Now we are ready to start.
John: Hello, Maggie. What are you buying?
Maggie: I'm choosing a dress to begin with. What do you think about this one?
John: Ooh, it's a gorgeous dress, Maggie, but the other one seems nicer.
Maggie: Mmm, it's lovely, isn't it? But you're right, the blue dress looks better.
And I'm going to buy it.
John: Remember to take the receipt. Last year I couldn't return a jumper because
I didn't have a receipt.
Maggie: What was wrong with the jumper?
John: Nothing except the colour, the shape and the size. It was a present from
Mum. Every Christmas she gives me a dreadful jumper, but I can't explain to her
that I don't need it because I don't want to hurt her feelings.
Maggie: That's why I always buy clothes myself.
John: Can we go and look at the computer games now?
Maggie: OK, Johnny, you are very patient. Let's just have a look at shoes and then
we can go to the electronics shop. I want to buy a camera for my brother. So what
are you doing at Christmas, John? You've got a few days off work, haven't you?
John: Indeed I have, Maggie, and I'm going to Poland for a few days. I'm looking
forward to a nice cosy Christmas. Fancy joining me?
Maggie: I've already been invited, but thank you. Tim and I had quite a long chat
the other day. It'd be nice to see him but I've already made plans. I'm spending
Christmas with my Mom and Dad.
John: Yeah, you'll have a family Christmas. I expect we're feeling peckish, so
we'll have a quick bite to eat before going home.
Maggie: OK, let's go.
You have 15 seconds to complete the task. ( Pause 15 seconds.)
Now you will hear the text again. (Repeat.)
This is the end of the task. You now have 15 seconds to check your answers.
(Pause 15 seconds.)

A — 2. John: Ooh, it's a gorgeous dress, Maggie, but the other one seems nicer.

Maggie: Mmm, it's lovely, isn't it? But you're right, the blue dress looks better. And I'm going to buy it.

B — 1. Remember to take the receipt. Last year I couldn't return a jumper because I didn't have a receipt.

C — 2. Let's just have a look at shoes and then we can go to the electronics shop.

D — 3. Нет информации.

E — 1. Indeed I have, Maggie, and I'm going to Poland for a few days. I'm looking forward to a nice cosy Christmas. Fancy joining me?

F — 1. I'm spending Christmas with my Mom and Dad.

G — 3. Про кафе ничего не говорится.

A — 1. Consultant: Is it going to be your first visit to Russia?

Tourist: Yes, it is.

B — 2. I think I'd like to see only Moscow this time.

C — 3. Нет информации.

D — 2. You will see St. Basil's Cathedral. It's a gorgeous building. Make sure you go inside...

E — 1. You'll have enough time to go shopping there.

F — 3. Нет информации.

G — 1. I think I'll order a tour right now.

A−1. That’s right – you could not have possibly seen me here.

В−2. .... but the fact is that I did just the bare minimum even for my major!

С−2. Do you think I will be able to catch up with the rest of the group? I doubt it

D−3. Нет информации.

E−2.

Peter: Do you think I will fail it then?

Jane: Peter, be more optimistic! If the teacher sees you have tried to do at least something, she will appreciate it, I am sure.

F−3. Нет информации.

G−1. Actually, I am not so sure about Literature.

