforting. What do you think he means by that?
Sergeant: Well sir, perhaps there is money hidden somewhere, and this message tells his wife where to look?
Inspector: I wish he'd tell us where to look. Then perhaps we'd find the message.
Sergeant: I think he has told us, Inspector.
Inspector: What do you mean?
Sergeant: Well, did you notice that he keeps saying the same words over again?
Inspector: Yes, of course. He says everything is very beautiful.
Sergeant: Mm, that's right. And he tells his wife to think about these beautiful things. That must be a clue.
Inspector: Well, what does he say? His wife is beautiful, the girls are beautiful,
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his son is beautiful, the bricks were beautiful ...
Sergeant: That's a very funny thing to say.
Inspector: Yes, it is. But wife, girls, son, bricks. It doesn't make any sense. 'Very beautiful bricks,' he said. It's nonsense!
Sergeant: Just a minute. Do you remember what Gentleman Jim said at the end of the recording?
Inspector: What was that?
Sergeant: He said, 'Think about what came after all these beautiful things.' I think that's the answer, Inspector. Play it again, and every time he says 'very beautiful' write down the next word. I think we'll find Gentleman Jim's message.
Inspector: Right Sergeant. That's very clever of you. Well done!
1. When it has been decided what's to be read—a chapter of a book, for example—then it's helpful to get an overview of the contents before starting to read. This can be done by reading the introduction, usually the opening paragraph, and the conclusion, usually the final paragraph. In addition, (pause) a glance at the headings of sections or subsections will show the order in which the items are introduced.
2. 2. Finally, the students should ask themselves a specific question connected with the main part of their reading. They should then endeavour to answer it by
making appropriate notes as they read. This will help them to focus on the reading as well as (pause) providing a summary which can be reread later.
3. 3. When the student is writing a dissertation or doing a piece of research then he will need to consult a specialized bibliography. This is a book which lists all the published materials on a particular subject, and in some cases gives a brief summary of each item. Very recent research, however, (pause) may not appear in a bibliography.
4. 4. There's the type of error which leads to misunderstanding or, even worse, to a total breakdown in communication. The causes of such misunderstandings and breakdowns are numerous, and I'll therefore be able to (pause) do no more than try to cover the most important ones here.
5. 5. Very often those students who come from a language background which is Indo-European, misuse English words which have a similar form to those in their native language. Spanish speakers, for example, expect the English word \"actually\" to mean the same as the Spanish word \"actualmente\". Unfortunately, (pause) it doesn't.
6. 6. Finally, we come to the third type of error. This is the least damaging of the three, though (pause) it's still important.
Sign Language
Deaf people, people who can't hear, are still able to communicate quite well
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with a special language. It's called sign language. The speaker of sign language uses hand gestures in order to communicate. Basic sign language has been used for a long, long time, but sign language wasn't really developed until about 250 years ago. In the middle of the 1700s a Frenchman named Epee developed sign language. Epee was able to speak and hear, but he worked during most of his life as a teacher of deaf people in France. Epee developed a large number of vocabulary words for sign language. Epee taught these words to his deaf students. Epee's system used mostly picture image signs. We call them picture image signs because the signs create a picture. For example, the sign for sleep is to put both hands together, and then to place the hands flat against the right side of your face, and then to lower your head slightly to the right. This action was meant to show the position of sleep. So we call it a picture image sign.
Try to Remember
Try to Remember the kind of September
When life was slow and also mellow
Try to Remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow
Try to Remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow
Try to Remember and if you remember
Then follow
Follow ...
Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow
Try to remember the kind of September
When love was an ember about to billow
Try to remember, and if you remember
Then follow
Follow ...
Deep in December It's nice to remember
Although you know the snow will follow
Deep in December It's nice to remember
The fell of september that makes us mellow
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Deep in December Our hearts should remember
And follow
Follow ...
Lesson 7
Professor Ernest Watson was answering questions on a radio phone-in programme on the subject of learning a foreign language.
Listener: Hello, Professor, can you hear me?
Prof W: Yes, we can hear you fine.
Listener: My name is Humphries, Albert Humphries, and I live in Balham, in London.
Prof W: Yes, good evening Mr. Humphries. What is your question?
Mr. H: I've been studying Spanish for some years. I go to Spain on holiday sometimes. I've learnt quite a lot of grammar and vocabulary. But I find it very difficult to speak, and when I went to Spain this summer, I couldn't understand the Spanish people at all. I got really disheartened.
Prof W: Yes, it is a problem. How long have you been studying Spanish?
Mr. H: About four years.
Prof W: Yes, how exactly? Going to an evening class, using tapes ...?
Mr. H: I've been going to an evening class and I've watched quite a lot of the BBC television programmes.
Prof W: Oh, yes. They're very good. Did you buy the BBC book?
Mr. H: No, we use a different book in the class. But I watched the programmes.
Prof W: Yes, I see ... Mr. Humphries, I always think that learning a language is rather like learning to drive. Now, you couldn't learn to drive a car by sitting in a classroom or watching television. I think what you need is a lot of practice in using the language.
Mr. H: That's all very well if you live in the country where they speak the language but I don't.
Prof W: Yes, I understand the problem. Though even if you live in the country where the language is spoken, you have to reach a certain standard before you are able to have conversations with the natives. I was thinking perhaps you might arrange with another student or students to have regular conversation practice.
Mr. H: But the other students make the same mistakes as I do.
Prof W: I think you're confusing learning with practicing. Remember what I said
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about driving a car. Learning to speak means being able to put together the right groups of words and to say them in a reasonably accurate way.
Mr. H: And what about learning to understand real Spanish?
Prof W: Well, again, you need practice in hearing the Spanish language spoken by Spanish speakers. There are Spanish speakers in London. Get one of them to read some extracts from a Spanish newspaper onto a cassette. Have you got a cassette recorder?
Mr. H: Yes.
Prof W: Then you want to listen and listen and listen to the recordings until you almost know them by heart, just as if you were learning to drive, you'd practice parking the car, over and over again, till you could do it perfectly. Learning to speak a language is a very hard business. You don't need a huge vocabulary. You need a small vocabulary that you can use really efficiently, and to be able to do that you need lots and lots of practice.
Woman: Good morning.
Librarian: Morning, can I help you?
Woman: Yes, I'd like to join the library. We're new to the district you see.
Librarian: Certainly. Well all we need is some sort of identification with your name and address on it.
Woman: Oh dear. We just moved, you see, and everything has my old address.
Librarian: A driving licence, perhaps?
Woman: No, I don't drive.
Librarian: Your husband's would do.
Woman: Yes, but his licence will still have the old address on it.
Librarian: Perhaps you have a letter addressed to you at your new house?
Woman: No, I'm afraid not. We've only been there a few days you see and no one's written to us yet.
Librarian: What about your bank book?
Woman: That's just the same. Oh dear, and I did want to get some books out this weekend. We're going on holiday to relax after the move, you see, and I wanted to take something with me to read.
Librarian: Well, I'm sorry, but we can't possibly issue tickets without some form of identification. What about your passport?
Woman: What? Oh yes, how silly of me. I've just got a new one and it does have our new address. I've just been to book our tickets so I have it on me. Just a minute. Here you are.
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Librarian: Thank you. Well, that's all right. Now if you'd like to go and choose your books your tickets will be ready for you when you come back to the desk to have them stamped out.
Woman: Oh, thank you. Er, how many books am I allowed to take out?
Librarian: You can take four books out at a time and you also get two tickets to take out magazines or periodicals. Newspapers, I'm afraid can't be taken out; they have to be read here.
Woman: Oh that's fine. We have our own daily newspaper delivered to the house. Oh, do you have a record library? Some libraries do, I know.
Librarian: Yes, we do. You have to pay a deposit of £5 in case you damage them. But that entitles you to take out two records at a time. We also have everything available on cassette if you prefer it. Cassettes seem to be much more popular than records lately.
Woman: Oh yes, as a matter of fact, I would prefer cassettes but I won't take any out today. I'll leave it until we come back from our holidays. Could you show me where your history and biography sections are, please?
Librarian: Yes, just over there to your right. If there's any particular book you want you can look it up in the catalogue, which you'll find just round the corner.
Woman: Thank you. Oh, and how long am I allowed to keep the books for?
Librarian: For three weeks. After that you must telephone to renew the books if you wish to keep them longer. Otherwise we charge 20p a day fine for each book.
Woman: Oh dear. We're going away for six weeks. Can I renew them now?
Librarian: I'm afraid not. You must do that at the end of three weeks. Someone else might want them you see. And in that case we have to ask you to return them.
Woman: You mean, if someone wants them after my three weeks are up I have to bring them back?
Librarian: Yes, but just telephone and we'll see what we can do.
Woman: But I'm going to Tahiti. It would cost a fortune.
Librarian: Well ...
Woman: Oh, never mind. I'll leave it until we get back. It's not worth all the bother. I'll get some paperbacks in the airport. Well, thank you. I'm sorry I've been such a nuisance. Good morning.
Librarian: Not at all. Good morning.
Receptionist: United World Colleges. Can I help you?
Julian: Yes, I'd like some information about the colleges, please.
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Receptionist: Hold the line. I'll put you through to the International Secretary.
Creighton: Good morning. Robert Creighton speaking.
Julian: Good morning. My name's Julian Harris and I have a friend in Spain who's interested in applying for a place at one of the colleges. There are one or two questions which she'd like me to ask you.
Creighton: Go ahead.
Julian: Thanks. The first one is: what language is used for normal lessons?
Creighton: Well, the main language of instruction in all the colleges is English. But at Pacific College in Canada some subjects are taught in French, and at the College of the Adriatic some may be taught in Italian.
Julian: Right. Her next question is about fees. Is it expensive to go to one of the colleges?
Creighton: Students' parents don't have to be rich, if that's what you mean. There are scholarships for all colleges, but we do ask parents to help by paying what they can afford.
Julian: Good, she'll be glad to hear that. Now she wants to know something about getting into a college. Does she have to get high marks in her examinations?
Creighton: Ah, yes, well she will have to do well, but academic ability is not the
only thing that's important. We also look at personal qualities.
Julian: What sort of things do you mean?
Creighton: Maturity, the ability to get on well with people from different countries, that sort of thing.
Julian: Of course. I understand what you mean. Her last question is about her other interests. Can she do painting and modern dancing, for example?
Creighton: Yes, probably. It depends on the staff at the college she enters. Each college has its own special activities, such as theatre studies or environmental work, in which students can take part.
Julian: Good. I think that's all. Thank you very much for your help.
Creighton: You're welcome. I hope your friend sends in an application.
Julian: I'm sure she will. Thanks again. Goodbye.
Creighton: Goodbye.
Grace: It's so great seeing you guys again.
Curtis: Yeah.
Martin: I agree.
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Grace: I can't believe it's been twenty years since we were all in college together.
Martin: You know something, I remember it as if it were yesterday.
Curtis: I do ... (Yeah.) I was just going to say, as if it were yesterday.
Martin: Incredible.
Grace: Martin, what do you remember most about our college days?
Martin: Oh, I remember most?
Grace: Uh-huh.
Martin: Curtis's hair ... down to his waist.
Curtis: Now, I remember how Grace looked. (Wha ...) She always had a flower painted on her face, remember that?
Martin: Oh, yes. I remember that.
Grace: Now wait, wait. Let's not forget about Martin and his air-conditioned blue jeans. I never saw anybody with more holes in their jeans than Martin.
Martin: They're a classic. You know, I still have those blue jeans. (Oh.)
Grace: Still have them? I don't believe it.
Curtis: Oh. Incredible. I don't either.
Martin: And I still wear them, too.
Curtis: You know, I was just thinking the other day—it's funny-about that worst ... worst thing that happened in college.
Martin: The worst thing?
Grace: What was that?
Curtis: Yeah. The time we were driving home from college for a spring break, remember? (Oooh.) (Ooh. Yeah. Oooh.) It was a holiday, and every gas station was closed. And that darn gas gauge was on empty.
Martin: And (We were desperate.) we stopped at that gas station and tried to get some gas out of that pump.
Grace: And the neighbours saw us and called the police. We almost got arrested. (Oooh.) Gosh, I was scared stiff.
Martin: You were scared stiff? I was petrified. And—but, you know, it was a lot different from the time we actually did get arrested.
Curtis: Umm.
Grace: Yeah. You know, that's my best memory. That peace demonstration.
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(Yeah.) You know, somehow getting arrested for something you believe in isn't ... isn't scary at all.
Curtis: No, it isn't at all.
Martin: You're right.
Curtis: But it did help that there were five hundred other students getting arrested along with us.
Martin: That was a great day, though.
Grace: Hey, hey, you all remember our last day of college?
Martin: What, you mean graduation?
Curtis: Graduation, what's to remember? None of you went to graduation. I didn't go.
Martin: Do you regret that, that ... that after all these years you skipped out on the ceremony?
Grace: Not me. Hey, I've changed my mind about a lot of things in twenty years, but I don't think we missed anything that day.
Curtis: No, nothing at all. And that picnic that the three of us had by the stream, remember? (That was great.) (Oooh.) Drinking wine, playing guitar, singing. Oh, that
was worth more to me than any graduation ceremony.
Martin: That was (Mm-hmm.) the best graduation ceremony there could have been.
Curtis: Mm-hmm.
1. Most of the subjects of the enquiry think that nearly every word in English has just one meaning.
2. 2. While it's true, of course, that many words in English do have only one meaning, it can easily be shown that the majority have more than one.
3. 3. The third important misconception on the part of the students is their idea that a word can be used correctly as soon as its meaning is known.
4. 4. English has a larger vocabulary than any other language. The reason for this, of course, is that it has been influenced by several other languages. It has, in fact, borrowed words from many sources. It is, therefore, particularly rich in synonyms.
5. 5. Perhaps more important is a grammatical matter, namely that some words which mean the same can only be used when certain other words are present.
6. 6. Unfortunately, when many students pick up a book to read they tend to have no particular purpose in mind other than simply to read the book.
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7. 7. The result is that students frequently don't have an overall view of what they're reading; also, they tend to forget fairly soon what they've been reading.
8. 8. One reason for poor comprehension from reading may be that students fail to make notes or to ask themselves questions about the text.
