1.

Man: I’m sorry but quite frankly it’s hardly worth mending.

Woman: Are you sure? I know it cost a lot when my grandmother bought it.

Man: Well, you could take it to another watch repairers but you’d be wasting your time because they would tell you exactly the same, I’m afraid.

Woman: I see.

Man: So really the best alternative would be to replace it [1]. As it happens, I think we have a very similar model in stock. I can check now if you like.

Woman: No, I’d rather have this one fixed if you don’t mind.

Man: OK, I’ll see what we can do.

2.

Jane: Hi, it’s Jane. The train was stuck in a tunnel for over an hour and though we’re moving again it looks as if I won’t make it in time to catch the bus. I think the last one leaves the station at twenty past nine, and there won’t be any taxis around at that time either. So I’d really appreciate it if you could pick me up there [2]. And of course you needn’t wait for me to have dinner, you go ahead and have yours and I’ll get something from the snack bar here. Can you call me back or text me to confirm? Thanks, see you later.

3.

Judge: Well, it’s good to see someone who really believes in their own ability to sing a tune as powerful as that, even though others – including myself, I’m afraid – are unlikely to share that belief [3]. Which is a pity, because it was brave of him to attempt such a challenging piece of music, and he certainly has the right look to be a star, too. I know some will say he should’ve sung something less demanding, to at least get through to the next round of the competition; but I always feel that’s a mistake, that it’s better for everyone if limited technical ability is apparent [3] from the start.

4.

Speaker: Before I begin, I just want to thank everyone for attending, especially those of you who’ve had a difficult journey owing to the floods that have affected both road and rail links from neighbouring areas. I’d also like to express my sympathy to the farmers around here whose crops have been destroyed by the extreme weather. I hope that this evening’s subject, rural life in this area in the nineteenth century [4], might be of particular interest as we shall be looking at how communities coped with natural disasters such as these in earlier times.

5.

Man: I’ve managed to save up quite a lot from my wages, and if I can find someone who’ll give me a good price for my mountain bike I should just about have enough. I thought about getting a big fast motorbike, like the one Max has, but four wheels have always appealed to me more, even when I was kid [5]. I remember getting into a really smart two-seater when I was too small to see through the windscreen, and thinking ‘one day I’m going to have one of these’. Well, nothing’s changed since then [5].

6.

Woman: It was supposed to be tomorrow night and I do wish they’d let me know before I’d arranged for someone to look after the twins then [6]. She was very good about it, though, and said she could come over another evening instead, so I suggested next Friday as there’s an exhibition on at the local gallery that I’d very much like to see. I’m pleased about that, of course, but ideally I would’ve been able to go to both that and the concert.

7.

Woman: It’s certainly one of the better ones we’ve seen, isn’t it?

Man: Yes, I quite liked the high ceilings and big windows. They give a real feeling of space.

Woman: Yes, though in fact there isn’t actually a lot of floor space, and all that furniture takes up most of what there is. I’d replace some of those things, too.

Man: Some of them are rather old-fashioned, I agree, but I suppose you can’t expect everything to be brand new when the landlord’s charging so little, and that’s definitely a plus [7].

Woman: And with what that would save us, we could afford some new items for the place [7]. So let’s go for it.

8.

Woman: It’s certainly a wonderful device and I wouldn’t be without it. In fact, it goes everywhere with me so that it’s always there whenever I need it. I suppose using a virtual keyboard can sometimes get on my nerves a bit [8] when I have to write a long email, but there wouldn’t be any point in upgrading to a more expensive one with more memory or whatever because I’d still have the same problem. But apart from that, I’m very happy with it.

Speaker 1

I’ve always been a keen swimmer and that keeps me in good shape, so when I made my mind up to do badminton it was far more about socialising than exercising [19], especially as I’d only recently moved to this part of town and I hardly knew anyone. I hadn’t realised, though, just how competitive badminton can be – so much so that I’ve now been invited to take part in a local championship. I’ve got no chance of winning it, or even coming close, and to be honest I’m not really bothered about that, but it might be fun so I think I’ll give it a try.

Speaker 2

I work part-time in a petrol station, which in some ways is quite a pleasant job but last year I found that I was increasingly getting into financial difficulties. So I began to study the way electronic devices work and how to repair them [20]. I found that fascinating, and eventually I felt confident enough to place an online ad offering my services. I got loads of replies and I’ve now paid off nearly all my debts. I’ve thought of giving up my job at the petrol station, but I think I’d miss meeting different people every day if I worked entirely from home.

Speaker 3

For years I’d been so scared of heights that some people used to make fun of me, so one day I decided to do something about it: go rock climbing [21]. Feeling that if I could do that I’d be able to do anything, I joined a local club. On my first day I was surprised to find there were two other people who’d joined for the same reason, and we soon became friends. Together we got fitter and stronger, and encouraged each other to keep going, until by the end of the year we felt unconcerned about tackling the most challenging of climbs.

