Uint1
II. Basic Listening Practice
1.Script
M: I’m beside myself with joy. I’m so lucky. Guess what? I’ve won a lit of money in the lottery.
W: Yeah? Well, you do know that money is the root of all evil, right?
Q: What does the woman mean?
2.Script
W: Mary was furious. Her son wrecked up her car.
M: He shouldn’t have driven a car without a driver’s license. He‘s still taking driving lesson.
Q: What do we know about Mary’s son?
3. Script
M: Susan, I hear you’re going to marry that guy. Some people think you’ll regret it.
W: Is that so? Only time tell.
Q: What does the woman imply?
4. Script
M: Mary, I just want to say how sorry I was to learn of your mother’s passing. I know how close you two were?
W: Thank you. It was so sudden. I’M still in a state of shock I don’t know what to do.
Q: Which of following is true?
5. Script
W: I get furious at work when my opinions aren’t considered just because I’m a woman.
M: You should air your view more emphatically and demand that your vice be heard.
Q: What is the woman complaining about?
| Listenin | ||
| What a clumsy man! | ||
| Script | ||
| Maria: | Jack, can you help me move this heavy box? | |
| Jack: | No problem, Maria. Here let me lift this end... Oops! | |
| Maria: | Ouch! My foot! Come on, can't you be a little more cautious? | |
| Jack: | I'm so sorry. It was an accident. No need to be furious! | |
| Maria: | You're always so clumsy, Jack. I'm really losing my patience with all the stupid mistakes you make around the office. | |
| Jack: | Calm down, Maria; I'll certainly be more careful next time. This was just an accident. | |
| Maria: | If you aren't more careful, then next time someone could be badly hurt. Oh, look! The glass in the box is all broken now. Mr. Johnson is going to fly into a rage. | |
| Jack: | Oh no! What can I do to keep him from hitting the roof? | |
| Maria: | Well, you can begin by helping me clean up the mess and then honestly tell him about your mistake. | |
| Jack: | Maybe if I offer to pay for the damage, he won't be so angry. What do you think? | |
| Maria: | That might help solve the problem, though it could be quite expensive to replace it. | |
| Jack: | Well, I'm willing to do what it takes to keep Mr. Johnson from exploding. I need to keep my job! |
| Script | ||
| Hello, everyone. Today I invite you to join me in an exploration of the causes of depression. There are many factors involved, but I believe some deserve special attention. Heredity certainly plays a role. The tendency to develop depression may be inherited; there is evidence that this disorder may run in families. Physiology is another factor related to depression. There may be changes or imbalances in chemicals which transmit information in the brain, called neurotransmitters. Many modern antidepressant drugs attempt to increase levels of certain neurotransmitters so as to increase brain communication. While the causal relationship is unclear, it is known that antidepressant medications do relieve certain symptoms of depression. Researchers also study psychological factors. They include the complex development of one's personality and how one has learned to cope with external environmental factors, such as stress. It is frequently observed that low self-esteem and self-defeating thinking are connected with depression. While it is not clear which is the cause and which is the effect, it is known that sufferers who are able to make corrections to their thinking patterns can show improved mood and self-esteem. Another factor causing depression is one's early experiences. Events such as the death of a parent, the divorce of the parents, neglect, chronic illness, and severe physical abuse can increase the likelihood of depression later in life. Some present experiences may also lead to depression. Job loss, financial difficulties, long periods of unemployment, the loss of a spouse or other family member, or other painful events may trigger depression. Long-term stress at home, work, or school can also be involved. It is worth noting that those living with someone suffering from depression experience increased anxiety, which adds to the possibility of their also becoming depressed. | ||
door-to-door surveys and interviews with nearly 30,000 people in 30 countries. They asked respondents how satisfied they were with their overall quality of life. Forty-six percent of Australians proclaimed to be "very happy" and expressed optimism about their future. Following them in the "very happy" group was the USA (40 percent), Egypt (36 percent), India (34 percent) and the UK and Canada (32 percent). Hungary got the wooden spoon, finishing bottom of the happiness chart. Thirty-five percent of its citizens said they were either "disappointed" or "very unhappy", followed by Russians at 30 percent.
The research demonstrated that money and age were key determinants in how happy people are. Although the study did not indicate money could buy happiness, it did reveal a link between a lack of money and unhappiness. Less happy populations were found among lower-income groups or the unemployed.