9. 9. If the reading material was broken down every twenty-five pages by short tests, reminding him what he had read, he could go on without fatigue or loss of efficiency for periods of up to six hours.
10. 10. If he can increase his reading speed without loss of comprehension, then he'll have become a more efficient reader.
Credit Cards
Many businesses, such as department stores, restaurants, hotels and airline companies, use a credit system for selling their products and services. In a credit system, the seller agrees to sell something to the buyer without immediately receiving cash. The buyer receives the goods or services immediately and promises to pay for them later. This \"buy-now-pay-later\" credit system is quite old. People have been buying things on credit for centuries. But nowadays people use credit cards. There are two types of credit cards. One type is issued directly by a store to a customer. Many large department stores issue credit cards to their customers. The store credit card can be used to make purchases only at a particular store. The other kind of credit card is issued by a credit company. Credit cards from credit companies can be used to buy things almost anywhere. If you have a major credit card, you can
buy airplane tickets, stay at hotels, and eat at restaurants with it. Most large credit companies are connected to large banks. So if you want a credit card from a credit company, you generally have to make an application at a bank. After an applicant receives a credit card, he or she can make purchases, using the card.
Lesson 8
Interviewer: We continue with the World of Investigation. Laura, an identical twin, has agreed to contribute to our investigations. I must apologize for the fact that Laura's twin cannot be here tonight. And I'd like to tell you, Laura, how sorry we are. You and your sister are very close, aren't you?
Laura: Of course we are.
Interviewer: Interesting! You said 'of course'. Don't you think there are quite a few sisters who aren't close?
Laura: Sarah and I aren't just sisters. We're identical twins.
Interviewer: I take your point. How identical are you, in fact?
Laura: Both blonde, with brown eyes. Same height, same weight, same size. Even shoes.
Interviewer: As you're the same size, have you always dressed alike?
Laura: Oh yes. I'm told it started when we were babies. Mum made a feature of
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her twins. And then we got into the habit of buying two of everything.
Interviewer: And you've never minded having a double identity? I mean ... another person exactly like you?
Laura: Sarah isn't exactly like me. We may look identical, but. I remember our boyfriends couldn't tell us apart.
Interviewer: Didn't that cause problems?
Laura: For them, perhaps. Not for us. We couldn't stop laughing.
Interviewer: I think you said you and Sarah weren't exactly alike? Just what did you mean by that?
Laura: Sarah has a well-fed happy husband and four healthy children. When she was washing up, I was learning to type. When she was knitting, I was writing articles for the school newspaper. When she was having her second child, I was in Panama, doing my first job for United Information Services. See what I mean?
Interviewer: And haven't you got a healthy husband and happy children?
Laura: You must be joking. There's never been the time ... or the inclination.
Interviewer: Laura, you've made some very interesting points. I gather that you don't feel that behaviour is purely genetic ... that there might be some element of environment or choice or even perhaps ...
Laura: Shall I conclude? Sarah and I are identical twins ... in appearance, that is ... but it's a fact that life has presented us with different opportunities, so we've led very different lives.
Alan and Barbara have just read an article about twins and coincidences. They are discussing the article over lunch. Listen to their discussion.
Alan: That idea about our genetic make-up is rather frightening, isn't it?
Barbara: Do you mean the idea that because of our genetic make-up we are bound to act in a particular way?
Alan: Yes. If it's true, then it suggests that criminals are born and not made.
Barbara: Not necessarily. It would only mean that somebody was born with the potential to become a criminal.
Alan: How do you mean?
Barbara: Well, if somebody was born with a particular set of genes that made him a potential criminal, it would be necessary for him to be brought up in a particular way if he was actually going to become a criminal.
Alan: He'd have to grow up in a family of criminals, you mean?
Barbara: Yes, in the sort of family that regarded crime as a way of life and saw the police as the enemy.
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Alan: They say it takes a thief to catch a thief.
Barbara: What do you mean by that?
Alan: Well, I suppose I mean that similar qualities are necessary to become a successful criminal or a first-class policeman.
Barbara: That's a bit hard on the policeman, isn't it?
Alan: I don't think so. In time of war men who might easily be in jail win medals for gallantry.
Barbara: That's because they're the sort of men who aren't satisfied with a normal everyday job.
Alan: Yes, they're men who get bored with ordinary life and want action. They're usually pretty strong characters, too.
Secretary: Mr. Turner's office.
Caller 1: Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr. Turner, please.
Secretary: I'm sorry, he's in a meeting right now. May I take a message?
Caller 1: Uh, yes. This is Mary Roberts from the First National Bank. (Mm-hmm.) Would you ask him to call me at 772-1852?
Secretary: Okay. That's 772-18-?
Caller 1: 52.
Secretary: Okay.
Caller 1: He can reach me at this number until, say, twelve thirty, or between two and five this afternoon.
Secretary: That's fine, Ms Roberts. I'll tell him. I'll give him your message.
Caller 1: Thank you very much. Goodbye.
Secretary: Goodbye ... Mr. Turner's office.
Caller 2: Yes. Hello. Is Mr. Turner in, please.
Secretary: No, I'm sorry, he's in a meeting right now. May I take a message?
Caller 2: This is Mr. Brown calling. I have a lunch appointment with Mr. Turner for tomorrow noon that I have to cancel. I'm going to be out of town for a while. Would you offer my apologies to Mr. Turner and have him call me, please, to reschedule? My number here is 7439821.
Secretary: Okay, Mr. Brown. I'll make sure he gets the message.
Caller 2: Thank you so much.
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Secretary: You're welcome.
Caller 2: Bye-bye, now.
Secretary: Bye-bye ... Mr. Turner's office.
Caller 3: Hello, Jane. Is my husband in?
Secretary: Oh, no, Mrs. Turner. I'm sorry. He's in a meeting until noon.
Caller 3: Oh.
Secretary: Oh, excuse me just a minute. I have another call. Can you hold for a second?
Caller 3: Yes, sure.
Secretary: Mr. Turner's office. Will you hold please? Hello, Mrs. Turner. Uh ... Would you like your husband to call you back?
Caller 3: No. That's not necessary. But would you just tell him, please, that I won't be home until eight o'clock? I'll be working late.
Secretary: Oh, sure. I'll tell him.
Caller 3: Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.
Secretary: Bye-bye. Thank you for holding. Uh ... Can I help you?
Caller 4: Yeah. Hi. This is Wendy at Travel Agents International. Umm ... I've got Mr. Turner booked on a flight for Puerto Rico next Tuesday. Can you take down the information?
Secretary: Sure.
Caller 4: Okay. It's Pan Am Flight two twenty-six, which leaves Tuesday the twelfth at eight am.
Secretary: Okay. That's Pan Am Flight two twenty-six, leaving Tuesday the twelfth at eight am.
Caller 4: Right. Umm ... I'll send the ticket over later this afternoon, if that's okay.
Secretary: Oh, sure. That'd be fine.
Caller 4: Okay. Thanks lot. Bye.
Secretary: Bye-bye ... Mr. Turner's office.
Caller 5: Hello. Uh ... My name is Juan Salvador. I'm calling from Puerto Rico, and I want to speak to Mr. Turner.
Secretary: I'm sorry, sir, Mr. Turner is in a meeting. May I take a message?
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Caller 5: I ... think it would be better if I ... uh ... call him later. Uh ... Will you please tell me when he's going to be free?
Secretary: He'll be free in about an hour.
Caller 5: Oh, thanks. Uh ... Why don't you leave him a message saying that I called him and I will call him back? It's in regard to our meeting on next Wednesday.
Secretary: Okay. Uh ... Could you give me your name again, please?
Caller 5: Yes, of course. Juan Salvador.
Secretary: Could you spell that, please?
Caller 5: Yes. S-a-l-v-a.
Secretary: Uh ... Excuse me, sir. I'm having trouble hearing you. Could you repeat it, please?
Caller 5: Yes, of course. S-a-l-v-a-d-o-r.
Secretary: Thank you very much, Mr. Salvador. I'll give Mr. Turner the message.
Caller 5: Oh, thank you very much. Bye-bye.
Secretary: Bye-bye.
Night Flight
'This is Captain Cook speaking. Our estimated time of arrival in Brisbane will be one am, so we've got a long flight ahead of us. I hope you enjoy it. Our hostesses will be serving dinner shortly. Thank you.'
It was Christmas Eve 1959, and the beginning of another routine flight. The hostesses started preparing the food trays. A few of the passengers were trying to get some sleep, but most of them were reading. There was nothing to see from the windows except the vast blackness of the Australian desert below. There was nothing unusual about the flight, except perhaps that the plane was nearly full. A lot of the passengers were travelling home to spend Christmas with their families. The hostesses started serving dinner.
It was a smooth and quiet flight. The hostesses had finished collecting the trays, and they were in the galley putting things away when the first buzzers sounded. One of the hostesses went along the aisle to check. When she came back she looked surprised. 'It's amazing,' she said. 'Even on a smooth flight like this two people have been sick.'
Twenty minutes later nearly half the passengers were ill—dramatically ill. Several were moaning and groaning, some were doubled up in pain, and two were unconscious. Fortunately there was a doctor on board, and he was helping the hostesses. He came to the galley and said, 'I'd better speak to the captain. This is a severe case of food poisoning. I think we'd better land as soon as possible.' 'What caused it?' asked one of the hostesses. 'Well,' replied the doctor, 'I had the beef for
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dinner, and I'm fine. The passengers who chose the fish are ill.' The hostess led him to the flight deck. She tried to open the door. 'I think it's jammed,' she said. The doctor helped her to push it open. The captain was lying behind the door. He was unconscious. The co-pilot was slumped across the controls, and the radio operator was trying to revive him.
The doctor quickly examined the two pilots. 'They just collapsed,' said the radio operator. 'I don't feel too good myself.' 'Can you land the plane?' said the doctor. 'Me? No, I'm not a pilot. We've got to revive them!' he replied. 'The plane's on automatic pilot. We're OK for a couple of hours.' 'I don't know,' said the doctor. 'They could be out for a long time.' 'I'd better contact ground control,' said the radio operator. The doctor turned to the hostess. 'Perhaps you should make an announcement, try to find out if there's a pilot on board.' 'We can't do that!' she said, 'It'll cause a general panic.' 'Well, how the hell are we going to get this thing down?' said the doctor.
Suddenly the hostess remembered something. 'One of the passengers ... I overheard him saying that he'd been a pilot in the war. I'll get him.' She found the man and asked him to come to the galley. 'Didn't you say you used to be a pilot?' she asked. 'Yes ... why? The pilot's all right, isn't he?' She led him to the flight deck. They explained the situation to him. 'You mean, you want me to fly the plane?' he said. 'You must be joking. I was a pilot, but I flew single-engined fighter planes, and that was fifteen years ago. This thing's got four engines!'
'Isn't there anybody else?' he asked. 'I'm afraid not,' said the hostess. The man sat down at the controls. His hands were shaking slightly. The radio operator
connected him to Air Traffic Control. They told him to keep flying on automatic pilot towards Brisbane, and to wait for further instructions from an experienced pilot. An hour later the lights of Brisbane appeared on the horizon. He could see the lights of the runway shining brightly beyond the city. Air Traffic Control told him to keep circling until the fuel gauge registered almost empty. This gave him a chance to get used to handling the controls. In the cabin the hostesses and the doctor were busy attending to the sick. Several people were unconscious. The plane circled for over half an hour. The passengers had begun to realize that something was wrong. 'What's going on? Why don't we land?' shouted a middle aged man. 'My wife's ill. We've got to get her to hospital!' A woman began sobbing quietly. At last the plane started its descent. Suddenly there was a bump which shook the plane. 'We're all going to die!' screamed a man. Even the hostesses looked worried as panic began to spread through the plane. 'It's all right!' someone said. 'The pilot's just lowered the wheels, that's all.' As the plane approached the runway they could see fire trucks and ambulances speeding along beside the runway with their lights flashing. There was a tremendous thump as the wheels hit the tarmac, bounced twice, raced along the runway and screeched to a halt. The first airport truck was there in seconds. 'That was nearly a perfect landing. Well done!' shouted the control tower. 'Thanks,' said the man. 'Any chance of a job?'
1. Thousands of people die of heart attacks every year; heart disease is becoming so widespread that we can almost talk of an epidemic.
2. 2. That is, people with heart disease often show one or more of these traits.
3. 3. The answer is, a person's personality determines that he or she will be likely
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to develop this illness.
4. 4. They set themselves unrealistic goals and force themselves to meet impossible deadlines.
5. 5. Eventually their responses to life become less creative, more automatic, and all of their activities are performed under stress.
6. 6. In the past, men have tended to show Type A behaviour more than women have, but with an increasing number of women entering the labour force, this also may change.
7. 7. Stress seems to be caused by our highly technical, highly rushed modern way of life.
8. 8. Now it is not uncommon for a sixty or fifty or even a forty-year-old to suffer a heart attack.
9. 9. Too preoccupied with his own schedule, he has little capacity to concentrate on what other people are saying—unless, of course, they are talking about work.
10. 10. When he returns to work, he finds that the leisure time of the night before has helped him find a creative solution to his work problems.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Once upon a time there was a very naughty shepherd boy. He often fell asleep while he was watching his sheep. And he told lies. The villagers shook their heads and said, 'That boy will come to a bad end.'
One day, when he was feeling very bored, the boy decided to play a practical joke on the villagers. He ran down the hill. 'Wolf, wolf!' he cried. 'Help, come quickly. Wolf!' All the villagers seized their spears and ran to help him. But there was no wolf. 'He heard you,' the naughty boy lied, 'and ran away.' When everyone had gone, he started to laugh.
Three weeks later, when he was feeling very bored indeed, he decided to play the same trick again. 'Wolf, wolf!' he shouted. 'Help, come quickly. Wolf!' Most of the villagers hurried to help him. This time the boy laughed at them. 'Ha, ha. There wasn't a wolf,' he said. 'What a good joke!' The villagers were very angry. 'Lies are not jokes,' they said.
