AUDIO SCRIPTS
S: Yeah, that’s one. Smile while you’re shaking
UNIT
1 1
1.1 page 2, exercise 5
1 It looks as if we’ve missed the bus.
2 Tom sounds as though he’s disappointed.
3 Do you feel as if we’re being unfair?
4 I feel as though I’m in a dream.
5 Those animals look as if they’re hungry.
6 It sounds as if you need some help.
1.2 page 3, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sophia, J = Joe
S: You know we were talking about people we
really admire? Elon Musk – now, he’s a pretty
cool guy.
J: Elon Musk?
S: Yeah, you know, the guy who recently sent
his sports car into space?
J: Oh, yeah, him. What’s so cool about sending
a car into space? Isn’t that just a waste of a
good car?
S: Well, he’s done a lot other important stuff,
too – a lot of it very forward-thinking. Like,
he’s the CEO of the Tesla company that
manufactures electric vehicles and solar
panels. These are products that will have
far-reaching benefits for all of humankind! I
firmly believe that. That’s pretty cool, don’t
you think?
J: Oh, sure. But if he’s so into the environment,
what about space exploration? That’s not
very green, is it?
S: Well, it certainly can be! From what I’ve read,
Musk is interested in exploring Mars, partly
so that one day in the distant future, if the
Earth is destroyed, people can go and live
there. (I have no doubt that this will happen
one way or another.) But Musk – as well as
lots of space scientists – also believes that by
learning about Mars and its atmosphere, we
can learn about the Earth. After all, we badly
need to fix the damage that we’ve done to
the atmosphere here.
J: Very true.
S: I mean, he’s very highly respected by people
who work to protect the environment.
J: Sure. I was only kidding about the car in
space. I guess, as crazy as it sounds, it was a
good way to attract publicity. I mean, that’s
how I heard about him.
S: Absolutely!
J: And he is cool – he’s definitely cool. I tend
to think that anyone with that much money
who does good things with it is cool. It’s
better than hanging out on yachts. That’s for
sure!
B2 Upper Intermediate
1.3 page 3, exercise 3
2
3
I just can’t imagine living like that.
Nick calmly handed her the papers.
He’s the fattest dog I’ve ever seen.
4 I don’t expect to see him there.
5 She said that she was leaving.
6 Tom was sitting at the next table.
1.4 page 4, exercise 5
1 They’d seen the man somewhere before.
2 The children were jumping up and down.
3 The police had been searching for evidence.
4 She had given him all the relevant
documents.
5 We’d been expecting her to call.
6 My mother was planning to quit her job.
1.5 page 6, exercises 1 and 2
T = Tom, S = Sam
T: Hey, Sam, you were very formal with me
when you came into the studio this morning.
You shook my hand!
S: Yep.
T: So, is this something you’ll be doing from
now on? You know, just so I’m prepared.
S: I might. Hey, I like to keep you guessing.
T: OK …
S: All right, I’ll be honest with you. Over the
weekend, I was reading an article online
about handshakes and the way world leaders
greet each other …
T: Ah, the power struggle?
S: Well, yeah, that, but also, just in general,
why we shake hands when we meet. For
example, did you know about the origin of
the handshake? Why we all do it?
T: Well, it makes a good impression, showing
that you’re friendly, doesn’t it?
S: There’s more to it than that, actually. It was
originally a gesture of peace – it showed
that you weren’t carrying a weapon in either
hand.
T: Oh, yeah, that makes sense.
S: But even nowadays, it’s used as a signal of
trust and good feeling between two people.
And, of course, we all do it in very different
ways.
T: Absolutely! The chief executive of a big
company once said that if she had to choose
between two candidates who were equally
appropriate for the job, she’d hire the person
with the better handshake.
S: Well, yeah ... it’s important. It’s pretty
shocking to think that no matter how well
you do on an interview, you might fail to
impress because of your handshake.
T: Mm … There are rules for the handshake,
aren’t there? Always stand up to shake
someone’s hand.
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B2 WORKBOOK
hands – that’s another, make sure there’s eye
contact, shake from your elbow and not your
wrist ...
T: It’s important not to pull the other person
towards you, too.
S: Yeah, definitely don’t do that! Then, of
course, there’s the question of how much
you squeeze someone’s hand. The golden
rule here is “press as much as the other
person.”
T: Ah, OK. And I, personally, never do two
handers. I tend to think it looks like you’re
trying to show that you’re in charge.
S: Yeah, absolutely – the politician’s handshake!
T: Wow, what a lot to think about the next time
you shake someone’s hand!
UNIT
2
2.1 page 8, exercise 5
1 Daniel enjoyed the museum, didn’t he?
2 These paintings are beautiful, aren’t they?
3 You don’t like opera, do you?
4 Your brother lives in Lima, doesn’t he?
5 Teresa is very strict with her children, isn’t
she?
6 He’s on vacation, isn’t he?
2.2 page 10, exercise 5
1 I borrowed some money from my parents in
order to buy a car.
2 In spite of my worries, the exam was fine.
3 I wore gloves so that my hands wouldn’t get
cold.
4 I’m proud of my work despite his criticism.
5 In order not to upset my parents, I came
home early.
6 Despite having studied French for five years,
she can’t speak it very well.
2.3 page 11, exercise 3
E = Emma, A = Alex
E: My fourteen-year-old cousin is staying with
us tonight, and I said I’d choose a movie to
watch with him. Any ideas?
A: Oh, yes, you should see Black Panther. I saw
it a few weeks ago, and it’s one of the best
things I’ve seen in a long time.
E: Oh, really? What’s it about?
A: Well, basically, it tells the story of a secret
African country called Wakanda. They have
this stuff that only they know about, called
“vibranium” that gives them special powers.
And when the king, who was the old Black
Panther, dies, there’s lots of fighting about
who will take over.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
E: And become the next Black Panther?
A: Yes, exactly.
E: Is it science fiction?
A: No, it takes place in the present. If you like
superhero movies, you’re going to love this
one.
E: To be honest, I’m not big on superhero
movies. I prefer more realistic stories.
A: Oh really? What I loved about it was that it
has lots of interesting things to say about
right and wrong, and about weak and
powerful countries. And I have to admit, I
enjoyed watching Chadwick Boseman. He
plays T’Challa, who is the king’s son, and he’s
fantastic.
E: Well, I’m still not sure it’s the kind of thing
I’d enjoy, but my cousin is crazy about
movies with lots of action, so thanks for the
recommendation!
A: Sure. Have you seen anything good recently?
I’m hoping to go to the movies on the
weekend.
E: Let me think … yeah! I saw a really interesting
film called I Tonya. It was written by this guy
named Steven Rogers. It’s based on the true
story of an ice skater, and it’s both shocking
and fascinating at the same time. She has
this awful home life, and everyone in the
skating world hates her because she comes
from a poor background, but she’s really
talented and she makes it to the Olympics.
She gets married when she’s eighteen to
escape home, and I don’t want to spoil the
ending, but her husband does something
really stupid that ruins everything for her.
A: Hmm, it sounds rather upsetting. I don’t
really feel like watching that kind of thing
right now. I’m in the mood for something
more cheerful.
E: OK, I understand, but it’s a great story, and
it’s definitely worth seeing some time. My
mom says she remembers when it was in the
news.
A: OK, well, maybe. I’ll see how I feel on the
weekend.