The study also suggested that on the whole, the older we become, the less happy we are. Globally, teenagers are the happiest people. The age group with the lowest levels of happiness was 50-59. Only 16 percent of those in their 50s said they were very happy.
The factors that make us happy include good health, financial security and a happy marriage. Material comforts such as cars, clothes and gadgets ranked comparatively low.
Unit 1 Enjoy your feelings
William's feelings
When I first met my parents, I was really shy, and I was, and I was in my foster home and I ran upstairs, shy, and I was in my bedroom crying, and my mum came up and said, "Oh William, are you OK?" and I ignored my mum, 'cause I didn't know her and I was scared. So, then my foster mum came up and I came down and we had some fun time. It was nice when I first arrived. I thought, "Oh goody, two sisters, I can play with them." But now it's just, "Oh no, not them again!" I argue with one of my sisters about her rabbits, 'cause she doesn't let me touch them. Well she does, butWhen I have a bit of a bad time with my sister, I go and speak with my mum and my dad. I feel most comfortable speaking to my dad about all my worries and stuff. I wish I had a brother in this family, but then it's just nice (being...) having two sisters, but I'd rather have a brother anyway. I mix with different people. I'm mostly friends with adults, 'cause I normally see adults more than children for some reason, I don't know why. It was scary going from my primary school to secondary school, but then that's just me growing up, and I've got to take the chances and take, just take what I've learned already and just move on and learn different things.
When I have a bit of a bad time with my sister, I go and speak with my mum and my dad. I feel most comfortable speaking to my dad about all my worries and stuff. I wish I had a brother in this family, but then it's just nice (being...) having two sisters, but I'd rather have a brother anyway. I mix with different people. I'm mostly friends with adults, 'cause I normally see adults more than children for some reason, I don't know why. It was scary going from my primary school to secondary school, but then that's just me growing up, and I've got to take the chances and take, just take what I've learned already and just move on and learn different things.
Unit 2 Beauty can be bought
| Susan: | Rebecca, nice to run into you here. Shopping for anything special? |
| Rebecca: | Yes, Susan, makeup. You know, there's a new boy in my law class and I want to make an impression on him. |
| Susan: | I'm the one who wears makeup, not you. I've always thought you looked very attractive without makeup—you know, sort of natural. |
| Rebecca: | Well, thanks, Susan, but most girls wear makeup these days and I want to compete. |
| Susan: | Maybe I can help. My suggestion is that you start with a good makeup base. Look here, this one is made from natural products from the Dead Sea, so it won't irritate your skin. |
| Rebecca: | OK. A bit expensive, but I guess I'm worth it. What's next? |
| Susan: | You want to give a good overall impression. You have beautiful eyes, so you should highlight them with some mascara to make your eyelashes look fuller and thicker. |
| Rebecca: | I'll buy this one—also made from natural products. How about eyeliner too? |
| Susan: | Yes, but you want a subtle color to bring out the green in your eyes... without looking like a clown! |
| Rebecca: | That's what I want... to make other girls into green-eyed monsters. How does this one look? |
| Susan: | Good choice. Now if we can add a bit of color to your cheeks, you will be the classiest of the class. |
| Rebecca: | Thanks! But you haven't said anything about lipstick. I'll need a tube of that, too. |
| Susan: | This color will perfectly complement to the rest of your makeup. You look elegant and classy. |
How do women use cosmetics?
In the early part of the 20th century, few people paid attention to fashion. It was only the very wealthy who changed their clothing styles to what they thought were the latest fashions of the day. Fashion in the 1900s was designed to give women an hourglass or s-curved figure. This was achieved by using a tightly fitting corset, stiff underwear worn around their hips and waist to make the body look slimmer. Compared to the last century, women's dresses became lighter in construction and material. A popular style in this period was the lingerie dress, a very light white cotton dress with strips of open lace and net. In the 1900s women's hats began to grow larger. A trend in the early part of this decade was to wear them tilted slightly forward. In Europe, men's clothes had become more formal, but the opposite was true in the United States. There the popular style was brightly colored shirts with hard white collars worn under sporty jackets. In the 1900s men's hats continued to be very popular and were worn by both the rich and the poor. When a new type of hat was first introduced, there was often a period when people from different classes wore it. However, after some time usually members of only one class would wear it. In the early 20th century, top hats were typically worn by wealthy people especially at formal occasions, such as weddings and church services. Often they were accompanied by silk gloves and a cane. Poorer people, on the other hand, particularly younger workers, would usually wear cloth caps.
