新标准大学英语视听说教程听力材料文本2 - 副本

College culture Unit 1

Unit 1 College culture

Inside view

Conversation1

Janet ：So this is the Cherwell Boathouse –it’s lovely! And look at those people punting! It looks quite easy.

Mark ：I’m not so sure about that! Janet, there’s something Kate an d I wanted to discuss with you. Some people in college are organizing charity events this term. We’ve decided to get involved. Janet ：Raising money for charity? Right. In China, people raise money for charity but students don’t usually do that.

Mark ：Stu dents often do that here. Anyway, we’re thinking of doing sponsored punting.

Janet ：Sponsored punting! What’s that?

Kate ：Sponsoring is when people pay you to do something – like run a long distance. So people would be sponsoring students to punt.

Janet ：What a great idea! I’d love to join you!

Mark ：That’s why we’re telling you about it. So that’s decided then. Let’s make a list of things we need to do.

Kate ：I’ll do that. One of the first things we should do is choose the charity.

Mark ：Yes. And cho ose a day for the event. And we need to design the sponsorship form. I’ve got one here.

Kate ：That looks fine, but we must change the wording. Who wants to do that?

Mark ：I’ll do that. What have we got so far?

Kate ：Choose a charity. Also a day for the event. Change the wording on the sponsorship form …Um … We have to decide where the punt will start from.

Mark ：Cherwell Boathouse, no question! It's a very beautiful route from here, apparently.

Kate ：I’m with you on that.

Janet ：Me too …

Conversation2

Janet ：I’m not used to boats – Woah!

Mark ：Whoops!

Kate ：Watch out! You nearly hit me with that thing!

Mark ：Sorry! I didn’t mean to. … OK, we’re off!

Kate ：Maybe I should do the punting.

Mark ：It’s fine. I’ve got the hang of it now – give me a chance.

Kate ：Well, I’d like to have a go.

Mark ：Supposing I do the first hour. Then you can take over for a while, if you want to.

Kate ：Yes, great.

Janet ：You’re really good at it, Mark! This is fantastic! It’s exactly how I imagined life

here! Look over there –isn’t it lovely!

Kate ：Yes, it is.

…

Janet ：Kate, everything’s organized, isn’t it, for8 collecting the sponsorship money?

Kate ：Yes, I’ve arranged for people to get the money to me by next Friday –if they haven’t paid online. I’ll coun t it all up.

Janet ：Good. We’d better have a meeting soon after that, don’t you think? How much have we raised?

Kate ：About 600.

Janet：Fantastic! I’m so enjoying this!

Mark ：Hey guys, I’ve got a suggestion – how about moving over to the bank and we can have our picnic! Hey, look, there’s Louise and Sophie!

Mark ：Whoo …

Girls Mark!

Janet ：Are you all right?

Mark ：Er … Of course I’m all right. Kate, I think it’s your turn to punt!

Outside view

V/O

Harvard University in Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world. We spoke to Alex Jude, the university’s Head of Communications. He explained that Harvard looks for the best and most talented students from around the world.

Alex

Harvard actually seeks students from around the world, the best students that we can find, to study chemistry, or study literature, or study government, or business. Our business school is particularly well-known around the world, as is the medical school and law school, so, um, and, and the Kennedy School of government, for the John F. Kennedy School of Government, so, er, we do seek very, very talented students and we have open doors for them.

V/O

We asked five students at Harvard to tell us what kind of social life they have.

Ashley

Um, well relaxing is a little hard to do around here, but basically, I mean, I still, I, I live nearby anyway, so I see a lot of my friends, and … Um, there’s a good social life here if you look for it. I go to the gym, run. So that’s what I do.

Adam

It is whatever you want it to be. It’s good. If you wanna go out party, do anything you can. If you wanna sit in your room and study all night like my friend over here, you can also do that.

