Solar power creates sunny outlook for everyone егэ ответы 12 18

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1.  Reality destroyed my prejudices about the British.

2.  It was OK but I still prefer a hotel.

3.  I guess, my hosts were rich to have such a big house.

4.  I stayed with a family who lived in the country.

5.  When staying with strangers you have to be open-minded.

6.  The house pets ruined the meals for me.

7.  I couldn’t get warm enough in my room.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I had a great time in Britain and the family I stayed with were very kind, I was studying in a small city, but the family lived just outside — they were farmers, so instead of being in a typical English semi-detached three-bedroomed house like all its neighbours, I was surrounded by fields and animals. I had to get myself some waterproof boots and stuff to go out and help with the cows! A totally new experience for a city girl like me!

Speaker B. The people where I stayed must’ve been quite well off — the old house where they lived was enormous. There was an old lodger living there as well — he must’ve been almost as old as the house and all he seemed to do was eat and sleep (in the biggest bedroom, of course). We didn’t really get on, though I really liked the family themselves. Oh, and they had these great dogs — they kept bouncing around and wanting to play.

Speaker C. I didn’t really like the house I was in. The people were OK and the food was just about edible, but the house itself was freezing. My room was enormous and impossible to heat so I used to go to bed wearing all the jerseys I’d brought with me. Nobody else seemed to have a problem, so either they were used to it or I just couldn’t cope with the contrast to my own country.

Speaker D. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived in Britain, except that I knew that British people were very cold and the food was awful. Well, in fact, the family I stayed with could not have been more friendly and I never felt like a stranger in their house. And I think I enjoyed nearly every meal I had, as well. In fact, cooking has always been an interest of mine and I came home with lots of new recipes, so it just shows how wrong you can be!

Speaker E. Well, my landlady was a professional cook, so I expected the food to be good — and it was — but unfortunately I never really enjoyed it because her two cats were always in the dining room while we were eating. Now, I love animals — I breed rabbits in my spare time — but not on the table in the middle of dinner, if you see what I mean. … Apart from that, though, the other occupants of the house were charming.

Speaker F After spending a week in Britain, I quickly learned that cultural differences were only a fraction of what made homestays challenging. How well you adapt to the family you stay with is the result of various factors. The constant in this equation is your ability to accept and overcome cultural differences; norms that are apparent throughout the society as a whole. The second, more important element, is your ability to adapt and relate to the individual family.

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1.  A uniform makes the school a better organized place.

2.  Uniforms help improve the discipline at schools.

3.  Uniforms can help prevent crimes at school.

4.  Uniforms will not make life at school better.

5.  Uniforms can teach students how to behave professionally.

6.  Getting used to uniforms is good for a future career.

7.  Uniforms make students focus more on their learning.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I honestly support school uniforms and let me explain why. I think one of the problems our current generation is facing is that they are all influenced by gang culture. It is the root cause of numerous evils at schools, and many people from my school are members in the so-called school gangs. With uniforms, I believe, there are not so many chances for conflicts and violence. Besides, it creates a healthy team culture and harmony on campus.

Speaker B. I think when a person hears the word ‘school’, the first two things that come to mind are discipline and rules. Everybody knows that we kids love to break rules and it is hard to make us obey. Almost daily at schools, it is common to spend some time making us obey certain rules and disciplining us. Making us wear a uniform is a part of it but I don’t think there’s any point in trying to do so because kids will be kids. They never obey.

Speaker C. My school has a dress code which is not exactly a uniform and some students treat this too creatively. Every morning our teachers start to check our clothes and so on. This happens during the first class so I think a lot of valuable lesson time could be saved if we had a strict uniform policy at school. People in charge would not have to worry about checking what each and every student is wearing and whether it’s acceptable or not.

Speaker D. My school doesn’t have a uniform and I don’t like it. You may be surprised but look — the best schools in the country do have uniforms and nobody there minds that! I think a uniform creates a sense of belonging and a feeling of pride amongst students towards their institution. I think students wearing a school uniform are more likely to develop a sense of community spirit which can be later quite useful at work with teambuilding and things like that.

Speaker E. I think school isn’t about studies now. It’s more about hanging out at the canteen, and playing music but you rarely hear anyone having a good conversation about a lecture. I wish we had a uniform to help us concentrate more on our studies. When all students are wearing a similar outfit, they are less concerned about what other people are wearing. They tend to bond nicely with peers and can create an environment where they can learn in a group.

Speaker F. I support uniforms because I think they are useful for my future career. Dress codes and uniforms are a part of practically every job now. Professionalism is very important as we grow up and especially when we enter a corporate setup. Of course, I understand that there are no uniforms in some offices but I believe professionalism is what uniform-friendly children are better at than casually dressed kids. So I don’t mind wearing a uniform to school.

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1.  In this city you pay practically nothing for renting a bike.

2.  It’s basically OK but I’m not sure they use proper bikes.

3.  I don’t use bikes but I like the cycling system in that city.

4.  Riding a bike is, first of all, a very healthy habit.

5.  I find the system useful though I don’t bike very often.

6.  The bikes they use here are not good for the hilly area.

7.  The politicians there are against biking and bikers.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. The city bike system in Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is very well developed. The bicycles have motors to help you go uphill, and you get them out of the locked stands by leaving a deposit. There are different ways to pay and the cost is low. I can’t bike myself because I don’t have a good sense of balance but I saw lots of those bikes last summer when I visited Helsinki.

Speaker B. Glasgow’s city bike system is terrible. Big, heavy London style bikes in a city built on a series of steep hills? We should have mountain bikes the same way they do in places with a similar geography (like in Norway). The bicycle lanes are terrible as well. The whole system was obviously designed by those who have never cycled in the city. The worst part is that the money has been spent now and we won’t get it back.