2.4 page 12, exercises 1 and 2
T = Tom, S = Sam, L = Lucas
T: So, today we’re going to be talking about
modern art. We just returned from a fantastic
trip to London, and I loved going to the Tate
Modern gallery. You did, too, didn’t you,
Sam?
S: Yes, and we were also there with Lucas, our
guest this morning. Lucas is an art student
from Brazil – welcome Lucas!
L: Hi, Sam. Hi, Tom. Thanks for having me on
your show.
S: Thanks for being here, Lucas. Now, what did
you think of the Tate Modern?
L: I loved it! I thought the permanent collection
was really impressive.
B2 Upper Intermediate
S: Yes, it is, and I also love the things they have
in the Turbine Hall. That’s the enormous
space just where you go in.
T: What’s the best thing you think we saw there,
Sam?
S: Well the most memorable thing was by
the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. It was called
“Sunflower Seeds,” and it consisted of millions
of small seeds made from clay. At first, they
all looked the same, but, in fact, they were all
handmade and all slightly different.
T: Ai Weiwei’s a pretty controversial artist, isn’t
he? Is he known in Brazil, Lucas?
L: Yes, I saw some of his work at the Museum
of Image and Sound in São Paulo. I find it
fascinating. It’s so clever to be able to come
up with ideas like that.
S: Absolutely! To me, those seeds had a really
powerful message about how we all have
our own differences despite being part of a
larger society.
T: So can you tell us something about modern
art galleries in Brazil, Lucas?
L: Sure! We have several really interesting
ones, but I think my favorite is a place called
Inhotim, in the state of Minas Gerais.
S: What do you like about it?
L: Well, for starters, it’s a botanical garden, as
well as a museum, so it’s incredibly beautiful.
There are lots of different buildings in the
gardens, with more than 500 works by
Brazilian and international artists. There’s
so much space that there’s room for some
really huge works.
S: It sounds wonderful! Is modern art popular
in South America?
L: Oh, yes! In fact, street art is really popular,
so even if you don’t have time to go to a
gallery, you can come across some amazing
contemporary art just by walking down the
street.
UNIT
3
3.1 page 14, exercise 5
1 You’re not supposed to use a dictionary.
2 Are we allowed to take photos?
3 He’s supposed to come home early today.
4 You really ought to eat something.
5 You’re not allowed to swim in the lake.
6 I ought to go to the gym later.
3.2 page 15, exercises 1 and 2
I = Isobel, B = Ben
I: Good to see you, Ben!
B: You too! Do you know what? You’re the first
person I’ve seen in – ooh, two, or maybe
three days, right?
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B2 WORKBOOK
I: Oh, Ben, you can’t spend so much time
alone! Have you really not seen anyone for
three days?
B: Well, that’s working from home for you!
I: Yes, but people need company, don’t
they? We’re social creatures, aren’t we?
Psychologists say we’re not supposed to be
on our own for days on end.
B: Yeah, well …
I: Actually, I was reading an article about this
yesterday – by a woman who claimed that
working from home was having a bad effect
on her mental health.
B: Oh yeah?
I: Yes, because, like you, she went for too long
without seeing other people. And not having
that contact with other people was affecting
her mood. She realized that she was feeling
sad and anxious a lot of the time. And she
noticed that she wasn’t sleeping so well
because she was lying awake worrying about
her work.
B: People can still suffer if they’re working in an
office, can’t they?
I: Yes, but it happens less, doesn’t it? Because
they have colleagues to share their problems
with. I mean, I work in an office, and I
won’t pretend it’s perfect, but at least I can
complain to my coworkers when things go
wrong. And I can have a good laugh with
them. I would imagine you miss that, don’t
you?
B: Yeah, I guess.
I: Maybe you should consider renting an office
space nearby? You can do it pretty cheaply.
That way, you get the benefits of working
with other people, even though you’re all
doing something different.
B: Do you know of anywhere like that?
I: I do, actually. My friend Charlotte works in an
office like that. You really ought to speak to
her. I’ll give you her number.
3.3 page 15, exercise 3
1 Have you really not seen anyone for three
days?
2 Yes, but people need company, don’t they?
3 We’re social creatures, aren’t we?
4 People can still suffer if they’re working in an
office, can’t they?
5 Yes, but it happens less, doesn’t it?
6 I would imagine you miss that, don’t you?
3.4 page 16, exercise 4
1 I looked after her apartment while she was
away.
2 What time did the plane take off?
3 I saw the dress in a store, and I tried it on.
4 She came up with a great idea for a present.
5 They called off their wedding.
6 I threw out all my old high school books.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
3.5 page 18, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom, G = Gabriel
S: Hey, Tom, is that your bike helmet?
T: Yeah?
S: You rode your bike in?
T: I did.
S: You usually drive. Are you trying to impress
our guest this morning?
T: Of course not! Pst, Sam, you’d better hide
your car keys!
S: I should explain to our listeners. This morning
we have Gabriel Ortiz on the show. Gabriel
recently wrote a report on what the world’s
major cities are doing to reduce air pollution.
We assume this involves getting cars off the
street. Welcome, Gabriel. Good to have you
on the show!
G: Hi! Thanks for having me!
S: What ideas have people come up with around
the world, then, to reduce this problem?
G: Well, you’re right about getting rid of the
cars! In Paris, France, for example, driving
is forbidden in the beautiful old parts of
the city on the weekend. More and more
cities, in fact, are doing this. In Copenhagen,
Denmark, driving has been prohibited in
large areas of the city for twenty years. And
it’s not just downtown. In a residential area
of the German city of Freiburg, you’re not
allowed to park near your home. If you own
a car, you pay for a parking space just outside
the city.
T: What?!
G: Yes, but as a reward, you get a cheaper
house or apartment – and free public
transportation.
S: And that’s the thing, isn’t it? Because we all
know we ought to use our cars less, but the
government has to make it easier for us to do
so, or we’ll just keep driving. I always use my
car to get around because it’s so easy.
G: That’s right. A lot of major cities are taking a
positive approach by improving the train and
bus service. In Helsinki, Finland, they want
to create a public transportation system
that’s so fantastic that no one will even want
to drive. And in the city where I grew up in
southern Brazil, public transportation is so
good that almost 70% of the city uses it to
go to work. As a result, there’s absolutely no
smog in the air.
S: Wow! But, of course, bikes are part of the
solution, as well as trains and buses.
G: Yes!
S: You mentioned Copenhagen just now. Did
I hear somewhere that there are more bikes
than cars in Copenhagen?
G: I believe so.
B2 Upper Intermediate
UNIT
4 arrived, and when he walked up to the car,
4.1 page 20, exercise 5
1 My grandparents keep a lot of animals.
2 Some of our customers are very nice.
3 Many of my friends still live with their parents.
4 You need to turn off both of the lights.
5 I think that’s one of Aunt María’s earrings.
6 I’ve already done most of my homework.
4.2 page 22, exercise 5
1 Julieta has done all her work.
2 Why have you invited Tom?
3 She’s been annoying me all morning!
4 I don’t think they have noticed the mistake.
5 Have you been waiting for a long time?
6 Do you know if she’s bought a ticket?
4.3 page 23, exercises 1 and 2
A = Ana, P = Paul
A: You’ll never guess what happened today! I
was just walking to the store when a car went
by, and the people in it threw two burger
boxes out of the window into the street.