Task 2
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you'll find it interesting learning how to be fashionable without spending too much money.
Sure, some famous stars always look stylish. They have unlimited clothing budgets that put the latest looks at their fingertips! But you can also look amazing without spending lots of money on your wardrobe. Simply try the following suggestions on for size.
First, make seasonal purchases; that is, you should buy winter coats, leather jackets, bathing suits, and summer dresses at the end of the season. You'll get major discounts as you stock up for the next year.
If you want clothes to wear right now, go to discount stores. They may not be the place to buy an expensive evening dress, but they're perfect for buying things like T-shirts.
There is yet another cheap way to buy stylish clothes. Many department stores have store brands, which offer current styles but are much cheaper than big-name brands.
To save money, an important principle is not to buy "outfits". With the exception of suits, interchangeable pieces are more affordable.
Wear-with-anything pieces are always a good buy. For example, you can almost always wear a pair of black trousers and a white dress shirt; you can wear them several times a week, paired with different accessories. Accessories such as nice shoes and fashionable bags make even the simplest outfit look polished.
Finally, a great haircut always helps. When your hair looks fabulous, you look more stylish and fashionable.
Task 3
A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is based mainly, though not only, on the physical beauty of the contestants. But often it also includes personality, talent demonstration, and question responses as criteria of judgment.
The origin of modern beauty pageants can be traced to the Miss America Pageant, which was first held in Atlantic City in 1921. This pageant eventually included preliminary eliminations, an evening gown competition, musical variety shows, and judging by the panel. Still, the contests were at first shunned by middle-class society. Pageants did not become respectable until World War II, when beauty queens were recruited to sell bonds and to entertain the troops. The Miss America Pageant is the largest provider of college scholarships for women in the world.
Many trade associations have multi-level beauty contests which select queens as ceremonial representatives. The queens may appear at official receptions to present awards, to represent the industry in festivals, to present consumer information to the public, or even to lobby for the industry. For example the South Carolina Watermelon Queen may do a tour of supermarkets to do tastings of different varieties of watermelons. With the increasing popularity of beauty contests, winners have become role models for many young girls. They aspire to become a beauty queen one day.
However, there are also criticisms of beauty contests. Although some contests are not based purely on physical appearance, "unattractive" contestants are unlikely to win, no matter how talented, intelligent, kind-hearted and educated they are. In addition, since "beauty" in these pageants is usually represented by unusually thin women, some people question this concept of beauty. Worse still, if a pageant violates the religious or cultural practices of a country, it may cause protests and demonstrations.
Let's talk > Task 1
In the early part of the 20th century, few people paid attention to fashion. It was only the very wealthy who changed their clothing styles to what they thought were the latest fashions of the day. Fashion in the 1900s was designed to give women an hourglass or s-curved figure. This was achieved by using a tightly fitting corset, stiff underwear worn around their hips and waist to make the body look slimmer. Compared to the last century, women's dresses became lighter in construction and material. A popular style in this period was the lingerie dress, a very light white cotton dress with strips of open lace and net. In the 1900s women's hats began to grow larger. A trend in the early part of this decade was to wear them tilted slightly forward. In Europe, men's clothes had become more formal, but the opposite was true in the United States. There the popular style was brightly colored shirts with hard white collars worn under sporty jackets. In the 1900s men's hats continued to be very popular and were worn by both the rich and the poor. When a new type of hat was first introduced, there was often a period when people from different classes wore it. However, after some time usually members of only one class would wear it. In the early 20th century, top hats were typically worn by wealthy people especially at formal occasions, such as weddings and church services. Often they were accompanied by silk gloves and a cane. Poorer people, on the other hand, particularly younger workers, would usually wear cloth caps.
Uint4
II. Basic Listening Practice
3.Script
M: Do you see yourself as a leader or more of a team player?
W: Well, it depends on the circumstances. I usually enjoy working as part of a team and helping everyone work together. But if the leadership is weak, I’m not afraid to take over in order to achieve the goal at hand.
Q: What does the woman want to be?
4.Script
W: Good morning, I have an appointment with Mr. Davies at 11o’ clock.
