Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 1
Listening
Exercise 10

Speaker 1
When I was at school I never thought I could go to university. I certainly wasn’t the best student. I
was the student who always handed in assignments late and failed all the class tests. I much
preferred playing on my computer to doing my homework. But in my last year I started to
concentrate more and I got good grades in my final exams. So, here I am at uni. I think it was a shock
to my parents too. They thought my career was going to be working in a supermarket!

Speaker 2
In my school the teachers expected most of us to go to university, but I wasn’t really sure that it was the
right thing for me. Some of my friends decided not to apply for uni because they were tired of studying.
They’ve got jobs now. But my parents wanted me to go because they think it’s the best way to get a good
job. I’m not sure if I agree with them. One of my friends has got a very good job and she didn’t go to uni.
Anyway, they persuaded me to try university. It’s always possible to leave if I don’t think it’s the right
thing to do. But so far I think it’s brilliant and I’m having the time of my life!

Speaker 3
My dream has always been to be a teacher. I know it sounds strange! Most children think teaching is
the worst possible profession. But not me. Well, I’ve known that the only way for me to become a
teacher is to go to university. Luckily, I’ve never had problems with my grades and assignments and
things, so I passed all my exams first time – no resits. My English teacher wanted me to apply for
Cambridge University because he thinks it’s the best. But I get homesick and I didn’t want to leave
my family. So, I decided to go to a local university. Now I’m here, I’m loving it – the work, the people.
It’s worth all the hard work.

Speaker 4
My mum and dad never went to university and they’ve always hoped that I would go. But they
haven’t pushed me and I know they’d be OK if I decided I wanted to work in a shop. They want me to
be happy. But I’d like to get a good job and I know that I need to study hard to do that. The course I
wanted to study was at Bristol University, which is a long way from my home. That means it’s really
expensive for me and my family, so I took out a student loan. It’s a lot of money, but I only have to
pay back the money when I’m in a good job. I miss my family a lot but I’m enjoying university life.

Speaker 5
I didn’t really think much about a career when I was younger and I certainly never planned to go to
uni. I imagined that I would probably leave school as soon as I could and start work. It was when my
cousin went to uni that I started to think it might be good for me too. I admire my cousin a lot and
since he’s been at university he’s told me a lot of stories about his life there. He’s doing very well
with his studies and I hope I can be as good as he is.

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 2
Listening
Exercise 10

Presenter: Many of today’s children and students will eventually have careers in business in
one way or another. The need for specific skills and a sharp competitive instinct will
be vital for them to become successful and this has been the basis of many reality TV
shows over the last few years. In particular The Apprentice and Junior Apprentice
have proved very popular. In these shows, several competitors were put in teams
and given business-type challenges to see which team could make the most profit.
The Apprentice had teams of adults and Junior Apprentice, as its name suggests, had
younger competitors. On TV recently we have been able to watch teams of
competitive youngsters take part in a series of challenges in a series called Trade
Your Way to the USA. On the programme today we have Martin Manners to talk to
us about the programme. Hello, Martin.
Martin: Hi there.
Presenter: So, firstly, can you explain to our listeners what the series is all about?
Martin: Sure. It’s basically a competition; a game show for children but with a focus on
business skills and it was open to young people at schools all over England. We had
over 1,000 applicants. Eventually we chose 14 teams with three children in each.
That meant 42 children altogether, aged between 11 and 14. We gave them
different challenges and each episode shows two different teams fighting against
each other. The winners of these episodes went into the semi finals and then the
best two teams competed in the grand final.
Presenter: And what sort of skills did these children need to have?
Martin: Well, each challenge was about making the most profit. The children had to work in
a team and be involved in buying and selling. They had to show that they were good
with figures and that they could negotiate, you know, get things at the best price
and then sell them to the public to get the most money.
Presenter: Don’t you think it’s a bit early to get children involved in the world of business?
These are only 11 to 14 year olds.
Martin: Not at all! These children are very bright and most of those who took part in the
competition will probably become businessmen and women in the future. They’re
already very good at buying and selling. They sell toys and unwanted presents in the
school playground. These are the entrepreneurs of the future. The programme is
fascinating because it shows how good these kids are. It also encourages other
young people to think about a career in business. It’s an excellent show.
Presenter: And just why is it called Trade Your Way to the USA?
Martin: That’s because the finalists’ last challenge is in New York.
Presenter: And can you tell us what that challenge was?
Martin: Sorry, you’ll have to watch later this week to find out.

