AMERICAN ENGLISH FILE 3RD EDITION LEVEL 4 AUDIO SCRIPT

FILE TESTS

FILE TEST 1
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 Well, my interview was in Baltimore, an hour from my house by train. It was in
the afternoon and there were plenty of trains, so I wasn’t worried about
getting there on time. What a mistake that was! When I got to the station to
catch my train, there was a sign that said that all trains were canceled
because a tree had fallen across the track. There was a replacement bus
service, but it was much slower. There was no way I could’ve made it on time.
2
Speaker 2 Honestly, I didn’t expect to be offered an interview, so I hadn’t really thought
about what I should wear. I mean, it was a stylish fashion company so I
guessed I’d just go there wearing my newest outfit. Well, when I go to the
interview venue – a classy hotel – I was shown to the waiting room. It was full
of men and women dressed in very fashionable suits and holding briefcases. I
was so embarrassed!
3
Speaker 3 It wasn’t a difficult question, actually. I’d prepared really well but the
atmosphere in the room was kind of intimidating. I mean, I hadn’t expected
there to be four interviewers! I guess nerves got the best of me. I was so
eager to make a good impression, but when that first question came, I just
froze – I couldn’t say a thing! I just felt those four sets of eyes on me, waiting
expectantly. It would’ve helped if I’d had a glass of water or something!
4
Speaker 4 I expected to be asked some tough questions at my college interview, so I
had prepared really thoroughly. But when I got into the interview room, the
guy looked at my application and said, “So, it says you play the guitar in your
spare time. Tell me about that.” Well, we had a sort of weird, informal chat for
the rest of the interview and all the time I was thinking, why isn’t he asking me
any academic questions? I can’t have gotten in! But I shouldn’t have worried
– I did get in after all!
5
Speaker 5 I’d never been to one of those corporate interviews before. I thought it’d just
be a couple of business executives asking me questions, but I was shown to
a room with several other people. We were told we were going to participate
in several rounds of interviews. The first was a “group” interview where we all
had to say why we deserved to be hired. People would be eliminated after
each round. Well, I just got up and left. I mean, who’d want to work for a
company that puts that much pressure on their employees?

FILE TEST 1
Listening 2
Host So, in the studio we have Angela Hamilton, a professional psychologist. She’s
going to talk to us today about how our personalities are formed. Angela,
welcome to the show.
Angela Hello, Michael. Thanks for inviting me.
Host So, Angela, as I understand it, the “nature versus nurture” debate is one of
the most controversial in psychology. What exactly is it all about?
Angela Well, … “nature” refers to our unique physical make-up. You know, the
genetic factors that we inherit from our parents which make us who we are –
from our physical appearance to our personality characteristics.
Host OK, I get it …
Angela And “nurture” refers to the environmental factors that influence who we are.
For example, how we were raised, our early childhood experiences, our social
relationships, and our culture.
Host Uh-huh, I see. So, what do you think, is it nature or nurture that makes us
who we are?
Angela Hmm, well that’s a difficult one to answer. You see, different branches of
psychology have opposing theories, and despite decades of scientific studies,
they just can’t agree. Biological psychology claims that our personality is the
result of genetic influences. On the other hand, behavioral psychology argues
that environment has the biggest impact on our characters. I tend to agree
more with the behavioral psychologists – that environment plays the biggest
role in shaping our personalities. However, I recognize that genetics are
involved, too.
Host OK, so it sounds pretty complicated. Can you give some examples of nature
versus nurture?
Angela Of course. Let’s think about academic success… when a person performs
well academically, it could be due to nature – in other words, that they are
genetically programmed to be academic. Or, is it due to nurture – because of
their environment? For example, because they had access to good resources
– books, computers, encouragement from their parents, a successful brother
or sister to compete with.
Host OK, so it’s not really straightforward, is it?
Angela No, not at all. Most of our physical characteristics, such as eye, hair, and skin
color are definitely down to nature, though.
Host So, how about personality? Can I blame my absentmindedness on my
parents?
Angela Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. While eye color is undoubtedly due to
genes, things like height and life expectancy are programmed by nature, but
also influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. In my opinion, it’s the
same for personality. Scientists haven’t yet found a specific gene for being
easygoing or bad-tempered or well-behaved. However, you often find that
people with those characteristics had parents or other family members with
the same characteristics.
Host So, why do you often get siblings – brothers and sisters – who have grown up
together in the same environment and raised by the same people, with
completely different personalities?
Angela Well, the thing is that we are all unique. Whether we grow up together and
share the same parents or not, we’ll all be different from each other.
Throughout our lives, we interact constantly with our environment – we
change and adapt – every experience we have shapes our personalities and
makes us what we are. And that uniqueness is a great thing. Nature or
nurture? I don’t think we need to debate because it’s both …
Host Angela, thank you. That was absolutely fascinating.
Angela Thank you, too.
FILE TEST 2
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 Well, I’m really glad it happened on the last day of our vacation rather than
the first! I’d had a great week of skiing and avoided injury. Then, if you can
believe it, I slipped on the steps as I was carrying my suitcase down to the
airport bus. I couldn’t walk – the pain was incredible. I was taken to the local
medical clinic and they bandaged my ankle and sent me to the airport by taxi.
I was so embarrassed. When I returned home, everyone assumed I’d had a
dramatic skiing accident!
2
Speaker 2 I’ve never known pain like that. I felt sick and dizzy … and there was a loud
noise that sounded like a helicopter was taking off right beside – almost inside
– my head. I knew immediately that it was an infection and I needed
antibiotics. I went to the doctor but I could hardly hear what he was saying. It
took a day or two for the antibiotics to take effect. I had to take a lot of
painkillers during that time, and I didn’t get much sleep.
3
Speaker 3 It was on a long bike ride … about 35 miles through the countryside. I had
plenty of water, snacks, and a lightweight waterproof jacket. I thought I’d be
fine since the weather was mild. But then as I was riding through the hills, the
temperature dropped unexpectedly. Soon it was pouring rain and I just got
colder and colder. I started to feel really ill but I knew I couldn’t stop in the
middle of nowhere. Finally, I came to a small village – I walked into a café and
fainted.
4
Speaker 4 Seriously, I’ll never eat food from there again. I’m so disappointed … we’ve
been going there for years and the food’s always been good – really
consistent. But then I’ve heard the chef has changed recently ... It tasted fine
but I knew quite quickly that there was something wrong. You know, I started
to feel kind of funny … Well, within three hours we were all vomiting. We
called them the next day to complain, and guess what? They offered us free
takeout next time. Well, I won’t be risking that again!
5
Speaker 5 Well, I had absolutely no idea I had a problem with them. I mean, I’d been
stung before, and it really hurt, but it’d never been as bad as that. I was just
 sitting there, talking with my friends, drinking coffee … and eating cake. Then
suddenly I felt a sharp sting on my throat. Immediately it started swelling up
and I couldn’t breathe – I fainted and woke up in the hospital. I used to try to
be calm around wasps, but I’ll run away from them from now on.

