A request from your boss

Nina: Stefano, can you look for a successful trainer who specialises in running workshops and team-building sessions on diversity and inclusion?
Stefano: Sure. I’ll be happy to.
Nina: And Brenda, can you find a fun venue? Somewhere that is quite diverse itself. Something that’s not the usual seminar-style environment?
Brenda: Sure. That’ll be fun.
Nina: And I’m going to do some further research into how other organisations are benefiting from their diversity. I can share this with the whole team.
Listening: B1

At the chemist

Listen to a conversation at a chemist’s to practise and improve your listening skills.

Before listening

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task

Write the words in the correct group.

it hurts	a prescription	an ache	lozenges	a sore throat
dizzy	plasters	tablets	a cough	syrup

Describing illness	Medicines and treatment

Tasks

Task 1

Circle the best option.

1. 
   The man needs something …
   
   1. 
      for his throat.
      
   2. 
      for his head.
      
   3. 
      for his wife.
      

2. 
   The man …
   
   1. 
      is coughing and has a headache.
      
   2. 
      is coughing but doesn’t have a headache.
      
   3. 
      isn’t coughing, but has a headache.
      
3. 
   The lozenges are …
   
   1. 
      cheaper than the syrup.
      
   2. 
      not as cheap as the syrup.
      
   3. 
      more expensive than the syrup.
      

4. 
   He should have the lozenge …
   
   1. 
      every four to six hours, after he eats a meal.
      
   2. 
      every four to six hours, with food.
      
   3. 
      every four to six hours, before he eats a meal.
      

5. 
   The pharmacist can’t give him antibiotics because …
   
   1. 
      his prescription is only for tablets.
      
   2. 
      he doesn’t have enough money.
      
   3. 
      he doesn’t have a prescription.
      

6. 
   The man has to pay … a. £7.49.
   

b. £17.49.
c. £7.99.

Task 2

Put the words in order to make sentences.

1. throat.	need	for		I	something		sore	a
2. really	hurts.	It
3. have	Do	you	a	too?		headache
4. do	take?	I	How	many

5. 
   take How should I often it?
   

5. 
   any medicine? Are allergic to you
   

5. 
   prescription for I’m need a afraid that. you
   

5. 
   a should You really see doctor.
   

Discussion

How often do you get a cough or a cold? What do you recommend?

Transcript

Chemist: Hello, can I help?
Customer: Yes, my wife sent me here. I, erm, need something for a sore throat … and I can’t stop coughing. It really hurts.
Chemist: Do you have a headache too?
Customer: Not really, no.
Chemist: Well, we have this syrup. And these lozenges.
Customer: Which is better?
Chemist: They’re both good. The syrup is more expensive. Customer: Oh, well … I’ll take the lozenges, then. How many do I take? Chemist: Just one.
Customer: Sorry, I’m sorry. Er, how often should I take it?
Chemist: Just one every four to six hours. Take it before mealtimes. Are you allergic to any medicine?
Customer: No.
Chemist: Then you’ll be fine with this.
Customer: Can I get some antibiotics too? Chemist: I’m afraid you need a prescription for that. Customer: Ah.
Chemist: You know, you should really see a doctor if that cough continues.
Customer: Thanks. I know.
Chemist: Anything else?
Customer: No, thanks.
Chemist: That’ll be £7.49 then, please.
Listening: B1

A weather forecast

Listen to a weather forecast and answer the questions to practise and improve your listening skills.

Before listening

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task

Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).

Vocabulary Definition

1. 
   …… throughout
   
2. 
   …… isolated
   
3. 
   …… a patch
   
4. 
   …… drizzle
   
5. 
   …… to clear up
   
6. 
   …… elsewhere
   
7. 
   …… a heatwave
   
8. 
   …… to make way for
   
   1. 
      a small area
      
   2. 
      to disappear
      
   3. 
      on its own, without other similar things around it
      
   4. 
      during all of a period of time
      
   5. 
      in other places
      
   6. 
      to move so that there is space for something to enter
      
   7. 
      very light rain
      
   8. 
      a period of weather that is much hotter than normal
      

Tasks

Task 1

Write the words in the correct group.

Rainy weather	Sunny weather

Task 2

Are the sentences true or false?

1. 
   It will start raining at lunchtime today in the east.
   
2. 
   The weather in the north-west will be worse than in the south.
   
3. 
   There will be thunder in Leeds tonight.
   
4. 
   Most of England will be hot this week.
   
5. 
   Wet weather will move from the north to the south at the weekend.
   
6. 
   It will stay hot when the rain comes.
   

Answer

True True True True True True

False False False False False False

Discussion

What kind of weather do you like best?

Transcript

Hello and good morning! Well, we’re off to a good start in the south this week, as most of the rain from the weekend has disappeared – just a few patches of cloud and maybe some
showers here on the east coast. They’ll all clear up by lunchtime, though. Over the next day or so, London and the area around Kent can expect a couple of isolated showers, but mostly dry through until Thursday.
It’s not such good news for the north-west this week, I’m afraid: more wet weather, and not a lot of sunshine. Some of today’s showers will be heavy – and even thundery in Manchester and across the Pennines. Leeds will escape the thunderstorms, with drizzle and light rain only throughout the rest of the day and tonight.
Elsewhere it becomes dry today, but with some foggy patches towards Wales. In England, tomorrow morning will see a dry, bright start in most places, with high temperatures throughout the week. We might see one or two thunderstorms appearing as the week goes on, with temperatures everywhere at 29 to 30 degrees.
By the weekend, unfortunately, the dry weather will make way for mostly cloudy skies and rain. The rain will move from Scotland, down towards the north and reach the south coast by Saturday afternoon. Temperatures, at least, will stay mostly warm at around 21 degrees for the weekend. It might feel like a nice change from the high twenties and early thirties we’ll see in the week. That’s all from me until tomorrow. Enjoy the mini-heatwave while you can!
Listening: B1