Technical English Level 2
Skills Placement Test Audio Script
Track 1
A: Good morning, and welcome to the programme. Today I’m interviewing Michela Rossi, a young engineer who works for Centred Motors. We’ll be talking about her, and about her career in automotive technology. Good morning, Michela. And you are very young, aren’t you? How old are you, exactly?
B: Good morning, Jane. Well, since you ask, I’m 24. Is that too young to be an engineer?
A: No, no, not at all. The younger the better. And how long have you worked for Central Motors?
B: I’ve been here for about four years now.
A: I see. So what’s your job title? Inventor?
B: No, no. I’m a design engineer. I work in a team of designers and inventors.
A: And how many things have you invented?
В: I think, with the team, I’ve designed or invented five, no, six new products since I joined Central Motors.
A: That’s fantastic. So, what qualifications do you have?
В: I have a technician’s diploma from Toulouse Technical Institute and an engineering degree from the Polytechnic University of Turin.
A: Great. So, Michela, let’s talk a little about your future intentions. Are you planning to invent anything else in the near future?
B: Yes, I am. In fact I’ll be working on a new type of rear camera for cars. The camera will see obstructions and will warn the driver.
A: I see. And after that. What are your long-term plans for your career?
B: Ah, who knows? I’ll continue working here in Central Motors for several years, I hope. Then I may start my own design company.
A: Well Michela, it’s been very interesting talking to you. And good luck with your career.
B: Thanks very much.
Progress Test 1 Audio Script
Track 2
A: OK, the first thing you gotta do is bring the new wheel right up to the car. OK?
B: Yeah. I’ll get it now.
A: Good. Now, the air pressure in the tyre is probably wrong, so you need to adjust it. OK? Check the pressure, then either let some air out or pump some more air in.
B: Got it. Right, I’ve done it.
A: Good. Now before you start lifting up the car, you must loosen the wheel nuts a bit, so get your wheel gun and loosen the nuts. ... Done that?
B: Yeah, done it.
A: Right, now you’re going to use the jack, so first of all put the jack under the front of the car. OK?
B: Yeah.
A: And then raise the front of the car carefully. Have you done that?
A: Right, so now take the wheel off and put it down next to you on the ground.
B: Yeah. I’ve done that.
A: Good. Now get the new wheel, pick it up and put it on the car. Have you done that?
B: Yes.
A: Right. Now pick up your wheel gun again and tighten up the wheel nuts....
B: Aha. That’s done.
A: Good. Now lower the car ... and take the jack away.
B: Done it.
A: And of course finish off by taking the old wheel away. Just roll it away and put it over there.
B: OK.
Progress Test 2 Audio Script
Track 3
Phone call 1
[J = Julia; MW = Mr Willard]
J: Delta Electronics. This is Customer Service, Julia speaking. How can I help you?
MW: Oh, hello. Do you sell ePhones?
J: Yes, we do. Would you like a catalogue?
MW: Yes, I would. Thanks.
J: Fine. I’ll send you one right away. What's your name?
MW: Willard.
J: Sorry, could you repeat that, please?
J: How do you spell that?
MW: W-I-L-L-A-R-D.
J: And could I have your phone number, please?
MW: 0133 48655
Phone call 2
[J - Julia: M.J = Ms Jensen]
J: Delta Electronics. This is Customer Service, Julia speaking. How can 1 help you?
M.J: Hello. I’d like to order an ePhone, please.
J: Certainly. Which model would you like to order?
MJ: The classic one, please. The 12 GB model.
J: Fine. Could I have your name, please?
MJ: Jensen.
J: Did you say Johnson?
MJ: No, Jensen. J-E-N-S-E-N.
J: And could you give me your phone number, please?
MJ: 0288 34500
Phone call 3
[J = Julia; MW = Mr Walters]
MW: Hello. I’d like to cancel an order, please.
J: I see. Do you think you could tell me the model number, please?
MW: It was a classic ePhone, 12 GB. I ordered it by phone yesterday.
J: Right. So, do you want me to cancel it?
MW: Yes, please.
J: OK. And what’s your name, please?
MW: It's Walters.
J: Could you repeat that, please?
MW: Walters.
J: Thank you. And would you mind giving me your phone number, please?
MW: It’s 0987 38206.
Phone call 4
[J = Julia; MM = Ms Martinez]
MM: Fr, hello. I’d like some information about the ePhone, please.
J: Certainly. What would you like to know?
MM: Well, first of all, what’s the screen size?
J: Let’s see. Yes, it’s 88.9 millimetres.
MM: Oh, right. It’s quite large.
J: Yes. Would you like me to send you a specification table?
MM: Yes, I would. Thanks.
J: Could I have your name, please?
MM: Yes, my name is Martinez.
J: Sorry, did you say Martins?
MM: No, Martinez.
MM: Yes, it’s 9604 33887.
Phone call 5
[J = Julia; MB = Mr Brandt]
MB: Oh, hello. Yes, I bought a classic ePhone last week, and it doesn’t work.
J: Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. What is the problem, exactly?
MB: I can’t hear any sound.
J: Right. Shall I put you through to the service department?
MB: Yes, please.
J: OK, hold on. Could you give me your name, please?
MB: It’s Brandt.
J: Could you say that again, please?
MB: Brandt.
J: Thanks. And would you mind giving me your phone number, please?
MB: Sure. It’s 9977 00885.