FILE TEST 2
Listening 2
So, most of you may know that this week is National Friendship Week … so I’ve decided to
talk about friends, and more specifically, to explore the concept of BFF or “Best Friends
Forever,” which is kind of trendy right now. But what does it actually mean? And is there too
much pressure to have a best friend?

This is supposed to be a light-hearted talk, but I think it’s important to acknowledge the
recent reports in the media related to loneliness. Research suggests that as a society, we’re
lonelier than we’ve ever been before. And while the traditional image of loneliness is that it
only affects the elderly, the high rate of loneliness among young people is actually really
shocking. This may not actually mean that young people have fewer friends – it’s more about
the pressure they feel to have “successful friendships.” In fact, I recently read that over 80
percent of millennials reported that they felt like they had to live up to the expectations of
others, and if they didn’t, they would become socially isolated. That’s actually pretty
shocking.

And I suppose that’s where I come to the BFF question. Do we really need a best friend?
And if so, do we need to prove it with a BFF hashtag? Whether we actually have a best
friend, or a small group of close friends, or a wider circle of friends and acquaintances, we all
feel alone at times – and nothing will ever change that.

So, there’s something I have to admit – and I think I’m being pretty brave doing it – I don’t
have a best friend. This has not always been the case. In high school, I had a best friend
named Charlotte. When we met in the first week of school, we just clicked and we were
together all the time after that – from then until our senior year. After school and on
weekends I’d either be at her house or she’d be at mine. If we weren’t together for some
reason, people would ask where the other one was. We wore similar clothes, and we liked
the same bands and the same boys. But then one day she came to me in tears and told me
she was leaving – her family was moving to a town far away. Well, I was so unhappy. And
lonely. We’d tackled our teen years together and spent all our time together. How would I
survive without her?

When she was gone, I didn’t really know how to be on my own, and I soon realized I hadn’t
really taken the time to get to know my classmates very well. They all had their own
established friendship groups. After a couple of months, I gradually began to hang out with
other kids and made a really nice group of friends, but I still felt like there was something
missing. Looking back now, I think it was the habit and security of having a BFF. Charlotte
and I have kept in touch, and we still see each other every year or so, but we don’t have a
huge amount in common as adults – just a lot of fun shared memories.

So, I don’t have a best friend. Not because I can’t find one, but because I no longer feel the
need for a BFF. I have a mix of college friends, old roommates, co-workers, and people I’ve
met through various activities over the years. I like them all for different reasons and
between them they cover every aspect of friendship: shared interests, emotional support and
advice, quiet nights staying in, and wild nights going out. None are the “best,” maybe,
because I get what I need out of a combination of all my friendships.

Am I missing out on the whole “best friends forever” phenomenon? Well, no, I don’t think so.
In fact, I think maybe it would hold me back these days because I’d miss out on these
wonderful diverse friendships I have now. Sure, I don’t spend as much time with any of them
as I would if I had just one BFF, but I don’t think that matters. In fact, in a way, it makes life
easier because I don’t have to drop whatever I’m doing when my BFF calls. I can be myself
and make my own decisions without having to discuss them with someone else.

The thing I’ve learned about friendships is that they change and develop as our lives do, and
that’s OK.
FILE TEST 3
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 My friends and I are planning a trip around Europe now so I’ve been busy
researching the best destinations and finding out about cultural attractions
and interesting activities we can do there. We’re on a budget so I’ve borrowed
this book from the library. It has lots of ideas for affordable travel and
accommodation options. The only problem is, every destination in the book
sounds amazing but we can’t visit all of them!
2
Speaker 2 I just love a good crime novel. You know, a real page-turner; the kind you
start reading and then you just can’t put down! I’ve been known to eat
breakfast and brush my teeth in the morning without putting a book down.
Obviously, I have to work so I have to fit reading in somewhere! The one I’m
reading now is kind of scary, I have to admit, so I don’t read it after dark!
3
Speaker 3 When I was young, my uncle lived in Japan. I was amazed by his photos and
stories when he visited. Anyway, for my twelfth birthday he gave me some
“manga.” It looked like a thick comic book, but it didn’t have many words. The
words it did have were written in Japanese kanji, but I could follow the story
from the dynamic comic-style pictures. I’m not sure you could call it reading,
but it stimulated my imagination in the same way.
4
Speaker 4 Well, right now I’m reading a very technical book about how to use my new
laptop for work. I’m a graphic designer so I need to have some pretty
sophisticated software to create my artwork. I was used to using my old
laptop but it was getting pretty slow so I needed an upgrade. Wow, I never
expected to have to read so many pages – it’s going to take me ages to get
through it!
5
Speaker 5 Honestly, it’s a while since I’ve read a physical book. I tend to do most of my
reading online these days. I’m training to be a chef and I’m hoping to open a
small café business so I spend most of my time checking out recipes and
videos. I’m really enjoying the community aspect too – you know, you can
post a question and people will get back to you with ideas and advice. It’s
great!
FILE TEST 3
Listening 2
My name’s Sarah Jason and I’m here today to talk about how I became a writer. I guess I
should start at the beginning ... talk about what inspired me and why I decided to go for it
and write my first story. Well … when I say “my first story,” I mean the first I wrote as Sarah
Jason the author, because the first story I ever wrote was very, very long ago when I was a
child. I can't remember learning to read. I feel like I've always done it. But my mother tells me
that I read my first book aloud to her when I was only three years old. Back then we didn't
have tablets or e-readers – just old-fashioned paper novels. And there were literally stacks of
them all over my room. Some days I used to come downstairs with two or three books and
just sit and read them one after the other. On nice days, I'd go outside and swing on my
swing while I was reading, or carry a book around the backyard with me. In the winter, I
remember once taking my sled out into the snow and sitting on it ... reading. As I got older –
about ten or eleven – my brother and I would make up adventure stories together. We'd
discuss the characters and then draw them. After that we'd take turns to write paragraphs, or
he would write the first half of the story and I'd write the second half. I absolutely loved the
thrill of it. And that hasn’t changed. In fact, I still have a couple of those collaborative stories
we wrote together.

