Self-drive tours in USA

ANNOUNCER: Section 1. You will hear a telephone conversatio between a travel agent and a customer. 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.

TRAVEL AGENT: Good morning, World Tours. My name is Jamie. How can I help you?

ANDREA: Good morning. I want some information on self-drive tours in the USA. Could you send me a brochure?

TRAVEL AGENT: Of course. Could I have your name please?

ANDREA: Andrea Brow .

ANNOUNCER: The customer's name is Andrea Brow , so Brow has been written in the space. Now we shall begin.

ANNOUNCER: You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

TRAVEL AGENT: Good morning, World Tours. My name is Jamie. How can I help you?

ANDREA: Good morning. I want some information on self-drive tours in the USA. Could you send me a brochure?

TRAVEL AGENT: Of course. Could I have your name please?

ANDREA: Andrea Brown.

TRAVEL AGENT: Thank you. And your address?

ANDREA: 24 Ardleigh Road.

TRAVEL AGENT: Can you spell that?

ANDREA: ARDLEIGH Road.

TRAVEL AGENT: Postcode?

ANDREA: BH52OP.

TRAVEL AGENT: Thanks. And can I have your phone number?

ANDREA: Is a mobile all right?

TRAVEL AGENT: Fine.

ANDREA: It's 07786643091.

TRAVEL AGENT: Thank you. And can I ask you where you heard about World Tours? From a friend or did you see an advert somewhere?

ANDREA: No, I read about you in the newspaper.

TRAVEL AGENT: OK. I'll send the brochures to you, but I can also give you some informatio now. What kinds of things do you want to do on your holiday?

ANDREA: I'm interested in going to California with my family. I have two childre , and we want to hire a car.

TRAVEL AGENT: We have a couple of self-drive tours there. The first one begins in Los Angeles, where you can visit several theme parks.

ANDREA: That’s something my childre would really like.

TRAVEL AGENT: Then you drive to San Francisco. From there you can continue to Yosemite Park and spend a couple of nights there.

TRAVEL AGENT: You can stay in a lodge or on a campsite.

ANDREA: I don't like the idea of staying in a tent. It would be too hot.

TRAVEL AGENT: Right. The tour ends in Las Vegas.

TRAVEL AGENT: The other tour starts in San Francisco and then goes south to Cambria.

ANDREA: Someone told me there's a famous castle near Cambria.

TRAVEL AGENT: Yes, Hearst Castle is on that route, so you could stop there.

ANDREA: I'd like to do that. Does the trip go into the desert?

TRAVEL AGENT: No, it continues to Santa Monica, where many people go shopping.

ANDREA: That doesn't interest us very much.

TRAVEL AGENT: You could continue to San Diego. It's great for beaches.

ANDREA: Yes, we'd like some time for sunbathing and swimming.

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.

ANDREA: How many days are the trips, and how much do they cost?

TRAVEL AGENT: The first trip lasts 12 days and covers 2,020 km.

TRAVEL AGENT: The shortest journey is 206 km, and the longest is 632 km.

TRAVEL AGENT: The cost is £525 per perso . This includes accommodatio , car rental, and a flight, but not meals.

TRAVEL AGENT: The other tour lasts 9 days, covering about 980 km.

TRAVEL AGENT: It costs £429 per perso .

ANDREA: Does that include flights?

TRAVEL AGENT: No, flights are not included, but the hotels include dinner.

ANDREA: Thank you. I'll contact you after reading the brochure.

TRAVEL AGENT: You're welcome. Goodbye.

ANDREA: Goodbye.

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 fitness manager of a leisure club talking to some new members. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 and 12. Now listen and answer questions 11 and 12.

SPEAKER: On behalf of LP Clubs, I'd like to welcome you all here today. My name is Sandy Fisher, and I'm one of the fitness managers here.

SPEAKER: Before we start our tour of the club, I'll run through some basic informatio about the facilities we have here, including recent improvements, and explain the types of membership available.

SPEAKER: Our greatest asset is probably our swimming pool, which at 25 metres isn't Olympic-sized, but now we've expanded it to eight lanes, making it much wider.

SPEAKER: This means there are rarely more than a couple of people at a time in each lane.

SPEAKER: Unfortunately, there isn't space for an outdoor pool, but the glass roof over the swimming pool is partly retractable, so you can enjoy an open-air experience on warmer days.

SPEAKER: Our recently refurbished fitness suite has the latest exercise equipment, including 10 new running machines and a wide range of weight-training machines.

SPEAKER: Each member is given full training in how to use the equipment, and there is always a trainer on duty to offer help and advice.

SPEAKER: Although we do have adult-only times after 6 pm and at certain times at weekends, childre are well catered for.

SPEAKER: Older children can take part in a wide range of activities, including trampolining and yoga.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 13 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 13 to 20.

SPEAKER: One thing all our members appreciate is that we take very good care of them.

SPEAKER: This begins on day one with a personal assessment.

SPEAKER: You will complete a questionnaire giving details of any health problems.

SPEAKER: One of our personal trainers will discuss this with you.

SPEAKER: The trainer will also explain the safety rules for using the equipment in the fitness suite.

SPEAKER: During your next exercise sessio , a trainer will work with you to make sure you understand everything properly.

SPEAKER: This is important because we want to avoid any sports injuries.

SPEAKER: At the end of the assessment, the trainer will prepare a fitness pla outlining what you should achieve within a 6-week period.

SPEAKER: This plan will then be reviewed after the six weeks.

SPEAKER: Now I'll briefly explain the types of membership available.

SPEAKER: All members must pay a joining fee of £90, in addition to the monthly membership fee.

