Transcript for test 33

Section 1

Police Station: Good morning! Bumbly police station, how can I help you?

Helen: Yes, I need to report a stolen bag.

Police Station: Just a moment and I'll put you through to lost and stolen property.

Policeman: Hello Sergeant road speaking, how can I help you?

Helen: Yes, hello I'd like to report a stolen bag.

Policeman: Hmm… okay a stolen bag! uh... we've been getting a lot of these lately. I'll need to
get some details let's see. When was the last time you had your bag?

Helen: Well, about two hours ago. I just can't believe this has happened. I take it everywhere with
me. It was given to me as a graduation present. I'm just so upset.

Policeman: Yes, I know. It's very frustrating.

Helen: It seems like I put it down for a second and then it was gone.

Policeman: Yes, look, the good news is that most of the stolen bags in our area are found
usually without the money. So I’d be surprised if you don't get it back later. Tell me what does
the bag look like?

Helen: Well it's dark blue, cylindrical, it has two carry handles either side of a zipper on top. Um...
the zipper actually runs the length of the bag. It's a vitoli bag.

Policeman: Okay, are there any other identifying marks on the bag? Things that would be unique
to it,name tags, scuff marks that kind of thing.

Helen: Well, not really, there are a couple of scratches in the top left corner on one side of the
bag near the handle and I think another one in the opposite corner.

Policeman: Okay. Scratches on opposite corners. Now where were you when the bag went
missing?

Helen: Well, I remember the time. It was a quarter past 12. Oh no, actually it was a bit after that,
more like 12.25 because I was supposed to meet one of my friends for lunch at 12: 30. Anyway I
was standing outside the supermarket when all of a sudden, a group of teenagers came walking
past. They must have been heading towards the cinema. They seemed to be in a hurry and
probably late for the movie. So, I stepped aside to let them by. When they'd passed by, I reached
down to pick up my bag and it was gone.

Policeman: I see, now can you remember the contents of the bag?

Helen: Yes, um... let's see my passport and some traveller's checks. Fortunately I was carrying
my camera and I had my wallet in my pocket. They're the main valuable things.

Policeman: Okay, anything else at all ?

Helen: Let's see, no I think that was it. Oh a few pins. But that's all really as I say nothing of real
value.

Policeman: Okay I'm going to have to get your details. Are you here on holiday?

Helen: Yes as a matter of fact I am. I'm visiting from Canada. I've been here for three weeks
already but I'll be here for another month.

Policeman: Now.. have you contacted your credit card company?

Helen: Yes, I did that immediately. They were very helpful. I still can't believe this could happen
to me and while I'm supposed to be enjoying myself on holiday.

Policeman: Yes, it's a real disappointment whether you're on holiday or not. Your thieves strike
when you're least expected . Anyway I need to take down your particulars, what's your name
then?

Helen: Yes, uh my name is Helen Ready. That's R-E-A-D-Y. My address is, well, the place where
I'm staying here is The Palms, unit 14, 75 paradise avenue.

Policeman: Okay, I may need your home address in canada but I'll get that more towards the
time you're going to leave. Uh... What about the telephone, what number will I be able to reach
you on?

Helen: Yes, it's four double five nine one double three two.

Policeman: Okay, four double five nine one double three two and how much do you think the bag
and contents are worth?

Helen: Well, it's not really a big cost, probably only a hundred dollars, it's the inconvenience of it
all.
Policeman: I understand, look we have a lot of lost or stolen property recovered daily. Come by
the station tomorrow and have a look. As I said there's a high chance that we'll get the bag back.
Your passport at the very least.

Helen: Okay thanks for your help. See you tomorrow then. Bye.

Section 2

The day is coming so my grandfather used to say when people are going to pay for water. Well,
that day has come. Bottled water, how did it come about? Why are people prepared to pay for
something that up until only recently has been completely free? With me in the studio is Bill
Gilroy, founder of UK water starters who promises to shed some light on this topic, welcome
Bill.

