Text 1

W: Congratulations on your exam results, Jordan! You came top of the class.

M: Thanks very much! Yes, I'm really pleased. However, I was just called to the headteacher's office, and she said I now have to speak at the end-of-term meeting. I'm so nervous. I hate public speaking!

Text 2

M: Our wedding is just around the corner. Have you thought about the gifts for the guests?

W: Yes, I'm considering keychains with lovely animal patterns.

M: Good idea. I was thinking of maybe candles or small potted plants, but keychains are a good idea.

Text 3

M: You have been driving so well recently. I think you are ready to take your test.

W: Oh, brilliant, I'm so glad you think so. When I get home, I'll get online to book the test. Hopefully, they can fit me in sometime after school next week.

Text 4

W: It rained really hard today. There was a hole in our classroom window, and drops of rain kept falling on the metal handle.

M: I bet that was annoying.

W: Actually, it made the music lesson fun, because the sound the raindrops made was the perfect beat to our song!

Text 5

M: We split the bill equally at dinner last night. There were six of us, and the total came to $240.

W: That sounds fair.

M: Yes, and Michael gave the waiter a generous extra $20 tip.

Text 6

M: I've always wanted to help you with the housework.

W: Oh, you're so sweet, dear.

M: So I've invented a machine that will take all the stress out of making breakfast.

W: What is it?

M: It's called the “Butter Spreader”. I designed it in the engineering class. It's a knife attached to a motor that automatically spreads butter on toast. Of course, it can spread jam too — or butter and jam. My teacher said it was very unique.

W: Sounds interesting!

M: Here it is. Watch how it is used.

W: Oh dear, is the butter supposed to be thrown onto the floor like that?

M: No. Perhaps I need to make some changes...

Text 7

W: Hey, are you feeling stressed about the upcoming exams?

M: Yeah, I certainly am. I don't know how to handle them. I just feel worried all the time.

W: Well, one thing that I find helps me is creating a study schedule. It keeps me organized and reduces last-minute revision.

M: That's a very good idea. I tend to always leave everything until the last minute. It's a bad habit.

W: Also, don't forget to take breaks. It's essential to recharge and prevent yourself from being too tired.

M: I tend to study for hours without breaks. Maybe that's why I get so stressed.

W: And lastly, get a good night's sleep before the exams. It can make a huge difference to your performance.

M: Yes, that's definitely something I need to do. Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a try.

Text 8

M: Hey Polly, how was your trip to Malta?

W: It wasn't just Malta. We started in Tunisia, then sailed across to Malta, and then ended up in Sicily, which is only 50 miles away.

M: But Malta was the main part of the holiday, wasn't it?

W: Yes, and it was incredible, better than I had expected. The scenery was breathtaking.

M: That sounds amazing. What did you do there?

W: Everything, probably, because it is such a small place.

M: So you saw the ancient ruins and the famous streets in Valletta?

W: We certainly did, and one thing we couldn't miss was the city of Mdina because the TV show Game of Thrones was filmed there.

M: Oh yes, I forgot about that. Any memorable experiences?

W: Well, I wish we could have spent longer in Tunisia exploring. Its culture is highly diverse.

M: How about Sicily? What was that like?

W: Well, I'd been to Italy before, so I knew what to expect. It was beautiful and the food was out of this world.

Text 9

W: Hello, and welcome to another edition of Ask the Writer, the show that puts your questions to members of the writing world. Today's guest is Jin Oka, who has been writing comics for more than twenty years. It's good to have you on the show, Jin.

M: It's good to be here.

W: Jin, you were originally from Japan and moved to America when you were ten years old. You began selling your story ideas to comic publishers when you were just thirteen, so you weren't in America that long before making an impression.

M: Yes, that's right. I had grown up reading Japanese comics but soon turned to Marvel and DC, which are both American comic publishers. When my dad got a job in New York, honestly, I was so excited, and I got into writing immediately.

W: Great stuff. Okay, let's go to our listeners' questions. The first one is from Chen who lives in Wuhan, China. She asks,“Who is your favorite superhero?”

M: Ooh, great question! I fell in love with characters like Spider-Man, Superman, and the Hulk from an early age, but the coolest superhero is probably Batman.

W: He's great, though Iron Man is my particular favorite! Keep listening, because after the break we'll ask Jin about his new social media channel for comic lovers. Don't go away!

Text 10

Good evening to the citizens of this nation. Each New Year's Eve, I stand before you to address the topics that concern our country. Today, I first want to discuss our aging population and then climate change. And lastly, I'll discuss this year's remarkable achievements both within our country and worldwide.In many countries, including ours, there are a growing number of senior citizens compared to the younger generation. This shift is because, in the past, we needed a larger population to build farms, factories, and cities. Like many of you, my family's older generations worked in agriculture and food production. However, as our economy becomes more advanced and our quality of life improves, people tend to have fewer children.So, it's our duty as a nation to support our elderly citizens who have made great contributions to the growth of our country. They worked hard, raised families, and helped build the foundation of our successful society. Our aging society represents our progress, but it also brings challenges. Last year, we created programs for quality health care. And now, we'll begin our programs for creating community buildings. There, we'll have volunteer programs where young people can help and support seniors. And together, we will build a better future for every generation, young and old.