M: Yes, he left a message for you saying he’s terribly sorry but he’s stuck in traffic and is running 15 minutes late. Please take a seat and he’ll be here as soon as possible. Would you like tea or coffee?
Q: Where is the conversation probably taking place?
3. Script
W: You don’t happy. Did you get that promotion?
M: No, they brought in some new guy. I’m not going to hang around for much longer, I can’t assure you.
Q: Why is the man unhappy?
4. Script
W: Mr. Jones is a self-made millionaire, and I’m honored to have worked for him for the past thirty years as his accountant.
M: He must be pleased to have a loyal and faithful employee such as yourself.
Q: What is true of the woman?
5. Script
W: Jane, we’re considering you for the new office manager’s position. We’ve been very pleased with your work.
M: Thank you very much. I’ve always enjoyed working here, and I would welcome an opportunity for more responsibility.
| Q: Which of the following is true? |
Is work just another four-letter word?
| ∙ | ||||||
| Listening in > Task 2 | ||||||
| Lillian: | Mr. Baxter, you have worked in the company for five years, and now you manage everything here smoothly, like a clock. Could you tell us the secrets of your successful career? | |||||
| Baxter: | Just as the golden rule of real estate is "location, location, location", the golden rule of work is "relationships, relationships, relationships". Unfortunately, many workers focus so hard on the job at hand that they never develop useful relationships with people in other parts of their organization. Worse, when they do interact with colleagues in other departments, they may not treat them with respect. |
| Lillian: | Could you give me more details? |
| Baxter: | Let's take Wendy as an example. She switched jobs several months ago in the company. In her first position, as a marketing manager, she frequently found herself in conflict with the financial department over her staff's expenses. Her argument for more funds usually ended in vain. Then in her new job as training administrator, she wanted to launch an on-the-job training project. She needed the financial department to support her request for a budget. How did she convince them this time? Although the financial department's offices were located in another city, Wendy decided to visit them in their offices and try to establish closer relationships. She believed she must first of all understand their mission and their own training needs. Then she found an ally in the company's chief financial officer, who saw how her group could help develop his staff. Thus the two forged a long-term alliance, which led to a training program so successful that it has since been picked up by the company's offices in Germany and Japan. Winning allies throughout your organization has an additional benefit. These days, it's far too risky to expect your work to speak for itself. Having allies who speak well of you increases your reputation with the top management. |
With the invention of modern laptops and the advances in broadband Internet access and communication software, there is no longer a need to work in the office. More and more people are starting to work from home. Opinions on this new trend vary as there are both pros and cons of working from home.
The disadvantages are obvious. To begin with, you may feel lonely at home since you lack social interaction and face-to-face communication with colleagues. Besides, there are many distractions at home: Your wife and kids may knock on your door or call you any time. You yourself may want to stop and have a cup of coffee or find something to eat from time to time. Without the office discipline, you may even be tempted to play computer games. What's more, it may be very monotonous if you have to stay at home all day long.
On the other hand, many people think the pros of working at home outweigh the cons. The most obvious benefit is flexibility. You don't have to wake up to an alarm clock early in the morning, and you can work any time you want and in any way you want. For those who are more productive at night, working from home must be a paradise. Moreover, without a boss supervising you over your shoulder, you feel less stress. Like to work in pajamas? Fine. Like to listen to heavy metal at the highest volume while you are designing? Go for it. Also, people that work in the home environment value immensely the extra time they can spend with their loved ones. As a mom or dad, you will be in a much better position to educate and take care of your children.
Unit 4 Is work just another four-letter word?
| Let's talk > Task 1 |
| Ayesha: | In the newsroom you have about 16 reporters. The news reporters sit in one part of the room, and you have features on the other side of the room. I'm just going to see Kev, he's my news editor and he's gonna do a brief, basically brief me on a story that's happening later on. When I walk into my newsroom I don't know what to expect. You start at eight but you don't know how long that's gonna go on for. Hello. |
| Kevin: | Hi Ayesha. So we're really looking for a featurey sort of piece for tomorrow's paper. |
| Ayesha: | Frenchay Hospital, which is one of our hospitals in Bristol. They're celebrating their 10 years of this head injury unit, and we've been invited up. We're gonna obviously cover and take pictures, and I'm gonna get to speak to people. So he was really giving me guidelines. |
| Kevin: | You know when you're doing your interviews, speak to people in some detail about, you know, how they were injured in the first place, but then the treatment they've gone through. OK? |
| Ayesha: | Yeah. Excellent! Thank you! Well, I've just started writing up for my next, and just basically from the day. I've got to get something through, I think, by about four. Sometimes I come back and I've got so much going on in my hands. So I'm just trying to, sort of, just work it through. Deadlines are very stressful. But you have to meet them because it's important; it's part of what newspaper journalism is all about. You get used to it by getting the guidance, managing your time, but it's still scary. OK. It's all done. OK. This is the Bristol final. If I have a look at page 14, there we are, and that's my story. Exciting! |
The truth can be stranger than fiction.
