Bankside Recruitment Agency

ANNOUNCER: Part 1. You will hear a woman phoning a friend to get information about a job agency. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5. Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

AMBER: Hello, William. This is Amber. You said to phone if I wanted more information about the job agency you mentioned. Is now a good time?

WILLIAM: Hi Amber. Yes, that's fine. The agency I mentioned is called Bankside. They're based in Docklands. The address is 497 Eastside.

AMBER: OK, thanks. Is there anyone specific I should speak to?

WILLIAM: Yes, the agent I usually deal with is Becky Jamieson.

AMBER: Let me write that down. Becky…

WILLIAM: Jamieson — J A M I E S O N.

AMBER: Do you have her direct phone number?

WILLIAM: Yes, it's 07866510333. But I wouldn't call her until the afternoon. She's usually very busy in the morning filling last-minute vacancies.

AMBER: Is it mainly clerical and administrative jobs they deal with?

WILLIAM: Yes. Although you want a job in the media eventually, Becky usually recruits temporary staff for the finance sector.

AMBER: I'm worried because I don't have much office experience.

WILLIAM: Don't worry. They might start you as a receptionist. For that job, good communication skills are more important than advanced computer skills.

AMBER: That's good to hear.

WILLIAM: You'll also learn office skills very quickly while working on the job.

AMBER: How long do these temporary jobs usually last?

WILLIAM: Usually about a week at first, but they can be extended. It's rare for assignments to last only a day or two.

AMBER: I've heard the pay is quite good.

WILLIAM: Yes, the hourly rate is about £10, sometimes even £11.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10. Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

WILLIAM: Do you want me to explain the registration process?

AMBER: Yes please. I know there's an interview.

WILLIAM: Yes, the interview usually lasts about one hour. You should arrange it about a week in advance.

AMBER: I suppose I should dress smartly.

WILLIAM: Definitely. It's better to look too smart than too casual.

AMBER: Do I need to bring exam certificates?

WILLIAM: No, they probably won't ask for those.

AMBER: What about my passport?

WILLIAM: Yes, they will need to see that.

WILLIAM: Don't worry too much about the interview. It's mainly to get to know you so they can match you with a suitable job.

WILLIAM: They'll ask simple questions about your personality, not difficult questions about your future plans.

AMBER: That's a relief.

WILLIAM: Using an agency also has advantages. They'll give you feedback on your interview performance.

WILLIAM: They also have access to jobs that are not publicly advertised.

AMBER: And I guess it's faster than contacting lots of companies individually.

WILLIAM: Exactly.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of part 1. You now have one minute to check your answers to part 1.

Matthews Island

ANNOUNCER: Part 2. You will hear a woman giving a presentation about a holiday on an island in Britain that her company organizes. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Good morning. My name’s Erica Matthews, and I’m the owner of Matthews Island Holidays, a company set up by my parents.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Thank you for coming to this presentation. We are a small family-run company, and we believe strongly in the importance of a personal touch.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Rather than competing on the number of customers, we focus on providing high-quality holidays in destinations we know extremely well.

ERICA MATTHEWS: I’ll start by describing our six-day Isle of Man holiday.

ERICA MATTHEWS: The Isle of Man lies in the Irish Sea, between Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

ERICA MATTHEWS: The holiday begins in Heysham, where you will meet your tour manager.

ERICA MATTHEWS: From there, you travel by ferry to the Isle of Man, although some guests prefer to fly from Luton or travel by train to Liverpool and take a ferry.

ERICA MATTHEWS: The holiday includes five nights in a hotel, with five breakfasts and dinners, plus lunch on three excursion days.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day four there are no planned activities, and many guests have lunch in a café or restaurant in Douglas.

ERICA MATTHEWS: The price includes the ferry, all transport on the island, the hotel accommodation, and the meals I mentioned.

ERICA MATTHEWS: We also aim to make booking simple and fair. The price is the same whether you book six months in advance or at the last minute.

ERICA MATTHEWS: In addition, there is no extra charge for single rooms.

ERICA MATTHEWS: If you need to change the start date, for example because of illness, you can transfer to another tour for a small administrative fee.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Let me explain what happens during the holiday.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day one, you arrive at the hotel, meet your tour manager, and enjoy dinner while overlooking the river and harbour.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day two, you travel by coach to the town of Peel, stopping at the Tynwald Exhibition.

ERICA MATTHEWS: The island has its own parliament called Tynwald, which is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating parliament in the world.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day three, you travel to Snaefell Mountain. The journey begins with a horse-drawn tram along the Douglas promenade.

ERICA MATTHEWS: You then take an electric train to the village of Laxey.

ERICA MATTHEWS: From there, the Snaefell Mountain Railway takes you to the summit, where lunch is served with spectacular views.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Day four is free, and you can use a special travel pass to explore heritage sites or relax in Douglas.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day five, you ride the steam railway from Douglas to Port Erin.

ERICA MATTHEWS: Afterwards, a coach takes you to a headland viewpoint overlooking the Calf of Man.

ERICA MATTHEWS: You then visit Castletown, the island’s former capital, famous for its mediaeval castle.

ERICA MATTHEWS: On day six, you return by ferry or travel to the airport if you flew.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of part 2. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part 2.

Personality Traits

ANNOUNCER: Part 3. You will hear two psychology students discussing the effects of birth order in a family. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.

RUTH: Ed, how are you getting on with the reading for our presentation next week?

ED: Well, OK, Ruth, but there’s so much of it.

RUTH: I know. I hadn’t realized birth order was such a popular area of research.