P: Oh, I really hate it when people do that. I
guess people don’t want to have garbage
in their car, especially if it smells, like burger
boxes do.
A: I think there’s more to it than that, though. I
think it’s some kind of statement about the
way they see society.
P: I’m not sure I follow.
A: Well, I see it as a way of showing that they
don’t care about other people at all and that
they don’t think they should have to follow
the same rules as everyone else.
P: That makes a lot of sense. I guess they think
it’s cool to do that kind of thing. How old
were these people?
A: About the same age as us, I’d say. Nineteen
or twenty. Anyway, I picked up their litter,
and then the funny thing was, they got stuck
in a traffic jam. So I just walked up to their car
and put it all back in through the window!
P: No way! Good for you! How did they react?
A: Oh, you know, yelling and calling me names.
I guess it was a little dangerous!
P: That must have been horrible.
A: Well it was, but they made so much noise
that other people outside heard what our
argument was about, and they started
coming over and saying that they agreed with
me. Soon, there was a little crowd around the
car, and everyone was telling them that they
were wrong and that they shouldn’t litter.
P: I bet they were sorry they’d done it!
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A: I think they were, but you’re not going to
believe what happened next. A police officer
the driver looked all embarrassed and said,
“Hi, Dad” in a really worried voice. I couldn’t
believe my ears!
P: Oh, that’s fantastic! And let me guess – he
was suddenly really sorry he’d acted that
way?
A: That’s right! His dad made them get out of
the car and apologize to me. And take their
litter over to a garbage can on the sidewalk.
P: Good, but really it was his fault, too. After
all, why hadn’t he taught his son that it’s not
acceptable to throw litter into the street?
A: That may be true to a certain extent, but I
don’t think we can say that everything is the
fault of our parents. At our age, we have to
take responsibility for our own actions.
P: Yes, you’re right. Still, they certainly learned a
lesson today, didn’t they?
4.4 page 23, exercise 3
A: You’re not going to believe what happened
last night! I went to see a band at a bar in
town, but when I saw the singer, I couldn’t
believe my eyes!
B: Why?
A: It was our old math teacher, Mrs. Hoskins. Do
you remember her?
B: No way! What’s she doing singing in a band?
A: I wondered that, too. So I went to talk to her
during the break.
B: Let me guess – easier than controlling a class
full of naughty kids, right?
A: Yeah, something like that. And she said that
some of the parents were awful to her and
said it was her fault if their kids didn’t do well
on their exams.
B: That must have been so difficult. Teaching’s
a tough job, isn’t it? I think I’d rather be a
singer, too.
4.5 page 24, exercises 1 – 3
S = Sam, T = Tom, C = Carrie
S: Do you have any brothers and sisters, Tom?
T: Yes, three brothers …
S: Your poor mother!
T: I know! And we used to fight all the time. Our
house was so noisy!
S: And what about now? Do you still fight?
T: Oh, no! We’re still pretty silly when we get
together, but we’re good friends now. I’ve
even forgiven my brother Jamie for breaking
my finger when I was six.
S: Well, that’s great, Tom, but apparently some
brothers and sisters never stop fighting.
Today we have with us Dr. Carrie Fletcher,
who’s been studying adult sibling rivalry for
her latest book.
C: Hello.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
S: So, Carrie, surely it’s not unreasonable to
expect adults to be polite to one another, at
least?
C: Well, unfortunately, it can be very difficult to
leave behind patterns of behavior that have
been there since childhood. If your brother
was bossy or arrogant, or your sister was
always mean to you, you may find it difficult
to see that they have changed, so that affects
the way you behave towards them.
T: Yes, I see that.
C: Also, a lot of these problems are created by
the relationship these people had with their
parents. So, when one child feels that another
child is the “favorite,” that’s something very
basic and very painful. In fact, a piece of
research done at Cornell University looked
at 275 mothers in their sixties and seventies
and interviewed their adult children. Only
15% said they’d had equal treatment from
their parents.
S: Wow! That’s making me think about my own
mom now …
T: So, can anything be done about it?
C: Yes, definitely. Obviously, you can’t change
the way your parents treated you, but you
need to remember it wasn’t your siblings’
fault. And it’s also not their fault if their
wonderful wedding or great career makes
you feel like a failure. Unless they are critical
of your life, try to be happy for them.
S: Life’s not a competition, right?
C: Right! And the great thing is, it only takes
one person to change things. If you start
being pleasant, however hard it may be at
first, you will usually find that your siblings
will eventually change, too. It’s surprisingly
difficult to be negative towards someone
who is being polite and kind to you!
T: Great, well, thanks, Carrie – that’s all really
fascinating.
UNIT
5
5.1 page 26, exercise 5
1 She’s such a good teacher.
2 I had such a terrible headache.
3 They cooked so much food.
4 It was such a windy day.
5 There are so many people here.
5.2 page 27, exercises 1 and 2
J = James, G = Grace
J: We all know that the weather affects our
mood. We often feel down and pessimistic
when it’s cold, and more cheerful and
optimistic when it’s warm and sunny. But
today’s guest, Grace Oliveira, is going
B2 Upper Intermediate
to talk about how the weather – and the
temperature – can affect our behavior.
Grace, welcome!
G: Thank you, James. Pleased to be here!
J: So how can the heat and the cold influence
our behavior, Grace?
G: Well, let’s start with a good example: studies
suggest that in hot, sunny weather, people
behave better towards each other. They’re
more generous: for example, people tend
to give better tips in bars and restaurants.
They’re also more likely to help one another
– holding doors open in stores, that kind of
thing.
J: OK, so somehow the light – or the heat –
makes us feel more positive towards other
people, in general – kinder, even?
G: That’s right. But sunny weather has other –
more surprising – effects. For example, did
you know it makes us notice more about our
surroundings?
J: Oh, really?
G: Yes, studies suggest that when it’s been
warm and sunny, people are able to describe
the things that they’ve seen outside more
accurately.
J: Could this just be a consequence of the
better light allowing us to see things more
clearly?
G: Well, yes, that’s possible ...
J: Hmm ...
G: However, the effects of sun are not
all positive! Warm weather can lead to
aggressive – even violent – behavior.
Possibly this is a consequence of people
feeling uncomfortable in the heat.
J: Maybe it’s simply because, when the
weather’s good, people are outside more,
meeting more people, and, therefore, there’s
a greater chance of arguments taking place?
G: Yes, that’s also possible! And, by the way, the
positive effects I mentioned earlier were only
experienced by people who went outside for
a substantial length of time.
J: Yes, in fact, being stuck indoors on a
beautiful day is only likely to make you feel
grumpy!
5.3 page 27, exercise 3
1 the weather affects our mood
2 she’s going to talk about
3 let’s start with a good example
4 sunny weather has other effects
5 it makes us notice more
6 being stuck indoors on a beautiful day
5.4 page 28, exercise 5
1 Will we have covered all the topics by June?
2 We’ll have found a cure for many more
diseases.
3 I won’t have finished my degree by then.
4 In fifteen years, the children will have grown
up.
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5 Won’t they have completed the new road by
May?
6 I don’t think you’ll have finished by 3:00 p.m.
5.5 page 30, exercises 1 and 2
T = Tom, S = Sam
T: You may or may not know that next Saturday
(April 22nd) is Earth Day – an annual event
celebrated all over the world that encourages
people to take care of the environment. It
started in 1970 after a huge oil spill off the
coast of California.