Speaker C. In Hamburg the first half hour is free. Most journeys take maximum half an hour or less. You pay a nominal fee of €5 to register but this becomes credit for your first journey. Thus, the system is effectively free. If you do go over half an hour it’s 6c or 8c a minute to a maximum of €12. The bikes are of excellent quality. They even have children’s bikes in different sizes if you are travelling with your parents which I often do!

Speaker D. In Sydney, Australia, the city bike system is a complete failure. Why? We have a corrupt state Liberal National Party government that fights a bike-friendly progressive council at every turn. We also have a Murdoch Sydney tabloid called ‘The Daily Telegraph’ which demonises bicycle riders and bike infrastructure. God knows who they represent or who is paying them… extremely dumb big business? It’s basically bicycle rider’s hell.

Speaker E. I have a feeling some cities have city bike systems because it is cool, I mean cool hip cities have to have city bike systems, right? I believe Las Vegas started something where you can share your own bike. I am just not sure if the beach cruisers they are using are the best city bikes. And that’s exactly what they are using all over Las Vegas.

Speaker F. Even though I rarely use the service I have just renewed my Dublinbike subscription. The closest station is about a fifteen minute walk from my home, so expansion would be welcome. However, the expansion plans are being postponed by a lack of funding as sponsorship is not enough to cover the costs. Trams in the center of Dublin make cycling very unpleasant.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. Nowadays more and more companies show their products on the Internet. So, if there’s anything I need I can see where to get it and what it will cost without leaving home. I can also compare prices, which helps me to save money. Besides, I can buy the things I need online and they will be delivered to me which saves me a lot of time.

Speaker В.With the help of the Internet I can chat with different people from different countries, learn more and more about our world, different lifestyles and thinking. The Internet offers a place where we can communicate with each other. By exchanging ideas, learning other peoples’ customs and traditions, we get to know people from all over the world and how our life compares to other people’s lives in other countries.

Speaker С. I work all by myself doing translations. I find contacts on the web by publishing my advertisement on different Internet sites. Then I get texts from customers by e-mail, and return the completed translation to them. And when doing translations I use all kinds of on-line dictionaries. I also get paid through the Internet, so it saves me a lot of time.

Speaker D. There is a lot of information and things on the Internet. But many of them can hurt other people easily. The Internet has a risk of receiving spy programs or viruses, which can damage your computer. Moreover, you can meet bad people when chatting. According to crime statistics, there have been many people who suffered because of chatting to people they didn’t know.

Speaker E. I used to chat on the Internet because I wanted to improve my English. Then I started to write in forums because I think that there you can get to know very intelligent people and share your interests. From my research, I think the best way to learn English over the Internet is to chat online. You can also find some tests on the Internet and check your progress.

Speaker F. The Internet has a wide variety of information such as data, pictures, graphs, film or book reviews and suchlike. For example, instead of going to a library you can search the Internet at home and find information for a report, an essay or anything you need in no time. Also, the Internet has lots of news from all over the world, so it’s easy to find out what’s going on. So, it is very helpful for people of different age groups.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. All my friends from private school are snobbish now because they moved from the state school I go to. I don’t understand why everyone thinks private schools are better. I’m not saying I have anything against private schools, but it does make me a bit upset when I see all the people that used to go to state school acting snobbish because of a silly little thing like having more lessons in biology, physics and chemistry than I have in my school.

Speaker В. I hated my state school that I went to when I was younger. But don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against state schools in general. I know I was just unlucky. My brother and sister stayed at a state school right up until their final exams. They both got really good grades, which proves that private school education isn’t better for everyone. As for me, I found that people were friendlier in my private school, and I felt a lot happier. I know this is not always the case, because my brother and sister enjoyed going to the state school.

Speaker С. Well, I would like to say, I go to a private school and I was shocked at how much some people take for granted. One of my classmates got a plasma screen TV for her birthday and a laptop for Christmas, and she just spoke about them as if they were ordinary presents, nothing special. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, just sometimes if you have a lot of money, it is important to remember that you are lucky, because some families are so poor that they have no money to buy a TV-set in the sales.

Speaker D. A lot of people who go to my private school are not that rich at all. My parents just wanted the best education for me and this school was the right choice. Smaller classes are much better, I found this from my own experience. Here we do separate sciences and I think it allows people to understand which sciences they like and see which they are good at. You can also study physics, chemistry and biology in much more detail as well as languages, history and so on.

Speaker E. I go to private school, and we have to wear a uniform and I know why we have to have it. If the people in my school didn’t have to wear it then they would come to school in too short skirts or torn trousers. And you always get the people who can come into school and look almost like Halloween, with make up running down their faces and chains hanging off every place. Not the right things to wear to school I think. School uniform disciplines pupils and makes them look nice and clean.

Speaker F. I go to a busy city centre school, I think there are about 1100 pupils and about 120 teachers. The corridors are really narrow in some of the buildings and there are crowds of pupils running and pushing when the bell goes and everyone is there. One of the corridors is so narrow that we have a ‘one way system’. The school definitely needs broader corridors as well as larger classrooms.

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1.  The speaker was glad when she/he was given more serious work to do.

2.  The speaker learned nothing important at work.

3.  The speaker did not want to take any responsibility.

4.  The speaker didn’t mind doing a lot of things during work practice.

5.  The speaker wants to do the same kind of work in the future.

6.  The speaker has a different idea of the profession after completing the practice.

7.  The speaker felt rather nervous before starting work.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. For my work practice I worked at Middle School. Over the two weeks I watched the teachers and worked with the children. I interacted with the pupils and helped encourage them to learn during their lessons. Teaching and working with children was much harder than I expected it to be, it isn’t a simple job. A full classroom of children can be very hard to control, so I have total respect for teachers now.