Brian

Socially, like you said, it’s, it’s a lot of what you make it. Um, we don’t have fra ternities here, and so, you know, that’s, it’s obviously not as social. There’s not as many parties as there would be on another campus. Um, but on a Friday or Saturday night, there, there, there will be a party. Usually we end up studying until about 10 o’clock. And then we, and then we’ll go out and have fun maybe, or just watch a movie with friends, or, you know, whatever is going on for the night. Jodie

Not everyone would agree with me, obviously, but it’s, I think it’s a fun place to be.

Int.

Have you made a lot of friends?

Jodie

Oh, definitely.

Int. ：Mm.

Jodie

Many.

Int.

What, what do you do with your friends?

Jodie

Um, well, I like to go to concerts. I’m in three music groups, so I have lots of rehearsals during the week for that. Um, just do, you know, some fun things, on the weekend.

V/O

We asked the Harvard students if they use the

Internet.

Ashley

Um, I, I use it a fairly good amount. Um, our library system is online, so I use that a lot. And a lot of my classes, you know, have to do research papers. You can find a lot of information on there, so.

Int.

So how often do you use it, a week, a day?

Ashley

Um, I use it probably on more of a weekly basis. Maybe three or four times a week.

Brian

Oh yes, definitely. We live through the Internet actually. Well, I do a lot of research through the Internet, follow my stocks on the Internet. Um, well, even though e-mail is not officially Internet, we, that’s how we communicate a lot at college, so, through the e-mail.

John

Um, I use the internet mostly for, er, I’d say, sort of leisure purpos es. I mean, I play, um, I use it for a lot of, I don’t, we don’t have TV in my room, so I use it, uh, uh, go to the CNN website, keep up on current events, things like that. Uh, I also, uh, you know, there’s some little games to play over the Internet. Um, just um, I go to https://www.360docs.net/doc/c29195905.html, to see what’s happening, follow the Boston Red Sox, things like that. Um, I think a lot of courses use it to post things, but I, I don’t usually use it that much for research, or things. I tend to use the libraries for such things, so.

Unit 4

Inside view

Conversation1

Mark ：This is just so crazy!

Janet ：What?

Mark ：This story I’m reading.

Kate ：So tell us.

Mark ：A man within a wheelchair crossing the road in front of a lorry at some traffic lights. Somehow, the back of the wheelchair got stuck on the front of the lorry. When the lorry started moving, it took the wheelchair and the man with it!

Kate ：You’re joking!

Mark ：The driver drove for several miles at 80 kilometres an hour before he stopped at a garage. The man was unhurt because his seat belt had stopped him falling out.

Janet ：What a terrible story! Thank goodness the man was all right!

Mark ：The police asked the driver if he’d realized he had a passenger. The driver said he had no idea at all.

Mark ：Do you want to hear another one? A funny one this time.

Kate ：Go on.

Mark ：A woman reported that her car had been stolen and that she’d left her mobile phone in the car. The policeman suggested calling the mobile. When he did, the thief answered it. The policeman told the thief that he was answering an ad in the paper and that he wanted to buy the car. And the thief agreed to sell it!

Janet ：He didn’t!

Mark ：So they arranged to meet and the thief was arrested and the woman got her car back. Janet ：A happy ending!

Mark ：You get these great stories in the papers – I always read them.

Conversation2

V oice on radio ：The news at one o’clock.

Tornadoes have damaged homes in Northern England.

T here is still no news of missing company director, Alan Marsden.

Scientists claim that global warming is accelerating. There are reports coming in of more fighting in …

Mark ：Do you mind if I turn it off?

Janet ：It’s fine, I wasn’t listening.

Mark ：Do you follow the news?

Janet ：Yeah, I do. But I don’t often listen to the radio, I mostly get my news online.

Kate ：Do you?

Janet ：Yes, I read articles from different papers.

Kate ：My dad does that.

Mark ：Well, I’ve got used to reading real newspapers.

Janet ：You should try reading the news online. You get lots of different views, it’s very stimulating.

