Listening

Part 1

[Track 7] Listen to five short recordings. Match the hobbies in the box to the different speakers. Be careful! There are three extra hobbies.

Car Boot Sales Collecting antiques Video games War Games

Collecting butterflies Watching Rugby Ghost hunting Star Trek memorabilia

Speaker	Hobby
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

Part 2

[Track 8] Listen to the radio programme and decide if these sentences are true (T), false (F) or if there is no information given (NG).

(6) Sam Richards works at a zoo.

(7) He says that crocodiles are curious animals.

(8) Crocodiles hunt using their eyes.

(9) Monkeys are not always docile animals.

(10) The radio host likes kittens.

Reading

Part 1

Read the article below and match the person, A, B or C to the sentences 1–5.

A Ms Baker B Mr MacFaerne C Mr Podolski

(1) Foxes are a nuisance.

(2) Areas originally occupied by foxes had been taken over for housing.

(3) Foxes are excellent at pest control.

(4) Foxes have the habit of tipping rubbish bins over.

(5) It’s the action of people that caused the crocodiles to appear in gardens in Florida.

I’m writing in response to the recent radio programme you had about urban foxes. I listened to the arguments of the two guests – Jean Baker and Tom MacFaerne – you had on your programme and, to be perfectly honest, it just made me angry. Frankly, Mr MacFaerne didn’t help the cause of foxes with his behaviour and he also failed to make some of the most important points. Ms Baker kept on going on about how the foxes were a nuisance and she seemed to be saying that the foxes were moving into the cities because they liked it there. I may be wrong, but I think that over the past thirty years it is far more likely that we have built houses in the areas where the foxes used to live rather than the foxes deciding to move to the cities!

Would Ms Baker build her house near an area where crocodiles lived? Of course, that’s exactly what’s happened in Florida and the consequences are that people now have crocodiles in their gardens, but whose fault is that? As far as I’m concerned, what’s happening here with foxes is exactly the same, except that foxes are much less aggressive. As for the foxes tipping rubbish bins over, what does she expect? Firstly, foxes are very inquisitive animals and, secondly, because we’re destroying their natural habitat we are also killing the animals they usually eat.

People like myself who put out food in our gardens for the foxes not only get the pleasure of seeing these lovely animals but also find that they don’t go poking their noses into our rubbish. Personally, I would much prefer a fox in my garden rather than other urban animals like rats. As Mr MacFaerne pointed out, foxes are very good at keeping the number of rats and other pests under control. There is also no point trying to control the number of foxes as they control their own numbers naturally.

Finally, if you ask me what we should be controlling isn’t the fox population but rather the human population. We should stop building in the countryside and then complaining when the animals that already live there come into our gardens and our houses.

Yours truly,

Frederick Podolski

Part 2

Read the magazine article and answer the questions.

(6) Who wants someone who is slightly different? ____ (7) Who is concerned with how the man presents himself? _____ (8) Who isn't that concerned with physical aspects? ____ (9) Who has a requirement because of how they look? _____ (10) Who wants a man who looks masculine? ____

In this week’s feature we look at what physical characteristics women look for in a man. We asked five women what they thought made a man good-looking. Here’s what they had to say.

I know that looks aren’t everything, but you must admit walking around with a man who is good-looking is quite nice. For me it’s really simple, a man has to be smart. I hate a man who looks scruffy. So, for me the first thing is that they are clean-shaven and that they dress well.

Nicole

That’s quite a difficult question. Being a model I know how important looks are but I hope that for me I look for something more in a man. However, I am quite tall so that’s something that’s important for me. It’s no good if the man is shorter than me!

Suzi

That’s easy. The first thing I look at is their face. I don’t need someone who looks perfect, in fact if there’s something slightly unusual about their look then that’s better. I don’t like people who dye their hair or have lots of tattoos or have studs in their tongues, but if they look a bit different then that’s fine.

Michelle

What an interesting question. It’s something that men are often asked – what they look for in a woman, but not the other way around. Now, I guess I have a list, but in which order is difficult to say. I mean, I don’t like men who are feminine-looking – they need to look strong and fit. Then I think it’s important that they have a nice face, I don’t want to go out with someone who looks weird. Oh, and another thing, they must have their own teeth! But, if I had to decide which was the most important thing I’d have to go for strength.

Elsa

I’m really not bothered by looks, I think there’s often too much fuss made about being good-looking or beautiful. You can often find someone who is really handsome but they’re a complete airhead. For me it’s got to be things like their eyes and smile. I think you can tell a lot about a person and whether they’re clever by their eyes and I don’t mean what colour they are!

Inga