AUDIO SCRIPTS

UNIT 01 LISTENING PLUS  page 4

M=Mike R=Roberto A=Audrey
LISTENING  page 4
M So, Roberto, how does it feel to be home?
A=Audrey M=Mike
R Great! I really missed you guys.
A Shhh! I think I hear something.
A Were you surprised?
M What is it, Audrey? Is it Roberto?
R I was surprised when I got off the plane and
A No, Gus texted me a few minutes ago. They’re
I didn’t see you! I thought you guys forgot
still waiting for him at the airport, but we have to
about me.
be careful or we’ll spoil the surprise. Hey, Mike,
A Never! We thought maybe you were thinking
what are you doing?
about staying there.
M I’m hanging decorations. See, it says: Surprise,
R Nah, I had a good time, but I missed you.
Roberto! And this other one says, Welcome back!
A It didn’t look like that online!
A Oh, I see! Do you need any help?
R That was later. At first, I spent all my time
M No, I’m okay.
studying in my dorm room, and then I said to
A I’m looking forward to seeing Roberto. He has
myself, “Roberto, you didn’t come to Toronto to
been gone a long time!
stare at the wall.” Then I made myself get out and
M Well, a year feels like a long time, but I bet it went
join an international club.
by quickly for him. I wonder if the experience has
M Good for you!
changed him.
R Yeah. After I started hanging out with the other
A I think he has changed. Have you seen his video
internationals, I found out they were feeling
channel about his experiences in Canada?
homesick too, so we connected over that. After a
M No, I didn’t. Is he really making videos? What
while, we started talking about making videos for
about?
new international students. We wanted to help
A They are about life as a foreign exchange
them.
student. He interviewed other international
A Oh, good idea. So you wanted to give new
students and documented his adventures
internationals tips on life in Canada?
on film.
R Yes, exactly. At first it was just an idea, but then I
M But Roberto is so quiet! He hardly ever talked to
got really focused on it, so I bought a camera and
real people in high school. How does he handle
learned to film and edit.
being in front of a camera in another country?
A I saw your videos! They were funny and had
A I guess it doesn’t bother him. The last time
some good ideas.
I checked, his channel had 14,000 followers.
R Yeah, making those first few videos got me out
M Wow! 14,000! Maybe he has changed.
there. I started interviewing Canadians, and they
A Sometimes travel changes people.
offered information and advice. That was when
M Well, I hope he hasn’t changed too much. I liked
my social life improved.
the old Roberto.
M That makes sense. You were able to make
A I also heard that a private university saw his
connections between local people and your
videos and offered him a job. They asked him
viewers.
to make short films about their campus and put
R Right. So many people watched them that I finally
them up on social media. So he is turning this
started my own channel. Can you believe it? Me?
into a career.
A It’s not that hard to believe. I always thought you
M Wow. I didn’t know that either.
had talent.
A Hey, here’s a text from Gus. He says they’re
R So, right before I left, I signed up for some digital
almost here. Places, everyone! Mike, what are
media classes. I am going to change my major to
you doing? I see the car!
Film.
M I’m turning off the lights. There!
M That’s very cool. No more shy quiet Roberto!
A Shhhh!
You’ll have to remember us when you’re famous!
[sound of a door opening]
Everyone Surprise!

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 Audio Scripts

UNIT 02 LISTENING PLUS  page 12

LISTENING  page 12 P=Presenter M=Mia
P Welcome back. Come on, Mia, we’ve been waiting
P=Presenter M=Mia
to hear about your plans for this weekend!
P … and with the weekend approaching, we are
M Well, on Sunday I’m going to take part in an
joined here in the studio by our highly respected
innovative theater production – a murder
“Out and About!” expert Mia, who’s going to
mystery experience going on around the city.
tell us our options for weekend entertainment
P Er … You’re going to have to tell us more than
around the city.
that, I think.
M Wow, “respected”! Thank you very much!
M Of course. A cast of actors play characters in a
P Thank you for being here. So, Mia, I’ll ask the
murder story. You learn the plot by talking to the
same question as every week: What’s on?
characters, and they give you clues that you have
M Well, the weather will be beautiful this weekend
to solve. Those clues will take you to different
– so get outdoors! Music fans, I hear there are
parts of the city, different members of the cast,
still a few tickets left for the open-air concert in
and new clues. If you work out all the answers,
Prince’s Park. Rock band The Gloss are supposed
you’ll find out who the murderer is.
to be amazing, and they’re going to perform on
P I get it – sounds like really good fun. What
the main stage on Saturday night. It’ll be huge!
happens when you find the murderer?
P Sounds fantastic, especially for those looking for
M Actually, I don’t know. And when I find out,
high energy and excitement. But, what about
I won’t tell anyone. I think it’s important not to
something a bit more low-key …? And, perhaps
give away any spoilers!
not quite so expensive would be good …
P Good point. Can anybody take part?
M Low-key and affordable? OK, well, how about
M It’s recommended for people aged 12 and up.
this? Ji ho Kim, the poet, is doing a poetry reading
Oh, and you’ll have to do a lot of walking, and the
and book-signing on Sunday at Whitewells
website says you might need to run, too.
Bookstore on Main Street. It’s free to get in, and
P Running? I’m not going to run!
you can just show up – there’s no need to get a
M Fine. I guess you’re going to Ji ho Kim’s poetry
ticket in advance. You will even have a chance to
reading, then!
meet and talk to the great man. I’ve heard he’s
very witty.
P I really like the sound of that, as I love poetry … UNIT 03
But, you said we should do something
LISTENING  page 20
outdoors …
M=Minerva E=Ely
M Ha! Yes, I did say that, didn’t I? In that case, why
M Most of us are in constant conversation with our
not check out this incredible new tour of city
body. “I’m hungry,” it says, or, “My feet hurt,” and
street art?
we try to obey it as much as we can. Sometimes,
P Street art? You mean graffiti?
we have orders for it. “Get up and go for a run,”
M Well, not only graffiti. All around the west of the
we say, or, “Don’t go to sleep now, you still
city, there are amazing examples of drawing,
have three chapters to read before tomorrow.”
painting, and writing on the buildings. The
But how far does this relationship go? Is there
guide is talkative and insightful, and some of
communication between the mind and the body
the street art is really impressive: sometimes
that we are not consciously aware of? Today
funny, sometimes political, and often beautiful.
on the “Better Living” podcast, we explore the
You’ll love it – it will definitely make you think.
ways our thoughts shape our health. We’re going
It’s outdoors, you’ll get a bit of exercise, and it
to start with the writer Ely Finnigan, who has
won’t cost you too much.
written a book called The Conversation Within:
P How much?
A Collection of Essays on the Ways Our Body Speaks
M That’s the cool thing – you just pay whatever you
to Us. Welcome, Ely.
want to give.
E Thanks for having me, Minerva.
P That sounds fair. When does it leave, and from
M So, in your book, you write a lot about the
where?
placebo effect. I’ve always understood it to mean
M 2 p.m. at the bus terminal.
that if you believe medicine will cure you, it will.
P Are you going to be there?
M Oh no – I’m trying out something else, something
very different.
P Hmm, intriguing. OK everyone, Mia is going to tell
us all about it after the news …

