Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Script Gold Exprience aUDIO
Script Gold Exprience aUDIO
Some callers have said that they feel Katy: Yeah – I like it. It’s not such a big place
loyalty to an old friend even if they but there’s a lot going on. The shops are
don’t particularly like them any more. good and I like all the old buildings.
Some have even said that getting
out of a friendship is a bit like getting Track 1.6
out of a boy/girl relationship when it 1 How long have you been learning English?
goes wrong! 2 Who in your family has influenced you the
Emma: Yes, I heard that caller. I’m not sure most?
whether real friends last a lifetime. I 3 Who is your best friend?
think we move on in life and we 4 What would you like to do in the future?
change, so our friends change too. 5 How do you like to spend your free time?
I’m still in touch with an old friend
from primary school but we’re not Tracks 2.1 and 2.2
that close any more. I think she’d like
Speaker 1: This creature is highly aggressive,
to be, but I’ve changed too much.
extremely venomous and the fastest
Although, in some cases – for
of its species in the world. In fact, it
example if young kids go through a
can reach a speed in the region of
bad time, the friends they have then
23 kilometres per hour. This reptile is
can sometimes last a lifetime
so aggressive that if you get near it,
because they get very close. Even if
it will charge at you and strike up to
they move away. Like if a child loses
a dozen times in a row, and each
his mum or dad when they’re very
time it strikes it will inject more
young, things like that.
venom!
Johnny: A very good point. And one final
Speaker 2: This creature is stealthy, well
thing, Emma. Some of our callers
camouflaged and has striped fur and
have said that the end of a friendship
– amazingly – striped skin beneath
can be very distressing. Do you
the fur! It’s a top predator and stalks
agree?
its prey. This mammal hunts alone
Emma: It’s true. If you’re good friends and
and most of the species live in the
something goes wrong – I don’t
jungle. Its habitat is disappearing,
know, a betrayal, or it could be that
and poachers hunt it as its bones are
you just find you don’t have much in
used in traditional medicine.
common any more – it can be
Speaker 3: This creature has the strongest bite
devastating. Like breaking up with a
of all animals, but it can’t chew. It
boyfriend.
can regrow its teeth when the old
Johnny: And the problem is that you don’t get
ones drop out. It lays eggs, and
as much sympathy! Thank you very
these turn into male or female
much for calling in, Emma.
babies depending on the
Track 1.5 temperature at which they develop. It
sometimes swallows stones to help it
Jack: Hi! I’m Jack. dive deeper. Like all reptiles, it’s
Katy: Hi! I’m Katy. I haven’t seen you before. cold-blooded.
Are you a new student? Speaker 4: This creature has no predator except
Jack: Yes, I’m studying here for a year. I’m man. It’s the world’s largest land
from Chicago, USA. It’s a great place to predator. It can swim 160 kilometres.
live. This animal hunts seals on sea ice in
Katy: Wow! What do you like about living the Arctic. Its population is falling
there? rapidly because of the effect of
Jack: It’s a really modern city with all sorts of global warming. If the temperature
great facilities. The people are very rises and the ice melts, this animal
friendly too. But this is a cool place to live cannot hunt and will starve.
too.
Speaker 5: This creature sometimes visits the was torrential rain, too. The hotel was on the sea
beach – at least, the females of the front, so you could hear the waves crashing onto
species do. The males spend all the sea defences outside. Not something I’d like
their time at sea. It eats jellyfish, and to experience again.
sometimes mistakes plastic bags for 4
food, which can be fatal. It has a I think it was January last year. I was staying
hard shell and a beak. This reptile is over with a friend for the weekend and we were
critically endangered for several going to travel into school together on the
reasons: climate change is causing Monday. There was going to be a big maths test,
erosion on its beaches; its habitat is which I most definitely wasn’t looking forward to!
disappearing because of beach But how lucky was I? On Sunday night, there
development; and its eggs are often was this massive snowstorm and my friend’s
stolen by humans. house was totally snowed in! We couldn’t open
the front door! And when we did get out, we
Tracks 2.3 and 2.4 couldn’t use the car because there were
1 snowdrifts everywhere. Great excuse for missing
I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared before. I a test! Just made snowmen and had snowball
was out in the forest hiking with some mates fights with the kids next door. Cool!