Mark ：True, it is stimulating. But I’ve got into the habit of reading the papers in the JCR – in

a comfortable armchair, with lots of black coffee.

Kate ：Don’t either of you listen to the radio? It’s a great way to wake up.

Mark ：Yeah, I do that. And I download podcasts. And I watch the news on telly.

Kate ：You’re a news addict. We all know that.

Mark ：You have to be if you read PPE. You have to be really knowledgeable about current affairs.

Janet ：You are.

Kate ：Well, I’m a TV addict. I spend too much time watching the soaps. I love British TV. Janet ：We’ve noticed, Kate. Are you going to watch Friends with me tonight?

Kate ：You bet!

Outside view

Part1

Keith ：I saw Robin Williams come to the patio. I made the run, jumped a couple of sawhorses, climbed up a stairway, got in front of him, and said, “Robin, do you mind if I take a picture?” He goes, “After all that, how could I stop you?”

V/O

Keith Sykes has a long career in journalism, photography, and communications.

Keith ：I’ve taken pictures of a lot of celebrities. Cindy Crawford. I’ve taken her picture a

few times and, I, I think it’s impossible to take a bad picture of her. James Garner. I’ve photographed famous politicians. I stood in the same position for two hours to get this picture. Photographing these people is uh, an exciting thing for me. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to become editor of a weekly newspaper out there, I was really excited when I started getting these invitations to come to this award show, or this benefit show. I was showing up at all these events and seeing people that I had seen on the screen and it was, uh, really, uh, a magical moment for me.

Part2

Keith ：The word paparazzi means “the pest” in Italian. Fellini dubbed a character who played a pesky photographer in L a Dolce Vita “Paparazzo”. The roots of paparazzi photography were in Europe after World War II. The countries were all subject to many political factions who were deciding what direction their countries would go. This created awesome political rivalries. And photographers would cover political events, knowing that they would probably turn into violent protests and they’d get newsworthy pictures and be able to sell them. Now at the same time, more and more celebrities were going to the Mediterranean, to Mont e Carlo … And these photographers, who had started as political photographers, took pictures of the celebrities and their … those celebrities’ wild lives.

There are financial rewards. If I got a photograph of Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt holding hands, then I’d be paid maybe $10,000. If I shot Jennifer and Brad throwing drinks at each other, I would get $50,000. How much a photograph is worth is often determined by how negative it portrays that celebrity.

When, uh, Princess Diana died, I started thinking. I had realized that the business had gone bad, that it was being motivated by money, that it was creating not artists, or even well-meaning photographers who wanted to pursue this craft, but rather, really bounty hunters.

Part3

Keith

I decided to use the small college town of North Hampton and go up there every Saturday night, and I put on the full uniform, photo vest, and press IDs, and I would lurk in doorways and follow people and jump out in front of them and take their picture. I’ve, you know, w alked up with my camera behind me and then just pulled it out and shot it with the flash. We wanted to know what it felt like – as an everyday person, how do you like the idea that someone can take pictures of you on the street? And almost universally, peo ple feel you shouldn’t have the right to invade their privacy. I think, as consumers of the media, we at least have to look at ourselves occasionally and evaluate what it is we’re consuming. Because whatever we’re consuming, we’re encouraging to spread.

Unit 5 War

Inside view

Conversation1

Mark：Hi!

Kate ：Hi, Janet! Have you been waiting long?

Janet ：Not at all. What did you think of Hero?

Kate ：It was brilliant, thanks for suggesting it.

Janet ：Well, it was nominated for an Oscar, you know.

Kate ：That figures. It’s a beautiful film.

Mark ：Yes. The costumes, and scenery were amazing,

Kate ：I’d love to know more about the emperor, he was cool. Who was he?

Janet ：Qin Shi Huang –it’s said he was the first emperor in the history of China – he unified China.

Kate ：Did he? When?