Two days later the boy woke up suddenly. He had fallen asleep in the afternoon sun. What was that big dark animal coming towards his flock? Suddenly it seized a lamb. 'Wolf!' screamed the boy. 'Wolf. Help, come quickly. Wolf!' But none of the villagers came to help him. He screamed again. The wolf heard him and licked its lips. 'I like lamb,' it thought, 'but shepherd boy tastes much nicer.'
When the shepherd boy didn't come home that night, some of the villagers went to look for him. They found a few bones.
Lesson 9
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Catherine has just left school and she wants to find a job. She and her mother have come to speak to the Careers Advisory Officer.
Listen to their conversation.
Officer: Oh, come in, take a seat. I'm the Careers Officer. You're Cathy, aren't you?
Mother: That's right. This is Catherine Hunt, and I'm her mother.
Officer: How do you do, Mrs Hunt. Hello, Catherine.
Cathy: Hello. Pleased to meet you.
Officer: And you'd like some advice about choosing a career?
Mother: Yes, she would. Wouldn't you, Catherine?
Cathy: Yes, Please.
Officer: Well, just let me ask a few questions to begin with. How old are you, Catherine?
Mother: She's nineteen. Well, she's almost nineteen. She'll be nineteen next month.
Officer: And what qualifications have you got?
Mother: Well, qualifications from school of course. Very good results she got. And she's got certificates for ballet and for playing the piano.
Officer: Is that what you're interested in, Catherine, dancing and music?
Cathy: Well ...
Mother: Ever since she was a little girl she's been very keen on her music and dancing. She ought to be a music teacher or something. She's quite willing to train for a few more years to get the right job, aren't you, Catherine?
Cathy: Well, if it's a good idea.
Mother: There you are, you see. She's good girl really. A bit lazy and disorganized sometimes, but she's very bright. I'm sure the Careers Officer will have lots of jobs for you.
Officer: Well, I'm afraid it's not as easy as that. There are many young people these days who can't find the job they want.
Mother: I told you so, Catherine. I told you shouldn't wear that dress. You have to look smart to get a job these days.
Officer: I think she looks very nice. Mrs. Hunt, will you come into the other office for a moment and look at some of the information we have there. I'm sure you'd like to see how we can help young people.
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Mother: Yes, I'd love to. Mind you, I think Catherine would be a very nice teacher. She could work with young children. She'd like that. Or she could be a vet. She's always looking after sick animals.
Officer: I'm afraid there's a lot of competition. You need very good results to be a vet. This way, Mrs. Hunt. Just wait a minute, Catherine.
* * *
Officer: There are just one or two more things, Catherine.
Cathy: Do call me Cathy.
Officer: OK, Cathy. Are you really interested in being a vet?
Cathy: Not really. Anyway, I'm not bright enough. I'm reasonably intelligent, but I'm not brilliant. I'm afraid my mother is a bit over-optimistic.
Officer: Yes, I guessed that. She's a bit overpowering, isn't she, your mum?
Cathy: A bit. But she's very kind.
Officer: I'm sure she is. So, you're interested in ballet and music, are you?
Cathy: Not really. My mother sent me to lessons when I was six, so I'm quite good, I suppose. But I don't think I want to do that for the rest of my life, especially music. It's so lonely.
Officer: What do you enjoy doing?
Cathy: Well, I like playing tennis, and swimming. Oh, I went to France with the school choir last year. I really enjoyed that. And I like talking to people. But I suppose you mean real interests—things that would help me to get a job?
Officer: No. I'm more interested in what you really want to do. You like talking to people, do you?
Cathy: Oh yes, I really enjoy meeting new people.
Officer: Do you think you would enjoy teaching?
Cathy: No, no, I don't really. I was never very interested in school work, and I'd like to do something different. Anyway, there's a teacher training college very near us. It would be just like going to school again.
Officer: So you don't want to go on training?
Cathy: Oh, I wouldn't mind at all, not for something useful. I wondered about being a hairdresser—you meet lots of people, and you learn to do something properly—but I don't know. It doesn't seem very worthwhile.
Officer: What about nursing?
Cathy: Nursing? In a hospital? Oh, I couldn't do that, I'm not good enough.
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Officer: Yes, you are. You've got good qualifications in English and Maths. But it is very hard work.
Cathy: Oh, I don't mind that.
Officer: And it's not very pleasant sometimes.
Cathy: That doesn't worry me either. Mum's right. I do look after sick animals. I looked after our dog when it was run over by a car. My mother was sick, but I didn't mind. I was too worried about the dog. Do you really think I could be a nurse?
Officer: I think you could be a very good nurse. You'd have to leave home, of course.
Cathy: I rather think I should enjoy that.
Officer: Well, don't decide all at once. Here's some information about one or two other things which might suit you. Have a look through it before you make up your mind.
Speaker 1. When I was at university, I was—I was horrified by what had happened to a lot of my friends by the time they reached the end of the course. Having spent their university careers being all the things one is at university—clever, artistic, very noisy—at the end of their time they all seemed to take entry exams for the ... the Civil Service, and there were some of them who went ... huh ... went as low as to go into the Tax Office huh. How grey, how grey, I thought. But now huh. well, look at me!
Speaker 2. The circular letters I get drive me absolutely mad, from American Express, etc. They're sent to my work address and they're all addressed to Mr. S Andrews! Obviously they found the name on some published list and assumed that anybody who wasn't a secretary must of course be a man. It's stupid really, because the Company does put Mr. or Ms. in front of the names on its departmental lists, but perhaps because they naturally assume it's a man, they're just blind to the women's names amongst the heads of departments.
Speaker 3. I work in London at er ... a large hospital as a nursing officer. It's erm ... it's what a lot of people call a male nurse, which I think is the most ridiculous term I've ever come across. It ... sort of implies that a nurse ought to be female and that by being male I'm different, but er ... the idea still carries on. The other thing is that people always say 'I suppose you really wanted to be a doctor', just because I'm a man. They can't imagine that I really wanted to be a nurse and that er ... erm ... it wasn't just that I failed to be a doctor. And ... what they don't realize is the work's completely different, you know as a ... a male nurse you've much more contact with the er ... patients and, you know, a long term responsibility for their ... their welfare huh. There's no way I'd want to be a doctor. Well, except for the money of course.
Speaker 4. Whenever I say I'm a bank manager, half the time people tend to laugh. I've never understood why. I suppose bank managers do have a rather stuffy bourgeois image, but I can't see why it's funny.
Speaker 5. I'm a sales representative, what used to be called a travelling salesman, and for some reason there's lots of dirty jokes about travelling salesmen. Can't think why. Well, I suppose it's because they tend to travel a lot, you know, a
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night here, a night there. Well, people get the idea they're not particularly dependable, sort of fly by nights I suppose, you know, wife in every port. But it aint true, I promise you.
Speaker 6. I'm an apprentice hairdresser. I enjoy the work very much. I'm learning a lot, not just about hair, but how to get along with people. I'm gaining confidence 'cos I never had that at school. I left as soon as I could. I hated it. I remember teachers used to look down on jobs like hairdressing. They were ever so stuck up. They thought that only girls who were a bit dim went in for hairdressing, but I'm not dim at all. If I work hard in the salon and get all my certificates, if I save hard, in a few years I could start my own business, and I'd be earning five times as much as those old bags at school!
Interviewer: Well, we heard some people just now who seem to feel that other people have a wrong idea about the work they do. Do you think this sort of thing is very widespread?
Sociologist: Oh absolutely. Most jobs or professions seem to have an image or a stereotype attached to them, often much to the irritation of the job holders. But there is a serious point to all this, too, that maybe young people actually choose their careers under the influence of these false images. And certainly, there is evidence that they may even avoid certain careers because they have a negative image. Well, on a large scale, as you can imagine, this could cause problems for whole sectors of the economy.
Interviewer: Er, you say there's evidence?
Sociologist: Oh most definitely. There was a survey recently into children's attitudes to different professions.
Interviewer: How was that done, though? Because, after all, children don't know much about the world of work before they get into it.
Sociologist: Well, exactly. What the investigators wanted to get at was their impressions and their prejudices. They used a very simple technique. They gave the children twelve pairs of statements. In each pair one statement was positive, the other was its opposite.
Interviewer: For example?
Sociologist: Well, for example, 'Such and such a person is likely to be boring or interesting company.'
Interviewer: I see. What professions did they ask about?
Sociologist: (laugh) Do you want the whole list?
Interviewer: Well, why not?
Sociologist: OK. Here goes. They looked at: physicists, lawyers, economists, accountants, sales representatives, estate agents, biologists, and three types of engineer—mechanical engineers, electrical and civil. The children were asked to say which of the statements was 'most true' about each profession.
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Interviewer: And the results?
Sociologist: Well, they were rather striking concerning one profession in particular, the poor old engineer. Of all the jobs mentioned, he came out really much worse than you might expect. The vast majority of children (90% in the case of the mechanical engineer), thought that engineering was a 'dirty job'. They also thought the job was of 'low status' and 'subordinate'; that is, the engineer is more likely to take orders than to give them. Oh, and insecure too. The only other person they thought more likely to actually lose his job was the sales representative. But,I must say there were good points too. Engineering was seen to be 'interesting, well paid' work.
Interviewer: Hmm, not such a rosy picture, really.
Sociologist: No ... but it got better when the children were asked about how they imagined the engineer as a person. The majority of the children chose positive comments, except that they thought the engineer was likely to be badly rather than well dressed. (laugh)
Interviewer: Well, what about the other professions, then? Erm ... what came out favourite, for example?
Sociologist: Oh the lawyer without a doubt. He collected by far the greatest number of positive opinions. The sales representative and then the estate agent were right at the bottom.
Interviewer: Oh, so the engineers weren't right down there?
Sociologist: Oh no! The children's ratings put them just above the poor old sales representative all bunched together. Probably the children don't have that much of an idea of their real work. I think they ... (laughs) ... they went by the titles, really, since civil engineer came out top, perhaps the suggestion of the name?
Interviewer: Oh, I see. You mean that he was a ... a more civilized sort of chap than the others?
Sociologist: (laughs) Yes, right. Reasonable sounding, isn't it?
Interviewer: Yes. Quite sensible, I suppose. And I imagine the mechanical engineer came out bottom?
Sociologist: Absolutely right. In fact 90% of the children associated him with dirty work, as against 76% for the electrical engineer and 68% for the civil engineer.
Interviewer: And the other professions?
Sociologist: Well, after the lawyer came the accountant; then the scientists, the physicist first. The economist came just above the engineers. Funnily enough, he was the only one that the majority of children felt would be gloomy rather than cheerful.
Interviewer: A real sign of the times, that.
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Sociologist: Yes. But I still think the most serious implication of the results of the survey was the children's apparent ignorance of the importance of the engineer's role in society.
Interviewer: Hmm.
Sociologist: After all, in most other European countries to be an engineer is to be somebody. And I imagine that this means that many bright children, who might really enjoy the profession and do well in it, probably never consider it, which is a great pity for the country as a whole. We do need good engineers after all.
1. Bartering is the process by which trade takes place through the exchange of goods.
2. 2. Whereas in the past, seashells and spices had no specific value, this new money idea had a stated value.
3. 3. However, due to recent economic developments, the world is once again conducting trade by bartering goods for goods.
4. 4. We refer to the more valuable currency as hard currency while we term the less valuable money, soft currency.
5. 5. In fact, hard currency is usually demanded by the seller, particularly if the seller is from a nation having hard currency.
6. 6. Inflation refers to an abnormally rapid increase in prices.
7. 7. As a result of the scarcity of hard currency in some nations and the recent high world-wide inflation, it is obvious that the conventional method of payment in hard currency must be supplemented by other types of payment such as bartering.
8. 8. Not only is the following illustration a good example of bartering, it also reveals, to a small degree, consumer preferences in beverages in the USSR and the United States.
9. 9. It seems that Pepsi-Cola was the first company to introduce cola into the USSR, much to the disappointment of Coca-Cola.
10. 10. Of course, bartering presents some great problems that are not always easy to overcome.
How to Make Wine
This is how wine is made in our winery. After the grapes are picked in late summer, they are pressed so that all the juice runs out. Then the juice is separated from the skins and pips and it is put into large containers and left to ferment. Later, it is put into smaller containers. Then it is left for about a year when it is put into bottles. If it is a good wine, the bottles are kept for several years but the cheaper wines are sold immediately.
Alan Simpson
The mystery of the man found wandering in the city centre has now been solved. The man, whose name is now known to be Alan Simpson, is a medical student. Mr.
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Simpson was taking part in an experiment conducted by the university department of psychology, when he walked away, unnoticed by the staff supervising the experiment. He has now regained his memory, and has left hospital. Several people, including his sister, April Simpson, telephoned the police to identify Mr. Simpson after seeing his picture in the press.
Lesson 10
Here's the news at 11:30.
Thousands of people have marched through the centre of Corby in Northamptonshire to protest against plans to close the steel works, the town's major employer. The marchers demonstrated outside the local British Steel Corporation's headquarters where union leaders are talking about closure plans with the management.
Hospital waiting lists in the south west of England have gone up by a quarter in the last five years. While the number of doctors, nurses and other staff have increased, the demand on the service has grown even faster.
The EEC is to give another £31 million to Britain's poorer areas. The aid from the regional development fund includes £13.5 million for Northern Ireland and £10 million for industrial improvement and road works in the north of England.
In a report on rabies controls, Kent County Council has said that 17 dogs, 5 cats, 2 rabbits and 2 hamsters have been landed illegally at Channel ports in the first nine
months of this year. This was seven more than in the same period last year.
A derailed coal train at Thirsk in North Yorkshire has disrupted rail services between Newcastle and the south of England.
It's time for the news at 3:30 here on Radio I.
A girl aged 16 armed with a shotgun held up a class of children at a secondary school in Surrey this morning. Police said that soon after school began at Blair Hill Secondary School, Newton, the girl, armed with a double-barrelled shotgun belonging to her brother, went into one of the classrooms and threatened a teacher and about thirty pupils. A shot was fired into the ceiling as she was being overpowered by police officers.
Surgeons at Cambridge have successfully transplanted a pancreas—the organ that produces insulin—in two patients suffering from diabetes. One patient, a 23-year-old electronics worker also had a liver transplant. The other patient, a 55-year-old housewife, had a kidney transplanted at the same time. Both patients are doing well.