David Copperfield is coming. TASK 1
| W: | My brother is going to pick up some tickets for the David Copperfield show. You interested in coming with us? |
| M: | I don't know. I've seen card tricks before and rabbits from hats. I even do tricks myself—watch me change this coin into an ice cream cone. |
| W: | Very funny. David Copperfield is the world's greatest magician. He's certainly worth a look. |
| M: | Actually, I have seen him on television. He pulls off some pretty amazing stunts. I wish I knew how he performed his tricks. Then I could also make a person float in the air. I could pull a rabbit out of my hat. I could escape from a straitjacket and handcuffs—all underwater. And I could saw a woman in half. |
| W: | A magician never tells his secrets. David attempts the impossible and no one has any idea how he does it. I saw him on TV when he walked through the Great Wall of China. |
| M: | How could he do that? |
| W: | I have no idea, but I know what I saw. He entered a canvas shelter on one side of the wall, and came out of a canvas shelter on the other side. |
| M: | Yes, but was he always in full view of the camera, or did they cut to a commercial or something else? |
| W: | Not only was the camera running all the time, but he was hooked up to a heart monitor, and you could track his progress as he moved through the wall. |
| M: | It's difficult to know what to believe. I know it's not possible for him to do that, but... |
| W: | It sounds like a show worth watching. |
| M: | Count me in. I'll turn my money into a ticket |
Are you worried because you have just broken a mirror? Some people believe that breaking a mirror is a terrible thing to do. They say it will bring you seven years of misfortune. The reason behind this belief stems from the old idea that a person's soul is in their reflection, so if you smash your mirror, your soul will be damaged too, dooming you to an early death, and not giving you entry to heaven. Is there any way to reverse this bad luck? Yes, if you very carefully pick up all the broken pieces of the mirror and throw them into a river or stream, then the bad luck will be "washed away".
Of all numbers, 13 is the most associated with bad luck. Some people claim that the number is bad luck because 13 people sat down for the Last Supper before Jesus was crucified, and with this in mind few hosts will serve dinner with 13 at the table. And according to an ancient Norwegian tale, 12 gods had gathered for a feast when a 13th, Loki, entered. After the meal, Loki killed Baldr, who was the most beloved of all the gods.
Friday the 13th of any month is considered especially bad or unlucky, and Friday the 13th of March is the worst of them all.
The number seven also has some superstition connected to it. It is said that God created the world in seven days, and any association with the number is lucky. The seventh son of the seventh son is said to be the luckiest of men, and when people talk about the "seven-year itch" they mean that every seven years a person undergoes a complete change in personality.
Task 3 Do superstitions work?
Thanks, perhaps, to falling stock markets and unrest in the Middle East, Britons have become even more superstitious than usual, according to a report published today. "There has been a significant increase in superstition over the last month, possibly as a result of current economic and political uncertainties," stated Dr. Dick Armstrong. He launched an Internet survey of national superstition, and found it to be surprisingly high, even among those with a scientific background. Only one in ten of those surveyed claimed not to be superstitious at all. Three out of four people in Britain feel the need to touch wood, and 65 percent cross their fingers.
It is interesting to note that lucky people were much less superstitious and tended to take constructive action to improve their lives. Conversely, superstitious people tended to regard themselves as among the less lucky, worried about life, had a strong need for control, and could not tolerate ambiguity.
The survey also revealed some unexpected beliefs. For example, one respondent could not stay in the bathroom once a toilet had been flushed.
There was no evidence that superstitions ever worked, even when people were instructed to carry lucky charms for a week. They didn't feel any luckier or more satisfied with their lives at the end of that week than when they started.