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 Audio Scripts
E Well, sort of. There’s a common experiment that
goes something like this: one group of patients
takes a sugar pill, and another group takes a
real pill. The patients do not know if they are
taking the fake sugar pill or real medicine, but the
researchers do. Next, the researchers see which
group gets better.
M And there’s no difference, right? The people who
take the fake pill, the placebo as you call it, are
as likely to feel better as the ones who take the
medicine.
E Yes, you’re right. The fake pill is generally as
effective as the real one. That’s an experiment
that has been done many times, and it’s very
helpful because it suggests that our beliefs can
affect our health.
M Not just eating vegetables and getting exercise?
E Well, eating vegetables and getting exercise are
important, but it’s also important to look at what
we believe about our levels of diet and activity.
As with the pills, if a person believes they are
exercising and eating well, their body will actually
be healthier than someone with the same
lifestyle but who believes they have a sedentary
lifestyle.
M So, if I believe that washing the dishes is good
exercise, will I get more health benefits from it?
E Right. And that’s a mental trick you can use. Just
remind yourself that housework is exercise, and
according to research your heart rate, weight,
and other health indicators are likely to show
improvement.
M Amazing! Just because of my attitude towards
housework.
E Yes, that’s what research tells us. Of course, I’m
not saying you shouldn’t exercise, but it might
help to develop a belief that your habits are
healthier. And Minerva, I’ve got another mental
trick that I think you’ll like even better. It’s about
stress.
M I’m sure our listeners have plenty of that!
E You know that stress is bad for you, right? Lots
of people say it makes you sick and can even
shorten your life.
M Right. Some people say stress is worse than a
bad diet.
E Well, not always.
M What?
E It turns out that what really matters is how you
think about stress. If you change your perception
of stress, if you see it as a benefit, as a way that
your body is helping you by giving you energy,
you will not experience as many negative health
effects.
M So I’ve been thinking about it all wrong?
E Yes. Here’s an example. When you are about
to do something important, like take part in a
graduation or give a speech, how do you feel?
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 120
M Excited, nervous, wonderful?
E Yes, these are all conditions in which your body
creates stress hormones. These chemicals
actually provide you with the mental focus to
fully participate in the situation. Now think
about public speaking. Many people experience
stress when they have to give a talk in front of
an audience. What that nervous feeling is is your
body giving you the gift of focus and energy so
you can do your best.
M I never thought about it that way before!
E I have one more!
M Great! First, we have to take a short break, but as
soon as we get back, we want to hear it.
LISTENING PLUS  page 20
M=Minerva E=Ely
M So, we’re back with Ely Finnigan, who is here
in the studio talking about mental strategies
for creating a better, healthier you. Ely, you’ve
promised to tell us another mind hack for
improving health. What is it?
E I’m going to leave you with one final idea.
Here’s a great one for people who want to eat
less candy. It’s best if you know ahead of time:
for example, if you know you are going to a
party where there will be cake or candy. Then,
before you go, sit quietly and imagine yourself
eating cake or cookies or whatever. Try to make
the experience in your head feel real. This is a
visualization exercise, and studies show that
people who do this do not eat as much when
they are presented with a real bowl of candy.
M So, if I visualize eating chocolate cake before the
party, it’s like, in my mind, I’ve already had some.
E Exactly.
M I’m going to have to try that when the holidays
come around. It’s going to take a long time for me
to visualize some of those dinners!
E But you’ll enjoy it!
M Thank you so much for the tips, Ely.
E You’re welcome, Minerva. It’s been a pleasure.
UNIT 04
LISTENING  page 30
L=Lucas A=Anna
L So, Anna, are you going anywhere for spring
break?
A I am! I’m heading back to Japan to spend time
with my family.
L Oh, that’s very exciting! I associate spring in
Japan with cherry-blossom festivals – what do
you call them?
A Hanami.
11/09/2020 12:58
 Audio Scripts

