T.4 Interview with the American writer

Presenter Good morning everyone. Our guest this morning is the American writer Norah Levy. Nora’s here in Britain this week promoting her new book ‘We are family’, which is all about how our position in the family affects our personality. Welcome Norah.

Norah Thank you.

Presenter So, tell us a bit about the oldest children in a family – the first born.

Norah Well, the oldest children get maximum attention from their parents and the result is that they are usually quite self-confident people. They make good leaders. The famous Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, was a firstborn child. They are often ambitious and they are more likely to go to University than their brothers or sisters. They often get the top jobs too. Oldest children are also responsible people, because they often have to look after their younger brothers or sisters.

Presenter What about the middle child?

Norah Well, middle children are usually independent and competitive.

Presenter Competitive?

Norah Yes, because they have to fight with their brothers and sisters for their parents’ attention. And they’re usually sociable, they like being with people, probably because they have always had other children to play with. However, on the negative side middle children are often jealous of their brothers and sisters and they can be moody.

Presenter And the youngest children?

Norah If you are the youngest in a family, you’ll probably be very charming, very affectionate, and probably quite a relaxed person. This is because parents are usually more relaxed when they have their last child. On the other hand, youngest children are often quite lazy. This is because they always have their older brothers and sisters to help them. And they can be quite manipulative – they use their charm to get what they want.

Presenter OK. Well, that sounds like a good description of me! Is there any good news?

Norah Yes, there is. On the positive side, only children are usually very organized and responsible, and they can be very imaginative too.

T.5. News bulletin

Good evening. I’m Peter Grane with six o’clock news.

At least 17 people have been injured in the road accident that took place on the M1 near Leeds last night. The police said that the lorry which caused the accident was travelling at about 85 miles an hour, well over the 60 mile an hour speed limit for heavy goods vehicles.

2600 workers have walked out of the Peugeot car factory in Coventry in protest against the company’s pay offer. The unions have asked for a rise of 8.5 %. There’ll be a meeting between their leaders and management later today.

The latest unemployment figures have been released for this year. They show an increase of 150, 263 on last year’s figures. This brings the total number of unemployed to approximately 1,490,000. The employment Minister says this increase has been caused by the relocation of several factories from Britain to the Far East.

Estate agents are predicting that house prices will continue to rise this year, making it extremely difficult for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder. It’s estimated that house prices have increased by a third in the last five years. The average price of a three-bedroom house in south-east England is now £255,900.

And, the weather for the weekend…

 

T.6 Failed behaviour

A Hello?

B Hi Sharon. It’s me… Kylie.

A Oh. Hi Kylie.

B Hey, you sound awful – what’s been happening?

A Oh, nothing. Well, OK… Kenny and I have been arguing.

B What about? What’s he been doing this time?

A He’s been sending text massages to his ex-girlfriend again.

B No!

A I knew this holiday was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.

Wife: You are so red! How long have you been sunbathing? All morning?

Husband: I haven’t been sunbathing. I have been reading.

Wife:Yes, but in the sun! Didn’t you put any sun cream on?

Husband: No.

Wife: You’d better go and put some after sun cream on now. You’re going to feel terrible tonight…

Woman1: You two look exhausted. What have you been doing?

Man: We’ve been sightseeing in the town. We’ve been walking all afternoon.

Woman 2: Yes, my feet are killing me.

Woman 1: Well, come and sit down in the bar and have a nice cup of tea.