Module 1

A: Now, in our careers segment, I'm joined by Wendy Philips who works as a fashion designer. Wendy, when did you first start designing clothes?

B: Ever since I was a young girl I've been interested in fashion. I can even remember going to primary school dressed in colourful dresses that I borrowed from my sister! But it was only when I was in my final year of secondary school that I started creating my own clothes. Then, soon afterwards, I started a university course in fashion design.

A: And after you graduated did you immediately find a job in fashion design?

B: Unfortunately not. I sent out dozens of applications, but rarely even got a reply. So, after six months of searching, I started working in a clothes shop, simply because I had to pay my bills.

A: So how did you eventually find work as a designer?

B: Well, everything changed when, one day, a customer asked me to help her choose a dress. I was shocked by her impolite behaviour, but tried my best to answer all her questions. Anyway, it turned out to be Nora James, the owner of Nora Fashions, the clothes company. She was impressed by my knowledge of fashion and asked me for my number. Two months later, I started working for her as a designer and have been there ever since.

A: That's amazing. So, what's a normal day like for a fashion designer?

B: Well, we bring out new lines of clothes twice a year, so before those deadlines I often work 16-hour days. Usually, though, I work 9-5 and I get three weeks' holiday in the summer. Generally, Nora, the owner, is a laidback person who promotes a stress-free workplace.

A: And what design are you most proud of in your career?

B: That would be the blue floral-patterned dress I designed entirely on my own for our spring/summer catalogue in 2010. It was only my second month in the job, so I didn't expect it to be such a hit. In fact, the film actor Pamela Hughes chose to wear the dress for an awards ceremony in Hollywood!

A: So, what advice would you give anyone thinking of becoming a fashion designer?

B: The fashion industry is very competitive, and, unfortunately, the right people don't always get the jobs. For example, you might have two degrees, and lots of work experience but still not find any work. The key is knowing the right people in the industry. That's what will really get you ahead.

A: Wendy, thanks so much for speaking to us today.

Module 2

Girl: Hi, Richard. How are you?

Boy: I'm OK, Jane, just a bit anxious about the football match tomorrow. It's the cup final, so I really want to play well and not let my team-mates down.

Girl: Didn't you hear? The match has been postponed because the pitch is flooded. Hasn't anyone called you about it yet?

Boy: Well, Coach Jones probably tried to, but I left my mobile at home this morning, so he couldn't reach me. That's a pity. Has the match been rescheduled yet?

Girl: I heard about it from Stan and he says it will be played on Wednesday evening, as long as the pitch has dried out by then, of course.

Boy: It's a pity that it's located so close to the river. With so much rain over the last few days, the river probably overflowed its banks and flooded the surrounding area.

Girl: You're probably right. But it's not just the football team that has been affected by this. More seriously, I've heard that a lot of houses in the area have been flooded. I don't think any residents have needed to leave their homes, but many homes must have suffered terrible damage.

Boy: That's awful. And the terrible thing is that this continues to happen every year. I wish the town council would do something about it. Surely, they could build barriers so that floodwater from the river wouldn't reach the town.

Girl: My father says the exact same thing. Actually, he wrote a letter to the mayor suggesting the idea last week. He hasn't got a reply yet, though.

Boy: In that case, maybe he should start a petition. We need to let the town council know that we won't be ignored.

Girl: You've got a point. I'll talk to my dad about it this evening.

Module 3

Good morning. My name is Harry Wright and I'm the editor of the Newberry Herald, Newberry's number one daily newspaper. Right now, we're looking for a local teenager to fill a very exciting position at our newspaper. We require someone aged 14-18 to write articles about teen life in Newberry. Each Wednesday, one 400-word article will be published in the culture section of the newspaper. Although you will be the only writer of the articles, you will work closely with senior writers in the newspaper who will continually give you advice and instructions.

The articles can be about three main topics. Firstly, you can write about education - for instance how teens in Newberry cope with exam pressure. Also, we'd like articles about entertainment, like what films or books teens in Newberry are interested in today. And lastly, you can write about sports and hobbies. For instance, we'd like to find out what teens think of the sports facilities in Newberry and what improvements could be made to them.

If you have good writing skills and feel you could write about the above topics, then we'd love to hear from you. To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter explaining why you think you'd be a suitable candidate for the job to our human resources department. Our address is The Newberry Herald, 45 Trimpton Street, that's spelled T-R-I-M-P-T-O-N, Street, Newberry 5PL 7JR.

The closing date for applications will be Monday the 6th January. Applications arriving after that date will not be accepted. We will then call a select group of candidates for an interview on Saturday 18th January. Then, the selected candidate should be free for a training day on Saturday 25th January. Wages for the job will be £70 per article.

If you have any questions about the job we'll be glad to hear from you. You can either telephone us on 0163 55934 or email us at [e-mail].

Module 4

A: I'm joined now by the sitcom writer Penelope Morgan. Penelope, a lot of listeners will know you from your career as a stand-up comedian. Is that something you've had to stop since you started working in television?

