Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.
Preparation
Transcript
Dave: Jean, hi!
Jean: Hi, Dave. How are you?
Dave: Good, good.
Jean: Wait a second, I'm not calling you in Canada, right? You're back now, aren't you?
Dave: Yeah, I got back two days ago.
Jean: Oh good, phew. Because I wouldn't want to be calling you long distance without realising it and suddenly ...
Dave: You've spent a fortune on a long-distance call. No, I know, it's OK. I actually wouldn't answer the phone while I was over there if I saw the call was coming from England. But no worries, we're in the same country now.
Jean: Yeah. So, how was the trip? Did you meet your long-lost uncle?
Dave: I did, actually. It was very good. I flew to Toronto and stayed there for a few days. At first I was really worried about my accommodation because I kept reading these appalling stories about rental flats going all wrong.
Jean: Oh, was it one of those?
Dave: Yeah.
Jean: My friend had a disastrous experience in Barcelona with one of them. The place didn't look anything like the photos, and all the neighbours hated that there was a holiday flat in their building. Awkward situation. Urgh.
Dave: Right. So, as I was saying, I was really worried because I heard these stories. And at first I couldn't find the place. Turns out I was in the wrong building. It was next door, and on the top floor, and … wow. Jean, this place was fabulous! Really spacious, with these floor-to-ceiling windows and the most scenic views of the city. I could see the lake and the whole city skyline and skyscrapers from my bedroom. I had to pinch myself to prove I wasn't dreaming.
Jean: Sounds pretty cool. So, what's it like? The city, I mean. I've always wanted to go to Canada.
Dave: It's nice. I mean, it's another big, vibrant, modern city. But it's really clean, and there's lots of parks. One of the things I liked was the multiculturalism. We visited Chinatown, Little Italy, Greektown, Little India … umm, I can't remember the others but it was sort of a new area every three or four blocks, you know?
Jean: Hey, is it true that there's a whole part of the city that's underground? I read that somewhere about Toronto, or saw it on some TV show.
Dave: It's true! I asked about that. They call it the PATH. There's, like, almost 30 kilometres of restaurants, shops, cinemas and stuff all underground. In the middle of the downtown area.
Jean: Amazing!
Dave: Yeah, but actually once you're down there it's not that noticeable. There's actually a lot of natural light. I forgot we were underground. It's mostly useful to get out of the cold weather.
Jean: What temperature was it while you were there?
Dave: It was still only November, but it was getting cold. We had at least a day where it was less than zero. My uncle told me that in January and February it can go down to 20 below zero.
Jean: Oh, wow. I think I'd die!
Dave: Yeah, and the worst thing was what they call the 'wind-chill' factor. So they say the temperature is zero degrees, but minus eight with the wind chill. So it feels like minus eight. And my uncle said the wind-chill factor can go down to minus 40.
Jean: Stop it! You're making me feel cold just thinking about it. So, how was meeting your uncle? The famous Uncle George.
Dave: That was great too. He lives outside of Toronto, in a cottage by a lake. Really tranquil and unspoiled nature.
Jean: I'm dying to see photos. You want to meet up soon? Or are you too jet lagged still?
Dave: Yeah, I'm actually free tomorrow if you like.
Hello everyone, my name is Melissa.
I recently returned from a trip to Chile, where I had the opportunity to explore the southern part of the country, including cities like Villarrica and Pucón. I was genuinely amazed by the breathtaking landscapes—lush vegetation and stunning lakes everywhere. The architecture of the cabins and the overall aesthetic of the cities gave off a charming European vibe.
The only drawback I’d mention is that Chile isn’t the most affordable destination for tourists, so it’s something to consider when planning a trip.
Hello, my name is Anna, and my most recent trip was to Turkey.
I highly recommend visiting the picturesque village of Ölüdeniz, located near Fethiye. There, you can enjoy hiking along the Lycian Way, paragliding from Baba Dağ mountain, and exploring the stunning Butterfly Valley. Additionally, be sure to visit the Fethiye fish market, where you can savor a variety of delicious dishes.
Hello everyone!
I'm from Ukraine and I'm a refugee in France now.
More precisely in the south of France as it is a big country which possesses many different climatic zones.
In Provence there is a desert conditions and the main agriculture species is an olive tree. Because it is incredibly hardy and resistant to drought.
But even now in winter many herbs and bushes thrive, although there is still no amazing smell of spring flowering.
Many histical places of Roman architecture and ancient ruins attract tourists from all over the world.
But all kinds of accommodation, siteseeng and the meals are very expensive. So that many people prefere to come by minivans, for which there are enough parking lots.
CAN WE DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO?
Hello HIMANI IDAANT,
To download the audio file, right-click on the player (the part you use to play and pause the audio) and choose 'Save as...'.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
My last trip was to Thailand. At the end of it I spent 4 days in Bangkok.
Such an amazing city, full of different activities, places and cultures. Walking in Benchakitti Park we enjoyed the piece and calmness. Then moved to China strolling the streets of China town. Spent several hours shopping in Chatuchak market. You can literaly find anything there. The opportunity to get scenic views from the top of the highest skyscraper should not be missed as well. And street food...The Michelin Guide has special edition about Bangkok street food restaurants. Don't hesitate to visit as many as possible. Dishes are delicious and often extremely cheap.
The last place that I traveled was san diego, Anaheim and Los Ángeles, I recommend it 100%, the persons, the environment, the lifestyle they have there, is just of another planet compairing to México.
I'm wondering whether it's correct way to say '' there's lots of parks...'' Appreciate it.
Hello jbeetea10,
It is non-standard - the grammatically standard form would be 'there are lots of (a lot of / many) parks' as the verb should agree with the following noun, which is plural. However, when speaking informally a lot of native speakers use this kind of non-standard form. My advice would be that it's fine to say this in an informal context but I wouldn't put it in writing or use it in a more formal setting when I'm trying to make a good impression.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
The last place I visited was the Guadeloupe Island in the Carribbean, I would recommend it because it was so beautiful and the weather was nice. People were so relaxed and I loved the ambiance. The food was good too!