from college. We often go out there for a couple 5
of days and camp out overnight. Anyway, as you When you think of tornadoes, you naturally think
know, last summer was really dry – drought-like of the USA and Kansas but you don’t think of the
conditions, hosepipe ban, and so on. Well, we south of England! Well, one night last year the
didn’t have a barbecue because everything was dog woke us up howling in the middle of the
bone dry and it would have been way too night and you could feel the whole house literally
dangerous. But obviously someone else did! shaking! I thought it was an earthquake! The
When we woke up on Sunday morning, Dan windows were all rattling – it was a really
went outside the tent and heard this crackly frightening moment. But then suddenly it
noise in the distance. He called us and we saw a stopped. In the morning, you could see the path
yellow glow in the sky – and there was this of the tornado – across our garden, through our
horrible smell, too. It was a forest fire! Did we neighbour’s and across the park. There was a
run! line of uprooted trees and turned-over cars. We
2 were lucky that it didn’t take off the roof of our
It had been raining continuously for forty-eight house!
hours and there had been flood warnings issued
Tracks 2.5 and 2.6
on all the news bulletins. All afternoon, Dad and I
tried to do everything we could to stop the water A: OK, let’s think about this one. I don’t think
from coming in. We put sandbags outside the that’s a very good idea. How about you?
front and back doors. The emergency services B: Actually, I think it could do some good. In my
wanted everyone in our area to evacuate their opinion, the atmosphere is so polluted that
homes, but quite a lot of us stayed put. I think anything we can do to cut down on dirt and
everyone wanted to try to protect their houses as gases in the air has got to be good, don’t you
long as possible. But the sandbags didn’t do any think?
good. The water just rushed in and it was literally A: That’s a good point, but surely traffic doesn’t
knee-deep downstairs. contribute that much to air pollution these
3 days, does it?
Last year I was on holiday with my parents in B: Maybe you’re right. Perhaps it’s more about
Florida and we were there when a hurricane using up energy. Think about it – if you’re
passed by! We weren’t actually in the path of the riding everywhere, you’re not using up oil or
storm and we didn’t get the full force of it, but it gas or electricity, are you?
was bad enough! The hotel had special shutters A: I see what you mean, but personally I don’t
to board up the windows – they’re so used to think you and me riding around everywhere is
hurricanes over there – and we all went down going to make a big difference to the world’s
into a hurricane shelter. Hundred-mile-an-hour environmental problems!
gales battered the front of the building and there
B: I have to say that I agree with you. But it will you’ll find it’s an amazing area to
help us get fitter, won’t it? study.
A: True! Right – what do you think about this Speaker 5: I used to take myself off to the
one ... garden shed when I was a kid and
do all sorts of terrible experiments.
Tracks 3.1 and 3.2 I’m surprised I didn’t blow myself up!
Speaker 1: I remember really clearly being at I was particularly good at burning the
primary school and seeing my first bottoms off test tubes, I remember.
solar eclipse. The teacher had got us Nowadays, I love working in my
to make special cards to hold in front laboratory and finding out more
of our eyes, so we wouldn’t damage about acids and gases and about the
them. I thought the whole thing was way substances combine.
so awesome. I just had to find out
Track 3.3
more about our universe –
everything: space, the stars, the Helen? Hi, it’s Dave. I’m phoning from our
planets. It’s the most fascinating field landline because I’ve lost my mobile phone –
you could work in, at least that’s again! I’m just about to leave to catch the bus to
what I think! school and I thought I’d give you a ring just to
Speaker 2: When did I first get interested in this say that I’m unlikely to be able to make the party
subject? Well, let’s see now. It all tonight. I’ve got a big science test tomorrow and
started back when I was really I must do some revision tonight, otherwise I’m
young. My parents used to take us to likely to get a big, fat zero! I was going to do it
a particular part of the coast every last night, but I needed to get my maths
year, where the rock formations were homework done. So, sorry! Anyway, I’d better go
amazing. And my dad used to take because the bus is due to arrive in two minutes.
us to hunt for fossils in the rocks. I I’ll ring you when I find my phone! Have a good
built up quite a big collection. I even time at the party!
found a bit of dinosaur bone once.
That was really exciting! Tracks 3.4 and 3.5
Speaker 3: As a kid, my favourite toys were Hi. I’m Blake Winters and my talk to you today is
always things I had to make – like about a big problem that doctors and scientists
kits or Lego. I just loved finding out are soon going to be facing. Just think for a
how things work. I was always taking moment. If you fall over outside and cut your
my motorbike to pieces and putting it hand and then it gets infected, what do you do?
together again. It drove my mum You go to a doctor who gives you an antibiotic,
mad! Then I started getting ideas for and in a few days’ time you’ll be fine. We’ve
new machines and gadgets and been using antibiotics since 1928 when an
luckily I got offered a job doing just important scientist, Alexander Fleming,
that – inventing new types of discovered penicillin. He returned home after a
equipment for the sports industry. holiday with his family and found that one of his
How lucky am I? experiments had grown mould. This had killed
Speaker 4: I decided to go into this field some bacteria and Fleming developed the first
because it’s such fun! And it’s useful, antibiotic. At the time, this was a bit like magic!
