A reporter from a local newspaper is interviewing some students on the subject of students and money.
Reporter: Excuse me. Are you a student?
Student 1: Yes, I am.
Reporter: Forgive my asking you, but do you have to take a part-time job in the ho1idays?
Student 1: Not really. My parents are fairly well off so I get an allowance from my father.
Reporter: You're lucky, aren't you?
Student 1: I suppose so.
Reporter: What about you? Are your parents wealthy?
Student 2: No, certainly not.
Reporter: Do you work during the holidays?
Student 2: Well, last Christmas I did two weeks as temporary postman, then in the summer I spent four weeks fruit picking, and I do a bit of baby-sitting, so I manage.
Reporter: Thank you.
My name is Robert. I am eighteen years old and I am French. I am not married. Sylvia is small and fair. She is seventeen and she is a student.
The tall boy with fair hair is eighteen years old and he comes from Sweden. He works in a record shop. The small boy with dark hair is seventeen. He is Spanish, but he does not live in Spain. He lives in France. He works in a hotel.
—I think a doctor should be a friendly person.
—Yes. I agree.
—Would you like something to drink?
—Just coffee, please.
—Are you sure?
—Quite certain. Thank you.
—What are you doing in New York?
—I'm writing a story for YES magazine.
—I see.
—What are you doing in Cairo?
—I'm visiting my parents.
—Really!
—Why are you visiting HongKong?
—I'm just on holiday.
—Why are you in London?
—I'm here on business.
—Oh.
—Thanks a lot for putting me up.
—That's OK.
—Do come and see me when you're in New York.
—Sure. That'll be great.
—Have you heard the news?
—No.
—There's been a terrible air crash.
—Oh dear! Where was it?
—A town called Banford.
—Excuse me, how do you say that word, C-U-S-T-O-M-S?
—Customs.
—I see. Thank you.
—Would you like some more potatoes?
—I'm sorry I can't manage any more. Thank you.
Male: Pubs? You must have good people. If the people are good, the pub will be good.
Male: You must have a good landlord, and people with a sense of humor behind the bar. If the landlord is bad, the pub will be bad.
Female: I love old pubs. If it's one of those modern places, I won't go in.
Male: And a good pub must have good beer. If the beer's no good, people will look for another place.
Female: I won't go if there isn't a garden. I have children, and if the pub doesn't have a garden or family room, we can't go in.
My grandfather used to have a beautiful gold pocket watch. He wore it on a fine gold chain across the front of his waistcoat, and when I was small he promised to leave it to me in his will.
"When I'm gone," he said, "this is going to be yours."
Unfortunately that will never happen now. About three months ago, my grandfather came up to London to visit us. The first Sunday morning after he arrived, my youngest son said he wanted to go to the park.
"We'll do better than that," said my grandfather, "we'll go and feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square." So off they went. They got home about tea-time and my grandfather was looking very upset.
"My watch," he said, "it's gone. Someone must have stolen it while we were feeding the pigeons."
My name is Daniel. I am French. I live in a small town. I work in a hotel, but I do not live in the hotel. I live with my parents. My home is near the hotel, so I walk to work every day.
There is some sugar, there is some coffee and there is a lot of tea, but there is not much jam. There are some tomatoes, but there are not any eggs or biscuits and there is not much milk. So we want jam, eggs, biscuits and milk.
Jurg: Mrs. Scott ...
Mrs. Scott: Yes?
Jurg: I'm afraid I've had an accident.
Mrs. Scott: Oh, dear, what's happened?
Jurg: I've spilt my coffee.
Mrs. Scott: Never mind. Here's a cloth.
Klaus is using the launderette for the first time.
Klaus: Excuse me, do you know how this works?
Housewife: Yes. Put the washing inside ... shut the door ... the money goes in here, then when the machine starts you have to put the soap powder in through here.
Klaus: Is that all?
Housewife: Yes, you don't have to do anything else until the machine stops.
Klaus: Thank you.
Terry: Frank's getting married.
James: Is he really?
Terry: Yes he is.
James: I don't believe it.
Terry: It's true.
James: Who's he marrying?
Terry: A girl he met on holiday in Spain, I think.
James: Good heavens ... where are they going to live?
A: Do you love me?
B: I'm very fond of you.
A: Yes, but do you love me?
B: Uh ... You mean a lot to me.
A: Why won't you answer my question?
B: What question?
A: Do you love me? Come on! I want to know.
B: I care for you very deeply. You know that.
A: That isn't the same thing!
B: What kind of answer do you expect?
A: The truth! I want the truth!
B: How can I possibly answer such a question?
Do you remember Sally Green, the swimming star? She was the girl who broke all the records at the last Olympics. Where is she now? Last week our reporter, Tom Parker, went to see Sally in her Californian home.
Tom: Is it true that you don't swim at all now?
Sally: I'm afraid so. I'm too old.
Tom: But you are only twenty!
Sally: That's too old for a swimmer. If I swam in an international competition now, I wouldn't win. So I'd rather not swim at all.
Tom: But don't you enjoy swimming?
Sally: I used to, when I was small. But if you enter for big competitions you have to work very hard. I used to get up at 6 am to go to the pool. I had to train before school, after school and at weekends. I swam thirty-five miles every week!
Tom: But you were famous at fifteen. And look at all those cups.
Sally: Would you like to polish them? It's true that I have some wonderful memories. I enjoyed visiting other countries, and the Olympics were very exciting. But I missed more important things. While other girls were growing up, I was swimming. What can I do now?
There is a small shop at the end of our road. I buy my newspaper there every Sunday. This is the only shop that is open on a Sunday, so it is always very busy. They sell milk, eggs, biscuits, tea and coffee. You can get aspirins, toothpaste or a writing pad there. It is a nice little shop.