Armstrong attempted to explain this phenomenon: "When students are preparing for exams with a lucky charm, they may trust the charm, rather than doing some extra revision."
.
Let's talk > Task 1
A French architect has claimed that he has solved the mystery of how Egypt's Great Pyramid was built, saying it was built from the inside out.
The 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid is the largest stone building on Earth, and the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. Scientists have long wondered how the Egyptians placed the Great Pyramid's three million stone blocks, which each weigh about 2.5 tons.
Previous ideas have suggested that it was built using stone ramps, placed on the outside of the pyramid in a corkscrew shape to haul up stonework.
But architect Jean-Pierre Houdin disagrees; he says that the pyramid was built using an inner ramp to lift the massive stones into place. He studied the problem for eight years and unveiled his theory with a 3D computer animation watched by Egyptologists from around the world.
He believes that building a long ramp outside the pyramid to move the stone would have used up as much stone as the pyramid itself.
An outside ramp would have only been used for hauling stone meant for the base of the pyramid. The workers then constructed an inner ramp to carry stones to the top of the 137-meter pyramid.
Mr. Houdin also claimed to have solved the second mystery surrounding the purpose of a Grand Gallery inside the pyramid. He believes its tall, narrow shape suggests it housed a giant weight to help lift heavy granite beams into position above the King's Chamber. Using this technique, 4,000 people could have built the pyramid rather than the 100,000 or so suggested by past historians.
| The architect is now assembling a team to examine his theory using radar equipment. |
What shall we do when there’s nothing to do?
Unit 7 What shall we do when there’s nothing to do?
| Listening in > Task 1 | ||
| M: | Good morning! | |
| W: | Good morning! May I help you? | |
| M: | Yes. What kind of tours does your travel agency offer? | |
| W: | Different types of tours, both individual tours and group package tours. We also offer special tours like the cultural tour, regional tour, biking tour, camping tour, adventure tour, and so on. | |
| M: | Sounds interesting. Could you give me more details? | |
| W: | There are five basic kinds of tour. They vary according to their purpose. The first and most popular is recreational. | |
| M: | I see, most tourists just want recreation. | |
| W: | Such tours usually involve a large group who are after the sun, sea, sand, fresh air or sports like swimming, surfing, and so on. | |
| M: | And the second type? | |
| W: | The second is cultural tour. These tourists want to experience new cultural activities in certain rural areas or towns. | |
| M: | What about the third type? | |
| W: | It's historical tour, visits to heritage locations, museums, cathedrals and so on. The fourth is ethnic tour. | |
| M: | What does ethnic tour mean? | |
| W: | This allows tourists to participate in unusual customs in remote areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. | |
| M: | And how about the fifth? | |
| W: | Environmental tour. It aims at high-income groups. Those people are often interested in visiting faraway or "pure" environments. Because of their remoteness, the journeys normally cost a lot. | |
| M: | Thank you for the information. Historical tour appeals to me. | |
Have you ever wanted to travel to faraway places and live like a native but somehow there never seems to be quite enough money to get you there? Well, have you ever thought of home exchange holidays? It's the vacation with a difference. You stay in the exchange family's house and often have the use of their car also; and they in turn stay in your home and have the use of your facilities. If you like the sound of this, then visit our website for your one-stop house exchange vacation.
You will not only find your dream destination in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and European destinations such as France, Spain, England, etc., but you can also book your flights and car hire. On an average, families can save approximately $5,000 by swapping their homes instead of booking hotels. Travelers are interested in house swapping not just to save money. They also see it as a means of meeting locals and experiencing local culture.
Last year my partner and I tried a home exchange holiday in Denver, Colorado, and it was the best. We lived in a superb neighborhood and enjoyed the community and the shopping. We are now planning our next home exchange holiday and we hope to visit Australia.
There are lots of people who say "I don't like the idea of strangers living in my house while I'm not there", but don't forget you are living in their house and by the time the holiday date comes around, you have e-mailed them and phoned them so they feel like friends.
Perhaps you have a second vacation home which could work just as well for the exchange. If you want to rent it out for part of the year, you can advertise the house on our website free of charge.
Unit 7 What shall we do when there’s nothing to do?
| Listening in > Task 3 |
The notion of a weekly rest is ancient. Christians celebrate a day of rest known as the Sabbath, also called the Lord's Day. It is on Sunday. The weekend as a holiday is a rather modern invention. Before the industrial revolution the wage labor force was a small fraction of the population. The day of the Sabbath was viewed as one dedicated to God, not one of relaxation.
