Upper Intermediate Audio Script Unit 1
Upper Intermediate Audio Script Unit 1
UNIT 1 RECORDING 1
1
I’ve put Briar Farm for this one, because that was the name of the farm that my aunt and uncle
used to own. My mum and my sister and I, we used to go there every summer for our
holidays. I absolutely loved it, all the animals, and going on the tractor with my uncle and stuff
There isn’t really any day of the week that I don’t like, but I hate mornings … you know, getting
up first thing in the morning. I’m just not a morning person at all. It’s a bit of a problem at the
moment because I’m a hairdresser, and I do a lot of work for TV and stuff, and normally it’s
fine because I work on programmes that start late, so I get up quite late. But at the moment
I’m working on a film, and I have to be there really, really early. I’m getting up at about five and
it’s killing me! I mean the work itself is really interesting, but I just feel so horrible at that time of
the morning.
For this one, I’ve written ‘Kathy’. I met her when we were both working for this really awful
boss, she was just the most horrible nasty woman, and it was my first job, but I think Kathy
had had a few different jobs before that. Anyway, we became very close because we both
hated this boss so much. We used to go out for a coffee together and compare all the awful
things she’d said to us. We were really good friends for a couple of years – we even went on
holiday together once – but I haven’t seen her for three or four years … I don’t know why,
really … we didn’t fall out or anything, but somehow we’ve lost touch.
Let me see … I remember the house where I was born was quite small, but it had a big
garden. My parents had bought the house from an old man and he’d built this amazing pond
at the bottom of the garden. That’s one of my earliest memories really … I used to spend
hours staring at the fish in this pond, I found them fascinating. It was probably quite
dangerous, the pond, but no one seemed to worry very much. I think we lived there for about
Erm, someone I’ve met quite recently is Emma…I’ve only known her for about six months, I
met her at my exercise class as it happens, we were standing next to each other and we just
started talking. It’s quite a coincidence really because obviously my name’s Emma too and my
boyfriend’s name’s Johnny and her husband’s called John or Johnny. We’ve all been out
Erm, can’t think of anything really for this one. Oh I know, my cousin and his wife have had a
baby, I think it was born about three weeks ago, a girl, I think, I don’t remember its name. I’m
not really into babies myself, but it looks quite sweet in the photo on Facebook.
1 We used to go there every summer for our holidays. I absolutely loved it.
2 Normally it’s fine because I work on programmes that start late … but at the moment
3 It was my first job, but I think Kathy had had a few different jobs before that.
7 We were standing next to each other each other, and we just started talking.
UNIT 1 RECORDING 3
Alek Wek is one of the world’s most popular models. She has appeared in catwalk shows,
high profile advertising campaigns and on the cover of Vogue magazine. Her life, however
Alek was born into a poor family in Sudan in 1977, the seventh of nine children. In 1983, civil
war broke out. Alek used to play out in the streets but it got too dangerous to go out. In the
end, Alek’s family decided to leave their town and walk south. Eventually, the family ended up
in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Unfortunately, in Khartoum, Alek’s father died. Many years
before, he had had an operation on his hip and during their long walk it got badly infected.
In 1991, Alek and her younger sister moved to the UK. Their older sister had moved there
In 1995 Alek was shopping at a market in London when a modelling scout approached her,
and against her mother’s advice, 18-year-old Alek decided to become a model.
It was the right decision. She has been a top model for over 15 years. She also designs
handbags, and has written an autobiography called Alek. However, these days she is
spending more and more time working for charities to help Africa, like the Refugee Council.
In the 1990s, Alek Wek was changing the stereotype of how a model should look. Now she is
UNIT 1 RECORDING 4
A = Anna, M = Maz
A: And everything still going well with Ben? You two still madly in love?
M: No there’s nothing wrong as such, it’s just…I mean we get on really well, and
everything, but I dunno, I don’t think it’s like, going anywhere…I just can’t see
A: No?
M: Not really, no. I just don’t think we really want the same things. I mean he’s
like… perfectly happy living here… doing the same things, seeing the same
people, and well…you know me, I’ve got so many plans and things I want to do.
M: Mmm, he says he is, but sometimes I think he’s just telling me what I want to
hear.
A: Do you?
M: And I mean what’s the point of staying together if you don’t think there’s any
future?
A: Poor Ben…
I dunno. You won’t say anything to anyone ,will you? Because I really haven’t
A: No, of course not, I wouldn’t dream of it. You know you can trust me…
UNIT 1 RECORDING 5
J = Joe, A = Anna
A: Yes I have actually. I had coffee with Maz the other day.
A: Yeah …
A: No, well … don’t whatever you do mention this to Ben, will you?
J: No, what?
A: Well, you know, they are very different people, I mean she’s always been
things they way they are. At the end of the day she doesn’t think they really
A: I don’t really know if I should say anything more … you must promise you won’t
J: No, no, I promise, but you’ve got to tell me the whole story now you’ve started!
UNIT 1 RECORDING 6
J = Joe, B = Ben
B: Yeah, great. She’s studying like crazy as usual, but no, everything’s good.