Janet ：Er … 221 BC.

Mark ：As long ago as that!

Waitress ：Hi guys! What can I get you?

Kate ：Yes, I’ll have a coke, thanks.

Mark ：Er … Just a coffee.

Waitress ：Sure.

Mark ：Tell us more …

Janet ：Um … Well, before th at, there were seven big states and they had been fighting each other for many years.

Mark ：Right.

Janet ：It’s called the Warring States Period. Anyway – Qin was king of the largest state and he defeated the six other states, one after another. It took him ten years to conquer them, each with a different strategy.

Mark ：What kind of man was he?

Janet ：Well, he was brilliant, obviously. And also wise. He had this huge army – they were very powerful. After his army had attacked the first state, the next state surrendered without much fight.

They were so terrified.

Kate ：Wow!

Janet ：What else? The army leaders were very clever, they used a river to flood a city.

Mark ：That can’t have been easy.

Janet ：Yes, anyway, after conquering the last state, Qin made himself Emperor of the whole of China.

Mark ：Was he the emperor who created the Terracotta Warriors?

Janet ：That’s right. He was so afraid of death that he wanted them to guard him in the afterlife.

Kate ：Fascinating!

Conversation2

Becky ：OK.

Kate ：Thank you.

Mark ：Thanks.

Kate ：So go on about Emperor Qin. It’s really interesting.

Janet ：It is, isn’t it? Well, so he unified China and that was an incredible achievement. But as a result, huge numbers of soldiers were killed.

Kate ：About how many?

Janet ：Oh, I don’t know, something like 500,000 men?

Kate ：That is huge.

Mark ：So how do the Chinese see Qin?

Janet ：He’s seen as the greatest emperor in Chinese history.

Mark ：Why? Because he unified China? That’s a very good reason, mind you.

Janet ：Not only that. The thing is, as a result of the unification, he did many amazing things. He built roads all across China, he standardized writing … and also the money system. Oh, and the system for measuring and weighing things as well.

Mark ：So he was a great leader for China.

Janet ：Yes, he was, but he was also very cruel.

Mark ：Yes, but most emperors were cruel, weren’t they?

Kate ：Well I guess that’s true. You’re right.

Mark ：So did he have enemies?

Janet ：Of course, I think all great emperors have some enemies. Some people hated him so much they tried to kill him!

Mark ：Was he the emperor who built the Great Wall of China?

Janet ：He built the first Great Wall. You see, tribes from the north were always trying to invade building it.

Kate ：It’s so sad – all those thousands of people dying.

Mark ：But then … that’s war, isn’t it?

Outside view

V/O

On the 25th of April each year, Australia and New Zealand celebrates Anzac Day, when they commemorate all the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who died in action

during the First and Second World Wars, and in every armed conflict since then. We’re here now at the Australian War Memorial at the start of the dawn service.

They shall grow not old As we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. Lest we forget.

A verse from the poem, Ode to Remembrance by Laurence Binyon, is recited during the ceremony. Inside the Hall of Memory is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This is the grave of a solider whose identity is not known and it represents all those soldiers who died in battle but were not identified.

Twenty-four years after the ravages of World War I, war came to the mainland of Australia where air raids killed hundreds of service personnel and civilians. In Malaysia, Korea and Vietnam, we answered the call as we have in Afghanistan and Iraq. Through it all the one unshakable truth has been a steadfastness, born of the tradit ions of the Australian servicemen. Today, Australia’s special day, they remember in East Timor, on Bourgainville, in Afghanistan and Iraq, on the island of Crete, at Gallipoli, they along with us, remember. Anzac Day is a public holiday in Australia. It is one of the most important national days of the year and certainly the most solemn one. Commemoration services are held in all the so he built a huge wall across China to stop major cities in Australia and huge crowds them. Hundreds of thousands of men died attend to pay their respects to those who died. Servicemen and women from all the armed services in Australia march in procession.

