Conversation One:
M: Hello, and welcome to our program, “Working Abroad”. Our guest this evening is a Londoner, who lives and works in Italy. Her name’s Susan Hill. Susan, welcome to the program. You live in Florence, how long have you been living there?
W: Since 1982. But when I went there in 1982, I planned to stay for only 6 months.
M: Why did you change your mind?
W: Well, I’m a designer, I design leather goods, mainly shoes, and handbags. Soon after I arrived in Florence, I got a job with one of Italy’s top fashion houses, Ferregamo. So, I decided to stay.
M: How lucky! Do you still work for Ferregamo?
W: No, I’ve been a freelance designer for quite a long time now. Since 1988, in fact.
M: So does that mean you design for several different companies now?
W: Yes, that’s right. I’ve designed many fashion items for a number of Italian companies, and during last four years, I’ve also been designing for the British company, Burberry’s.
M: What have you been designing for them?
W: Mostly handbags, and small leather goods.
M: Has the fashion industry in Italy changed since 1982?
W: Oh, yes. It’s become a lot more competitive. Because of quality of products from other countries has improved a lot. But it’s high quality and design is still world-famous.
M: And do you ever think of returning to live in England?
W: No, not really. Working in Italy is more interesting. I also love the Mediterranean sun and the Italian life style.
M: Well, thank you for talking to us, Susan.
W: It was a pleasure.
19. Where does this talk most probably take place?
20. What was the woman’s original plan when she went to Florence?
21. What has the woman been doing for a living since 1988?
22. What do we learn about the change in Italy’s fashion industry?
Long conversation 2
M: So, Claire, you’re into drama!
W: Yes, I have a master’s degree in drama and theatre. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph.D program.
M: What excites you about drama?
W: Well, I find it’s a communicative way to study people and you learn how to read people in drama. So usually I can understand what people are saying even though they might be lying.
M: That would be useful.
W: Yeah, it’s very useful for me as well. I’m in English lecture, so use a lot of drama in my classes such as role plays. And I ask my students to create mini-dramas. They really respond well. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph.D course. I’d like to concentrate on Asian drama and try to bring Asian theatre to the world’s attention. I don’t know how successful I would be, but, here’s hoping.
M: Oh, I’m sure you’ll be successful. Now, Claire, what do you do for stage fright?
W: Ah, stage fright! Well, many actors have that problem. I get stage fright every time I’m going to teach a new class. The night before, I usually can’t sleep.
M: What? For teaching?
W: Yes. I get really bad stage fright. But the minute I step into the classroom or get onto the stage, it just all falls into place. Then I just feel like: Yeah, this is what I mean to do. And I’m fine.
M: Wow, that’s cool!
23. Why does the woman find study in drama and theatre useful?
24. How did the woman’s students respond to her way of teaching English?
25. What does the woman say about her stage fright?
Passage 1
In January 1989, the Community of European Railways presented their proposal for a high speed pan-European train network extending from Sweden to Sicily, and from Portugal to Poland by the year 2020. If their proposal becomes a reality, it will revolutionize train travel in Europe. Journeys between major cities will take half the time they take today. Brussels will be only one and a half hours from Paris. The quickest way to get from Paris to Frankfurt, from Barcelona to Madrid will be by train, not plane. When the network is complete, it will integrate three types of railway line: totally new high speed lines with trains operating at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour, upgraded lines which allow for speeds up to 200 to 225 kilometers per hour, and existing lines for local connections and distribution of freight. If businesspeople can choose between a three-hour train journey from city-center to city-center and a one-hour flight, they’ll choose the train, says an executive travel consultant. They won’t go by plane any more. If you calculate flight time, check-in and travel to-and-from the airport, you’ll find almost no difference. And if your plane arrives late due to bad weather or air traffic jams or strikes, then the train passengers will arrive at their destination first. Since France introduced the first 260-kilometer-per-hour high speed train service between Paris and Lyons in 1981, the trains have achieved higher and higher speeds. On many routes, airlines have lost up to 90% of their passengers to high speed trains. If people accept the Community of European Railways’ plan, the 21 century will be the new age of the train.
26. What is the proposal presented by the Community of European Railways?
27. What will happen when the proposal becomes a reality?
28. Why will business people prefer a three-hour train journey to a one-hour flight?
29. When did France introduce the first high speed train service
M: Hello, and welcome to our program, “Working Abroad”. Our guest this evening is a Londoner, who lives and works in Italy. Her name’s Susan Hill. Susan, welcome to the program. You live in Florence, how long have you been living there?
