Task 1: Listen and Select
Announcer: We apologise to passengers waiting for the 09:42 service to Manchester Piccadilly. This train has been delayed by approximately 25 minutes due to a signalling fault outside Birmingham New Street. Updated departure time is now 10:07. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Receptionist: Hello, this is a message for Mr. Hassan from Greendale Dental Practice. We're calling to confirm your appointment on Thursday the 20th at 2:30 pm with Dr. Williams. Please note that we ask patients to arrive ten minutes early to complete a short health questionnaire. If you need to reschedule, please call us by Tuesday morning. Thank you.
Man: Have you heard anything about the restructuring? There are rumours that two whole departments are being merged.
Woman: I spoke to HR this morning — she said an announcement will go out before the end of the week, but she couldn't say more than that.
Man: I just hope it doesn't affect our team. We're already stretched as it is.
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Student: I wanted to ask about the deadline extension for the end-of-term assignment. I've been unwell and I'm worried I won't be able to submit on time.
Administrator: You'll need to submit a medical certificate and a completed Mitigating Circumstances form. If approved, you'd normally receive a two-week extension. The forms are available on the student portal.
Student: And how long does the decision usually take?
Administrator: Generally three to five working days from receipt of the completed documentation.
Forecaster: And now the outlook for the weekend. Saturday will start dry with some early morning cloud, but expect sunny spells to develop through the afternoon, particularly in the south. Temperatures will reach a high of 19 degrees. Sunday, however, tells a different story — a band of rain will move in from the west overnight, bringing persistent showers throughout the day. Temperatures will drop to around 13 degrees. So if you're planning outdoor activities, Saturday is definitely your better option.
Anna: Are you still coming to the exhibition on Saturday? The one at the Modern Art Gallery?
Ben: I'd planned to, but I just found out my sister's flying in from Dubai. I haven't seen her in eight months, so I feel like I should be there to meet her.
Anna: Of course, that's completely understandable. We could always go the following weekend — it runs until the 30th.
Ben: That would be perfect. Sorry for the last-minute change.
Task 2: Extended Listening
Host: Dr. Castellano, your new book argues that cities around the world are facing a crisis. Can you summarise what you mean by that?
Dr. Castellano: Certainly. The fundamental problem is that most of our major cities were designed — if you can call it that — for a world that no longer exists. The infrastructure was built for far smaller populations, mostly before the widespread ownership of cars, and long before anyone imagined the impact of climate change. As a result, we're seeing systems that are simply overwhelmed.
Host: What systems in particular are you referring to?
Dr. Castellano: Transport is the most obvious — the congestion in cities like Jakarta, São Paulo, and Lagos is not just an inconvenience; it has measurable effects on productivity, air quality, and mental health. But it's also about water infrastructure, energy grids, and housing. The demand in all of these areas has outgrown what cities were built to handle.
Host: Your book focuses quite heavily on what you call 'fifteen-minute cities.' Can you explain that concept?
Dr. Castellano: The idea is relatively simple: you design — or redesign — urban areas so that residents can reach everything they need on a daily basis within a fifteen-minute walk or cycle. That means shops, schools, parks, healthcare, workplaces. Paris has been perhaps the most high-profile attempt to implement this model, with Mayor Hidalgo making it a central policy since around 2020.
Host: Has it been successful?
Dr. Castellano: The results are encouraging but mixed. Cycling infrastructure has expanded dramatically, and residents report feeling that their neighbourhoods are more liveable. But some critics argue that the model works well in wealthier central districts and less well in the suburbs, where the density of services is much lower. It's not a silver bullet.
Host: What role does technology play in the cities of the future?
Dr. Castellano: It's significant, but I'd caution against seeing it as a solution in itself. Smart sensors can help manage traffic flow and reduce energy consumption. Data can help city planners make much better informed decisions. But technology without good governance and political will tends to make existing inequalities worse, not better. The most successful smart city projects I've seen always put community needs first and use technology as a tool, rather than an end in itself.
Host: Finally — what would you say to someone who is pessimistic about the future of cities?
Dr. Castellano: I'd say there is genuine cause for optimism, but it requires urgent action. Cities that have committed to long-term, bold planning — places like Singapore, Copenhagen, and Medellín — have transformed dramatically within a generation. The lesson is that change is possible, but it demands political courage and a willingness to think beyond the next election cycle.