Making comparisons

…is not as…as…

…are as …as …

… is a much more important than …

…are less important than …

You can’t compare … with …

You have to compare …with …

Expressing interest or indifference

I’m interested in …

I’d like to know more about …

I’m keen on …

… sounds interesting.

… doesn’t interest me.

I don’t care.

What a boring topic.

Expressing intentions

I’m going to …

I want to …

I intend to …

Tapescripts

Unit 1 Section I C

Ex. 4

Chairperson: Hello, there. What do you study?

Student: Development Economics.

Chairperson: Oh, yes. And how long have you been studying?

Student: One year. It’s a postgraduate diploma.

Chairperson: What would you like to be? Have you decided yet?

Student: Yes. I’d like to be a United Nations Project Adviser.

Chairperson: Oh, would you? That sounds interesting. Tell me though why have you chosen this faculty?

Student: It’s got a good reputation in the field of Economics.

Chairperson: Where do you come from?

Student: Brazil.

Chairperson: Oh, that’s a country I’ve always wanted to go to. And what do you do in your free time?

Student: I go to the cinema a lot.

Chairperson: Ah, yes. You’re Mr. Pinto, aren’t you? I’ve got your name on my list here.

Unit II Section I B

Ex. 4 p.

Interviewer: What are the typical working hours in your country?

Jessica: The official hours are 8 to 5 or 9 to 6. But people always work longer than this.

Interviewer: What do people wear for work?

Jessica: Casual but smart.

Interviewer: How long do people have for meal breaks?

Jessica: One hour.

Interviewer: Do people ever work late?

Jessica: Yes, very often.

Interviewer: How many days vacation do people get a year?

Jessica: 30 days.

Interviewer: When do people retire?

Jessica: After 60 for women and 65 for men or after 30-35 years of work.

Interviewer: When do people get paid?

Jessica: Depends on the company. Some companies pay twice a month and others once.

Interviewer: Do people get any bonuses or perks?

Jessica: Yes, depending on the company and the status of the worker they receive a car, house, school for the children, lunch vouchers, transport passes, house ensurance.

Interviewer: Do people stay with the same company all their lives?

Jessica: No, this has changed a lot in Canada. In the past the good worker was one who stayed 20 or 30 years with the company. Now a good worker changes job every two or three years.

Interviewer: Do people ever use personal connections to get a suitable job for them or a member of their family?

Jessica: Yes, this is very common and the best way to get a good job.

Unit 1II Section I C

Ex. 2

1) It’s quite cheap to live here although in certain parts of town the accommodation is really very expensive. Everyday things in the shop are very cheap compared with England, although clothes can cost a lot.

2) Oh, it’s incredible. I mean, there are so many cars and lorries. You see, the railways system is not very extensive so everything has to go by road. But at rush hours at the centre of town it’s so busy.

3) It’s a very interesting place to visit, although I wouldn’t call the buildings beautiful. But the palace is quite fascinating and well worth spending a day on. And then there are some wonderful churches and mosques.

4) It rains all the time, it’s quite famous for that. Even in the middle of summer you are never certain that the sun will shine all day, so it’s difficult to make plans for any outdoor activities.