Listen to three speakers talking about travelling and answer the questions below.

1. Why do many people travel today according to the first speaker?

2. How does the second speaker describe people who never travel?

3. What can a person gain travelling to other countries according to the third speaker?

Speaker 1: Lots of people believe that travel broadens the mind. A friend of mine went to Cyprus and when he came back, he complained that he couldn't find English food and everything was so foreign! If one travels with that kind of attitude, one never learns anything about other places and people. Today many people travel not in order to learn, but to 'have a good time' and usually on their terms.

Speaker 2: I've just got back from a trip to Japan and what I learned by just being there is more than I've ever learned on the internet. Talking to some locals, I learned more than school, or internet could teach me. Travel lets you see other people's lives, cultures, customs and traditions from different parts of the world. Travel educates you and makes you knowledgeable. I think that people who never leave their countries are narrow-minded and ignorant.

Speaker 3: I feel sad for those people who have never travelled outside of their own hometown. There's whole world of different cultures to meet out there, 99 per cent of which you can't have by just sitting in the living room in front of the TV. When you travel to other countries you can see, feel and touch other ways of living. Some places will shock you, others will please you. You will then appreciate your own life and see things in a different way.

 

Теxt № 14

Listen to three speakers talking about losing weight and answer the questions below.

1. What does the first speaker advise to do if you want tolose weight?

2. What is the mistake many people make trying tolose weight?

3. Why is it necessary to exercise according to the third speaker?

Speaker 1: Throw away gas or electric cooker. And also throw away salt. Get as many fruit and vegetables as you can. Try to drink as much water as possible as it increases the rate at which you burn calories. Cut out soda and limit fruit juices, most of which are high calorie. Carry on normal work. I followed this diet continuously for six month. In the end I lost 23 kg. I did morning walks, cycling, but no other physical exercise.

Speaker 2: You should know that there is no safe way to lose weight quickly, the mistake is if you lose weight very quickly, you will be a lot less likely to keep it off. So, definitely try to lose weight gradually, but don't plan on losing overnight. This is the most important and the first aspect of getting your perfect body shape. If you have a lot of weight to lose, try for 5 pounds, relax a bit, then go for 5 more.

Speaker 3: The first thing I would suggest is to believe in yourself, and love yourself. The key to weight loss is simple - you should burn more than you take in! Walk the dog, join a health club, take up jogging. Whatever you do. you've got to move your body as much as possible if you want to lose weight.

 

Теxt № 15

Listen to the recording and answer the questions below.

1. What does Sara want to become?

2. How did she find out about the audition?

3. Why was this performance special for Sara?

Sara has always wanted to be famous. When she was only 4 years old, she said to her parents "I'm going to be a star when I grow up." Her parents laughed. Sara's dreams were just dreams for years, but now those dreams are coming true, thanks to the power of television.

Sara is lucky: she is an attractive young woman, and she can sing. She has taken singing and dancing lessons since she could walk. When she was 17, Sara's big chance came. She saw an advertisement in a national newspaper: "Singers wanted for a new musical band. This is going to be bigger than the Spice Girls!" Sara rang the number straight away. The first audition was in London, and she was there at 6 o'clock in the morning, practicing her song. She had been to auditions before but this one was different - it was on TV! People all over tha country watched Sara singing. She didn't mind the camera - she was too excited about being on TV. Sara was the viewers' favourite.

Some people think that the band will never be successful. "It's not a real band," they say. But Sara isn't worried about her future. "I'm famous now, and it doesn't matter how I got here. I'm here to stay!"

 

Теxt № 16

Listen to the interview with Roy Tomlinson, who invented the sign @ and email and answer the questions below.

1. How do people call the sign @ in different countries?

2. How did Roy Tomlinson invent email?

3. Does it trouble him that he is not very famous?

Presenter: Today we talk to Roy Tomlinson, the man who invented the sign @ and email. In English this sign is called simply 'at' but what about other countries?

Roy: Other languages have more interesting names. In South Africa it is 'monkey's tail', in Greece 'little duck'; in Poland 'little trunk'; in Russia 'little dog'; in Sweden it is elephant trunk' and Turkish e-mailers call it simply 'ear'.

Presenter: When and why did you invent email?

Roy: It was in 1971 and I am not sure there was a real reason for inventing it. It was a fun thing to try out and it took 3 to 6 hours to do. I can't remember exactly how long it took.

Presenter: How did you feel about spam and viruses?

Roy: I get annoyed when I get spam and viruses. It is a hard problem but we are going to solve it. So far our actions are not working - they either filter too much or not enough. We must find a better way to stop spam or viruses.

Presenter: Does it bother you than you are not a household name?

Roy: No, it doesn't bother me. Computer fans know what i have done. I get letters from people who say: "It's great, what you did." It is not the centre of my life.

Теxt № 17

Listen to a girl speaking to her parents and answer the questions below.

1. Where does the girl want to go and why?

2. Who doesn't like the idea?

3. Who will pay for the trip?

Mum: Have you done your homework? Girl: No, not yet, I want to talk to you and dad. Mum: What about? Girl: About the summer holidays, there's a group of us at school who want to go away together. Mum: Go away together? Whatever next? Girl: I knew you'd say no. Dad: Hang on a minute, go away where? Mum: She is only 16. Girl: That's old enough to get married, so you can't stop me. Dad: Just a minute go where? Girl: France. We can practise our French. Mum: Oh, if you want to practise French, you can do it here. Girl: Not to each other. To French people. Dad: Where would you stay? Girl: We'd go camping, there's a camp site in the South of France. Louise stayed there last year with her parents. Dad: How would you get to the South of France? Girl: By train. Mum: Have you got any idea how much it'd cost? Who is going to pay for it all? Girl: I'd get a job, anyway we haven't worked out yet how much it will cost. Dad: I think it'd be a good idea if you get more details and then we'll talk about it again. Okay?

Теxt № 18

Listen to the boy speaking about football match and answer the questions below.

1. What sort of match did Tom play?

2. How did Tom's team play during the match?

3. What was the result of the game?

The first time I played for the school football team was September 12th - I can't forget the date! The day was wonderful and the weather sunny. I was 13 and I was wearing a new pair of football boots I got for my birthday. It was a home game and lots of people were watching, including my parents. I was playing in the mid-field position. My best friend John was the goalkeeper. I felt quite nervous at the start but soon I relaxed. The crowd were cheering and shouting. Ten minutes into the game, the other team scored a goal. John looked really unhappy. For the next 35 minutes, our team tried really hard to score a goal but we were unlucky. At half-time, our PE teacher, Mr Hunter, talked to us and told us to play even harder! Though our competitors were well-trained, we were very enthusiastic and tried to attack as often as possible. We were really tired in the second half but in spite of this we managed to score a goal! It was a fantastic moment. The game ended in a draw. I didn't score a goal but that didn't matter. I was part of the football team now - that was the most important thing.

 

Теxt № 19