Thank you and hello everyone. I dare say that not many of your listeners will be aware of this,
but the bottled water market in the UK was actually first established a long time before your
grandfather. In fact, it was established almost two centuries ago when the beneficial properties
of mineral and spring water were recognized. The idea of bottled water meant that people would
benefit from it without having to actually travel to the particular spring or well. We humans need
water. The human body is actually two-thirds water, yes, we're about 66% water and that water
must be continuously replaced. In fact, on average we lose one third of a liter of water on a daily
basis just through normal breathing. Nutritionists say we need to drink at least two litres of
water a day. This need for water for the body ensures the bottled water industry will be around
for a long time.

Now historically the bottled water market gradually developed. It was well known in the early
19th century that bottled water was beneficial. But during the mid 19th century, the artificial
mineral water market became a commercial viability for many entrepreneurs. Later on that
century, this led to the emergence of the soft drink market as we know it today which of course
is a very large and sophisticated market. Underlying the move from the artificial mineral water to
soft drinks was a fundamental change in the use of the product.

Whilst in the early days mineral waters were drunk for their medicinal values, soft drinks are of
course drunk primarily for their ability to refresh and to be enjoyed. As a result of this move,
bottled mineral water without any sweetening agents added steadily became unfashionable and
the market by the 1960s had declined to an almost non-existent level in the UK. The move
during the 1960s and to a lesser extent the 1970s towards more processed foods impacted
upon the bottled water market and subsequently sales continued to decline. Of course, today in
the 21st century this is not the case. But interestingly in the mid 1980s an unexpected revolution
moved the bottled water market forward with the introduction of a new recyclable plastic
material that was used worldwide. This new lighter stronger material improved packaging and
handling and was also visually appealing. It was during this time that bottled water cells began
to improve.

So Bill, tell us what's led to the present-day popularity of bottled water?

Well as your listeners would know, bottled water in recent times has become very popular again.
Some of the factors which have led to a resurgence of interest in bottled water are related to the
growing use of wine alternatives with many main meals served in restaurants. There is a
growing number of people who simply don't like wine. Instead they prefer bottled waters in one
form or another. Although grandpa used to mutter about people paying for water, price has
never really played a part because people expect to pay a little extra when dining out. In
addition, with air travel becoming less expensive, huge numbers of people started to travel
abroad to places where bottled water was readily available and often considered the only safe
water to drink.

Of course there are some who bring their own water from home, but as you know water is
extremely heavy to carry in large quantities. In the early days the catering and restaurant
markets used to be the main purchases of bottled water. Before long however supermarkets
began to capitalize on in-home consumption and the UK bottlers began local manufacturing.
The market today in total consumes in the region of 50 million liters which equates to about 30
million pounds sterling. Of course, part of this total goes through the catering markets. The
take-home sector comprising both corner stores and the major supermarkets account for the
other half.

Section 3

Emily: So Brian, how have you been doing with your reading on penguins?

Brian: Not too bad Emily and you?

Emily: Yeah. Okay I hadn't realized there were so many differences between the various types of
penguin.

Brian: No, nor had I. Anyway I started with the Gentoo.

Emily: And made with a rock hopper?

Brian: And it turns out they're rather cautious.

Emily: Not scared of swimming I trust.

Emily: I don't think so, the rockhopper will have a quick look if it's somewhere they haven't
dropped down before, but they don't seem timid. In fact they're pretty determined and if they're
trying to get up somewhere they grip onto the stones with their slightly hooked bills, as well as
their nails when the surface gets very steep. Nothing stops them.

Brian: Interesting, because the other type I looked into the magellanic, tend to stick to the beach
rather than going inland. So, you see them walking along with their flippers at their sides or a bit
forward. If they come across something they haven't seen before they their head first to one
side then the other peering out of each eye in turn, as if they don't quite believe anything until
they've double checked it and then when they call to each other about anything they arch their
back strangely first before making a very loud noise indeed.

Emily: Because the king penguin stands very upright when it calls and they have the longest
flippers which they hold towards the ground as if they're worried about falling over. But it's quite
dignified too. I think they're my favorite type.

Brian: Aha

Emily: Anyway there are some things that they all do the same, aren't they?

Brian: Oh yes! Eating fish for example.

