A-74

AT THE POST OFFICE People go to the post office when they want to buy stamps, postcards, envelopes and writing paper. People also goto the office when they want to send letters, postcards, telegrams, money orders and parcels. Mary is at the post office. She wants to send some things to Belgrade, but she does not know to do it. Mary: I want to send a parcel abroad and Ill need your help. Clerk: What do you want to send? Mary: Some books, some magazines and a few other things. Clerk: Well, first youll have to make up a parcel an write the name and address of the receiver on it. After you do that, come here and well send it for you. Mary: Thank you very much Clerk: Youre welcome.

B-75
Letter of invitation Dear Margaret and Harry, As you know its Davids birthday soon, so on Saturday 16th June Im going to have a surprise dinner party for him. Id love you to come, Ive told him were going to have a quiet meal for two at home! Ive invited about twelve people so we should have a nice evening. Peter is going to take David to a pub at about 7 for a drink and bring him back to the house at about 3,30. I m asking everyone to arrive at about 6.15 pm. So if you can come, please write to me and let me know. I hope to see you on the 16th With love Pauline

C-75
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO? 8 oclock Tina: Its 8 oclock. Im going to my office. June: Are you coming back at 6 as usual? Tina: No, Im coming home at about 7. Can you be here at 6 and make dinner for the kids. June: All right. Dont worry. But what are you going to do after work?

Tina. Im going to do some shopping. June: What are you going to buy? Tina. A pullover. 3 oclock Paul: What are you going to do after your classes? June: Im going home. What about you? Paul: Im going to visit John this evening. Would you like to come with me? June: Im sorry, I cant. Tina is coming home late so I am going to be with the kids and make dinner. 6 oclock Tom: Hello, June. Im back. Wheres mum? June: Shes doing some shopping. Shes coming back at 7. Tom: Whats that? What are you doing? June: Im making a cake. Were going to have a cake after dinner. Tom. Great!

A-82
WALTER Walter: Good morning, Jeannie. I thought Id give you a call just before I go to bed. Its just after 11.00 pm here. -I know I normally go to bed earlier, but theres a lot of work to do -When did I get Here? Around one oclock on Saturday afternoon, Maltese time, just before all the shops closed for the afternoon.. Incredible! -What did I do? Well, I was tired so I slept for about two hours and then the hotel manager made a presentation about the hotel and she showed me around the place. And the golf course, well, its. -Yes, I did say she. Her names Aurora and..

B-83
Conversation 1 Carlo: so, what do you think? Does Monday soung OK? Joseph: fine with me otherwise itll be too late. Carlo OK: And what about the others? Shall we include Maria? Joseph: Yes, that makes sense. She doesnt have to work on Monday. Carlo: So its you, Toni, Paulo and Maria. Joseph: Thats fine. Carlo: Now then, we need to think about the transport. How about using your car? Joseph: Im not really happy about that. It is hotel business after all. And anyway, my car is in the garage. My son crashed it into a tree the other day. Carlo: Ah Marias car, then? Joseph: Why her car? Its hotel business, Carlo.

Carlo: Hmm.. Yes, but youll be a lot faster in a car than if you use the hotel van. Joseph: What about hiring a car for the day? Carlo: How much will that cost? Joseph: Im not sure, but I think Toni said that the one he hired last week only cost E20 a day. And thats with insurance. Carlo: It must be more than that. Joseph: Look, Ill find out and Ill back to you OK? Carlo: Hmm I dont think so, Joseph. Joseph: Why not? Carlo: Well, if I let you a car then everyone will want one. Youll have to take the van. Conversation 2 Costas: Hi, Walter. Hows the trip going? Walter: Very good. Im learning a lot. Costas: What about the hotel? What do you think? Walter: Its really too early to say for sure. But I think itll be all right. Costas: Thatll be the day. Walter: Pardon? Costas: I said thats great news, OK? Walter: Oh, OK. Costas: Hey, Walter hang on a second.. the other phones ringing. Ill be back in a minute. Walter: What? Hello? Costas? Costas: Hi, Walter, Its me again. Look, Ive got to go. Ill give you a call next week. OK? Walter: but didnt you want to Costas: Yeah, sorry. Got to go. Bye. Walter. Right. Bye