Speaker В. For my work practice I worked at the City Hospital. I think it is good to get some work experience because we get to see what it is like to work somewhere. I had a lot of different jobs to do: I helped make beds, take people’s pulse and blood pressure, make tea or coffee for the patients in the ward, serve lunches at lunchtime and get people’s notes ready. I enjoyed talking to the patients, bringing a smile to their faces.

Speaker С. I worked at a big store. I really didn’t enjoy myself and I think it was really a waste of time. During the day I worked from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. putting products on shelves. I got a morning break, a lunch hour and an afternoon break which was very good! Some of the time I was able to work on the customer help desk in the store. I wasn’t given much responsibility and wasn’t taught anything new during the day.

Speaker D. Now I am working in a department store and I like it but I clearly remember my first impressions. They were like OH MY GOD look how long I have to work and OH MY GOD I have to wear a horrible looking uniform! I was really afraid to call the store to arrange my first visit. But after I had spoken to the manager and she had answered all my questions some of my fears were gone.

Speaker E. I worked at a graphics company. During my two weeks I basically did nothing except helping the staff to deliver things and collect equipment. The worst part of my work experience was at the beginning when I didn’t have a lot to do. I was sitting watching people work, but as the days went on, I was given more responsibility. I really enjoyed my time at work practice and found it really interesting.

Speaker F. I worked with children, helping out in Physical Education classes during the day and attending clubs and matches after school. The children were aged between 9 and 13. My best moment was helping children to play cricket. I really enjoy sport and enjoy the interaction with others. So working with children or something to do with sports is what I would like to do when I become an adult.

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1.  The speaker had a lot of arguments and fights with her/his classmates.

2.  The speaker thought that she/he was going to be a student forever.

3.  The speaker learned very important social skills in high school.

4.  The speaker found school to be a hiding place in times of trouble.

5.  The speaker thought of her/his class in high school as a family.

6.  The speaker showed little interest in her/his studies in high school.

7.  The speaker enjoyed studying with her/his classmates.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I really loved my high school but it was a time when I was having a lot of arguments and fights at home. So school was the place where I went to escape from all my problems and I really worked hard. I stayed at school long hours. I didn’t want to go home. And I loved my teachers and a lot of us are still friends. So, yeah, high school was great.

Speaker В. High school was quite a good experience for me really. My high school wasn’t a fantastic school, just an ordinary one. But I had lots of fun, made lots of good friends, learned how to communicate and how to avoid conflicts. Yeah, I think I came out of it able to deal with life problems.

Speaker С. High school for me was, well, quite dull although they call it formative years. I enjoyed my senior year because I didn’t go to high school as often as I did before my senior year. Overall, I didn’t do much and didn’t learn much either. So my high school was a little difficult and a little strange.

Speaker D. OK, I think I loved my high school. That was the best part of my whole school life because I had my best friends there and a bunch of good teachers, a lot of hard work and studies, happy and sad moments. And it was fantastic. Also we had our final exams in high school. It was really tough, but I had great friends in my class so we did a lot of joint studying and were really successful.

Speaker E. I loved high school. I absolutely loved it. I can’t even describe it. I grew up in a town of 1,000 people and so my whole graduating class was 35 people who I had known since my childhood and we were all very, very close, like, maybe, brothers or

sisters. And still my best friends are two people from my high school. The years spent at high school were the happiest.

Speaker F. I have to admit, I loved high school. I thought high school was the best. It’s a really good time, you know. You play sports, you’re in clubs, you hang out with your friends, but what I remember most about high school though, is that I thought it would never end. I mean at that point, you’ve been in school your entire life and I remember thinking, ‘You know what, I’m always going to be a student. They’re never going to let me out of school.’ But eventually they did.

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1.  When reading these books, the speaker sees the world in an unusual way.

2.  Thanks to these books, the speaker started to enjoy reading.

3.  These books made the speaker feel better when she/he was away from home.

4.  Thanks to these books, the speaker found many new friends.

5.  These books helped the speaker during a difficult period of study.

6.  The things said by some of the characters help the speaker in difficult situations.

7.  These books showed the speaker that friends are very important.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I’ve always read books for comfort, and when I was in London, as a participant of an exchange programme, scared and lost, so far from my family and friends, I simply found a book store and bought the first two Harry Potter books there. I read them both in one night and then over and over again. It wasn’t just comfort, it was like I found a good friend in a place where I had none, and I certainly became braver.

Speaker В. Harry Potter books have influenced me greatly. They helped me to understand that honesty, friendship and love are all we need. Now I look at the future in a more positive way than I had done before reading these books which speak’ about friendship. Harry Potter is never alone. When he does something difficult or frightening, his friends are always around and they give him all the help he needs.

Speaker С. The best thing Harry Potter books have given me is a philosophy for life. I found it in the words of Harry himself, his friends and other people around him. When I face problems, I remember some phrases from the books and I keep on fighting. I don’t give up, because Harry never does. I’ve known before, that theoretically there is no such a thing as a hopeless situation, but now I truly believe it.

Speaker D. I’ve always liked reading. And I love the fact that Harry Potter books have given me my own private magical world. When I read Harry Potter, I feel so glad that I have a wonderful secret that no one else knows. I get the feeling that the books put everything around me into a different, magical light, and the world of Harry Potter comes into mine, making ordinary things and people look strange.

Speaker E. Before I read Harry Potter books, and became interested in them, I didn’t read too much. I just didn’t understand what books could do. But after reading Harry Potter, I felt that I was in his world, and I thought, well, maybe other books can do that too. Now I just love reading, and the pleasure that I get from reading has become possible only because of that first Harry Potter book.

