LISTENING BRIDGES 1

Making a Match

You are going to listen to a radio programme breed: raza

about animals and us. Listen and choose the suit: encajar con
correct sit around: quedarse sentado/a sin hacer nada
answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points) trait: rasgo
host: presentador/a
seeing-eye dog: perro guía

1 According to research on the personalities of 5 According to Dr Gross, when a dog does not
animals, … . match its owner, it will probably … .
a. all dogs have got personalities a. interact calmly with its environment
b. dogs are the only animals who have got b. sleep all day
personalities c. be aggressive or violent to its environment
c. only some dogs have got personalities
6 According to Dr Gross, if you are a person
2 People often … . who enjoys sitting around, you should … .
a. choose dogs by the way they look a. not get a dog at all
b. choose dogs by their personalities b. not get a dog that needs a lot of exercise
c. consider many things before choosing a dog c. get a dog that is very active

3 A central reason for sending dogs to animal 7 It is a good idea to use personality testing on
shelters is because … .
a. they don‟t work hard
b. their personalities don‟t match their owners‟
c. of new knowledge about dogs
4 Who is bitten by dogs in the United States
every year?
a. About 2% of the population.
b. About 5% of the population.
c. About 50% of the population.
dogs
that are needed for specific jobs because … .
a. it could save a lot of money
b. they are seeing-eye dogs
c. there aren‟t many jobs for dogs
8 If you are thinking of getting a dog, you
should … .
a. have a conversation with Dr Gross about your
family
b. change your lifestyle and personality to suit the
dog
c. go to a Pet Counsellor Matching Service

1
Andrew: Hello and welcome to our show, Animals and Us. Every week, we discuss new issues concerning
the animals around us. I‟m Andrew Jones, your host, and today‟s guest is Dr Julie Gross, an animal
psychologist who is going to explain the importance of matching a pet‟s personality to its owner‟s.
HelIo Dr Gross.
Dr Gross: Hello Andrew.
Andrew: Dr Gross, I understand that recently there has been research on animal personalities. Is this true?
Have animals really got personalities?
Dr Gross: Well, as a matter of fact, yes. Animals have definitely got personalities. Today, I‟m going to talk
about dogs. Scientists have done several studies on this issue. It‟s a known fact that dogs have got
personalities. There can be big differences in personality even within the same breed of dog … and
matching dogs‟ personalities to their owners‟ is very important.
Andrew: But how do people generally choose a pet dog? I‟m sure they don‟t go checking the dog‟s
personality first.
Dr Gross: You‟re right, but maybe they should. You may think this is funny, but matching pet owners with
their pet is very similar to human dating, because a lot of people choose their dogs on the basis of
what they look like. They might want a dog like the one they saw in a film, like in 101 Dalmatians,
for example. What I‟m trying to say is that there are many things people should consider when
choosing a pet dog, one of which is the dog‟s personality.
Andrew: But why is it so important to match the dog‟s personality with the owner‟s? Up till now, people just
went and chose a dog that they thought they liked. Sometimes the match worked and sometimes it
didn‟t.
Dr Gross: Good question! One of the major reasons why animals get sent to animal shelters is because the
dog doesn‟t match behaviourally with its owner. Now with this new knowledge, we can prevent that
from happening.
Andrew: I see.
Dr Gross: And, there‟s more. You might be surprised, but a survey that was done in the United States found
that nearly 2 per cent of the population – which is more than 5 million people – is bitten by dogs
each year. Over 50 per cent of the people who were bitten were children. Did you know that dog
bites are the second most common cause of childhood emergency visits to hospital?
Andrew: Really? But what‟s the connection between dog bites and the fact that the personality of the dog
should match the owner?
Dr Gross: That‟s exactly it, Andrew! When a dog is matched properly to its owner, its behaviour is better.
The dog‟s interaction with its environment is calmer. A dog that‟s frustrated being with someone
who doesn‟t suit it can be aggressive or violent to its environment. A dog often shows this by biting.
Andrew: Now that‟s something that should be taken into account when getting a dog! Can you give us some
examples of a person‟s personality matching his or her dog‟s personality?
Dr. Gross: Sure. Let‟s say you‟re an athletic person, then you‟ll prefer an active type of dog. But if you‟re a
person who prefers sitting around, then you‟ll prefer a dog that doesn‟t require much exercise.
Sensitive people prefer friendly dogs, while tense people prefer a dog that doesn‟t bark too much.
Choosing the right pet dog is like choosing the right partner – you have to find one that
complements your personality.
Andrew: What about working dogs, Dr Gross? Are their personalities tested first?
Dr Gross: Sometimes they are. Personality testing should be used to find dogs that are suitable for a
specific job, like detecting explosives, for example, or being police dogs or seeing-eye dogs. If
these dogs are selected properly, it can save a lot of time and money, especially since their training
can be extremely expensive.
Andrew: From this research, it seems to me that dogs are quite like humans. Do you agree?
Dr Gross: In some ways, yes. Just as we find that some human personality traits make a person a good
manager, accountant or doctor, some dog personalities are better suited for specific jobs and t asks
than others.
Andrew: Dr Gross, what advice would you give our listeners who are thinking of getting a dog? It sounds so
complicated.
Dr Gross: Well, that‟s definitely not my message. It‟s not complicated at all. I suggest that if you‟re really
serious in choosing the right dog for you, you should go to a pet counsellor matching service.
They‟ll help you find the pets that are best suited for your personality and lifestyle. I hope that now
you understand why this is so important.
Andrew: I think we do! Good luck to all you pet lovers out there. I hope you‟ll find the way to make the best
choice for you! And thank you, Dr Gross, for being with us today.