S: That’s right. And this week in the run-up to
Earth Day, Tom here is going to save the
planet using eco apps!
T: Yep!
S: Then, next Saturday, he’s going to let us
know how well he’s done.
T: That’s right.
S: So, Tom, tell us about these apps and exactly
how they’ll be changing your behavior this
week.
T: Sure. Well, the first is a food shopping app
that will help me choose environmentally
friendly products.
S: OK, so you’ll be spending twice as long in the
supermarket, staring at your phone?
T: Well, no. It’ll be quicker because I’ll have
fewer products to choose from! So that’s
the first app. My second app will tell me
how much fossil fuel I’m burning when I’m
traveling around the city.
S: And how does that work? Do you type in the
miles that you’ve gone?
T: No – It figures it out using the GPS on my
phone – and somehow it knows when I’m
on my bike or walking, and it doesn’t count
those miles. So, I’ll be motivated to use my
car less.
S: You’ll be exhausted by the end of the week!
T: I know! I’ve got another app that will show
my energy consumption in the home – how
much energy my central heating, my stove,
my fridge, and other appliances are using.
It’ll also tell me whether the various electrical
items in my home are energy-efficient by
comparing them with similar models. And,
finally, I have a litter app. I’m going to pick
up and photograph every piece of litter that
I see and tag it with its type – plastic bottle,
beverage can, coffee cup, etc. and with any
brand labels.
S: And what’s the point of that?
T: So I can send them to the people who
make the app – they’re going to look at the
information they get about the products
and brands that are littering our planet. And
they’re going to find solutions. For example,
they’ll work with the companies who make
the products to prevent the littering in the
first place.
S: Ah, now that is interesting!
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
UNIT
6 L: I’m just saying that we’re not used to riding
6.1 page 32, exercise 5
1 My great-grandparents didn’t use to have
electricity in their house.
2 I used to use my exercise bike every day, but
now I don’t.
3 Didn’t Samuel use to play the drums?
4 Diego didn’t want me to use his laptop, but I
used it, anyway.
5 Have you ever used a personal trainer?
6 We used to live in Panama City.
6.2 page 34, exercise 5
1 I’ll never get used to getting up so early!
2 We’re not used to this hot weather.
3 These children aren’t used to sitting still for
so long.
4 You’ll get used to the traffic noise.
5 She’s used to telling other people what to do.
6 We’re slowly getting used to working
together.
6.3 page 35, exercises 1 and 2
L = Luís, E = Eva
L: I really feel we need a vacation, but we just
can’t afford one.
E: Why not see if we can think of something
cheap to do?
L: Like what?
E: Well, camping, for instance. We could either
borrow Mary’s tent or see if my sister will
lend us hers.
L: But is that really a good idea? You know how
much I love a comfortable bed at night.
E: Just because we’re sleeping in a tent doesn’t
mean we can’t be comfortable. I love
camping, don’t you?
L: Hmmm, not particularly, to be honest. It’s
nice to have some luxury on vacation.
E: True, but it’s still a break from work, isn’t
it? We can have a lot of fun in the daytime,
regardless of where we’re sleeping at night.
L: Yes, you’re right, Eva. I should try to be more
positive about the idea. We could always go
to that little place Julie recommended – I
think there’s a campsite there.
E: That’s a great idea, and it’s not too far. We
could go by bike – that would save even
more money.
L: You mean ride a bike the whole way? Are you
crazy?
E: Why not? You ride to work every day. It’s no
big deal.
L: Riding a bike to work is one thing, but riding
a bike for miles, carrying a tent, is quite
another.
B2 Upper Intermediate
E: It’ll be fine as long as we give ourselves
plenty of time. It’s not that far.
that kind of distance. But OK, we can give it a
try if you want to. Just don’t blame me when
your legs start to ache!
E: OK, I promise I won’t. Hey, I’m really looking
forward to this. I think we’ll have a great
time, and if you think about it, money has
nothing to do with how much we can enjoy
ourselves. We both love going for walks, for
example, and swimming in the ocean, and
those things don’t cost anything.
L: But what if it rains all week?
E: Oh come on, Luís, I thought you were trying
to be more positive!
6.4 page 35, exercise 4
A: If you ask me, there’s no point going to Sara’s
party. She’s invited so many people that we
won’t get a chance to talk to her.
B: True, but I think it will still be fun. Just
because she’ll be busy with her other guests
doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the party.
A: Is it worth it, though? It’s a long way to go,
isn’t it? ... And taxis are so expensive.
B: We could either take a bus or maybe see if
someone will give us a ride. Sara’s parties
are always great, and she’s hired a DJ for this
one.
A: But what if we can’t get one?
B: I don’t know. The point I’m making is that
I think we’ll have a good time, no matter
whether Sara has time to talk to us or not, so
I really think we should go.
A: OK, you’ve convinced me! We could always
share a taxi with someone else if we can’t get
a ride.
6.5 page 36, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, To = Tony, T = Tom
S: Hi everyone! We have 66-year old Tony
Cox here with us today, to talk about how
education has changed in the U.S. since he
was a boy. Welcome Tony!
To: Hi Sam. Hi Tom.
T: Hi. So, Tony, you have grandchildren now,
don’t you? What are the main differences you
notice between their school life and yours?
To: Well, it depends where you live, but, in
general, teachers used to be much stricter, in
my day, that’s for sure. And when I was really
little, we actually had to stand up when the
principal came into the classroom, and no
one was allowed to talk during class.
S: What happened if you did?
To: Sometimes we had to do something called
“copying,” which meant you had to copy
the same sentence maybe fifty times on the
board. You know, something like “I won’t
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talk in class.” Sounds weird, doesn’t it? But,
at the time, it was considered normal. Or if
you really misbehaved, you could be made
to stand outside the classroom door, where
you’d be terrified that the principal might
see you. We’d all heard rumors about what
went on in his office – and in those days,
it was usually a “he” – if he caught you
misbehaving!
S: Ooh, that sounds scary! So did all those rules
make you work harder?
To: No, definitely not! I was always wasting time
just staring out of the window – as long as
we were quiet, the teachers didn’t really care
much about what we were doing. In some
ways, I think school life is much harder for
my grandchildren.
T: Really?
To: Yes, because there’s so much more pressure
on them to do well. Schools these days are
obsessed with test results. They seem to
test kids at every opportunity, and I think
it’s terrible. I know they need to pass their
exams, but they also need time just to have
fun and be kids, and not have to worry all the
time about being measured and judged.
S: Sure, I totally agree with you. And what age
were you when you finished school, Tony?
To: Ah, well, that’s another big difference, of
course. I was bored in school, so I quit at 16
and took a job in a garage. It’s still legal, but
nowadays, almost everyone goes to high
school full time until they graduate at 17 or
18.
T: And do you approve of that?
To: Yes, definitely! I really believe that a better
education means a better life. In fact, I got
my high-school diploma when I was a little
older, and even went to college.
S: Thanks, Tony, that was really interesting.
UNIT
7
7.1 page 38, exercise 5
1 Petra bought me a T-shirt for my birthday,
which was kind of her.
2 The train was half an hour late, which meant
that I missed my plane.
3 Tom recommended somewhere to stay,
which was really helpful.
4 Olga blames Julia for the accident, which I
think is a little unfair.