Speaker F. Harry Potter books have helped me in many ways. For example, last year I had to take my final exams and I was under a lot of stress because of that. Harry. Potter characters also have a lot of exams and when I felt especially stressed and worried, I read those passages from the books and felt a little better, as if I was sharing my problems with friends. And the funny moments in the books cheered me up.

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1.  I feel unhappy because I can’t change public attitude to our planet.

2.  I would like to see new energy saving laws introduced.

3.  I am afraid of the after-effects of human activities.

4.  I am sure that wise attitude to basic earth supplies is necessary.

5.  I do not want my family to live in polluted environment.

6.  I am for the use of energy saving practices in house construction.

7.  I find many simple ways to help our planet in everyday life.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I try to care about our planet. Some people argue that it’s impossible for an individual to affect major changes, but I disagree as there’re many things everyone can do to help our planet. Let’s start with our homes. Encouraging your family to recycle regularly is a good thing to start with. Every glass bottle you recycle saves enough energy to run a TV for an hour, while recycling an aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours! It’s not difficult to turn out the lights when you leave a room or use re-useable containers for your lunches.

Speaker В. My name is Walton and I’m from the USA. I’m personally concerned about our environment pollution. I try to protect the environment, to preserve it and leave it clean and undamaged for the next generations who are at risk of not being able to leave their homes due to the high city pollution. Yet now, in my native city (Boston) the smog has increased to such a threatening level that my family and I had to move, because the air was harmful to the health of my 4-year-old son.

Speaker С. In my country, England, there is hardly a part of it that is within its natural state. The typical English countryside, the hills and fields, have all been shaped by generations of cultivation. In fact, taking the planet as a whole there is hardly a part of it that humans have not changed. I fear that by our pollution humans are changing the places where they do not live and where they live. Deserts are becoming hotter, arctic ice is melting and wherever you look you can see the ugly footprint of humanity.

Speaker D. Of course we should care more about our planet water supplies. When you use water wisely, you help the environment. You save water for fish and animals. You help preserve drinking water supplies as well. You save the energy that your water supplier uses to move water to you and the energy your family uses to heat your water. When you use water wisely, you save money as your family pays for the water you use. So if kids start learning to use water wisely today, they will be helping themselves in the future.

Speaker E. My name is Susan and I’m 17 years old. I think the earth is the home we all live in but many people simply don’t care. I get depressed by all those warnings that we hear daily, acid rain, global warming and on and on. It is likely that there will always be some people who litter in towns and in the country, despite fines and knowledge of the environmental consequences. You cannot influence the way other people care for our planet and that makes me very sad.

Speaker F. I suggest we should use all resources in the most efficient way possible. A green home will be a good solution here as it helps to conserve energy as well as water. Waste and pollution will be decreased too. A green home protects the environment by using renewable solar energy. Solar panels on the roof of a home collect sunlight, which is then converted into power to heat the home and run the home equipment. So a green home will save energy as well as money in addition to having other health benefits.

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1.  Perfume can’t be a good present for many reasons.

2.  Best presents are presents that create shared memories.

3.  Practical presents are not good presents.

4.  This sort of present can be good for everybody.

5.  Perfume and flowers are great presents, they are cheap and easy to get.

6.  This present is a good way out, but not always perfect.

7.  Think of a person’s lifestyle while choosing a present.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. For any celebration you have so many people to give presents to: your mates, parents, relatives. It creates a problem of choosing an original present. I think everybody is so tired of traditional gifts! To my mind, the simplest way out is accessories. They are always different and can suit everybody. For family members it may seem a good investment if it’s expensive enough and it may definitely help your friends look great at a party!

Speaker B. As for me, I dislike pragmatic, domestic gifts. They may be useful, of course, but when you get a present, you expect a surprise, not a new kind of washing powder. I do not understand people who are happy to get kitchen towels, cups, dishes or anything like that. If you do not have any innovative ideas, buy some perfume or flowers — they are not practical, they are pleasant.

Speaker C. Honestly speaking, I’d be glad to get a weekend camping tour even to a local place of interest. It would be the best present and the worst is perfume. Perfume is the ultimate in personal gifts, even more than accessories. What scent a person chooses is unique and usually very subjective. It also looks like a last-minute decision which may seem impolite, unless you are absolutely sure in your choice, which, as I said is a rare case.

Speaker D. Giving and receiving presents can be stressful. A picky person can dislike some gifts or even worse — give them to somebody else. Horrible! So I found a perfect way out — a gift certificate. For anyone who likes shopping it is ideal and you don’t waste time trying to find something special. But there are disadvantages about a gift certificate too. A person may think that you just didn’t want to be bothered and get offended, so it’s not a universal present after all.

Speaker E. If you can afford it, try not to give things, but experiences as a present. It is not necessarily something very expensive. Tickets to the first night performance or to a new exhibition in an art gallery, or anywhere else will do fine. It is even better if you can go there together and share these experiences. Take a camera with you and take pictures! Such a present will leave long-standing memories which are dear themselves.

Speaker F. Living in a high-tech world, it would not be unusual to buy gadgets as a present. If your friend commutes, it can be an iPod, if your friend is very busy — an electronic organizer will be an excellent idea. There are millions of choices and they are not expensive either. Such a present can show the person exactly how much thought you put into choosing the perfect gift taking into account his or her way of life and needs.

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1.  I would not return to using chemical cleaners that are bad for my family.

2.  I find recycling necessary to keep our planet clean.

3.  I would like people to care more about our planet water resources.

4.  I am sure our clean and safe future is worth new green habits today.

5.  I am concerned about the long-term effects of pollution in big cities.

6.  I am trying to stop people from polluting the air.

7.  I want people stop and think about the way we treat waste.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I think people should pay more attention to reusing materials. It’s the best way to save our planet’s resources. In fact, we don’t have any other option if we plan to leave the planet for generations to come. For example, it’s more environment-friendly to use linen napkins that can be washed and reused than to use paper products. It’s also important to stop using dangerous chemicals that spoil our soil and drinking water.