Answers: 1. a 2. a 3. b 4. a 5. c 6. b 7. a 8. C

2
 Inventions of the Future
You are going to listen to a radio come up with: proponer, sugerir
programme about the future. Listen and hop: bote, salto
choose the correct drop: renunciar a, abandonar
answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points) put up with: aguantar, soportar
rather: muy, bastante
wand: varita mágica

1 The Autoplane was … . 5 The host of the programme … .

a. the first flying car that was invented a. thinks the Weather Wand is a bad idea
b. the first flying car that flew long distances b. expects the Weather Wand to be invented soon
c. invented by Dr Bell c. doesn‟t believe the Weather Wand will be
invented
2 The Aerocar was … .
a. designed to fly first, then drive and then fly again 6 People who use the Instant Sleep Chamber
b. designed to drive first, then fly and then drive will feel
again like they … .
c. invented about 90 years ago a. have slept for several hours
b. have slept for only a few seconds
3 Paul Moller’s Skycar … . c. haven‟t slept at all
a. costs $60,000 at the moment
b. costs $600,000 at the moment 7 If you use the Instant Sleep Chamber, you’ll
c. reaches a speed of 600 kilometres per hourprobably … .
a. sleep for seven or eight hours
4 If the Weather Wand is really invented, it b. spend more time sleeping and less time working
won’t … . c. spend less time sleeping
a. blow away pollution
b. be used by politicians 8 Dr Bell does NOT think that … .
c. rain during the day a. there is any type of movement in space
b. a time travel machine is a type of invention
c. there will be a time machine in the future

3
Inventions of the Future
Richard: Welcome to The Future. Every week we discuss new issues about the future of our world. I‟m
Richard Dawn, your host, and today we‟re joined by Dr Belinda Bell, who‟s going to tell us about
some interesting ideas for inventions of the future. Hello Dr Bell.
Dr Bell: Good afternoon.
Richard: Dr Bell, scientists are constantly trying out new ideas for inventions. Some of the things they come
up with are quite amazing. Can you tell us about some of them?
Dr Bell: Of course. I‟d love to, Richard. The first future invention I‟d like to talk about is the flying car.
Richard: Well, I thought flying cars were just a popular fantasy in films.
Dr Bell: No, in fact people have been working on flying cars for many years. As a matter of fact, the first
person who thought of a flying car was Glenn Curtiss in 1917! He created the Autoplane. It never
really flew, but it did manage a few short hops.
Richard: Now that‟s really amazing! But if that was as far back as 1917, then why hasn‟t anyone succeeded
in inventing a flying car by now?
Dr Bell: It hasn‟t been easy for flying car inventors. In 1970, Moulton Taylor created the Aerocar. It was a
car that was designed to first drive, then fly and then drive again without any interruption. The Ford
company even considered marketing the vehicle but because of the high price of oil then, they
dropped their plans.
Richard: That‟s a pity. I‟m sure that Taylor worked very hard on it. So what‟s going on today with the flying
car?
Dr Bell: Today things are different. With modern technology and computer-modelling, the dream of a flying
car is very close to reality. Paul Moller is working on a future car called the Skycar. It can reach
speeds of 600 kilometres per hour. The Skycar will cost $1 million at the beginning. However, if it„s
mass produced and millions of people buy it, then the price could come down to as low as $60,000!
Richard: That‟s just incredible. I can‟t imagine it! What other interesting invention of the future do you know
about?
Dr Bell: Another very interesting future invention is the Weather Wand.
Richard: The Weather Wand? What does it do?
Dr Bell: Well, the Weather Wand will be able to change the weather. We won‟t have to put up with weather
that we don‟t like any more. Politicians will be able to promise sunny weekends and rain will fall
only at night. Winds and breezes will be man-made to blow away all the pollution in the air.
Richard: That‟s an interesting way to solve air pollution, but … I don‟t know. The flying car sounded
unbelievable, but this sounds completely unbelievable.
Dr Bell: Look, it‟s a future invention. I don‟t know how many years will pass before something like this is
invented. Maybe it won‟t be invented after all. But people are thinking about it – that much I know.
Another amazing idea for a future invention is the Instant Sleep Chamber.
Richard: Oh, is that a room where people fall asleep instantly? Is that what you mean?
Dr Bell: People will fall asleep instantly - yes. But it‟s much better than that. In the Instant Sleep Chamber,
you go to sleep only for seconds but when you wake up, you feel like you‟ve had a full night‟s
sleep.
Richard: Why would anyone want to sleep for only a few seconds?
Dr Bell: Well, today people spend a third of their lives sleeping. If they use the Instant Sleep Chamber, they
can spend more time working and be much more successful than their competitors. They gain an
extra seven or eight hours a day. How many times do you hear people saying that they just haven‟t
got enough time! This way, they‟ll have all the time in the world! Speaking of time, did you know
that, today, scientists really believe that time travel is possible?
Richard: Some things are hard to believe, but time travel? I thought that was only science fiction.
Dr Bell: According to many scientists, that‟s not true. Some theories actually suggest that specific types of
movement in space might allow time travel into the past and the future. Experiments have been
done on time travel in the last ten years. And research suggests that, in the future, there will be
time machines.
Richard: And what do you think about that, Dr Bell?
Dr Bell: Personally, I‟m rather sceptical about it. I know that many other scientists are, too. They believe it‟s
just impossible.
Richard: Well it‟s been very interesting talking to you, Dr Bell. I‟d love to hear about more future inventions
but our time is up for today! Thank you for coming today.
Dr Bell: And thank you, Richard.

Answers: 1. a 2. b 3. c 4. c 5. c 6. a 7. c 8. c

4
Cars – a Blessing or a Curse?

You are going to listen to a conversation be kidding: estar bromeando

between two friends. They are discussing peer pressure: presión del entorno o de los amigos/as
cars. Listen and choose the correct lack: falta, carencia
answer. (8 x 1 = 8 points) outsider: intruso/a, marginado/a
speed: conducir con exceso de velocidad

1 In order to transport one person, cars need 5 One of the conclusions of the surveys is that
about … . cars … .
a. twice as much fuel as buses a. make people happy
b. half as much fuel as buses b. make people spend more time outdoors
c. 14 times as much fuel as buses c. change people‟s social lives

2 Carla criticises people for choosing certain 6 If you own a car in a big city, you will … .
cars … .
a. because they are status symbols
b. because they like going too far
c. that they can‟t afford
3 All over the world, car accidents cause … .
a. 8 times more deaths than railway accidents
b. 100 times more deaths than railway accidents
c. 18 times more deaths than railway accidents
4 The reason Carla knows so much about the
subject of cars is that she’s … .
a. taking a test on the subject
b. writing an essay about the subject
c. taking part in a debate on the subject
a. use the car more than the underground train
system
b. use the underground train system more than the
car
c. not use the underground train system at all
7 People who don’t own cars … .
a. have got no problem with people who do own
cars
b. find their own lifestyle to be difficult
c. feel like outsiders
8 We know that Carla is not completely against
cars because she … .
a. wants a car of her own
b. will go in a car with Keith
c. wants to get her licence

