B2 FIRST

Audio scripts Exam Essentials

B2 FIRST 6
Extra Test 1 As soon as we took off, the basket started swaying from side
to side, which took a while to get used to, but it was no major
44 PART 1 concern, really. Apart from the slight creaking that caused,
there wasn’t a sound to be heard. After doing quite a bit of
1
flying in commercial planes, I think that’s what stunned me
A: Are you looking forward to the music class tomorrow?
most about this flight. Drifting along with the wind helped me
Remember some professional musicians are coming to do
chill out – I got real peace of mind knowing there was nothing
a drumming workshop with us.
to do but sit back! I think it made one or two of the other
B: Oh, yeah, I’d forgotten about that. I’ve never done any
passengers a bit nervous, but the operator had everything
drumming before. It’s not that I mind having a go, and I
perfectly in order.
suppose it’s not too technical, but aren’t we supposed to
be giving a performance for the rest of the school at the
end of it? I’m not really into getting up on stage in front of 7
everyone – I could totally mess it up. A: Have you heard about high intensity training? There was a
A: Don’t worry! It’s new for all of us and no one will expect us programme on about it last night.
to be perfect – it’s all about having fun! B: You mean the regime where you just do three minutes of
exercise a week and that’s supposed to be enough to keep
2 you fit? I can’t see how that could possibly work, do you?
A: How was your shopping trip? A: I had my doubts about it initially – though the scientist on
B: Well, I wasn’t looking for anything myself as I’d got that the programme did a good job of explaining things. Cycling
new coat last week, but I’d promised Mum I’d help her as fast as you can for three minutes must be exhausting!
find an outfit for the wedding she and Dad are going to. I B: Do you really think so? It can’t be too challenging to do
knew it was a bad idea – not because of Mum, of course, three minutes a week, can it?
but because I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist treating A: I guess it wouldn’t be too hard to keep up.
myself once we got into town. Which is why I’d actually
given myself a small budget, despite what I spent last time. 8
Anyway, it ended up being a successful trip – Mum got a I remember the magazine used to come out on Fridays, and
really nice suit and I came back with a cool pair of earrings! every Friday after school I’d race round to the newsagent’s
and buy a copy, and then spend all evening reading it. It was
3 aimed at girls exactly like me; it gave you ideas how to choose
I got a sports car as soon as I could afford it, and it wasn’t accessories, how to wear make-up and had information about
really very economical, but I decided I could live with that. the latest trends in fashion. The only thing it didn’t have was
However, after a few weeks I got a job further away from interviews with pop stars and free posters! I sent in a story
home, and I realised it was the wrong car for long journeys; it once that I’d written for it – I was convinced it’d get published
was too noisy, there wasn’t enough leg room, the suspension as I thought it was a great story. I never heard anything back
was broken and you could feel every bump in the road. That’s from them, though!
why I decided to sell it. I’ve still got to get from A to B, though,
and I’ve got my eye on something at the car showroom. I’m B2 FIRST
going to go and test drive it later. Extra Test 1
4 44 PART 2
Hello, I wonder if you could help me? I’m in room 447 – I just Thank you everyone for attending this presentation about the
checked in this morning – and there seems to be something new college. My name’s Linda Brown and I’m the director
wrong with the radiators – they won’t come on, so it’s very of the college. I’d like to start with some basic information.
cold in here. I tried turning the control knob, but it simply We’re planning on holding the opening ceremony on April
won’t move. Could you send someone to have a look at it, 21st with a view to starting summer classes on June 15th. That
please? Oh, and could you tell me how to operate the TV? gives us enough time in between to make any last-minute
I’ve been trying to follow the instructions for the control but improvements and adds a bit of extra time to the schedule, just
I seem to be doing something wrong. Everything else seems in case.
fine – I had a problem with getting the door to lock but I’ve It’s hard to say at this moment exactly how many students are
worked it out! likely to enrol for the summer school, but there’s certainly been
a lot of interest, especially after the series of adverts we did on
5 the radio. We were confident those would be more effective
A: So how many kids from your class are going on this trip? than TV promotions as people tend to change channels in the
B: Practically everyone’s going, Dad! We go on a guided tour breaks between programmes – less likely on the radio, we
of the city, including the Eiffel Tower and a boat trip on the thought. So, I would hope we’ll have plenty of people signing
Seine, and then we’re back in London by Sunday afternoon, up for courses through that.
so I’ll be home early on Sunday night.