The early industrial period in Europe saw a six-day work week with only Sunday off, but some workers had no days off at all. Only the workers' rights movement in the late 19th and early 20th century saw a five-day work week introduced as Saturday became a day of rest and relaxation. This movement began in England.
In many ways this was a great boon to the economy as it lead to a great increase in consumer spending on Saturday as restaurant visits, motorcar journeys, or trips to the movies became common on Saturday. Many jurisdictions continued to enforce strict Lord's Day laws on Sunday, which meant that most places of recreation, such as stores and theaters, were forced to close on that day. These regulations began to weaken in the years after the Second World War, and Sunday also became a day of recreation for many.
After centuries of development, the weekend is now a part of the week usually lasting two days in which most paid workers do not work. This is a time for leisure and recreation, and for religious activities.
Unit 7 What shall we do when there’s nothing to do?
| Let's talk > Task 1 |
| Voice-over: | Vietnam is one of the least developed Asia Pacific countries. Every aspect of everyday life has been held back by decades of wars of one kind or another. Every branch of economic activity, from transport to industry to agriculture has been almost frozen in a time warp. At 80 percent, Vietnam still has one of the highest proportions of rural dwellers in Asia Pacific. Three quarters of the farm economy is on an entirely subsistence basis. Yet in spite of this position at the lower end of the Asia Pacific ladder, the economic outlook could be promising. Vietnam has a long list of natural resources. Along every bit of the 2,000-kilometer coastline are rich fishing grounds. The land contains huge quantities of minerals like coal and oil; and thanks to fertile soils and a favorable climate, the potential for agriculture is considerable. With these opportunities in mind, the government is well into a serious development program to pull the country up from subsistence level. It targets agriculture, manufacturing and minerals. But priority number one is something else. The potential for tourism in Vietnam is massive, the coastline is 2,000 kilometers long, and so far there are only two international standard hotels on it. Inland there are other untouched landscapes, some of which have yet to be seen by anybody from outside the country. And then there is everyday Vietnam. It won't last very long, of course, but meanwhile it's a fascinating sight for visitors who may come from a country thousands of miles away, where the daily routine is one of commuting nine to five. Yet if more people do come to see, and if Vietnam does succeed in developing a big tourist industry, doesn't that mean that all this will be ruined, like has already happened at certain spots in neighboring countries? |
| Local woman: | I don't think tourism is going to wreck Vietnam. We have a very long history and a strong culture and people are still proud of it. We still wear traditional things like conical hats made out of leaves, and women still wear the long split tunic, the ao dai. In my opinion Vietnam is not going to make the same mistakes with tourism as other countries. |
Listening in > Task 1
Saving and investment
Within personal finance, the act of saving means preservation of money for future use. A deposit account is typically used to hold money for future needs such as buying a car, going out on vacation and spending money on children's education. On the other hand, money used to buy shares or any asset where there is some risk is called an investment. The distinction between saving and investment is important, as investment, unlike cash savings, has the risk of a capital loss. Cash savings accounts are considered to have almost no risk. In the United States, all banks are required to have deposit insurance, typically issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. In extreme cases, a bank failure can cause deposits to be lost as it happened at the start of the Great Depression. However, since the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was created, no deposits in the United States have been lost due to a bank failure.
In many instances the terms saving and investment are used interchangeably. For example, banks may just use deposit savings for investment in the market.
To know whether an asset of yours is savings or an investment, you should ask yourself, "Where is my money invested?" If the answer is cash, then it is savings; if it is a type of asset which can fluctuate in value, then it is investment. There may be problems in saving money for the long term. In about 30 years its value will decrease to about a half of its original value due to inflation, if there is a two to three percent inflation rate.
