Now listen
again while you
check the audio transcription.
Then check
the answers
below.
SPEAKER 1 (LAWYER): I suspect that it's already fairly common practice for people going
along to aerobics and keep–fit classes and suchlike to sign something
saying that the organisers will not be liable for damage for permanent injury,
etc. But whether such documents are legally binding on either party has
yet to be seen. There is already one case going through the courts now of a
middle-aged man who enrolled in such a course and suffered a heart
attack during the first session. He didn't die, but has been ill since, and he
and his wife are claiming against the school...
SPEAKER 2 (SOCIOLOGIST): What I find so interesting is this sudden surge in the past few
years for people um people of all ages, from... well, I mean, after
school-leaving age... from 20 to 80 to keep fit. More and more people are going
jogging, swimming regularly, taking up tennis, and so on. And um
nowhere is this more noticeable than in the numbers of mainly women going to
keep–fit or aerobics classes. Cindy Gilbert's classes, for example,
grew from one small class of twelve to a staggering 7,000 participants in 70-odd
halls in and around London. This is a clear example of a major
change in society itself, and is worthy of study to try to answer questions
like: Is society coming to terms with increased leisure time? Or is this
perhaps only a strange temporary trend?
SPEAKER 3 (BUSINESSMAN): One in two of our leading products were certainly in decline, and
we were in danger of having to cut back our staff, until there was
this new wave of interest in sport and keep-fit. The special gear, kit and
clothes we now produce for this market has meant that we have actually
increased production and have taken on more staff than we had before. At the
moment there is a boom in equipment for the keep-fit movement, and
we can hardly keep up with demand. We just hope it continues...
SPEAKER 4 (DOCTOR): I am not myself an advocate of dieting. What I recommend to patients
often is a change in their way of life, so that they try to get more
exercise and balance that with a good varied diet – plenty of vegetables,
roughage, fruit and so on. Cut right down on alcohol and try to stop smoking,
if they smoke. Of course, some then come back to me with pulled muscles,
sprained ankles and the like, but er these are simple things to deal with...
SPEAKER 5 (ARTS COUNSELLOR): While we're talking about a renewed interest in keep-fit and
aerobics, we mustn't forget too there's also been a rise in the
number of young people taking up gymnastics quite seriously. And this must soon
begin to be reflected in a renewed interest in ballet. At least, I hope
it will. Obviously, my own concern is with ballet, opera and music, but
keep-fit, aerobics, gymnastics and ballet all have something in common.
SPEAKER 6 (TOWN PLANNER): Not so many years ago, a person in my position would have been
more concerned with roads, parks, the development of housing
estates and so on, but we are now having to think a great deal more about
amenities – the provision of sports complexes, landscaping, and so on. My
predecessors made some terrible mistakes, which I hope we have learned from
now...
For questions 1-6 choose the speaker's profession.