We’re hoping to attract some useful publicity at the opening
A: Oh, I have no doubt the activities will be worthwhile. Paris
ceremony, and our marketing director has been working
is a lovely city and it’s not the expense that’s bothering
very hard on this. We thought it was important to request the
me either – I just want to make sure you have enough
services of someone who works within the community to
supervision and won’t be spending all day wandering
declare the college officially open, and who could be better
about on your own.
than the mayor? We’re pretty pleased he’s agreed as he’s
B: You’re kidding! Every minute of our time is going to be
proving to be very popular in the town.
organised!

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PHOTOCOPIABLE
We’ve also invited a number of other local figures to get look forward to the evening after a day spent walking from one
involved. We’re thrilled to announce that the footballer Harry end of the city to another to see the various sights. It’s a huge
Watson, who comes from the area, has agreed to stand up and city, but it’s a fun place and the people are so friendly.
give a short talk – we’re hoping he’ll be a popular draw! We’ve
also asked along a number of business investors and other 3
VIPS from the area. Well, for me the attraction of a city is its inhabitants. In New
The aim of the opening is to get local people signing up for York the fact that the people there are from such different
courses – we plan to do that by involving them in all sorts of cultural backgrounds makes it a really exciting place to be.
ways. For instance, as far as possible, we’re going to have local I think you have to have a sense of humour to get by as a
experts giving classes here instead of academics who have tourist in New York. It’s a big place to navigate and you’re
little connection with the area. We’ll have the chief accountant bound to end up heading in the wrong direction away from
from a local business teaching accountancy classes – that kind the museum you wanted to visit and going towards the central
of thing. shopping district instead! Not that there’s anything wrong with
shopping – or sitting down for a good meal afterwards in one
We’ve decided to place importance on practical subjects at
of the superbly-located restaurants.
this college, to attract students who may not be interested in
a more theoretical kind of course. Basically, we’re hoping to
get students who are keen on developing their skills – perhaps 4
people who are already working. We’ve taken a very flexible I’m not so keen on some aspects of big city life, but I do
approach about the students we’re going to accept. Many enjoy the facilities that only big cities have to offer. In artistic
people who don’t come out of school with the best grades terms, New York is absolutely splendid, with a wide variety of
may well have ended up in jobs they don’t really enjoy. These exhibitions and a very active cultural life. That’s the best thing
people have a great deal of potential and many of them would about the city for me. The buildings are magnificent of course
relish the opportunity to study – we want them to enjoy the and there’s a wide range of activities for people of any age, I
benefits of studying at a higher level, and we’re prepared to can see that. There’s certainly a lot of life in the streets, though
give them the chance to do so. I’m not really a big walker and prefer to use public transport to
get around between sights or shops.
Our admissions policy will be to accept students who
didn’t have the qualifications required for entry into more
5
established colleges. We’re pretty sure a lot of young people
I love New York. I remember being just stunned by the
will be tempted to enrol. We want to attract people who
skyscrapers and that magical view of the Statue of Liberty the
wouldn’t normally think about enrolling for higher education.
first time I visited ... Now I’ve been there a few times, I think
Something else we believe will boost numbers is our newly- what I like most is the dry wit of the people there. It’s that clever
opened applications office right in the middle of the town to type of humour you get in big cities where people live together
create interest. We think it’s a great idea to provide visibility for in a crowded place. Sitting on a bench watching the locals go
the college, rather than people having to go out of their way to about their daily routine is fascinating – well, I say locals but
reach the registrations office here at the college itself. there are people in New York from all over the world. I’m not a
In addition, should members of the public require further big shopper, but I find some of the gift shops amusing.
information about the college, they can visit our website for a
full description of what we do. That’s where you can also ask for B2 FIRST
a brochure with all the details supplied online to be sent directly
to your home. I’ll give you more information about that a little
Extra Test 1
later on but for now, does anyone have any questions so far? 44 PART 4
Interviewer: This morning, we’ve got Ray Garrett in the studio.