They fought in the Second World War and other conflicts since then that have happened around the world.

The men in the t rucks are all wearing decorations. They’re veterans from the Second World War, and perhaps a few last survivors from the First World War. After the Parade the veterans will gather in a pub or club to talk and share memories. This veteran fought in the Second World War in Western Australia.

Int

And what does Anzac Day mean to you?

Vet

Well, it means remembering not only those who didn’t go home but the, the fact that you keep in touch with a lot of your … friends.

Unit 8 Time off

Inside view

Conversation1

Mark ：Have you got your tickets for the play?

Kate ：What play?

Mark ：The play which OUDS are producing. You know, the play I’m in at the Oxford Playhouse. Kate ：Oh, that play! Well, er …

Mark ：What about you, Janet?

Janet ：What’s the play called?

Mark ：Wa iting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett. You are coming, aren’t you?

Kate ：Beckett?

Janet ：Why not?

Kate ：Well, um, I’m sure you’ll be totally brilliant, Mark … but I wish I could understand the play. It doesn’t make sense.

Mark ：If only you were more pati ent, Kate. Beckett’s a fascinating writer. You’ll come though, won’t you, Janet? You really ought to see something like this at least once during your stay in Oxford.

Janet ：Well, I’m not sure.

Mark ：Oh, come on! Please!

Janet ：But if Kate doesn’t understand the play, there’s no way I’ll be able to follow it.

Kate ：Do you want to go?

Janet ：Well, I love going to the theatre, and I’d really like to see Mark acting. And actually, yes, I think I should see a play by Samuel Beckett.

Mark ：Good! So you’re coming, Janet. I wish you’d come, too, Kate. It’s a really good performance.

Kate ：Well, OK, but I’m only doing it because you’re in it. When is it on?

Mark ：Next Tuesday to Saturday.

Janet ：How about going Friday night?

Mark ：That’s great. But you’d better get your tickets soon, because we’re expecting a full house. Conversation2

Kate ：Well, what did you think?

Janet ：It was … very interesting.

Kate ：I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Absolutely nothing happened! I don’t know why I bothered coming to see it.

Janet ：I thought Mark was brilliant.

Kate ：Yes, I did too, of course …

Janet ：But I wish I had read the play before I saw it. If only I had known the story, it might have been easier to follow it. How long do you think Mark will be?

Janet ：I guess he needs to get changed first. He said he’d join us as soon as possible.

Kate ：Here he is. Hi Mark!

Mark ：Hi, what did you think? How was I?

Janet ：It was … very challenging.

Kate ：It was so-so.

Janet ：But you were brilliant! Well done.

Kate ：You were awesome, Mark. Everyone adored your performance. Darling, you were to die for!

Mark ：OK, OK, don’t exaggerate. I wasn’t that good! Anyway, I’ve got some great news! Janet ：Tell us!

Mark ：We’ve started talking about next term’s OUDS play.

Kate ：What’s it going to be?

Mark ：Hamlet, by William Shakespeare!

Janet ：Great! And who’s going to play Hamlet?

Kate ：Don’t tell me, let me guess!

Mark ：To be or not to be, that is the question!

Janet ：I don’t believe it. You’re going to play Hamlet?

Kate ：Come on, let’s celebrate … from Beckett to Shakespeare. Today Oxford, tomorrow, Hollywood!

Outside view

Part1

Viewer 1 ：So, what do you guys want to watch?

Viewer 2 ：Uh, I don’t know. What’s on?

Viewer 3 ：How about a documentary on the History Channel? I like watching history programmes.

Viewer 2 ：I don’t really like watching the History Channel.

Viewer 1 ：How about a baseball game? From 1973?

Viewer 3 ：No thanks! How about a cooking show?

Viewer 1 ：Yeah, I love watching cooking shows.

Viewer 2 ：What?

Viewer 1 ：I do!

Viewer 2 ：Uh, I don’t like cooking shows. Uh, let’s watch some music videos.