Of course, I went on to study literature in college and I loved it. But after I graduated, I
realized I was in debt. I needed a job to pay off my student loans, so I trained to become a
teacher and began working in a high school. And although I really enjoyed teaching, I
missed being creative. I studied novels with the students in my classes but they weren't the
kind of novels I wanted to read, and I had to teach the same ones repeatedly. So, I decided
to try writing a short story or two. I didn't have a lot of free time, but I realized that if I didn't
do it then, I never would. So I'd just write a little each day – sometimes only a few lines. But
it's not just the physical writing that makes you a writer. You have to use your imagination;
you have to think and almost “feel” the story. The characters and plot line develop over time.
So ... I daydreamed a lot ... and I kept a notebook and pencil with me at all times. If I saw
anything inspiring or interesting, I'd take notes. I'd listen in on conversations on buses and
“steal” a couple of lines of dialogue from them, or I'd see an interesting face in a crowd and
imagine the character of that person – what their personality was like, where they lived, what
they were interested in. Then they'd become a character in my stories.
I wrote several short stories before I was brave enough to send one to a magazine to see if
they would publish it. They rejected me ... and so did the next magazine, and the next. But I
didn't give up. I read a lot, but I don't like everything I read. At first when I was rejected by
publishing companies, I felt like I'd failed, but then I realized that everyone has different
tastes in literature. If they don't like my story, maybe someone else will. After several months
of rejections, I finally got a story published in a magazine in the UK. I was so thrilled. And
would you believe it? A publisher here in the US got in touch with me to ask if he could
publish it, too. The ridiculous thing is, his publishing company had actually rejected the story
two months earlier. He didn't even realize it!

So, that was the start of my career. I think a lot of people give up at the rejection stage, and
that's understandable, but it’s sad too, because it could be a missed opportunity. I won a
couple of short story competitions and then I started to feel like I was ready for my first novel.
I made the brave move of giving up my teaching career and started writing full time. Well,
when I say writing, you know what I mean. Some of the time I'm writing, the rest of the time
I'm just thinking of a good story!
FILE TEST 4
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 I used to buy a ton of clothing online, and if I didn’t like them, I’d just return
them and get a refund. But then I read an article online about store returns –
and how millions of returned clothing items are wasted because companies
send them to a landfill. They say it’s just too time consuming to clean and
resell them. Now I only buy from brands that make items from recycled fabrics
and I never return them – I give them away, or sell them on social media.
2
Speaker 2 I’m really concerned about the effect of chemicals on the environment. I read
recently that the average apple tree is sprayed with insect-killing chemicals
thirteen times a year. Well, I don’t like the idea of eating them now. And think
of the effect of those chemicals on the environment. I’ve decided to buy only
organic food products from now on.
3
Speaker 3 Last year I decided to become a vegan – not eat or use any animal products
– to reduce my carbon footprint. But things aren’t always so straightforward.
Since then I’ve discovered that many vegan products contain soybeans and
that huge areas of the rainforest worldwide are being cleared to grow it
because of increased consumer demand. If this continues to happen, the
rainforest will have disappeared by the time my grandchildren grow up. Now
I’ve decided just to eat healthily and buy local.
4
Speaker 4 I’m trying to be an environmentally responsible shopper but it isn’t easy.
Companies know that consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact of
their shopping, and while many of them sell genuinely “green” items, some try
to “greenwash” their image – you know, advertise their products in a way that
makes them sound more environmentally-friendly than they actually are. I’d
like to think that our shopping habits are going to continue to get more
environmentally friendly in the future, but this can only happen if businesses
are honest about their environmental profile!
5
Speaker 5 I used to be OK with buying items in packaging because I thought it would all
get recycled. Then I saw a TV documentary that revealed that a large portion
of the plastic items we put in the recycling bin ends up getting dumped in a
 landfill or burned. Since I discovered that, I’ve been trying to buy items
without packaging, and I always refuse to take free bags in stores. I’ve also
joined some online campaigns that are asking the food industry to reduce
packaging and find more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Hopefully it’ll
make a difference ...