B2 FIRST Ray, how did you become a professional deep-sea diver?
Extra Test 1 Ray Garrett: Well, when I left school, I got a job in a lawyer’s
44 PART 3 office, and by the time I was 25, I’d worked my way up to the
position of office manager. I was good at my job, and it never
1 occurred to me to leave or do something else. When our
I’ve only been there a couple of times with my husband, who’s company was bought out and the local office closed, I started
a diplomat. I must say the pace of life there is rather hectic. thinking about other jobs. I’d always been interested in scuba-
Although it may sound rather trivial, what appeals to me most diving, as a hobby, and just about that time I saw an advert
about the city are the absolutely fantastic department stores! I in a magazine. A company was looking for people to train as
have to be very careful when I go there not to overspend. I love divers, so I put my name down for it.
the green spaces, too – where you can chill out away from the
Interviewer: You were still living at home with your parents at
crowds on the street and re-energise yourself after an afternoon
that point. What did they think of your career change?
of sightseeing before you hit the restaurants later in the
evening. Yes, New York is definitely one of my most favourite Ray Garrett: When I told my parents about what I was planning
cities in the world. to do, my mother wasn’t at all keen; in fact, she and my dad
didn’t believe I’d last the three months’ training! Scuba-diving
2 doesn’t take great physical strength or unusual exercise
New York’s a dynamic place, full of interesting characters and tolerance. All it takes is the desire, plus some basic classroom
places to go. I love people-watching and seeing people from and in-water instruction.
every corner of the globe. I guess what really does it for me Interviewer: So, tell us more about the work you do.
are the opportunities to try cuisine from all over the world, Ray Garrett: Well, a qualified diver can safely remain
which I can’t get at home as I live in a small village which is underwater for anywhere from a few minutes to over two
pretty traditional. New York caters for every taste and I really

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PHOTOCOPIABLE
hours. Most of the work I do now isn’t very dangerous – or previously intended to study French, or become a translator or
very exciting! My job involves working on ships that have to use the language for work. In fact, my parents were keen for
be repaired, so we’re not even very deep under water. me to follow in my father’s footsteps and study economics. But
Interviewer: What are the risks as far as accidents are they’re proud of my language abilities now, and can see it was
concerned in your profession? the right thing for me to do.
Ray Garrett: Working underwater can be dangerous if you don’t
3
take the necessary precautions and especially if we need to
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese healing method that involves
go right down to the sea bed, perhaps to do some work on
applying pressure to certain parts of the body to relieve pain.
a shipwreck. People have accidents when they stop thinking
It relaxes muscular tension and balances the vital forces of
about the dangers facing them in their job, and I never do that.
the body. Acupressure can provide relief from head, neck and
I never exceed the time limit of my dives, which depends on
shoulder aches, promote healing, and some people say it can
various parameters like depth, rate of air consumption, and the
even stop you catching colds – though I can’t say there’s any
profile of any dives I have done in the previous six to twelve
scientific evidence for that as far as I know. I’ll be happy to
hours.
demonstrate a few techniques in a moment. I just need a couple
Interviewer: And what are you working on currently? of volunteers. Thank you, please come and sit here while I …
Ray Garrett: At the moment we’re doing quite an exciting job:
exploring an old wreck! We’re working off the coast of America, 4
examining a ship on the sea bed that sank almost 150 years Oh, I think it’ll be brilliant playing Marsha! It’s a fantastic
ago! I absolutely love this kind of work and I never fail to be character part, it really is! You see, my son in the play robs
amazed not only at the wreck itself but at the sea life around it. a bank, and the funny part about the whole thing is that his
Interviewer: Tell me more about the wreck itself. It was a ship wife is the manager of the bank. He doesn’t realise it at first
called the SS Union, right? because she’s only just been promoted, and she wanted it to
Ray Garrett: Exactly. She was travelling from the northern be a surprise for him, so she was going to tell him that night.