Viewer 1 ：This is awful!

Viewer 3 ：Can you see what’s on another channel?

Viewer 1 ：Yeah, sure. What channel?

Viewer 3 ：Uh, anything but this.

V oice-over ：These television viewers are trying to decide on a programme to watch, by clicking on channels, and seeing what’s on. This practice is known as channel surfing. In the past, it was not difficult to decide what to watch on TV. There were only three channels to choose from. Cable television has changed all that. There are so many channels, and so many different kinds of programmes to watch, many viewers find it difficult to decide what to watch, even when they are watching by themselves. This business traveller doesn’t like anything. Many people like a particular type of programme.

Speaker 1 ：TV programmes I like watching are cooking shows, um, comedy shows.

Speaker 2：I usually watch dramas, murder mystery programmes, quizzes, comedies.

Speaker 3 ：I like watching talk shows.

Speaker 4 ：I guess of all my favourite TV shows I’d like news programmes.

Speaker 5：I like to watch soap operas and news.

Speaker 6 ：I like to watch comedy shows.

Speaker 7 ：Well, I like good drama, I like a lot of the cop shows, um … I like a lot of the science fiction shows and good history.

Speaker 8 ：TV programmes I like to watch are like sports, automotive, Discovery, that type of thing.

Part2

V oice-over

Cartoons have always been popular. This brother and sister are watching their favourite DVD.

Mum ：Turn that down!

Boy ：OK, Mum.

V oice-over ：He, he turns it down. Now the volume is too low. For couples, deciding what

to watch can require some very careful negotiation.

Woman ：Oh, look! Pretty Woman is on! I love watching that movie.

Joe ：Pretty Woman? Oh, no, not Pretty Woman!

Woman ：Joe, you know it’s my favourite movie. It’s on in five minutes. I’ll be right back. I’m just going to get some coffee.

Joe ：I don’t like watching that kind of movie. Plus I don’t like Julia Roberts. Actually, I really hate that movie.

V oice-over ：Joe realizes that there’s a basketball game on tomorrow night. He wants to ask his friends over to watch it.

Woman ：You’re so sweet to watch this with me. I know you probably don’t want to see it again. Joe ：Oh, sure. I don’t mind. There’s nothing else on anyway. Not tonight.

Viewer 1 ：Hey, look. Swordfish is on. John Travolta

and Halle Berry?

Viewer 2 ：No, I’ve already seen that twice.

Viewer 3 ：I hate that movie.

Viewer 1 ：OK. How about The Matrix?

Viewer 3 ：That’s OK. But I’ve seen it too many times.

Viewer 2 ：Yeah, me too. But I love that movie.

Viewer 3 ：You guys, there’s nothing on.

Viewer 2 ：Yeah, you’re right.

Viewer 1 ：Hey, how about we go out and get some pizza?

Viewer 3 ：That’s a good idea. Turn that off.

Mum ：I told you to turn it down. Now I’m going to turn it off.

Woman ：Oh, it’s over. I just love that movie! Thanks for putting up with it again. I know

it’s not your favourite.

Joe ：That’s OK. But tomorrow’s my turn. I’m asking the guys over to watch the basketball game. Woman ：Oh, that’s fine. I won’t be here anyway

remember? I’ m going to visit my sister?

Joe ：Oh, yeah. That’s right.

V oice-over

The business traveller seems to have found what he was looking for, a programme that puts him to sleep. And that’s all for tonight, folks! Be sure to tune in tomorrow!

Unit 9

Have you got what it

takes?

Inside view

Conversation1

Mark

Look, there’s a careers fair on at the Examination Schools. Do you want to go? Janet

What happens in a careers fair?

Mark

There are lots of different companies and they

give you information about careers … advice, that kind of thing.

Janet

OK, I’ll come. You coming, Kate?

Kate

Yeah, sure. But I’ve already decided on my career.