too, because you need it in so many Before this discovery, people used to die from
aspects of life – like shopping and simple infections.
playing games. It’s a world of Today we use antibiotics to treat many health
numbers and patterns and shapes, problems. When people have operations, the
and you find out about the hidden doctors use antibiotics to stop infections. People
relationships between things. I love who are having cancer treatment or organ
solving problems. I suppose I have a transplants are given antibiotics. Antibiotics have
very logical brain. I know a lot of also cured many major diseases like
people have difficulty with this tuberculosis. In many parts of the world, these
subject, but give it a chance and diseases have disappeared. Without antibiotics,
they could return.
Interviewer: And what about the questions you I know it’s quite repetitive, there’s not a lot of
ask? Should the applicant give variety – but at least she meets people. That’s
short answers or very detailed important if you’re sociable. It can be really
ones? That’s always something I’m enjoyable working with kids, but you have to be
not too sure about. pretty inventive to keep them happy and
Jenny: Well, to start with, the answers interested, don’t you? It’s also a rewarding job, I
need to be well thought through think.
and structured, not full of
hesitations or going on and on for Tracks 5.1 and 5.2
ages! Sometimes the applicant Charlie:Hi, I’m Charlie and I love this activity.
might not know an answer, but it’s It freaked Mum out when I told her I
good to give the impression that was taking this up. She was sure I’d
you do know what you’re talking kill myself. But it’s OK now. I go with
about. You might be making it up a group, and our leader knows
as you go along ... but if you can where the safe rocks and crags are
do that confidently, that’s a plus for for our age group. You’re all roped
me! It shows you can think on your up, too, so you can’t just drop off a
feet! Also, remember to stay mountain or anything! You’ve got to
relevant and don’t go off the point. follow the rules, though. One girl
Interviewer: Fine, I’ll remember that for my next jumped off a low rock without her
interview! And do you have any rope the other day and broke her
final advice you can give potential ankle. They had to get a helicopter
interviewees? to take her to hospital. Poor kid. It
Jenny: Well – you’d be surprised how looked really painful. Good job she
many applicants turn up chewing was wearing a helmet!
gum! Don’t! Also make sure you’ve Amanda: Is it my turn now? OK, well I’m
showered and don’t smell of stale Amanda and I got into this pursuit
cigarette smoke or body odour ... because of my older brother. He’d
that’s a real turn-off for an got himself a job as a lifeguard at a
interviewer! And I’m speaking from local swimming pool and he used to
experience here! And a final word – take me along every night for a
about punctuality for the interview. swim. Anyway, they had this really
It’s really important to get to your high board there. I watched kids
interview on time, maybe ten diving from it and it looked the
minutes early, but don’t get there coolest thing ever. And then when I
too early or it can make you look a tried it the first time, my heart was
tad over-eager! beating so fast. It’s really scary
Interviewer: Well, Jenny, a lot to think about actually, you need to know the right
there. Thanks! techniques so you don’t hurt
yourself. But the coaches teach you
Track 4.7
that so you don’t need to worry.
Student: OK, well, as you say, the photos show Joe: Hello, I’m Joe. I’ve never gone in for
jobs that students can do in the summer – during gym or team games. I mean, I don’t
the holidays. Both are also jobs that you can do belong to the school sports club or
part-time. The people in the photos are both anything. No way. I’d rather be out
young – maybe sixteen or seventeen – and they with the lads in the park, doing our
look really happy doing the jobs. The first photo own thing. I’ve always loved music. I
is of a girl working at the check-out in a used to dance around to all the boy
supermarket, so she’s spending a lot of time bands when I was a little kid. But it
indoors and talking to different people – usually wasn’t till I was in my teens that I
adults – whereas in the second photo, the boy is discovered dance – my type of
coaching some young children. His conversation dance. And urban music. We meet
is probably only with the kids. I imagine that the up – my friends and I – in the park. I
girl’s job would be quite interesting to do. I mean, bring along my boom box, and we
practise our slides and glides. There it. It looked more like mashed potato! Try one!
are other kids doing it, so it’s useful They taste much better than they look!
