Unit 5
John: Now, David. can I get this right: You've just completed a MSc course on which a
large proportion of the students were international students? Is that right?
David: That's it. Yes, I was in AERD - that's the department of Agricultural Extension and
Rural Development.
John: And how do you think the students from other countries gota!~ng on that course?
David: Pretty well.
John: What advice would you give to students, particularly international students, based
on your experience as a student here?
David: I think the most basic thing is to make use, full use, of the tutors and lecturers.
Maybe some of the overseas students are a bit too shy to take questions or prob1ems to
tutors.
John: What do you think they should do?
David: I think they should find out at the beginning of the course the times at which the tutor
is going to be available for tutorial appointments. and then make full use of them.
John: So. any problems. they should tell the tutor as soon as possible? Let's move on.
what about the amount of reading that you have to do as a university student?
David: Yes! It looks pretty daunting at first. with those long reading lists. Don't think that the
students have to read everything that's listed Try to find out which are the most important
items on the list - ask the lecturer or tutor if necessary. and then. if your time is limited. spend
it reading those books thoroughly.
John: OK, that's very helpful. David Thank you very much. David: No, not at all.
Unit 6
Let's look at some of the recent changes in the US job market and see if we can make some
predictions for future jobs.
A good way to begin is to look at the American workforce and how it is changing. The most
important change has been the shift from manufacturingjobs to service jobs.
Manufacturing jobs are jobs in which people make something or produce things. For
example, people produce cars. Service jobs are those in which workers provide services, 01
we may say. they do something, like washing people's cars. Generally, service jobs are
grouped into five categories:

Unit 8
Dr. Davis, a Dutch biologist is being interviewed about people's life expectancy in the future.
st
Many scientists predict that in the 21 century people will be living
into the incredible age of 130. What do you think about this?
Well. I quite agree with them. They have reasons to be confident about that.
Interviewer: What are the reasons?
Dr. Davis: In fact their preroction is based on research and on the fact that the
centenarian population is mushrooming as our general health improves.
Interviewer: Can you explain this further?
Dr. Davis: A century ago average life expectancy in Europe was 45. Today,
providing we look after ourselves, eat more healthily, cut down on things like butter, alcohol
and cigarettes, we can add nearly 35 years to that figure.
Interviewer: So these are the factors that help people live longer?
Dr. Davis: Yes. But the most important factor is the development in medical science.
Interviewer: What do you mean?
Dr. Davis: Nobody roes from old age, just from diseases that affect people when
they get older.
Interviewer: So scientists are trying to find cures for fatal diseases like cancer and
Aids?
Dr. Davis: Right. Nowadays, about 50% of cancers are curable, and I really believe
that within 30 years this will increase to 80%. And in ten years' time Aids will also be
brought under control. too.
Interviewer: That sounds interesting. What about living forever?
Dr. Davis: So far. eternal life is just science fiction. But with the advance of science,
it's not impossible.