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 3
Listening
Exercise 10

1
Speaker A: Hi. I hear you went to the new science exhibition at the museum at the weekend.
What was it like? I’m thinking of going with Freddy on Monday afternoon.
Speaker B: Well, actually we were going to go on Saturday but we were a bit late and there
wouldn’t have been much time before they closed. So, we went for a walk by the
river instead.
Speaker A: You can come with us if you like.
Speaker B: Thanks, but I’m afraid I’m playing tennis at the club then. But you have a good time
and tell me all about it.

2
Speaker A: There’s a good review on the new Journey to Jupiter film in the paper today.
Speaker B: Really? It’s supposed to be pretty scary, isn’t it?
Speaker A: Well, according to the review it has got a lot of frightening moments but it’s OK for
over tens. They also praise the cast and they think several actors are going to be
nominated for top awards this year. Pete Monks will probably win best actor.
Speaker B: He got it two years ago for another science-fiction film, didn’t he?
Speaker A: I think it was a vampire film, actually. But he is good. I think he’s got a great sense of
humour.
Speaker B: I can’t imagine there are many funny moments in this film though!

3
Speaker: This is an announcement for everyone waiting for the delayed 4.15 flight to Ottawa.
Unfortunately, there will be a further delay of one hour due to problems with
refuelling. All those passengers who have been waiting for this flight for over an
hour are entitled to a free meal, so please come to the information desk to claim
your voucher. We apologise for the lack of seating in the lounge for waiting
passengers, but this is because of delays on several flights to Canada. Increasingly
bad weather means that planes flying out of Canada are having to take longer to
cross the Atlantic, so passengers on these flights can expect at least a 45 minute
delay. We assure all passengers that we are doing everything that we can to get
you to your destinations as soon as possible. In the meantime, further information
can be found on ...

4
Speaker A: Hi, Jane. I imagine your daughter is at university now, isn’t she? What did she finally
decide to study?
Speaker B: If you remember, she’s always been good at science subjects, so her teacher was
encouraging her to do biology at university.
Speaker A: It’s a hard subject. But then, your Jenny is a hard worker.
Speaker B: That’s true. As it is, she changed her mind at the last moment and went for
chemistry instead. I think that’s even harder.
Speaker A: Good for her! I always thought that she’d do something with her music. She’s such a
good pianist.

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Speaker B: Well, she keeps that up. She’s in the university orchestra. Penny, you really must
come along with us sometime and go to a concert.
Speaker A: I’d love that, thanks.

5
People in the small town of Grantford are clearing up this morning after a strange incident during
the night. Local shopkeeper, Tom Harris told Your News today that he’d heard a sound in the night,
rather like a bomb going off and Nurse Jackie Parks thought there had been a terrible car crash right
outside her door. Several residents of Pages Lane reported damage to their roofs. Investigators
have since found evidence that show that the damage was caused by small objects, probably parts
of a small meteorite that exploded before hitting the earth. Reports that the objects came from an
old satellite that had broken up in the atmosphere have been denied by experts. Most of the
damage is minor, but three houses have been evacuated because of the danger of falling walls and
a fire that broke out because of a broken gas pipe. The number of buildings that were affected
could have been higher, but Pages Lane is quite an isolated area and most of the objects hit open
ground, making quite big holes in the gardens. As Tom Harris said ‘It looks like a lot of tiny
spacecrafts have landed and then taken off again!’

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 4
Listening
Exercise 10

Speaker 1: I had to think for a while when I was first asked the question, but now the answer is
quite obvious. One of the most extraordinary people I’ve heard of is a friend of a
friend of mine, Steve Jussup. He was involved in a car crash three years ago, which
wasn’t his fault by the way, and when he woke up in hospital he was paralysed from
the neck down. Now, Steve had apparently been a really active and sporty person
before the accident, so the injury must have been nearly impossible to accept.
Anyway, Steve is a real fighter and doesn’t let anything get him down, so he refused
to believe that he would remain paralysed forever. He worked and worked at his
exercises and never gave up hope. The result is that now he has recovered use of
his arms and some feeling has returned to his legs. He knows he will walk again.
What an amazing man!

Speaker 2: Extraordinary means different things to different people, doesn’t it? I immediately
think of a person I read about last year who had become a self-made millionaire by
the time she was 16. Her story was really inspirational. She came from a very poor
family and rarely attended school because she had to do jobs for her mom, who was
a single mother. But she discovered that she had a gift for persuading people to buy
things. She started with selling flowers that grew around her home and then began
to design party invitations, which she sold at the local shop. From there she
progressed to learning how to use an old laptop she was given and started buying
and selling online. Now she’s a millionaire! She’s a real example of what we can do
if we really try.