B: Yes, being a stand-up comedian involves going from one city to the other, and I don't have the time for that anymore. I still sometimes hang out at comedy clubs in London, though. I enjoy catching up with old friends there and checking out the latest acts.

A: So, was writing for TV something you had always planned to do?

B: Not, exactly. I wasn't making a good living doing stand-up, so I had always planned to move on at some point, but all I thought I'd be able to do was get an office job somewhere. Two years ago, though, a producer from Channel 5 saw one of my shows, and asked me if I'd be a writer for one of their sitcoms called Lucky Lane. It offered far more money than stand-up, so I immediately accepted.

A: And did you enjoy that experience?

B: Well, the hours weren't long, and the deadlines were comfortable, but I found it really frustrating writing as part of a team. So, after the season ended, I was ready to quit. That's when I was offered my own show.

A: Yes, it's called Standing Up, and the first episode aired last night. Were you happy with the reviews it got?

B: Well, annoyingly, I haven't had a chance to read the newspapers yet, but from what I heard most critics liked it. Sometimes, critics can be very cruel if they don't like something, so I was happy to hear that that wasn't the case.

A: And for those that missed it, tell us a little about what the show's about.

B: Well, they say to write about what you know, so that's exactly what I did. The show's about a stand-up comedian who has to balance her home life with a young daughter and her career on the stage. I suppose you could say it's more dramatic than most sitcoms, though. There are a lot of laughs, but a few tears, too.

A: And do you have any idea whether you will get a second season yet?

B: Not, yet. There's been a lot of shows that have started well, but people stopped watching mid-season, so we have to wait to see if people like the show over a long period of time. Actually, I've been told there won't be a decision until this season has finished.

A: Well, I loved it and can't wait for the next episode. Penelope, thanks a lot for coming in.

Module 5

A: Welcome back to Reading FM. I'm joined now by Tara Cartwright, the founder of the children's charity, Box of Hope. Tara, what makes your charity different from others around today?

B: Well, unlike most charities, we don't ask for cash donations. Instead, we ask the public to fill a shoebox with items to send to a disadvantaged child abroad.

A: That sounds very interesting. What kinds of things do you advise people to fill their shoeboxes with?

B: Well, I always say that it's best to put a mixture of items. On the one hand, it's a good idea to include practical things like toothpaste and a scarf, but we also encourage people to give toys and games, fun items that children will enjoy but which their parents cannot afford to buy them.

A: And is there anything that people are not allowed to include?

B: Yes, there's quite a long list, but most of it should be common sense. Obviously, you shouldn't put dangerous items like fireworks or sharp objects, but people are sometimes surprised that we also don't allow money or bottles of liquid. Food is allowed, but only if it is in a tin.

A: So, once the shoeboxes are collected, what happens then?

B: Well, first volunteers check each box to see if they only include permitted items, and then they are transported in vans to our main warehouse in London. At first, we used to send the boxes abroad by plane, but in the last year, we've started transporting them overland by lorry, instead.

A: And has the charity been a success?

B: Definitely. In just four years, we've already sent 4 million shoeboxes to 26 countries in Europe and Africa. And every year, more people are getting involved. In fact, whereas once we collected boxes just twice a year, now we collect boxes each month in 30 locations around the country!

A: That's wonderful. And before you go Tara; is there a collection point in Reading?

B: Yes, there is. Actually, the first Box of Hope collection in Reading will take place tomorrow evening. I spoke to the mayor in the town hall yesterday, and he kindly gave us permission to use the town's old post office, across the street from Mayfield Secondary School. It's basically an abandoned building now, so it's exactly what we needed.

A: I hope it's a huge success. Thanks for joining us today, Tara.

Module 6

A: I'm delighted to welcome to the show now Brian Stokes, chairperson of the Logan Film Festival which will take place this weekend. Brian, tell us how the festival started.

B: Well, the festival was first held in 2008. In that year, the town's arts centre opened, so the town council decided to organise a festival to mark the occasion. The fact that the festival attracted so many tourists and young filmmakers to the town was an added bonus.

A: But the Logan Film Festival isn't a normal film festival, is it?

B: No, it's not. In fact, it's the only international horror film festival in Scotland. Plus, another unusual thing about the festival is that all the films we show are no more than a quarter of an hour in length. That means that even amateur filmmakers can get involved, because you don't need so much money to make a short film.

A: But, since this is a horror film festival, are the films only suitable for adults?

B: Not at all. The festival runs for three days beginning on Friday, but all the films showing on Saturday will be kid-friendly. There will be lots of animations featuring friendly ghosts and vampires with lots of laughs but very few frights. Then, on Sunday, we'll return to the more adult-orientated scary films.

A: That's great. And will there be other activities for people to do?

B: Yes, on Sunday afternoon we'll be running three workshops. These workshops will be a chance for ordinary people to learn about how films are made. They're most useful for people who are thinking of pursuing a career as a director, producer or scriptwriter.

A: Brian, will there be a prize for the best film in the festival?