5 There was a store really close to the
apartment, which was very convenient.
6 The first course was a spicy fish dish, which
she didn’t like at all.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
7.2 page 39, exercises 1 and 2
M = Mariana, G = Gabriel
M: Now, I’m a little strange, as listeners to this
show will know (!), but when I was in school,
my favorite subject was Math. However,
I know that that’s not true for everyone,
including my guest, Gabriel Sousa. Morning,
Gabriel!
G: Hi!
M: Now, Gabriel, as a child, you struggled to
learn the basics of Math. That’s right, isn’t it?
G: Absolutely! I was a total failure at Math. I
couldn’t seem to follow anything the teacher
said and spent the entire class feeling
confused.
M: Hmm.
G: A problem for me was that my sister was
really good at Math, and I used to compare
myself to her. And, in comparison, I wasn’t
great, though I probably wasn’t that bad! But,
of course, if you believe you’re not capable
of doing something, then you can’t do it.
But, years later, I started wondering whether
I could succeed at doing something as an
adult that I had failed at as a child. And so I
decided to take an evening Math class.
M: And it was a huge success, right?
G: Absolutely! In three months, I learned
everything that I had previously failed to
learn.
M: Wow!
G: I was lucky with my teacher – a very patient
woman who had a talent for explaining
things clearly. But I learned more than just
Math in that class. I learned to take rules one
step at a time, the simplest first. Basically,
once you’ve understood a very simple rule,
you can learn a more complex rule. Build
on your knowledge. And – and this is so
important – as soon as you have a question,
ask it! Don’t wait until you’re totally confused
before you ask your teacher a question!
M: Ah, yes, good advice!
G: And, last but not least, never give up!
M: Absolutely! I gather you’re now teaching
Math to adults, Gabriel?
G: I am, yes, and I love it!
7.3 page 39, exercise 3
1 You can come, too, if you’d like.
2 What should we eat for dinner?
3 She worked as a teacher.
4 Someday, I’d like to go there.
5 At the coffee shop, we had coffee and cake.
6 He was standing next to Jamie.
7.4 page 40, exercise 5
1 I usually give her a present even if it’s only a
few flowers.
2 You can use my bike as long as you bring it
back.
B2 Upper Intermediate
3 María will go to college next September
provided she passes all her exams.
4 Unless you give her some money, she won’t
be able to go to New York.
5 He can borrow my car as long as he drives it
carefully.
6 Provided the weather is nice, you should
have a good trip!
7.5 page 42, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom, A = Alice
S: Tom, how are your guitar lessons coming
along?
T: Uh. Oh, right, I told you I was going to learn
to play the guitar, didn’t I?
S: You did. Is that not happening?
T: No, I’m afraid not.
S: Really? How come?
T: I just can’t seem to find the time.
S: Well, in that case, you’ll be interested in what
this morning’s guest, Alice, has to say. Alice,
who’s a journalist, recently wrote a blog
called “The Learning Hour,” which got a lot
of media attention. Alice, good morning!
A: Hi! Pleased to be here!
S: So, tell us, Alice, what was “The Learning
Hour” all about?
A: So, the idea behind it was very simple. All
these skills that we’d love to have – whether
it’s guitar playing or learning a foreign
language, whatever – we’re all capable of
acquiring these skills provided we spend one
hour a day studying or practicing.
T: It sounds so easy when you say it like that.
A: It is that easy. You just have to decide that’s
what you’re going to do and then make sure
that you do it. Every day, or at least five days
a week.
S: Why five?
A: Well, I say five instead of seven because,
you know, things happen, don’t they? You
might have an awful headache one day and
not be able to study, or it might be your
birthday, and you’re out with your friends
in the evening. If you know you can take
that day off, you won’t feel guilty about it or
that somehow you’ve failed. That’s the main
reason why a lot of people just give up.
S: Yes, that makes sense. This is sort of related:
did I hear somewhere that Barack Obama –
the former U.S. president – spent an hour of
every day reading?
A: I believe so! Now if he could find an hour in
the day, the rest of us certainly should be
able to! As for when you study, well that’s
up to you, but my advice is make it the same
hour every day. For example, I’m a morning
person, so six to seven a.m. is good for me.
I make the most of being alone in the house
before anyone else is up. If you’re a night
person, well, then study late in the evening,
after everyone else has gone to bed. As long
as you’re doing it five days out of the week,
you’ll succeed at it!
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UNIT
8
8.1 page 44, exercise 5
1 Ollie is very sociable, whereas Lucy is pretty
shy.
2 He was in a car accident a few years ago. As a
result, he walks really slowly.
3 Nadia works very hard, unlike most of her
friends.
4 We had to postpone our trip, due to all the
snow.
5 I was in the hospital at the time. Therefore, I
was unable to go to their wedding.
8.2 page 46, exercise 5
1 It’s so strange to think we’ll never see her
again.
2 I’d love to visit Quebec in the spring.
3 I’d like to know how much he paid for the car.
4 In the end, we decided to cancel the party.
5 She said she hoped to come back one day.
6 Zara came over to talk to me.
8.3 page 47, exercise 3
J = Julia, I = Ian
J: You look fed up, Ian.
I: Oh, I just got back from a day at my sister’s
house. And the thing is, whenever I go over
there, she always has the TV on, and it
drives me crazy! What’s the point of visiting
someone who just wants to watch TV all the
time? She actually has three TVs – one in the
living room, one in her bedroom, and one
in the kitchen, so wherever you go in the
house, it’s always on.
J: That must be really annoying. Have you ever
asked her to turn it off?
I: I tried that a while ago, but we ended up
having an argument. However hard I try to
be nice about it, she gets upset, as though
I’m criticizing her personally. I get along
well with my sister, but we’re never going to
agree on this.
J: Wow, that’s weird.
I: I think it’s all about being lonely. She’s at
home with the baby all day, while everyone
else is working or in college. So I guess she
finds it comforting to hear people talking on
TV.
J: Yeah, that makes sense, but it’s not healthy to
depend on the TV for company like that, is it?
I: No, exactly. And here’s what I don’t get. She
says she’s lonely, but then when I visit her,
she has half her attention on the TV screen
all the time. If she treats all her friends like
that, it’s no wonder she’s lonely.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
J: Maybe you could take her out somewhere,
to get away from it.
I: Yes, I thought of that, but whatever I suggest,
there’s always some reason why she doesn’t
want to go – it’s too expensive, the baby will
cry, you know … It’s hard to tell why she’s
being like this, but I’m worried that she’s a
little depressed. She always used to be so
sociable.
J: Yes, I see what you mean. Have you
mentioned it to her husband?
I: No. The problem is, whenever I see him,
she’s there, too. And to be honest, I find him
difficult to talk to.
J: Yes, but she’s your sister, and it sounds like
she needs your help. I think you need to be a
little more grown-up about this.
I: You’re right, Julia. I’ll talk to both of them.
But speaking of sisters, didn’t you tell me
you’d had a big argument with yours?
J: Yes, a few weeks ago.
I: And you haven’t worked it out yet?
J: No, she hasn’t called me.
I: Well perhaps you should call her. Shouldn’t
you be a little more grown-up about it?
J: Yeah, whatever.
8.4 page 47, exercise 4
A: My roommate is crazy about soap operas.
Whenever I come home, he’s watching them.
B: Is that a problem?