Speaker 3: For me, one of the most extraordinary people I’ve heard of has to be the writer,
Agatha Christie. She wrote so many amazing books that have entertained people all
over the world for more than 50 years. The mysteries that she wrote were very
clever and she paved the way for a long line of writers who developed the detective
story in many ways. And also, from what I can remember, she was quite a mystery
woman herself. There was a period when she completely disappeared and nobody
really knows what she did in that time. I can definitely recommend reading her life
story. She was a most extraordinary person.

Speaker 4: There are a lot of extraordinary people in the world: people who do great things for
others or just show a lot of courage and bravery in difficult situations. My choice is a
person who isn’t really like that. She is extraordinary for different reasons. I suppose I’ve
chosen her because she is simply so different to anyone else I’ve heard of. Her name is
Sister Wendy and people have only really heard of her because of her few appearances
on television. Sister Wendy is a nun and she has devoted all her life to prayer. She lives
alone in a caravan and spends all her time praying but she also has a special gift. She is a
talented art historian. From time to time she comes out of her solitude in the caravan to
do a TV series or an interview. Her knowledge and ability to talk about art is quite
unbelievable. Then she goes back to her caravan for another six months. An incredible
woman: devoted, gentle, knowledgeable and kind.

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 5
Listening
Exercise 10

Presenter: We are always hearing about different schemes to make us rich. I must admit, the
ones I’ve tried haven’t been successful. And these days, putting your money into a
savings account isn’t going to make you much money either because the interest is
so low. However, one person managed to make a small fortune in just one year
with an initial investment of one red paperclip! With us this morning we have
reporter Giles Davies to tell us what the young Canadian did. So, Giles. One
paperclip. That’s worth practically nothing, isn’t it?
Giles: Quite right. But what Kyle MacDonald did with that paperclip was quite amazing. He
wanted to be able to buy a house and he decided to see if he could trade things for a
year and end up with a house. And he did! He set up his own website about his
project and started to try to find someone who would exchange his red paperclip for
something else. Two women from Vancouver agreed to swap the paperclip for a pen
shaped like a fish that they had found on holiday. He then traded the fish pen for a
hand-made doorknob. He carried on trading for a year and by the following July he
had a house!
Presenter: So, how many trades did it take him to reach his house?
Giles: In all there were 14 trades, and everything was done on the Internet.
Presenter: And were there any really interesting trades along the way?
Giles: Oh yes. At one point he was given an afternoon with the singer Alice Cooper and he
traded this for a snow globe. You know, those little glass balls that you turn upside
down to make it snow inside?
Presenter: That doesn’t sound like a good trade, really.
Giles: Well, no. And a lot of his website fans thought this was crazy, but Kyle then traded
this globe to someone who collected these globes. The guy was a film director, and
in return he got a small part in the director’s next film! He traded that film part for
the house.
Presenter: So, do you think any of us can do something like this?
Giles: In my opinion, it’s all a question of publicity. If you can get people’s attention online
and hold their interest, then you’re going to be able to find good things to trade.
Kyle’s website became very popular, and lots of people were following his progress
and talking about it. That’s why he succeeded. It’s not as easy as it seems.
Presenter: It certainly shows the power of the Internet, doesn’t it?
Giles: Absolutely. He couldn’t have done it without the online population.
Presenter: It’s a good story and it’s got me thinking. I’ve got an old pen here. It’s silver and it
still works. What would you swap me for that?

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 6
Listening
Exercise 10

1
Speaker A: Hi there. I looked for you earlier in physics class but I didn’t see you.
Speaker B: Yeah, I missed maths as well. I had to go to the hospital for a blood test. It was
interesting. I had the test done in the new part of the hospital.
Speaker A: What’s it like? Is it really ultra-modern?
Speaker B: Yeah, it’s up-to-date but not that different from the old one. Obviously, it’s bigger,
and they’ve got more nurses and more equipment, but it’s got the same old posters
on the walls. It didn’t seem as crowded as it used to be, and I was in and out much
more quickly.
Speaker A: Well, that’s the important thing. Let’s hurry up or we’ll be late for art.

2
Speaker A: Are you going to come to London with Anne and me on Tuesday?
Speaker B: I’d love to but I’ve got to go in to hospital for a small operation on Tuesday.
Speaker A: Really? Is it serious?
Speaker B: No, I don’t think so. It’s a day thing. I don’t even have to stay in overnight. You know
that brown mark I’ve had on my back since I was little?
Speaker A: Yeah. You always used to get embarrassed about it when we went swimming.
Speaker B: I know. It doesn’t bother me these days, but the doctor says I should get it removed,
so that’s what’s happening on Tuesday. Nothing remarkable.
Speaker A: That’s good. We’ll go up to London again next month, so you must come along then.

