ANNOUNCER: Section 1. You will hear a customer phoning a builder to discuss some work she would like him to do on her home. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6. You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.

MR THORNDYKE: Thorndyke's.

EDITH: Good morning, is that Mr Thorndyke?

MR THORNDYKE: Speaking. How can I help?

EDITH: I've got several things which need painting and repairing in my flat. I wondered if you would be able to do the work.

MR THORNDYKE: I'm sure I can help. Let me take down a few details.

EDITH: Yes, of course.

MR THORNDYKE: Firstly, how did you hear about us?

EDITH: From my friend, May Hampto . You did some work for her a couple of years ago.

MR THORNDYKE: Oh yes, that was in West Park Flats. Lovely lady.

EDITH: Yes, she is.

MR THORNDYKE: And what's your name please?

EDITH: It's Edith Pargetter.

MR THORNDYKE: Can you spell your surname?

EDITH: P-A-R-G-E-T-T-E-R.

MR THORNDYKE: Thank you. Do you also live in West Park Flats?

EDITH: No, I live in East Park, Flat 4.

MR THORNDYKE: Right, that's across the road, behind the library, isn't it?

EDITH: Yes, that's right.

MR THORNDYKE: And your phone number?

EDITH: It's 875934. But I'm usually out in the afternoons and evenings.

MR THORNDYKE: So the best time to call is in the morning?

EDITH: Yes, that's right.

MR THORNDYKE: Parking can be difficult around your flats. Where should I park?

EDITH: It's best to park near the post box on the other side of the road.

MR THORNDYKE: Thank you.

EDITH: Will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?

MR THORNDYKE: Yes, I'll list each job separately with individual prices.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10. Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

MR THORNDYKE: Now, what work would you like me to do?

EDITH: The most urgent problem is in the kitche . The glass in the door has cracked because of the weather.

MR THORNDYKE: So the glass needs replacing?

EDITH: Yes, as soon as possible.

MR THORNDYKE: I can come tomorrow morning and fix it.

EDITH: Thank you very much.

EDITH: The other jobs are less urgent. In the kitchen I'd also like some painting.

MR THORNDYKE: All the walls?

EDITH: No, just the area above the cooker. It gets very greasy.

MR THORNDYKE: I'll need to strip the old paint and apply new plaster about a week before painting.

EDITH: That's fine. May also told me you do work in the garde .

MR THORNDYKE: Yes, that's right.

EDITH: I'd like you to replace a fence.

MR THORNDYKE: Just one fence?

EDITH: Yes, at the far end of the garden.

MR THORNDYKE: That shouldn't be a problem.

EDITH: That's everything.

MR THORNDYKE: I'll come tomorrow morning to look over the work with you.

EDITH: Great, thank you.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

ANNOUNCER: Section 2. You will hear a recorded talk giving an introduction to the historical theme park of Manham River Port in England. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.

SPEAKER: Welcome to Manham Port, where 1,000 years of history are brought to life. The whole family can enjoy a day out here.

SPEAKER: Visitors can explore our copper mine, see models of old machinery, have photographs taken in 19th-century costume, and experience how people lived, worked, and studied throughout history.

SPEAKER: The port is located in peaceful countryside on a bend in the great River Avo . It developed here because it is the highest navigable point on the river.

SPEAKER: Boats cannot travel any further upstream, so the port became an ideal place to load and unload cargo coming from the sea, which lies about 23 miles away.

SPEAKER: A small port already existed here, but about 900 years ago ti was discovered nearby.

SPEAKER: During the Industrial Revolutio , the demand for metals increased dramatically and Manham became one of the busiest ports in the country.

SPEAKER: By the end of the nineteenth century, minerals such as lead, copper, manganese, and arsenic were exported from the port.

SPEAKER: In earlier times the ores were processed near the mines, but increasing demand meant that larger factory furnaces were required.

SPEAKER: Because there was not enough coal locally, the rocks containing minerals had to be transported long distances.

SPEAKER: Sadly, during the 20th century the port began to decline, and many workers were forced to emigrate from the area.

SPEAKER: Buildings fell into disrepair and the port was nearly forgotten.

SPEAKER: Eventually the Manham Trust was formed to preserve the historical resources of the area.

SPEAKER: Volunteers cleared the undergrowth to reveal the original port structures, while professionals reconstructed the installations using historic maps.

SPEAKER: The goal is to restore the port to the condition it reached at its peak, when it was the greatest copper port in the country.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.

SPEAKER: Here are some of the highlights you can enjoy during your visit.

SPEAKER: We recommend starting with the copper mine tour. Visitors travel on converted mining trains deep into the mountain.

SPEAKER: Inside the mine you will see the powerful pumping machines used to remove water.

SPEAKER: However, because the mine is very dark and enclosed, children under five and dogs are not allowed inside.

SPEAKER: Another popular attraction is the village school. While visiting the classrooms, you can see a large collection of historical games.

SPEAKER: Visitors are encouraged to join a guided tour, where they can ask questions about the exhibits.

SPEAKER: Near the school you will find an old sailing ketch called the George. Visitors may board the boat and explore the cabins.

SPEAKER: Be sure to look at the ship's wheel, which was discovered only five years ago after being dredged from the river.

SPEAKER: If you go down to the lower deck, please take care on the ladders, as they are not suitable for young childre .

SPEAKER: We hope you enjoy your visit to Manham Port and share your experience with your friends.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

ANNOUNCER: Section 3. You will hear two psychology students, Tim and Laura, talking about Laura's work placement. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

TIM: Hi Laura, could you spare a few minutes to talk about the work placement you did last summer? I'm thinking of doing one myself.