states of America to the south in the mid- to late-eighteen But then he goes in, robs the place and has a taxi waiting for
hundreds. For a long time, nobody knew where the shipwreck him to get him away from the scene! It’s a comedy of course,
was, but a team from the University of New Orleans found and I can’t wait for the opening night.
it last year, using some new sonar equipment. The ship is
supposed to have a lot of gold on board – although we haven’t 5
actually found any yet. A: That was a useful class. I’ve always struggled to remember
new words in German.
Interviewer: We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you! Finally,
B: The association technique made a lot of sense – where you
what are the effects of deep-sea diving on the body?
write down words you know with similar meanings.
Ray Garrett: Well, the work itself is absolutely fascinating, A: It takes ages though.
but the body can be affected in several ways, For example, B: Well, that’s a fair point. I still think I’d prefer it to memorisation
problems of diving at such depth include de-compression – just repeating a word until it sticks – totally uninteresting.
sickness, air embolism, hypothermia and physical exhaustion. A: I’ve never minded that, but what I found most helpful was
On top of that, the ship can break up at any time, which means the picture technique – where you relate the sound of the
that you run the risk of being trapped inside. A couple of new word to something you know in your own language
days ago I had a lucky escape when part of the shipwreck fell, and think of a picture to represent it.
and that’s the sort of thing that can really cause problems for B: That wouldn’t work for me – I don’t have a good enough
divers. Still, it’s a great profession! imagination!
Interviewer: Ray Garrett, thank you very much.
6
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain
B2 FIRST
speaking. I hope you’re enjoying the flight. We’ll shortly start
Extra Test 2 making our descent into Brussels, where we’ll refuel before
44 PART 1 continuing with the next leg of our journey. The skies are lovely
and clear this evening which means that in a few minutes’ time
1 you’ll be able to see the lights of the port of Rotterdam over
A: What would have been your dream job if you hadn’t to your right if you look out of the window. The bright lights
become an accountant? you can currently see to your left are in Amsterdam. No doubt
B: I’d have been a professional musician. I grew up playing many of you have already enjoyed visiting the city. So, please
the cello and I loved performing. I couldn’t think of a more sit back and enjoy the rest of the flight.
rewarding job when I was at college.
A: So, why didn’t you follow your instinct?
7
B: It was hugely competitive trying to get a place in one of the
I’ve just started dancing – something I never thought I’d do in a
big orchestras – and to me, if I couldn’t play with the best,
million years! But there’ve been so many of these dance series
there was no point. It’s not that I think I made the wrong
on TV, I just thought it might be worth a go. The Latin dances
decision, though I wouldn’t mind doing something a bit
are the ones that really appeal to me, so I booked myself
more inspiring. Re-training is so expensive though, and
onto a course of salsa lessons. The first class didn’t go quite
what I do has its rewards.
as expected. For some reason, I just thought I’d be a natural,
2 which turned out to be pretty far from the truth. I’ve got two
It’s odd looking back on the formative experiences of your life. left feet and my coordination was terrible! I came away feeling
My decision to study French at university was based purely slightly disappointed but I’m determined to do better next
on the fact that I’d been on a school trip to Paris when I was time. Watch this space!
a kid, and I was absolutely enchanted by the city. I’d never
© 2021 Cengage Learning, Inc. B2 First 1 Extra Tests Audio scripts 3
PHOTOCOPIABLE
8 always such a good feeling when people get better and leave
A: Nick, have you read that new book by Zach Park – you the ward smiling and happy. You know you’ve done a good job
know, that brilliant science-fiction writer? I think it really then. Patients often give me a hug and a kiss when they go,
deserves to be called a masterpiece. and I was even given this bracelet by a lady I looked after for
B: You mean Green Apples? Yes, I have read it, actually, and I six months. I wear it every day.
enjoyed it a lot. I’m a big fan of Zach Park. I’ve read all his I think I have one of the best jobs in the world. I can’t imagine
novels and collections of short stories, and I think this is his doing an office job – my sister’s an accountant and although
best novel so far. Do you know he’s also written several film she earns far more than I do, I think my job’s much more
scripts, including The Track and All About You? rewarding. One thing I could imagine doing, though, is being
A: It doesn’t surprise me. He’s extremely talented. an air hostess – you have to look after people and always be
cheerful, even when you’re feeling tired – and I’d get to do
B2 FIRST some travelling as well!