3
Speaker A: How’s your new dog?
Speaker B: Oh, she’s fantastic! I’m so glad we got her.
Speaker A: She’s from a rescue centre, isn’t she?
Speaker B: Yeah. Her previous owners moved abroad and left her behind. I think they must be
crazy, because she’s such a lovely, friendly dog.
Speaker A: Who takes her for walks then, you?
Speaker B: Well, Dad doesn’t have much time, but my brother Pete and I share the walks. I
usually take her before school, and Pete takes her after. Mum’s got a bit of a
problem though. She’s just discovered she’s allergic to dog hair. She’s been sneezing
all the time.
Speaker A: Oh dear. That can be a real problem.
Speaker B: The doctor says she’ll probably get used to it and he’s given her some medicine. I
just have to keep her out of Mum’s way. That means she sleeps in my room.
Speaker A: You’re lucky you’re not allergic too.

4
Thank you for inviting me to this careers day, and I’m delighted to be able to talk to you about the
life of a doctor in the twenty-first century. Most people say that becoming a doctor is a calling, a
vocation, that is something that you feel you were born to do. You know, like teaching. And I’m sure
that in many cases it’s the truth. In my profession I see a lot of dedicated men and women who have
known that they wanted to be a doctor since they were very young. For me, it was rather different.
My father and mother were doctors, and for quite a long time I was determined not to follow in
7

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

their footsteps. I thought I was going to write books. However, I realised late in secondary school
that medicine was the right choice of profession for me. I loved biology and other science subjects
and so I studied medicine at university and I’ve been a doctor for ten years. I won’t say that I’ve
loved every minute of it because that’s not true. There have been days, sometimes weeks, when
I’ve questioned that decision, but generally speaking it’s a good life. Becoming a doctor involves a
lot of studying. It’s not easy but in my opinion it’s worth it. Now if we look at the sort of qualities
you need to become a doctor, I think ...

5
Speaker A: You look a bit under the weather. What’s up?
Speaker B: I’m not sure. I’ve got a terrible headache and I feel a bit dizzy. I think I might have
got flu.
Speaker A: Really? How did you get that? Was it from Mike? He’s been ill all week.
Speaker B: I don’t think so. I haven’t seen Mike much recently. It’s more likely to have been my
cousin Jack. He was very ill with flu a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker A: And you could have picked it up when you visited Jim in hospital at the weekend.
Speaker B: Oh, I was really careful to use that special hand wash they have there, so I’m pretty
sure it wasn’t from there. Whatever, I think I’m going to bed.
Speaker A: Yeah, and don’t breathe too close to me. I don’t want to catch it too!

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Test 7
Listening
Exercise 10

I guess I’ve always wanted to be an actor. As far back as I can remember, I was always dressing up
and pretending to be someone else! And when my friends came round, I used to organise them, and
we’d put on little plays for our parents. I always made up the stories and, of course, I always had the
main role. Gosh, I must have been a bossy little girl. I don’t think I’d like to meet me as a child today!
But my friends obviously liked being told what to do by me, and some of them actually went into
drama too when they left college. Two are TV actors, and one is in theatre administration. I suppose
I did my first proper acting when I was at primary school and I got chosen to be in end-of-term
productions. I just loved being on the stage and prancing around in silly costumes. I think I was
chosen so often because I had a very loud voice, and people at the back of the hall could hear me
easily. Also I could copy accents quite well, which everyone thought was hilarious. Then, at
secondary school, it all got a bit more serious. You had to audition for parts, and there were a lot
more people the teachers could choose from. Then there were all the words you had to learn and
get right on the night. Performing became that bit scarier too. I think it’s natural when you’re older.
You get much more self conscious. It’s all part of that teenage thing about worrying about your
appearance and what people are thinking about you. But for me, it was still the most exciting thing
to do at school, so I joined the drama club and spent all my free time rehearsing for shows. I think it
was at the end of a performance of The Crucible, an amazing play by Arthur Miller, when I heard the
audience applauding, that I knew that I wanted to spend my life on the stage. Today I still get
nervous before a show, but that produces a better performance, I think. I have never regretted
becoming a professional actor in spite of the hard work and the times when I’m out of a job. I’m
really lucky to be doing a job that I love and to have fulfilled my childhood ambition. Not many
people can say that, can they?

