[00:04.00]For Questions 6--10,you'll hear a monologue concerning Election Time.
[00:11.08]While you listen,
[00:13.95]complete the sentences or answer the questions.
[00:18.81]Use not more than 3 words for each answer.
[00:29.47]W:. . .So much for the comments of our critics, ladies and gentlemen.
[00:35.87]I'm sure that you will agree with me
[00:39.71]that the opposition have shown themselves to be completely lacking in ideas.
[00:45.95]It is very difficult,indeed,
[00:49.29]to imagine how they could hope to take responsibility
[00:54.33]for the running of the nation's affairs.
[00:58.59]No,let us turn,now,to the very real achievements of
[01:03.74]this government over the last five years.
[01:08.70]I think you'll agree with me,ladies and gentlemen,
[01:13.06]that it is a remarkable record of success.
[01:17.61]When we came to power,we inherited a severe crisis
[01:23.38]that had been created by the errors of the previous government.
[01:28.74]You will remember,only too well.
[01:32.50]Inflation was getting out of hand,
[01:36.65]with prices and wages
[01:40.41]going up by a yearly rate of more than fifteen percent.
[01:46.16]The balance of payments was in a disastrous state,
[01:51.23]with a trade deficit of three hundred million pounds.
[01:56.69]As a consequence,
[02:00.24]confidence in the British pound was at an all time low,
[02:05.60]and its buying power had been eroded by successive devaluations.
[02:12.05]We did not make easy promises,ladies and gentlemen,
[02:17.09]but we undertook to bring the situation under control
[02:22.37]and restore business confidence.
[02:26.52]I feel justified in saying to you today
[02:30.88]that we have won the first part of the battle.
[02:35.74]I don't think there'll be any disagreement on that.
[02:40.42]But we must remember that much work still remains to be done.
[02:46.58]And it is for this reason,ladies and gentlemen,
[02:51.15]that I stand before you today to ask you to continue your support
[02:57.63]for the government by giving us your votes in the coming elections.
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