A stately home owner who allowed a pop concert to be staged in his grounds was fined yesterday for letting a rock band play overtime. The Honourable Frederick Sidgwick Johnson admitted allowing the rock group Led Zepplin to play on after midnight during a concert at his home near Stevenage two months ago. Stevenage magistrates fined him £125 with £25 costs.
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Three people have so far been killed in the storms sweeping across the north of England and southern Scotland. A woman was killed in Carlisle when a chimney on a house collapsed and two men were killed when their car crashed into a fallen tree on a country road near Melrose. More high winds and rain are forecast for tonight.
Professor Richard Hill is talking about British newspapers.
It seems to me that many British newspapers aren't really newspapers at all. They contain news, it is true, but much of this news only appears in print because it is guaranteed to shock, surprise or cause a chuckle.
What should we expect to find in a real newspaper? Interesting political articles? Accurate reports of what has been happening in distant corners of the world? The latest news from the stock exchange? Full coverage of great sporting events? In-depth interviews with leading personalities?
It is a sad fact that in Britain the real newspapers, the ones that report the facts, sell in thousands, while the popular papers that set out to shock or amuse have a circulation of several million. One's inescapable conclusion is that the vast majority of British readers do not really want a proper newspaper at all. They just want a few pages of entertainment.
I buy the same newspaper every day. In this paper political matters, both British and foreign, are covered in full. The editorial column may support government policy on one issue and oppose it on another. There is a full page of book reviews and another devoted to the latest happenings in the theatre, the cinema and the
world of art. Stock exchange prices are quoted daily. So are the exchange rates of the world's major currencies. The sports correspondents are among the best in the country, while the standard of the readers' letters is absolutely first-class. If an intelligent person were to find a copy of this paper 50 years from now, he or she would still find it entertaining, interesting and instructive.
So my favourite newspaper is obviously very different from those popular papers that have a circulation of several million. But that does not mean that it is 'better' or that they are 'worse'. We are not comparing like with like. A publisher printing a newspaper with a circulation of several million is running a highly successful commercial operation. The people who buy his product are obviously satisfied customers and in a free society everybody should have the right to buy whatever kind of newspaper he pleases.
Dave: Dr. Jones, how exactly would you define eccentricity?
Dr. Jones: Well, we all have our own particular habits which others find irritating or amusing, but an eccentric is someone who behaves in a totally different manner from those in the society in which he lives.
Dave: When you talk about eccentricity, are you referring mainly to matters of appearance?
Dr. Jones: Not specifically, no. There are many other ways in which eccentricity is displayed. For instance, some individuals like to leave their mark on this earth with bizarre buildings. Others have the craziest desires which influence their whole way
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of life.
Dave: Can you give me an example?
Dr. Jones: Certainly. One that immediately springs to mind was a Victorian surgeon by the name of Buckland. Being a great animal lover he used to share his house openly with the strangest creatures, including snakes, bears, rats, monkeys and eagles.
Dave: That must've been quite dangerous at times.
Dr. Jones: It was, particularly for visitors who weren't used to having 'pets'—for want of a better word—in the house. They used to get bitten and even attacked. And the good doctor was so interested in animals that he couldn't resist the temptation to sample them as food. So guests who came to dinner had to be prepared for a most unusual menu, mice on toast, roast giraffe. Once he even tried to make soup from elephant's trunk. Strangely, though, his visitors seemed to go back for more.
Dave: They must've had very strong stomachs, that's all I can say. Dr. Jones, what particular kind of eccentric are you most interested in from a psychologist's point of view?
Dr. Jones: I think they're all fascinating, of course, but on the whole I'd say it's the hermit that I find the most intriguing, the type who cuts himself off from the world.
Dave: Does one of these stand out in your mind at all?
Dr. Jones: Yes, I suppose this century has produced one of the most famous ones: the American billionaire, Howard Hughes.
Dave: But he wasn't a recluse all his life, was he?
Dr. Jones: That's correct. In fact, he was just the opposite in his younger days. He was a rich young man who loved the Hollywood society of his day. But he began to disappear for long periods when he grew tired of high living. Finally, nobody was allowed to touch his food and he would wrap his hand in a tissue before picking anything up. He didn't even allow a barber to go near him too often and his hair and beard grew down to his waist.
Dave: Did he live completely alone?
Dr. Jones: No, that was the strangest thing. He always stayed in luxury hotels with a group of servants to take care of him. He used to spend his days locked up in a penthouse suite watching adventure films over and over again and often eating nothing but ice cream and chocolate bars.
Dave: It sounds a very sad story.
Dr. Jones: It does. But, as you said earlier, life wouldn't be the same without characters like him, would it?
1. In the United States we are using more and more oil every day, and the future
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supply is very limited.
2. It is estimated that at the current rate of use, oil may not be a major source of energy after only 25 more years.
3. We have a lot of coal under the ground, but there are many problems with mining it, transporting it, and developing a way to burn it without polluting the air.
4. Production of new nuclear power plants has slowed down because of public concern over the safety of nuclear energy.
5. The government once thought that we would be getting 20 percent of our electricity from nuclear energy by the 1970's, but nuclear energy still produced only about 12 percent of our power as of 1979.
6. There is no need to purchase fuel to operate a solar heating system because sunshine is free to everyone.
7. Because solar systems depend on sunshine, they can't always provide 100% of your heat.
8. Solar heating can be used in most areas of the United States, but it is most practical in areas where there is a lot of winter sunshine, where heat is necessary, and where fuel is expensive.
9. A hot-liquid system operates in basically the same way except the hot-liquid system contains water instead of air; and the storage unit is a large hot water tank
instead of a container of hot rocks.
10. Then energy from the sun may provide the answer to our need for a new, cheap, clean source of energy.
Voice Analysis
If we want to measure voice features very accurately, we can use a voice analyser. A voice analyser can show four characteristics of a speaker's voice. No two speakers' voices are alike. To get a voice sample, you have to speak into the voice analyser. The voice analyser is connected to a computer. From just a few sentences of normal speech, the computer can show four types of information about your voice. It will show nasalization, loudness, frequency and length of articulation. The first element, nasalization, refers to how much air normally goes through your nose when you talk. The second feature of voice difference is loudness. Loudness is measured in decibels. The number of decibels in speaking is determined by the force of air that comes from the lungs. The third feature of voice variation is frequency. By frequency we mean the highness or lowness of sounds. The frequency of sound waves is measured in cycles per second. Each sound of a language will produce a different frequency. The final point of voice analysis concerns the length of articulation for each sound. This time length is measured in small fractions of a second. From all four of these voice features—length of articulation, frequency, loudness and nasalization—the voice analyser can give an exact picture of a person's voice.
Lesson 11
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Doctor: Well Mr. Thomson. The first and important thing I have to tell you is that ... mm ... there is really nothing seriously wrong with you ... physically that is. My ... er ... my very thorough re-examination and the ... the analyst's report show that basically you are very fit. Yes ... very fit.
Mr. Thomson: So ... Why is it doctor that I'm always so nervy ... tense ... ready to jump on anybody—my wife, children, colleagues?
Doctor: I think ... erm ... I think your condition has a lot to do with er—What shall we call it? —Way of life? Habits?
Mr. Thomson: Way of life? Habits?
Doctor: Yes ... now tell me Mr. Thomson ... You smoke, don't you?
Mr. Thomson: Yes ... I'm afraid ... I'm afraid I do, doctor.
Doctor: And ... er ... rather heavily I imagine.
Mr. Thomson: Well ... yes. I smoke—what ... about forty ... fifty a day I suppose.
Doctor: You should do your best to stop, you know.
Mr. Thomson: Yes ... I see ... But er ... Well ... it won't be the first time. I've tried to give up smoking several times but it's ... it's no good.
Doctor: You see ... fifty a day is overdoing it ... you must admit. You must cut it
down ... at least that. Oh yes. I know that when you're feeling tense you ... you probably feel that a cigarette relaxes you. But in the long run ... I do advise you to make ... to make a real effort.
Mr. Thomson: Of course. But ... well ... it's easy to say give it up or cut it down ... but ... oh you know ...
Doctor: Well in my opinion you have no choice. Either you make a real effort or ... or there's no real chance of your feeling better. You see ... well obviously I could prescribe some kind of tranquillizer ... but would that help? I'd prefer—and I'm quite sure you'll agree—I'd prefer to see you really back to normal ... not just seemingly so. And that's my reason for asking you several more questions about ... about your other habits.
Mr. Thomson: Right.
Doctor: Your eating habits for example. What do you eat normally ... during a normal day?
Mr. Thomson: Yes ... well ... I'm a good eater. Yes, I'd say I'm a good eater. Now let's see ... Up at eight in the morning and my wife has a good breakfast ready.
Doctor: A good breakfast?
Mr. Thomson: The usual. A cereal followed by bacon and eggs with fried bread and perhaps a tomato or two. Then toast and marmalade ... all washed down with a couple of cups of tea. I er ... yes ... I really enjoy my breakfast.
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Doctor: Er ... yes ... I can see you do. But I'd advise you to eat rather less. We'll come to that later. Go on.
Mr. Thomson: Then lunch ... no, first brunch. A cup of coffee and a bun at eleven. Lunch has to be quick because there's so much to do in the office about that time. So I have a pint and a sandwich in the pub. All very hurried.
Doctor: Try to be in less of a hurry.
Mr. Thomson: But I make up for it in the evening. I get home at about seven. Dinner's round about eight. Er ... yes ... My wife's an excellent cook ... excellent. It's usually some meat dish ... and we like spaghetti as a first course. Spaghetti, a meat dish, cheese, a sweet. But er ... but then ... at the end of the day shall we say ... then ... well then I begin to feel on edge again. Most evenings after dinner we read or watch TV ... but I ... I get this terrible feeling of tension.
Doctor: Well ... I'm sorry to have to say this because you obviously enjoy your food ... but ... er ... I really do recommend that you ... that you eat less and—secondly—that you eat more healthily. Instead of having that enormous breakfast for example ... er ... well ... try to be content with a fruit juice and some cereal.
Mr. Thomson: I see ... but er ...
Doctor: Elevenses ... right ... well that's all right. But lunch should be more leisurely. Remember your health is at stake not your job. As for dinner ... er ... I'd
advise you to eat a soup perhaps ... with a salad ... a salad followed by some fruit.
Mr. Thomson: But my wife's cooking ...
Doctor: ... is superb. Granted. And she probably enjoys preparing delicious meals for you. If you like ... well ... er ... I'll have a word with your wife ...
Mr. Thomson: No ... that won't be necessary ... erm ... thanks just the same, doctor. But no ...
Doctor: And on that subject Mr. Thomson ... erm ... er ... Just one other thing ... er ... I'm sure this won't embarrass you. You say you feel tense in the evenings after dinner. Might I ask about your relationship—your sexual relationship that is—with your wife?
Mr. Thomson: Well ... erm ... er ... you see ... er ...
(Do It Yourself magazine organizes a competition every summer to find the 'Handyman of the Year'. The winner this year is Mr. Roy Miller, a Sheffield postman. A journalist and a photographer have come to his house. The journalist is interviewing Mr. Miller for an article in the magazine.)
Journalist: Well, I'm very impressed by all the work you've done on your house, Mr. Miller. How long have you been working on it?
Mr. Miller: I first became interested in do-it-yourself several years ago. You see,
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my son Paul is disabled. He's in a wheel-chair and I just had to make alterations to the house. I couldn't afford to pay workmen to do it. I had to learn to do it myself.
Journalist: Have you had any experience of this kind of work? Did you have any practical skills?
Mr. Miller: No. I got a few books from the library but they didn't help very much. Then I decided to go to evening classes so that I could learn basic carpentry and electrics.
Journalist: What sort of changes did you make to the house?
Mr. Miller: First of all, practical things to help Paul. You never really realize the problems handicapped people have until it affects your own family. Most government buildings, for example, have steps up to the door. They don't plan buildings so that disabled people can get in and out. We used to live in a flat, and of course, it was totally unsuitable. Just imagine the problems a disabled person would have in your house. We needed a large house with wide corridors so that Paul could get from one room to another. We didn't have much money and we had to buy this one. It's over ninety years old and it was in a very bad state of repair.
Journalist: Where did you begin?
Mr. Miller: The electrics. I completely rewired the house so that Paul could reach all the switches. I had to lower the light switches and raise the power-points. I went on to do the whole house so that Paul could reach things and go where he wanted.
Journalist: What else did you do?
Mr. Miller: By the time I'd altered everything for Paul, do-it-yourself had become a hobby. I really enjoyed doing things with my hands. Look, I even installed smoke-alarms.
Journalist: What was the purpose of that?
Mr. Miller: I was very worried about fire. You see, Paul can't move very quickly. I fitted them so that we would have plenty of warning if there were a fire. I put in a complete burglar-alarm system. It took weeks. The front door opens automatically, and I'm going to put a device on Paul's wheelchair so that he'll be able to open and close it when he wants.
Journalist: What are you working on now?
Mr. Miller: I've just finished the kitchen. I've designed it so that he can reach everything. Now I'm building an extension so that Paul will have a large room on the ground floor where he can work.
Journalist: There's a £10,000 prize. How are you going to spend it?
Mr. Miller: I am going to start my own business so that I can convert ordinary houses for disabled people. I think I've become an expert on the subject.
The first job I ever had was as a waitress. I did it the summer before I started at
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university, when I was eighteen. I was working in a very nice hotel in a small town in Scotland where there are a lot of tourists in the summer so they were taking on extra staff. I arrived there in the evening and met some of the other girls who were working at the hotel—we all lived in a little house opposite the hotel. Anyway, they were all really friendly and we had dinner together and then sat around chatting and drinking coffee—I didn't get to bed until after one o'clock in the morning. I had to be at work in the dining room at seven thirty in the morning to start serving breakfast. Well, I didn't wake up 'til seven fifteen! So I threw my clothes on and rushed over to the hotel. I must have looked a real mess because the head waiter just looked at me and told me to go to the bathroom to tidy myself up—I was so embarrassed!