5
Cars – a Blessing or a Curse?
Keith: Hey, Carla! Guess what?
Carla: What, Keith?
Keith: I‟m going to take my driving test tomorrow. Don‟t you think it‟s exciting? I mean, getting a driving licence
means freedom. I can hardly wait!
Carla: To tell you the truth, I‟ve been reading a lot about cars lately and I‟m not sure I want to get my licence.
Keith: You‟ve got to be kidding! Why?
Carla: Well, for one thing pollution is a serious problem today and motor vehicles are a major contributor to the
problem. Cars pollute at least twice as much as buses! And did you know that cars consume 14 times more
fuel than buses, and almost 60 times more than railways to transport one person. If people used public
transport more, we‟d have much less pollution and we‟d be a healthier society!
Keith: The only thing I can think about is the type of car I‟m going to get one day. I‟m thinking about getting a Honda
Civic. What do you think?
Carla: Well, obviously you and I don‟t agree! Cars are just status symbols. People buy certain cars because of peer
pressure. Some studies show that your choice of car reflects your personality and your self-image, and I don‟t
like status symbols.
Keith: I think that‟s going a bit too far. I‟m going to get a car that I like and can afford. That‟s all.
Carla: Well, if you like fighting for your life every day, then go ahead!
Keith: Fighting for my life? I think you‟ve really gone too far with this.
Carla: Have you ever heard about people speeding, people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
thousands of people being killed in car accidents? Did you know that road accidents are the number one
killer of youth in Australia and New Zealand? In fact, cars worldwide cause eight times more deaths in
accidents than buses do … and cars are over 100 times more fatal than railways!
Keith: People really need to be more careful. That‟s all!
Carla: It‟d be nice if it were so simple, Keith.
Keith: For me, a car takes me from one place to another. I don‟t see the damage like you do!
Carla: If more people saw the damage, then maybe something could be done about it.
Keith: Carla, you certainly have thought a lot about this subject! Is your teacher giving you a test on it or are you
writing an essay on it?
Carla: Well, not exactly. But you know I‟m in the debating club at school, right? Maybe you should come to our next
debate. Cars are the next topic and that‟s why I‟ve been reading so much about it. I‟m presenting the
negative aspects of cars.
Keith: So, why didn‟t you tell me that before? Now I understand why you know all these facts. What else did you
learn from your reading?
Carla: Well, I read the results of surveys done in Europe.
Keith: Oh. I see that you‟ve really spent a lot of time researching the topic.
Carla: It‟s important to me to know a lot about a topic before I speak about it in front of people.
Keith: So what did they find out in the surveys?
Carla: OK. Well, the surveys wanted to find out if cars make people happy.
Keith: So do they or don‟t they make people happy?
Carla: Mainly they do make people happy. Europeans are considered car-friendly. However, they don‟t believe that
cars increase their quality of life a lot. In one survey, about 60% of people living in households without cars
said that they‟re happy as they are. Their social life doesn‟t really change much without a car. They spend
just as much time outdoors as people who have got cars.
Keith: I see.
Carla: And there‟s more. It turns out that in big cities people who own cars also use public transport quite a lot. In
fact, people who own cars in big cities use the underground train system more than they use their cars
because of traffic jams. Car owners also go nearly as much by bike as those who are carless.
Keith: I think that I‟d feel like an outsider if I didn‟t have a car.
Carla: As I said, that was a question they asked in one of the surveys and people without cars don‟t feel that their
social life has changed because they don‟t own cars. Another point is that they had no problem with people
who do own cars.
Keith: So, we don‟t have a problem then, right?
Carla: No problems except for traffic jams, high petrol prices, a lack of parking spots, high insurance costs,
expensive car repairs, environmental damage, accidents and more.
Keith: I know that I‟ll still be very happy once I get my licence and my own car. Will you come for a drive with me
one day?
Carla: Sure I will, Keith! I said that I didn‟t want a car of my own. I didn‟t say that I wouldn‟t go in a car!

Answers: 1. c 2. a 3. b 4. c 5. a 6. b 7. a 8. b

6
Hero or Celebrity?

You are going to listen to a radio trick: engañar (~ into doing something:
programme about heroes. Listen and engañar para que se haga algo)
choose the correct answer. shape: determinar, conformar
(8 x 1 = 8 points) encouraging: esperanzador/a
lose track of: perder la pista de
faith: confianza, fe
overcome: vencer, superar

1 Which of the following is NOT true? 5 According to Dr Flore’s explanation, what

Dr Flore criticises people for … . makes a
a. being obsessed with the media hero is the person’s … .
b. discussing celebrity scandals a. fame
c. discussing important values b. professional success
c. character
2 Dr Flore mentions Paris Hilton as an example
of a … . 6 According to Dr Flore, Wilma Rudolph did
a. hotel owner NOT
b. famous person who isn‟t a hero suffer … .
c. young female hero a. because of learning problems
b. from a childhood illness
3 Which statement about the results of the c. because of racism
survey is
true? 7 Jane Goodall is considered a real hero
a. Many teenagers chose Spider-Man and because
Superman for their heroes. she has … .
b. Most teenagers‟ heroes are politicians. a. protected wild animals
c. Many teenagers chose a woman for their hero. b. protected forests all over the world
c. overcome poverty
4 Dr Flore is worried about the fact that many
people … . 8 Dr Flore thinks that children … .
a. believe that celebrities are heroes a. won‟t want to become adults one day
b. don‟t believe that celebrities are heroes b. don‟t understand the messages of adults
c. are famous today c. should learn about heroes