Helen: How was your holiday, Betsy?
Betsy: It was great to get away to somewhere warm. I hate spending the New Year in a cold climate.
Helen: So, where did you go then?
Betsy: To the Canary islands. We flew to Tenerife.
Helen: Oh really? Did you get a charter?
Betsy: Yes, it was a package holiday, which included the flight and hotel. It was really good value.
Helen: So, where did you stay then?
Betsy: In the south of the island. We stayed in quite a nice hotel right near the coast.
Helen: I think, I read somewhere that the beaches in Tenerife are black. Is that right, Betsy?
Betsy: Yes, that’s partly true. They’re striped-white and black. The black sand is from the volcanoes and the white sand is from the Sahara desert.
Helen: From the Sahara desert?!
Betsy: Yes. The island’s in the Atlantic Ocean, near Africa.
Helen: Oh, I didn’t realize that. So, it was pretty hot then?
Betsy: It was fantastic. Warm enough to swim in January.
Helen: So, you spent most of your time on the beach then?
Betsy: No, I also went on lots of trips. One trip to the mountains was incredible. The views were unbelievable!!! I also visited a really beautiful zoo in the mountains. It specialized in wild birds which flew free. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Helen: Sounds marvellous. Are the mountains covered with snow at that time of the year?
Betsy: It’s not cold enough for that.
Helen: So, you’d recommend it as a holiday then?
Betsy: Yes. Sure. It’s a tremendous place for a winter break. I’d recommend it any time.
Helen: Oh, I forgot to ask. Do they speak Spanish there?
Betsy: Yes, the natives of the island speak Spanish, but nearly everybody speaks some English and a lot of English people actually live there. They have holiday homes there.
Helen: So you had no language problems then?
Betsy: No.

A−3. Нет информации

В−2. Yes, it was a package holiday, which included the flight and hotel. It was really good value.

С−3. Нет информации.

D−1. I also went on lots of trips. One trip to the mountains was incredible. The views were unbelievable!!! I also visited a really beautiful zoo in the mountains.

E−3. Нет информации.

F−1. Betsy: It’s not cold enough for that.

G−2. ... a lot of English people actually live there. They have holiday homes there.

John: Fm sorry, what was your name again?
Ruth: My name is Ruth Archibald.
John: OK, Ruth, are you from Ireland?
Ruth: Yes, I am.
John: I’ve noticed your slight Irish accent.
Ruth: Really? I thought I lost my Irish accent after moving south, from Ireland to Spain.
John: What was it like going from Ireland to Spain?
Ruth: Ah, it was a depressing change I guess. I had longterm friends back home, you know, friends from school, and there were some boys and girls I’ve known since I was born. I needed to make new friends and to find a place to hang out. But it’s OK now.
' John: I’ve never been to Ireland. What’s famous about Ireland that you can tell me about?
Ruth: Probably the most famous things are Guinness and Irish clog-dance — dancing in wooden shoes.
John: Do you dance in wooden shoes?
Ruth: Unfortunately not. I think only a few people can do this.
John: I’ve heard that people’s manners are pretty rough and ready in Ireland. Is that true?
Ruth: No, I don’t think so. I think it depends on where you go in Ireland. In the capital, yes, maybe people are a bit less polite, but in the countryside they’re very warm and friendly.
John: OK, so if I went to a bar or a disco in Ireland, would there be any risk of getting into trouble?
Ruth: I don’t think so. No. No. It’s really safe. You don’t really think that all Irish people are rude and short-tempered.
John: Oh, no. No.... And where exactly are you from?
Ruth: I’m from a place called Bray, which is maybe an hour’s drive from the capital, Dublin but far away from the main industrial centres. It’s clean and calm.
John: What is the geography like?
Ruth: It’s pretty flat. There are some hills but none of them are very high and the area around the city has been intensively cultivated — there’s a lot of farming, particularly beef and dairy products and also sheep. There are lots of sheep.
John: When are you going back?
Ruth: I’ve just been there. I went back in December for three weeks, so at the moment I have no plans to go home in the near future, but maybe sometime in September I’ll go again.
John: Maybe I’ll go and visit it sometime.
Ruth: Definitely. It’s really good. It’s a really nice place to visit.

A−2. I’ve noticed your slight Irish accent.

В−3. Нет информации.

С−3. Нет информации.

D−1. I think it depends on where you go in Ireland. In the capital, yes, maybe people are a bit less polite, but in the countryside they’re very warm and friendly.

E−2. A place called Bray, which is maybe an hour’s drive from the capital, Dublin but far away from the main industrial centres. It’s clean and calm.

F−2. It’s pretty flat. There are some hills but none of them are very high.

G−1. I have no plans to go home in the near future, but maybe sometime in September I’ll go again.