The first thing I learned was that there were these two heavy swing doors into the kitchen from the restaurant—one for going into the kitchen and one for going out, so that the waiters coming in didn't bump into the ones going out. Anyway, that morning I was so frightened of the head waiter that I didn't listen properly to what he was saying, so when one of the waiters asked me to give him a hand and take two plates of eggs and bacon and an orange juice out to the restaurant, I went straight towards the wrong door and collided with another waiter coming in! You can't imagine the mess—eggs, bacon and orange juice all over the floor, the door, the waiter and me. The other waiter thought it was quite funny, but the head waiter was furious and made me clear everything up straight away in case someone slipped and fell.
After serving breakfast, at about ten o'clock, we had our own breakfast. I was starving by then, and just wanted to sit down and eat quietly. But some of the
waiters started making fun of my English accent—they were all Scottish. I think they were just trying to cheer me up and have a joke, but I was so upset and hungry that I just rushed off to the bathroom in tears! I thought everybody hated me! By the time I came back, they'd cleared up all the breakfast things, and I hadn't had a chance to eat anything!
Well, straight away we started getting the dining room ready for lunch—cleaning the silver, setting the tables, hoovering the floor. The room had a beautiful view over a river with the mountains behind, but of course, as soon as I stopped work to have a look out of the window, the head waiter spotted me and told me off again.
I didn't make too bad a job of serving lunch—one of the waiters looked after me and showed me how to do things. One of the customers ordered some expensive white wine, and I gave him a bottle from the cupboard, not from the fridge, so it wasn't cold enough. But fortunately the other waiters hid the bottle I'd opened wrongly and I gave him another bottle from the fridge so the head waiter didn't find out. I would have been quite happy, but I had another problem which was that I'd got up in such a hurry I just put on the shoes I'd been wearing the night before. Well, these shoes looked quite smart but they had really high heels, and after a few hours on my feet I was in agony and there was nothing I could do about it, there was certainly no time to go and change them. I can tell you I never wore those shoes to work again!
Anyway, after lunch we had our own lunch—I managed to get something to eat this time, and we were free in the afternoon. I went for a walk with one of the other
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girls and we got a bit lost so I didn't have time for any rest before we went back to work at six. By the time we finished serving dinner at about ten thirty I was completely exhausted. I'd never worked so hard in my life, I think. Of course, I stayed up chatting with the other girls that night too, and most of the other nights I was there. I fell into bed at night and out of it at seven the next morning, but I loved the job after a while, believe it or not, and I even went back to work there the next year! I never got on very well with the head waiter, though.
1. The Landsats are two butterfly-shaped spacecraft that were sent into orbit around the earth in 1972 and 1975.
2. They circle the earth 14 times every 24 hours at a height of 570 miles, or 918 kilometres, above the earth.
3. From the photographs sent from the satellites, scientists are learning things about the earth they have never known before.
4. In false colours, water is black, cities are blue-green, rock is brown, healthy plants are red and diseased plants are green. The white areas show barren land.
5. Because photographs from the satellite are taken looking directly down on the land from such a height, they are more accurate than earlier photographs taken from airplanes.
6. The second use of these Landsat photographs is to help find oil and minerals.
7. Although these two Landsats have already produced a lot of very important information about the world, they are just the beginning.
8. Later Landsats may be equipped to photograph even smaller areas or they may be equipped with radar.
Body Positions
People often show their feelings by the body positions they adopt. These can contradict what you are saying, especially when you are trying to disguise the way you feel. For example, a very common defensive position, assumed when people feel threatened in some way, is to put your arm or arms across your body. This is a way of shielding yourself from a threatening situation. This shielding action can be disguised as adjusting one's cuff or watchstrap. Leaning back in your chair especially with your arms folded is not only defensive, it's also a way of showing your disapproval, of a need to distance yourself from the rest of the company.
A position which betrays an aggressive attitude is to avoid looking directly at the person you are speaking to. On the other hand, approval and desire to cooperate are shown by copying the position of the person you are speaking to. This shows that you agree or are willing to agree with someone. The position of one's feet also often shows the direction of people's thoughts, for example, feet or a foot pointing towards the door can indicate that a person wishes to leave the room. The direction in which your foot points can also show which of the people in the room you feel most sympathetic towards, even when you are not speaking directly to that person.
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Lesson 12
Gentleman Jim has worked out a plan to rob a bank. He's telling his gang, Fingers Jones and Ginger Robertson about the plan. Listen to their conversation.
Fingers: Let's see. You're going to walk up the counter and you're going to start writing a cheque. Then you're going to open the canister of nerve gas, and everyone will go to sleep instantly.
Jim: That's right. This gas will put anyone to sleep for exactly three minutes.
Fingers: And while everyone is asleep, you're going to go round to the manager's desk and steal all the money?
Jim: Exactly. I've worked it out very carefully. There should be about £50,000 in used bank notes.
Ginger: Sounds great. There's only one thing. If you open the gas, you'll go to sleep too, won't you?
Jim: I have thought of that. I'll wear a motor-cycle helmet, with an oxygen mask inside. If I wear a helmet, no one will be able to recognize me afterwards, either.
Ginger: I think it's risky. If the bank clerk sees you take out a gas canister, he won't wait. He'll push the alarm button straight away.
Fingers: I've just had an idea. If I came into the bank when you were standing at
the counter, no one would even look at me. Then, if I threw the can of nerve gas, they wouldn't guess that we were connected.
Ginger: Yes, that might be better. Are you going to wear a helmet, too?
Fingers: No. It would look very suspicious if two people were wearing motor cycle helmets. I'll just open the door, throw in the gas canister, and leave Gentleman Jim to rob the bank.
Jim: I like that idea. Right, we'll do that. Any other problems that you can see?
Ginger: What are you going to do with the money? If you walk out with £50,000 under your arm, somebody will surely notice you.
Jim: You'll be sitting in a get-away car, waiting for me outsaid the bank.
Ginger: But there is a police station just fifty yards away. If I park a car outside the bank, the police would probably come and ask me to move.
Fingers: Well, what do you suggest? He can't just walk around the town. He'll be carrying £50,000 in bundles of bank notes.
Jim: Just a minute! I've thought of something. What day is this robbery?
Fingers: Monday.
Jim: Monday! You know what happens on Monday, don't you? It's dustbin day!
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Ginger: So?
Jim: So, can you think of a better way of moving the money? If you saw a man pick up £50,000 and put it into a car, what would you think?
Fingers: I'd think he was a thief.
Jim: Exactly. But if you saw a man pick up a dustbin and put it into a lorry, what would you think?
Fingers: I'd think he was a dustman. Hey! That's clever!
Ginger: And if the £50,000 was in the dustbin, I could pick up the money and nobody would notice. That's brilliant.
Fingers: Is there a dustbin?
Jim: Oh yes, several. They put the dustbins out every Monday. They'll be standing there, outside the bank.
Fingers: But if you put the money in a dustbin, it'll stink. We'll never be able to spend it if it smells like that.
Jim: We don't have to put it in a dustbin. We can put it in a black plastic bag. They often have black plastic bags for rubbish nowadays. If I carry one in my pocket, I can pull it out after you've thrown the gas. OK? Let's run through the plan once more.
Ginger: You go into the bank with a motor-cycle helmet on, and a black rubbish bag in your pocket.
Fingers: I come in a few minutes later. I open the door, throw in the open gas canister, and then go ... where?
Jim: I've hired a room in the building right opposite the bank. Go up in the lift to the top floor and keep a look out. When you get there, radio Ginger, and tell him to come.
Ginger: In the meantime, everyone in the bank has gone to sleep, except you. You take the money, and put it in the plastic bag.
Jim: I come out, and put the bag with the rubbish, and then go back into the bank.
Ginger: Go back?
Jim:Oh yes. If everyone woke up and I wasn't there, they'd know I was one of the thieves. No, I'll go back and pretend to wake up with everyone else.
Fingers: That's a really clever touch.
Ginger: I drive a dustcart and wait in the cul-de-sac behind the bank until Fingers contacts me. Then I come and pick up the rubbish, including the £50,000.
Jim: I can't think of any problems, can you?
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(Doorbell rings. Door opens.)
Boss: At long last! Why did it take you so long?
1st villain: Er ... I really am sorry about this, boss ...
Boss: Come on! What happened? Where's the money?
1st villain: Well, it's a long story. We parked outside the bank, OK, on South Street, and I went in and got the money—you know, no problems, they just filled the bag like you said they would. I went outside, jumped into the car, and off we went.
Boss: Yes, yes, yes. And then?
2nd villain: We turned right up Forest Road, and of course the traffic lights at the High Street crossroads were against us. And when they went green the stupid car stalled, didn't it? I mean, it was dead—
1st villain: So I had to get out and push, all the way to the garage opposite the school. I don't know why Jim here couldn't fix it. I mean, the car was your responsibility, wasn't it?
2nd villain: Yeah, but it was you that stole it, wasn't it? Why didn't you get a better one?
1st villain: OK, it was my fault. I'm sorry.
2nd villain: The mechanic said it would take at least two days to fix it—so we just had to leave it there and walk.
1st villain: Well, we crossed over Church Lane, and you'll never believe what happened next, just outside the Police Station, too.
2nd villain: Look, it wasn't my fault. You were responsible for providing the bag—I couldn't help it if the catch broke.
1st villain: It took us five minutes to pick up all the notes again.
Boss: Fine, fine, fine. But where is the money?
2nd villain: We're getting there, boss. Anyway, we ran to where the second car was parked, outside the library in Ox Lane—you know, we were going to switch cars there—and then—you know, this is just unbelievable—
1st villain: —yeah. We drove up Church Lane, but they were digging up the road just by the church, so we had to take the left fork and go all the way round the north side of the park. And then, just before the London Road roundabout—
2nd villain: —some idiot must have driven out from the railway station without looking right into the side of a lorry. The road was completely blocked. There was nothing for it but to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.
Boss: All right, it's a very fascinating story. But I still want to have a look at the
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money.
1st villain: Well, that's the thing, boss. I mean, I'm terribly sorry, but this idiot must have left it somewhere.
2nd villain: Who are you calling an idiot? I had nothing to do with it. You were carrying the bag.
1st villain: No. I wasn't. I gave it to you ...
Man: Excuse me, madam.
Woman: Yes?
Man: Would you mind letting me take a look in your bag?
Woman: I beg your pardon?
Man: I'd like to look into your bag, if you don't mind.
Woman: Well I'm afraid I certainly do mind, if it's all the same to you. Now go away. Impertinence!
Man: I'm afraid I shall have to insist, madam.
Woman: And just who are you to insist, may I ask? I advise you to take yourself
off, young man, before I call a policeman.
Man: I am a policeman, madam. Here's my identity card.
Woman: What? Oh ... well ... and just what right does that give you to go around looking into people's bags?
Man: None whatsoever, unless I have reason to believe that there's something in the bags belonging to someone else?
Woman: What do you mean belonging to someone else?
Man: Well, perhaps, things that haven't been paid for?
Woman: Are you talking about stolen goods? That's a nice way to talk, I must say. I don't know what things are coming to when perfectly honest citizens get stopped in the street and have their bags examined. A nice state of affairs!
Man: Exactly, but if the citizens are honest, they wouldn't mind, would they? So may I look in your bag, madam? We don't want to make a fuss, do we?
Woman: Fuss? Who's making a fuss? Stopping people in the street and demanding to see what they've got in their bags. Charming! That's what I call it, charming! Now go away; I've got a train to catch.
Man: I'm sorry. I'm trying to do my job as politely as possible but I'm afraid
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you're making it rather difficult. However, I must insist on seeing what you have in your bag.
Woman: And what, precisely, do you expect to find in there? The Crown Jewels?
Man: No need to be sarcastic, Madam. I thought I'd made myself plain. If there's nothing in there which doesn't belong to you, you can go straight off and catch your train and I'll apologize for the inconvenience.
Women: Oh, very well. Anything to help the police.
Man: Thank you, madam.
Woman: Not at all, only too happy to cooperate. There you are.
Man: Thank you,Mm. Six lipsticks?
Woman: Yes, nothing unusual in that. I like to change the colour with my mood.
Man: And five powder-compacts?
Woman: I use a lot of powder. I don't want to embarrass you, but I sweat a lot. (Laughs)
Man: And ten men's watches?
Woman: Er, yes. I get very nervous if I don't know the time. Anxiety, you know. We all suffer from it in this day and age.
Man: I see you smoke a lot, too, madam. Fifteen cigarette lighters?
Woman: Yes, I am rather a heavy smoker. And ... and I use them for finding my way in the dark and ... and for finding the keyhole late at night. And ... and I happen to collect lighters. It's my hobby. I have a superb collection at home.
Man: I bet you do, madam. Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to come along with me.
Woman: How dare you! I don't go out with strange men. And anyway I told you I have a train to catch.
Man: I'm afraid you won't be catching it today, madam. Now are you going to come along quietly or am I going to have to call for help?
Woman: But this is outrageous! (Start fade) I shall complain to my MP. One has to carry one's valuables around these days; one's house might be broken into while one's out ...
1. The American Indians of the Southwest have led an agricultural life since the year 1 A.D., and in some aspects their life is still similar today.
2. At the beginning of this period, the people farmed on the tops of high, flat,
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mountain plateaus, called mesas. Mesa is the Spanish word for table.
3. They lived on top of the mesas or in the protection of the caves on the sides of the cliffs.
4. In their early history, the Anasazi used baskets for all these purposes. Later they developed pottery. But the change from basketmaking to pottery was so important that it began a series of secondary changes.
5. To cook food in a basket, the women first filled the basket with ground corn mixed with water. They then built a fire.
6. But many stones could be heated on the fire and then dropped into the basket of food, so it would cook. The stones heated the food quite well, but soon they had to be taken out of the food and heated again.
7. But although the men brought home the idea of pottery, they did not bring home any instructions on how to make it. Anthropologists have discovered pieces of broken pottery made according to different formulas.
8. Because the Anasazi had solved the problem of cooking and storing food, they could now enjoy a more prosperous, comfortable period of life.