A-92
Aurora: So, shall we start? Right good morning everybody. Today Id like to introduce a visitor to the Grand from headquarters in San Francisco, Mr. Walter Armitage. Mr. Armitage has worked for Pelleas Business Hotels for many years in America and he has come over here to see in what ways we can provide a better service to our guests, which is something we all want to do, Im sure. Mr. Armitage.. Walter: please call me Walter and that goes for everybody. I think perhaps many of you want to know some more about my role. So, what about just asking any questions you have, OK? Aurora: Joseph Joseph: I am the headwaiter here, Mr Arm. Wed like to know why you are really here. Walter: As Aurora said, I am here to give advice on how to improve customer. Joseph: but, we know how to do that. This hotel has been working very well for 150 years! Walter: Well, its important to look at things that could be improved Yes, Miss, er? Maria: Maria, Im the chambermaid Youre going to sell the Grand, arent you? Walter: Theres no reason to think that. At the moment. I am just here to write a report. Id prefer to talk about ways forward for the Grand. What we need to do is discuss what could be better. Carlo: The point is, Mr. Armitage is only here to help us. Maria. WE all know the Pelleas sales conference was a disaster. You throwing away those papers, Maria, you laughing at Mr. Tsappanis in the restaurant, Joseph. No respect! We have a bad reputation now! Walter: Carlo, please call me Walter. But thats right. I am here to help you, but you need to help yourselves, too. You dont want this hotel to be sold, do you? Well, the fact is you have a problem with head office at the moment. Now, how can we change that?

B-93
Walter: Ah, there you are Aurora Ive just been looking at the hotel brochure. Not very good, is it? It makes the hotel look like a dump. Aurora: dump! Youre lucky my great grandfather isnt still alive. Hed kick you down the stairs for talking like that. Walter: Yes, well. Im sure you could do that sort of thing too! But the thing is Aurora, we need to get new customers, but facilities and resources are limited here at the Grand. Theres no swimming pool, and nobody is going to come here for the hotel tennis courts, are they? There are so many holes! Well, maybe if they like playing tennis on a miniature golf course.. Aurora: All right OK, then, lets decide on the objectives of the brochure. We really want companies to come and hold their conferences here. So the first thing we need to agree on is what they are looking for and what we can offer. Walter. Well, if it was me I would like to have a bit of golf. Could you make a special deal with that local golf club? Its an excellent golf course. Aurora: Yes thats a good idea. One of my cousins is on the board of the local golf club. Im sure he would help. Walter: is this the same cousin who has the fishing boat? Aurora: No, thats Pippo. This is Beppe. But, going back to the tennis courts, you are right, they are terrible. I need to allocate some of the budget to fixing them. Walter: Dont worry too much about that at the moment, Aurora. I think the first thing is to focus on is what you have here already sun, sea, terrific restaurants stuff that poor office people in many countries hardly ever see. Aurora: Thats true. And in fact the conference equipment we have is really first class. Weve got state-ofart equipment, brand new screens, flipcharts, overhead projectors, and multi-media equipment too like electronic whiteboards, projectors, video conferencing facilities.. Walter: Youre joking! Aurora: No, Im not! Walter: When did you get all this stuff? Aurora: Er a few months ago head office sent it all for the sales conference in January, but then it was never used because of all the. Problems. So we just put it all back in the boxes and stored it down in the cellar. Walter: Time to get it out, I think, Aurora, Lets go and see it..

C-95
Intrests A I enjoy drawing. Im not interested in painting, but I love drawing. Its very relaxing hobby and its interesting. Its a very relaxing hobby and it s interesting. Its also quite cheap. I drive into the country and sit and draw trees. B I like motorbikes. I go to motocross. Its exciting and I love it. I know its dangerous but I dont mind. I also love being with young people. C I look after birds. I think its fun. I buy some of my birds but I also find sick birds in the street and take them home. Usually they cant fly and theyre hungry and thirsty. I give them food and water and sometimes milk.

D Mark: Well Ive got a lunch appointment with the bank manager but I suppose I dont have to go. I can phone him and see him another day. But I have to phone Germany at 2.00 - its the only time I can speaker to Herr Fischer. I can phone the new Sales Director and change our meeting to another day. I dont have to see him today and I dont have to write the report on my visit to Brazil - I can do that tomorrow. But then there are our important visitors from Argentina I have to take them to dinner tonight - theyre going back home tomorrow. Helen: Shall I take them out for you? Mark: Thats very nice of you but really I have to go there are a lot of problems.