FILE TEST 4
Listening 2
Host So, today as part of our Climate First series, I’m talking with Mike Stephens, a
climate scientist. As you know, a lot of the news about climate change these
days is pretty depressing, but there are some really positive things happening
to tackle the issue, and that’s what we’ll be talking about today. Mike, thanks
for coming in.
Mike Hello Isabelle, it’s great to be here.
Host So, I’m really looking forward to hearing about some of these creative
solutions …
Mike Yes, well, as you say, climate change is a serious issue, but that’s no reason
to give up and do nothing about it. Of course, many human inventions have
been harmful to the environment, so it’s really important that we turn our
attention to using our scientific knowledge to help reverse that damage.
Host Yes, we think we’re really smart – and of course we are – but we can’t just go
on creating products and systems that destroy our own planet, can we?
Mike Exactly. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to reverse the damage.
We need inventions that will protect the Earth, and … hopefully … help
environments heal and get better again. So, I’d like to talk you through just a
few of the inventions that I think are really interesting.
Host Fantastic. Sounds interesting …
Mike OK, so first on my list is drones that plant trees. We don’t need to invent a
machine to clean the air for us because we already have the natural
equipment to do that for us – trees. Trees absorb the carbon from our fossil
fuel emissions, they filter the air and water, they return nutrients to the soil,
and they provide essential food and habitats for wildlife. The problem is, right
now, we’re cutting them down faster than we can plant them. We’re already
planting trees by hand but human effort alone can’t match the rate of
industrial deforestation. That’s where the technology comes in – drones can
 fly into areas that humans can’t reach. BioCarbon Engineering, a UK-based
company, is trying to plant one billion trees per year using drones. First, they
use mapping drones to research an area and determine the best planting
strategy. Then, planting drones fly six feet above the ground firing seeds into
the soil. Now that’s pretty smart.
Host Yes, it is! And what about our oceans? I mean, they’re in a real mess right
now, aren’t they?
Mike Well, yes, but we may have a solution there, too. If our plastic use continues,
by 2050, the world will have twelve billion metric tons of plastic waste in
landfills. That’s a piece of plastic around the size of a car, for every human on
the planet. But an accidental scientific discovery might change all that. You
see, a team of researchers in Japan has discovered an enzyme that can
break down plastic in a matter of days. Considering it currently takes
hundreds, if not thousands, of years for plastic to break down, that’s a huge
improvement. It won’t solve the problem alone though – we’d have to stop
putting plastic in the ocean altogether to do that. To effectively address
climate change, we also need to change people’s behavior. We can’t rely on
technology alone to solve all our problems.
Host Hmm. And what about energy? Are there any smart solutions happening in
that area?
Mike Yes, there are. We already have some effective solar panel technology, but of
course it only works efficiently when the sun shines. As a wet weather option,
scientists in China are looking at ways they can extract energy from
raindrops.
Host Raindrops? Are you kidding?
Mike No, really, it’s a fantastic idea, isn’t it? Another one is …
FILE TEST 5
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 It’d been such a terrifying experience. I mean, we hadn’t expected to go so
far, but we must’ve just taken a wrong turn. Soon we were completely lost
and it was so hot. We realized we were walking around in circles so we
stopped and tried to remember our survival skills. We made a shelter for
shade and got a fire going to boil water from the stream nearby. The next day
we just sat there waiting to be rescued. When the helicopter finally came, I
just burst into tears.
2
Speaker 2 I knew it’d be a challenging route but I was determined to finish. I’d been
preparing for months and was in really good shape. But that doesn’t really
make a huge difference with how tired you feel. I’ve run in a lot of mountains
but these were so steep. It was six hours of running over rocks, down narrow
paths, and through rivers and streams. It really was tough. Words can’t
express how tired I was when I finally crossed the finish line.
3
Speaker 3 I would never have imagined Jean as an adrenaline seeker. I mean, she
doesn’t seem like the risk-taking type at all. I didn’t think she’d ever do
something like that! When she made the announcement at work, I nearly fell
off my chair. Skydiving! No one could speak at first – we were absolutely
shocked. I have to say, I really admire her for it! I wish I was brave enough.
Maybe next time I’ll join her …
4
Speaker 4 We’d set our hearts on buying that house. It was perfect for us in every way.
The space, the backyard, the lifestyle it would provide. We had the money
too, and could easily imagine ourselves living there. We’d planned where
we’d put the furniture and everything. But when we called the real estate
agent to make the offer, he said the owners had decided not to sell after all.
Words can’t describe how we felt.
5
Speaker 5 It happened at my friend Tanya’s 40th birthday party. Anyway, her husband
James had organized a surprise party for her at the local community center,
and the guests had been asked to arrive early. Well, I was standing near the
door when Tanya arrived. I was about to run over and give her a hug when
 another Tanya walked through the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes – she’d
never told me she had an identical twin! I was completely confused all
evening. I couldn’t figure out who was who …

FILE TEST 5
Listening 2
Hello everyone, I’m Jed. Thank you for coming to my talk this evening. I’m sure some of you
may already have experience in how to stay safe outdoors when you’re doing extreme
sports or exploring wilder areas. Anyway … whatever your level of expertise, I hope that
you’ll go home with some useful hints and tips for surviving in the wild.

It’s important to point out that no two “lost in the wilderness” scenarios are the same. Medical
issues, allergies, phobias, and anxieties can all determine how being lost will affect an
individual’s ability to survive in their own unique set of circumstances. So, know your
strengths and your weaknesses and plan ahead. Most importantly, don’t plan an outdoor
activity unless you have the right level of experience. It might sound a bit harsh, but if you
choose to go out into wild places without the relevant skills, you could be a risk to yourself
and to others.

So, make sure you learn as much as possible about the landscape you’re planning to
explore. And always tell someone where you’re going and what your plan is. That way if you
don’t come back, they’ll know there’s a problem.

Next, pack a survival kit. Most survival stories begin with “I wasn’t planning to go that far ….”
Whether you’re going out for a day hike in the mountains, or a week-long camping trip in the
woods, always carry a survival kit with you. It can be small but it has to have the essentials
like dry clothing, a knife, a survival blanket, and a medical kit.

I think most people are aware that their main threats to survival are hypothermia and
dehydration. Always take a lightweight but warm jacket. Even in the summer the weather
can change, leaving you exposed and cold. Nights can get chilly regardless of daytime
temperatures.

Water that looks clean can contain bacteria or parasites that will make you sick if you drink it.
But you can only survive three days without water so don’t let yourself go thirsty – drink lots
of water BUT make it safe by boiling it first.
And that leads me to the next essential … Don’t, whatever you do, forget to take a lighter.
The ability to light and maintain a fire, especially in difficult weather conditions, is essential.
It’ll dry your clothes and keep you warm, boil water, cook your food, and signal your location
to rescue teams. And perhaps most importantly, it gives you that psychological boost you
need to get through the darkest hours. So, I can’t stress this enough – you may have taken a
class in natural fire lighting, but in a survival situation your priority is to stay alive, so you
should use the quickest option available.

