A request from your boss

Charles: I dunno really … somewhere around moving away from home and getting a job and being a grown-up. I don’t mean birthdays are immature. I mean, it takes a while to make new friends and so birthdays just become more low-key and it’s drinks with a couple of friends or dinner or something. And I just got out of the habit, I guess. Maybe I just need to have a kids- style party like we used to have! Play musical chairs and eat pineapple and cheese on sticks and all that.
Dora: Very retro. I bet people would love that.
Marco: Yeah, they would. Well, I would anyway. And maybe it’ll catch on with my kids and it’ll start a new party trend.
Charles: You’ve got me thinking … it’s not a terrible idea. Maybe I will have a party this year!
Listening: C1

Catching up after a trip

Listen to two friends talking about a recent trip abroad 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. 
   …… fabulous
   
2. 
   …… appalling
   
3. 
   …… noticeable
   
4. 
   …… spacious
   
5. 
   …… comparable
   
6. 
   …… disastrous
   
7. 
   …… unspoiled
   
8. 
   …… scenic
   

Tasks

Task 1

1. 
   shocking and very bad
   
2. 
   very unsuccessful; said of a situation where everything goes badly wrong
   
3. 
   similar
   
4. 
   extremely good
   
5. 
   with a lot of space
   
6. 
   giving a beautiful view of nature
   
7. 
   easy to hear, see or feel
   
8. 
   somewhere that has not been changed in a way that makes it less beautiful
   

Write a number (1–8) to put the conversation topics in the order they are mentioned.


The description of a holiday flat in Toronto
Rental flats in general
A rental in Barcelona
Long-distance phone calls
The weather in winter
Toronto neighbourhoods
The underground city
A house in the countryside

Task 2

Circle the best answer.

1. 
   If Dave was abroad and saw a phone call from someone at home, he ...
   
   1. 
      wouldn’t answer it.
      
   2. 
      would be worried something had happened.
      
   3. 
      would think it was a work call.
      
2. 
   When he first arrived in Toronto, Dave was a bit worried about ...
   
   1. 
      contacting his uncle.
      
   2. 
      his accommodation.
      
   3. 
      being mugged.
      
3. 
   Jean’s friend had a problem in her holiday flat, because ...
   
   1. 
      it didn’t look like what was advertised.
      
   2. 
      the air conditioning didn’t work.
      
   3. 
      the neighbours were really noisy.
      
4. 
   Dave’s apartment was ...
   
   1. 
      small but modern, with spectacular views.
      
   2. 
      comfortable and with a roof garden with spectacular views.
      
   3. 
      big, light and with spectacular views.
      
5. 
   He particularly enjoyed the ...
   
   1. 
      green spaces.
      
   2. 
      shopping.
      
   3. 
      meeting of different cultures.
      
6. 
   Dave thought the PATH was particularly good ...
   
   1. 
      as a shortcut when walking around the city.
      
   2. 
      for tasting many different types of food all in one place.
      
   3. 
      for keeping warm.
      
7. 
   The temperature ...
   
   1. 
      can feel much lower because of the humidity.
      
   2. 
      can feel much lower because of the wind.
      
   3. 
      was unusually low for that time of year.
      
8. 
   Dave’s uncle lives ...
   
   1. 
      in the suburbs of the city.
      
   2. 
      in an area that was more beautiful before it was affected by development work.
      
   3. 
      in a small house next to a lake.