L That’s it – hanami! Families and people who work LISTENING PLUS  page 30
together all dress up in kimonos, go to a park,
A=Anna L=Lucas
and eat rice balls and sushi. Everybody sits under
A Wow, this pizza is quite good, even with the
quite big trees that are covered in really beautiful
pineapple on it!
pink cherry blossom. It’s one of my iconic images
L It’s called a Hawaiian – although somebody once
of Japan. Wait, why are you looking at me like
told me it was created in Canada.
that? Are those all just stereotypes?
A Well, my dad could never accept this as true pizza
A Well, not stereotypes, exactly. I mean, some of
– maybe nobody in Italy could! Anyway, you were
the people I know go to cherry blossom festivals
going to tell me about your Thanksgiving last
every year, and I remember going to one when
November. Did you stay in Seattle?
I was fairly young. But, I didn’t dress up in a
L I did, and I had a really good time. Some of my
kimono, and I think we ate fried chicken.
relatives from all over the country came back
L So, your family doesn’t like sushi?
here to the family home, as they do every year,
A Actually, we do like sushi, but we eat it at
and we had a huge turkey dinner: mashed
different times. My family’s tradition is to go
potato, stuffing, a little cranberry sauce –
out for a sushi meal every Sunday night. So, at
everything!
festivals, we usually eat something different
A Nice. You said it was very interesting this time?
because we don’t associate sushi with special
L Right. Well, my sister came with her boyfriend,
festival food.
who’s Korean. It was his first time attending a
L OK, that makes sense. So, if you’re not going to a
traditional Thanksgiving, and it was good fun
cherry-blossom festival this spring, what are you
sharing a few of our traditions with him, like
going to do?
watching the New York Thanksgiving parade on
A Actually, I arrive in Japan on March 2. The
TV, breaking the turkey wishbone after dinner …
following day, March 3, is Hinamatsuri, or Girls’
A Sounds great.
Day. This is quite an iconic Japanese traditional
L It was. But I was also fairly surprised to hear
event, and my family always celebrates it.
that there’s a similar holiday in Korea. I’ve never
L I guess that’s not too surprising – you have three
associated Thanksgiving with countries outside
sisters, right?
North America, but in Korea they have something
A That’s right. Five females in the family – my dad is
called … Chuseok. I hope I’m pronouncing it
outnumbered!
correctly. Like Thanksgiving, it’s a harvest
L Haha! So, tell me about Girls’ Day.
festival, and they celebrate the good harvest of
A Lots of families – especially those with daughters
the past year, and it has a lot of its own customs –
– display special dolls on a red carpet on a
just like we do. He even invited me and my sister
platform. The dolls represent the Emperor,
to join his family for Chuseok this year.
Empress, musicians, and other people associated
A It sounds like you had a very cross-cultural
with the ancient royal family.
experience!
L Nice. And do you do anything special on that day?
L Totally!
A Well, every family has different customs. Many
people eat traditional Japanese foods like
chirashizushi – which is raw fish placed on top of UNIT 05
a bowl of vinegared rice. LISTENING  page 38
L Is that what your family has?
W=Walter A=Amanda
A Actually, no. My dad has his own special custom
W This is delicious! I’m glad you found this place.
on that day. He says that because it’s Girls’ Day,
A Yes, I’ve only recently discovered Thai food. Now I
he should do all of the cooking. You know he’s
want to eat it all the time.
Italian, don’t you? Well, on that day he makes
W That’s fine with me.
a different kind of rice dish – Italian seafood
A It’s fun to try food from different countries.
risotto.
W It makes me want to travel.
L It sounds a little similar to chirashizushi.
A Me, too. But it’s so hard to decide where to go.
A The ingredients are quite similar, I guess, but it’s
W Maybe we should be spontaneous and just get
a very different dish. The point is, every family is
on a train and go!
different. I think it’s better that way. How about
A Well, that’s one idea, but maybe we should plan
you? Thanksgiving is the big festival for you,
a little bit.
right?
W How?
L It is – for many families. Last year was really
A Okay, I have an idea. How about we play a game.
interesting. I’ll get the pizza out of the oven and
W Okay. What kind of game?
tell you all about it!

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 Audio Scripts

A I’ll describe a possible destination without saying LISTENING PLUS  page 38

the name, and you listen to the details and try to
A=Amanda W=Walter
guess the place.
A So, we should pick a place and make a plan.
W Okay ... So, do you have a place in mind?
Maybe if we have a destination in mind, we’ll be
A Yes.
inspired to start saving for it. Even if we backpack
W Have we ever been there?
and stay in hostels, we’ll still need money.
A No, we haven’t. Now give me a chance to
W Okay. I like a little adventure.
describe it. This place has a river and a very tall
A Hmm … I like art and history. Istanbul is high on
building that looks a little bit like a triangle, and it
my bucket list.
has lots of art.
W If we go to a city, I’d really love to see the carnival
W That’s easy! You are talking about the Eiffel
in Rio De Janeiro.
tower, so it’s Paris, France.
A I hear it lasts for five whole days. What a party!
A Yup. Okay, your turn.
W So … music and fun, or history and food?
W Okay, this place is also a city. It’s near the ocean,
A I guess I could go with Rio De Janeiro. We could
and every year they have a very special festival
see Istanbul another time.
with lots of parades and dancing.
W Yeah. Rio has the carnival, but it also has some
A Have we been there?
interesting art museums.
W No, we haven’t … yet. But I hope we can go.
A When would we go?
A Tell me more. Is it New York?
W The carnival happens when it is winter here, so it
W Nope. The beaches are much more famous, and
will be summer in Brazil, perfect for the beaches
so is the festival.
and sightseeing.
A Ahh! Rio De Janeiro in Brazil!
A That sounds perfect! Let’s do it.
W This is fun. Your turn. Try to pick someplace
harder. SPEAKING  page 25
A Okay. This city also has a river, but the river
1. A I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights.
divides it into two cultures, one on the east and
B That sounds like quite an adventure!
one on the west.
2. A I still haven’t gone rock climbing. I want to do
W That’s a hard one. I’ve never heard of a city like
that before I get too old.
that.
B You’re certainly brave, but isn’t that a little too
A Sure you have! This city has been an economic
dangerous?
center for centuries, and it’s very popular with
3. A My dream has always been to visit England. Just
history buffs.
think, I could see Shakespeare’s birthplace!
W I give up. Tell me.
B That’s fine, if you like history.
A Istanbul, in Turkey!
4. B She’s never been to Hawaii, but she’s thinking
W Oh, of course! Istanbul. I’ve always wanted to
about going next summer.
go there. I’ve heard it has wonderful historic
A Wouldn’t that be exciting? She could climb a
neighborhoods and fabulous food.
volcano and go surfing!
A Well, let’s put it on the list. Now it’s your turn.
5. A Someday, I would like to go scuba diving.
Why don’t you pick a place that isn’t a city?
B Are you sure it’s safe?
W Okay. I have an idea, and it’s also someplace
I want to visit. It’s a volcano, but it hasn’t been
active for centuries, and it’s covered with snow. UNIT 06
A Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania! I’d love to go LISTENING  page 46
there and see the elephants.
P=Presenter C=Clara
W Well, that’s a thought. But it’s not the one I’m
P Hello, and welcome to the “Works for You”
thinking of. The one I’m thinking of is on a big
podcast. This week, we’re talking about play –
island.
a word that isn’t usually associated with work.
A Mount Fuji in Japan? I know you’ve always wanted
But, why not? When we were kids, play – having
to go there.
fun – was a big part of life. And yet, the idea of
W Yes. Can we put it on the list?
an adult playing (not playing a sport or a musical
A Sure. Do you want to take another turn?
instrument, just playing) sounds, well, childish.
W Yes. This place is in the Pacific Ocean. Tourists
However, most of us will spend a large part of our
take a boat and see islands. Every island has
adult life at work …wouldn’t it be nice if we could
animals, but the animals are all different from
stop to chill out and have fun sometimes? Well,
each other.
actually, it wouldn’t just be nice, it would be really
A Aha! The Galapagos Islands. They are near
beneficial in many different ways. Here to tell us
Ecuador in South America. Lots of interesting
more is work and life expert Clara Kim. Hi, Clara.
birds and creatures.