LAURA: Hi Tim. Sure.

TIM: Didn't you do yours at an environmental services company?

LAURA: That's right. It's a very small company, and they needed someone to produce a company brochure.

LAURA: I wanted to gain business experience because I'm interested in a career in occupational psychology within a business environment.

LAURA: It was a good opportunity because I had overall responsibility for the project.

TIM: What kind of skills did you develop during the placement? Did you have to design all the artwork and layout for the brochure?

LAURA: We actually hired a professional photographer for the images.

LAURA: I used some IT skills to cut and paste text from marketing leaflets, but it wasn't anything new for me.

TIM: Did it help you improve your time management and ability to prioritise tasks?

LAURA: Yes, definitely. There was a lot of pressure to meet the project deadline.

LAURA: I also improved my ability to explain ideas and assert my opinions during weekly meetings with the marketing manager.

TIM: It sounds like you gained a lot from the experience.

LAURA: Absolutely, it was really worthwhile. The company benefited too.

TIM: Yes, because if they had hired a professional advertising agency, it would probably have been very expensive.

LAURA: Exactly. I calculated that it would have cost about 250% more.

LAURA: Even though we produced the brochure in-house, the company had a powerful computer, and I borrowed some scanning software from the university.

LAURA: The final brochure looks very professional and improves the company image.

TIM: That should help them attract new clients and improve their sales.

LAURA: Yes, that's the goal.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30.

TIM: It sounds very positive. I think I'll apply for a placement myself. How should I start?

LAURA: There's a government organisation called STEP that arranges placements for students.

LAURA: First, you should get their information booklet, which you can download from their website.

TIM: I think there are copies in the psychology department. I'll pick one up there.

LAURA: After reading it, it's a good idea to discuss your options with a career officer.

TIM: I thought I should ask my personal tutor.

LAURA: Career officers usually know more about the job market.

LAURA: Once you decide what you want, you can register with STEP.

LAURA: After registering, you'll be assigned a mentor who helps with your applicatio .

TIM: Then I just wait for news?

LAURA: It's better to stay proactive and regularly check the website for new placement alerts.

LAURA: If a company is interested, they will contact you directly with an interview invitatio .

TIM: Should I reply to them directly?

LAURA: Yes. STEP only becomes involved again once a job offer has been made.

LAURA: After your interview, you should inform your mentor whether you received and accepted the offer.

LAURA: Finally, once you accept a placement, you will probably need to provide a reference from your tutor.

TIM: Thanks for the advice. I'm really looking forward to applying.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

ANNOUNCER: Section 4. You will hear a woman talking to a group of first-year science undergraduates about the developing science of nanotechnology. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: Today we're going to look at an important area of science called nanotechnology.

SPEAKER: The word nano means extremely tiny. Nanotechnology involves science and engineering on the scale of atoms and molecules.

SPEAKER: By controlling and rearranging atoms, scientists believe it may be possible to create almost anything.

SPEAKER: However, the science of the very small can have very large implications for our lives.

SPEAKER: Like many new technologies, nanotechnology also raises public concerns.

SPEAKER: Science fiction often imagines nano-robots being placed inside the human body to monitor people without their knowledge.

SPEAKER: Other stories describe self-replicating nano-robots that could potentially take over the world.

SPEAKER: Because of these concerns, some scientists recommend that nanoparticles should be treated like new chemicals, requiring separate safety tests and clear labeling.

SPEAKER: Others suggest stricter precautions when working with nanoparticles in laboratories and factories.

SPEAKER: Some critics even argue for a temporary halt to certain forms of nanotechnology research.

SPEAKER: Personally, I believe we should continue exploring the applications of nanotechnology while ensuring ethical safeguards.

SPEAKER: After all, it is not the technology itself but how it is used that matters.

SPEAKER: Let's look at some possible applications.

SPEAKER: In transportatio , nanotechnology could create stronger and lighter metals.

SPEAKER: Aircraft built with these materials could be up to 50 times lighter than those used today.

SPEAKER: These improvements may also significantly reduce the cost of space travel.

SPEAKER: In the computer industry, nanotechnology could shrink computer components dramatically.

SPEAKER: Future computers might have a million times more memory yet be as small as a sugar cube.

SPEAKER: Nanotechnology could also transform the way we generate energy.

SPEAKER: The production cost of solar cells may fall dramatically, making solar power far more economical.

SPEAKER: It may even help address major environmental problems.

SPEAKER: For example, tiny airborne nano-robots could potentially help rebuild the ozone layer.

SPEAKER: Nanotechnology might also help clean up environmental disasters by removing oil and contaminants from water.

SPEAKER: If nanotechnology develops as expected, it may function like a building-block system using about 90 types of atoms.

SPEAKER: This means objects could be built from the bottom up using only the exact materials required, creating no waste.

SPEAKER: Such developments could even help address global hunger by producing machines capable of creating food.

SPEAKER: However, the greatest impact may occur in the field of medicine.

SPEAKER: Tiny biosensors could detect disease within minutes instead of days.

SPEAKER: Some researchers even speculate that nano-robots might slow the aging process and extend life expectancy.

SPEAKER: As you can see, the possibilities of nanotechnology are extremely exciting.

SPEAKER: Exactly when these developments will occur remains uncertai , but the coming decades could bring remarkable advances.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Section 4. You now have half a minute to check your answers.