A-102
Conversation 1 Walter: Hi. Im Walter. You must be. Aurora: Aurora Picardi. Yes. Very pleased to meet you. Did you have a pleasant flight? Walter: Thank you, yes. Its always good arriving on time. I just got some Maltese money. Strange! It looks like Monopoly money. Impressive for such a tiny place, isnt it? Aurora: Well, yes, its Walter. Its tiny here isnt it? Do you meet the some people in the streets every day? Aurora: Well, no, not really.. Walter: Is your cousin driving us? Or is it walking distance? Aurora: No, Toni is here. And the journey will take about twenty minutes. Walter: Any longer and we fall off the Island I suppose! Conversation 2 Aurora: And this is my office. Would you like some water, tea, or coffee? Something to eat perhaps? Walter: Water would be great. Thanks. Very friendly, your cousin - didnt want to take my tip for some reason. Aurora: Well, he doesnt expect tips every he goes to the airport the thing is, he does work for the hotel, and he does that journey at least once or twice a day. Walter. What did he say about the bread? Aurora: Just that the best way to eat it is with fresh tomatoes rubbed into the bread with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and maybe some mint. Its really good, actually. Would you like to try some? Walter: Hmm, do you think its OK? My wife gave me some tablets to take against foreign food. Theyre good - Ill give you some if you like.

B-103
Interview with Aurora Picardi in Career Woman magazine. For this weeks interview Purdy Smith flew to Malta to meet aurora Picardi, the 28-year-old general manager of the Grand Hotel Pelleas. Aurora Picardi (28) is the great-great-great-granddaughter of a Maltese baron. She is also the general manager of the Grand Hotel Pelleas in Valletta, the first woman ever to hold this position. I started by asking her about her Maltese background.

Well, I was born in Malta. My father owned and ran this hotel at that time. We moved to England when he sold the hotel to Pelleas Busineess Hotels in the late 80s. First of all aurora went to school in Malta for about five years. Then we moved to London and later Manchester that was for eight years. She ended up at a finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland. She speaks three languages fluently Maltese, English and French, and can also get by in Italian and German. She told us about life after finishing school. Switzerland was the best place to learn more about the hotel business, which was sort of in my blood anyway, so I spent three years studying hotel management, and then got my first job, as a junior manager in a hotel in Geneva. Since then Ive worked in three different hotels in different capital cities. But Auroras heart was still in Malta, and when the chance came to go back she didnt hesitate. She explained what happened. About six months ago I saw that the General Manager job at the Malta Pelleas was up for grabs. Apparently there had been a few problems with the staff, and they wanted someone who knew Malta. That person had to be able to move fast because the last General Manager had resigned at short notice. I jumped at the chance to come back to Malta. I love it, and of course I still have lots of frends here. And my father was buried in Malta when he died. The Grand Hotel is like home for me, in a way.

C-104
The Job Interview Interviewer: So youve applied for the Saturday position, right? John: Yes, I have. Interviewer: Can you tell me what made you reply to our advertisement? John: Well, I was looking for a part-time job te help me through college. And I think that Id be really good at this kind of work. Interviewer: Do you exactly what you would be doing as a shop assistant? John: Well I imagine I would be helping customers, keeping a check on the supplies in the store, and preparing the shop for business. Interviewer: That about covers it, you would also be responsible for keeping the front of the store tidy. What sort of student do you regard yourself as did you enjoy studying while you were at school? John: I suppose Im a reasonable student. I passed all my exams and I enjoy studying subjects that interest me. Interviewer: Have you any previous work experience? John: Yes. I worked part-time at a take-away in the summer holidays. Interviewer: Now, do you have any questions youd like to ask me about the position? John: Yes. Could you tell me what hours Id have to work Interviewer: We open a 9.00, but you would be expected to arrive at 8.30 and we close at 6.00 pm. You would be able to leave then. I think I have asked you everything I wanted to. Thank you for coming along to the interview. Interviewer: Well be making our decision next Monday, well be making our decision next Monday, we ll give you a call.

D-106
A journalist is interviewing Mr. Williams about his job Journalist. Whats your job, Mr. Williams?

Mr. Williams: Im writer. Journalist: Thats interesting. What sort of thing do you write? Mr. Williams: Well, articles for newspapers and magazines, film reviews, you know, and occasionally some fiction, poems, and short stories. Journalist: do you find it a very demanding job? Mr. Williams: (sigh) Well, yes and no. Its very nice to work at home, of course, and have the choice of when to work. But I work long hours at home, usually ten hours or more a day, and its very sometimes, sitting in front of the computer. Journalist: What are you working on at the moment? Mr. Williams: Well, actually Im doing something very different from my usual work. Im writing a biography of Leonard Benson, the jazz musician. Journalist: So I suppose youre spending a lot of time together. Mr. Williams: (laugh) Well, no, in fact. He lives in the States. Im doing a lot of research, naturally. Hes visiting this country at the moment, and I have an appointment with him, but we havent met very often. Journalist: Well, thank you, Mr. Wiliams. That was very interesting and good luck with the book. Mr. Williams: Not at all.