W: Since 1982. But when I went there in 1982, I planned to stay for only 6 months.
M: Why did you change your mind?
W: Well, I’m a designer, I design leather goods, mainly shoes, and handbags. Soon after I arrived in Florence, I got a job with one of Italy’s top fashion houses, Ferregamo. So, I decided to stay.
M: How lucky! Do you still work for Ferregamo?
W: No, I’ve been a freelance designer for quite a long time now. Since 1988, in fact.
M: So does that mean you design for several different companies now?
W: Yes, that’s right. I’ve designed many fashion items for a number of Italian companies, and during last four years, I’ve also been designing for the British company, Burberry’s.
M: What have you been designing for them?
W: Mostly handbags, and small leather goods.
M: Has the fashion industry in Italy changed since 1982?
W: Oh, yes. It’s become a lot more competitive. Because of quality of products from other countries has improved a lot. But it’s high quality and design is still world-famous.
M: And do you ever think of returning to live in England?
W: No, not really. Working in Italy is more interesting. I also love the Mediterranean sun and the Italian life style.
M: Well, thank you for talking to us, Susan.
W: It was a pleasure.
19. Where does this talk most probably take place?
20. What was the woman’s original plan when she went to Florence?
21. What has the woman been doing for a living since 1988?
22. What do we learn about the change in Italy’s fashion industry?
Long conversation 2
M: So, Claire, you’re into drama!
W: Yes, I have a master’s degree in drama and theatre. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph.D program.
M: What excites you about drama?
W: Well, I find it’s a communicative way to study people and you learn how to read people in drama. So usually I can understand what people are saying even though they might be lying.
M: That would be useful.
W: Yeah, it’s very useful for me as well. I’m in English lecture, so use a lot of drama in my classes such as role plays. And I ask my students to create mini-dramas. They really respond well. At the moment, I’m hoping to get onto a Ph.D course. I’d like to concentrate on Asian drama and try to bring Asian theatre to the world’s attention. I don’t know how successful I would be, but, here’s hoping.
M: Oh, I’m sure you’ll be successful. Now, Claire, what do you do for stage fright?
W: Ah, stage fright! Well, many actors have that problem. I get stage fright every time I’m going to teach a new class. The night before, I usually can’t sleep.
M: What? For teaching?
W: Yes. I get really bad stage fright. But the minute I step into the classroom or get onto the stage, it just all falls into place. Then I just feel like: Yeah, this is what I mean to do. And I’m fine.
M: Wow, that’s cool!
23. Why does the woman find study in drama and theatre useful?
24. How did the woman’s students respond to her way of teaching English?
25. What does the woman say about her stage fright?
Passage 1
In January 1989, the Community of European Railways presented their proposal for a high speed pan-European train network extending from Sweden to Sicily, and from Portugal to Poland by the year 2020. If their proposal becomes a reality, it will revolutionize train travel in Europe. Journeys between major cities will take half the time they take today. Brussels will be only one and a half hours from Paris. The quickest way to get from Paris to Frankfurt, from Barcelona to Madrid will be by train, not plane. When the network is complete, it will integrate three types of railway line: totally new high speed lines with trains operating at speeds of 300 kilometers per hour, upgraded lines which allow for speeds up to 200 to 225 kilometers per hour, and existing lines for local connections and distribution of freight. If businesspeople can choose between a three-hour train journey from city-center to city-center and a one-hour flight, they’ll choose the train, says an executive travel consultant. They won’t go by plane any more. If you calculate flight time, check-in and travel to-and-from the airport, you’ll find almost no difference. And if your plane arrives late due to bad weather or air traffic jams or strikes, then the train passengers will arrive at their destination first. Since France introduced the first 260-kilometer-per-hour high speed train service between Paris and Lyons in 1981, the trains have achieved higher and higher speeds. On many routes, airlines have lost up to 90% of their passengers to high speed trains. If people accept the Community of European Railways’ plan, the 21 century will be the new age of the train.
26. What is the proposal presented by the Community of European Railways?
27. What will happen when the proposal becomes a reality?
28. Why will business people prefer a three-hour train journey to a one-hour flight?
29. When did France introduce the first high speed train service