4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 122 11/09/2020 12:58


C Hi there. Thanks for having me.
P So, Clara, why do you think play is not usually
associated with the workplace?
C It’s about image. Many people think,
“The workplace is where you work. After work is
leisure time, when you can have fun.”
P I remember hearing that from my boss one time.
C This stereotype of work has existed for a long
time, and I think people still believe it today. But
a balance of work and play is really important.
The opposite of play isn’t work, as some people
believe: the opposite of play is boredom and
sadness. Those can’t be good things to have in
the workplace.
P No, they can’t. Now, I think some people
misunderstand what you mean by “play”.
It doesn’t have to be running after each other
around the parking lot, does it?
C Of course not! But this is part of the problem
– the belief that it is somehow childish. Play
is anything you find enjoyable. It can be a
card game with a co-worker, throwing a mini-
basketball around, or just relaxing while watching
your favorite TV show. It can be something
that you do by yourself, or it can be a group
interaction. It might involve going outside for
a walk and socializing with a colleague, or trying
to personalize your own workspace.
P I think most people would like to incorporate
these into the workplace.
C I think so too – you just have to remember to
build them into your day. Some companies have
realized the benefits of introducing relaxation
and play. At many of the largest tech companies,
for example, employees can take free cooking
classes, where they learn something fun and
useful while getting to know fellow employees
better. There are gyms for exercise, relaxation
rooms for chilling out, climbing walls, ping-pong
tables, video games, even a bowling alley!
P Wow, I really want to go bowling at work!
C Then you ought to be able to – or something
similar, anyway. You don’t have to think of it as
“avoiding” work. It’s about having fun at work so
that you can work better.
P OK, you said “work better”. Let’s take a short
break and then find out what exactly the benefits
of play at work are.
LISTENING PLUS  page 46
P=Presenter C=Clara
P Welcome back to “Works for You”. Before the
break, Clara Kim was telling us about how
companies have introduced play at work.
Now perhaps you’ll tell us why they should do it.
How is it beneficial?
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 123
Audio Scripts
C It’s quite simple: when we play, we have fun.
When we have fun, we’re happy. And when we’re
happy, we’re better workers.
P It’s really that simple? Wow. In what way are we
better workers?
C Well, for one thing, we learn better when we’re
having fun, and we are more productive when
we’re happy. Also, playtime has a positive effect
on our imagination and creativity. That has to be
a good thing.
P So, if I’m having fun at work, I may come up with
better ideas?
C Exactly. Play is also really good for stress, and
we all know that stress is a problem in the
modern world. Studies show that having fun at
work actually cuts down stress, boredom, and
tiredness, and the number of absences and
healthcare costs also go down.
P Well, that’s something companies can’t ignore!
C Companies must not ignore it. And there are
also positive effects on teamwork and group
interaction. Research tells us that the more play
there is at work, the friendlier the workplace
atmosphere becomes. Simply put, people having
fun together work well together.
P Well, this is fascinating stuff, Clara. Thank you so
much for agreeing to share this with us. And now,
I think I’d better go bowling.
C Um … we ought to finish the show first!
SPEAKING  page 51
S=Stefan N=Natalie
S Thank you for coming today. This is the first
meeting of the new rock-climbing club. First, we
have to decide on a name.
N How about The Rockers?
S I love it! Next, when and how often are we going
to meet?
N Let’s get together once a week. We should pick a
day when everybody is free – maybe Saturdays?
S Sounds good to me. OK, importantly, where are
we going to meet?
N We could meet at the bus station. On sunny days,
let’s take a bus out to the country and find some
easy places to climb. If it’s raining, we’d better
not go rock climbing outdoors – maybe we could
take the bus to the leisure center instead. I think
they have a wall there for rock-climbing practice.
S Good idea! We must remember to call and
reserve the climbing wall. OK, is there anything
else we’re forgetting?
11/09/2020 12:58
 Audio Scripts
UNIT 07
LISTENING  page 56
D=Dana L=Linus J=Jessie
D Hi, Linus. I’m so glad you could make it. Come in.
Dinner’s almost ready.
L Thanks, Dana, I’ll just hang up my jacket.
D Here, sit down. Have you heard about Jessie?
L No. What about her?
D She’s going to be on a radio talk show.
L No kidding! What for?
D She created a website to help old people.
L Wow! That’s cool. Jessie cares a lot about people,
and people admire her. But I have a question …
How did the radio station find her?
D One of the old ladies had a daughter who works
at a radio station, and she introduced the radio
host, Maxine Martinez, to Jessie.
L That’s lucky.
D Jessie always seems to be in the right place at the
right time.
L I agree. She’s very smart that way.
D She just gets out there and talks to people.
Remember her speech about loyalty?
L Royalty?
D No, loyalty! Don’t you remember? It was when
we were in high school. She talked about people
making time for each other.
L Oh yeah, I thought about that a lot: how giving
someone your attention is a gift.
D Honestly, I wish I had her confidence.
L Me too.
J Hi there. Are you talking about me?
D Hi, Jessie, I didn’t hear you come in.
L Me neither! So, Dana was just telling me that you
are going to be on the radio.
J Don’t remind me! I’m so scared.
D Why do you say that? Speaking is so easy for you!
J It most certainly is not!
L But you are so good at it! Remember your speech
in high school? We were just talking about it.
You got an award.
J They probably felt sorry for me. I hate public
speaking.
D I don’t believe it!
J I’ll tell you a secret. I’m always worried that people
will figure out that I don’t know what I’m doing.
D That’s really interesting, Jessie. I always think of
you as this confident person who isn’t afraid of
anything!
J Well, I fooled you, then. I just practice and do a lot
of research, but I’m still shaking when I go up there.
D Huh! It’s kind of a relief to hear you feel that way.
It means there’s hope for the rest of us!
J I feel like I can tell you guys because you’re my
friends. In fact, I have a favor to ask. Would you
mind helping me practice for the interview?
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 124
L Jessie! It’s okay to have fun sometimes – you
don’t have to be perfect at everything. At least
let’s have dinner first!
LISTENING PLUS  page 56
M=Maxine J=Jessie
M Today, we are going to hear about the
compassion of teenagers. My guest is Jessie
Walters, a recent high school graduate who is
already making lives easier for our senior citizen
population. Welcome, Jessie.
J Hello. It’s nice to be here.
M Jessie, I understand you were inspired to create
an online message board that matches high
school volunteers with older people who need
help?
J Yes. I have a neighbor who lives alone in her
apartment, and one evening I came by to give
her some soup, and it was very dark. So, I asked
her why, and she said she was afraid to climb
on a chair to change the lightbulb. I did it for her
in two seconds. That gave me the idea to start
“Teens for Tasks.”
M How does it work?
J It’s a website. Older neighbors can go online and
describe a problem. A volunteer teen can search
the list of tasks and message the person to
arrange a visit.
M It sounds easy!
J Well, there are details to consider. All the teens
come from the same local high school, and they
can only work on Saturdays to make sure the
seniors feel safe. However, it’s also great for
us because we want to do volunteer work, but
sometimes it’s hard to find.
M So you change lightbulbs. Anything else?
J Lots of things! We walk dogs, water plants, and
we help with technology.
M So useful! Do you repair things, too?
J No, we don’t have those skills, and we don’t want
to break anything, but people really like that we
can do these small tasks for them.
M I understand. So, if people want to find
your website, it’s Teensfortasks.com. That’s
Teensfortasks.com. Thank you, Jessie.
J Thank you! It’s good to be needed.
UNIT 08
LISTENING  page 64
S=Sam M=Mel RV=Robot Voice
S Hi Mel – it’s me.
M Oh, hi, Sam. Hold on, I’ll just open the door.
S What was that all about?
M What? I was just opening the door.
S You were pressing some buttons, weren’t you?
M Oh, that! It’s my lock system – it uses a code, not
keys. It’s such a great idea, isn’t it?
11/09/2020 12:58