Speaker 4

I never imagined that going horse riding could be such good exercise until I’d spent a weekend trekking in the mountains with friends. That was something of a bonus, really, because what’d initially attracted me to it was that it offered a contrast in every respect to my day job as a cab driver in a noisy, polluted city centre [22]. And although it’s certainly not the cheapest of activities, I find it so relaxing that I always feel it’s worth every penny.

Speaker 5

Gardening had always seemed to me as just a way of passing the time, of doing something completely different from office work, or perhaps even – for the really keen – of winning a prize for the largest home-grown vegetable. So it was only by chance that I became interested in it, when the old lady next door asked me to look after her garden while she was away. On her return she was so delighted by my efforts that I felt I’d done something really worthwhile, so I then offered to garden for other neighbours in their 80s and 90s [23]. They sometimes offered me money, but I always refused to accept it.

Interviewer: I have with me Leonie Steiner, who’s had a distinguished career both as a pianist and as a music teacher. Leonie, who was your first-ever piano teacher?

Leonie: There’s a long piano-playing tradition in my family and from a very early age I was keen to start playing. In earlier generations fathers and mothers had taught daughters and sons, but both of mine were working full-time, so from the beginning they had me taught at home by a tutor [24]. That would have been shortly before my first year at primary school, where I also had lessons.

Interviewer: And when did you actually start giving lessons?

Leonie: In my late teens, by which time I was giving solo performances. Some professional musicians give private classes to make enough to live on, or perhaps to find out whether they would make good teachers, but for me it was never a conscious decision to become a teacher. I’d always enjoyed working with younger students, doing what I could to help them develop as musicians, and without realising it I was becoming a teacher [25]. And ever since then, that – together with performing – is what I’ve done.

Interviewer: And what kind of students do you prefer?

Leonie: I’d say those who perhaps aren’t naturally brilliant, but respond well to intensive teaching and go on to become top performers [26]. More so than those who seem to have been born to play at the highest level, or students who’ve been taught the wrong way and need to get rid of bad musical habits. That can be hard work for both pupil and teacher.

Interviewer: And what do you think of the standard of music education in our schools nowadays?

Leonie: It varies widely. I get the impression there’s been a general shift away from putting pressure on students to achieve exam success to a more skills-based approach, and I think that’s to be welcomed. The media sometimes talk about a shortage of qualified music teachers but I’m not convinced. I’d say there’s a much greater need to invest in new pianos, violins and so on, ensuring they’re top quality [27] so that students really like the sound they make. Because the key to success is making sure pupils enjoy their music lessons, both in terms of playing and singing.

Interviewer: Do school music lessons normally include singing these days?

Leonie: In the majority of cases they still do, and it’s generally popular among pupils, but a lot of them are afraid of doing so in public because of what other people may say or think [28]. That’s a great pity, I think, and if a child wants to sing, I feel strongly that they should always be encouraged to do so.

Interviewer: You’re very highly regarded by your ex-students, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers. What do you think has made you such a good teacher?

Leonie: Well, if that’s true it probably has something to do with the fact I’ve always found it easy to get on with those of a different generation [29], whether they’re at primary school, secondary school or university. In that respect I don’t think I would’ve benefited from actually being trained at college as a music teacher.

Interviewer: Looking back over your career, what big decisions have you had to make?

Leonie: Well, in my late thirties I wondered whether I’d still have the energy needed to keep doing lessons as I got older, but once into my forties I found that wasn’t an issue. Also around then, I was offered the position of assistant head, and I had to think carefully about that because I would’ve been on a much higher salary, but in the end I said ‘no’ [30]. It would also have meant I had less time for doing lessons, and for performing. My response to an offer of work in another country was the same, though I found it much easier to make up my mind about that one. I’ve never regretted staying here.

Interviewer: Thank you Leonie.

W: Excuse me. I'm interested in cooking Chinese and Korean food, so (32), (33) I'm trying to find a recipe book written by Arthur Choi. Can you help me?

M: Oh, I think I know which one you mean. It should be in our International Culture and Cuisine section.

W: I already tried looking there, but I couldn't find it on any of the shelves.

M: Well, according to our database, we should have one copy left. (34) I'll ask one of our part-time workers to help you locate it. Please wait a moment.

Today, I’m going to give you some advice about record-keeping. Keeping accurate records is very important, because if a patient is unhappy about his treatment, he may want to make a complaint to the surgeon. These records will help us to make a case. Always write your name, the date and the time on all the records. Don’t use pencil, or coloured pens. Use black ink. If you make a mistake, just cross it out with a single line. Don’t use correction fluid. Don’t try to file the records away yourself, or they may get lost. Put them in this box here. The administration manager will make sure they are filed away correctly.