Exercise 1: Listen to a podcast. For questions 1 – 6, choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
1. The podcast presenter thinks Central Park is _________.
A. the busiest place in the world
B. like a garden for New Yorkers
C. a good place to enjoy city life
2. Central Park is a good place to _________.
A. be alone
B. go shopping
C. keep fit
3. The two French girls that the presenter speaks to _________.
A. only have a few hours in New York
B. both want to spend all day in the park
C. don't want to do the same things
4. The 'Team Central Park' runner is _________.
A. training for a marathon
B. not going to do a marathon
C. doing a 5K fun run
5. The group of young people _________.
A. spend a lot of time in the park in summer
B. always bring a picnic
C. are not allowed to use skateboards
6. The group of young people _________.
A. watch people playing Frisbee
B. ride bikes fast through the park
C. enjoy a lot of different things in the park
Exercise 2. Now listen again and answer the questions.
1. Which sporting activities do New Yorkers do in Central Park?_______________________________________________________________
2. Apart from sports, what other things can you do there?_________________________________________________________________
3. Why did the French girls hire bicycles?
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Why isn't the 'Team Central Park' runner sure he can complete the marathon?__________________________________________________________________
5. Why do you have to be careful when you skateboard in Central Park
________________________________________________________________
ANSWER KEY
Exercise 1:
1. B 2. C 3. C 4. A 5. A 6. C
Exercise 2:
1. They come to walk, run, cycle, work out, train, climb and play football in Central Park.
2. You can go to a zoo, a theatre, a reservoir, places where you can eat.
3. They just have a few hours in Central Park, and they wanted to see as much of the park as possible.
4. Because he isn't very fit.
5. Because you have to use the bicycle paths on which some cyclist ride very fast through the park.
AUDIO SCRIPT (Recording 3.33)
Reporter: Good morning from Central Park in New York city. I can't believe I'm in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, and yet I can't hear any traffic noises. Pollution levels are low and the air quality is good. I can understand why New Yorkers say that Central Park is their backyard or garden and their escape from city life. Looking around, I'd say it's also their gym – it's where people come to walk, run, cycle, work out, train, climb and play football.
Central Park is huge! There are over ninety-three kilometres of pathways, twenty-six playing fields and twenty-one playgrounds for children, and when you need a rest, there are 9,000 benches to sit on. There's a zoo, a theatre, a skating rink, a reservoir, places to sail and swim, and plenty of places to eat – I could live here! It's a beautiful sunny morning, and I want to find out what people are doing here and how they use Central Park.
Hi! I see you're having a rest. Are these your bicycles?
Girl 1: No, we hired them. We just have a few hours in Central Park today, and we wanted to see as much of the park as possible.
Reporter: So you don't live in New York?
Girl 1: No, we're from France. We're on holiday. I'd like to spend longer in Central Park but Julie wants to go shopping.
Girl 2: Of course I do – you can't visit New York and not go shopping, right?
Reporter: No, I agree. Well, enjoy the rest of your stay. I can see a runner with 'Team Central Park' on his T-shirt. I want to find out more. Hi, can I ask you a few questions?
Man: Sure, go ahead.
Reporter: Are you training for something?
Man: Well yes, the New York City Marathon is in November. I don't know if I can do it because I'm not very fit, but I want to try.
Reporter: Oh wow, good luck with that.
Man: Thanks. I need all the luck I can get.
Reporter: Well, the marathon is twenty-six miles – that's way too much for me. Maybe I'll sign up for one of the 5K fun runs. I'm going to talk to a group of young people sitting on the grass over there. Hi!
Teen 1: Hi.
Reporter: Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
Teen 1: Er, no. Are you from our school?
Reporter: Haha, no, I'm recording a podcast about parks. You look very relaxed Do you come to Central Park a lot?
Teen 2: Yeah, we hang out here all the time in summer. This is Sheep's Meadow – it's a really good place for sitting on a blanket, reading a book, people-watching.
Reporter: So you guys hang out here all day?
Teen 2: Sometimes. We bring a picnic and we play Frisbee in the afternoon.
Reporter: I see some of you have skateboards. Is it okay to skate in the park?
Teen 3: Yeah, we have to use the bicycle paths, and then you have to be really careful because some cyclists ride very fast through the park.
Reporter: Yes, I've seen them. So what's your favourite thing in Central Park?
Teen 2: Mine is the Alice in Wonderland statue.
Teen 1: Oh yeah, I love that too. But I really like climbing to the top of the rocks and looking at the view.
Teen 3: Does anybody here like the zoo?
Teen 2: No, it's for kids.
Teen 3: I like the zoo.
Reporter: Well, thanks, guys. I'm going to see Alice in Wonderland. Catch you later!