S Er, sure.
M Anyway, come on in. How have you been?
S Good, thanks. Sorry it’s been so long since I came
to visit you. Wow, the house is looking amazing!
You’ve redecorated, haven’t you?
M I’ve done more than redecorate; I’ve adopted
the latest technology and completely upgraded
the whole house! It’s now a “cyber house”: super
smart and full of useful gadgets.
S Cyber house? That sounds so … scary.
M Not at all – it’s really user-friendly. Let me show
you around. But first, you must be thirsty.
S Yeah, a drink would be nice.
M Activate fridge! Two glasses of lemonade.
RV Two glasses of lemonade. Would you like ice?
M Yes.
S You should say “please,” shouldn’t you?
M Oh, come on, it’s a robot! You don’t have to be
polite to a robot. Here you are.
S Thanks. So, what else does your cyber house do?
M It’s so cool. With my voice, I can control the lights,
the TV, and the music. Check it out … Activate
radio! Play chill out music. You’d like that in your
house, wouldn’t you?
S To be honest, turning on the speakers myself has
never been a problem for me.
RV Mel, you seem stressed. Shall I prepare the
bedroom for you to relax?
S Wait …What?! How does he … she … it … know
you’re stressed?
M This bracelet I’m wearing – it’s a kind of
integrated technology. It measures my heartrate,
blood pressure – that kind of thing – and sends
that information to the central house computer.
S Oh my goodness! And what does “prepare the
bedroom” mean?
M Close the curtains, turn on the ceiling fan, and
play relaxing music.
S I see – those would be such difficult things to do
yourself! But, anyway, you’re not stressed now,
are you? Do you need to relax?
M No – it always gets that wrong. I think it’s a bug in
the system.
S Good, because we’re planning on going out and
having fun, aren’t we?
M Absolutely!
LISTENING PLUS  page 64
M=Mel S=Sam RV=Robot Voice  jump off a bridge or maybe ring the neighbors’
RW=Restaurant Worker
M So, where do you want to go tonight?
S Let’s go to that new Mexican restaurant. I’ve
heard there’s such a fun atmosphere there. My
cousin went there last month and said the food
was so delicious. The only thing is, it’s quite
popular, isn’t it? Do you think we’ll get a table at
such short notice?
M Activate … um … appointment … search.
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 125
Audio Scripts
S Appointment?
RV You have no appointments today.
M No, that’s not what I meant …
RV I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that.
M Activate … Mexican … um … reservation.
RV Flights to Mexico are $2,000. Would you like me
to reserve you a ticket on the next flight?
M No, no, no! Cancel, cancel!
S Hmm, you might need to upgrade this house!
RW Hola, Los Amigos restaurant.
S Good evening. Table for two, please. 6:30.
RW No problem. Name, please?
S Sam Marlowe.
RW Very good. See you at 6:30, Sam.
S That was so complicated, wasn’t it? Right, tell
your robot friend to take the evening off. Let’s go!
M An umbrella would be a good idea, wouldn’t it?
Activate weather! Is it raining right now?
S I give up.
UNIT 09
LISTENING  page 72
K=Kyle N=Neda
K Caught between childhood and the world of
adults, teenagers often get a reputation for being
impulsive, and even reckless. But, according to
Dr. Neda Aziz, what some people call typical teen
behavior has a purpose. I’m Kyle Martin, and this
week on “Brain Bites” we’ll be finding out what
that purpose is. Welcome, Dr. Aziz.
N Thank you. I’m happy to be here, Kyle. I have a
lot of respect for teenagers, and I believe many
people have the wrong perceptions about them.
K That’s an excellent place to begin. What is an
example of a perception that adults may have
that is not correct?
N Many adults think that teenagers “these days”
are different from teenagers in the past. They are
surprised when young people take risks, or do
impulsive things. I’ve interviewed parents who
say, “I wasn’t like that when I was their age,” but
if I dig a little deeper, I usually find out that they
used to be reckless, too. Maybe they weren’t the
same risks, but they were risks all the same.
K Can you give me an example?
N Look at the concept of a dare. Young people
have always dared each other to do things like
doorbell and run away.
K Ah, yes. I remember that. My friend would dare
me to climb trees.
N Do your friends do things like that now?
K Of course not!
N That’s because you are using your adult brain!
But the brain of a 14-year-old is very different.
The 14- year-old brain craves excitement.
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 Audio Scripts

