City Tour Leader

ANNOUNCER: Section 1. You will hear a telephone conversatio between a woman who is looking for a job and a man from a company that organizes cycling holidays. 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.

BOB: Hello, Pembroke Cycling Holidays, Bob speaking.

MARGARET: Oh, hello. I've seen your advert for people to lead cycle trips. Are you the right person to speak to?

BOB: Yes, I am. Could I have your name please?

MARGARET: It's Margaret Smith.

ANNOUNCER: The woman's surname is Smith, so Smith has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.

BOB: Are you looking for a permanent job, Margaret?

MARGARET: No, just a temporary job. I have a permanent job starting in a few months, and I want to do something until then.

BOB: What work do you do?

MARGARET: This might sound strange. I used to be a lawyer, but I made a career change and I'm going to be a doctor. I've just finished my training.

BOB: Have you had any experience of leading cycling trips?

MARGARET: Yes. I've led several bike tours in Africa. I was supposed to lead a trip to India next month, but it was cancelled.

BOB: We usually have two or three leaders on a tour depending on the group size. We have a very popular trip coming up in Spai and we need another leader. It's a cycling holiday for families. Would that suit you?

MARGARET: Yes, that would be great. I enjoy working with childre , and I could use more experience before doing a really challenging trip.

BOB: The tour includes several teenagers. Have you worked with that age group before?

MARGARET: Yes. I'm a volunteer at a youth club where I help young people improve their cycling skills. Before that I worked in a cycling club teaching beginners.

BOB: The trip lasts two weeks, but there may be opportunities for more tours afterwards. Would that fit your plans?

MARGARET: Yes. I'll be free for about five months. My new job starts on October 2nd, and I'm available from May 1st until late September.

BOB: Is there anything we should know about your diet? Some people in our groups have food allergies or don't eat meat.

MARGARET: Yes, I'm allergic to cheese.

BOB: That's fine. As long as we know in advance, we can arrange suitable food.

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.

MARGARET: It sounds really interesting. Should I fill in an application form?

BOB: Yes, please. Where should I send it?

MARGARET: Please send it to 27 Arbuthnot Place, Dumfries.

BOB: And the postcode?

MARGARET: DG74PH.

BOB: Please return the form by Friday. We could then arrange an interview on Tuesday at 2:30.

MARGARET: That works for me.

BOB: Please bring any relevant certificates, such as cycling or first aid qualifications.

BOB: We'd also like you to prepare a 10-minute talk about your experience as a tour guide. Just bring some notes.

MARGARET: OK, I'll start preparing that straight away.

BOB: Great. We'll contact you to confirm the interview.

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

Visiting Sheepmarket Area

ANNOUNCER: Section 2. You will hear a podcast about an area called the Sheepmarket in a New Zealand city. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

SPEAKER: Welcome to this podcast about the Sheepmarket, which is one of the oldest parts of the city. As its name suggests, there was originally a market here where farmers brought their sheep.

SPEAKER: Today, the area has been redeveloped into a busy and vibrant part of the city. It is now home to one of the fastest-growing communities in the area.

SPEAKER: Because the university is nearby, the area has always been popular with students who come to enjoy the lively nightlife.

SPEAKER: Recently, many graduates working in fashion and desig have started buying the new apartments that replaced the small houses where market workers once lived.

SPEAKER: The narrow side streets are excellent places to find original artwork, jewellery, and ceramics at affordable prices. You can also buy local produce such as fruit and vegetables.

SPEAKER: There are also many pavement cafés where visitors can sit with a coffee and watch tourists from around the world.

SPEAKER: Some of the oldest buildings are located along the main streets. One example is the city’s first department store, built in the 1880s, which is still operating today.

SPEAKER: The Sheepmarket has also become a center for fashio . Local authorities encourage young designers through events like the Young Fashion Competitio .

SPEAKER: In this competition, participants design outfits inspired by music and technology from everyday life, using both natural and man-made fibres.

SPEAKER: The designs are judged by a panel of fashion experts, and the winners’ garments are presented at a special gala evening.

SPEAKER: Parking in the Sheepmarket is very convenient. There are many pay-and-display parking spaces on the streets for short visits.

SPEAKER: For longer stays, visitors can use one of the four underground car parks. If you show a receipt from a local shop, parking may even be free.

SPEAKER: After 6 pm, many car parks offer a flat rate, which is usually very reasonable.

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

SPEAKER: The Sheepmarket is also one of the country’s main centers for art and history. Looking at the map, you can see some of its main attractions.

SPEAKER: Many visitors begin their tour at Crawley Road.

SPEAKER: Reynolds House, one of the oldest houses in the city, is located on the north side of Crawley Road, next to a path leading to the public gardens.

SPEAKER: One unusual landmark is the sculpture called The Thumb, which is about 10 meters high. It stands on Hill Road, opposite a bank.

SPEAKER: The museum, which has an excellent collection of New Zealand landscapes, is located on the east side of the Sheepmarket on City Road, directly opposite the public gardens.

SPEAKER: The contemporary art gallery is at the end of a small road leading from Station Square. It is open every day except Monday.

SPEAKER: The Warner Gallery, which focuses on 19th-century art, is on City Road near the junction with Crawley Road. Entry there is free.

SPEAKER: Finally, visitors interested in buying high-quality artwork should visit Nucleus. From Crawley Road, go through Station Square and along Hill Road until you see a small winding road. The gallery is on the right.

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

Film Adaptations of Shakespeare's Plays

ANNOUNCER: Section 3. You will hear two students, Katie and Joe, discussing a presentation in their Film Studies course. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

KATIE: Joe, you know I'm giving a presentatio in our Film Studies class next week.