A: Well I’d prefer to watch something more
interesting. What’s the point of watching
shows about other people’s problems? A
wildlife show or a good movie would be
so much better. And, you see, here’s what
I don’t get. My roommate’s an intelligent
person. How can he enjoy these ridiculous
stories?
B: Maybe he just wants something easy at the
end of a hard day’s work.
A: Maybe. But another thing I hate is the way
the characters talk to one another. I think
it must affect people who watch them too
much.
B: Ah, yes. I see what you mean – It makes that
kind of unpleasant behavior seem normal.
A: Exactly. To be honest, I never understand
why these shows are so popular.
B: I think it’s all about escaping from your own
life. However stressed you are, you can
watch soaps and forget your own problems.
A: Yeah, that makes sense, I suppose, but I’d
really like to watch something else now and
then!
8.5 page 48, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom, H = Hannah
S: So, Tom, I see you’re wearing your
supermarket jeans again today.
T: What’s wrong with them? They’re very
comfortable …
B2 Upper Intermediate
S: Comfortable …. hmmmm, yes. Well today we
have fashion journalist Hannah Wade with
us. Perhaps she can give you some tips.
T: Rude!
H: Well, you know, I’ve written so many articles
about finding the perfect pair of jeans, and
I can tell you that the expensive designer
versions aren’t always the best.
T: Thank you, Hannah! Now, I hope you won’t
mind me telling our listeners that you’ve
been working in fashion journalism for over
25 years now. Can you tell us how you got
started?
H: Sure. Well, unlike lots of young people in the
industry, I didn’t go to fashion school – in
the beginning, I just contacted every fashion
magazine I’d ever heard of and begged for
work until eventually one of them gave me a
job.
S: But did you actually know anything about
fashion at that point?
H: Well, yes – and this would be my top tip for
anyone who wants to work in fashion – I
had a Saturday job in a clothing store, and,
as a result of that, I gained lots of useful
knowledge about what makes a particular
item of clothing popular, about quality,
about creative design … so many things.
S: And has fashion journalism changed much in
the time you’ve been doing it, Hannah?
H: Oh, yes, quite a lot, actually – mainly due
to the rise of digital media. A magazine
can only fit in a certain number of articles,
but the Internet provides endless space, so
we need to produce more, and produce it
more quickly. Also, fashion shows are often
streamed live now, so you don’t necessarily
have to be there to write about them.
T: Is that a good thing?
H: Well, I love going to the major shows, and,
luckily, because I work for some of the major
magazines, I still get invited. But even I don’t
want to go to all of them, so it’s just another
way to work.
S: Would you recommend fashion journalism
as a career?
H: Definitely, although it’s very competitive.
There’s no point trying if you’re not an
excellent writer.
T: Thanks, Hannah. Now, if I can just ask you
about these jeans …
UNIT
9
9.1 page 50, exercise 5
1 frequently
2 clearly
3 amazingly
4 incredibly
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5 carefully
6 obviously
7 truly
8 surprisingly
9 remarkably
9.2 page 51, exercise 1
M = Megan, L = Lucas
M: If you’ve just joined us this afternoon, we’re
talking about different colors in the home
and the effect they have on our moods. My
guest, Lucas Hill, helps people choose the
right colors for their houses and apartments.
Now, I’ve always liked the color red.
L: For the home?
M: Yes!
L: Oh, OK … Well, red walls and carpets are not
for everyone… Red is warm, and that can be
a good thing, especially in the winter. But red
also has a lot of energy, and it’s a color that
gets our attention. Great for traffic lights and
road signals – but in the home? People often
prefer something a little … calmer.
M: It depends on the type of red. I was thinking
of a light red – a pinkish-red – rather than
a very strong, ruby red. Or perhaps even a
darker, brownish red.
L: Maroon?
M: Yes!
L: Mmm …, small amounts can work well in
the house. If you like the warmth of red, but
want something a little calmer in your home,
orange might be the answer. It’s warm, but
it’s less bright and a little more relaxing.
M: Mm … What about blue?
L: Well, blue is a funny color. On the one hand,
we love it because it’s the color of the sky
and the sea, and it’s calm and beautiful.
But it’s also the color of sadness – perhaps
a reason not to have too much of it in the
home!
M: Blue is cool, isn’t it?
L: Well, that depends. Mixed with other colors,
it can be warm, for example, a greenish-blue,
such as turquoise. A purplish-blue – violet is
also pretty warm.
M: Actually, purple is one of my favorite colors.
My bedroom is lavender, and I find that really
calm.
L: Yes, absolutely.
9.3 page 51, exercise 2
1 Red is warm, and that can be a good thing,
especially in the winter. But red also has a
lot of energy, and it’s a color that gets our
attention.
2 It depends on the type of red.
3 I was thinking of a light red – a pinkish-red –
rather than a very strong, ruby red.
4 Small amounts can work well in the house.
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
5 If you like the warmth of red, but want
something a little calmer in your home,
orange might be the answer.
6 A purplish-blue – violet is also pretty warm.
9.4 page 51, exercise 3
1 Would you like jam on your toast, or honey?
2 The recipe says a teaspoon of salt, but I only
use half.
3 I couldn’t hear what Milo was saying.
4 Could you take these boxes? They’re pretty
heavy.
5 I called Dan, but he’d already left.
6 She doesn’t like lettuce, and she hates
cabbage.
9.5 page 52, exercise 5
1 We were told to come here.
2 Most of the food has already been eaten.
3 I’m having my room repainted.
4 Our flights have been canceled.
5 Has your bike been fixed?
6 He was questioned by the police.
9.6 page 54, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom, E = Ethan
S: So this morning we’re talking about everyday
objects that we love. They’re not necessarily
the most expensive things we own – though,
of course, they might be – but they’re
objects that, for whatever reason, we take
great pleasure in as we use them. Tom, are
there any objects that you use every day that
you couldn’t live without?
T: Yes, absolutely! My coffee maker.
S: Oh, yes, you take your coffee pretty seriously,
don’t you?
T: I like a nice cup of coffee. Nothing wrong
with that!
S: No, no, of course not! But – I’m interested –
what is it that’s so special about your coffee
maker?
T: Well, I guess most people would say not
very much, really. It’s just your standard
stove-top, silver-colored coffee maker.
It’s barely changed since it was designed
about a hundred years ago. But I love it.
It’s completely reliable – it does the job
perfectly every time. And it makes just the
right amount of coffee for one person. Plus
I’ve had it now for five or six years, so I’ve
grown fond of it over the years. How about
you? Do you have a special everyday object?
S: Well, for me, it’s probably these sneakers that
I’m wearing now. They’re super-comfortable,
I like the fact that there’s no obvious logo,
and I love the color of them – that reddish-
brown.
T: Maroon, would you call it?
S: Yeah, I guess. They’ve been with me on all my
trips and adventures for almost three years
B2 Upper Intermediate
now. And OK, they’re not as fashionable as
they once were, but I love them. I still wear
them all the time.
T: I wouldn’t recognize your feet in anything
else!
S: Anyway, we have Ethan on the phone to tell
us about his favorite everyday object. Hey,
Ethan!
E: Hi! It probably sounds boring, but for me,
it’s a pen that my grandpa gave me. It’s a
great looking thing – gold and pretty heavy.
I know people my age don’t generally write
by hand much, but I take great pride in my
handwriting. And it’s probably because of
this pen.