Task2
| : | We have $250,000 from your uncle's estate after he died. What would you like to do with it? |
| W: | Spend it on new clothes, silly! Seriously, I don't know. Shouldn't we just put it in the bank? I want it to be safe. |
| M: | Well, interest rates are pretty low at the present time, but we could put some of it into a savings certificate—a GIC. |
| W: | What is a GIC? Is that like some sort of stock? |
| M: | No, it's a Guaranteed Investment Certificate. The bank will pay a specified rate—right now about two percent—to use our money for a year. It's safe, but doesn't earn much. |
| W: | Well, maybe we should put $50, 000 into that. |
| M: | Or even $100,000. People are saying that interest rates will go up eventually, and when they do, we can move our money into something more lucrative. |
| W: | What about the rest? |
| M: | Well, maybe we could invest in real estate. Use some of that money as a down payment on a condo which we could rent out. |
| W: | Do you really think real estate is safe? Look at the way housing prices have fallen. Hasn't the bubble burst? |
| M: | Mark Twain once said: "Buy land; they're not making it any more". I think property will hold its value in tough times. |
| W: | But there's so much over development. It seems there are condo complexes everywhere looking for buyers. |
| M: | But if we get into one at a good price, we will do well. The property will appreciate over time, faster than the GICs. |
| W: | OK. We can call an agent, and have a look at what is available. |
| Susan: | Hi, Mark, how about going out for dinner and a movie? Have a break from the books! |
| Mark: | No, Susan. I have a paper due next week, and I've got two shifts at work staring me in the face. |
| Susan: | That's too bad. How can you afford to take time away from your studies in order to work? |
| Mark: | Really, I am in a dilemma. I can't afford to, but I can't afford not to either. |
| Susan: | I guess I understand, but I chose to go the other way: Each year I take out a student loan at a zero interest to carry me through the year. Then my only burden is my studies. |
| Mark: | Yeah, my work is eating into my GPA. How about your debt? |
| Susan: | Well, I have managed to get a position in a shipping company during the summer vacation, so that I can keep down some of my debt. |
| Mark: | And you're studying shipping logistics, so the work you do during the summer will be giving you real, meaningful work experience. |
| Susan: | That was my intention. I can see if it is the sort of career that I want for myself. |
| Mark: | I understand your point, but the idea of carrying that amount of debt concerns me. It would really restrict my options. |
| Susan: | You know, the government encourages students to complete university by making loans available to them at a low interest rate. I think I'm making good use of the government's money. |
| Mark: | Maybe you are right. And in the end, when you graduate, you will earn good money, pay more taxes, and contribute to the economy. |
| Susan: | Why don't we both contribute to the economy? |
| Mark: | Right. Maybe I will visit the bank and discuss getting a loan. |
Approaching investors
| Voice-over: | For Cyclepods to survive, John's first piece of advice is that they must sort out their cashflow problem by selling a part of the business to investors. Two hundred K may seem like a huge amount of money, but John thinks it's a realistic amount to take this manufacturing business forward. In order to succeed, they must update their initial business plan which they've not looked at for months. Once they've done that, it's time to put on the suit and try to sell part of Cyclepods to an investor. James has a daunting task ahead, but in business, he needs to speculate to accumulate. He's no longer selling the product; he's selling himself, too. |
| James: | But of course it's all a bit daunting. I'm not a businessman and I'm no good at negotiations, and I think that this is going into hard-ball negotiations. I'll not be very good at that, so I'll have to... maybe get the heavies in or something. |
| John: | The most important thing James needs to do over the next two months is to raise cash so that Cyclepods could be put into full production. If he can do that, this business could go places. And if he can't or doesn't raise the cash, sadly the business could wither, and even perhaps die. |
| Voice-over: | Cyclepods can't do anything without an updated business plan. They wrote the last one nine months ago to get the 17 grand set-up loan. But since then they've been backpedaling. It's completely out of date. A good business plan is fundamental to any company and if you don't have one, you won't get investment. So for designer James and partner Natalie, it's back to basics for a fun evening of number crunching and spreadsheets, as they calculate their projections for the business for the next three years. |
| Natalie: | If we could move into the domestic market as well, I mean, that's a whole other world, isn't it? |
| Voice-over: | For designer James, this is a new and uncomfortable role. So it's time for a professional and considered rehearsal to get his sales pitch just right. |
| James: | Right hi, I'm James Stewart, from Cyclepods, here to speak about our business and what we wanna do... |
| Natalie: | ... you speak a bit low... |
| James: | Why do you do that? |
| Natalie: | ... |
| James: | Hi, I'm James... |
| Voice-over: | Whilst it's all fun and games, James needs to get his act together. Presentation skills are going to be crucial if he wants to be taken seriously. |
| Natalie: | ... there's no need to cry about it... |
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