ED: But the stuff on birth order and personality is mostly unreliable. From what I’ve been reading, a lot of the claims about how your position in the family determines personality traits are just stereotypes with no strong evidence.

RUTH: That’s interesting. Maybe we could start by outlining what previous research has shown. Some studies go back over 100 years.

ED: Yes, we could describe typical traits. For example, the common view is that oldest children may be less well adjusted because they struggle when a younger sibling arrives.

RUTH: But some studies say the oldest child can be good at nurturing, especially in large families where they help look after younger siblings.

ED: For middle children, the picture is less clear. However, some research says they are usually easy to get along with.

RUTH: Yes, often described as helpful and eager to please, though that definitely doesn’t match my family. My middle brother caused constant arguments and jealousy.

ED: None of it matches my experience either. I’m the youngest child, and research suggests we’re sociable and confident, but I was actually very shy.

RUTH: Interesting. There have also been many studies on twins, mainly about nature versus nurture.

ED: One study suggested twins can be shy in social situations because they rely on each other for support.

RUTH: My cousins were twins and behaved like that when they were young. They mainly interacted with each other.

ED: Only children have often been described negatively in research. Some studies say they become loners who think everything revolves around them.

RUTH: That seems a bit unfair. Another interesting category is children with much older siblings. They may grow up more quickly and learn to do things independently.

ED: Although sometimes the opposite happens and they may behave like the baby of the family and expect special treatment.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.

RUTH: What do you think the main problem with most of these studies was?

ED: In many cases, researchers collected data from only one sibling per family, who rated themselves and their siblings.

RUTH: Some research on birth order and academic achievement has actually been accurate. Intelligence test scores tend to decline slightly from the oldest child to younger siblings.

ED: But many studies ignored family size. Larger families often have a lower socioeconomic status, which can also influence academic results.

RUTH: For instance, the oldest boy might receive more opportunities than his younger sisters.

ED: Exactly.

RUTH: Another explanation is that older children benefit from teaching their younger siblings, which strengthens their own understanding.

ED: Yes, and this also increases their confidence and status, which may slightly improve their academic performance.

RUTH: Do you think sibling rivalry was useful for you?

RUTH: My younger brother annoyed me constantly, and we argued a lot, but it made me stronger and more confident.

ED: My situation was similar. However, having two older brothers didn’t make me less selfish. I never liked sharing my things.

RUTH: That’s perfectly normal.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of part 3. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part 3.

The Eucalyptus Tree in Australia

ANNOUNCER: Part 4. You will hear a student giving a presentation about a type of tree known as the eucalyptus, which is common in Australia. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: Today, I'm going to talk about the eucalyptus tree, which is also commonly called the gum tree in Australia.

SPEAKER: First, I'll explain why this tree is important, and then I will discuss some of the problems it faces.

SPEAKER: The eucalyptus tree provides shelter for animals such as birds and bats. These and other species also depend on it for food, particularly the nectar from its flowers. In this way, the tree supports biodiversity.

SPEAKER: It is also useful for humans because oil extracted from eucalyptus leaves can be used to make a disinfectant that kills germs.

SPEAKER: Eucalyptus trees grow all across Australia and can live for up to 400 years.

SPEAKER: However, it is worrying that the number of eucalyptus trees is declining because many trees are dying prematurely.

SPEAKER: One possible cause is a disease called Mundulla Yellows, which first appeared in the 1970s.

SPEAKER: In infected trees, the leaves turn yellow and eventually the tree dies.

SPEAKER: In 2004, scientists discovered that the cause was lime (calcium hydroxide), which was used in road construction.

SPEAKER: Rain washed the lime into the soil, affecting the roots of nearby eucalyptus trees.

SPEAKER: This chemical prevented the trees from absorbing iron, which is necessary for healthy growth.

SPEAKER: When iron was injected back into the trees, they recovered quickly.

SPEAKER: However, this problem only affected a small number of trees.

SPEAKER: Another major problem is a disease called Bell-miner Associated Die-back, which has affected many trees along Australia’s East Coast.

SPEAKER: The disease is linked with the bell-miner bird.

SPEAKER: Insects attack the leaves and feed on them, producing a sugary liquid.

SPEAKER: Bell-miner birds like this liquid and drive away other species so they can keep access to it.

SPEAKER: As a result, insects and bell-miners thrive, causing serious damage to the leaves, and eventually the tree dies.

SPEAKER: However, scientists noticed that some trees appear unhealthy even before this disease appears.

SPEAKER: One possible explanation involves bushfires.

SPEAKER: Ecologist William Jackson suggested over 40 years ago that the frequency of bushfires affects which types of vegetation grow.

SPEAKER: If fires occur very frequently, grass tends to grow. If fires are less frequent, eucalyptus forests develop.

SPEAKER: Bushfires help eucalyptus trees because they stop other plants from competing for water and soil nutrients.

SPEAKER: Therefore, some bushfires are actually necessary for eucalyptus survival, as long as they are not too frequent.

SPEAKER: Australia's Indigenous people used controlled burning of bushland for thousands of years.

SPEAKER: However, since the arrival of Europeans, bushfires have been strictly controlled.

SPEAKER: Scientists now believe this reduction in fires has led to the development of dry rainforest.

SPEAKER: This ecosystem has dense vegetation but low species diversity.

SPEAKER: The dense shade provides ideal conditions for the bell-miner bird, which builds nests there.

SPEAKER: Unfortunately, this situation is not beneficial for the eucalyptus tree.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of part 4. You now have one minute to check your answers to part 4.