JOE: Yes.

KATIE: Could we talk about it? I’d like to get someone else's opinio .

JOE: Of course. What are you planning to talk about?

KATIE: It’s about film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. I’ve become really interested in the different approaches directors take.

KATIE: I’m going to start with Giannetti, a professor of film and literature. In one of his books, he developed a simple classification system for film adaptations based on how faithful they are to the original work.

JOE: Right.

KATIE: I’ve already made notes about that, so I just need to organise them.

KATIE: After that, I thought I’d ask the class to mention the worst Shakespeare adaptations they’ve seen and explain why. I think that might be more fun than asking about their favourites.

JOE: Yes, I can think of a couple!

KATIE: Next, I want to discuss the work of Rachel Malchow. I found information about her research online, and I was thinking about showing some film clips to illustrate her ideas.

JOE: Do you think you’ll have enough time? It might be difficult to find all the clips you need.

KATIE: You’re probably right. I’ll prepare slides instead, explaining how certain films relate to her ideas. That should also encourage discussio .

KATIE: After that, I want to explain how certain plays are chosen for adaptation because they relate to the social or political issues of the time when the film is made.

JOE: You mean topics like patriotism or the role of governments?

KATIE: Exactly.

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.

KATIE: Finally, I want to talk about a few specific adaptations that show a range of approaches.

KATIE: For example, the Japanese film Ra , which is based on Shakespeare’s King Lear. It’s a very loose adaptatio that moves the story from 16th-century Britai to 16th-century Japa .

JOE: I haven’t seen it.

KATIE: In the film, the king’s daughters become sons, because women in Japan at that time couldn’t inherit the throne.

JOE: You should also mention the 1993 film of Much Ado About Nothing. It’s one of the best Shakespeare films.

KATIE: I agree. Filming it in Italy, where the play is set, helps show what life was like at the time.

KATIE: Then I’ll talk about the 1996 film of Romeo and Juliet, which moves the story into the modern world.

JOE: Yes, the two feuding families become rival business empires, although the characters still speak the original Shakespearean language.

KATIE: At first it sounds strange, but you quickly get used to it.

KATIE: After that, I’ll mention the 1996 Hollywood version of Hamlet. It includes every line of the text, but it’s presented more like an action movie with lots of special effects.

JOE: So it’s more style than substance.

KATIE: Exactly.

KATIE: I’ll also talk about Prospero’s Books, based on The Tempest. It’s stylistically innovative and includes dance, music, animatio , and live acting.

KATIE: Finally, I’ll mention Looking for Richard. It combines a documentary with scenes from Richard III, exploring how modern audiences connect with Shakespeare.

JOE: That sounds like a great presentation.

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

Noise in Cities

ANNOUNCER: Section 4. You will hear part of a lecture about noise in cities. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: This lecture will focus on the science of acoustics, which is the study of sound in urban environments such as cities. As an acoustic engineer, I believe this field will experience significant changes in the future.

SPEAKER: In the past, research on urban soundscapes was quite simple. We measured noise levels in decibels. For example, I would take a sound meter and measure the level of noise in a certain place.

SPEAKER: Then researchers might ask a group of people at what level the noise became annoying. Using this information, engineers created what are called noise maps, which show the sound environment of a city.

SPEAKER: However, these maps are not very useful. They mainly show that the highest noise levels occur on roads, which is not surprising.

SPEAKER: What they fail to capture is the complex way sound changes over time. For example, they ignore noises coming from neighbours’ gardens or open windows, which can be significant, especially in summer.

SPEAKER: Another limitation is that these records do not consider the fact that people have different perceptions of noise. Someone who works in acoustics may react differently to noise than an ordinary resident.

SPEAKER: Even though noise maps are rather simplistic, they have helped to raise public awareness that noise is an important issue. As a result, it has become a political matter, requiring rules and regulations.

SPEAKER: Noise can cause several problems. In cities where activities continue 24 hours a day, people often suffer from sleep disturbance.

SPEAKER: Research also shows that noise can increase stress levels due to physical changes in the body, including effects on the composition of the blood.

SPEAKER: There are other consequences as well. For instance, if schoolchildre do not have a quiet place to study, their academic performance may suffer.

SPEAKER: Another problem with measuring noise in decibels is that it does not distinguish between different types of sound.

SPEAKER: Some sounds with high decibel levels can actually be pleasant. For example, the sound of a fountain in a public square might be loud but relaxing.

SPEAKER: Because of this, researchers now use social science methods such as questionnaires to study people's emotional responses to sound.

SPEAKER: Studies suggest that cities should have a sense of activity. Sounds like the click of high heels on pavement or the hiss of a coffee machine can make a place feel lively.

SPEAKER: However, these sounds should not be too intrusive, because people also need spaces where they can relax.

SPEAKER: One challenge is encouraging architects and urban planners to apply this research. Currently, they receive very little training in acoustics.

SPEAKER: Instead of seeing sound as a problem, designers should consider it as an opportunity to improve the urban experience.

SPEAKER: Sound should be treated as an aesthetic quality, almost like an art form.

SPEAKER: To achieve this, we need a deeper understanding of the relationship between sound and culture, as well as insights from fields like psychology and physics.

SPEAKER: Modern technology may also help. Architects already use virtual reality to visualize buildings, but these simulations are usually silent.

SPEAKER: In the future, these systems could include realistic sound simulations, allowing planners to explore urban soundscapes before construction.

SPEAKER: With the help of advanced technology, the cities of the future may become not only visually appealing but also a pleasure to the ears.

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