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Test 8
Listening
Exercise 10

Interviewer: We were all appalled at the panic and confusion caused by the volcanic eruption last
year in Iceland and remember the scenes at airports all over this and other European
countries when planes were grounded for days and weeks because of the danger of
flying in the ash-filled skies. Today on the programme we are talking to people who
suffered in different ways at that difficult time. First on the phone we have Martin,
from Kent. Hello Martin.
Martin: Hi.
Interviewer: So, can you tell us what happened?
Martin: Yeah. It was last March, and we’d been looking forward to our holiday in Spain for
months. I had a lot of really important exams at school, so the holiday was sort of
like ... a prize for finishing them, you know? Anyway, we’d heard nothing about the
ash cloud, no one had listened to the news that morning, I think it must have been
the first day, and when we got to the airport, everything was chaotic. The place was
packed, and there were angry people everywhere. We found out pretty quickly that
our flight was cancelled and we had to go home again.
Interviewer: That must have been disappointing. So, did you go back the next day?
Martin: Yeah. Dad phoned the airline the next morning. It took him ages to get through, and
the website had crashed, so that was no good, and they said to come on in because
our flight would be leaving at midday.
Interviewer: I’m guessing it didn’t?
Martin: No way! We got there to check in, but it was obvious that nothing was taking off.
But they said we should stay because the situation could change any minute. So we
stayed and stayed. We stayed that night. We slept on the floor on our coats because
all the seats were full. There were so many people there, just waiting and waiting.
Interviewer: Why didn’t you go home?
Martin: Because they said we needed to be there in case the flight left and that they
wouldn’t be able to wait for people to come from their homes. That was rubbish. I
don’t think they knew what they were talking about. We ended up spending two
nights at the airport. It was an absolute nightmare. I saw later on TV that some
airports in France and Germany had the same problem, but they provided camp
beds for the people who were waiting. We had the hard floor. And to top it all, they
turned off the heating after midnight, and everyone froze. We were really fed up,
but there were a lot of families and couples who were worse off than us. I felt so
sorry for the families with small kids and also, there were lots of elderly people there
too. It can’t have been easy for them.
Interviewer: So, what do you think about the way the airline dealt with the problem?
Martin: They didn’t. They didn’t deal with the problem, I mean. We got no information at all.
Not knowing anything was the worst part. No one could tell us what was happening
or what was going to happen.
Interviewer: I imagine the airlines couldn’t make any decisions because planes weren’t allowed to
fly. They couldn’t do anything about it, could they?
Martin: True, but there was no communication at all. The staff knew less than we did. They
should have sent everyone home, I think.
Interviewer: And what about your holiday?

10

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Martin: We never got there. When we got to the third day, Dad cancelled the whole thing
because it wasn’t worth going all that way for two or three days, and he had to get
back to work the following Monday. We got compensation from the airline, so
maybe later in the year we’ll try again. As long as there isn’t another eruption, which
is actually on the cards, isn’t it?

11

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Test 9
Listening
Exercise 10

Presenter: A special welcome to today’s guest, Barney Markham, who is an expert on

addictions. Now, Barney, people out there are going to be thinking that addictions
refer to things like smoking, alcohol or drugs, things that are very dangerous for us
and can ruin our health. Are they right?
Barney: Well, of course they’re right, but addictions also cover things that most people refer
to as a bad habit. You know, like needing a cup of coffee every morning or an
inability to stop eating chocolate bars, which isn’t actually that much of a problem.
Presenter: Well, I must admit that I’m guilty of the latter.
Barney: You wouldn’t be normal if you didn’t have some bad habits like that. And I think the
majority of the population would admit to having a minor addiction or two.
However, addictions come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes an addiction can be
really serious, or potentially really serious, and we don’t realise that it’s happening.
And that’s what I’m here to talk about today. I want to address a problem that is not
yet commonly recognised as an addiction. It’s connected to technology.
Presenter: Can I guess? It’s to do with gaming, isn’t it?
Barney: You’re right. Gaming is big business these days, and the technology used is
becoming very advanced. But people are getting addicted to playing these games,
and that’s a problem.
Presenter: But surely that’s not a serious problem, is it? We’ve always liked games, and computer
games are a great way to relax, enjoy yourself and compete with others.
Barney: Of course, within certain limits, gaming is fine. But then, that’s true of all addictions.
It’s when it reaches a point, and many people all over the world are reaching that
point, that there are consequences to that addiction. It’s when the need to play the
game controls you and not the other way round.
Presenter: So, what happens?
Barney: Well, a gaming addict will spend as much time as possible on the computer.
Sometimes it’s driven by the need to constantly beat his or others’ scores again and
again and sometimes it’s when a gamer gets involved with virtual worlds that exist in
real time all over the world.
Presenter: That’s when you have an avatar and create another life, isn’t it?
Barney: Yes. And sometimes gamers get so immersed in that other world that it becomes
more important than the real one.
Presenter: Isn’t that a bit far-fetched?
Barney: Not at all. There have been reports of people who literally starve themselves
because they are on their computers for days on end, without food or sleep. Some
countries actually run rehabilitation centres for people who suffer in this way. As I
say, addiction of this type can have severe consequences. A mild addiction can mean
that the person loses friends, has a bad relationship with his or her family, fails at
school or loses a job. A severe form can actually lead to serious health problems. So,
the important thing is to watch out for your friends and family. If you suspect they
have a problem, talk to someone about it.