Mark

We know. You’re going to be a brilliant lawyer.

Kate

That’s the plan –I’m off to a law firm soon as I get my degree.

Janet

You’re so lucky. I wish I knew what I wanted to do.

Kate

Didn’t you say something about teaching?

Janet

Yes, I’m thinking about it. I’m quite attracted to teaching. But I’m not really sure yet.

Kate

Well, you’ve got lots of time. What about you, Mark? What are your plans?

Mark

I’m going to row for England.

Kate

Seriously?

Mark

No. Problem i s, I think if you want to be successful, you’ve got to plan ahead – starting at the age of 12.

Janet

So we’re not doing very well.

Mark

No.

Kate

So?

Mark ：

Well … I’m thinking of going into business management. It’s a possibility.

Janet

Really?

Mark

Yes.

Kate

Hey, let’s go to the Careers Fair. It might give you some ideas.

…

Janet

It was very interesting, wasn’t it? You were having a long conversation with that man from the law firm.

Kate

Yes. They said there’s a possibility of a job placement as an intern over the summer. They’re going to let me know about it.

Janet

Fantastic!

Conversation2

Kate

You know that job placement I told you about –they’ve asked me to go for an interview.

Janet

That’s brilliant. When?

Kate

Two weeks’ time …

…

Interviewer

So what made you decide to study law, Kate?

Kate

A number of reasons. Law interests me a lot. I’ve got a good brain, a good memory. And I’d certainly like to do some part-time work for Legal Aid. And also, I must admit, the money’s good. Interviewer

Well, those are good, honest answers. Certainly, your CV’s very good. I seem to remember that you only want the work placement for six weeks. Is that right?

Kate

Yes, it is.

Interviewer

Why is that?

Kate

Well, to be honest, I’m planning to go back to the States and spend time with my family. Interviewer

That’s understandable. Now, tell me, what questions do you have?

Kate

I’ve got some idea but obviously, what I’d like to know is, what does the job involve? Interviewer

Of course. Well, for the first few weeks, your main responsibility would be to read files and summarize them. We’d also want you to do some research for us. How does that sound? Rather boring?

Kate

No, not at all. I think I’d learn a lot.

Interviewer

Good, well … you’ll be taking your first year exams soon, won’t you?

Kate

Yes, in a few weeks’ time.

Interviewer

Well, provided they’re OK, I think we can say you’re in.

Kate

Thank you –that’s wonderful!

…

Kate

Hey, guess what?

Janet

What?

Kate

Th ey’ve accepted me. I start at the end of June.

Janet

Well done!

Outside view

V oice-over

Every year, millions of young people take time out to help others as volunteers. Many of them do this during a gap year between finishing school and starting in higher education. Volunteers learn to solve problems, work together as a team and develop their personalities. Communities in need get help they couldn’t afford to pay for. In Britain, one of the main agencies for voluntary work is Raleigh International. It arranges for thousands of people, aged between 17 and 25, to help out in their own country or abroad. This group of 100 people has just arrived at the base camp in Costa Rica. In the next ten weeks, they are taking part in three different projects. One of the projects is environmental, one community-based and one an adventure project. But first, they have training for the conditions they will encounter. For the environmental project at Curu, the volunteers are going to help to build an artificial reef from recycled materials. This forms a protective environment for the fish to breed and feed. It helps the local economy of commercial fishing and protects the natural reefs from over-fishing and destruction. The community project is in one of the poorest rural areas in the world. In the village of El Porvenir, volunteers are going to make bricks. They’re going to help to build a storehouse for the important sesame crop. If they have more storage, the villagers will be able to make more money from selling sesame. V olunteers also take part in a survival activity. Tomorrow, this group is trekking to the summit of Costa Rica’s highest mountain, Mount Chirripo. At the end of the ten weeks, the volunteers are proud that their efforts have helped to improve the lives of the people and the environment of Costa Rica and Nicaragua.