Acupuncture
There are many forms of alternative medicine which are used in the Western
world today. One of the most famous of these is acupuncture, which is a very old form of treatment from China. It is still widely used in China today, where it is said to cure many illnesses, including tonsillitis, arthritis, bronchitis, rheumatism and flu. The Chinese believe that there are special energy lines through the body and that the body's energy runs through these lines. When a person is ill the energy in his or her body does not run as well as normal, perhaps because it is weaker or it is blocked in some way. The Chinese believe that if you put very fine needles into the energy line, this helps the energy to return to normal. In this way the body can help itself to get better.
The acupuncturist puts the needles into special places along the energy line and some of these places can be a long way from the place where the body is ill. For example it is possible to treat a bad headache by putting needles into certain places on the foot. It may surprise you to know that it does not hurt when the acupuncturist puts the needles into your body. People who have had acupuncture say that they felt nothing or hardly anything. Western doctors at first did not believe that acupuncture could work. Now they see that it not only can work but that it does work. How and why does it work? No one has been able to explain this. It is one of nature's mysteries.
I Just Fall in Love Again
Dreaming, I must be dreaming
Or am I really lying here with you
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Baby you take me in your arms
And though I'm wide awake
I know my dream is coming true
And oh I just fall in love again
Just one touch and then it happens every time
And there I go
I just fall in love again and when I do
I can't help myself I fall in love with you
Magic, it must be magic
The way I hold you and the night just seems to fly
Easy for you to take me to a star
Heaven is that moment when I look into your eyes
And oh I just fall in love again
Just one touch and then it happens every time
And there I go
I just fall in love again and when I do
I can't help myself I fall in love with you
Can't help myself I fall in love with you
Lesson 13
Lesley: Ah ... it's such a lovely day. It reminds me of last week, doesn't it you?
Fiona: Oh don't! I mean that was just so fantastic, that holiday!
Lesley: I love that city, you know.
Fiona: I do too. Really, it's got something about it, a certain sort of charm ...
Lesley: Mm, and all that wine and good food ...
Fiona: And so cheap. Right, I mean, compared to here ...
Lesley: Yes, although the shops are expensive.
Fiona: Mm, yes.
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Lesley: I mean, really I bought nothing at all. I just ate and ate and drank and drank.
Fiona: I know. Wasn't that lovely?
Lesley: Yes, and I, I go there. I like listening to the people talking, sitting outside drinking wine.
Fiona: Yes. Could you understand what they were saying? When they were speaking quickly, I mean.
Lesley: Well, it is difficult, of course. And then I liked that tower, too.
Fiona: You liked that tower? I'm not sure about it, really. (No) It's very unusual, right in the centre of the city.
Lesley: True, but there's a lovely view from the top.
Fiona: Oh, you went right up, didn't you? (Mm, yes) Oh no, I didn't.
Lesley: Of course you didn't.
Fiona: I remember that day. We weren't together.
Lesley: No, that's right. (Mm) You went down by the river, didn't you?
Fiona: That's it. Oh, walking along the river and all the couples (Yes) and it's so
romantic ... (Is it true) and the paintings too ...
Lesley: They do have artists down by the river, do they? (Yes) Oh, how lovely!
Fiona: Oh, it really is super.
Lesley: Yes. Oh, I think we ought to go back there again next year, don't you?
Fiona: I do, yes. (Mm) If only just to sample some more of the wine.
Lesley: It'd be lovely, wouldn't it?
Fiona: Yes.
(Doorbell rings.)
Peter: Hello, John. Nice to see you. Come in. How are you?
John: Fine, thanks. Peter. And how are you? I expect your patients are keeping you busy at this time of year?
Peter: Ah, well. I can't really complain. Let me take your coat. There we are. Well, now, I don't think you've met Ann Patterson, have you? Ann, this is John Middleton. He's the local schoolteacher.
Ann: Oh! How do you do?
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John: How do you do?
Ann: Well, that's very interesting. Perhaps you'll be looking after my son.
Peter: Yes, that's right. Ann and her family have just moved into the old barn, up by the village hall. They're in the process of doing it up now.
Ann: Yes, there's an awful lot needs doing, of course.
(Doorbell rings.)
Peter: Er, please excuse me for a moment. I think that was the doorbell.
John: Well, if I can give you a hand with anything ... I'm something of a handyman in my spare time, you know. I live just over the road.
Ann: That's very kind of you. I'm an architect myself, so ... Oh, look! There's someone I know, Eileen!
Eileen: Ann, fancy seeing you here! How's life?
Ann: Oh, mustn't grumble. Moving's never much fun though, is it? Anyway, how are things with you? You're still at the same estate agent's. I suppose?
Eileen: Oh yes. I can't see myself leaving, well, not in the foreseeable future.
Ann: Oh, I quite forgot. Do you two know each other?
John: Yes, actually, we've met on many an occasion. Hello, Eileen. You see, we play in the same orchestra.
Ann: Oh, really? I didn't know anything about that.
Eileen: Yes, actually, just amateur stuff, you know—once a week—I come down from London when I can get a baby-sitter for Joanna.
Paul: Er ... excuse me, I hope you don't mind my butting in. My name's Paul Madison. I couldn't help overhearing what you said about an orchestra.
John: Come and join the party. I'm John Middleton. This is Ann Patterson and Eileen ... or ... I'm terribly sorry. I don't think I know your surname?
Eileen: Hawkes. Pleased to meet you, Paul. You play an instrument, do you?
Paul: Yes, I'm over here on a scholarship to study the bassoon (loud yawn from Ann) at the Royal Academy of Music for a couple of years.
Ann: Oh, I am sorry. It must be all that hard work on the barn ...
Paul: Well, anyway ...
First speaker: I'm a night person. I love the hours, you know? I like going to work
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at around six at night and then getting home at two or three in the morning. I like being out around people, you know, talking to them, listening to their problems. Some of my regulars are always on the lookout for ways that they can stump me. Like last week, one of them came in and asked for a Ramos gin fizz. He didn't think I knew how to make it. Hah! But I know how to make every drink in the book, and then some. Although some of the nights when I go in I just don't feel like dealing with all the noise. When I get in a big crowd it can be pretty noisy. People talking, the sound system blaring, the pinball machine, the video games. And then at the end of the night you don't always smell so good, either. You smell like cigarettes. But I like the place and I plan on sticking around for a while.
Second speaker: If I had to sit behind a desk all day, I'd go crazy! I'm really glad I have a job where I can keep moving, you know? My favourite part is picking out the music—I use new music for every ten-week session. For my last class I always use the Beatles—it's a great beat to move to, and everybody loves them. I like to sort of educate people about their bodies, and show them, you know, how to do the exercises and movements safely. Like, it just kills me when I see people trying to do situps with straight legs—it' so bad for your back! And ... let's see ... I—I like to see people make progress—at the end of a session you can really see how people have slimmed down and sort of built up some muscle—it's very gratifying.
The part I don't like is, well, it's hard to keep coming up with new ideas for classes. I mean, you know, there are just so many ways you can move your body, and it's hard to keep coming up with interesting routines and ... and new exercises. And it's hard on my voice—I have to yell all the time so people can hear me above the music, and like after three classes in one day my voice has had it. Then again, having
three classes in one day has its compensations—I can eat just about anything I want and not gain any weight!
Third speaker: What do I like about my job? Money. M-O-N-E-Y. No, I like the creativity, and I like my studio. All my tools are like toys to me—you know, my watercolours, pen and inks, coloured pencils, drafting table—I love playing with them. and I have lots of different kinds of clients—I do magazines, book covers, album covers, newspaper articles—so there's lots of variety, which I like. You know, sometimes when I start working on a project I could be doing it for hours and have no conception of how much time has gone by—what some people call a flow experience.I don't like the pressure, though, and there's plenty of it in this business. You're always working against a tight deadline. And I don't like the business end of it—you know, contacting clients for work, negotiating contracts, which get long and complicated.
Fourth speaker: Well, I'll tell you. At first it was fun, because there was so much to learn, and working with figures and money was interesting. But after about two years the thrill was gone, and now it's very routine. I keep the books, do the payroll, pay the taxes, pay the insurance, pay the bills. I hate paying the bills, because there's never enough money to pay them! I also don't like the pressure of having to remember when all the bills and taxes are due. And my job requires a lot of reading that I don't particularly enjoy. I can have to keep up to date on all the latest tax forms, and it's pretty dull. I like it when we're making money, though, because I get to see all of my efforts rewarded.
TV Interviewer: In this week's edition of 'Up with People' we went out into the
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streets and asked a number of people a question they just didn't expect. We asked them to be self-critical ... to ask themselves exactly what they thought they lacked or—the other side of the coin—what virtues they had. Here is what we heard.
Jane Smith: Well ... I ... I don't know really ... it's not the sort of question you ask yourself directly. I know I'm good at my job ... at least my boss calls me hard-working, conscientious, efficient. I'm a secretary by the way. As for when I look at myself in a mirror as it were ... you know ... you sometimes do in the privacy of your own bedroom ... or at your reflection in the ... in the shop windows as you walk up the street ... Well ... then I see someone a bit different. Yes ... I'm different in my private life. And that's probably my main fault I should say ... I'm not exactly—oh how shall I say? —I suppose I'm, not coherent in my behaviour. My office is always in order...but my flat! Well...you'd have to see it to believe it.
Chris Bonner: I think the question is irrelevant. You shouldn't be asking what I think of myself ... but what I think of the state of this country. And this country is in a terrible mess. There's only one hope for it—the National Front. It's law and order that we need. I say get rid of these thugs who call themselves Socialist Workers ... get rid of them I say. So don't ask about me. I'm the sort of ordinary decent person who wants to bring law and order back to this country. And if we can't do it by peaceful means then ...
Tommy Finch: Think of myself? Well I'm an easy-going bloke really ... unless of course you wind me up. Then I'm a bit vicious. You know. I mean you have to live for yourself don't you. And think of your mates. That's what makes a bloke. I ain't got much sympathy like with them what's always thinking of causes ... civil rights and all
that. I mean ... this is a free country inning? What do we want to fight for civil rights for? We've got them.
Charles Dimmak: Well ... I'm retired you know. Used to be an army officer. And ... I think I've kept myself ... yes I've kept myself respectable—that's the word I'd use—respectable and dignified the whole of my life. I've tried to help those who depended on me. I've done my best. Perhaps you might consider me a bit of a fanatic about organization and discipline—self-discipline comes first—and all that sort of thing. But basically I'm a good chap ... not too polemic ... fond of my wife and family ... That's me.
Arthur Fuller: Well ... when I was young I was very shy. At times I ... I was very unhappy ... especially when I was sent to boarding-school at seven. I didn't make close friends till ... till quite late in life ... till I was about ... what ... fifteen. Then I became quite good at being by myself. I had no one to rely on ... and no one to ask for advice. That made me independent ... and I've always solved my problems myself. My wife and I have two sons. We ... we didn't want an only child because I felt ... well I felt I'd missed a lot of things.
1. Bert is a natural listener. He can lose himself in conversation with friends or family. Bert has a few very close friends, and he works hard to keep his friendships strong.
2. One means of contact with friends is the regular exercise that Bert gets. He plays handball and swims with a friend twice every week. Besides that, he tries to stay in shape with morning exercises. Bert enjoys the exercise that he gets for its
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own sake as well as for the fact that it has kept him healthy all his life.
3. In general, Adam has very few hobbies. He used to enjoy collecting coins and reading, but now can never find enough time. He has practically no release from his job and usually brings some work home with him.
4. Like many modern Americans, neither man is very religious. Both belong to a church, but the religious services are not a sustaining part of their lives. But the difference in their spiritual makeup is nonetheless remarkable.
5. Adam does not enjoy much self-confidence. He has never spent the time to think problems through carefully or to teach himself to think about other things. As a result, he is not a particularly creative problem solver. He spends quite a lot of time in compulsive, repetitive nervous activity which only frustrates him more.
6. Heart attack victims who have tried to change their behaviour after their first heart attack report that Type B behaviour has given them a new sense of peace, freedom, and happiness. Not for anything in the world would they return to their old lifestyle, which held them trapped like prisoners in an unhappy world of their own making.
Lesson 14
Here is a summary of the news.
No general election yet says the Prime Minister.
Five people die in an earthquake in central Italy.
And £1/4 million is stolen from a security van.
In a speech in the city of London last night, the Prime Minister announced that there will be no general election in the near future. Talk of a quick election was pure speculation, she said. A general election would be held when it was in the best interests of the nation to do so.
In central Italy, several small towns and villages are still cut off by avalanches following the earthquake during the night which killed five people. It was central Italy's strongest earthquake for several years and hundreds of people have been made homeless. In Rome, as well as in Florence, Naples and Perugia, gas pipes were broken, windows shattered and electric cables thrown onto the streets.
Thieves got away with almost £1/4 million after a security van was ambushed in central London early this morning. The security van was rammed by a lorry as it was taking a short cut through a narrow street off Piccadilly. Three masked men then threatened the driver and his assistant with shotguns and forced one of them to unlock the van. The thieves made their escape in a car parked nearby. This car was later found abandoned in south London. The driver of the van and his assistant were badly shaken but not seriously hurt.
The flight recorder of the DC10 airliner which crashed in the Antarctic a fortnight ago has shown that the plane was flying normally just before impact. All two hundred and fifty-seven people on board the aircraft died when it hit the side of
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a volcano. The investigation into what happened is still going on.
Voting is taking place today in the Euro-Constituency of London SouthWest. This by election for the European Parliament is being held because of the death of the previous member, Mr. Harold Friend. At the last election Mr. Friend had a majority of 17,000 over his nearest opponent.
Talks on a formula for ending the strike at Independent Television get under way in London this afternoon. Looking forward to the meeting, the General Secretary of the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians, Mr. Albert Tapper, said it was taking place on the basis of new proposals from the companies. He hoped it would lead to a basis for negotiations but he refused to speculate on the chances of success.
Fifteen people are to appear in court in Manchester today, following disturbances on a train bringing football supporters back from matches in London. Eye witnesses report that the trouble began when groups of rival supporters whose teams had both been playing London clubs began to insult each other. After fighting had broken out police boarded the train just outside Manchester and arrests were made. British Rail have announced that they are considering withdrawing all soccer specials operating from Manchester.
Interviewer: Tell me Mrs. Clark, how did you come to be a bearded lady?
Mrs. Clark: Well, it all began when I started growing a beard.
