GRADE 12 (‘Core’) — SEMESTER TWO, 2007/ 2008 — SECOND SESSION
LISTENING 1
Husband Hello! I’m home!
Wife: What’s the matter? You don’t look very happy.
Husband: I’m not. I gave a presentation at the bank today,
and it was a complete disaster! I kept
getting confused and forgetting what I was going to say. I couldn’t concentrate at all.
Wife: I had a feeling it was going to be like that. You looked so tired when you left the
house this morning.
Husband: Yes, and you know why, don’t you?
Wife: Yes, I know. You didn’t get enough sleep because of all the noise coming from our
neighbours’ house.
Husband: Yes, ever since they arrived two weeks ago, they’ve been disturbing us. And last
night it was worse than ever. Why do they have to play their music so loud?!
Wife: Yes, and until three o’clock in the morning!
Husband: Look, we really have to do something about this. I think we should report them to the
police.
Wife: No, no, we can’t do that. Why don’t we just talk to them?
Husband: What, again! I’ve already spoken to them twice, and it didn’t make any difference.
Wife: I know, I know. Well, maybe we need to try a different approach. I have an idea!
You know it’s my birthday next Wednesday?
Husband: Yes, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. Your sister and her husband are coming for
dinner.
Wife: That’s right. Well, why don’t we invite our neighbours to join us?
Husband: Are you sure that’s a good idea?
Wife: Well, I think if we made friends with them, maybe they would change their behaviour
and be more considerate.
Husband: Mmm, I don’t know…
Wife: Let me give you an example. Remember that time when you’d just started working
for the bank, and you lost that important file.
Husband: Oh, yes, I remember…
Wife: And what did your boss do? Did he get angry with you?
Husband: No, actually, he was very patient. He gave me another chance.
Wife: See! And because of that, you worked twice as hard for him, didn’t you?
Husband: Yes, I see your point. Maybe you’re right. OK, I’ll go round this evening and invite
them.
Wife: Good… You never know, it might just work…
Husband: I certainly hope so…
Grade12:2
LISTENING 2
“Hi! My name is Chantal and I come from Toulouse in the south-west of France. Today I’d like to tell
you about an interesting project that I worked on when I was at secondary school. It was called ‘Looking
Back’ and its aim was to collect and preserve the memories of old people in my country. The project
was started by a TV station and it ran from January 2003 until June 2005. They wanted to collect as
many stories and pictures as possible, but the big question was where to keep them all. They thought of
publishing a book or a weekly magazine, but in the end they decided to start a special website on the
Internet. The problem is that most old people in France are not experienced in using computers. So the
TV station set up special centres throughout the country to help them use the website. Our teacher told
us about the project and said that they needed young people to help. I agreed, and started working at one
of the centres, just once a week on Saturdays. At first, I found that the work
needed a lot of patience —
and I’m not a very patient person — but gradually I began to enjoy it, and I certainly learned a lot! The
experience also changed my attitude towards old people. Before, I had always thought that talking to
them was, well, boring. But now I realize that they have lots of interesting things to say — you just have
to listen!”
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LISTENING 3
1. “Good morning, I’d like to book a ticket to London. For Wednesday July the ninth. In the morning,
please. And if possible, a direct flight.” (F)
2. “Excuse me, would it be OK if I come in a bit late tomorrow? I have to get a new passport. But I will
be here in time for the meeting at ten o’clock.” (M)
3. “Could you come to the conference hall immediately, please? We’re having problems with one of
the microphones. Every time we switch it on, it makes a terrible noise.” (F)
4. “Look, I know you were disappointed to lose after playing so well. But now you just have to be
professional and concentrate on preparing for the next match.” (M)
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