Upper Intermediate
Achievement Test 1 Audio Script
E= Emma, M = Max
E: Well, that was an interesting meeting, wasn’t it?
M: How do you mean?
E: You know …
M: No. What?
E: Robert’s introduction to the team
M: Actually I thought he did rather well considering …
E: Considering?
M: Considering it was very obvious that everyone was checking him out to see what kind of guy he is, and don’t look at me as if you don’t know what I’m talking about because you were the worst.
E: Oh come on. That’s not fair. It’s just that he sounded a bit full of himself when I spoke to him on the phone last week. I know you can’t tell just from hearing someone’s voice especially as it was a bad line but it did sound as though he was talking down to me.
M: For goodness’ sake Emma, you’re so touchy. You always think people are patronising you when they’re not. He was probably just trying to make small talk. Anyway he seemed like a decent bloke to me.
E: Hmm, I can’t say I found him particularly friendly. He came across as a bit cold and distant.
M: Well he is the boss Emma. Honestly, the man can’t win. If he’s too friendly that’s wrong and if he isn’t friendly enough, you’re not happy either. I’d hate to be your boss.
E: Hm, I suppose I’m just naturally a bit suspicious. There’ve been so many changes here, Now sooner do you get used to being around someone, you know what they like and don’t like, then they’re moved on or up or away and you have to start again.
M: Put yourself in his shoes. It must be pretty nerve-racking having to chair such a big meeting on your first day. He might have been a bit reserved, but he seemed quite chatty when I bumped into him in the corridor.
E: Yeah, I guess. Anyway, has anyone else said anything about him?
M: You’re such a gossip. Stop it. Let’s get something to eat and talk about something else for a bit.
PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2011 Pearson Longman ELT
1
vir2alny