So … we’ve covered skills and equipment, but having these things doesn’t guarantee your
survival. Mental attitude has as much to do with it as anything else. What would you do if you
found yourself lost? Well, the most important thing is not to panic. Stop, sit down, and look
around. Many people get desperate when they realize that they’re lost. Survivors will often
say things like “I wish I hadn’t walked off in some random direction hoping to find the right
path again. I ended up making the situation ten times worse.” So, try to stay calm and
consider your basic needs: shelter, water, food, and protection. Save your energy – you
don’t have to start acting like a hero in an adventure movie; only perform the tasks that are
absolutely necessary for your survival. Remember, if you told someone your plan, the
rescuers will be looking for you …
FILE TEST 6
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 I was so excited when I became a student and moved into my first apartment
of my own. I really enjoyed living with my roommates and cooking for myself,
but the one big problem I had was the bed. It was so uncomfortable. I just
couldn’t get used to it. I finally gave up and started sleeping on the floor. It
was a lot more comfortable!
2
Speaker 2 When I moved to the city, I had a terrible time with the loud traffic outside. I
just couldn’t get used to it, especially at nighttime. I would lie awake for hours.
But then a friend suggested I play some calming music at bedtime to reduce
the effect of the noise from outside. Thankfully it worked. If it hadn’t, I think I
would’ve moved somewhere quieter.
3
Speaker 3 The worst time I’ve ever had trying to sleep was when I was on a gap year in
Australia. You know those Australian birds that make really loud noises – the
kookaburras? Well, they start communicating with each other early – I mean
really early – about 5 o’clock in the morning! And my apartment was next to a
park. There was a tree right outside my bedroom window, and I’d be woken
up by those noisy things every day. No matter what I did, I couldn’t block out
the sound.
4
Speaker 4 I’d never had a problem sleeping until I moved to Canada. I knew the daylight
hours in summer are much longer up north, but what I hadn’t realized is that
there’s virtually no darkness at all! The first year I ended up getting what the
locals call “summer fever.” I had so much energy, and I just didn’t feel like I
needed any sleep. I started to go a little crazy … but now I’m used to it!
5
Speaker 5 My weirdest experience with sleep was when I went to New Zealand. You
know, the time difference is huge compared to the US, so I expected to feel
the effects – but I hadn’t realized how much. That first night I’d fallen asleep
almost immediately because I was so tired from traveling. I thought I’d sleep
for hours, but in the middle of the night I woke up suddenly, and I was wide
awake. Later that day I fell asleep during lunch.
FILE TEST 6
Listening 2
Host So, our regular listeners will know that this month we’re looking at sleep and
how it influences our health. In the studio this morning we have Professor
Anja Bern, a sleep expert. Now, Anja, you’ve been researching the effect of
sleep patterns on teenagers. What have you and your team discovered?
Anja Well, I have to start by saying that I feel very sorry for teenagers. In societies
worldwide, they are being criticized for staying up late, and then lying in bed
in the morning, refusing to get up. They’re called lazy and unresponsive. And
I think that’s totally unfair.
Host Well, yes, but I have two teenagers and I have to admit, their bedtime habits
aren’t very good. I mean, they don’t even seem to try and fall asleep before
midnight. How can they expect to get up early in the morning for school if they
don’t sleep long enough?
Anja Well, that’s a very common argument, but it is based on a misunderstanding.
You see, science has proven that there is a genuine biological reason why
teenagers can’t get up early – or for that matter, fall asleep early.
Host I see. Could you tell us a little about your research, please?
Anja Sure. Our research has shown that teenagers’ body clocks are set differently
– they actually have a different sense of time from children or adults. We all
have a 24-hour cycle that determines when we sleep and when we’re awake,
but in teenagers this gets later, reaching its latest point by the age of around
twenty years old. Then, after the age of twenty, our sleeping and waking
times gradually get earlier again.
Host Really? That’s very interesting …
Anja Yes … biological time determines when you feel sleepy. It’s different from
social time, which is determined by clocks and schedules – society’s
expectations.
Host So, how does that affect teenagers?
Anja Well, when there is a difference between biological time and social time,
people can become sleep deprived. So, for example, the official early morning
start times for school and college classes are usually between 7:30am and
8:30am. These are just too early for teenagers and young adults, whose body
clocks are set to a later schedule. This really is having a negative impact on
our young people.
Host Yes, I see what you mean. I know both of my children struggle to get up in the
morning. I can see how difficult it is for them, and that’s why I’ve felt so
frustrated when they haven’t tried to go to bed earlier. Now I understand …
Anja Yes. Unfortunately, many teenagers are losing two or three hours of sleep per
night during the week because of having to get up for school. You know,
people talk about “sleeping in” on the weekend to “catch up” on sleep. That
actually doesn’t happen at all. Once you’ve missed those valuable hours of
sleep, you can’t get them back again – and this is a real risk to teenagers’
health. Our research shows that young people who don’t get enough sleep
are more likely to become overweight and suffer from depression. They often
perform badly at school and exercise less. This is really unfair because it isn’t
their fault – they’re already at a disadvantage due to a lack of sleep.
Host So, what can be done about this?
Anja We have published a report that recommends that classes for teenagers and
young people should always start after 8:30am at the earliest. But we would
suggest a 10am start for younger high school students to guarantee improved
health benefits. And an even later start – like 11am or even 12pm – for older
teenagers, aged 18 to 20.
Host That sounds like good advice.
Anja Yes, it’s a start, but we need to see society change, too. School faculty and
parents need to be more understanding. Instead of criticizing young people
about their sleep habits and school performance, they need to let them sleep
later and get up later to match their biological clocks. The result will be that
we raise healthier, smarter, happier teens. And that’s what we all want, isn’t
it?
FILE TEST 7
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 Look at those kids fishing. Do you remember that time when we went fishing?