J: Good …
B: Well you know how she loves the sun, well I’m going to book this big holiday in
the sun for us both, for when she finishes her exams next summer. Two weeks
on a Greek island, she’s going to love it. But it’s a complete surprise, so don’t
J: Mmm …are you sure Maz likes surprises? Don’t you think you should … erm,
you know, ask her where she wants to go? I mean it’s going to cost you a
J: Coz, you know, she does have strong opinions about what she likes, doesn't
she?
B: Nah, mate, it’s cool, you don’t know her like I do, she’ll love it.
J: I dunno, I think it’s a bit of a risk. If it was me, I’d definitely ask her before I
booked it.
J: And also she might make other plans, things that she can’t like change and
UNIT 1 RECORDING 7
M: He says he is.
J: Oh are you?
UNIT 1 RECORDING 8
1 I’ve got some really interesting news, do you want to hear it?
5 We had a terrible journey home last night; we were nearly two hours late!
7 Listen, the neighbours are having an argument! Can you hear what they’re saying?
A: I’ve got some really interesting news, do you want to hear it?
B: Of course I do!
B: I am listening, darling.
A: We had a terrible journey home last night; we were nearly two hours late!
B: I do believe you!
A: Listen, the neighbours are having an argument! Can you hear what they’re saying?
B: No, I can’t!
B: I did, didn’t I?
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Upper Intermediate Audio script Unit 1
UNIT 1 RECORDING 10
UNIT 1 RECORDING 11
Of course I do.
I am listening, darling.
UNIT 1 RECORDING 12
W = Woman, M = Man
W: OK. Two. Um, right, what are the pros and cons of coming from a large family?
M: Um, I don't - I don't really know, I don't come from a large family.
W: Would you say that there wouldn't be anything bad about coming from a large family?
M: My go. One, two, three, four, five. Right, oh, that's a good one, um, who have you
W: Oh no, um - I did fall out with, ah, my sister quite recently, ah, we had an argument
last New Year's Eve but I can't remember what we were arguing about.
W: No, it was – well, we were, I think we were arguing about something that happened to
W: Yes, yeah if anything it will definitely have been to do with the family.
M: But I think 'cos, because it was New Year's Eve you're feeling quite emotional and,
W: Yes, but we argue quite a lot anyway. And we're friends now.
M: Well, I don’t necessarily believe that there is an ideal age to get married. Um, I mean
some men feel that they need to be a little bit older before they get married and, um,
a lot of women feel that they’re ready to get married and vice versa as well. Um, er,
let me see, er, I mean, er, in times gone by, people got married quite young, and um,
er, you know, erm, I think my parents got married when they were a lot younger, er I
UNIT 1 RECORDING 13
A: … and most of the people there seem very friendly, so, yeah, all that side of things is
fine.
B: Good.
A: It’s just that … well, I don’t want to sound as if I’m moaning already or anything, but
I’ve got a bit of a problem with my boss somehow. It’s a bit hard to explain. When you
first meet her, she seems perfectly nice, you know, good fun, and young and
everything, but I don’t know. She’s got this way of kind of ignoring whatever I say. She
doesn’t actually criticise me, not openly, but she just doesn’t seem to take any of my
B: Oh … how annoying.
A: Yeah, well, I’m supposed to be her assistant manager, not some junior who doesn’t
B: That sounds awful. Have you tried talking to anyone else about it? Or to her, even?
A: Well, I don’t know. I don’t feel as if I’m really well enough established there yet.
A: Look! Look at the traffic! It’s just solid. Oh I don’t believe it. I mean how is anyone
A: Will you stop telling me to calm down? It is SO annoying … Come on, will you!!
B: Look, there’s no point in getting upset about it. It’s rush hour. There’s bound to be a lot
of traffic.
A: Yes, and when we turn up an hour late, I can imagine they’re gonna be really happy
about it.
B: OK, come on, we’re not going to be a hour late. I tell you what, I’ll give them a call and
A: Yeah, okay, I mean there’s not much else we can do is there, short of buying a private
A: Hello?
B: There’s a bit of a crisis, actually. That’s why I’m ringing. I don’t know what to do.
A: Oh, dear. You haven’t locked yourself out again, have you?
A: Oh, Tony.
B: He should have been back hours ago. I mean he’s always here when I get in from work,
A: Well, never mind. I’m sure he’ll come back. He always does, doesn’t he?
B: Yeah, but, you never know what might’ve happened. I mean he’s not used to being out
on his own.
A: Have you looked under the bed? That’s where he was last time.
B: Of course, I have. No, he’s not in the flat. He’s gone. I just
A: Look, Linda, try not to worry about it. He’s probably out with one of his girlfriends or
B: Yeah, I’ve looked everywhere. He’s not in any of his usual places.
UNIT 1 RECORDING 14
1 A Never mind.
B Never mind.
2 A Cheer up!
B Cheer up.
4 A What a shame.
B What a shame.
UNIT 1 RECORDING 15
8 How annoying!
9 Cheer up!
10 Never mind.
11 Calm down!
12 What a shame!