Listening 2.

40
1
My brother’s older than me.
It’s more dangerous to cycle than to drive.
2
People walk more quickly than in the past.
3
I’m less relaxed this year than I was last year.
4
The service in this restaurant isn’t as good as it was.
She doesn’t drive as fast as her brother.

Listening 2.41
1 I’m busier than a year ago.
2 My life is more stressful than in the past.
3 I work harder than before.
4 I walk and talk faster.
5 I’m not as relaxed as I was a few years ago.

Listening 2.42
Interviewer Today we talk to Laurel Reece, who’s writing a book about how to live more
slowly. She’s going to give us five useful tips.
Laurel My first tip is something which is very simple to say, but more difficult to do
in practice. Whatever you’re doing, just try to slow down and enjoy it. If you
are walking somewhere, try to walk more slowly; if you are driving make
yourself drive more slowly. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, cooking,
having a shower, exercising in the gym, just slow down and really enjoy the
moment.
We all try to do too many things that we just don’t have time for. So my
second tip is make a list of the three things which are most important for you,
your priorities in life. Then when you’ve made your list make sure that you
spend time doing those things. Imagine, for example, that your three things are
your family, reading, and playing sports. Then make sure that you spend
enough time with your family, that you have space in your life for reading, and
 that you have time to do sports. And forget about trying to do other things that
you haven’t got time for.
Tip number three is don’t try to do two things at the same time. The worst
thing you can do is to multitask. So, for example don’t read your emails while
you are talking to a friend on the phone. If you do that you aren’t really
focusing on your emails or your friend and you aren’t going to feel very
relaxed either.
Tip number four is very simple: once a day, every day, sit down and do
nothing for half an hour. For example, go to a café and sit outside, or go to a
park and sit on a bench. Turn off your phone so that nobody can contact you,
and then just sit and watch the world go by. This will really help you to slow
down.
OK. My fifth and final tip. One of the most relaxing things you can do is to be
near water or even better, to be on water. So if you live near a lake or river go
and sit by the river or go boating. If you live near the sea go and sit on the
beach. Relax and listen to the sound of the wind and the water. You will feel
your body and mind slowing down as the minutes go past.

Listening 2.43
1
It’s the dirtiest city in Europe.
It’s the most popular holiday destination in the world.
2
It’s the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to.
It’s the best film I’ve seen this year.

Listening 2.44
1 What’s the most beautiful city you’ve ever been to?
2 What’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
3 Who’s the most impatient person you know?
4 Who’s the most generous person in your family?
5 What’s the most frightening film you’ve ever seen?
6 What’s the most exciting sport you’ve ever done?
7 What’s the most interesting book you’ve read recently?
8 What’s the most romantic restaurant you’ve ever been to?

Listening 2.45
First I did the photo test. I was near Charing Cross station. I stopped a man who was walking
quite slowly down the road and I said, ‘Excuse me, could you take my photo?’ The man said:
‘No, no, no time for that,’ and just continued walking. Then I asked a businessman in a grey
suit who was walking towards the station. He took one photo, but when I asked him to take
another one he walked away quickly.
Next, it was the shopping test. I went to a tourist shop in Oxford Street and I bought a key
ring and a red bus. The red bus was very expensive. The total price was forty pounds. I gave
the man a hundred pounds. He gave me sixty pounds back.
Finally it was time for the accident test. For this test I went down into the Tube (the London
Underground). As I went down the stairs I ‘fell over’ and sat on the floor . A man
immediately stopped and looked down at me. I thought he was going to help me but he didn’t
– he just said ‘Why don’t you look where you are going?’

Listening 2.46
Where is it? How big is it?
Reading is a town in the south of England, on the river Thames. It is about 40 miles west of
London. It is a large town and it has a population of about 250,000. It is famous for its music
festival which is one of the biggest in the UK.

Listening 2.51
Presenter Next in our list of things which you thought were bad for you is chocolate.
Jane, our food expert, is going to tell us why actually it can be good for us.
Jane Well, there have been a lot of studies recently about chocolate. Remember,
chocolate is something that we’ve been eating for hundreds of years, it’s not a
modern invention. And the studies show that chocolate, like red wine, contains
antioxidants. In fact chocolate has more antioxidants than wine. These
antioxidants can protect us against illnesses like heart disease.
Presenter Really?
Jane Yes, but, and this is very important, all the good antioxidants are only in dark
chocolate. So don’t eat milk chocolate or white chocolate – they aren’t healthy
at all. And of course you also need to remember that although dark chocolate
 is good for you, it contains quite a lot of calories, so if you’re worried about
your weight, don’t eat too much. One or two pieces a day is enough.
Presenter Great news for me because I love chocolate! And now to Tony, our TV
journalist. Tony, newspaper articles are always telling us about studies which
say that we watch too much TV, that we spend too much time sitting in front
of the TV and that as a result we don’t do enough exercise. They also say that
watching TV makes us stupid. Is this all true Tony?
Tony Well, it’s almost certainly true that we watch too much television, but it
probably isn’t true that watching TV makes us stupid. I’ve just finished
reading a book by a science writer, Steven Johnson, called Everything bad is
good for you. One thing he says in his book is that modern TV series like The
Sopranos or House or Mad Men are more intellectually stimulating than TV
series were 20 years ago. He says that these shows are complicated and very
clever and that they help to make us more intelligent.
Presenter Well, I can believe that, but what about reality shows that are so popular on
TV. I can’t believe that these are good for us.
Tony Well, Steven Johnson says that we can even learn something from reality
shows – he says this kind of programme can teach us about group psychology,
about how people behave when they are in a group.
Presenter Well, thank you, Tony and Jane. So now you know what to do this evening.
You can sit down in front of the TV with a box of dark chocolates…

Listening 2.52
1
I’m stressed.
I have too much work.
He talks too much.
2
My diet is unhealthy.
I eat too many cakes and sweets.
3
I don’t want to go out.
I’m too tired.
Listening 2.53
1
Do you eat enough vegetables?
I don’t drink enough water.
2
She doesn’t sleep enough.
3
My fridge isn’t big enough.
I don’t go to bed early enough.