I think we must’ve been about eight or nine years old. It was raining really
heavily but we were determined to catch a fish. Mom and Dad were really
enthusiastic at first, but eventually they ended up sitting in the car. We were
there for four hours and the only thing we caught was a cold!
2
Speaker 2 Well, I’ve learned over the years that my mother-in-law – much as I love her –
can be a little argumentative. And we have very different views when it comes
to politics. Anyway, I’ve been in a few heated discussions with her in the past
and they never end well. So now, if she mentions her opinion on anything, I
politely change the subject.
3
Speaker 3 It’s really important that you don’t go walking on George Hill Road. You know,
it seems like a quiet country road, but a lot of people drive really fast – and
there’s no real sidewalk so it really isn’t safe for pedestrians. If you need to go
into town, I’d rather you take the bus. I’ll give you the bus fare so you don’t
have to take it out of your allowance.
4
Speaker 4 I can’t believe it! I worked really hard on that essay and then that new
professor read it. She called me in to her office this morning and asked me
who had written it! I said I had but she didn’t believe me. She said it was too
good and I must’ve copied it from somewhere. I’m so offended – I’d never
copy anything! I’m going to complain to the head of the department!
5
Speaker 5 So, we finally got into town, and it was busy … and really hot. After about
twenty minutes of driving around, I eventually found a parking space. I knew
we were running late, but not so late that we’d miss the appointment. But
then, if you can believe it, my daughter just would not get out of the car. You
know how stubborn three-year-olds can be …
FILE TEST 7
Listening 2
Host So, I have with me in the studio today, Elina Petrova. Now, Elina is a social
historian and she’s here today to tell us a little bit about her new TV series
which is starting later this week. Elina, welcome to the studio.
Elina Thank you for inviting me, Ross.
Host So, Elina, you’ve made a TV series about people’s beliefs and superstitions
about the body throughout history …
Elina Yes, that’s right. I’ve always been fascinated by this. We all seem to be
obsessed with appearances, but this isn’t just a modern phenomenon. It’s not
just created by social media or advertising. Throughout history, people have
had beliefs and superstitions about appearance… and how that relates to our
characters, and also to our future prospects.
Host It sounds interesting. I know you won’t want to give away too many secrets
about the series, but can you give us a few examples?
Elina Oh, great idea! Let’s start with hair … so, red hair is traditionally associated
with a fiery temper.
Host Yes, I’ve heard that.
Elina Did you know that both Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth had red hair? Many
people have said this was the reason they were such strong characters. The
Scots especially, valued red hair. It was seen as a sign of great strength and
determination. We talk more about that in one of the episodes.
Host OK, I’d like to see that. Are there any other interesting ideas related to hair?
Elina Well, yes, lots, actually. Perhaps it’s not surprising that long hair suggested
physical strength. And some people used to say that if a man had hair
growing on his forehead, he would have a long life.
Host Mmm, I’m not too sure about that one. My grandfather is completely bald and
he’s 98!
Elina OK, I’m not claiming all these sayings are true! But one superstition I think
most people still go along with is “never pull out a gray hair.” Apparently, if
you do, ten more will grow in its place.
Host OK, I won’t be doing that with mine then …
Elina Yes, and there’s an old wives’ tale I’ve read which says you can’t trust a man
whose eyebrows meet in the middle – it’s a sign that he’s dishonest.
Host Oh dear. That sounds like my brother-in-law!
Elina Well, you can’t identify a criminal based on appearance – at least not
anymore – but trained criminal psychologists are supposed to be able to spot
a liar by studying the movements of their eyes.
Host Are there any body superstitions from other countries you can tell us about?
Elina Well, I’m from Russia and we have quite a few of them. The first is if your
cheeks are burning – you know, like you’re embarrassed. If only the right
cheek is burning, it means your loved one or a close friend is thinking of you.
Host And if your left cheek is burning …?
Elina Enemies are gossiping about you!
Host Ah, yes. We have a similar saying in English, but we say “my ears are
burning.”
Elina Yes, I’ve heard it! Another Russian saying relates to whistling. In Russia, you
must not whistle in the house. In the past, people believed that evil spirits
communicated by whistling, so if you whistled, you would call them into the
house, and that would bring lots of bad luck!
Host Well, these beliefs certainly are fascinating. I can’t wait to watch the show and
hear more about this.
Elina Yes, thank you. As I said, today was just a sample of what we discuss in the
program. You can learn more about the historical details in the TV series…
FILE TEST 8
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 Mr. Boardman had been the main suspect in the police’s investigations for
several years. However, when it came to the trial, the jury decided that there
was not enough evidence to prove that he had committed the crime. As a
result, he has been released and this morning he walked out of the
courthouse a free man.
2
Speaker 2 Early this morning, a member of the public contacted the police to say that
she had seen a man acting suspiciously in the parking lot behind the bank.
The police acted immediately. They surrounded the bank and caught the
robber as he emerged. The man has now been taken to the police station for
questioning.
3
Speaker 3 According to the judge, although it was the young woman’s first offence, the
crime was serious enough to earn some time in prison. He ordered a three-
year sentence but with the option for early release for good behavior.
4
Speaker 4 The police had long suspected that Mr. Anderson was involved but they had
never been able to provide enough evidence to prove that he was guilty.
However, the evidence this time was clear – his fingerprints were found at the
crime scene and a search revealed that he had hidden the stolen car in his
girlfriend’s garage.
5
Speaker 5 There has been an increase in the number of crimes of this nature recently.
Local police have warned that any damage to property, whether it belongs to
individuals or the public authorities, will be thoroughly investigated and those
responsible will be brought to justice. They hope that tough action will put an
end to antisocial behavior in the area.
FILE TEST 8
Listening 2
I’m studying movies and TV this semester and I’ve decided to look into why certain genres
are gaining popularity. In particular, television crime dramas. You know, the kind where you
watch one episode and then you can’t wait to see the next one, and the next one…