to watch and pick up some moves 3
from them. It’s incredibly relaxing, Man: The latest celebrity chef TV show was
strangely enough, and it makes me broadcast last night on Channel 9 after
feel amazing. weeks of publicity and general hype! Dave
Sonja: Hey there. I’m Sonya. I’d never March’s new way of looking at traditional
heard of spinning – that’s spelt s-p-i- recipes obviously whetted the appetites of
double-n-i-n-g – until I visited our a lot of people as it was watched by a
local gym. I was looking for the staggering number of viewers – and it
dance studio but I opened the wrong didn’t disappoint. The first programme in
door, and there were all these the eight-part series also went down well
people cycling like mad to the most with the critics, although there were a few
amazing pop music! I decided to unkind tweets about what he was wearing.
have a go and after that I was Can you believe it? His guests in the
hooked. It’s good fun because you studio included some famous faces, and
do it in teams, so it’s quite they were evidently enjoying the food he
competitive. You have to watch what cooked. A book of recipes from the series
you wear, though. Sitting on a saddle will be on sale shortly. Should be worth a
for an hour can make your bottom look – maybe a good Christmas present?
sore if you haven’t got the right 4
clothes! A: You’re looking really tired. Are you OK? I’m so
sorry I couldn’t come round earlier to help
Tracks 5.3 and 5.4 with the decorating.
1 B: That’s OK. I couldn’t get down to it anyway.
Helen: Hi, Pam. It’s me, Helen. I know you’re up It’s my back. It’s really hurting and I don’t
to your eyes today and you’re probably think I could lift a paintbrush!
trying to finish off the project right now. A: This isn’t the first time, is it? Have you seen a
I’m just calling about going to tennis this doctor?
evening. I wanted to say that I definitely B: Well, I’ve been taking painkillers, but there’s
will need picking up if that’s still OK for not much doctors can do.
your dad. And thanks a lot for the offer! I A: There’s a chiropractor I go to for my shoulder
think we said 6.30-ish so that we can get – when I’ve been overdoing the tennis! You
in a quick swim first. Don’t forget your could get him to have a look at it. You never
swimsuit! I won’t be able to stay for a know.
snack afterwards as I’m meeting up with B: OK, cheers. Worth a try.
Dave to go to the cinema and we’ll most 5
likely eat later anyway. Hope you get the A: Hiya. Are you hungry? I’m just about to make
project finished OK! Call me back when a sandwich – a healthy one, mind you, with
you’ve got a minute. Bye! wholemeal bread and tuna!
2 B: Thanks, but I’ve just had a fry-up for breakfast
A: Dave – hi! How did you get on with the cup – a full English: eggs, sausages, fried bread –
cakes last night? I was thinking about you. I the works! It was brilliant.
hope the recipe was clear and that you had A: What? What about this diet you’re supposed
everything you needed. to be on? You should have had cereal and
B: Well, it was certainly interesting to try. It was orange juice like I did. You’re a nightmare.
my first attempt at cooking anything and it You’re either eating loads or starving yourself.
took ages! Everything would have been You’ll never lose weight!
absolutely fine if my sister Jenny hadn’t been B: You can talk! I’ve seen you raiding the fridge
looking over my shoulder all the time and after dinner when you’re a couple of days into
giggling. It was all going really well until it a diet! I just like my food too much and I have
came to the icing. I just got a bit distracted by to admit I don’t have much self-control.
her comments and I made a bit of a mess of
just basically said ‘thank you’ to tons think the first group are enjoying being
of people, some cried a bit and then outside and interacting with the people
they legged it! passing by. They look relaxed and
Speaker 5: I’d always wanted to go to an happy. The kids in the orchestra
outdoor gig – in spite of all the probably enjoy getting dressed up and
pictures you see of fans in tents that working together to produce some
have blown down and people sliding beautiful music!
about in rain and mud! So this year I Tracks 7.1 and 7.2
went with a group of mates to a big
festival nearby. My favourite band Julia: My best teacher took us for science.
was headlining, so I couldn’t not go, He was great at explaining difficult
if you know what I mean! It was the stuff and seemed to have endless
experience of a lifetime! It poured patience. But the best thing about
with rain and we got drenched, but him was his sense of humour. He
nobody cared. Everyone there was had a joke for every occasion,
so friendly and chilled out – just especially when things went wrong
there to have a good time, and we during an experiment, which they
did. The bands were phenomenal! often did. Anybody walking past the
We came home dirty, wet, tired and chemistry laboratory during our
broke. But what a weekend! lessons must have really wondered
what was going on because there’d
Tracks 6.5 and 6.6 be these hoots of laughter echoing
Katya: OK, to begin with, as you say, people all around the place. He encouraged
are playing music in both pictures, but us to discover things for ourselves
the places are very different. In the first and, though he was strict in some
picture, there’s a group of musicians ways, he didn’t tell us off if we
playing in the street. They’re on the accidentally burnt holes in our test
pavement and they’re playing for tubes, or created stuff that smelt
passers-by. Basically, they’re street horrible. Just as long as we were
entertainers. They can choose what they serious about investigating science. I
want to play and I imagine it depends on can’t imagine all science teachers
the people who are listening! It’s quite would be that tolerant. And because
relaxed. They can wear what they want, he made science so exciting and
too. challenging and such fun, we all did
Katya: In the second picture, however, it’s a really well in our end-of-term exams.