12

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Test 10
Listening
Exercise 10

Speaker 1: Obviously, it’s important to keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the world, and,
in spite of having a busy lifestyle, I try to catch the main items on the news before I
set off for work in the morning. Sometimes I switch on the TV and watch the
breakfast news programme but more often than not I spend time over breakfast
looking at the newspaper. It gets delivered every morning quite early, so I read the
headlines over breakfast and then look at the different sections at lunchtime. It’s
good to discuss interesting items with friends at work during the day.

Speaker 2: In my opinion, a lot of the news reports on TV are pretty boring, particularly on the
24-hour TV channels. It’s mainly repetition, which is OK I suppose for those people
who miss the main headlines. But there’s also a lot of detail and experts’ opinions on
different things. I can’t usually be bothered to sit through full reports. So, if I’m in a
rush, which I usually am, I try to catch up with the main items online, and that’s
what’s important really, not all the details. I can access that through my laptop or
iPhone. Then at the weekends, when I’ve got more time, I like a good read of the
Sunday papers. Usually in bed over breakfast.

Speaker 3: I like to be informed but I don’t systematically watch the TV or read a paper, unless
there’s something really important happening, like with the Japanese earthquake
and tsunami or the floods in Australia. So, usually I just pick up bits and pieces of
news from my friends at work. They’re far more up-to-date than I am. My parents
are pretty traditional and couldn’t do without their daily paper, but I only look at the
papers when there’s a good fashion or sports section. I think a lot of people in my
age group do the same thing.

Speaker 4: I don’t like to admit it but I can’t stand reading papers. They’re way too big and
fiddly. They’re not designed in a user-friendly way at all, and quite honestly I don’t
think they’ll be around too long. You can get all the news you need online these
days. I have to say I don’t follow the news much online or anywhere else for that
matter. It’s just that most of the news you hear is bad, and sometimes I think we’re
better off not knowing what’s going on. It just puts you in a bad mood for the rest of
the day, and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway. Now, if we had ‘good’
news reports, that would be a different matter!

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Review 1
Listening
Exercise 10

1
Speaker A: Hi. You’re looking a bit fed up. I hope you haven’t picked up that flu bug that’s been
going round school.
Speaker B: No. I’ve just had the results of our term tests in science and, although I passed
biology, I did quite badly in physics and chemistry.
Speaker A: That’s odd. I did the opposite. I think I’m going to have to resit biology. How about
you?
Speaker B: I’m not sure that I’ll have to. My marks weren’t too far down. The teacher says that
she’ll look at my course work, and that’s been pretty good, so I may be OK.
Speaker A: Lucky you!

2
In preparation for your tutorials next week, I’d like everyone to look back at your marks in all your
subjects this year and decide what you think you need most help with. Remember that, similar to
last year, we shall be running after-school classes to give more practice for some of your exam
subjects, and these are a great opportunity to catch up with topics you’ve missed or fallen behind
with. We shall also be discussing possible future careers in your tutorials, so before then make sure
you go along to the careers office and pick up one or two leaflets on jobs that interest you. It might
be a good idea to do some research of your own online, and then we can discuss what you’ve
discovered in the tutorials. If you cannot attend your tutorial, you must let the administrator’s office
know as soon as possible, so that an alternative date can be arranged.

3
On Wednesday evening, there will be a chance to see again the interesting documentary about a
millionaire who went on one of the first space trips for tourists. He explains what the experience was
like and whether it was worth the large amount of money you have to pay for such a trip. The
documentary also follows the progress of two other space tourists, who are preparing to go into
space very shortly. We see what preparations they have to make and hear about their worries and
excitement. The space tourism project is becoming very popular, but unless you’re a millionaire, you
won’t be able to take advantage of it for a while yet. They predict that prices will eventually come
down, but you’ll need a crystal ball to tell you when. So, if you really want that trip of a lifetime,
you’d better start saving now.