K So, are you saying they want danger? LISTENING PLUS  page 72
N In a way. The young person is becoming
K=Kyle N=Neda F=Fabiola B=Brendan C=Cho
independent. Their family home is safe and
K If you’ve just joined us, I’m here with Dr. Neda
comfortable, but the desire for risk and
Aziz, and we’ve invited some teenagers to call in
adventure prepares them to leave home and
with their responses. Is risk-taking a natural part
start making their own decisions. It is how they
of growing up? Our first speaker is from
become mature adults. That was true in the past,
Mexico City.
and it’s true today.
F Hello. My name is Fabiola, and I’m a senior in
K That makes so much sense. I know my parents
high school. I don’t agree with what Dr. Aziz says
were nervous about letting me drive a motorbike
about craving adventure, because I hate taking
on my own when I was a teenager, but they had
risks. I don’t like to get in trouble.
to let me.
N But you don’t have to get in trouble, Fabiola. Let
N Of course, and that’s another point I like to make.
me ask you this: when was the last time you felt
Parents have always had to adjust to the fact that
nervous about something?
children need to bond with peers in the same
F Hmm, maybe when I first started volunteering
generation.
at the hospital. I was nervous about meeting
K That’s true. I always got along well with my
patients.
parents, but I remember having a strong need to
N And how did it go? Was it a positive or a negative
be with friends. If I missed out on a social event
experience?
like a birthday party, I would feel terrible. Is that
F Positive.
what you mean?
N Well, it would have been easier to not do it,
N Yes, that’s normal. Teenagers crave connection
right? But you did something that was new and
with each other because, for millions of years,
different for you.
having a loyal community of people the same
F So that was risk-taking?
age meant survival. Really, it was the difference
N You challenged yourself, and that’s the positive
between life and death.
side of risk-taking.
K Do you mean this craving for friendship is part of
K And here’s Brendan from California.
our biology? Is that why teenagers tend to take
B I like this show, and I want all adults to hear it.
more risks in groups?
Here’s why: I’m trying to get our community to
N Yes, the two are connected. If adults understand
build a skateboard park. A lot of adults say it’s
that risk-taking and bonding with peers is a
too dangerous, but I think there will be more
natural part of brain development, we can
accidents if kids are skateboarding in the streets.
support our teenagers.
N Yes, Brendan. That’s a good example.
K Right. So, when I was a kid, we used to get that
K Next, we have Cho.
through sports and music. I played guitar in a
C I am at a high school for the performing arts in
band with my friends. But is that risk-taking?
Colorado, and I play piano. I’m calling because
N Did it give you a thrill?
performing in public is part of my training, but
K Yes. I used to get really nervous before we
I do it alone. Does that count as developing my
performed, but you are right, being with other
brain, or should I be taking risks with my peers to
musicians was fun.
have the best result?
N And it’s the same with sports. Athletes feel close
N I’m glad you called, Cho. You don’t have specific
to each other, they share a desire to win, and
rules for this. My point is that you can take
they feel the excitement of competition as well as
healthy risks. For you, it is giving a concert,
a physical challenge.
and maybe you can share the feelings of fear
K So, sports and the performing arts serve a
with other young pianists like yourself? That
developmental purpose?
can be a bonding experience, even if you aren’t
N Yes. They help kids mature emotionally and
performing at the same moment.
socially, which is just as important as academic
K I’m afraid our time is up, but we’ll be continuing
studies.
this theme all week and we’d love to hear from
K Wow! I can’t wait to hear what some of our callers
you. What do you think about teenagers?
have to say about this!