Interviewer: Mm ... and when was that exactly?
Mrs. Clark: Just after my fourth birthday, I believe.
Interviewer: Really? As early as that? Didn't you see a doctor?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, yes, my parents took me to dozens of specialists.
Interviewer: And what did they have to say?
Mrs. Clark: They just told me to shave.
Interviewer: That's all the advice they could give? So you started shaving?
Mrs. Clark: Well, I was too young to be allowed to use a razor, and electric razors weren't even thought of in those days, so my dad used to shave me once a week before going to church on Sundays.
Interviewer: And when did you stop shaving?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, that would have been when I was around fifteen. You see it was growing at an enormous rate, something like five inches a day, I mean you could almost see it growing, and it was so thick. I mean a razor or scissors were no use.
Interviewer: So you ... let it grow?
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Mrs. Clark: Well, it was taking so much time trying to keep it down and I was just wasting my time fighting a losing battle. So I thought ... I'll just let it grow ... and that's when I came to work in the circus. I was spotted by a talent scout.
Interviewer: Do you ... ever cut your beard now?
Mrs. Clark: Oh, yes every week I chop off a few feet. I have to cut it or I fall over it if I don't remember to wrap it around my waist.
Interviewer: (Laughs) What about the circus? How did you find it at first, being stared at all day?
Mrs. Clark: Well, I must admit it was a bit unnerving at first ... what with people gaping at you as though you were a goldfish in a bowl. I used to feel like saying. 'It's all right, dear, it's not that unusual, you know. It's only a bit of extra hair. It's not another head or something.' But you get used to the pointing and laughing in the end. Don't hardly notice it any more. Even the jokes don't upset me now. It's a bit boring in fact, after thirty years, just sitting here all day being stared at. But still there's always the breaks. and then the Ten-Foot Woman and the Midget from next door come in for a cup of tea and a chat, that passes the time nicely.
Interviewer: Would you say there were any advantages to having a fifteen-foot long beard?
Mrs. Clark: Well, my husband says it keeps his toes warm on cold nights.
Paul: Anyone want another Coke or something?
James: I think we're all drinking Paul ... thanks just the same.
Darley: I was thinking ... What would you youngsters do without the youth centre? You'd be pretty lost, wouldn't you?
Paul: Huh! It's all right I suppose. But I'm telling you ... we don't need no bloody youth club to find something to do. Me ... well ... I only come when there's a dance on. Them berks what come all the time ... well ... they need their heads examined. If I want to drink ... well there's the pub, isn't there.
Mrs. Brent: But how old are you Paul? Sixteen? You can't drink in pubs—it's illegal.
Paul: No barman's ever turned me out yet. Anyway ... thanks for the drink. What about a dance, Denise?
Denise: I don't mind.
Paul: Come on then.
Finchley: Er ... Would you care to dance, Mrs. Brent?
Mrs. Brent: Thank you ... but no. The music isn't of my generation. You know ... the generation gap. When I was young I'd never have dared speak as Paul just did.
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Especially with a clergyman present.
James: What sort of world do you think we live in Mrs. Brent? It's part of my job to know people ... and especially young people ... as they are.
Mrs. Brent: Please don't misunderstand me. I only thought it offensive. If my own son ...
James: Oh, I'm used to it. In a sense I feel it's a kind of compliment that ...
Darley: Compliment?
James: Don't get me wrong. Paul feels free to express himself with me just as he would with his friends. He accepts me as a kind of friend.
Finchley: And really the so-called generation gap is a myth you know. Teenagers aren't really so different. As a teacher I find them quite traditional in their attitudes.
Darley: But look at the way they dress ... and their hair!
James: You haven't got the point I think. Those things are quite superficial. I agree with Mr. Finchley ... Basically their attitudes are very similar to those of my generation.
Darley: So you approve of the kind of language we heard from Paul just now ...
James: Now I didn't say that. Anyway the concepts of 'approval' and 'disapproval' tend to over simplify matters. Every generation creates its ... its own special language ... just as it creates its own styles in clothes and music.
Mrs. Brent: It's just that ... er ... the styles and habits of today's teenagers are so ... well basically ... so unacceptable.
Finchley: You mean unacceptable to you.
Mrs. Brent: No ... I mean unacceptable to the rest of society.
Darley: When you come to think of it ... I mean I'm always on at my boy about his clothes ...
James: So you find them unacceptable too.
Darley: No ... just let me finish. I was about to say that in fact his clothes are very practical ... very simple.
Finchley: Anyway ... the generation gap is non-existent. I mean ... the idea of teenagers ... of a teenage generation that ... which has rejected the values of its parents for a sort of mixture of violence and lethargy ... well ... it's totally unrealistic.
Mrs. Brent: I do wish you had a teenage son or daughter of your own, Mr. Finchley.
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Finchley: But I have more contact with them ...
Mrs. Brent: I'm not implying that you have no understanding of their problems.
Finchley: My contact with them ... as a teacher of English ... is close. You see we have regular discussions ... and they very often carry on after school and here at the youth centre. You'd find them interesting. You could come and sit in sometime if you like.
Darley: That'd be interesting.
Mrs. Brent: I'd be too embarrassed to say anything.
Finchley: I don't mean there's any need for you to take part in the discussion. Just listen. And you'd realize I think just how traditional their attitudes are.
James: For example?
Finchley: For example ... you probably wouldn't think so but the majority have ... a firm belief in marriage ... and in the family.
Darley: Those are things I've never talked about with my boy.
Finchley: And one very clear ... very notable thing is that they're always looking for opportunities to help others ...
Mrs. Brent: Well, Tony doesn't help much in the house ...
Finchley: ... to help others that is who really need help. Not just helping with the washing-up, Mrs. Brent. Anyway ... another point that's come out of the discussions is that nearly all of them—about 90 per cent I should say—get on well with their parents.
Mrs. Brent: Oh but I ...
Finchley: Most disagreements seem to be over hair and general appearance.
James: And we've called those superficial.
Finchley: Exactly.
Darley: I like the idea of sitting in on a discussion. I'll take you up on that.
Finchley: Fine. And Mrs Brent. As you would find it embarrassing ...
Mrs. Brent: Well I ... I didn't really mean embarrassing. It's just that ... you know ...
Finchley: There's a book you ought to read ... published by The National Children's Bureau. It's called Britain's Sixteen-Year-Olds. I'll lend you my copy.
Mrs. Brent: That's very kind of you. Look, I'd better be going. From the way my son's dancing he'll be at it all night.
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Darley: Have you got a car, Mrs. Brent?
Mrs. Brent: No. There's a bus.
Darley: Then please let me give you a lift.
Mrs. Brent: I wouldn't want to take you out of your way.
Darley: Not at all. Anyway ... we have to take an example from the youngsters, don't we? Helping those in need I mean ... Well ... we'll say good night ...
Voices: Good night.
1. How was trade conducted, then, without money to pay for goods? The answer is by bartering. Bartering is the process by which trade takes place through the exchange of goods. Money is not used as payment. Instead, one good is traded for another good.
2. As trade became more common as a result of people's interdependence upon one another, it was necessary to develop or invent a more convenient method of payment. Consequently, a new form of exchange medium, money, was introduced into society.
3. Of course, the evolution from a total barter society to one that was totally monetized did not occur overnight. In fact, today there are still societies that are not monetized, although they account for an insignificant amount of world trade. In the
interim between a barter world and a monetized world, both systems operated together.
4. As I stated earlier, money has a specific value, but due to certain conditions, the money—or currency, as money is referred to—of some countries is more valuable than that of other countries.
5. It is difficult to give examples of barter deals because in most cases the terms of the contract are not disclosed. In some cases, we don't hear about barter transactions simply because they work so well. If one company has arranged a profitable exchange, it will be very quiet about it so that its competitors will not come in and try to make a better deal.
6. It is unlikely that the world will revert to a totally barter-oriented existence, but until the economic disorder that is present in today's world is remedied, bartering will probably become increasingly important as an exchange medium.
Lesson 15
A: Did you hear on the news today about that ... uh ... murderer who was executed?
B: I can't believe it.
A: Yeah. That's the first time in ten years that they've used capital punishment.
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B: I just can't believe in our society today that they would actually kill another human being. Nobody has the right to take another person's life.
A: Oh, I don't agree. Listen, I think capital punishment is—it's about time it came back. I think that's exactly what killers deserve.
B: No, they don't deserve that. Because once you're killing a killer, you're the killer, too. You become a killer as well.
A: No, listen. You take a life, you have to be willing to give up your own. And also, I think that if you have a death penalty it will prevent other people from killing. I think it's a good deterrent.
B: I don't think it's a good deterrent at all. My goodness gracious. I mean, first of all, are you sure the person you've convicted to death is really guilty?
A: Well, I think that's a very rare ... very rare incidence.
B: I don't think it's rare, (I don't think it's ...) with all the cracker jack lawyers we have today, (Well, no ... I ...) and the judicial system the way it is.
A: I think it's a rare incidence, and I think it's more important to get rid of the ... the bad seed, you know?
B: But you don't get rid of it. You rehabilitate somebody like that. (Oh ...) You don't eliminate, you rehabilitate.
A: Listen, studies show that criminals are never really rehabilitated. When they're ... when they come out of prison they just go back to a life of crime, and they're hardened by that crime.
B: Because the rehabilitation process has to be more than just what's in jail. I mean, (Oh ... well.) when you're in jail you do have to work, but when you're out of jail there has to be an extensive program. We have to expand on the idea till it works.
A: I don't agree. Listen—and, anyway, the jails and the prisons are already very crowded, and we have to pay, the taxpayers. Our money goes to maintaining murderers' (I ...) lives.
B: I agree with you. That's why it's important to look at the problem on a much larger scale. The real problem is a social problem. (What ... no ...) There are other problems that cause people to kill. Look at poverty, drugs, discrimination.
A: Some people are just bad. They're just evil and there's nothing you can do.
B: No, there ... it is ... no, it isn't true. There's rehabilitation. (No.) And they ... we're all responsible it ... for ... to humanity. That's one of the reasons ...
A: Well, but in the meantime you have to take care of the people who have already committed ...
B: I agree with you there.
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A: Preventative is different, but ...
B: I agree with you there.
Announcer: On 'TV Magazine' tonight we're looking at people who have given up regular jobs and high salaries to start a new way of life. First of all, we have two interviews with people who decided to leave the 'rat race'. Nicola Burgess spoke to them.
Nicola: This is the Isle of Skye. Behind me you can see the croft belonging to Daniel and Michelle Burns, who gave up their jobs to come to this remote area of Scotland. Daniel was the sales manager of Hi-Vita, the breakfast cereal company, and Michelle was a successful advertising executive. Michelle, can you tell us what made you give up everything to come here?
Michelle: Everything? That's a matter of opinion. A big house and two cars isn't everything! Dan and I both used to work long hours. We had to leave so early in the morning and we came home so late at night, that we hardly ever saw each other. We should have come here years ago, but we were earning such big salaries that we were afraid to leave our jobs. In the end we had so little time together that our marriage was breaking up. So two years ago, we took a week's holiday in the Scottish Highlands. We saw this place and we both fell in love with it. It was for sale, and we liked it so much that we decided to give up our jobs, and here we are!
Nicola: How do you earn a living? If you don't mind me asking.
Michelle: We don't need very much. We keep sheep and goats, grow our own vegetables. We've got a few chickens. It's a very simple life, and we're not in it for profit. We're still so busy that we work from five in the morning until eight at night, but we're together. We're happier than we're ever been and we're leading a natural life.
Nicola: There must be some things you miss, surely.
Michelle: I don't know. We knew such a lot of people in London, but they weren't real friends. We see our neighbours occasionally and there's such a lot to do on the farm that we don't have time to feel lonely. At least we see each other now.
Nicola: The motor-bike I'm sitting on is a very special one. Special because it's been all the way round the world. It belongs to Luke Saunders, who has just returned to England after a three year motor-cycle journey. Luke, what led you to leave your job and make this trip?
Luke: I worked in a car factory on the assembly line. All I had to do was put four nuts on the bolts that hold the wheels on. It's done by robots now, and a good thing too! The job was so routine that I didn't have to think at all. I bought this Triumph 750 cc bike second-hand, fitted two panniers on the back and just set off for Australia.
Nicola: What did you do for money?
Luke: I had a bit of money to start with, but of course it didn't last long and I had
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to find work where I could. I've done so many different things—picked fruit, washed up, worked as a mechanic.
Nicola: How did people react to you? In India, for example.
Luke: Everywhere I went, the people were so friendly that problems seemed to solve themselves. There was such a lot of interest in the bike that it was easy to start a conversation. You know, often you can communicate without really knowing the language.
Nicola: Did you ever feel like giving up, turning round and coming home?
Luke: Only once, in Bangladesh. I became so ill with food poisoning that I had to go to hospital. But it didn't last long.
Nicola: You've had such an exciting time that you'll find it difficult to settle down, won't you?
Luke: I'm not going to. Next week I'm off again, but this time I'm going in the opposite direction! See you in about three years' time!
Here is an extract from a radio talk on the work of Sigmund Freud by Professor Eric Watkis:
Sigmund Freud developed his system of psychoanalysis while he was studying cases of mental illness. By examining details of the patient's life, he found that the
illness could often be traced back to some definite problem or conflict within the person concerned. But he discovered, too, that many of the neuroses observed in mentally ill patients were also present, to a lesser degree, in normal persons. This led him to the realization that the borderline between the normal and the neurotic person is not nearly as clearly marked as was once believed.
In 1914 he published a book called The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. This book goes a long way towards explaining some of the strange behaviour of normal, sane people.
A glance at Freud's chapter headings will indicate some of the aspects of behaviour covered by the book:
Forgetting of proper names
Forgetting of foreign words
Childhood and concealing memories
Mistakes in speech
Mistakes in reading and writing
Broadly, Freud demonstrates that there are good reasons for many of the slips and errors that we make. We forget a name because, unconsciously, we do not wish to remember that name. We repress a childhood memory because that memory is
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painful to us. A slip of the tongue or of the pen betrays a wish or a thought of which we are ashamed.
In these days when every would-be doctor or writer has access to Freud's accounts of his research, it is worth pausing and remembering the remarkable scope and originality of his ideas.