This evening I am going to the cinema. I sometimes go with Beatriz, but this evening I am going alone. Beatriz is nice, but she talks a lot and when I go to the cinema I like to watch the film. The film I am going to is an old one, but it is very good. It is a Hitchcock film.
Sophie: Here's some coffee.
George: Oh, fantastic ... er ... is there any sugar?
Sophie: Sugar ... yes, of course ... here you are.
George: Thanks ... er ...
Sophie: What's the matter now?
These: Er ... are there any chocolate biscuits?
Sophie: No, there aren't.
George: Oh ...
Kathy: Where do you live?
David: Near Victoria Station.
Kathy: In a flat or a house?
David: In a flat. Houses are terribly expensive.
Kathy: What's your flat like?
David: It's small and the building is old, but it's comfortable. It's very near my office.
Christine: When did you buy that new necklace?
Libby: I didn't buy it. It was a present.
Christine: Oh, who gave it to you?
Libby: A friend.
Christine: Anybody I know?
Libby: Don't ask so many questions.
Tom and Anna saw a film yesterday.
Tom: It was exciting, wasn't it?
Anna: Yes, it was.
Tom: Charles Bronson was good, wasn't he?
Anna: Yes, he always is.
Tom: I thought the girl was good too.
Anna: Did you?
Eustace: What are you doing?
Luanda: I'm packing.
Eustace: Why?
Luanda: Because I'm leaving.
Eustace: You're not.
Lucinda: Yes, I am. I'm catching the first train tomorrow.
Instance: But, I ...
Luanda: ... and I'm not coming back.
Eustace: Oh, oh ... where are you going?
Lucinda: To ... to ... Hawaii.
Eustace: Oh darling.
Phillip: Excuse me, Mr. Jones. Can you help me?
Mr. Jones: Of course. What's the problem?
Pall: Well, I have to wear an overall but I can't find one.
Mr. Jones: That's easy. Why don't you look in the cupboard besides the washbasin? You'll find one there.
(sound of phone ringing)
Jean: 7824145. Jean Williamson speaking.
Tom: Oh, it's you, Jean. Sorry I had to rush off this morning. How are the boys?
Jean: I'm taking them to the doctor at twelve o'clock, but I'm sure they're going to be all right.
Tom: That's good. What about you?
Jean: Oh, I'm fine now. I'm going to bake a birthday cake for tomorrow. And ... I've got a camera for Peter and some records for Paul.
Tom: You spoil them. I'm going to open a savings account for them. They need to learn how to save money.
My grandfather lives with us. He is seventy years old and I like talking to him. Every day I go for a walk with him in the park. My grandfather has a dog. The dog's name is Nelson. Nelson is old and he has very short legs and bad eyes. But my grandfather likes him very much.
I have a small black and white television and I can get a good picture. But my brother has got a color television. It is bigger, heavier and more complicated than mine. My brother gets a better picture on his television than I do on mine. So when there is something very good on TV, I usually go and see my brother.
Instructor: Listen to these people. They are all taking things to be repaired. Of course, they want to know how much it will cost and how long it will take. Listen to their questions and write the answers you hear. Here is an example.
Woman: How much will it cost to repair this typewriter?
Male Assistant: About a pound.
Woman: That's not bad. But how long will it take?
Male Assistant: Only about a week.
Instructor: Look at the answers the assistant gives his customer. The first answer is 'about a pound.' The second answer is 'about a week.' Now listen to these dialogues and write the missing words in your book.
Dialogue A:
Man: Can you give me an estimate to repair this bicycle?
Female Assistant: I think it'll cost about twelve or thirteen pounds.
Man: And how long will it take?
Female Assistant: A fortnight, more or less.
Dialogue B:
Woman: Would you have a look at this television set, please?
Female Assistant: Yes, of course. Hmmm. How long have you had it?
Woman: About eight years. Can you tell me how much it'll cost to repair it?
Female Assistant: Well, the set's very old. It'll cost about fifty pounds. It's cheaper to buy a new one.
Dialogue C:
Man: How much do you think it'll cost to repair this typewriter?
Female Assistant: Let me see. It's a 1960 model. About twenty pounds, I'm afraid.
Man: That's rather a lot. And how long will it take?
Female Assistant: About a month.
Man: Thank you. I'd like to think about it.
Instructor: Listen again to the customer from the typewriter shop. He thinks twenty pounds is rather a lot but he needs a typewriter... Then he remembers his friend, Tony. Tony has several typewriters. Bob, the customer, has an idea. He meets his friends, Tony. Listen to their conversation.
Dialogue D:
Tony: Hello, Bob. What's that heavy parcel you're carrying?
Bob: It's my old typewriter. I've just been to the shop. The assistant says it'll cost about twenty pounds to repair.
Tony: That's rather a lot. What are you going to do?
Bob: Well, you've got several typewriters. Could you lend me one?
Tony: I'll have to think about it.
Instructor: Frank and Peter want new bicycles. Petrol is very expensive so they both want to cycle to work. They are looking at advertisements.
Frank: What about this Curzon bike. It's very cheap. Only eighty pounds.
Peter: Yes, but the Anderson bike is even cheaper. It's sixty-five pounds.
Frank: Hmmm. How old is the Anderson one?
Peter: It's a 1977 model.
Frankie: The Curzon is a 1979 model. It's newer.
Instructor: Frank and Peter are still looking at advertisements. They can't decide which bike to buy.
Peter: The Anderson bike looks very comfortable.
Frank: Yes, but the Curzon looks bigger.
Pedro: I don't want a big bike. I want a comfortable one.
Frank: All right. The Anderson bike is good. But the Curzon is Better.
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