Everywhere you turn these days, it seems like there’s a new – and hugely successful –
crime series available for streaming. Which raises the question: why are we all so obsessed
with crime? I mean, most of us would never consider committing a crime, but we love
watching it on TV. I did some research, and this is what the experts have to say about it.

So, according to psychologists, our fascination with crime is … well … normal. I’d like to
take this opportunity to reassure you – there’s nothing weird about enjoying a good crime
drama. Apparently, our interest in crime has a number of healthy psychological purposes.
Humans are designed to pay attention to risk and danger so that we can avoid them. It’s a
basic survival skill. Watching TV crime shows gives us the experience of controlled fear. We
can “experience” risky or distressing situations from a distance. Furthermore, by watching
these shows we might gain some knowledge about the psychology of criminals that we could
use to protect ourselves and our families.

Another normal but slightly disturbing idea is that evil actually fascinates us. For thousands
of years, people have gathered around the fire to share stories, and these stories almost
always involve good versus evil. Think about it … even as kids, we're drawn to the tension
between good and evil. We all had those comic books where the good guys fought the bad
guys, and we played “cops and robbers” games where the police would try to catch the
criminals. This fascination continues into adulthood. We love those stories that thrill and
excite our imaginations, especially where the dynamic forces of good and evil are involved.
In fact, one psychologist I read about compared crime dramas for adults to monster movies
for children. And I guess that’s true. They are actually pretty much the same as “fairy tales”
for grown-ups. The good guys always win in the end …

And then there’s the intellectual side of crime. People like puzzles, and crime stories offer us
that intellectual challenge. We just love to play the armchair detective. You know, sit on our
sofas and try to figure out “whodunnit” before the police catch the criminal. We want to see
all the details of that genius bank robbery plan, and see if the robbers can get away with the
money without being caught. We want to solve the crimes, figure out what drove these
people to their extreme acts, because we'd never dare to do them ourselves. Do the police
have enough evidence to charge them? Will they be sentenced or acquitted? How will the
jury reach a verdict? That’s tremendously addictive TV … you know, we get that rush of
adrenaline associated with real risk but without any serious consequences. And studies have
shown that the effect of watching crime dramas on human emotions is similar to that of riding
on roller coasters or engaging in extreme sports. It activates powerful survival instincts.

So, I’ve spoken about the thrill of the story, but according to psychologists sometimes it’s the
reassuring familiarity that people seek in a crime drama. Of course, crime stories may be
different from each other but they tend to share a very similar narrative. By the end of a
typical crime story, we’ve managed to identify who the good guys and the bad guys are, and
the crime is solved. This familiar pattern proves to us over and over again that our criminal
justice system – imperfect though it may be – basically works. That’s reassuring to know.
FILE TEST 9
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 I’m really disappointed. I bought this shampoo because I thought it was
environmentally friendly. I mean, look at this label … it says “made with 98
percent organic products.” But then I looked at the other ingredients. It’s full of
nasty chemicals just like all the other brands! Next time, I’ll read the small
print on the label before I buy something.
2
Speaker 2 I know tons of people who dislike getting ads that target them as individuals
through their smartphones, but I don’t mind at all. I absolutely love shopping,
and targeted ads help me find the products that I want. I don’t mind
companies collecting cookies and data about me if it helps me with my
shopping habit!
3
Speaker 3 Aargh! I’m really trying to get started with writing this article and I keep getting
these ads popping up on my screen all the time. Do you have any idea how I
can turn them off? They’re driving me crazy!
4
Speaker 4 I’ve always said that I’ve never been influenced by advertising, but I must be
on an unconscious level. I’m pretty sure I can remember just about every type
of sugary drink or soda ad from when I was young. We didn’t have many ads
on TV then and there was no social media – it was the clever use of words
and phrases that sold products back then.
5
Speaker 5 You know that new environmentally friendly toilet paper I’ve been buying?
Well, I’m really frustrated because I keep trying to buy more and it’s always
“out of stock.” I guess that’s what happens when you buy a product you’ve
seen an ad for online. These ads spread so rapidly on social media – then
everyone ends up buying the same thing!
FILE TEST 9
Listening 2
Host So, today I’m speaking to Daniel Chen, a scientist who is currently
researching “living buildings.” Daniel, thanks for coming in today.
Daniel Thank you, Lena.
Host So, what type of architecture projects are scientists working on these days,
Daniel?
Daniel Well, many new and exciting ideas have already been developed, but here’s
a new one you may find surprising. What if our homes were alive? I don’t
mean that they will be filled with smart technology that you can talk to. I mean
actually alive in the sense that they will have the ability to grow and repair
themselves.
Host Hmm... That sounds a little weird to me.
Daniel Yes, I agree. The concept might seem kind of spooky and sci-fi at first.
However, we face major challenges such as overpopulation, lack of
resources, and climate change, so we need to think seriously about the way
we live, and how we build our man-made environment. We have some really
state-of-the-art smart cities already, and we also have some great projects
that are trying to make buildings greener by planting trees and gardens on
balconies and rooftops. The next step is to actually combine architecture and
building technologies more closely with nature.
Host Yes, that sounds like an important step.
Daniel It is. Let me give you some examples of how we think the buildings of the
future might come alive. First of all, we have buildings that grow.
Host Grow?
Daniel Yes. We already use natural materials such as wood and stone for building,
but the Earth has many more resources that could be used. For example,
we’ve already discovered a way to use mushroom roots, or mycelium, to
create useful materials.
Host I heard about that. I think someone made a dress out of it, didn’t they?
Daniel Yes, that’s right. Mycelium can be thin and lightweight like fabric, or thick and
strong to make large objects. Right now, anything that is made from mycelium
is heated up to make sure it doesn’t grow and change. The next challenge for
scientists is to see if products made from natural materials could be kept alive
and made to grow in a way that we could control.
Host That sounds incredible …
Daniel And then there are buildings that heal themselves. Most buildings in cities are
made from concrete. If a crack appears in concrete, water gets in and begins
to destroy the building. This is a particular concern for the future since
meteorologists are predicting more extreme weather and flooding.
Host That’s a good point.
Daniel Mm-hmm…, but the good news is that researchers in the Netherlands have
discovered a way to make concrete that can heal itself. The special ingredient
is a type of natural bacteria that is found near volcanoes. This incredible type
of bacteria can survive in extreme hot or cold temperatures. When it is mixed
into concrete, it remains dormant and can survive for two hundred years.
However – and here’s the magic part – if the concrete cracks and water gets
in, the bacteria become active and “grow,” fixing any holes in the concrete at
the same time.
Host That’s amazing! I guess it could save a lot of money on building repairs.
Daniel Oh yes, the research team predicts that using this special concrete recipe
might add decades to the life of a building. That’s billions of dollars worth of
savings.
Host Well, I have to say, it all sounds so positive, but are there any disadvantages
to living buildings?
Daniel Well, yes, the disadvantage is that they will, of course, eventually die. And
although this is a disadvantage, it’s not as bad as it sounds. You see, the
buildings we have now also have a life span, and when they come to the end
of it, it is expensive and polluting to knock them down. Instead, imagine a city
with a life cycle where buildings return to the Earth without having a negative
effect on their environment. Isn’t that truly inspiring?
FILE TEST 10
Listening 1
1
Speaker 1 When I arrived at the convention center, a security guard asked, “Are you
here to give the presentation?” I said yes, so he led me along a hallway to a
large door. He said, “Just go in, they’re ready.” Well, I’d been expecting a
small audience of 20 to 30 people but when I stepped through the door, I
found myself in a huge auditorium with an audience of at least 120! When I
started my speech, they all looked bewildered – they had been expecting a
presentation on health, not climate change! I was definitely in the wrong place
…
2
Speaker 2 I’d been preparing for weeks and I was really ready to give that speech. So,
finally, the moment came. I walked onto the stage and started speaking. But
suddenly there was this incredibly loud noise – I realized the fire alarm was
going off. Well, that was it, we all had to go and stand outside until they’d
checked the building to make sure it was safe. I got to finish the speech later
but my enthusiasm for it had vanished.
3
Speaker 3 Well, I’m a professional speaker now, and I think I’m pretty good at what I do.
But when I started out, I did get a little nervous. My presentation coach
watched my first official speech and gave me feedback. She told me the
content of my speech was fine but that if I didn’t stand still, I’d make my
audience dizzy!
4
Speaker 4 Before I started my talk, the host had given me a glass of water. The whole
time I was speaking I was worrying about accidentally knocking it over. I
couldn’t concentrate on what I was saying. So, I decided the best thing to do
was just to drink all the water to empty the glass. Well, what a mistake! I
started coughing uncontrollably. It was so embarrassing!
5
Speaker 5 I’d prepared really well, and my slides … well … they were amazing! I had all
sorts of impressive graphs and tables of statistics to share with my audience.
But I shouldn’t have relied on them so much. The projector stopped working
and I had to do the presentation without them. I was really disappointed …
FILE TEST 10
Listening 2
Hi everybody, I’m Chris. Before we start, I’d just like to make it clear … this isn’t a comedy
show. Yes, I am a comedian but I’m not here to tell jokes tonight. I’m here to give you, the
audience, some hints and tips on how you could take that first step into comedy, too.