7
 Hero or Celebrity?
Dan: Welcome to our weekly radio show – Society and You. I‟m Dan Edgeware, your host, and the
question we‟re going to discuss on our show is: Who are the real heroes in our society today? Our
guest today is Dr Caroline Flore, an educational psychologist. Dr Flore, how would you answer the
question: Who are the real heroes of today?
Dr Flore: Well, people often get confused between fame and heroism. What happens is people identify with
celebrities simply because they see their faces over and over again in the media. Our brains are
tricked into thinking that we know these people. We live in a media-obsessed culture and we spend
far more time discussing the latest celebrity scandal than the important values and events that
shape our society. That‟s how many stars like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie become heroes for
some people, but actually they‟re just famous for being famous.
Dan: Yes, I know what you mean. Just because Nicole is the adopted daughter of Lionel Richie, the
famous pop singer, and Paris is the granddaughter of the Hilton Hotel founders - they became
celebrities. They get their picture in the paper all the time! Now Dr Flore, have any studies been
done on this topic?
Dr Flore: Yes, and the results aren‟t encouraging. A survey was done on American teenagers. The
teenagers were asked who their hero was. Only half the teenagers who were questioned said
they‟ve got a hero. That means there‟s nobody in the lives of half those young people who has
made enough of an impression on their hearts and minds to be called a hero. Now, of the
teenagers who responded that they do have a well-known hero, more than three quarters chose a
film star, a musician or an athlete. And almost no women were named. And there‟s more – many of
the teenagers actually wrote that Spider-Man and Superman were their heroes! Can you believe
that?
Dan: What in the world is going on here?
Dr Flore: I‟ll tell you, Dan. Somewhere along the way we‟ve lost track of the difference between a celebrity
and a hero. While celebrity just means fame – someone whose name, face or singing voice is
widely recognised – heroism means much more.
Dan: Why is it important to have heroes, and what does being a hero actually mean?
Dr Flore: Dan, you‟ve just asked two big questions and they‟ve got two big answers. First, I‟ll explain why it‟s
important to have heroes. Heroes are symbols for all the qualities that we would like to have. A
person who chooses Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa for his hero is going to have a very
different understanding of what being a good human being is in comparison to a person who
chooses Paris Hilton or the rapper 50 Cent, for example. The qualities we want to have determine
the way we behave, and this affects our society.
Dan: Now this is making more sense to me. And the second question. What does being a hero mean,
then?
Dr Flore: I‟d say that a hero is not about fame, or money, or even winning an Oscar. A hero is about one
thing, and that‟s character. Yes, qualities such as courage, compassion, hope and faith – those are
the qualities that have got deep, lasting value. Heroes understand responsibility, they‟ve got
respect for others and they help people. Heroes are people who make a positive difference in our
society. Heroes could be one‟s own parents or grandparents. Of course, some heroes are better
known than others.
Dan: Can you give some examples of real heroes?
Dr Flore: Of course, fortunately there are many to chose from! Take Wilma Rudolph for example. She
overcame childhood polio, poverty and racism to become the fastest woman sprinter in the world …
or Jane Goodall. When she was a little girl, she dreamt that one day she‟d go to Africa. Since then,
she‟s done incredible work to save wild animals in Africa and the rest of the world. Then there‟s
John Muir. He loved walking in the woods so much that he founded the Sierra Club to protect
forests everywhere. I could go on and on … .
Dan: It sounds like people in our society are losing some really important values.
Dr Flore: Not all people, but enough to make me quite worried. It‟s important that we educate our children
with positive values. Children, teenagers and adults need to be aware of who they consider their
heroes to be. What‟s the message that we really want to give to our children – the future adults of
this world? I believe that many mistaken ideas are being planted in our children‟s minds and it‟s our
responsibility to teach them the difference between a celebrity and a hero, by telling them stories of
heroic people, for example.
Dan: Well, thank you, Dr Flore, for opening our eyes today!
Dr Flore: Thank you, Dan!

Answers: 1. c 2 b 3. a 4. a 5. c 6. a 7. a 8. c

8
Becoming a Stuntperson

You are going to listen to a conversation
between friends about jobs. Listen and
choose the correct answer. (8 x 1 = 8
points)
dead serious: totalmente / muy en serio
bungee-jump: puenting
padding: relleno
gear: equipo, herramientas
stunt: escena peligrosa / de acción
time: calcular el tiempo de

1 Jerry thinks that in the future he will have … . 5 Between the years 1998 and 2003, … .
a. a boring job a. 20 stuntpeople died while doing stunts for films
b. lots of action b. 2 stuntpeople died while doing stunts for films
c. lots of excitement c. 2 people were hospitalised due to stunt injuries

2 Being a stuntman sounds like a good job to 6 Jerry does NOT mention the following as
Jerry … . important
a. because you can be very serious for a stuntperson.
b. because you don‟t stay in one place a. acting skills
c. even though the salary isn‟t high b. quick reflexes
c. accurate timing
3 Jerry mentions bungee jumping in order to
explain 7 If you want to be a stuntperson, you have to
that stuntpeople … . ….
a. do a lot of sport a. study human anatomy
b. work safely b. learn how to ski
c. love jumping c. be a stunt supervisor

4 Jerry especially wants to … . 8 Jill thinks she’ll … .

a. go into fires a. go and watch a film
b. break through windows b. be a stuntman
c. do boxing c. go rock climbing