4
Speaker A: Have you decided what we’re going to ask the work experience student to do next
week? Only unfortunately, I won’t be able to give her any work myself, as I’d
promised, because I’m going to be away that week.
Speaker B: I’ve got a feeling that she’s expecting to follow one of us for a few days when we
visit clients, so that she can see how we deal with people’s problems. Katy has said
that she’ll be around to give her some paperwork to do too.
Speaker A: Remember that we have to keep anything confidential away from her. The student
last year saw a lot of files that she shouldn’t have seen.
Speaker B: Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. And when you’re back from holiday, she can spend a few
days with you, if that’s OK?
Speaker A: It’s a business trip, not a holiday! But that will be no problem. You never know, some
of these students could well be future employees. And that’s good for business.
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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

5
Speaker A: Hi. Did you have a good weekend in London?
Speaker B: Actually, we didn’t go to London. The car had a problem, so Dad took us to the
science exhibition in Manchester instead. It was awesome.
Speaker A: I’ve been wanting to see that for ages. How much longer is it on for? I heard that it’s
going to close at the end of the month before moving on to Cardiff. Is that true?
Speaker B: No, it’s going to be on for at least another three weeks because it’s been so popular.
The space simulator is fantastic! You go in this room and you travel, although not
really ‘travel’, through space and you see all the stars and planets through the
windows passing by.
Speaker A: Yeah, my cousin told me about it. She said she actually felt a bit space sick!

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Review 2
Listening
Exercise 10

Speaker 1: I learned to play the guitar when I started at university. Not official lessons, just a kind
friend who taught me how to play a few chords and songs, and then it was all down
to me to practise. Which I did, far too much. It was better fun than lectures.
Anyway, the following year I had a holiday job on a cruise liner, and one of the stops
we made was in Northern Spain. Spain and guitars are inextricably linked in my
brain, and I thought how wonderful it would be to have my very own, real Spanish
guitar, bought in Spain. So, I dashed ashore and bought a guitar in the first tourist
shop I came to. Not a good idea. I was over the moon because it was very cheap and
Spanish but when I tried actually playing it, it was rubbish; a truly tourist guitar! I still
have it though, as a reminder not to buy on impulse.

Speaker 2: As a family we used to go on holiday to France quite a lot; at least once a year, and
Paris was my favourite place to stay. I loved the hotels and the markets, and of
course, the food. But what I remember most about Paris were the artists. There
seemed to be artists everywhere, painting pictures of the river Seine, or the tourists
in Montmartre! There were paintings on sale and prints and posters of famous
paintings too. I really wanted Mum to buy me a painting to take back with us, but of
course, they were far too expensive, and the cheap ones were not very good, so
instead I persuaded her to buy me a print of a painting by Monet from the gallery.
It’s a lovely one of a poppy field with tall trees. I’ve had it in my bedroom since I
was 11. It always reminds me of those great times we had in France.

Speaker 3: The first holiday I ever went on without my parents was to Sri Lanka with two friends
from college. It was so exciting. Not only were we on holiday without our parents for
the first time but we were somewhere a bit different. None of us had ever been out
of Europe before. Needless to say it was a wonderful holiday, and we spent loads of
money. I brought back presents for the family, and the one my mum liked most was
an elephant made out of a coconut. She put it on a shelf in the living room, and it
was there for ages until they bought a new dog. He was only a puppy, about six
months old, and he was going through the chewing stage, where he ate everything
within reach. One morning, they found he had eaten most of the elephant! A sad
end to a lovely souvenir. I’ll have to go back and get another one.

Speaker 4: I don’t usually spend much money on souvenirs or presents when I go on holiday; I
spend it on having a good time! But I do have something I bought when I went to
Barbados, a beautiful tropical island in the West Indies. Sun, sea and palm trees, if
you get the idea. Oh yes, and lots of amazing island music. Most evenings my
friends and I used to go dancing in the local club, and they had live bands all the
time: steel drums, reggae, music that had sunshine in it. Before coming home, I
knew that that music represented everything that was great about the holiday, so I
bought a CD of the live band we’d danced to. I still have it today and whenever I’m
feeling a bit down or gloomy, I stick it on and I’m immediately back on the island,
dancing. I’d be very upset if I ever lost it.

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Review 3
Listening
Exercise 10

Speaker 1: I really don’t know what to say. All my gadgets are important to me, or I wouldn’t
have them, would I? I’m so used to having them around that I can’t imagine getting
on with life without them. But I suppose if I really have to choose just one, then I
have to admit it would be my mobile phone. I bet everyone says that, don’t they?
It’s just that it’s precious, and I, well, totally depend on it. We’re, like, inseparable. A
bit like best friends in a way. So, yeah, that’s the one I’d go completely nuts without.
I can’t think what I’d do with my hands if I didn’t have a phone in them all the time!