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UNIT 10
LISTENING  page 82
P=Presenter D=Danny E=Elena
P Hello, and thank you very much for tuning in to
this week’s edition of Interactions, the show that
looks into all the ways humans communicate.
Today’s topic is very relevant for our young
listeners: social media. With us is Elena Connelly,
an online “influencer” who, according to her
own online profile, “lives and breathes social
media.” And for balance, we are also joined by
artist and writer Danny Dixon, who said in a
recent interview that social media was a kind of
“poison.” Elena and Danny, welcome.
D Hi there.
E Hello.
P Danny, let’s start with you. “Poison”? Really?
D Look, I just meant that social media makes
people behave badly and can be bad for us.
A few years ago, I was using social media a lot,
and I was seeing people writing rude messages
and comments under videos, calling each other
names. I was watching trolls write terrible things
just to get a reaction. So one day, I just quit
social media completely. I hadn’t really thought
about that option until I did it, but it was actually
very easy.
P And why do you think normal social etiquette
and online etiquette are seen differently?
D Well, partly it’s because you can be anonymous.
People are safely behind their computers – they
don’t have to look the other person in the eye,
and this makes them feel free to write bad
things.
P Elena, do you agree?
E No, I don’t. I mean, I know that this kind of thing
does happen, but it’s not that bad. I spend my life
online, and the behavior Danny’s talking about
isn’t seen so much. In my role as influencer,
I write lots of posts on social media and
upload lots of videos, and I get thousands and
thousands of reactions and comments every day.
About 99% of them are positive, and the other
1% are just trolls that I ignore or, even better,
I block. What’s more, Danny is only talking about
the negatives, but there are lots of good things
that come from social media. Let me give you an
example. Last month, one of my followers wrote
a post about a problem she was worrying about –
she was having relationship troubles, and I had
told my followers to share their stories on my
page. Soon, her post was trending, and she got
hundreds of replies with helpful advice. A week
later, she wrote another post to say that she’d
taken some of the advice and her problem had
been solved. This level of help and support didn’t
exist 20 years ago, did it Danny?
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 127
Audio Scripts
D Maybe not. But, look …
P I’m sorry, Danny, we need take a short break for
the news, but this discussion will be continued in
just a minute.
LISTENING PLUS  page 82
P=Presenter D=Danny E=Elena
P Welcome back to our fascinating discussion
about social media. So, Danny, do you think there
is nothing good about social media?
D OK, I accept Elena’s point. Before I quit, I had
seen some good points of social media. When
I was writing one of my books, for example, I
found social media very useful for getting ideas.
And, after I’d finished the book, social media was
very helpful in terms of advertising and publicity.
E So you agree with me, then: social media can
have a positive influence.
D I’m saying there are some good points.
E Exactly. And I recognize that it’s not perfect.
It’s too easy to spread fake news, and there have
also been very sad cases of bullying. But, those
problems are not being ignored, and they will be
solved, leaving an amazing tool that connects the
whole world.
P Danny, any comment on that?
D I accept that there are positives, so perhaps my
“poison” comment was too much. But, it’s not for
me, and since I stopped using social media I don’t
miss it at all.
E That’s your choice, and that’s fine.
P OK, well I think our guests finally agree with
each other, so that seems to be a good place to
stop. Thanks again both of you for coming in
and sharing your opinions. And thank you, the
listener, for tuning in. We hope to have you with
us again next week on Interactions. Goodbye.
SPEAKING  page 87
Student: Good morning. Today I’m going to tell you
about the results of my survey about social media.
I made a list of questions about social media usage
and I asked those questions to 30 people, who are all
students at this school. The first question was “How
many times do you upload photos in a day?”
As you can see, more photos are uploaded by females
than males. In fact, the average number of photos for
females was 4.3, but for males it was only 1.6.
Next, I asked what kind of photos they uploaded …
11/09/2020 12:58
 Audio Scripts
UNIT 11
LISTENING  page 90
K=Katie M=Minerva
K Hi, Minerva. Hey, what are you doing with all
those boxes? You aren’t bringing them in the
apartment, are you?
M Hi, Katie. You first! What are you doing with those
boxes on the kitchen floor?
K Well, I woke up and thought, if we didn’t have
all this clutter, we’d be able to find things more
easily. So, I spent all morning organizing the
kitchen! I packed up everything we don’t use to
donate to charity.
M But the kitchen looks so empty!
K You don’t like it?
M Um …
K Whatever. Now it’s your turn. What’s in your
boxes?
M Just a few household items, like dishes and pots
and things.
K Minerva! Where did you get all this stuff?
M Sima. She’s cleaning out her house. She says
she’s ready for a change, and she’s getting rid of
the things she doesn’t need. Check out this clock.
We can put it on the wall there.
K But we already have a clock! I kind of wish you
had asked me. We don’t have space!
M If I had waited to ask you, she would have given
it to someone else. At least let’s look through it.
What about this lamp? It’s great, right?
K Sure, but do we need another lamp?
M You can never have too many lamps, and it’s
perfect for reading.
K Umm, OK. What else is in there?
M Look at this plant. OK, so it would look better if
she hadn’t over-watered it, but I’m sure we can
bring it back to life!
K I don’t know. It looks dead to me.
M You don’t seem very excited about this. It was
all free! Look, here’s a really nice teapot. We can
make tea.
K You don’t drink tea.
M But you do, and now you can make it in a teapot.
K Look, I know you are excited about this, Minerva,
but we’ve already got a teapot. It’s right there,
and there’s another one in the donation box.
M So you don’t want this teapot?
K It’s not that I don’t want it, but we only need one.
M So what are you saying?
K Well, when we became roommates, we combined
our stuff.
M Yes.
K Well, that means two of everything. Do we really
want three?
M I like having stuff around. It makes the place look
cozy.
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 128
K Cozy is good, but organized is better. Listen, I’ve
been reading this book called Living Simply, and
it says that many people feel much better when
they simplify their lives.
M That’s why Sima is doing it. She’s reading the
same book.
K I have an idea. What if we look through Sima’s
boxes, but let’s do what the author says. We go
through each item and decide if it makes us feel
good, and if it doesn’t, we put it in the giveaway
pile.
M OK, OK. You know, if I didn’t have you for
a roommate, I would probably end up with
14 teapots!
K I think you would. Look, let’s just try it, and then
you can tell me how you feel.
LISTENING PLUS  page 90
K=Katie M=Minerva
K One, two, three, four, five, six. That’s six boxes
to take to the donation center. I really feel good
about this, Minerva. Do you?
M I kind of wish we hadn’t put the birdcage in the
giveaway pile. I kind of liked it.
K But we don’t have a bird. Why do we need a
birdcage?
M I know, I know. We don’t. But it was my
grandmother’s.
K Do you really want to keep it? We still can.
M Yes. I think if I gave it away, I’d regret it.
K OK, then let’s keep it. Here. Is that it?
M Yes. I’ll just put it over here.
K Now let’s load these boxes in the car.
M Katie, the place does look a lot better!
K Can you get the door for me? No, don’t look at
that.
M I wish we could keep that teapot too. It’s pretty.
K Really?
M OK, you can donate it.
K Don’t look so sad. The author of the book says
when you make space for the things that are
truly important, you feel better, think better, and
it even improves your relationships!
M Then there’s a lot to look forward to!
UNIT 12
LISTENING  page 98
PA=PA system announcement S=Sasha J=Jake
PA Ladies and gentleman, please note that the job
fair will be closing in 30 minutes.
S Jake, did they say they would be closing in
30 minutes? Wow, we don’t have much time left.
I haven’t spoken to any IT-related companies
yet. “Digi-Tech Solutions” … that’s where our old
classmate Kei works now, isn’t it? I really want
that kind of job. I’m gonna go and talk to them.
11/09/2020 12:58