Extra Test 2
B2 FIRST
44 PART 2
Hello everybody, my name’s Anne England. Thanks for turning
Extra Test 2
up to listen to me talk about my career as a nurse this evening. 44 PART 3
I hope that some of you will decide to take up nursing in the 1
future, because it really is a fantastic job. First of all, I’ll tell you I think it’s vital in this day and age to be well informed about
a little bit about how I got started. current affairs, which of course isn’t difficult now the internet
I had no idea what I wanted to do, at least that was the has developed into a news medium. But I also find it’s
case until I was about 14 when I was listening to a family essential to know what intelligent people think about various
conversation – I was supposed to be doing my homework, but issues, so you need to get a range of opinions, right across
my sister and I always left the door open so we could hear our the political spectrum. That’s where Books for All is so good. It
parents chatting next door. Anyway, my cousin was talking to doesn’t just review books, you see, it has articles on all sorts
my dad, and telling him all about how much she enjoyed her of issues related to recent publications and I personally find it
work – she was a nurse in a busy hospital – and I thought: yeah, fascinating. I wouldn’t be without it!
that’s exactly what I’d like to do!
When I told my teachers that’s what I’d decided, they were very 2
encouraging. But they did say that although I was pretty good I write about style and fashion, and although I have my own
at school, and always got good marks in English and biology, ways of finding out what the big fashion houses are doing
I’d have to get a little better at maths or I wouldn’t be able to for the next season, I also want to know what consumers are
do the job well. thinking. I always read Clothes World because of what it tells
me about people who buy fashion – about consumers. I think it
I must say being a student nurse involved a great deal of hard
must be the only magazine that has got articles about the latest
work, and lots of late nights staying up to do my coursework,
trends by very professional fashion editors. That’s so important
but I’d known it would be like that. What was a surprise,
when you do a job like mine and it’s always the first thing I read.
though, was that there were so many parties, too!
But we did have to study plenty of different subjects – there 3
are so many things that are relevant to nursing, and we I’ve been taking the International Geographer for years now.
covered most of them on our course. Some of the projects It really is an excellent magazine, with lots of interesting
we had to do were really demanding, and there were a lot of articles about wildlife and the natural world in general. I think
them. I couldn’t have done them all without my friends – some the pictures are always first rate. They must have the best
of them gave me a hand when I was stuck and I’ll always be photographers in the world working for them, and you can see
grateful for that. My teachers always insisted on everything the results. I spend ages looking at them, and it’s very inspiring
being handed in on time. for me – I just want to get out there and try and do the same
I learned lots of practical things too, of course, and we were sort of thing myself! I never quite manage it, though I’m sure
taught physiotherapy, which I enjoyed. Actually, the thing that I’ve improved since I first started.
has helped me throughout my career has been knowing how
to lift someone without hurting either them or myself. Anyway, 4
I was lucky enough to get my first job in the teaching hospital I’m a subscriber of the Finance Review, which is a weekly
where I’d trained, so at least I knew my way around. The pay financial magazine. I’m an economist, and reading the Finance
was very low, though, and even though I lived five kilometres Review is the best way to keep up with the latest trends.
away, I couldn’t afford to go to work by bus or by tube, so The main reason I get the Finance Review, however, is that I
I always had to use my bike, which was tough when it was don’t have time to read a more serious daily newspaper, so
raining! the summary it provides, especially of the news in general, is
I loved working there. My colleagues were lovely and it was all really invaluable for me. I commute to work on the train, and I
really interesting. I never minded dealing with difficult patients always have a copy with me. That makes my journey far more
or having to work nights. What wasn’t so much fun was all the interesting. I could download it, I know, but I still like
paperwork, though. I still don’t like that much! old-fashioned printed paper!
