Tapescripts
The part of the text containing the answer is underlined with the question number given in square brackets []. If you still struggle with CAE Listening, please refer to Listening tips.
Part 1
Extract One
Announcer: So now we’re going over to Joanna who’s there where it’s all been happening. Joanna, how are the police and other services coping?
Joanna: Well, things are difficult. Many people are still trapped in their homes unable to escape and hoping that things will not get any worse. The fire service has been able to rescue some people from the roofs of their homes but a couple of key roads are impassable because of the river Teal breaking its banks. [1] There’s still considerable uncertainty as to the numbers of people affected.
Announcer: A number of listeners have contacted us about how to provide financial or other help. What can you tell us about that, Joanna?
Joanna: Not much at the moment, I’m afraid. But I’ve been assured that something will be in place by the end of the day. I’ve been asked to emphasise however that, although things are dramatic now, the ground should soon dry out if met office predictions of hot weather are accurate. [2]
Extract Two
Man: Well, that was something of a change from the usual boredom of a Friday afternoon meeting, wasn’t it!
Woman: Absolutely! I was dumbfounded when Pete announced his resignation. He’ll be a great loss to the company.
Man: That’s right! I knew he was planning to leave but he’d asked me to keep it under my hat till he made a public announcement. He said I was the only person he’d spoken to. I’m gonna miss him loads. He’s got such a great sense of humour — and he’s really good at his job too. [3]
Woman: I couldn’t agree more. He always really brightens he place up. What on earth will we do now to keep ourselves going? [3]
Man: I’m sure you’ll think of something. I’ll be relying on you!
Woman: Oh! Well it’ll be a challenge.
Man: Yes, but don’t stress out! I couldn’t cope if you decided to leave too.
Woman: I don’t think there is much hope of that. Much as I’d like to do something a bit more exciting at times, at least life here is not too demanding. [4]
Extract Three
Photographer: Er, it’s Marina Kaye, isn’t it? What a pleasure to see you! Our paths crossed in Hollywood once but I don’t suppose you remember that. You’re here for the premiere of Love in Hawaii, I presume? You’re looking beautiful as always.
Marina: Thank you. You flatter me. But I don’t …
Photographer: I’m sorry but would you mind if I just quickly took your picture? Nothing formal. But just you as you are now, walking across the hotel foyer. You’d look stunning against the backdrop of the marble pillars here. We can have this vase of lilies in the foreground. [5]
Marina: I’m act in rather I’ve t in half an hour and I’m already behind time.
Photographer: Oh, it won’t take a moment, I promise. I’ve got all my equipment here. And I can set it up in a flash … if you’ll pardon he expression.
Marina: No, look, my driver’s beckoning to me. Call my agent if you want to arrange something for later. I’ll give you his card. You can talk terms with him. [6]
Part 2
Alex: It’s a pleasure to be here talking to you today. So, the first thing people always ask me about is how we chose the group’s name. We actually started out calling ourselves The Elements but then we came across another group with that name so we went for Storm Clouds instead. [7] We were sitting there racking our rains trying to come up with something different. I looked out of the window for inspiration and the sky was incredibly black and dramatic, Two seconds later there was thunder and lightning and that was it! We feel it fits the drama we try to bring to our music.
As you know there are actually seven of us in the group. Five of us were born and raised in the USA. I was actually born there though my parents moved to Canada when I was a baby. [8] The final member of the group — my wife, Lara — was actually born and grew up in Cuba. We all started out in music as individual performers and got together when we were at a music festival in New York one summer.
I met Lara, my wife, on my 21st birthday, She was singing at hat festival and her voice was amazing. It made a very strong impression on me. Her appearance was unusual — to my eye at least – but she was also incredibly attractive. [9] That combination of voice and looks had an instant impact on me, making me determined to be with her forever.
In this business of modern music we are totally different from most other groups in that we are one hundred per cent self-funded. [10] That means we don’t have to answer to anyone else. We can make our own musical and business decisions and that independence means a great deal to us all.
Of course, this means that we don’t have access to the major record companies’ studios but we’ve managed to make our own. It’s actually a conversion from a disused church. [11] It’s convenient because it’s actually next door to the large old converted barn where I live with my family,
It’s hard to characterise our style of music. It’s often called unconventional, but that slightly misses the mark, in my opinion. For me, the unifying factor in all our songs is that they’re romantic. [12] That’s always there — whether the song is happy or sad, wild or sentimental.
Our latest album will show you what I mean, As you know we had a lot of success with Rainbows, our last album. Our current one, Shadows, is rather different. [13] A lot of the songs are slower, with stronger melodies.
All the songs that we’ve written for this latest album in some way explore childhood. [14] Each member of the group brought very different experiences to this and we’ve all contributed our ideas to the topic. Perhaps I could now just play you one track from this album before I take questions…
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