Phone call 6
[J = Julia; MG - Ms Gray]
MG: Good morning. I wish to complain about a phone I bought from you.
J: Certainly. Would you mind telling me what the problem is?
MG: The phone doesn’t work. I can’t, make, any phone calls.
J: I’m sorry to hear that. Could you give me your name, please?
MG: Yes, my name is Gray.
J: Is that AY or EY?
MG: It’s GRAY.
J: And could you tell me your phone number, please?
B: Yes, it’s 3022 11816.
Progress Test 3 Audio Script
Track 4
A: Right, let’s brainstorm for a moment. Your diving partner is trapped under water. What do you need to do? Just come up with ideas, quickly, in any order.
B: Get his leg free from the wreckage, or rocks, or whatever.
C: We've gotta bring him up from the bottom of the sea to the surface.
D: You gotta get him OUT of the water.
A: Mm. Right, good. Any other ideas?
B: Well, you have to find him first. You need to locate him.
D: Yeah, you find him and then you’ve gol to mark his position. Use a buoy on the surface.
C: You should give him extra oxygen, more gas, if his own oxygen is low.
A: Good, you’re doing well. What else do you need to do?
D: Give him artificial respiration, if he’s not breathing.
C: When he’s on the surface of the sea, you have to make him float, make him buoyant.
B: When he’s on the surface, you need to tow him to safety, you know, pull him to a boat or something.
A: Yeah, this is good stuff. Anything else?
B: You may have to attract help at the surface. Shout or shine a light to other boats.
C: Take him to hospital.
D: Yeah, but give him first aid, if he needs it.
A: Great. OK, let’s look at these ideas again.
Progress Test 4 Audio Script
Track 5
Good morning, everyone. Today I’m going to talk about the Wave Energy Converter.
You’re probably wondering what a Wave Energy Converter is. So, let’s have a simple definition to start with. Very simply, a Wave Energy Converter is a system which converts the energy from sea waves into electrical power.
Before 1 talk about the system itself, let me tell you where it is located, because some systems are located on the surface of the sea, and some on the sea shore. But not this system. The Wave Energy Converter is fixed to the seabed.
OK, now let’s look at the main components. The Wave Energy Converter has five main components or parts. These arc: a very large flexible disc, a lever, a chamber which takes in sea water, a set of pistons, many sea water pipes, and of course a turbine on the land.
The main specifications of the system are as follows. The whole system on the seabed is 4.6 metres high and 20.4 metres long; the main pipe is 125 millimetres wide; the pressure of the water in the pipes is 7000 kilopascals, or 1000 psi, that’s pounds per square inch. The complete system can generate 100 kilowatts of electricity.
OK, that’s enough number-crunching. Let’s look at how the system works. Here’s a very simple account of the operation of the system. Let’s start with the sea. The sea wave oscillates. This oscillating motion pushes the disc down in a linear motion. The disc makes the lever oscillate. The oscillating lever makes the pistons move in a reciprocating motion. Then the pistons push sea water from the chamber through the pipe at high pressure. The high-pressure water then makes the turbine rotate. And of course this generates electricity.
So, that’s how it works. And of course this system has great benefits. The most important benefit is that wave energy is a renewable energy resource; and of course it uses no fossil fuels.
Progress Test 5 Audio Script
Track 6
Good afternoon everyone, and welcome. The aim of my talk today is to discuss the problem of earthquakes, the damage they cause buildings, and some solutions to this problem.
I’d like to begin by talking about what causes earthquakes. As you know, the tectonic plates on the Earth’s surface have been moving for millions of years, and they’re still moving. Sometimes this movement causes the surface to break. This break or fracture in the Earth’s crust is called a fault. When the rock breaks, there is a sudden release of energy. Shock waves spread out through and around the Earth in all directions, starting from the focus, or epicentre, of the earthquake. At the Earth’s surface the ground vibrates as the waves pass through it. This is what we call an earthquake.
And that brings me to the problem which earthquakes cause for buildings. The problem for buildings is that, during an earthquake, the ground moves in all directions.
It moves horizontally. It moves up and down. It rotates and it twists. All these movements affect buildings. But horizontal movement is the most damaging for a building. As you can see in the photograph, if a building moves too much from side to side the structure can collapse.
So, now let’s move on to talk about some solutions to this problem. There are three main solutions. The first one is strengthening buildings. We do this by adding some materials, or structure, to the building to make it stronger and help it to resist the sideways movement.
Progress Test 6 Audio Script
Track 7
[P = Presenter; M = Michela]
P: Hello and welcome to the show. This week, we’re
looking at new car safety systems, and in the studio we have an expert on car safety, Michela Rossi. Welcome, Michela. So, let’s talk first of all about the new cruise control safety system for cars. First of all, what’s the full name of the system?
M: Hello Jane, and thanks for having me on the programme. Well, it’s called the Smart Adaptive Cruise Control, or SACC.
P: And what’s it for? What does it do exactly?
M: Well, it’s a safety system, which maintains a safe distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you.
P: Why do you think we need this new system?
M: Well, you see, the statistics show that many road accidents are caused when the vehicle in front suddenly stops.
P: So, you expect this invention will prevent some of those accidents from happening?
M: Yes, that’s right.
P: And what technology or principle is this invention based on?
M: It makes use of laser technology, and the principle of radar. And of course it uses sensor techn...
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