Speaker 2: OK, well, I guess it’s my phone. I’ve got an iPhone, so it’s a bit more than just used
for chatting and texting. It’s a lifeline to me really, because I spend a lot of time
online and I just adore all the apps. I lost it once. I’ve got no idea where, but I didn’t
waste time looking, I went straight out and bought a new one, no expense spared.
It’s that important to me.

Speaker 3: Youngsters today are glued to their phones, aren’t they? But I can take it or leave it,
really. I only use mine in emergencies. I prefer talking to people face-to-face than on
the phone. As for texting, my fingers aren’t that quick, I’m afraid! For me, it’s my
laptop that’s top of my gadget list. It is indispensable. I take it with me everywhere
because of my job and I use it wherever I am: on the train, in the park, in a café. I
back stuff up all the time, so losing it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but I’d have
to get another one straight away.

Speaker 4: I’m a real music freak and I hate silence, so my MP3 player is my best friend. My
headphones are in nearly permanently. Friends say I ought to have an operation and
get them attached to my ears! I know some people say that they’re bad for your
health because they can cause deafness later on in life, but as long as the volume’s
not too high, I think I’ll be OK. Mind you, I do turn it up sometimes. But the great
thing, though, is that you’re not bothering anyone else. I’m sure not everyone
shares my taste in music. A life without my MP3 player? It wouldn’t be worth living!

Speaker 5: Microwave! Definitely microwave! I’m a student and I share a flat with a couple of
other students, and we never, but never cook! Way too much trouble, and we have
better things to do with our time, like having fun. So the microwave is a treasure:
ready meals, two minutes, dinner, magic! It went wrong last month, and we nearly
starved to death. We ate cereal and sandwiches for two weeks. No, best invention
ever. Can’t imagine life without it!

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Gateway B2 Tests A and B Audioscript

Final Review
Listening
Exercise 10

Presenter: I’d like to welcome someone onto the programme today who is definitely not a
stranger to you, having given us his opinions on everything related to the food world
for many months. Mark Pearson, hello again!
Mark: Hi! As you know, this is the spot where I talk about new and amazing restaurants
that I’ve recently been to. And the one I’m talking about today is a bit different.
Presenter: In what way different?
Mark: Well, normally, I talk about the food and the chefs, oh, and, of course, the decor ...
Presenter: ... and price!
Mark: That, as well. However, today I’d like to mention a new restaurant in Bradberne High
Street which is making the headlines for something else. It’s using advanced
technology to attract its customers.
Presenter: You mean with its advertising?
Mark: No, people are coming to the restaurant because of the technology it’s using, and I
don’t mean in the kitchen. This restaurant, called The Red Imp has implemented a
novel way of ordering. You know we usually sit down and look at a menu and spend
a while working out what all the words mean, because they’re in a foreign language
or because the meals are described in such flowery language that we can’t decide
whether it’s a chicken or a fish dish.
Presenter: I know the feeling well!
Mark: Well, here at The Red Imp you sit down and the menu is projected onto the table in
front of you from a device above your head. It shows a picture of each dish on the
menu as it will appear on your plate. Magic! So then you know what you’re
choosing, and to order – get this – you don’t call a waiter, you click on the picture,
and it’s all automatic!
Presenter: That’s incredible. But I imagine the food actually gets delivered by real people?
Mark: Oh, yes. That would be rather difficult to do automatically, I would think. But the
waiters are definitely in the background. They’re there if you need them, but they
don’t keep coming to the table to check if you’re OK. It’s really nice not to be
interrupted all the time.
Presenter: That sounds good.
Mark: And that’s not all. You can change your tablecloth by clicking on the menu screen
again, so you can choose to have a white background, or a street in Paris, or
whatever you like. Then when you leave, just click again and the bill appears. You
enter your card details and you can leave! Brilliant for people who are in a hurry.
Presenter: And the quality of the food?
Mark: Absolutely first class! The chefs are extremely good and have trained at top
restaurants across the world. And it doesn’t cost a fortune, either. The whole
evening with wine and desserts, again ordered from the projected menu, was most
reasonable.
Presenter: So, does this mean the end of the normal type of restaurant we’re used to?
Mark: I doubt it. But I think it’s the way forward, although the traditional restaurant will
always be around for those customers who enjoy being waited on. I think it’s cool!

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