9
Becoming a Stuntperson
Jerry: Hey, Jill! Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up?
Jill: Sure, Jerry, lots of times.
Jerry: So, what do you want to be?
Jill: Well, I‟m not sure yet. Maybe I‟ll work in computer programming or maybe I‟ll be a businesswoman. I‟m only
15 years old. I still have time to decide! Why are you asking?
Jerry: Because I‟ve been thinking a lot about it lately and I‟m really worried that I‟ll end up doing boring jobs. Then
I‟ll be really frustrated and hate my life.
Jill: Really, Jerry! Why do you think you‟ll have a boring job?
Jerry: Well, my parents want me to work in my dad‟s supermarket, but I hate being there. The truth is I‟d really love
to be a stuntman, but I don‟t think my parents will like that idea.
Jill: You‟re kidding Jerry, right?
Jerry: No, I‟m dead serious, Jill. Stuntpeople have got great, exciting jobs and they can make lots of money!
Besides, if you‟re a stuntperson you get to visit lots of interesting places all over the world and meet really
amazing people. You‟re never bored, that‟s for sure!
Jill: Yes, but what about all the risks?
Jerry: Well, I know there are risks, but today stuntpeople get very good training. They learn how to take minimal
risks with their own safety. For example, if they need to go into a fire, they wear a body protection suit, so
they won‟t get burnt. If they have to jump from a high place, they use airbags or a wire cable. That m akes it
like a bungee jump, so it‟s less dangerous. That way, their fall is stopped before they hit the ground.
Jill: Jerry, exactly what kinds of stunts are you thinking about doing?
Jerry: There are all kinds of stunts – from breaking through a window to jumping off buildings. Some stunts involve
fist-fighting and boxing. But the important thing is that you‟re trained for all the stunts and you know what
you‟re doing! I want to do all kinds of stunts, but the one I like the most is breaking through windows!
Jill: You know, I‟ve heard that stuntpeople can really get hurt and sometimes they get killed! I don‟t know if this is
such a good idea.
Jerry: Look, obviously stunts do hurt sometimes. But from what I‟ve read about it, I understand that stuntpeople
don‟t get hurt very often if they‟re professional and highly protected. Even when you have to fight someone,
you use soft weapons, not hard ones, and you wear body padding so you don‟t get hurt. I read that in a report
from the California Office for Safety and Health Administration. There were only two deaths of stuntpeople
involved with film production between the years 1998 and 2003. And in the past five years, only 20
stuntpeople were hospitalised because of injuries. Oh, and don‟t forget that stuntpeople buy special health
insurance.
Jill: See! They need special health insurance. That‟s my point exactly.
Jerry: I know it‟s scary but that‟s why it excites me. If you think about it, stuntpeople are people who have got a
healthy respect for life, a love of sport and very good physical fitness.
Jill: But how do you know if you can be a successful stuntperson?
Jerry: That‟s easy. If you‟ve got quick reflexes, you‟re fit and you‟re extremely accurate at timing an action, then you
can be a great stuntperson. You also need very good eyesight. One wrong move and you could really hurt
yourself! And don‟t forget, stuntpeople, like actors, need to have an understanding of the film that they‟re
making. They must know what‟s going on the whole time.
Jill: Do you have to study to become a stuntperson?
Jerry: Yes, of course you do. It‟s like any other profession. You have to go to training courses and learn different
activities, things that involve water, fire, animals, cars, etc. And you have to pass a first-aid training course,
too. You also need to learn all about human anatomy. The more courses you take, the better. For example, if
you learn to ride a horse, ski and do martial arts you can be a better stuntperson and get more jobs. You
need to practise a lot if you want to be good, and of course, you have to wear the right protective gear.
According to your level, you can first become a stunt trainee, then a stunt performer, a stunt supervisor and,
at the top, a stunt coordinator!
Jill: I didn‟t realise that there was so much involved in this profession. Tell me, how much money do you think you
can make?
Jerry: It really depends on the type of stunt. But what I read is that in general, new stuntpeople make about $2,000
for a project – which means stunts for one film.
Jill: Not bad at all, but definitely not for me. I‟m just not the risk-taking type. So Jerry, we‟ve got some free time
today. Do you want to do something together?
Jerry: Sure, I was thinking about doing some rock climbing this afternoon. Want to come?
Jill: Rock climbing? Uh, not really. I think I‟ll go and watch a film instead!

Answers: 1. a 2. b 3. b 4. b 5. b 6. a 7. a 8. a

10
What’s Killing the Newspaper?
You are going to listen to a radio
programme about newspapers. Listen and
choose the correct answer.
(8 x 1 = 8 points)
1 Philip Meyer writes about … .
a. models made with newspapers
b. magic
c. the future of newsprint
2 Which of the following statements is true for
young people in the United Kingdom?
a. They spend 15% less time reading national
newspapers.
b. They don‟t read national newspapers.
c. They spend 30% less time reading national
newspapers.
3 It is predicted that … .
a. 20% to 30% of the world‟s main newspapers will
“die”
b. 50% of the world‟s main newspapers will “die”
over the next 20 to 30 years
c. newspapers will start shutting down soon
4 Between the years 1990 and 2004, … .
a. employment in the newspaper industry fell by
18%
b. employment in the newspaper industry rose by
18%
c. big newspapers in the US published 18% more
newspapers
take over: tomar el mando
shut down: cerrar
readership: lectores
gather: recoger, recopilar
newsprint: prensa escrita
cater to: atender
5 To attract more young readers, newspapers
have … .
a. stopped giving out free daily papers
b. begun reporting more on international affairs and
politics
c. included more articles about entertainment and
lifestyle
6 The New York Times is an example of a
newspaper … .
a. that will probably always survive
b. that doesn‟t appear online
c. that probably won‟t be published in 50 years
7 The website of Britain’s The Guardian has got
….
a. about the same amount of readers in Britain and
the US
b. more readers in the US than in Britain
c. more readers in Britain than in the US
8 Some people prefer newspapers to online
news
because … .
a. they think they‟re more interesting
b. they can easily find stories that they may want to
read
again
c. the web stories are the same from hour to hour
11
What’s Killing the Newspaper?
Lisa: Welcome to our show, Media. Today we‟re going to learn about an endangered species, the newspaper.
We have with us Professor Andrew Higgins who specialises in online media. Professor Higgins, why is the
newspaper considered an endangered species?
Prof Higgins: Well, Lisa, we all know that the Internet is taking over and the business of selling words on paper to
readers is falling apart. Philip Meyer, a professor of journalism, wrote a book all about it called “The
Vanishing Newspaper”.
Lisa: Really? And what does he say in his book?
Prof Higgins: He believes that by the year 2043 newsprint will “die” in the United States, but he tries to show how good
journalism can still work today as it did in the past. In his book, he offers a model for the newspaper
industry that should make it work with the changing technologies of the present and the future.
Lisa: But what does Professor Meyer base his prediction on? And why the year 2043?
Prof Higgins: Well, more and more young people are getting their news online. In the United Kingdom, young people
between the ages of 15 and 24 say they spend almost 30% less time reading national newspapers once
they start using the web. They not only read the news online, they‟re also exposed to a lot of online
advertising.
Lisa: And how is advertising connected to our topic?
Prof Higgins: Well, the connection is very important. When people want to buy something or get information, the most
popular place to do that today is online. These days some advertisements appear only online – not in
newspapers!
Lisa: Interesting, but I still see people all over the place reading newspapers. It doesn‟t seem possible that
there won‟t be newspapers any more.
Prof Higgins: Well, there are still newspapers, that‟s true. They haven‟t started to shut down in large numbers yet, but
it‟s only a matter of time. It‟s believed that within the next 20 or 30 years, half of the world‟s main
newspapers will “die”. In fact, jobs are already disappearing.
Lisa: What kind of jobs?
Prof Higgins: Jobs that are connected to various areas of the newspaper industry. The number of people employed in
the newspaper industry fell by 18% between 1990 and 2004. A few big newspapers in the United States
have already stopped publishing.
Lisa: But is the newspaper industry going to give up so easily without a fight?
Prof Higgins: Oh no, no, no! Newspapers are trying very hard to attract young readers.
Lisa: How are they doing that?
Prof Higgins: They‟re trying other ideas. For example, they‟re moving their stories towards entertainment, lifestyle and
subjects that are more relevant to people‟s daily lives, and they‟re covering international affairs and
politics less. They also give out free daily papers to get people interested in reading them.
Lisa: Do you think this will work and save newspapers from dying?
Prof Higgins: Not really. I personally don‟t believe that this will work.
Lisa: So, Professor Higgins, what do you think the situation will be with printed newspapers in, let‟s say,
another 50 years?
Prof Higgins: I predict that many newspapers will no longer be published, but the good ones like The Times, the New
York Times and the Wall Street Journal will always survive.
Lisa: Why is that?
Prof Higgins: Well, because they cater to a more global readership. People all over the world read these papers.
Lisa: Actually, I‟ve got quite a few friends who get their news mostly from the Internet. They think that the
Internet gives them even more information than an ordinary newspaper.
Prof Higgins: I agree with them. Today people who are looking for information are much better equipped. They don‟t
have to trust the national papers any more. The news on the Internet is gathered from sources from all
around the world. The website of Britain‟s The Guardian has now got nearly as many readers in the
United States as it has at home! Also, the news online is up to the minute. You get the news a minute
after it happens, and sometimes, at exactly the same time it is happening!
Lisa: There are people, however, who would much rather read the newspaper than get the news online. I‟m one
of those people. On the web, news stories can change from hour to hour. That means that if I read a story
in the morning and I want to go back to it later in the day, it may no longer be there or it may have moved
to a place where I can‟t locate it. I like my everyday newspaper with the news that everyone can share
together. Well, I‟m afraid our show has come to an end. Thank you, Professor Higgins, for being with us
today and opening our eyes to this interesting topic.
Prof Higgins: Thank you, too, Lisa. It‟s been my pleasure.

