We suggest you do the vocabulary activity below before you listen. Then listen to the episode and do the first task to check your understanding. Finally, practise some vocabulary and grammar.

　　Match the words and phrases in the boxes to the definitions.

　　1. space

　　2. campaign

　　3. journalist

　　4. serious

　　5. banner

　　6. treat

　　7. regulars

　　8. interior design

　　Definitions:

　　a. important, not trivial

　　b. a long poster, usually made of cloth, with a slogan

　　c. reporter

　　d. the people who often go to a restaurant, café, shop, etc…

　　e. a planned series of events designed to change something

　　f. the amount of room in an area

　　g. the art of decorating the inside of a building such as a house or office

　　h. something special that you buy or make for someone

　　Audio script

　　Fadi:  Hello Tony! How are you? Tony:  Alright, I suppose. Fadi:  Good to hear you sounding so happy! Hey,   where is everyone? Tony:  Everyone who? Fadi:  You know, the regulars – Olivia, Sarah,    Harry, Magda... Tony:  Don’t know. They’ll probably come in    sooner or later. They’re always here. Fadi:  Hello! Bindyu:  Oh.  Er, hello. Fadi:  I haven’t seen you in here before. Bindyu:  No. I haven’t been in here before. Fadi:  That’s probably why then!   Bindyu:  Er, I don’t understand... Fadi:  Er, ok, well, never mind then. Listen, can I   get you a drink? Would you like a coffee or   something? Bindyu:  Erm, well, that’s very kind of you, but no   thanks. Fadi:  Go on! Have something! My treat! You can’t   sit here not eating or drinking anything. Bindyu:  Actually, I’m waiting for my boyfriend.  Fadi:  Oh. Late, is he? Bindyu:  Well, only a little bit... Fadi:  You can talk to me if he doesn’t show up! Harry:  Hello there! Fadi / Bindyu: Hi! Harry:  I see you two have already met each    other... Bindyu:  Oh no, not really... Fadi:  No, I was just being polite, y’know... Harry:  Sure!  Fadi, let me introduce Bindyu. Fadi:   Nice to meet you. Bindyu:  Nice to meet you. Harry:  Bindyu’s my girlfriend. Fadi:  Oh, er.  Great! How long have you been   together? Bindyu:  Oh, not long, only a couple of weeks. Fadi:  You didn’t tell me you had a new girlfriend,   Harry! Harry:  Well, I haven’t seen you for a few weeks. Fadi:  No, of course. I was visiting my family... so,   what’s happening here? Harry:  The big news is that they’re trying to close   the café! Fadi:  No! Harry:  Yes, and Olivia’s shop too. Fadi:  That’s terrible!  Why? Harry:  A big building company are building new   flats behind here. They want to knock down   the café and Olivia’s shop to make more   space. Fadi:  Oh no... What can we do to stop them? Harry:  Well, we’ve got a few ideas.  There’s a guy   who comes in here sometimes called    Carlos – he works for the builders. He might   help us. And Sarah and Olivia said they had   some ideas... Fadi:  We should start a campaign! Bindyu:  Good idea! I’m a journalist. I could write    something in the local newspaper.  Harry:  Erm, I thought you wrote for interior design   magazines... Bindyu:  Well, yes, I do, that’s true. But I know    somebody who works for the local     newspaper. And I want to do more serious   journalism... Fadi:  Sounds like a great idea! Good luck! I think   we should put a banner in the window of the   café... Harry:  A banner? Fadi:  Yeah, you know – a big sign that says    “Save Our Café!” or something like that... Olivia:  Hello all!   Fadi:  Hey!  Good to see you again!

　　Olivia:  Yeah... you too!  How’s it going? Fadi:  Great – I’m going to put a banner in the    café window – “Save Our Café!” Olivia:  Good idea... can you save my shop too? Fadi:  Let’s hope so!  Bindyu’s going to write an   article in the local newspaper... Olivia:  Bindyu? Bindyu:  Hello! I’m Bindyu... I’m Harry’s girlfriend...   I’m a journalist. Olivia:  OK, great, nice to meet you!