Speaker В. My name is Stephen. I’m very worried about high urban pollution. This problem is actually global. Anyone who went to Beijing to watch the Olympic games can confirm it as Beijing was covered day and night by strong smog. The problem is that this smog in big industrial megapolises is not set to decrease, but instead it will increase over the coming years: this will bring, about pollution all over the world and will cause global warming!

Speaker С. I find the effect of water pollution on the ecological balance and human life really dramatic. Though there are many other things that are polluting water, oil is still the major contributor. There may be cases of large oil spills during transportation, but the fact is that small motor oil spills on land are far more dangerous. So it’s important that we take measures in time to save our water environment.

Speaker D. My name is Barbara. I’ve only been “cleaning green” for over a year now. It was a difficult start. My daughter made me stop using toxic chemical products for cleaning by regularly telling me how I was poisoning our health, polluting the air in the house, damaging the planet and exposing my grandson to all of the above. Now I like it a lot! I will never go back to chemical cleaners, not any more.

Speaker E. I support the idea of using only natural products for cleaning purposes. Of course it’s not easy. Changing from old habits to new healthy, non-toxic ones takes time and practice. It’s like any bad habit, once it’s been done we feel really good about ourselves. But we’re not doing this for some unseen stranger. We’re doing it for ourselves. Let’s leave our planet in the best possible shape we can by all working out and following new rules together.

Speaker F. I think everyone can do their part to protect our planet. It’s easier than you may think — do not litter and do not dispose your waste in the way that will harm people or animals. Always use the proper method for it. And it’s really more useful to put out different bins for different waste materials like glass, plastic bottles, paper and tins. The bins are usually of different colours to be easily identified.

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1.  Clear instructions at work are very important.

2.  Personal discussions in the office can distract from work.

3.  It is important to think about gender differences in office work.

4.  Employees’ health must be the top priority for office managers.

5.  Positive atmosphere is important at work.

6.  Effective communication is important for both employers and employees.

7.  Team spirit is a key to success both for the office and its employees.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I think there is too much competition at work nowadays. Everybody is longing for promotion and often trying to move on to a better position in another company. On the contrary, teamwork aims at a company’s accomplishments. When employees understand they can get ahead with their own company, they cooperate with colleagues and work more effectively to get better common and personal results.

Speaker В. It’s very important to understand people around you. If you are a manager, you’d better take time and listen to your colleagues, employees, face to face, if possible. Pay attention to non-verbal ways of communication, as appropriate gestures and eye contact can do more than even words of praise or criticism. The same piece of advice goes to employees. Explain to your management your decisions in detail and you‘ll get a reputation as a well-balanced person and better career prospects.

Speaker С. I think it is difficult for men and women to work in the same space. Women are more creative and emotional whereas men are more logical and better organized. Women want to feel, men want to think. Any department, if it considers these differences, will be much better off with men and women working separately, without distracting each other, causing conflicts and misunderstandings.

Speaker D. What I dislike about some offices is that there is too much gossip there. It does not depend on who dominates there — men or women. Actually, men are sometimes even worse! It gets on my nerves when people begin to discuss their manager, the latest teambuilding activity or their domestic affairs. It distracts me and is simply unpleasant. To create some personal space and work effectively, I listen to music instead.

Speaker E. I think there should be a law for people not to go to work if they are ill or upset. To work effectively is simply impossible if someone is coughing or wants to scream at you instead of listening to your requests or suggestions. Any manager must ensure that the office environment is calm and appropriate for work. To introduce some relaxation techniques might be a good idea as well.

Speaker F. What is important in any office is that you get a clear explanation of what exactly to do from your management. There should not be any room for confusion or misinterpretation. If instructions can be understood as suggestions, there will not be any result. Instructions in the written form are simply perfect. If you are provided with details of a desirable result, this will be a key to completing the task successfully, I think.

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1.  Many people understand the importance of healthy eating.

2.  Some children know very little about food and cooking.

3.  Good food is very expensive nowadays.

4.  You can improve your eating habits by growing food yourself.

5.  Local food is tastier and better for your health.

6.  People have lost the tradition of family meals.

7.  For many people the quality of food is less important than other things.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. We have a great variety of food available now, but I think we should care a lot more about where our food comes from. I think if people started to buy local and went to farmers’ markets, they would be amazed at how fresh and tasty everything is. Vegetables are the best choice when they are in season, and simple food can be easy to prepare.

Speaker В. There are still people who think that it costs more money than it really does to eat well. It worries me that people are happy to spend thousands of dollars on a car, but don’t want to spend more than 2.50 on a chicken. We all need to be aware of what we are putting in our mouths but we seem to attach far more importance to clothes than food.

Speaker С. When I was a child we used to eat healthy food without thinking about it — you could rarely see preserved or processed food in stores. Big home-cooked family meals were central to my childhood. Nowadays, while some families have kept that tradition, generally we’ve lost a connection with food, and that makes me pessimistic about our eating habits.

Speaker D. No doubt there will always be people who prefer to eat out, and there is a place for ready-made meals, but I believe we’ve started to understand the advantages of simple local produce, and the harm of all these preservatives and chemicals in processed food. We are beginning to realize that freshly prepared ingredients, cooked simply, are much better than ready-made meals.

Speaker E. Growing your own produce is a fantastic way to get better food. You grow what you want and, when you dig it up, it’s on the table an hour later. There are always things you can grow, even if you don’t have a garden or a piece of land — herbs in a pot on your kitchen windowsill will make the difference in any dish you cook because they are so fresh.