Listening 2.55
Holly Hey, Rob, come on. Keep up.
Rob Sorry. I’m a bit tired this morning.
Holly You aren’t exactly in good shape, are you?
Rob I know, I know. I think I’m eating too much.
Holly Then eat less!
Rob It isn’t easy. I eat out all the time. And the portions in American restaurants are
enormous.
Holly You don’t do enough exercise.
Rob I walk a lot.
Holly Walking isn’t enough, Rob. Do you do anything to keep fit?
Rob I cycle when I’m in London...
Holly So why don’t you get a bike here?
Rob I’m only here for another three weeks. Anyway, my hotel’s near the office. I don’t
need a bike.
Holly You know, Jennifer goes running all the time. Before and after work. But I just think
that running is just so boring. I mean, where’s the fun?
Rob Yeah, I’m not very keen on running.
Holly So why don’t you play basketball with me and my friends?
Rob OK. That’s a great idea! But I don’t have any trainers.
Holly Trainers? Sneakers! You can buy some.
Rob Is there a sports shop near here?
Holly Sure, there’s one across the street.
Listening 2.56
A Why don’t you get a bike?
B That’s a good idea, but I’m only here for a month.
A Why don’t you come and play basketball?
B That’s a great idea!

Listening 2.57
Sales Assistant Can I help you, Sir?
Rob Yes. Do you have these in an eight?
Sales Assistant Just a minute, I’ll go and check.
Sales Assistant Here you are, these are an eight. Do you want to try them on?
Rob No, thanks. I’m sure they’ll be fine. How much are they?
Sales Assistant They’re eighty three ninety four.
Rob Oh, it says seventy two ninety nine.
Sales Assistant Yes, but there’s an added sales tax of fifteen percent.
Rob Oh, OK. Do you take Mastercard?
Sales Assistant Sure.

Sales Assistant Can I help you?

Rob Yes, I bought these about half an hour ago.
Sales Assistant Yes, I remember. Is there a problem?
Rob Yes, I’m afraid they’re too small.
Sales Assistant What size are they?
Rob They’re an eight. But I take a UK eight.
Sales Assistant Oh right. Yes, a UK eight is a US nine.
Rob Do you have a pair?
Sales Assistant I’ll go and check. Just a minute.
Sales Assistant I’m sorry, but we don’t have these in a nine. But we do have these and
they’re the same price. Or you can have a refund.
Rob Erm... I’ll take this pair then, please.
Sales Assistant No problem. Do you have the receipt?
Rob Yes, here you are.
Sales Assistant Brilliant.
Listening 2.58
Sales Assistant Can I help you, Sir?
Rob Yes. Do you have these in an eight?
Sales Assistant Just a minute, I’ll go and check.
Sales Assistant Here you are, these are an eight. Do you want to try them on?
Rob No, thanks. I’m sure they’ll be fine.
Rob How much are they?
Sales Assistant They’re 83.94.
Rob Oh, it says 72.99.
Sales Assistant Yes, but there’s an added sales tax of 15%.
Rob Oh, OK. Do you take Mastercard?
Sales Assistant Sure.
Sales Assistant Can I help you?
Rob Yes, I bought these about half an hour ago.
Sales Assistant Yes, I remember. Is there a problem?
Rob Yes, I’m afraid they’re too small.
Sales Assistant What size are they?
Rob They’re an eight. But I take a UK eight.
Sales Assistant Oh right. Yes, a UK eight is a US nine.
Rob Do you have a pair?
Sales Assistant I’ll go and check. Just a minute.
Sales Assistant I’m sorry, but we don’t have these in a nine. But we do have these and
they’re the same price. Or you can have a refund.
Rob Erm... I’ll take this pair then, please.
Sales Assistant No problem. Do you have the receipt?
Rob Yes, here you are.
Sales Assistant Brilliant.

Listening 2.59
Rob Hi Jenny.
Jenny Oh, hi.
Rob Have you had a good day?
Jenny Oh, you know. Meetings! What about you?
Rob It was great. I went to Brooklyn and met some really interesting people.
Jenny And you had time to go shopping, too.
Rob What? Oh yeah. I’ve just bought these.
Jenny What are they?
Rob A pair of trainers – er, sneakers.
Jenny Nice. Why did you buy sneakers?
Rob I think I need to get a bit fitter.
Jenny Oh, I’m impressed. You know, I go running every morning in Central Park.
Rob Do you?
Jenny It’s so beautiful early in the morning. Why don’t you come with me?
Rob Er... sure. Why not?
Jenny Great! I’ll come by your hotel tomorrow morning.
Rob OK. What time?
Jenny Six forty-five?
Rob Six...?
Jenny Forty-five.
Rob Can we make it a bit later? Say, seven forty-five?
Jenny That’s too late, Rob. Let’s make it seven fifteen.
Rob OK.
Jenny Excellent. See you later.
Rob Great.
Holly Basketball and running, Rob. You must have a lot of energy.
Rob Er... yeah.