Answers: 1. c 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. c 6. a 7. a 8. b

12
SMS Bullying

You are going to listen to a conversation bully: intimidar, acosar

between friends about text messaging. chain text message: mensaje de texto en cadena
Listen and choose the correct answer. (8 x in distress: angustiado/a
1 = 8 points) devastating: devastador/a, terrible

1 The percentage of children in the UK who 5 ChildLine and some websites offer children …
have been threatened through their mobile .
phone is … . a. the chance to talk to over 20,000 teenagers a
a. 6 year
b. 25 b. free phone calls in the United Kingdom
c. 4 c. suggestions on how to deal with bullying

2 Children send threatening messages because 6 If you receive a threatening message, you
they … .
a. have fun frightening other children
b. feel very frightened
c. enjoy using their mobile phones
3 The 11-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy that
are mentioned are children who have both … .
a. bullied others through text messages
b. been bullied through text messages
c. written chain messages
4 Text messaging can be terrifying because … .
a. the person who did it is most likely someone you
know
b. your best friend knows about it and will tell
someone
c. many children want to get rid of their mobile
phones
should … .
a. not respond
b. respond by telling the person to stop sending you
messages
c. ask the children in your school who they think it
is
7 According to the article, the parents of a child
who is being bullied at school should … .
a. support their child and not discuss the problem
with others
b. give the names of children they suspect to the
headmaster
c. find a good detective to help them out
8 According to the law, if you send an offensive
message to someone’s mobile phone, you … .
a. can be punished, but you can‟t go to prison
b. can‟t own a mobile phone any more
c. can go to prison for six months

13
SMS Bullying
Kathy: Scott, I read an interesting article about text messaging in Teen Interest Magazine.
Scott: Text messaging? What‟s so interesting about text messaging? It‟s very simple and rather boring.
Kathy: No, you‟re wrong. It turns out that many people use text messaging to bully people, especially teenagers. The
article mentions some surveys that were recently done in the United Kingdom. They found out that nowadays
the most common way of bullying involves mobile phones. In fact, over 16 per cent of the young people who
participated in the survey said that they‟d received bullying or threatening text messages. They also
discovered that in the United Kingdom one in every four children has been bullied or threatened through his
or her mobile phone – that‟s 25% of British children!
Scott: Really? That‟s terrible! Why would anyone do that?
Kathy: The article said that some children send threatening messages to others because they want to frighten them.
Some children enjoy the feeling of power. Others see it as fun, and some have been influenced by violence in
their own families.
Scott: Did they describe how children were bullied?
Kathy: Yeah. Um … for example, one eleven-year-old girl got a chain text message. It said that she‟d die if she didn‟t
pass it on to others. In another case, a twelve-year-old boy was getting such devastating messages that his
parents decided to take him out of school and have him home-schooled, instead.
Scott: Now that really is scary. I can‟t believe that so many people actually use text messaging as a way to bully.
Kathy: Believe it! The article explains why text messaging is so powerful and terrifying. Just think about it: you don‟t
know who did it, but you know it‟s someone that you probably know – someone who‟s got your phone
number and knows personal things about you. You start wondering if it was your best friend that did it. You
can‟t get away from it. Some children have even got rid of their mobile phones because of this.
Scott: Really? I can‟t believe it.
Kathy: Luckily, there‟s ChildLine. They help a lot of children.
Scott: What‟s ChildLine?
Kathy: ChildLine is a children‟s support group. They‟ve got professionals who answer calls from children and
teenagers who are in distress or under pressure. The magazine article says that in the United Kingdom, over
20,000 teenagers a year call ChildLine to ask for help because of text bullying.
Scott: Is there any other way for a child to deal with text bullying, except for calling ChildLine?
Kathy: Yes, in the article they mentioned some websites that help teenagers deal with the problem, like
www.bullying.co.uk.
Scott: Websites? How can websites help?
Kathy: Well, websites can give helpful suggestions on how to stop a bully from continuing to bully you. For example,
if you receive a bullying or threatening text message, you should never respond to the message. You should
write the time and date of the message and then tell your parents or your teacher or someone else you trust.
Scott: What can they do to help?
Kathy: Many things – for example, if the text bullying is going on at school, the school needs to know about it.
Parents should make a list of the things that have happened to their child. They should be prepared to give
the names of the children that they think could be bullying their child. They must talk to the headmaster of the
school and see what the school can do to help find the bully. Parents and teachers can phone the mobile
service provider and the provider can try to find out who owns the mobile. But the most important thing is for
parents to support their child if he or she gets into one of these threatening situations.
Scott: What happens if people can‟t find the bully?
Kathy: Well, in those types of cases, there are technical specialists who can help you – like a sort of detective. You
know, bullying with messages is against the law and the bully can be arrested.
Scott: Really? Is there actually a law about SMS bullying?
Kathy: Yes, there is. The law says that it‟s illegal to send a message that‟s offensive, false or threatening by means
of electronic communication.
Scott: And what happens to the bully if he or she is caught?
Kathy: The bully can get up to six months in prison!
Scott: It‟s good to know that there‟s a law and bullies can be punished. Can I borrow this magazine and read the
article myself?
Kathy: Sure.