Speaker F. We are able to buy much better food then ten years ago, but what is really missing is the culture of cooking at home. We have two generations of children who didn’t stand at their parents’ shoulders and learn how to cook — and a few TV shows are not going to change that. Many children, especially in big cities, don’t know what flour is or where milk comes from.

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1.   I eat little and rather irregularly.

2.   I am trying to get used to everyday healthy activities.

3.  I feel unable to stop myself from eating.

4.  I am afraid of having the same health problems as my relatives do.

5.  I am willing to return to a healthy lifestyle despite being tired.

6.  I am sure that I exercise enough while carrying out my everyday duties.

7.  I feel now like starting a healthy life again.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. Right now I’m trying to find a way to regain a healthy lifestyle despite being busy. I’ve completely lost the athleticism that was a large part of my identity and I can’t stand it any more. Now I’m trying to regain general fitness. So I’ve been biking to work (about 20 minutes) for two months now, trying to get more veggies and whole grain in my life, drinking lots of water, and I’m hoping to start walking more although right now I have to work a lot and usually feel too exhausted after work to do anything else.

Speaker В. My name is Katie, I’m 25 years old, and I started making a conscious effort to develop healthy habits about a year ago. The first thing I did was give up smoking. My goals are mainly to exercise regularly, drink enough water, and eat fruits and veggies daily. I do keep track of what I eat with journaling although I’m not a calorie counter, and I don’t own scales or restrict myself in any way. I just want to be stronger and feel better through trying to meet those goals every day. Now I feel I can do it.

Speaker С. A year or so ago, I was in pretty good shape and paying a lot of attention to my health. I slipped back into inactivity and unhealthy eating for various reasons. I miss what I had, but I’ve had a hard time finding the motivation to return to my usual healthy lifestyle. Spring is just arriving — sunny sky, warmer weather, longer days, green leaves peeking up from last season’s dead grass. The improvement in the weather is lifting my spirits, so I’ve decided to take advantage of the extra energy and design for myself a spring fitness challenge.

Speaker D. I have just realised that at least six days out of seven, I do the amount of exercise that is recommended for those whose goal is a healthy lifestyle, just by walking during my daily routine. About three times a week, I do more, sometimes considerably more.

Despite that, I often do myself down by telling people I don’t exercise at all. I think some part of my brain still believes that because I’m doing it as part of my routine rather than going to any special effort, it can’t be taken into account.

Speaker E. Hi! I’m Alex. I’ve had terribly unhealthy eating habits for the last few years. I never took much time to eat and ended up eating very few meals. I’m trying to develop healthier eating habits, and I wonder what would constitute a balanced meal. For breakfast I eat a bowl of cereal and yogurt. Then grab five pieces of fruit I divide between lunch and dinner. It’s more than I usually eat, but I know there’s still a lot of room for improvement. At the same time I’m worried about going overboard, which can happen very easily for me.

Speaker F. I am 27 years old, and I come from a family of rather overweight people. I’ve been working to live a more healthy and fit lifestyle since last December. Over the past three years, I’ve watched older relatives dealing with serious health problems, and it’s been a wake up call for me to start taking care of myself while I’m young and my state of health hasn’t become worse. I’d like to start a family in the next couple of years, and it would be great to be able to keep up with my children as the years go by.

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1.  I buy only hardback books as they can be used longer.

2.  I have found out that the choice of books read by young people is rather limited.

3.  I read books that give food for thought.

4.  I am fond of books about people who succeed in overcoming difficulties.

5.  I want to convince myself not to keep books I don’t need any more.

6.  I have difficulty getting interested in some books despite their enjoyable language.

7.  I would like to share books with other people.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. Hi! What’s your favourite book? A book that you love because it inspires you, or has changed your life? What I’d like to do is go to a second hand book store, pick up a book that maybe I have read or maybe I haven’t, purchase it, read it, then leave it some place else for someone else to find and read and pass on. I know a lot of times things like that don’t work — people don’t read them or pass them on. But oddly, I can’t explain why, I have the urge to do it. Maybe this happens because I love books and want everyone to try them.

Speaker В. I enjoy one book very much. I have read it at least 20 times and it is always wonderful. Every time I read the novel as if I have no idea of what happens on its pages, and I am never bored with it. It is truly a success story about a woman who managed to do well despite her poor environment. Sometimes the author becomes a bit wordy but it is a stunning memoir. I adore reading memoirs such as these about strong people who endure and do well despite their circumstances. They teach us to be strong and to resist any problems.

Speaker С. I’ve been reading “Bleak House” for some time now, over a month I’d estimate, and probably closer to 6 weeks. I’m halfway through, and I find it difficult to enjoy. Dickens’s convoluted way of getting to the point seems little mollified by the beautiful language, and although the dialogue is thoroughly enjoyable, I can’t help but want to explore other books. This is my first time reading Dickens but I remember feeling this way to a much lesser extent with some other books which didn’t have the lure of language to keep me interested.

Speaker D. At a message board I go to they’ve been polling to see what books everyone has read. The participants are mostly 18 to 22 year old guys who play video games and like reading, so the whole thing is slanted towards high-school curriculum stuff and sci-fi/fantasy. Not exactly scientific or representative of your average American, but still somewhat interesting. I wonder to what extent books can keep young people interested in other parts of the world and if their preferences vary to a greater degree.

Speaker E. I’m going to make & trip to the used book store to get rid of some books I have and probably pick some books up at the same time. The problem is, I’m awful at trying to figure out what books to get rid of. I have many books that I’ve read and probably won’t reread but I have a hard time getting rid of them because the majority of them are hardback, and they cost a lot. The worst ones are books that I haven’t finished but promised to get back to and I think I never will. I’m good at convincing myself to keep books at home.