much more organised group. It’s an He was a brilliant teacher really.
orchestra for young people and the Robert: When I started secondary school I
people there are playing indoors, in a was really academic – I got top
big hall probably. They have to dress marks for everything. I was even
quite formally and they know exactly made form prefect in my first year.
what they’re going to play. It looks much Then I got in with the wrong crowd
more serious than the first picture. and my school work went right down.
People might be paying to listen to I got very cheeky too. I was always
them, so they have to be good, whereas in detention. In fact I almost got
in the first picture, people will only give expelled at one point, my behaviour
them money if they like what they do! was so bad. All that changed when I
The music they’re playing is obviously was put into Mr Lee’s class. He was
different, too. The orchestra are really strict on discipline and even
probably playing classical music, the bullies in the school were
whereas the street group are playing … petrified of him. If he appeared in the
I don’t know … folk, maybe? But corridor, they would run a mile! But
definitely not Mozart or Beethoven. And he was a brilliant psychologist too.
now to … what are the people enjoying He understood why kids sometimes
about playing in these places? Well, I go wrong. You know, if things are
bad at home, or if a student is having and there’ll be all sorts of exciting things going
relationship problems, and he’d sit on! As you’ll be going to a different country from
you down and listen, and somehow me, obviously there will be some differences! But
he’d get it out of you what was going from the point of view of organisation, it’s the
wrong for you and why you were same. It will all be set up by the teachers and
behaving so badly. If it weren’t for admin staff and they do a fantastic job. It usually
him, I’d never have got to college. runs very smoothly.
So thank you, Mr Lee. You were The process starts with your application. You
tops! have to decide if you want to go, and find out
Mariana: I think my best teacher was Mrs what your parents think about it. Then you get
Lopez. She was the sports teacher matched with a particular student. The school
at my old boarding school. I went tries to consider your personality and interests –
there for five years, before we like whether you both like athletics or are keen
moved house. I go to a day school on hobbies like chess, etc., so you’ll have the
now, which I prefer. I used to get best chance of getting on. I was matched up with
very homesick away from my a student called Jean-Paul who lives in the
parents. Mrs Lopez understood that, countryside like me and who’s really into
and she was always there for me swimming – like me, too! Jean-Paul came to stay
when I was feeling down. I didn’t with me in England first. Luckily Jean-Paul and I
think I was any good at sport until I got on really well. He came to school with me
went into her class. And because I every day and told me about all the differences
didn’t seem too keen on games, I between school life here and in France. I got the
always ended up being put in an chance to see what he meant when I went to
alternative group, like cookery or stay with him in May. And you’ll find there are
sewing, which I hated. I’m not a bit lots of things they do differently when you go to
domesticated! Anyway, as I say, as Spain, too. For example, I couldn’t believe how
soon as I had Mrs Lopez as my form long the school day was in France. They start at
teacher, I changed my mind about 8.30 and go on to 5.00! Mind you, they do have
sport. She made games lessons into a two-hour lunch break – unlike here! And they
such fun, all the hard work seemed have to go to school on Saturday mornings until
to go out of it and I got more 12.00. No way students here would agree to do
confident and in the end I found I that, is there? Another thing that was different
was really good at some things. was that at school it was the teachers who
Especially swimming. I‘ve even won changed rooms for different subjects – not the
medals for that, and it’s all thanks to students. We stayed in the same classroom all
Mrs Lopez. day – apart from science, that is. I’m still not sure
which I prefer. There are pros and cons for both
Tracks 7.3 and 7.4 systems. I think I was very lucky. I got on very
Mandy: well with Jean-Paul’s family and they took me on
Hi, everyone. Miss Piper has asked me along to loads of trips to different places, so I learnt a lot
this meeting because most of you are thinking about the culture while I was there. I also had
about getting involved in the exchange some time to myself and I went round the shops
programme to Spain this autumn. You probably to get some presents for the family before I left –
want to know what it’s all about. As I’ve been on that was interesting. Some of the shops are so
an exchange, she thought I could talk a bit about different! I think that’s one of the important things
what my experience was like. Then you can ask about going on an exchange. You get to see how
me some questions. It’s good to know what people in a different country live. It makes you
you’re getting into before you sign up. more open-minded. It’s also brilliant for your
Well, I’m studying French, so our class was language! Jean-Paul’s English improved
invited to exchange with a class at a school in amazingly while he was here and now my
France. This was last May, which I think was a French is much better, too. I know there are
great time to go because the weather was stories going round about students who have
amazing. But November will also be interesting had bad experiences on an exchange, but
for you, I think, as it’s coming up to Christmas they’re very rare and often it’s because the
2 5
Dan? It’s Miranda. I don’t seem to have seen A: Have you seen Gary recently? He hasn’t
you for ages. You must think I only get in touch been to school and he isn’t answering his
when I need something! And I really must thank phone either.