SPEAKER: Gold membership allows free entry to all LP clubs in major cities.

SPEAKER: Individual gold membership costs £50 per month, while joint membership costs £75.

SPEAKER: Premier membership is designed for professional people who cannot visit during the day.

SPEAKER: Premier members receive booking priority at peak times.

SPEAKER: This membership costs £65 per month and includes guest passes each month.

SPEAKER: You don't need special clothes or equipment when visiting the club.

SPEAKER: We provide robes and hairdryers in the changing rooms.

SPEAKER: However, you must remember your photo card, because you cannot enter the club without it.

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

ANNOUNCER: Section 3. You will hear a student called Joh talking to a professor about a design competitio he is entering. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.

JOHN: Hello professor. I'm John Wishart. I'm working on my entry for the Global Design Competitio . My tutor said you might be able to help me with it.

PROFESSOR: Oh yes, I received a copy of your drawings. Come in and tell me about it. What sort of competitio is it?

JOHN: It's an international design competitio . We have to create a new design for a typical domestic kitchen appliance.

PROFESSOR: Are there any special conditions? For example, does it have to save energy?

JOHN: Actually that was last year's theme. This year we have to use an innovative approach to existing technology, using it in a completely new way.

PROFESSOR: That sounds quite challenging. Which appliance have you chosen?

JOHN: I decided to design a dishwasher.

PROFESSOR: Interesting choice. Why did you select that?

JOHN: Because dishwashers are common in most Australian homes, but they all look very similar and rather boring. I think people might pay more for something that looks different.

PROFESSOR: I see you've called your design “The Rockpool”. Why that name?

JOHN: Because it looks like a natural rock pool on a beach. The top is made of glass, so you can look inside.

PROFESSOR: And there's a stone at the bottom. Is that just decoration?

JOHN: No, it has a functio . Instead of pressing a butto , you turn the stone to start the machine.

PROFESSOR: So it's a new way of switching on the dishwasher.

JOHN: Exactly.

PROFESSOR: But what makes it truly innovative?

JOHN: My design uses carbon dioxide instead of water and detergent.

PROFESSOR: Really? How will that work?

JOHN: The carbon dioxide is pressurised until it becomes a liquid. This liquid then cleans the dishes.

PROFESSOR: That means you won't need strong detergents. What happens after the dishes are clean?

JOHN: The liquid CO₂ and waste move into a holding chamber. There the pressure is reduced, turning the liquid back into gas.

JOHN: The oil and grease are removed and sent to the waste system.

PROFESSOR: And the carbon dioxide?

JOHN: It goes back into the cylinder and can be reused again and agai .

PROFESSOR: That's an excellent idea.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

PROFESSOR: Your design seems very well thought out. What exactly do you need help with?

JOHN: My project has reached the final stage of the competition. In a few months I must give a presentatio , and I was hoping you could help me prepare.

PROFESSOR: That should be possible. What have you prepared so far?

JOHN: I have detailed drawings explaining how it works, and I've written a 500-word paper.

PROFESSOR: To increase your chances of winning, you should build a model of the machine.

JOHN: Yes, but I'm having problems with the materials.

PROFESSOR: Because high-quality materials are expensive?

JOHN: Exactly.

PROFESSOR: You could apply for a university grant. I can help you complete the application forms.

JOHN: That would be great.

PROFESSOR: I should also check your technical paper to ensure the details are accurate.

JOHN: I'd really appreciate that.

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 university lecture about an endangered bear in British Columbia, Canada, known as the spirit bear. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: Today we continue our series on ecology and conservatio with a look at a particularly endangered member of the black bear family.

SPEAKER: About one in te black bears is born with a white coat, which is caused by a special gene.

SPEAKER: Local communities call it the spirit bear, and according to local legends, its white fur carries special power.

SPEAKER: Because of this belief, local people have always shown great respect for the animal and often avoid telling outsiders when they see one.

SPEAKER: This helps protect the bear when strangers visit the area.

SPEAKER: The bear has a strong relationship with the old-growth rainforest.

SPEAKER: The large, centuries-old trees have long roots that help prevent soil erosio along the banks of fish streams.

SPEAKER: These streams are home to salmo , which are the bear's main food source.

SPEAKER: In return, the bear helps the forest ecosystem.

SPEAKER: After catching salmon, the bears leave skin and bones on the forest floor.

SPEAKER: These provide nutrients that support lush vegetatio and thousands of other life forms.

SPEAKER: Today the spirit bear lives on several islands off the coast of British Columbia.

SPEAKER: It is estimated that fewer than 200 white bears remain.

SPEAKER: The best protection for the species is preserving the forest ecosystem it depends on.

SPEAKER: The greatest threat is the loss of habitat.

SPEAKER: Logging companies have cut down large areas of forest and built roads that divide the bear's feeding grounds.

SPEAKER: Many hibernation sites have also been destroyed.

SPEAKER: Logging along riverbanks has damaged areas where bears catch fish.

SPEAKER: At the same time, salmon numbers are declining because there is currently no strict legal limit on fishing.

SPEAKER: These pressures seriously threaten the survival of the spirit bear.

SPEAKER: Another difficulty is that reproduction rates among these bears are naturally quite low.

SPEAKER: Community groups, environmental organizations, and the British Columbia government are now working together to protect the species.

SPEAKER: The government now requires logging companies to use improved logging methods.

SPEAKER: However, these actions alone may not guarantee a healthy populatio in the future.

SPEAKER: Conservationists believe it is necessary not only to protect the bear's habitat but also to expand it.

SPEAKER: Expanding protected areas would also benefit other bear species that are losing their homes.

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