M: Wendy, I was wondering if you could help me get a job? I mean, since you're resourceful...

W: Why? I thought music was your life career. Is that because of that guitar player Tony? I remember you said you didn't get along with him.

M: No, not like that. I love playing in my jazz band, but I can't rely on it for a full-time salary. When the days are good, we get hired a lot to play at weddings, outdoor concerts and festivals. Then, once the cooler temperatures set in, we don't get that many jobs at all. Sometimes I can barely make ends meet.

Text 8

W: I need to talk to you about the situation in the office, Simon.

M: Oh, I know I should've kept my desk clean. Sorry, I...

W: That's not what I want to say. I mean the noise! We're supposed to do our preparation for the courses and grade the students' assignments in the office, but Professor Brian constantly has students coming in to get help with his research reports. I can't get focused on my work!

M: What do you think of that small room downstairs? We could change it into a meeting room for Professor Brian to use.

W: You mean the room used for storing supplies now? I thought the school said it would be changed into a little library.

M: Well, I don't know. Let's go and ask.

Text 9

W: My guest today is Tim Jones, who organizes an international summer course for young musicians. Tim, tell us all about it.

M: Well, I'm lucky to have such a great job. Basically, young musicians come from all over the world and learn to play together to have a concert tour. By the end of the eight-week course, they're really good, and hearing them play is what gives me most pleasure. Unfortunately, I don't get to know them all that well, as organizing every single small thing of the course keeps me busy.

W: So, how do you find the young musicians?

M: We advertise online. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 20 can complete the application form and e-mail it to us. We're not looking for perfect performance or the good-looking stars of tomorrow. But the course is in English, so a basic level of spoken language is necessary.

W: Where is the course held?

M: Mostly in a university during the summer holidays. They have halls for practicing, and plenty of bedrooms and dining rooms, which is a low cost for us. And of course, convenient transport is a must, so somewhere in the quiet countryside is no good, even though it is more spacious there.

Text 10

One destination that is becoming popular with Chinese tourists is Bali. It is a beautiful island of Indonesia. There is a rainy season that is perfect for swimming. One of the main attractions is Bali's diverse sea life. There are some creatures that don't exist anywhere else in the world. Visitors who don't know how to dive can take classes while they're on vacation here. The island is also home to several active volcanoes. Many scientific groups come to study them. Even though tourism is on the rise, most of the population still works in agriculture and the fishing industry. Bali also has many traditional artworks. Some popular products for sale include clothing with special designs, wood sculptures, and organic coffee. A great time to visit the island is during one of its many festivals. Since ancient times, the culture of Bali has had a lot of influence from not only Indian but also Chinese culture. Chinese New Year is widely celebrated by Indonesians who are of Chinese origin. The island of Bali has many ancient Chinese Buddhist temples that are especially good to visit during the holiday.