you for sorting out my laptop last month. You’re a B: No, no one’s seen him for a few days. You
genius with technology! It’s been great since you know, I’m getting a bit worried about him.
fixed the problem and it hasn’t frozen or crashed A: Why? Do you think he’s ill?
since then. I was just wondering if you’d like my B: I don’t know. It’s just this gaming he’s into.
dad’s old PC? He’s been given a new laptop by He’s been spending longer and longer online.
his company and he was about to throw his old It’s addictive and some people spend hours
PC away. I remembered you loved updating old on end online. You know sometimes it can get
computers so I thought I’d run it past you and so bad that you don’t eat or sleep.
see if you wanted it. Get back to me when you A: I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Gary’s not like
can. that. He loves his gaming, but he knows you
3 mustn’t let it control you. I bet he’ll be back in
A: What’s up, Sally? Has anything happened? class tomorrow.
B: I’m furious! It’s Mark. We’ve been going out B: I hope so.
together for six months now and he still 6
doesn’t trust me. OK, my research for today’s lesson about health
A: What’s he done? was into something I think a lot of kids suffer
B: In the café yesterday after school I caught from these days – texter’s thumb! Do you know
him checking through the texts on my phone! about it? Because I didn’t! When Mr Taylor
He wanted to see if I’d been texting or getting asked us to find out about health problems
texts from another boy. linked to technology I spoke to a doctor friend of
A: Wow! What did you do? my dad’s and he told me that a lot of youngsters
B: I lost my temper and told him to get lost. come to him these days complaining about pains
A: But you and Mark are so good together. He in their thumbs! Apparently it’s a result of
was probably just worried that he was losing overusing your thumb when you’re continually
you. texting. It’s nothing to get bothered about. Just
B: Well, he’s lost me now. I don’t care what you lay off the texting for a while and it’ll get better.
say. It’s wrong to snoop into people’s private Or learn to text with just fingers. But I imagine
messages. How can I trust him in the future? then you’d just get texter’s finger instead!
Sorry – it’s over! 7
4 A: Did you have a good time at your dad’s
Good news! The new technology series birthday party on Saturday?
Imagine! will start next Monday evening. This B: Yeah, it was cool. My sister and I clubbed
weekly show will look at the very latest in together and got him an e-reader because as
technology all over the world. It will include you know he loves his books.
interviews with different inventors who have A: Yeah. My mum’s got one and she takes it
come up with great ideas and give them the everywhere. She wasn’t sure at first that
opportunity to talk about them. There will also be she’d get on with one. It’s such a change and
a competition to encourage teens to invent she said she loved the feel of a book and
something themselves, and the winners will being able to flick through the pages. But
come on the show to explain what they’ve done. she’s got used to the e-reader and she hasn’t
The series will appeal to all young people who looked back!
find science and technology interesting. It will B: Well, I hope it’s the same for my dad. I’m fed
also try to explain difficult concepts and ideas in up with tripping over all the piles of his books
a straightforward way to those of us who are in the living room.
baffled by them. The makers of the programme
promise it will be a fascinating insight into
technology today.
head should have suspended him after that aware of it and it’s very, very
the fight last week, but he didn’t. difficult to deal with.
Amy: He’s had a lot of problems, you know. Interviewer: So what exactly does it involve?
Grant: Yeah, but he didn’t have to join a gang, Rachel: Well, it’s a step on from normal
did he? He had a choice! bullying. It all happens online.