Answers: 1. b 2. a 3. b 4. a 5. c 6. a 7. b 8. c

14
The Voting Age

You are going to listen to a classroom anyhow: en todo caso, de todas maneras
discussion about the voting age. Listen hectic: agitado/a
and choose the correct answer. (8 x 1 = 8 awareness: conciencia
points) lower: bajar
be likely to: ser probable

1 John mentioned exams and graduation as a 5 Many people think that 16 year olds shouldn’t
reason vote … .
why he thinks 16-18 year olds … . a. because their votes would not be counted
a. hate voting b. because they are still under the influence of their
b. are educated enough to vote parents
c. shouldn‟t start voting c. if their parents are voting

2 The teacher discusses a concern that … .
a. the percentage of people who vote will decrease
in the future
b. voting will become dangerous in the future
c. some people will vote twice
6 If younger people were allowed to vote, then
politicians … .
a. would have to represent their interests
b. would no longer respect the youth
c. would vote for the youth

3 Lindsay is arguing for 16 year olds’ right to 7 According to the study conducted by Yale
vote … . University, … .
a. and to get their driving licence everywhere a. schools shouldn‟t get involved in voting
b. even if they are criminals b. it isn‟t helpful to show students how to operate a
c. because they can work voting machine
c. it is helpful to show students how to operate a
4 John says that most of his friends want to … . voting machine
a. study history
b. sleep or go shopping 8 The teacher … .
c. discuss politics a. believes it will take time before 16 year olds are
allowed to vote
b. doesn‟t believe in the movement for lowering the
voting age
c. doesn‟t believe that 18 year olds should be
allowed to vote

15
The Voting Age
Teacher: Elections are coming up in a few months, students. That‟s why I‟ve decided to devote this lesson to
the topic of voting.
John: Voting? What do we need to know about voting? We aren‟t the ones who vote anyhow.
Teacher: Well, that‟s an issue that we can discuss, John. Did you know that there‟s a movement that wants
to lower the voting age to 16?
John: No, I didn‟t, but to tell you the truth, I‟m not sure I support lowering the voting age. I think between
the ages of 16 and 18 is probably the worst time to start voting.
Lindsay: The worst time? Why do you think that, John?
John: Just think about it, Lindsay. These are the years when our lives are very hectic and things are
unclear. We‟re thinking about university, about moving away from home, about getting a job and
we‟re under pressure with all our exams. Do we really know, at a time like this, who we want to vote
for?
Teacher: As you can see, there are two sides to this question. There‟ve been studies done on the voting age
and they show that voting is a habit that has to start early. If people don‟t start out early as voters,
they‟re less likely to vote in the future. Some researchers fear that as this generation of non -voters
gets older, they‟ll just stay that way – meaning, they won‟t bother to vote. And that could be very
dangerous. If more and more people decide not to vote, then where will our democracy go? Fewer
people will be making the most important decisions and they won‟t necessarily be the best
decisions! Did you know that in the 2000 US elections, senior citizens voted about twice the rate of
18-24 year olds?
Lindsay: That‟s interesting. Well, I think that 16 year olds should be able to vote, because at the age of 16
most teenagers can work and pay taxes, and they can even be charged as adults for crimes. In lots
of places 16 year olds can get a driving licence … and 16 year olds can even get married if their
parents give their permission! So how could it be that 16 year olds aren‟t allowed to vote? It‟s
simply not logical and not fair, in my opinion.
John: But Lindsay, how many teenagers really want to vote at the age of 16? Most of my friends would
rather sleep or go shopping than think about politics. Besides, do you really believe that 16 year
olds have got enough life experience to make a good decision on who to vote for? They probably
don‟t know the issues in enough detail to make an intelligent decision. Just like there are reasons
for lowering the voting age, there are good reasons against lowering the voting age, too.
Teacher: You‟re right, John. According to one study, while many young people under 18 feel ready to vote,
there are just as many who feel that 16 is too young for voting. Many people feel that if 16 year olds
vote, it would be like they were simply giving their parents an additional vote. At 16, people are still
under the influence of their parents. Even most 18 year olds don‟t know enough about politics to
vote.
Lindsay: I‟ve heard all those reasons before. But listen, did you ever think that if we had the right to vote,
then politicians might represent our interests? Why should politicians care about the needs and
wishes of the youth when teenagers haven‟t got the ability to vote for or against them? Lowering
the voting age will force politicians to respect the desires of young people.
John: Now that‟s something I admit that I hadn‟t thought about before.
Teacher: Yes, that‟s a very good point, Lindsay. Well, I think we‟ve discussed the pros and cons of lowering
the voting age enough.
John: Wait, Mr Clark, can you please tell us some more about the movement you mentioned earlier?
Teacher: Do you mean the movement for lowering the voting age?
John: Yes. What are they trying to do?
Teacher: Well, the people in the movement are trying to raise awareness on the issue among teenagers.
Also, if schools would get involved, they could provide the perfect place to train future voters, both
in civics and in the basic logistics of voting. A Yale University study found that students who were
shown how to operate a voting machine were more than twice as likely to vote than students who
weren‟t shown how to do it. So, now the teenagers in the movement want to make voting part of
civics education class.
Lindsay: That sounds like a great idea! I like that!
John: Sounds interesting to me, too.
Teacher: I‟m not against the movement, but don‟t get your hopes up too high. It took women decades before
they got the right to vote and it took 18 year olds a long time, too.
Lindsay: Well, I guess we‟ve got to start somewhere. So, John - are you going to join the movement?
John: Yes, and I‟m voting for you, Lindsay, to head the movement!