So … to be honest, before I became a comedian, I never really saw myself as particularly

amusing – I still don’t, actually. But I’ve always loved talking and being with other people and
… I guess along the way I must’ve cracked a few jokes because I somehow earned myself
the “funny” label. As a student, I’d be at a party and someone would say to me, “Tell me the
one about …” Then one evening, not long after I’d graduated from college, I was in a bar
with some friends and it turned out this bar was hosting a comedy “open mic” night. You
know, when anyone can go up on stage for a few minutes and tell a funny story or try out
some comedy in front of an audience. Well, a few people had taken turns performing and I
was really enjoying the entertainment of it all. And then my friends started encouraging me to
go up on stage and “tell some jokes.” Well, I was pretty surprised, to say the least, but I
thought, why not? I walked up onto the stage and told what I considered at the time to be my
best joke. I only really expected to amuse my friends but to my complete disbelief, the rest of
the audience started laughing. I told a couple more jokes and before I knew it, my five
minutes were up. Afterwards, the host came up on stage and said, “That was your first time?
You could make a living doing this!” He invited me back to do a longer comedy performance,
and for some crazy reason, I said yes …

I have to admit, the next time I was really, really nervous. I mean, I’ve never really had a fear
of public speaking, but stand-up comedy is different. At least if you’re giving a speech, you
can prepare and rehearse thoroughly so you don’t forget what you’re saying. But with
comedy, there’s that added uncertainty. You might know your material well but will the
audience actually find it funny? Well, I survived the show and now, as you know, I’m a stand-
up comedian. Not quite what my parents expected when they paid for me to go through
medical school but … Anyway, here are a few tips to help you get started if you’re
considering a career in stand-up.

First, go to open mic nights and live shows. The comedy on TV gives us all a false
impression that it’ll all go well. You know, they miss the part where the comedian tells a joke
and no one laughs. In live comedy, you’ll see people going up on stage one after the other.
Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes it doesn’t. The important thing is to witness the
failures and successes of others and think to yourself, “I can do that too … even if it means
making a few mistakes along the way!” It’ll give you the self-confidence you need to try it out
for yourself.

Second, prepare your jokes. Test your material on your closest friends and ask them to be
honest if they don’t find it funny. If they care about you, they won’t want you to fail in front of
an audience. Also, you don’t know for sure how you’ll react speaking in front of a room of
strangers. To avoid freezing up, it’s best to have material ready – there’s no shame in taking
a notebook with you.

Most importantly, it’s OK to feel afraid. I know several comedians who still have a phobia of
public speaking. They tell me that the fear is worse when they’re waiting to go onstage. It
tends to go away once they’re in front of the audience.

Of course, at the end of the day, none of the tips or tricks I tell you will guarantee 100
percent success. What’s most important is to give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out the first
time, try again, over and over again until it does. You see …