Amy: True. He could have said no when they People post vicious comments
asked him to join. But it’s hard to say no about you online – usually on
to the Beat gang leader. social network sites. It started with
Grant: I tried to give Dan some advice when he nasty texts when mobile phones
joined the gang. But I needn’t have started to become popular and
bothered! He’s just not listening to was a way that bullies could follow
anybody. their victims outside school and
into their own homes. Now, with
Tracks 9.3 and 9.4 social networking sites becoming
Interviewer: Today my guest is Rachel Brooks. so popular, this sort of bullying has
Rachel is just eighteen, but she’s reached yet another level. Not only
been working with Channel 5 to do you see the comments, but
make some fascinating everyone else can see them too!
documentaries about problems But the worst thing is that you just
teenagers face today. The first of can’t get away from it.
these documentaries is called Interviewer: Can I ask you what sort of
Cyber-bullying: the faceless haters comments?
and she’s with us today to tell us Rachel: Well, most of them are too horrible
all about it. Hi there, Rachel. to repeat but they include things
Thanks for coming on the like ‘Everyone hates you!’, ‘Don’t
programme. come to school tomorrow – you
Rachel: Thanks for inviting me. know what’s waiting for you!’,
Interviewer: Rachel, this documentary … it’s ‘You’re fat and ugly’ and so on.
quite incredible. I watched it last Terrible, insulting things.
night and I learnt an awful lot. It Interviewer: But why do people do this?
was very informative. I really had Rachel: Well, one reason is because
no idea what cyber-bullying was they’re anonymous online. The
really all about. I felt really victim doesn’t know who is posting
ignorant. the comments. And because they
Rachel: You’re not alone. A lot of people are anonymous, the bullies feel
are unaware of the problem. That’s they can say absolutely anything
why I made the programme. I they want – there are no limits.
mean, everyone knows about the They aren’t face to face with their
sort of bullying you get at schools. victim so they can’t see the effect
Many of us have seen it happening their words have and the
or even actually been through it comments just get worse and
ourselves. It can have disastrous worse.
effects on young people. It can Interviewer: I’ve heard that these people are
lead to depression or even, at its called ‘trolls’. Is that right?
worst, to suicide. Fortunately, Rachel: Yes. And these people don’t just
these days a lot of people are attack and bully people they know
looking out for it – teachers, from school. It goes further. There
parents, friends all know what to are trolls who post horrible
do and who to tell if they see signs comments on sites of people
of bullying. It still happens, but at they’ve never even met – like
least people talk about it and celebrities. For them it’s like a
there’s advice on how to deal with hobby. It’s fun!
it. Cyber-bullying, however, is Interviewer: So what can people do about this?
something else! People are not
Rachel: That’s the big problem. There’s B: Excuse me, Stella. Before you go on, I’d just
very little you can do. Some like to say that it’s particularly difficult for kids
people try to respond to the trolls that are in their teens. They’re trying to cope
but they shouldn’t. This just with exams and stuff at the same time. In fact,
encourages them to do more. they often feel that their parents’ problems are
There’s a saying going round their fault. They start thinking that if I hadn’t
these days: ‘Don’t feed the trolls!’ done this, Dad wouldn’t have left, or
That’s probably the best advice. whatever. And the parents say bad things to
Interviewer: But it’s hard to ignore such the kids about each other. It can get really
personal messages. And if nasty. OK, what did you want to say about
everyone can see them it must be joining gangs?
so humiliating. A: Yeah, it’s interesting. It’s not such a problem
Rachel: Yes, it is. But these people are here, at least not with the traditional sort of
almost impossible to track down. gang. You know, the ones that fight with rival
They hide behind other identities gangs and have their own territories or ‘turf’, I
online. But what they are doing is think they say. But there is a lot of pressure
actually illegal. If people can get on kids to be part of a group. Everyone wants
some evidence – like a printout of to belong and not be different, so I think a lot
the messages before they delete of kids go along with what their friends do,
them – they can take them to the even if they don’t agree with it. That’s how
police. some kids get drawn into crime. And then
Interviewer: And do you think the problem will there’s being popular …
be resolved soon? B: Sorry to interrupt, but I must say that I
Rachel: Some people think that bullies will completely agree with you about the gangs.
get tired of this type of activity, but And in places where gang warfare is a
I don’t agree. And it’s not going to problem, there’s also the pressure of physical
be enough just for people to be threats if you don’t go along with the gang
more careful about who they give members. Also, once you’ve joined a gang,
their email addresses to. We need it’s very hard to try to get out of it.
more online protection from bullies A: Absolutely. Now, doing what your parents
like these. However, I think we’re a expect is a huge pressure. Sometimes it’s
long way from that at the moment. getting top grades, sometimes it’s winning
It’s all tied up with whether there races …
should be more policing of the B: Can I jump in here? This sort of pressure can
Internet and if so, how this can be be very destructive. When you want to live up
done. Maybe then the problem will to your parents’ expectations, it can affect all
disappear. sorts of areas of your life. Sometimes parents
Interviewer: OK, Rachel. Thank you so much. want too much from their kids. Then the kids
Believe me, listeners, this is a get into problems trying to be good enough.
must-see documentary. Watch out For me it’s the pushy parents at sports events
for it. Next Tuesday at 7.30. that get me angry.