Answers: 1. c 2. a 3. c 4. b 5. b 6. a 7. c 8. a

16
Biometrics
You are going to listen to a radio
programme about biometric technologies.
Listen and choose the correct answer. (8 x
1 = 8 points)
1 The part of the body that is most commonly 5 The use of biometric technology in school
used in biometric technology is the … .
a. face
b. voice
c. finger
2 Which of the following statements is true?
a. People could sometimes fool a scanner.
b. People could never fool a scanner.
c. People‟s fingerprints usually change with age.
3 Biometric technology is … .
a. only used in science-fiction films
b. only used with computer security
c. used in different companies
4 Which problem with passwords does
Professor Benikin NOT mention?
a. They may get lost.
b. They can be shared.
c. They need to be changed constantly.
fool: engañar
forefinger: dedo índice
lock down: encerrar, bloquear
take the register: pasar lista
cafeterias … .
a. makes queues longer
b. encourages bullying among students
c. prevents embarrassment among students who
receive financial help
6 One of the disadvantages of biometric
technology in schools is that … .
a. it may create more distance between teachers
and students
b. children can‟t be fingerprinted
c. it will decrease students‟ safety
7 Schools with access control do NOT use
biometrics
to … .
a. record who enters the school
b. record who leaves the school
c. watch the students‟ behaviour in class during the
day
8 At the end of the radio programme, the
professor … .
a. criticises society for needing different safety
measures
b. criticises biometrics for being unnecessary
c. avoids giving his personal opinion on the use of
biometrics
17
Biometrics
Ellen: Good evening, I‟m Ellen Simmons, and this is the weekly programme, Our World Today.
Tonight, our guest is Professor Barry Benikin, an expert on biometric technologies. Good
evening, Professor Benikin. Thank you for joining us tonight. Why don‟t you tell our listeners
what biometric technology is?
Prof Benikin: Certainly. Biometric technology refers to technologies that measure and analyse parts of
the human body, such as fingerprints, eye scanning, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand
measurements. The part of the body that is most commonly used in biometrics today is the
finger.
Ellen: Why the finger and not the voice or the face?
Prof Benikin: Because people‟s fingerprints have got the least chance of changing throughout the
years. Voices and faces may change due to various reasons, like illness or plastic surgery, in
addition to age. Also, people who look alike could fool a scanner and people can also change
their appearances.
Ellen: So how do biometric technologies work?
Prof Benikin: Biometric technology uses devices such as finger scanners to recognise and identify
people. It‟s commonly used to improve security systems in big companies, and today it‟s
becoming more and more common.
Ellen: It sounds like something out of a science-fiction film and not something that really exists in our
world!
Prof Benikin: You‟re right, Ellen. It‟s the kind of thing that used to be found only in science-fiction or spy
films: devices that can identify an individual and allow someone into a restricted area … or, for
example, enable someone to use a computer with secret information on it. But today, biometric
devices are quickly becoming a reality, especially with computer security.
Ellen: I know that people use passwords to enter computers with private information on them. Why
aren‟t passwords sufficient?
Prof Benikin: Well, there are a lot of problems with passwords. They‟re useful, yet not good enough in
some cases. You see, people often forget their passwords. Passwords can also be lost, stolen
or even shared. Biometrics are different. They‟re a big help to computer security.
Ellen: I see. What else are these products used for?
Prof Benikin: They‟re used in schools, for example. There are thousands of schools in the world that
have already begun using biometrics.
Ellen: Really? What do schools need biometrics for?
Prof Benikin: They use fingerprint scanners instead of library cards. They also use them instead of
using cash to pay for food. Students simply place a forefinger on a small reader by the cash
register in the school cafeteria. This makes the lunch queues shorter and it simplifies payment. It
also stops children from bullying other children into giving them their lunch money. Not only that,
but this way no one knows which students get financial help buying their lunches. Using your
fingers for identification saves a lot of unnecessary embarrassment for some children.
Biometrics are also used for vending machines, checking class attendance and making
payments at schools.
Ellen: It sounds like a great thing, but are there any problems with using this technology in schools?
Prof Benikin: Well, yes. The main problem is that people, especially parents, are saying that it‟s an
invasion of privacy and children shouldn‟t be fingerprinted without their parents‟ permission.
Some teachers are unhappy about the use of biometric technologies, too. They say that they‟ll
create a distance between the teachers and their students. There‟ll be less personal contact.
Remember when your teachers took the register in class? They‟d call your name, make eye
contact with you and maybe talk to you a bit. With biometrics, teachers won‟t need to do that any
more.
Ellen: I see their point, but on the other hand, won‟t having an identification system that uses
biometrics increase students‟ safety?
Prof Benikin: Yes, it definitely will. By using biometric technology, schools will have access control.
Access control means that they will know exactly who enters and who leaves the school
buildings and they‟ll be able to keep a record. Only authorised personnel will have access to the
system and this will make it possible to “lock down” part or all of a school in a crisis situation, like
a terrorist attack or a school shooting.
Ellen: Can these systems actually prevent terrorism?
Prof Benikin: No, they can‟t do everything, but biometric technology shouldn‟t be used alone. What I
mean is that this technology should be used along with other technologies, such as surveillance

18
 cameras and metal detectors. Biometrics can help create a controlled environment with a good
security system, but they can‟t do all the work.
Ellen: I think it‟s actually quite frightening - all this controlling and these different safety measures. It
makes me wonder what type of society we live in! So, what do you say, Professor Benikin, are
you for or against biometric technologies in schools?
Prof Benikin: I haven‟t got a simple or short answer to your question, Ellen. I guess my answer will have
to wait for another programme.
Ellen: Well, then I‟d like to thank you, Professor Benikin, for being with us today. I‟m sure you‟ve given
our listeners a lot to think about in today‟s changing society!

Answers: 1. c 2. a 3. c 4. c 5. c 6. a 7. c 8. c

19