English Listening B2 Episode 11 - Track 05
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
TRACK 5
Reporter : I’m here on the grounds of the University of South Norwood, on a day that many of the students here will remember (1)
– graduation day.
I took the chance to speak to some of them today about this – you could maybe call it a (2)
.
Reporter : OK, so I’m here with Carl. How are you feeling today?
Carl : Pretty happy! It’s not been easy. I had to work really hard this summer, a lot of revision, a lot of time spent in the library or in my room with a pile of books in front of me. It was all (3)
, really.
Reporter : Was it worth it?
Carl : Oh, yeah, definitely. I feel great today. All the hard work paid off, I suppose. It’s really been a struggle at times – I’m a full-time student, or I was, but I also had to work in a restaurant for 20 hours a week (4)
. So it was a challenge sometimes. But today, being here with my family and getting my diploma – it’s great, and it’s why (5)
.
Reporter : Great, well, congratulations!
Carl : Thank you.
Reporter : So, Samantha, are you happy today?
Samantha : Of course! It means I’ve finished university now and (6)
!
Reporter : So how has it been? It must have been a lot of work for you to get through.
Samantha : Well, yeah, I suppose. It’s been tricky sometimes, but it’s never been a struggle. I found most parts of my course (7)
. I always did quite well in my exams, so (8)
.
The only thing was that I had to do my last three exams in two days – (9)
. But in the end, you just do it – you’re forced to really, (10)
.
Reporter : Enjoy your day.
Samantha : Thanks.
Reporter : OK, so we’re going to speak to Luke. How are you feeling?
Luke : OK, I suppose. Yeah, pretty good.
Reporter : You’re not happy that you’re graduating today?
Luke : Yeah, I am happy. But I’m a bit disappointed as well. I didn’t get the grade I was hoping for, so today, well, I’m happy, but I’m also (11)
, I suppose.
Reporter : Sorry to hear that. Do you want to tell us what went wrong?
Luke : I don’t know really. In my last two exams, I just didn’t get very good marks, and that influenced my final grade (12)
.
I had a really bad cold in the week before those last two exams, so (13)
. But unless you’re seriously ill on the day of the exam itself, the university doesn’t take things like that (14)
.
I don’t think it’s right because it probably had an effect on my performance (15)
.
Reporter : Well, I hope you enjoy your day despite your disappointment.
Luke : Thanks.
Reporter : So, Jane, how are you feeling right now?
Jane : I feel great! And relieved! It means (16)
.
Reporter : What kinds of things will you remember about your time at university?
Jane : Mainly being tired, I think! It’s been a (17)
. As you can probably tell, I’m a bit older than most of the students graduating today. I was 40 when (18)
. N one of my friends had ever gone to university, nobody in my family. So that really stretched me, really challenged me. But that’s also why I wanted to do it.
Reporter: And what’s the future for you now? Have you found a job yet?
Jane: Well, I already had a job – I never gave it up. But hopefully, having a degree will open up (19)
for me at work. I was a bit stuck before, I think.
Reporter: Thanks, and best of luck.
Jane: Thanks.