T: I’d be scared in case I lost it!
E: Oh yeah, I take great care not to lose it!
S: Thanks, Ethan – that’s a really nice example
of what I mean – an ordinary object that adds
some pleasure to daily life!
UNIT
10
10.1 page 56, exercise 5
1 She’s made a few friends since she’s been
there.
2 I even managed to save a little money last
month.
3 Very few people are able to make a living as
writers.
4 Life was hard during the war because they
had very little money.
5 Few animals survive in these harsh
conditions.
6 We stopped and had a little food at a roadside
café.
10.2 page 58, exercise 5
1 It seemed like the more I read on the subject,
the less I understood!
2 The more she told me about the job, the
more terrifying it sounded.
3 The harder I tried to please her, the less she
liked me.
4 The more you research this area, the more
fascinating it becomes.
5 Certainly, the more projects I manage, the
easier it becomes.
6 The less Anna knows about the situation, the
better.
10.3 page 59, exercises 1 and 2
A = Anna, M = Marco
A: … so I thought we could all go there on
Saturday. What do you think? Marco? Marco?
M: Oh, sorry, what?
8 Personal Best B2 © Richmond 2019
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A: Marco, you haven’t heard anything I’ve been
saying, have you? What’s the matter?
M: I’m sorry, Ana, I’ve got a lot on my mind right
now.
A: What’s wrong?
M: Nothing’s wrong, exactly. It’s just that I’m
trying to make an important decision. I’ve
been offered a promotion, but it would
mean moving to Quito. I can’t make up my
mind whether to take it or not. It’s a great
opportunity, but all my family and friends are
here in Cuenca.
A: I really sympathize. It must be a difficult
decision to make. And you can’t do the new
job here?
M: No, one of the drawbacks of being here is
that most of our major clients are in Quito.
Our office here is very small, so there’s really
no chance of a more senior job. But, on the
other hand, I enjoy the work I do, and I really
like my colleagues, so it would be a big risk
to move. Each option has its pros and cons,
so it’s really hard to decide.
A: Well, look on the bright side – you’ve got an
exciting offer and, at the same time, you’re
happy where you are – so whichever choice
you make, you really can’t lose.
M: That’s true, I suppose. I guess I really need
to decide what’s most important to me in
my future life. I’m torn between wanting
the challenge of a more senior job – not to
mention the salary that goes with it! – and
wanting to carry on as I’ve been doing, not
having too much to worry about, going out
with my friends on Saturdays, and having
dinner with my parents on Sundays.
A: You could always come back on the
weekends. It’s only a 50-minute flight.
M: That’s true.
A: Although you’ll probably make lots of new
friends in Quito and forget about all of us!
M: No, never! Oh, I don’t know! One minute I’m
leaning towards going, and the next minute I
think I should stay.
A: Well, don’t let it get you down, Marco. You’re
lucky to have a choice.
M: Yes, you’re right, I should stop feeling sorry
for myself. Now, what were you saying about
going out on Saturday?
10.4 page 60, exercises 1 and 2
T = Tom, S = Sam, Z = Zac,
M = Melissa
T: Hi, everyone. Today we’re talking about
the best way to spend your summer
vacation if you’re a college student.
S: That’s right, and with us today we have
Zac Smith and Melissa Wright, both
students in their third, or junior, year.
Z/M: Hi/Hello.
T: So, Zac, you’ve had two summer vacations
now. What did you do with them?
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
Z: The first year I got a job with a company
that manufactures medical equipment.
The following year, I worked as an
assistant to the owner of a restaurant
chain. In my opinion, it’s essential to get
as much work experience as you can.
There are a large number of graduates
competing for every job now, so having
some relevant experience will make you
stand out from the crowd.
S: Did you work over your summer
vacations, too, Melissa?
M: No, I didn’t! I went traveling, the first year
in Thailand and the second year in India.
I honestly think it’s just as important to
see the world and to have some fun! Go
to a festival! Read books! Hang out with
your friends! I’m sick and tired of being
told that our jobs and careers are the
only thing worth focusing on. We’ve been
taking exam after exam for years – why
shouldn’t we have a break?
S: Absolutely. After all, you’ll probably
never get the chance to have such long
vacations again.
Z: Well, I’m sorry, but you can’t drift around
having fun forever, and I don’t think that
attitude’s going to impress an employer.
M: It depends on the employer, doesn’t
it? Having an interest in the world,
learning about other cultures – these
things develop a person just as much as
working.
T: Hmm, if I was looking for a manager to
train, I think I’d choose the person who
had some practical business experience,
rather than the one who’d visited lots of
temples in Thailand.
M: Well, maybe I wouldn’t want to work for
you, then! Anyway, I am going to work
this summer, actually, but as a volunteer
in an animal rescue shelter in Spain. It has
nothing to do with my degree, but it’s
something I really want to do.
S: Good for you, that sounds fantastic!
Z: Sure, if you can afford it.
M: Oh, Zac, remember, we’re young! Work’s
important, of course, but we all need a
break from it now and then.
UNIT
11
11.1 page 62, exercise 5
1 I suppose it could have been Sophie.
2 I’m sure he must have seen your reply.
3 He might already have told her.
4 You must have heard of him!
5 They can’t have arrived already!
B2 Upper Intermediate
11.2 page 63, exercises 1 and 2
S = Scott, P = Paloma
S: Hey, apparently we’re going to have a
snowstorm next week with 30 centimeters of
snow! According to Sarah.
P: Oh, OK, so she’s read something online,
right?
S: Yup!
P: And she thought it was true! But we never
get more than three or four centimeters of
snow here!
S: I know … Still, at least she’s not telling people
that the earth is flat!
P: Oh, come on, she’s never claimed that!
S: Well, OK, but she did try to tell me last week
that sometimes the president’s wife is not
actually present in photos of the two of
them.
P: What?
S: Yup, that the woman you see by the
president’s side – Sarah says it’s not actually
the president’s wife. It’s an actress.
P: Oh, for goodness’ sake, that’s unbelievable!
S: Well, most people would think so …
P: But not Sarah. Do you think she ever
checks that these “facts” are true? Does
she see whether they’re being reported in
responsible newspapers?
S: I doubt it.
P: I mean, it is sometimes hard to tell whether
items in the news are true. Take food,
for example. The most ridiculous claims
imaginable are made about food. Every
week, we hear that a particular food is either
really good for us or really bad for us. It’s
almost impossible to tell which of these
“facts” is true. But before you go repeating it
to all your friends, you should always check
that, as far as you can tell, it’s true.
S: Yeah, I guess if you don’t do that, then you’re
just part of the problem.
P: That’s right. I know we’re laughing about
Sarah, but it is a serious problem. Some
completely irresponsible people actually
invent stories, and I think that’s completely
unacceptable.
S: And it’s important to remember that false
stories about people can really hurt them.
P: You’re right!
11.3 page 63, exercise 3
1 And she thought it was true.
2 Sarah says it’s not actually the president’s
wife.
3 Yeah, I guess if you don’t do that, then you’re
just part of the problem.
4 I know we’re laughing about Sarah, but it is a
serious problem.
9 Personal Best B2 © Richmond 2019
B2 WORKBOOK
11.4 page 64, exercise 5
1 He asked me to wait.
2 They told us it had rained a lot the day before.
3 I urged her to reconsider.
4 When I reminded her, she promised to call
him.