A: My turn now. In my opinion, having the latest
Tracks 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7 things is a real pressure, too. It’s because
A: I want to start with this one. Kids often have to people don’t want to be different … and it’s
choose one family member to support when awful if everyone else has got a laptop or a
there’s fighting at home. I think that’s very tablet and you haven’t. But what can you do if
hard. If your parents are fighting and having your family isn’t particularly rich? You have
arguments all the time, you sometimes have to …
to take sides. That must be horrible. And if
they separate, the kids have to go and live
with just one. It can cause loads of problems.
That’s a lot of pressure. And now, to talk
about gangs …
like a totally overnight sensation. round the world closer. I’m not
One minute no one had ever heard talking about meeting new people or
of him and the next he had a record learning about different cultures, but
deal and millions of young girls were about how quickly we can learn
buying his CDs and wanting to marry about things that are happening in
him! Well maybe not millions – but different countries – breaking news
you know what I mean. And he’s and stuff. Before, we just used to
won awards, too. Shows the power know about the things that were
of YouTube! happening in our country, but now
Speaker 2: Companies that give bad service you can go on a news site and see
have really got to be careful these what’s just happened on the other
days. Before, they could get away side of the world! No one can hide
with ripping people off, but that was anything any more and that’s got to
before people started blogging about be a good thing.
things online. Now if you’re fed up
with something – like a product that Track 11.4
isn’t value for money or even an A: Well, personally, I think people do both! And I
airline that treats you badly – you don’t think that’s going to change. People like
can blog about it, and soon the word to leaf through magazines – there’s
is out and people can boycott the something cool about the feel of the glossy
company! Problem is, sometimes pages! And you can take one everywhere,
people make up stories or can’t you? Whereas online, you just click or
exaggerate and you can’t really tell touch to turn a page and then just read the
they’re not true. information. You can’t keep it lying round so
Speaker 3: In the past, if people thought a law that you can pick it up when you feel like it!
was unfair or didn’t like what the What do you think?
politicians were doing or something B: I’m with you on that. Another thing is that I
like that, they had to set up often tear out bits of a magazine – tips,
campaigns and write letters to the pictures I like or even website addresses. You
newspapers and things. Now you can’t do that with something online unless you
can organise an online petition and go to the hassle of printing it out. Can you
get thousands of signatures in days! imagine a newsagent’s shop without
Apparently, in our country if it goes magazines? It’s great just looking at all the
over a certain number, the front covers.
government is forced to consider the
problem. It can happen at school Track 12.1
level, too. If you think something’s
Jenny: We went abroad this year – to the
wrong, you can find out how loads of
UK. It was really exciting because
kids at school feel about it in a
we got to stay in London and go to
matter of days – and maybe get
lots of musicals. I love anything to do
something done about it. Brilliant!
with the theatre, so it was a dream
Speaker 4: I think Twitter is amazing and I tweet
for me. It’s a nightmare driving in the
all the time! But it’s a bit worrying, I
city, so we went everywhere by Tube
think, because so many people use
– which was OK, except at rush hour
Twitter and millions of people tweet
when it’s packed and you get
all the time about different things –
squashed up against people. That
and rumours can just get started and
can get you a bit panicky! We saw
spread like wildfire, even if there’s no
the sights of course – Tower of
truth to them. A sports celebrity and
London, Buckingham Palace, St
a politician had their careers
Paul’s Cathedral and the London
completely destroyed by rumours on
Dungeon. How scary was that?
Twitter last year. Now that’s not fair.
There were wax models of all these
Speaker 5: For me, the best thing about the
famous people who’d been
Internet is how it brings everyone all
imprisoned or executed hundreds of
Track 12.4
As you say, both photos show different rides at a
theme park and both rides are scary for different
reasons. In the first photo, the people are on a
fast-moving ride that turns people upside down
as well as round and round! That must make you
feel a bit sick! The second, however, is not up in
the air but on the ground and is frightening for
another reason. This ride tries to make you really
scared. It’s a ghost train and it is cleverly
designed so that you see ghosts and skeletons
and things like that suddenly and unexpectedly
so that it shocks you! The first ride might be
scary for another reason too – it’s quite
dangerous – the machinery could go wrong and
people could get hurt. I think some people might
worry about that too when they’re on one of
those, whereas on the second ride you’re on firm
ground, at least! I think the people in both
pictures are feeling thrilled but in the first picture
the thrill comes from speed and sensation
whereas in the second picture it comes from
shock.