Speaker F. This might seem a little weird and hard for me to explain, but bear with me. I was checking out movies and books with philosophical concepts, and I came across a list with existentialist concepts. I realized that I’ve seen or read, and enjoyed, most of the stuff on the list. I’ve already read “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky and find it a deep philosophical book that really makes you think when you read it. What I’m looking for now are books that can explain in a simple way what the basics of existentialism are.

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1.  I’m afraid of becoming overweight.

2.  I want a stable financial position.

3.  I might get held at gunpoint.

4.  I’m concerned about my parents.

5.  I want to stay fit for years to come.

6.  I feel upset by my friend’s problems.

7.  I’m anxious to get a decent job.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. What is something that really troubles me? Well, like everyone else these days I worry about earning enough to pay my monthly bills, my rent and all the other current living expenses. I’ want to be secure for the future and make sure I will have everything I need and maybe start saving some money. I am so afraid of losing everything I own.

Speaker В. What do I worry about? Oh, about a lot of different things — money, politics, the weather. But my greatest concern is my mum and dad. I have a good job with a foreign firm and I am living overseas at the moment. I am so worried about them. I’m afraid they won’t be able to deal with all their problems. If anything happens to them when I’m away, I won’t be able to come back home quickly enough to help.

Speaker С. I think my biggest worry today is my career. I’m 26 now and I’ve spent the last few years travelling. Most of my university friends have settled down. They work hard and have made a good start to their careers. So I began to worry that when I go back home I will be too old for companies to want me. What shall I do then? That’s a tough question. I do not want to be unemployed.

Speaker D. Every time I look in the mirror I feel nervous. I am afraid of getting fat as I love pizza and hamburgers. I like shopping a lot and always buy sweets. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. Like any other woman in her thirties, I am really afraid of gaining extra kilograms.

But I just can’t say “no” to cakes and sweets. Who can?!

Speaker Е. What am I afraid of? Well, recently I visited a friend of mine in Shanghai and she made a comment that I thought was very interesting. She said I look as though I have plenty of money. I don’t, but compared to ordinary people in the street I look like I have a lot of money. I am really afraid of someone thinking that I have a lot of money and trying to rob me, especially if they have a gun. I have a little bit of paranoia about guns and robbers.

Speaker F. I guess I worry about the usual things, like getting in shape for the summer or being healthy and fit. I think being healthy is the most important thing. So I exercise regularly and watch what I eat. You know it’s all about getting the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. I need this body to last at least another fifty years.

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1.  The speaker criticizes books on time management.

2.  The speaker believes our schedule shouldn’t ignore personal wishes.

3.  The speaker recommends balancing our weekly activities.

4.  The speaker considers physiology in time management.

5.  The speaker advocates concentration on each task.

6.  The speaker recommends concentrating on one big aim at a time.

7.  The speaker advises doing tasks in order of importance.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. Perhaps the greatest problem that people have today is lack of free time. Whether they work or study, people always seem to have too much to do and too little time to manage it all. The harder they work the more they still have to do. Most people simply react to what is happening around them instead of prioritizing. It’s important to decide which task you should do first, and which can wait and come next. This is a key to good time management.

Speaker В. What is important in time management is finding harmony. In your weekly schedule there must be some time for studies, communicating with relatives and friends, sport, hobbies and so on. Calculate how much time you’ve spent on each sphere of your life weekly. Buying a diary may be of great help in dividing your time more efficiently.

Speaker С. Time is the most valuable thing you have. What’s interesting — it can’t be saved — all work demands time. So managing time is a core skill upon which everything else in life depends. During different periods of your life, set different big goals and priorities. Right now the top one is education. Later there will be other important ones. But each time choose and concentrate on one particular thing that is crucial at the moment!

Speaker D. In your daily life there are so many demands on your time from other people that very little of your time can be used as you choose. Preparing for a test, meeting a deadline with a project can distract you from your personal goals. Have you watched that film you have been interested in for weeks? Have you had a long chat with your granny over the phone? In other words do you find time for doing what you want to do? If not, you should probably reconsider your time management.

Speaker Е. I have read in a book on time management that hard time always pushes out soft time. This means that if you didn’t do something because you didn’t use your time well, you take the necessary time from another activity important for you and this may irritate you. So concentrate on any work you are doing and do not waste minutes. When you work — work hard but play hard too.

Speaker F. Many people believe time is_ not a resource as it only exists in our mind. But I consider time an important resource. It’s a pity it’s wasted because we do not think about our biological rhythm. Why should we all go to school at 8 AM? There are so many people who can really take in information only after lunch! The same activity can take you two hours in the morning and just about half an hour in the evening or vice versa! I always try to use this important concept.

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1.  TV may have a negative effect on learning.

2.  TV should change in the future.

3.  TV can teach a lot.

4.  TV has many functions.

5.  TV can ruin family life.

6.  TV should be switched on and off in time.

7.  TV can be a good friend.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. Ninety-eight per cent of us in Britain have a TV set in our homes and, according to the experts, we rarely turn it off. In fact, the average viewer watches as much as 25 hours a week. Television informs, educates and entertains people. It also influences the way people look at the world and makes them change their views.

Speaker B. Primary school teachers are complaining of youngsters’ inability to concentrate and their need to be constantly entertained. Some students do their homework in front of the television set. Others rush through their homework so they can watch television. It would seem that too much TV is to blame.

Speaker C. Watching too much TV can lead to the ‘lodger’ syndrome. Some husbands come home, sit in front of the TV and simply don’t communicate with their families at all. Even when programmes contain nothing negative, it’s not really a good thing for so many families to spend whole evenings glued to the box.