5 Tom mentioned that he really wanted to go
traveling.
6 She asked us to lend her some money.
11.5 page 66, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom
S: Hi, everyone! Just before we came on the air,
Tom and I were having a …
T: An argument. We were having an argument.
S: A discussion!
T: Hmm …
S: We were taking about homeopathy – that’s
the treatment of an illness by giving tiny,
tiny amounts of a natural substance, which if
you gave it in large amounts, would actually
cause the illness.
T: And, basically, I was saying how that’s total
garbage.
S: And I was saying I wasn’t so sure! I keep an
open mind! I know two or three people who
claim it works. For example, my sister was
having terrible trouble sleeping. She could
fall asleep OK, but she kept waking up at
three o’clock in the morning and then finding
that she couldn’t get back to sleep. It went
on for weeks and, eventually, she was really
sleep-deprived. She found a homeopathic
doctor who gave her something to cure the
problem, and within a week or so, she was
sleeping really well again.
T: Mm …
S: And another friend – an old roommate of
mine – found that homeopathy cured his
snoring!
T: What?!
S: Yes! His snoring was unbelievable. It was so
loud. He kept me awake with it one night,
and I was sleeping on the other side of the
apartment! But again, a homeopathic doctor
gave him something for it, and he stopped
snoring.
T: Yeah, but you don’t know that it was the
homeopathic medicine that cured it. It could
have been something else that he’d started
doing differently – using an extra pillow or
something.
S: Well, I asked him whether he’d made any
other changes to his routine or lifestyle, and
he said he hadn’t. He was pretty convinced
that it was his homeopathic medicine that
had cured him of his snoring.
T: Well, I’m not convinced. I think he must
have changed his habits in some way. Or –
and this is quite possible – he believed he’d
been cured, and that actually made him
 AUDIO SCRIPTS
better. Scientists have carried out various
experiments that prove that homeopathic
medicine itself doesn’t work. What does work
– for some people anyway – is that when we
think a medicine will make us better, our
bodies do actually heal themselves.
S: Oh, OK, I can see I’m not going to convince
you, Tom.
T: No … Sorry, Sam!
UNIT
12
12.1 page 68, exercise 5
1 Can I borrow this pen, please?
2 He asked Alice to get a plate from the kitchen.
3 Did Andrea buy a ticket for the show?
4 Could Oliver come with us this evening?
5 When Isabel was a little girl, she had a dog.
6 Is it okay if I take this chair?
12.2 page 70, exercise 5
1 I wish Sarah had seen the movie. She would
have loved it.
2 He might have come If you’d asked him.
3 If I’d been worried, you would have known
about it.
4 You wouldn’t have made so many mistakes if
you hadn’t rushed the essay!
5 If I hadn’t been sick that night, I would have
joined you.
6 If I lived closer, I could have gone to her
party.
12.3 page 71, exercise 1
L = Laura, A = Adam
L: What’s that thing on the table, Adam?
A: The thing that looks like a black box? It’s my
virtual reality gaming headset.
L: Oh, I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never seen
one before. What exactly do you do with it?
A: You wear it while you’re playing video
games. It’s a little like a private movie screen
that makes all the images 3-D, so that you
really feel as though you’re taking part in the
game.
L: Cool!
A: Well, this is a pretty old-fashioned one. Some
of the more modern types let you feel things,
too, and even smell things. This one is still
fun, though, and I think that virtual reality
gaming is bound to become more popular
as the technology improves. I’ve heard that
they’re developing systems you can use
with your laptop or even your phone, so it’s
conceivable that we’ll soon see people on
planes and trains with these things over their
eyes, or whatever they will look like by then.
B2 Upper Intermediate
L: You could use them for TV shows, too.
A: Yes, I think there are companies working
on that. And music videos. I’ve even heard
that there may be some virtual reality
amusement parks opening soon, although
whether anyone would want to go to them
is anyone’s guess.
L: Speaking of new technology, I read an article
the other day about computers being able to
read our brains!
A: You mean translate our thoughts into text?
That sounds awful! I don’t want people to
know what I’m thinking!
L: I don’t think it’s likely to happen any time
soon, but it would be useful for people who
can’t move so they could communicate
more easily, wouldn’t it? Imagine how tough
it must be if you have to spell things out just
by moving your eye, I don’t know how many
times a day. It would make their lives so
much easier.
A: I guess so, but I still think it’s a dangerous
idea. If my boss knew what I was thinking, I’d
get fired!
L: That reminds me, Adam, I was going to ask
you if you could take a day off next week.
There’s an exhibit of new technology for the
home, and it sounds really interesting.
A: Sure. Maybe they’ll have a TV set I can control
with my mind!
12.4 page 71, exercise 4
A: Have you seen this phone charger? It’s like a
credit card.
B: You mean this thing? You can really charge
a phone with something this small? That’s
amazing! I really need one of them. My
phone runs out of battery I don’t know how
many times a week.
A: Yes, it’s very useful and so easy to carry
around. Speaking of very small things, I read
that there’s now a computer that’s the same
size as a grain of salt.
A: What’s that on your table?
B: The thing that looks like a small music
speaker? It’s to help keep my apartment safe
when I’m not here.
A: What exactly do you do with it?
B: You just turn it on in the evenings, or
whatever time you want, and it makes noise
to make people think you’re at home.
A: That’s a good idea.
B: Yes, it is. That reminds me – I should turn it
on now if we’re going out.
12.5 page 72, exercises 1 and 2
S = Sam, T = Tom, L = Lorna
S: What’s your favorite invention, Tom?
T: Oh, that’s easy! It has to be those long plastic
things you use to throw balls to dogs without
having to bend down and pick them up.
10
B2 WORKBOOK
S: That makes sense. You’re so lazy!
T: I know! But what I like about it is that
someone saw a problem and came up with
such a practical, low-tech solution. It’s
one of those things you can hardly believe
nobody thought of before!
S: That’s true. But to tell us about some more
high-tech inventions, we have Dr. Lorna
Mason from New Technologies magazine.
Lorna, what’s your favorite recent invention?
L: Well, I think we need to distinguish between
inventions that have actually come out, and
those that are still being developed. If we’re
talking about the former, then I really love
the walking house.
T: Walking house? You mean …?
L: Yes, it actually has six legs. It looks like an
enormous insect, and it can walk around as
fast as a human.
S: Wow! I imagine it could be quite a problem if
it broke down though!
L: Yes, but I really like crazy ideas like that.
Although there are lots of more practical
inventions, too, of course, like windows that
act as solar panels. They’ve already been
installed in a bank in the Netherlands, and
they generate enough power for employees
to charge their phones when they run out of
batteries.
T: I wish we could have those here! But what
about inventions that are being developed
right now? What can we expect in the next
few years?
L: Well, smartphones that can see around
corners …
S: Really?
L: … and artificial skin that can feel pressure and
temperature. That’s a great one because if it
was produced, it could be used in 3D printers
to make “smart” gloves for doctors or used
on robots so that they could be more aware
of what’s around them.
T: That’s amazing! But I must admit I’d rather
they invented a coat that would make me
invisible. Is that on its way?
L: Well, in fact there is a team of scientists
working on making specific objects invisible,
and they’re making good progress, so maybe
one day …
S: Thanks so much, Lorna, that’s incredible!
Personal Best B2 © Richmond 2019