　　Carlos:  Hi! Olivia:  Here’s Carlos!  He’s going to help us too! Carlos:  Well, I don’t know, I’d like to help, but I’m   not sure what I can do... Harry:  You make food for the builders, don’t you? Carlos:  Yes, I do. Olivia:  You could put poison in it! Carlos:  Erm, well, no, I really don’t think... Olivia:  Only joking! Carlos:  I was looking for Sarah – is she here? Olivia:  No, I think she’s coming in with Magda    later... why? Carlos:  Oh, no reason... I just wanted to see her... Olivia:  I see... oh look, here they are now! Magda / Sarah: Hello everyone! All:   Hi! Sarah:  Hi Carlos! Good to see you again! Carlos:  Hi! Sarah:  Listen everybody, Magda’s got some good   news! Magda:  Yes – I got my master’s degree with a    distinction! All:   Wow! Well done! Harry:  So you get a well-paid, full-time job with the   architects! Magda:  Yes I do! Sarah:  Which means we can afford to stay in our   expensive flat... Magda:  There’s only one problem, though... Olivia:  Oh? What’s that? Magda:  I’m not really sure how to tell you this... Olivia:  Go on! Magda:  Well, the architects I work for... Harry:  Yeah? Go on! Magda:  They have a big new project... Fadi:  Sounds interesting... Magda:  And they want me to work on it... Harry:  Even better... Magda:  Well, not really – you see, the project they   want me to work on... Olivia:  Yes? Magda:  It’s the new luxury flats... the building    here...the people who want to close the    café and your shop!

　　Comprehension Task

　　Select what’s correct

　　Listen to the episode and choose the correct words.

　　1. Bindyu is Fadi’s / Harry’s girlfriend.

　　2. Fadi has been visiting his family / girlfriend.

　　3. Fadi suggests starting a campaign / demonstration.

　　4. Bindyu is an editor / a journalist.

　　5. Sarah is pleased / annoyed to see Carlos.

　　6. Magda / Olivia has got a distinction in her degree.

　　Vocabulary Task

　　Match up

　　Match the words with a word from the box to make eight common expressions that were used in the recording.

　　there     joking     really      idea     mind     treat       course     thanks

　　1. Never  _______

　　2. My  _______

　　3. No  _______

　　4. Hello  _______

　　5. Not  _______

　　6. Of  _______

　　7. Only        _______

　　8. Good _______

　　Grammar Task

　　Gap Fill

　　Hint! Use these prepositions:

　　in     with     of     to     down     for

　　Fill the gaps in the sentences from the recording.

　　1. I haven’t seen you ________ here before.

　　2. I’m waiting ________ my boyfriend.

　　3. That’s very kind ________ you.

　　4. They want to knock ________ the café.

　　5. I know somebody who works ________ the local newspaper.

　　6. I’m going to put a banner ________ the café window.

　　7. You make food ________ the builders, don’t you?

　　8. Nice ________ meet you!

　　9. I was looking ________ Sarah – is she here?

　　10. I got my master’s degree ________ a distinction.

　　Answers

　　Before you listen: 1 – f, 2 – e, 3 – c, 4 – d, 5 – b, 6 – h, 7 – d, 8 – g

　　Grammar Task: 1 – in, 2 – for, 3 – of, 4 – down, 5 – for, 6 – in, 7 – for, 8 – to, 9 – for, 10 – with

　　Vocabulary Task: 1 – Never mind, 2 – My treat, 3 – No thanks, 4 – Hello there, 5 – Not really, 6 – Of course, 7 – Only joking, 8 – Good idea

　　Comprehension Task: 1 – Harry’s, 2 – family, 3 – campaign, 4 – journalist, 5 – pleased, 6 – Magda