Speaker D. However, there is another side to the picture. For the lonely, elderly or housebound, television can be a good thing, being a cheap and convenient form of entertainment and a ‘friendly face’ in the house. It can be an ideal way to relax, without necessarily turning you into a TV addict.

Speaker E. Television doesn’t just entertain, of course. There are times when it can be informative and can provide a source of good family conversation, e. g. TV programmes featuring various cultural, historical, political and artistic issues. For example, The National Geographic documentaries have recently become very popular.

Speaker F. Informative, useful, entertaining and relaxing — and yes, banal and boring — television is all of these. But if we’re not selective, surely we have only ourselves to blame. TV can be a part of family life, but when it becomes all of it, maybe that’s the time to reach for the ‘off’ switch.

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1.  The speaker has some time to herself / himself at work.

2.  The speaker hasn’t given up the job because she / he likes dealing with customers.

3.  There is a growing need for the speaker’s services.

4.  Although the job is boring the speaker does it because it is wellpaid.

5.  The speaker enjoys her / his job although she / he doesn’t make good money.

6.  The speaker agrees to do any job because she / he needs money badly.

7.  The speaker likes the environment and the fact that she / he doesn’t have to work too quickly.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. I’ve got a part-time job, which I do in the evening and at weekends. It’s quite a nice job really. I walk my neighbour’s dog. She had a car accident a couple of months ago and still can’t get about very well, so she can’t do it herself. I don’t earn a lot, but I don’t mind because I really love the dog and I enjoy the exercise, except when it’s raining!

Speaker B. I earn some extra money at the weekend by cleaning cars at the local garage. The garage owner is a friend of my dad. I clean the cars which he has for sale on the forecourt. He wants them to look as smart as possible so he can get the best price. The work isn’t very interesting, but it’s quite well-paid. I can usually earn up to thirty pounds, if I work hard — I get paid for each car I clean.

Speaker C. I work in a fish and chip shop on Friday evening and all day Saturday. It’s a pretty terrible job really. It’s so hot and stuffy and my clothes smell of cooking oil even after they’ve been washed! However, the people who regularly come here to buy their favourite dish, are usually friendly and I can have a good laugh with them and talk to them. I think this is the main reason why I haven’t left the job.

Speaker D. I clean windows in my spare time. I started doing it about two years ago. First of all I did the houses near where I live. Most of the work I get is from people who see me cleaning. Luckily, at the present moment more and more people are calling me, asking if I could do their windows as well. I don’t have to advertise to get business. The good thing about the job is that you can do it whenever you feel like it. I like being my own boss.

Speaker E. I earn extra pocket money by babysitting. I do it most evenings for a neighbour. They have a two-year-old boy. He’s normally asleep when I arrive and he doesn’t often wake up during the evening. That’s great, because it means I can do my homework undisturbed. I don’t earn a lot- about three or four pounds for an evening, but it’s not really like work. If my neighbour doesn’t come home until very late — after midnight — I earn a lot more then.

Speaker F. I have a gardening job. I work for an old lady near where I live. She has a really beautiful garden surrounded by a high wall. She’s too old now to do any work herself, but she loves to have the garden looking beautiful. I normally work there on Sundays. The biggest job is cutting the grass. Unfortunately she doesn’t have an electric mower, so it’s quite hard work and takes a long time. I like being in the fresh air and working as fast as I want.

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1.  The speaker liked the panorama in front of the hotel.

2.  The speaker talks about having problems with police on arrival.

3.  The speaker had a hard time finding his way to the hotel.

4.  The speaker tells how to save money while visiting an expensive place.

5.  The speaker gives advice on choosing a place to stay at while travelling.

6.  The speaker found the view from his hotel room awful.

7.  The speaker was surprised at some norms of cultural behaviour in the country he was visiting.

Расшифровка записи

Speaker A. On my arrival in Tokyo, I spent a night in a traditional Japanese hotel. It was a terrible experience. My window opened onto the narrow dirty street, which lay between two buildings. The opposite building was so close that I could touch it. I looked out of the window and saw the sky, which was as grey as the building in front of me.

Speaker B. We stayed at the Bay Island hotel, which was a pleasure, as it faced the sea. The colour of the sea was blue, a colour that I had not seen in any of the beaches in India. It was calm and beautiful. I was happy about the fact that we were going to spend 10 days in such a beautiful place. All we had to do was sit in the open restaurant, look at the sea, enjoy the cool breeze and feel good.

Speaker C. During my trips I had to sleep in hotels, hostels, at Bed and Breakfasts and at friends’. Staying at your friends’ is the best thing to my mind, but if you don’t have any friends who are willing to give you a bed for the night, you should go to Bed and Breakfast. Those which I visited had nice rooms and very friendly hosts who were very proud of their home town.

Speaker D. We landed in Guatemala City at 10 p.m. I went through customs and hoped to see someone from the nearby hotel. I had booked my first night there. But nobody was meeting me. I didn’t know the way to the hotel, so I got general directions about how to get there from a policeman. It was about 200 meters from the airport. They had not received my booking, but luckily they found a room for me.

Speaker E. On my arrival in Japan one of my friends took me to a performance of Japanese classical dance and music. My attention was taken more by the evening audience than by what was going on the stage. It was very strange that there were almost no men at the concert. Later I found out that Japanese women, even if they are married, usually go out by themselves, or with their female friends. It is the norm here.

Speaker F. I can say that staying in hotels in Hong Kong as well as shopping costs a lot. However, visitors can have a wonderful time and they don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money. I always stay at a youth hostel, which is much cheaper than staying at a hotel. I have my meals either at a fast food restaurant or cook breakfast myself at the hostel. One of my favourite experiences in Hong Kong was taking a noisy tram back to the hostel from the horse races at night.