J OK, Sasha – I’m not really into techy stuff,
though. I’m going to talk to those cool-looking
people over there. Catch up with you later.
S OK, great.
M Hi there, my name’s Mike. Are you interested in
a job in an exciting new tech company?
S Maybe. I’m not sure. What exactly do you do?
M Well, we’re an innovative company – we go into
workplaces and ask them what problems they’re
facing. Then we come up with solutions for them.
S Such as …?
M Such as, last year a company was having
problems with presenteeism – have you heard of
that?
S I think so. It’s when people go to work even when
they’re tired and sick, isn’t it?
M Exactly. Well, we designed a super hi-tech nap
pod for them. We stored all of the employees’
favorite resting positions and music, and so any
time they used it their preferences were saved.
S Cool. So, what kind of people are you looking for?
M Team players. We’re a small company, so it’s
extremely important that everyone gets along
with each other and works well together. The
hours can be quite long, so you need to be
committed, and we also expect our employees to
show initiative – don’t just wait to be told what to
do. Does that sound like you?
S It does, actually. I remember Kei – an old friend
who works for you now – said that the job was
great fun, and that the atmosphere was very
friendly, but that the interview had been pretty
stressful.
M Ah, it’s not so bad. It’s a group interview, and
we put on a little pressure to see how you work
as a team, how articulate and organized you
are – that’s all. If you’re interested in finding
more out, check us out online. You can also fill
an application out there. I’m sorry, I’ve run out of
business cards, but you can look me up through
our website. I’m looking forward to hearing from
you.
S Thanks very much. Now, I need to find my friend
Jake. He said he’d be nearby.
M Is that him over there?
S Oh, yes. Thanks. Bye.
M Bye.
LISTENING PLUS  page 98
S=Sasha J=Jake
S Hey, Jake. Did you find out anything interesting?
J Yeah, I had a great chat with a guy who runs a
fashion company.
S That’s perfect for you. You’ve always wanted to
work in the fashion industry!
J I know, right? So, the boss – Pierre – he told
me that they were looking for enthusiastic,
personable, and creative people.
4061452 SmartChoice4e_SB4.indb 129
Audio Scripts
S That’s you all over!
J That’s what I thought. He said that even without
too much experience, I could go far in the
company – I just needed to be committed and
ambitious. I told him I was interested and that I
thought I had all of those qualities, and also that
I had been working in a clothing store until last
year. He said I should definitely apply for a job
with them.
S That’s great, Jake! What do you need to do next?
J Pierre said that I ought to start reading fashion
magazines so that I know all about the latest
trends, and he told me that there was an opening
as an intern this coming winter vacation. He said
that I could work there for a couple of months –
unpaid, unfortunately – and it would definitely be
a big advantage if I applied for a job there next
year.
S So, are you going to do the internship?
J I’m thinking about it. My dad told me it was a
good idea to get any work experience I could.
I don’t like the idea of working for no money,
but I guess I could put up with it …
S I say go for it!
J Yeah, maybe I will!
SPEAKING  page 103
I=Interviewer M=Martha
I OK, let’s begin. Could you start by telling me your
name and a little bit about yourself?
M Sure. My name is Martha Delgado. I’m in my final
year of university, and after graduating I really
want to work in advertising.
I I see. And why do want to work for this
advertising company?
M Well, I researched all of the advertising
companies in the area, and this one has the best
workplace atmosphere, and I think it’s suited to
an ambitious person like me.
I OK. And could you tell me about yourself? What
are your strengths and weaknesses?
M As I said, I’m ambitious. I’m also a very
committed person.
I Could you give me an example?
M As a matter of fact, I was the president of the
student council in my second year at university.
This was very hard work, especially because I was
also busy with studying, but I kept working hard
until the end of my term.
I Good. And you have no weaknesses?
M Actually, I do. I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I mean,
I can’t relax until the work I’ve done is absolutely
100% perfect. Sometimes, this means I take too
much time over projects.
I I see. And finally, Martha, could you tell me about
a time when you had a problem, and how you
overcame it?
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 Audio Scripts

M In fact, I had a big problem recently. I had a group

project at university, and two of the members of
my team weren’t getting along with each other.
I took on the role of leader and spoke to each of
them separately (I think I’m quite personable,
and definitely a team player), and then asked
them to sort out their differences face-to-face.
After that, our work went very smoothly.
I Excellent. OK, well, that’s all, Martha. Thank you
for coming in, and I’m sure you’ll hear from us
soon. Have a nice day.
M Thank you for your time. Goodbye.

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