B: Yes, we'll choose the best film on Sunday evening. The prize is a high-definition video camera with headphones that's worth over £5,000. We usually present a trophy too, but unfortunately, last year's winner failed to return it.

A: I see. And how can locals buy tickets to see the films?

B: There are a number of options. To get access to all the showings for the entire three days you can pay £25, while it's £10 if you'd like to see films for one day only. We've also got daily family tickets for £20.

A: Thanks for coming in today, Brian. Now, …

Module 7

A: Hi Lisa, I didn't see you at table tennis practice yesterday. Did you forget about it?

B: No, Ted, I was sick. I still don't feel well, actually. I shouldn't even be out right now, but I was getting too bored at home, so I decided to take a walk.

A: Really? I had no idea. What exactly is the matter?

B: Well, at first I thought it was a cold or the flu, but it turns out I got food poisoning. And I know where I got it from, too. Do you know Mario's, the new pizza restaurant directly across from the post office in Dame Street? I ate there on Friday night and haven't been feeling well since.

A: That's terrible. I was actually planning to go there tonight!

B: You definitely shouldn't. I've never felt so ill in my life! The following morning, I had a terrible stomachache and was even sick. I didn't have a temperature, but I still felt awful.

A: So when did you go to the doctor's?

B: My dad drove me there that afternoon. She told me there wasn't much she could do for me, though, so she didn't prescribe any medicine. She just told me to stay in bed for a few days and not eat any heavy foods.

A: And what about the restaurant? Did you call the manager to complain?

B: Yes, I did. She was really apologetic and offered us a free meal whenever we go back. I really don't want to, though. I don't think I could ever eat there again.

A: I understand what you mean. Hopefully, they will be more careful in the future, though. My sister used to work as a waitress while she was in college and she said that many restaurant kitchens have really bad hygiene. If you heard some of her stories, you might never eat out again!

B: Well, I guess it isn't that bad. There are still a lot of nice restaurants I'd happily eat at in town. Right now, though, I don't have the appetite for anything!

A: Well, I hope you feel better soon.

B: Thanks, Ted. I hope to see you at practice next week.

Module 8

1 What time will the flight leave?

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is an announcement for passengers on the Air Atlantic flight IE134 to Rome. Unfortunately, the flight will not leave at 3:15 as scheduled because of bad weather in Italy. This means we have to wait half an hour before we can take off. Our new departure time then is 3:45. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. Passengers who have a connecting flight in Rome should contact the information desk. Thank you.

2 How will the man travel to the airport?

Man: Hello, I'm checking out of the hotel tomorrow and I'd like to know what's the best way for me to get to the airport?

Woman: Well, you can take a bus or a train. The bus stop is just outside the hotel while there's a train station just five minutes away.

Man: But do they run throughout the night? You see, my flight is at 4 am.

Woman: Oh, in that case, you'll need to take a taxi. Public transport here stops at midnight.

3 What kind of holiday do they decide to go on?

Man: Look at this holiday brochure, Kate. This travel agency has some great deals on ski holidays in Switzerland.

Woman: Not skiing again! Why don't we go to a warmer climate this year instead?

Man: But you know how much I hate beach holidays. I find it boring to just swim and sunbathe all day.

Woman: I'm not talking about a beach holiday. We could go sightseeing, just as long as it's somewhere warm.

Man: OK, that sounds like a good compromise.

4 What has the girl forgotten in the taxi?

Hi Mum, it's me. I'm calling on my friend Pam's mobile because my phone is out of credit. Anyway, I've got a bit of a problem. I think I left my laptop in a taxi I took this morning. I can't remember the license plate number of the taxi, so I have no idea how to contact the driver. Do you have any suggestions? I guess I should be glad it wasn't my purse at least. Anyway, call me back on this number when you can.

5 What did the woman buy in the souvenir shop?

Man: What did you buy in the souvenir shop, Wendy?

Woman: Well, I was looking for a T-shirt for Brian but I didn't see anything I liked. But just as I was about to leave I saw this lovely mug. I think he'll really like it.

Man: Are you sure he wouldn't prefer a book or something like that?

Woman: No, with all the books he has to read for college, I don't think he reads for fun these days.

6 Where has the woman been in the morning?

Man: Where were you all morning, Pam? I was waiting for you by the swimming pool but you never turned up.

Woman: Didn't you read my note, Alan? I decided to visit the museum in the town centre.

Man: Oh, really? Was it interesting?

Woman: Actually, it's closed on Mondays, so I drank a coffee in a café instead.

Man: OK, well maybe we can go to the museum together tomorrow instead.

Woman: Sounds good.

7 What will the weather be like tomorrow?

Man: What would you like to do tomorrow, Karen? I think it would be a good idea to go hiking in the forest outside the resort.

Woman: Haven't you heard the latest weather forecast, yet? I don't think it will be suitable weather for hiking.

Man: What do you mean? Is it going to rain?

Woman: No, but it's supposed to be really windy. I don't think it would be safe to go hiking.

Man: I had no idea. I thought that this sunny weather we're having would continue all week.

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