Naturally, I’ve learnt an awful lot since those early days, and
I’ve developed as a person, too, of course. People say I’ve 5
always been very patient and kind – which is nice of them – but I take a monthly magazine called Railways for All, which keeps
I’m very confident now compared to when I started. me informed about model railways, which is a great hobby of
mine. I’m a collector of antique miniature railways, and I can
I’ve looked after some wonderful people over the years, and it’s
always find information about auctions or model trains on sale.

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PHOTOCOPIABLE
They also have articles comparing prices of different models schools, because that makes them feel awkward. On the other
and descriptions of new products available. It’s something I’ve hand, they do need extra teaching in reading and writing, by
done since I was a child, and I hope my children will enjoy it teachers who understand the problem.
as much in the future – I’m keeping the magazines for them, Interviewer: And getting back to the Stanley Trust, how do you
because they’ll probably be collectors’ items eventually too. feel you can best help the Trust? Will you be giving speeches
about dyslexia in public?
B2 FIRST Kay Stanley: I doubt it. I think the public would get tired of
Extra Test 2 someone like me talking about the subject all the time. It
seems to me the best thing I can do is set a good example of
44 PART 4 how dyslexics can live a normal, happy life.
Interviewer: Today I’m going to be talking to a successful Interviewer: Well, I wish you luck with that. And thank you for
young American singer, Kay Stanley, about a special aspect talking to us today.
of her work – one that’s not very well known on this side of
the Atlantic. And that’s the Stanley Trust. Kay, welcome to the Kay Stanley: Thank you.
programme. Would you start by explaining what the Stanley
Trust is?
Kay Stanley: Sure. It’s basically an organisation set up by my
father to help kids who have problems reading and writing –
kids with dyslexia. I’m dyslexic myself, you see, and after I
had been diagnosed, my dad realised there weren’t many
organisations for dyslexic kids, and he decided to set one up
himself a few years later.
Interviewer: I believe one of the problems with dyslexia is that
it isn’t diagnosed in many cases, or not early enough. Was this
what happened with you?
Kay Stanley: I used to learn stories off by heart by playing the
tapes of them over and over again, and then pretend to read
them. In fact, I was so good at it that my mum only guessed
there was something wrong when she caught me learning
the stories like that! Then my parents got me examined by a
doctor, and luckily, he knew something about dyslexia, so he
sent me to an expert.
Interviewer: And what did the expert say about your condition?
Kay Stanley: He said I’m pretty fortunate because my condition
is less severe, compared to other people with dyslexia. Some
people have a great deal of trouble spelling even the most
simple, high-frequency words. Other people have difficulty
reading very short notices and signs. Of course the experts
see all sorts of people so they can build up a picture of the
different effects it has.
Interviewer: You must know quite a lot about it yourself by
now?
Kay Stanley: I do, yes, but one of the problems with dyslexia
is that even the specialists don’t really understand it. They
know dyslexics think in a different way from other people. They
often have distinctive talents and a creative imagination. But
whether dyslexia has other effects on the brain or not, nobody
really knows. Some people say you use a different sort of logic
if you’re dyslexic, and it’s easier for you to solve problems, but
of course it’s hard to test that.
Interviewer: And once you were diagnosed, did you start to
improve?
Kay Stanley: Not immediately. At first, I was too unhappy
about the whole thing, and my parents felt frustrated and
confused. I knew at an early age that I wanted to become a
singer, and getting school qualifications was not a priority for
me. In the end, I did work hard to improve my reading skills
just to show my fellow students that I was every bit as clever
as they were.
Interviewer: Is it better for children with dyslexia to get special
treatment?
Kay Stanley: It depends what you mean by that. I don’t
think it’s a good idea to isolate them and put them in special

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PHOTOCOPIABLE