Practice English Listening A2 Exercises – Energy

A

1   Jeevan: hot weather

      Vasily: cold weather

2   Jeevan: afternoons, air conditioning, clothes, drinks, temperature, tourists

     Vasily: driving, clothes, temperature, tourists (talks about people escaping to hotter countries)

B

Jeevan:

On summer afternoons the streets are empty.

Not everyone can afford air conditioning.

Indian men and women wear long clothes.

It’s important to drink a lot.

The temperature in the summer can be dangerous.

Tourists wear shorts and T-shirts.

Vasily:

You have to be more careful on the roads.

Everyone has to carry an emergency kit in the car.

You have to wear lots of big, heavy clothes.

It’s usually minus five to minus ten degrees, but it can get a lot colder, even down to minus thirty.

JEEVAN   The summer months in India can actually be quite dangerous; it’s so hot before the rains come. The most important thing is to drink a lot, to cover up when you go outside, to cover your head. You’ll see Indian men and women wearing long clothes which cover everything, including their arms and legs. Only tourists wear shorts and T-shirts in the hot sun. On summer afternoons in Kolkata, where I live, the streets are empty because it’s too hot to go out, so most people are either at work or at home, asleep. A lot of people use air conditioning but it’s expensive. Not everyone can afford it. Cold drinks like mango panna are really popular. This is a drink made from unripe mangoes; it really helps to cool your body.

VASILY   I live in Moscow, in Russia. Our winters last from, er, about November to March and we get quite a lot of snow. In January and February, it’s usually minus five to minus ten degrees Celsius but it can get a lot colder, even down to minus thirty. OK, maybe it isn’t as cold as Siberia, but it’s cold enough! You have to wear lots of big, heavy clothes and boots and, er, everything takes longer … putting clothes on to go out, taking them off when you get inside. And you have to be more careful on the roads to because they can be icy. Everyone has to carry an emergency kit in the car, so if the car stops you’ll be OK. These days a lot of young people prefer to escape the winter and go to much hotter countries like Egypt and Turkey; but most people I know spend half the winter at home watching TV. Me? I like to get out of the city and go skiing. But I think we all look forward to the New Year celebrations, which are really fun and help us to get through our long winters.

A

1   It’s not that good.

2   She tries to go once a week.

3   About an hour and a half.

4   She usually swims for half an hour, then goes to the gym. (She generally uses the running and rowing machines.)

B

1 pool   2 women-only classes   3 facilities

4 changing rooms   5 showers   6 a nicer pool

INTERVIEWER   Excuse me, do you have a few minutes?

SALLY   Well …

I   We’re opening a new fitness centre and we’d like to find out what local people really need. Could I ask you some questions? We’d really value your opinion.

S   Er, yes, OK.

I   Thank you. It’ll only take a few minutes.

S   No problem.

I   Right. So, erm, do you use a fitness centre at the moment?

S   Er, yes, sometimes.

I   Where is that, if you don’t mind me asking?

S   That’s OK, I go to the Meanwood Fitness Centre in Kent Town.

I   Right, and what do you think of it?

S   Well, to be honest, it’s not that good.

I   Yes? Why is that?

S   Well, the pool’s OK, but it could be bigger. And there should be time for adults only. I’d prefer women-only classes as well.

I   OK, I’ll make a note of that. Ah, what about the facilities?

S   Well, the facilities could definitely be better too. I don’t mind the changing rooms but I’d much rather have private showers.

I   Private showers. Right. Now, we’re planning to have a sauna. Are you interested in using a sauna?

S   Er, well, maybe. But I think I’d rather have a nicer pool than a sauna.

I   OK. Erm, how often do you go to the fitness centre?

S   Well, I try to go once a week, but I’d like to go more often.

I   Uh-huh. And how long do you usually spend there?

S   Erm, about an hour and a half, I suppose. I usually swim for half an hour, then go to the gym for a bit.

I   OK. And which machines do you prefer using in the gym?

S   Well, I generally use the running and rowing machines.

1 fitness centre   2 newsagent   3 café

1

BILL   Would you mind answering a few questions, please? It won’t take long.

SHEILA   Er, yes, that’s OK.

B   Thank you. Are you happy with the fitness centre generally?

S   Erm, well, it could be better.

B   Oh. I see. Do you think you could tell me a bit more?

S   Well, to be honest, the pool isn’t always very clean. And the staff don’t seem very interested.

B   Oh dear. Well, I’ll definitely tell the manager.

2

BEN   Hi. I wonder if you could change this ten for me. I need some coins for the ticket machine.

CLODAGH   Sorry, but I’d rather not. People are always asking me for change.

B   Oh.

C   Perhaps you’d like to buy something?

B   Erm, no, not really.

3  

PHIL   Here’s your drink. Sorry it took so long.

CATHERINE   So, what do you think of the game?

P   Erm, it’s a bit boring.

C   Boring?

P   Well, you know I’m not really interested in football.

C   So should we go? The second half starts in two minutes.

P   No, you stay here. I’ll do some shopping, then come back in an hour, OK?

C   Well, OK. See you later.