E-107
A journalist is interviewing Mr. Mr. Leadbetter about his job I-Interviewer L-Mr. Leadbetter I-Mr. Leadbetter, Id like to ask you some questions about your job, if I may. L-Of course I-Nov, youre an engineer, arent you? L-thats right, Im a civil engineer. I work for Wimpey, which is one of the largest building contractors in the world. I-That must be very interesting. Could you tell me what you do exactly L-I work in the estimating department which means I have to work out exactly how much a job will cost. The way it works is like this. A company, or more probably a country, wants, say, an airport or a bridge or a hospital. They employ a consultant engineer to design it and prepare all the plans. Then someone has to build it, and this is what Wimpey is, a builder. Well, I then have to say how much I think it will cost to build. I inspect the documents, examine the site where the building Is to be, and name a price. If price is the most attractive, and usually this means the lowest, we get the contract. I-You mentioned airports and bridges. What other sorts of construction is Wimpey involved in? L-Oh, what arent they involved in? Toads, dams, ports, hospitals, universities. We do a lot of work abroad, and I often go to the Middle East, which is my specialist area, so I often fly to Saudi and Qatar. I-What projects are you involved in at the moment? l-Well, were building, let me see, were building a motorway round London. Were constructing a railway and building a hospital in Oman. Then were planning several new projects including a dam in Swaziland and university in Jordan. I-Well, thank you very much, Mr. Leadbetter. Thats most interesting.

F-109
Great Britain is the larger of the two main Islands of the British Isles, the largest island in Europe and the ninth-largest Island in the world. Great Britain is also the third most populated Island on earth, with a population of 58 milion people and is the worlds 5th largest economy. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe, with Ireland to the west, and makes up the largest part of the territory of the country

known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Horthern Ireland. It is surrounded by over 1,000 smaller islands and islets. England, Scotland and Wales are mostly situated on the Island, along with their capital cities, London, Edinburgh and Edinburgh and Cardiff respectively.

G-109
London is the capital and largest urban area of both England and the United Kingdom. An important settlement for two millennia, Londons history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its foundation, London has been part of many movements and phenomena throughout history, including the English Renaissance, the Industrial revolution, an the Gothic Revival. The citys core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries, but since at least the 19th century, the name London has also referred to the whole metropolis that has developed around it. Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of Englandand the Greater London administrative area, with its own elected mayor and assembly. London is one of the worlds leading business, financial and cultural centres and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city. Central London is the headquarters of more than half of the UKs top 100 listed companies and over 100 of Europes 500 largest companies. The city is a major tourist destination both for domestic and overseas visitors, with annual expenditure by tourists of around 15 billion. London boasts four World Heritage Sites: the Palace of Westminister, Westminister Abbey and St. Margarets Church, the Tower of London, the historic settlement of Greenwich, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Londons population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city. As of 2006, it had an official population of 7.512,400 within the boundaries of Greater London and is the most populous municipality in the European union. As of 2001, the Greater London urban Area had a population of 8.278.251 and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of between 12 and 14 million. The public transport network, administered by Transport for London, is one of the most extensive in the world, and Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world for international traffic.

H-110
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member state, located primarily in Europe. It was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community. With almost 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share of the worlds nominal gross domestic product (USS 16,8 TRILION IN 2007) The EU has developed a single market through a standardized system of laws which apply in all member states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital. It maintains a common trade policy, agricultural and fisheries policies, and a regional development policy. Fifteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro. It has developed a role in foreign policy, representing its members in the World Trade Organisation, at G8 summits and at the United Nations. It has developed a role in justice and home affairs, including the abolition of passport control between many member states under the Schengen Agreement. The EU operates through a hybrid system of intergovernamentalism and supranationalism. In certain areas it depends upon agreement between the member state. However, it also has supranational bodies, able to make decisions without the agreement of all national governments. Important institutions and bodies of the EU include the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the

European Union, the European Council, the European court of Justice and the European Central Bank. EU citizens elect the Parliament every five years. Te EU grown in size through the accession of new member states and has increased its powers by the addition of new policy areas.