Emily: Well of course, but sleeping say

Brian: Yes occasionally you might see one stretched out flat in the sun for a snooze.

Emily: But normally you see them standing at night even though they sound asleep.

Brian: It seems odd. Doesn't it? And then they're all liable to get aggressive if they feel invaded,
aren't they?

Emily: Yeah, not quite so sweet then. And with the rock hopper.

Brian: The one with the distinctive black and yellow feathers on its head?

Emily: That's the one. If it gets annoyed about something then the black feathers on the head
point upwards and the yellow feathers stick out. It all makes it look bigger or tougher.
Brian: I wonder how often they get annoyed.

Emily: Well, I don't know about being annoyed, but they've plenty to get frightened of. They've
got predators in the water and on land. Well in the sky anyway.

Brian: Oh yes, the great skewer bird. It's after the eggs.

Emily: So the penguins have to keep a careful watch for the skewer all the time, especially when
they're nesting.

Brian: They can spot the white patches in its wings, can't they? As one flies over.

Emily: Yes and then they sit very closely on the eggs to protect them.

Brian: Not an easy life really .

Emily: No, so what else have we found out?

Brian: Well, I was interested to see that although they nest individually they always go into the
sea together in large numbers.

Emily: Even though it might make them more obvious to predators.

Brian: That's the price to pay for the best way to find food. It means a bigger catch from each
trip.

Emily: I see, I watched a video too just showing them on the beach and I was struck by how
calm they seem to be. I thought they might have looked frightened.

Brian: Perhaps it's because there are so many of them. Maybe that gives them a sense of
security. In fact all the types have a social nature.

Emily: I guess that's why we humans find them so fascinating to observe.

Brian: I guess so. So shall we start to put all our notes together?

Section 4

Now a key issue in the ability of cities to grow, is the question of housing. However quality is as
important as quantity here, but that isn't to say that this is easy to guarantee and the
development or at least the spread of many modern cities is marked by the sprawl of slum or
shanty town housing. Governments are of course keen to address this but the tendency to
demolish them has often proved disastrous as it doesn't solve the problem, unless satisfactory
replacements are ready for the inhabitants. What I'm saying is that suitable housing projects
have to be lined up to accommodate these otherwise displaced people and suitable is the key
word here all too frequently, there isn't real consultation only token gestures.

If the residents aren't fully involved they are unlikely to find the resulting development
appropriate to their needs. People need to feel reasonably independent and strategies for
providing accommodation schemes work much better, if an approach rooted in self-help is
applied. People value things more when they have been part of bringing them into being. At the
same time residents can't do everything for themselves or not well enough anyway and so
governments need to accept that a number of services will always have to be laid on.These
would include electricity and water and so on.

From the other side residents need to feel able to commit. Migrants are essential to the growth
of cities bringing rapid increases in population, skills and income. But they need to have a sense
of security, of long-term commitment to the city, if they are to invest money in building or buying
houses. Developing this sense of commitment isn't straightforward and it takes time. It's
complex and involves several factors. People need to feel they belong and unfortunately too
many governments fail to appreciate that community values are a crucial component of that.
Sadly there are too many housing schemes which don't work. People drift away or the whole
place becomes crime written. It's easy to be wise after the event but it is worrying that a lot of
housing is put up without analysis having been carried out to examine how much employment is
going to be available for people.

But I don't want to labour the negatives too hard. Such difficulties as there are challenges and
challenges that can be and often are overcome and cities are I believe a good thing.
Urbanization the process of developing cities and the societies that comprise them. May not be
everyone's dream, but it has a huge impact on the economy and also benefits each and every
person's freedom. Furthermore the sheer volume of people means that work can be differently
distributed. In villages people need to be multi-skilled in order to be autonomous, but in cities
you can see the evolution of a variety of specialist activities and this means people live in a
more sophisticated way.

It's not only tangible phenomena. There are all sorts of other equally important benefits too.
Residing in cities brings us face to face with many different ways of thinking or going about
things and this increases our degree of understanding, something which is hard to measure in
scientific terms but which surely makes better people of us all. Right well now I’d like to turn our
attention to the suburbs.