Cheese is one of those foods that we tend to take for granted as always having been with us, and it's odd to think that someone somewhere must have discovered the process that takes place when micro-organisms get into milk and bring about changes in its physical and biochemical structure.
Obviously, we don't know who discovered the process, but it's thought that it came from South-West Asia about 8,000 years ago.
Early cheese was probably rather unpalatable stuff, tasteless and bland in the case of the so-called 'fresh cheeses', which are eaten immediately after the milk has coagulated, and rough tasting and salty in the case of the 'ripened' cheeses, which are made by adding salt to the soft fresh cheese and allowing other biochemical processes to continue so that a stronger taste and a more solid texture result.
The ancient Romans changed all that. They were great pioneers in the art of cheese-making, and the different varieties of cheese they invented and the techniques for producing them spread with them to the countries they invaded. This dissemination of new techniques took place between about 60 BC and 300 AD. You can still trace their influence in the English word 'cheese', which comes ultimately
from the Latin word 'caseus', that's C-A-S-E-U-S.
Well, things went on quietly enough after the Roman period with the cheese producers in the different countries getting on with developing their own specialities. It's amazing the variety of flavours you can get from essentially the same process.
At this stage in history, people weren't aware in a scientific way of the role of different micro-organisms and enzymes in producing different types of cheese. But they knew from experience that if you kept your milk or your 'pre-cheese' mixture at a certain temperature or in a certain environment, things would turn out in a certain way. The Roquefort caves in France are an example of a place that was used for centuries for the ripening of a certain sort of cheese, before people knew exactly why they produced the effect they did.
In the nineteenth century, with the increasing knowledge about micro-organisms, there came the next great step forward in cheese-making. Once it was known exactly which micro-organisms were involved in the different stages of producing a cheese, and how the presence of different micro-organisms affected the taste, it was possible to introduce them deliberately, and to industrialize the process.
Cheese started being made on a large scale in factories, although the small producer working from his farm dairy continued to exist and still exist today. Cheese-making moved very much into the world of technology and industrial processes, although, because the aim is still to produce something that people like
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to eat, there's still an important role for human judgement. People still go round tasting the young cheese at different stages to see how it's getting on, and may add a bit of this or that to improve the final taste. Whatever the scale of production, there is still room for art alongside the technology.
1. All cultures change, even modern ones. As a matter of fact, change occurs most rapidly in modern cultures, since science brings us so many new discoveries every day. It is rather difficult to follow these changes clearly, since they happen so fast. The civilization that I will discuss today is easier to observe.
2. No formal history was written for these early Indians, but Navajo Indians who came along later found evidence of their great civilization. The Navajos called these prehistoric people 'the Anasazi', which means, 'the Ancient Ones'.
3. Descendants of the Anasazi still live in the Southwest, and many aspects of their culture are similar to ancient times. Today these people are called Pueblo Indians.
4. There are four different time periods in the development of the Anasazi. Scientists have looked for the one most important theme in this story, a kind of unifying idea to organize all the facts. The most critical and influential improvement in their lives was the way they used containers to cook, store, and carry food and water.
5. The most important job of the man in this society was to learn, teach, and perform the religious ceremonies associated with farming. Women worked in the
fields and prepared all the food. Women also wove baskets out of yucca fibers.
6. We don't know what the final problem was. It might have been enemy attack, sickness, lack of rain, or over-farmed soil. But in the year 1300 the last of the Anasazi left the cliff dwellings, never to return again. They left behind their beautiful pueblos, which still stand as a monument to them.
Lesson 16
BBC interviewer: It's probably true to say that women have been affected more than men by recent changes in the way we actually live. Over a hundred years ago people began to question whether men were really so much wiser, stronger, altogether more sensible and simply better than women as the laws of the country made out. In the end women got the vote, and very recently—in 1975—the Sex Discrimination Act was passed.
But it's doubtful whether legislation has changed the way we women actually think. A lot is heard about the dilemma of women's two roles. How can a woman be a wife and mother and have a full-time job as well?
In this new series we are going to try to find out what people are really thinking and feeling about this problem, and how it affects their personal lives. In the studio with me today is Mrs. Marina Spiden, who recently experienced the problem of having too much to do at home. With Mrs. Spiden are her husband Brian, her mother Mrs. Vera Cresswell and Mr. Tom Penman, their local newsagent. Mrs. Spiden ... tell us what happened will you?
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Mrs. Spiden: Well ... you just said it ... the problem of having too much to do at home. I do an afternoon job so I have to get the housework and shopping ... er ... done in the morning. And one morning you see ... er ... I just couldn't stand it no more. The ... the baby was bawling her head off. Jimmy—that's my little boy ... he's two—had thrown the radio out of the window ...
Interviewer: Really!
Mrs. Spiden: Yes really ... The dog ... you know ... had made a ... a mess on the carpet. And there was Brian—my husband—there he was snoring a way on the settee. Didn't lift a finger he didn't ... not a finger to help me.
Mr. Spiden: Now now love ... Don't get all her up about it again ... I mean that's your side of the story ...
Interviewer: Of course Mr. Spiden ... We'd like to hear your side later. So ... what did you do about it?
Mrs. Spiden: Well ... What do you do when you've got something you're fed up with or ... or ... you don't want like ... You put them up for sale don't you? And that's exactly what I did do. Put the whole damn lot of 'em up for sale.
Interviewer: The family you mean.
Mrs. Spiden: Yes ... the family ... including the dog.
Mr. Penman: She came into my shop that very day and 'Tom', she says, 'I've just
about had enough of it. I'm sick of slaving for a husband what sleeps all day. So here you are,' she says. And she gives me an advert on a card to put up in the window of the paper shop.
Interviewer: What did it say?
Mr. Penman: I've got it here.
Interviewer: Read it for us will you?
Mr. Penman: 'For Sale—One house-trained dog, one reasonably trained boy of two years, one baby girl of two weeks and one man that needs training. Any offers considered. Apply within.'
Interviewer: And were there any offers?
Mrs Cresswell: It was me what wrote that advert. You see ... I live with Marina and Brian ...
Mr Spiden: She and her dog ...
Mr. Penman: Oh yes. Caused quite a stir it did. I should say I had inquiries from ... from about a couple of dozen housewives in all.
Interviewer: And what offers did they make?
Mr. Penman: Well one woman offered 25p. She said that's all a man was worth.
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Interviewer: What about you Mr. Spiden? What was your reaction to the advertisement?
Mr. Spiden: Well ... you can imagine ... My wife told me about it but I thought she was joking. Little did I realize ... I was bloody furious when I saw it there. It wasn't till next morning. We live upstairs of the paper shop and when I come down to go on my milk round ...
Interviewer: Yes of course ... you're a milkman ...
Mrs. Spiden: That's right. I often have a dekko at the adverts Tom puts up. And when I saw that one sort of ... staring me in the face ... I nearly blew me top.
Interviewer: What did you do?
Mrs. Cresswell: I'll tell you what he did. He came and blamed me for everything.
Mr. Spiden: Well it was you ... wannit ... that egged her on. It was you that wrote the advert.
Mr. Penman: It was a big joke really. Just that Brian took it all the wrong way. Know what he did? When he come off his milk round he barges into the shop and he says, 'Take that bloody advert out and put one in for me. Ask some kind taxi-driver or someone to come and take my mother-in-law back to Birmingham.'
Mr. Spiden: But it's all blown over now ... innit. It's done us a world of good in a way. We're the best of friends again. Even the dog started to ...
Interviewer: I'm going to talk to you now about the suffragette movement. Were you yourself ever a suffragette?
Mrs. Bruce: No, I did not approve of suffragettes. I did not want to have the vote. I felt the man of the house should be in charge of that section. And the woman, of course, to look after the home and the children. I think that voting was unnecessary, at that time. But I'm not going to say now, that perhaps it has had its advantages.
Interviewer: How common was your attitude at the time that the suffragettes were being militant?
Mrs. Bruce: Oh, I was very much against them. I'd be highly insulted if anybody called me a suffragette. I remember walking with my governess down Downing Street just past Number 10 and they chained themselves to the railings. Of course, I had a good laugh but I thought it wasn't going to be me.
Interviewer: Were they a popular movement in their day?
Mrs. Bruce: Well, with a certain number of course. And they tried very hard and eventually they got the vote, er through their efforts, so I suppose their efforts were good in quite a lot of ways. Er, I think women in Parliament—there aren't many, but those that've been there have done a lot of good.
Interviewer: So you think in the long term ...
Mrs. Bruce: In the long term, no harm was done. As long as their
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demonstrations were peaceful.
Interviewer: Do you think it would matter very much if women didn't, hadn't achieved the vote, if they hadn't got the vote at all and still didn't have it?
Mrs. Bruce: I don't think it would've made a great deal of difference, no, but there are certain things they've done—those that've been Members of Parliament—that have been very useful in helping women in their jobs, in other vocations. I think it's good that it happened. But I wish it happened a little bit more peacefully, perhaps.
Interviewer: What sort of things can you remember, what other sorts of demonstrations do you remember?
Mrs. Bruce: Marching, they were marching. But of course those were much more peaceful days, nobody interfered with their marches. There were a few boos here and there and a lot of clapping. Yes.
Interviewer: Did you, did you actually know any suffragettes yourself?
Mrs. Bruce: Well, my friends, my close friends, were not suffragettes but I had one or two friends, not very close friends, that were. And we used to have great arguments and I used to say I didn't want the vote, I don't want to vote.
Interviewer: How did they react to that?
Mrs. Bruce: They didn't like that. They said I ought to join the movement but I said, no I don't want to vote.
Interviewer: But, and yet you've done so many exciting things. You've done so many things that in your day, were probably the exclusive preserve of the man
Mrs. Bruce: Well, yes. But voting didn't make any difference because that's a political thing, voting, I never, I don't care about women entering into politics particularly. Ah, no harm's been done with the few that have entered the House of Commons but, in fact, some have done a great deal of good. But that's quite different to beating men at their own job. Now that's nothing to do with votes. Now, for instance, I always got a great thrill on the race track at Brooklands, if I could beat, well, Sir Henry Seagrave, for instance, in a race, I never did beat him but I did beat Frazer Nash, a famous racing driver in a race, and I was thrilled to death. I thought that was super.
Interviewer: So you don't mind actually joining men in their world of work and sport but you're happy to leave politics to them.
Mrs. Bruce: No. I would rather really leave politics to them.
Jan: Changes are very gradual. They're too slow. I mean if you sit under a tree long enough the apple'll fall off and you can eat it but sometimes you've got to stand up and do something. You've got to ... Um, I think the law is there to protect people. Because women were being discriminated against, it was necessary for the law to stop that, um, at least to some extent. But you can't change the way people
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think.
Duncan: People's discrimination is based on the fact ... a lot of it, that they don't think women are capable of making decisions or have any intelligence at all. I mean a lot of people believe that ... and if that ... provided ... once that's proved wrong, that removes the valid grounds for the discrimination and you know you ... the belief is then unjustified. You've got to stamp it out. I mean, it's as simple as that.
Keith: But just in the same way that if I want to become a managing director, I have to look at the company in which I work and prove certain elements of my behaviour or ... or my skills to these people, so must women.
Jan: Yes, but if they're not given the chance, then how can they? I mean it's very sad that the law has to be there at all. I mean that you have to say to somebody who's employing someone you must give ... you must interview men and women ... it, it seems a great shame ... you have to tell people to do that. It's also a great shame that you have to tell people not to go around murdering other people. I mean, the law's there because people do stupid things.
Duncan: As I say, the law is ... is not that you have to sort of ... I mean you basically all you have to do is give women the right to apply and the right to be considered in the same way as everybody else and if the law was effective as it should be, there'd be nothing wrong with that. I mean, what's wrong with giving women the chance to apply for a job and giving them the right to be considered on equal terms with men.
Keith: Women could always ... women could always apply.
Duncan: That's not true, though. I mean there are employers who just would not consider them.
David: A woman would not apply if the job was ... if the job advertisement was couched in such terms.
Keith: I mean ... the leading example ...
Duncan: I mean the whole point about the ... an advertisement asking for a draughtsman being against the terms of the act, is that it gives the imp ... it's implied that only men will be considered and that's why that would be a legal advertisement if you put at the bottom, um, applications from men and women will be considered ... the same with postmen and all the other jobs.
David: Interesting point. How important is the language, Jan, do you think?
Jan: I ... it's symbolic. Um, I personally don't find it particularly important. Er, if you have a meeting and you call the man or the woman who chairs the meeting the chairman, it just doesn't matter I don't think at all.
1. When a teacher or lecturer recommends a student to read a book it's usually for a particular purpose. The book may contain useful information about the topic being studied or it may be invaluable for the ideas or views that it puts forward, and so on. In many cases, the teacher doesn't suggest that the whole book should be
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read. In fact, he may just refer to a few pages which have a direct bearing on the matter being discussed.
2. On Many occasions, however, the student does not come to the library to borrow a book, or even to consult a book from the shelves. He may well come to the library because it provides a suitable working environment, which is free of charge, spacious, well-lit and adequately heated.
3. Learners of English usually find that writing is the most difficult skill they have to master. The majority of native speakers of English have to make an effort to write accurately and effectively even on those subjects which they know very well. The non-native learner, then, is trying to do something that the average native speaker often finds difficult himself.
4. Students, however, often work out a sentence in their own language and then try to translate it in this way. The result is that very often the reader simply cannot understand what the student has written. The individual words, or odd phrases, may make sense but the sentence as a whole makes nonsense. The student should, therefore, always try to employ sentence patterns he knows are correct English.
5. Many students seem to think that simplicity is suspect. It is, on the contrary, a quality which is much admired in English. Most readers understand that a difficult subject can only be written up 'simply' if the writer understands it very well. A student should, therefore, organize all his points very carefully before he starts to write.
6. Non-native speakers of English, like their native counterparts, usually find that the opportunity to participate in group discussions is one of the most valuable aspects in their whole academic programme. But in order to obtain full value from this type of activity the student must be proficient in asking questions. If he isn't, then any attempt to resolve his difficulties may lead to further confusion, if not considerable embarrassment.
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