There are now more than 100,000 families living in temporary accommodation such as

hostels. The government recently announced plans to halve the number of these families in the

next four years.

These figures do not include rough sleepers, people who for various reasons such as domestic violence, family breakdown or unemployment have no money and nowhere to go so find themselves sleeping on the streets. Last year the number of people sleeping rough in England counted on anyone night was 483, with the highest numbers in London. It is estimated that the number of rough sleepers has fallen by nearly three-quarters in the last ten years. While there is a constant movement of people onto the streets, most are helped off the streets into some form of accommodation. Charities play a particularly important part in finding accommodation for rough sleepers, the majority of whom are male, with UK nationality, and aged between 26 and 45. Approximately 40-50 per cent have or have had drug or alcohol problems and about the same percentage have been in prison. These figures do not include the \family or friends.

Listening in 2

Presenter: In Britain, as in many other western countries, in the last ten years there's been a big

rise in the so-called \boomerang\ in their 20s living with their parents. There are good reasons for this-jobs are much harder to find these days, students have increased education fees to pay back and rents are

sky-high. But another big change is that the estimated seven million British \kidults\, as they've been dubbed, don't seem to mind moving back with their parents after flat sharing or university. They get on well with them, mum dose the cooking, puts the clothes in the machine. It's all quite pleasant and easy! We talked to two young adults who've been in this situation.

Man: I'm 28. I went to university at 18 and only came back for the holidays. But I wanted to be a

scriptwriter so after I got my degree, I moved in with my parents and worked part-time at

a cinema. It was great, it gave me a lot more time to write than if I had a full-time job and I have to admit, I didn't mind living at home. My mum cooked, I saw my friends, it was fine. And it paid off, because TV director saw one of my scripts and gave me scriptwriting work. So I was able to move out-I was, um, something like 25, and got a flat with my girlfriend. It wasn't much fun-we needed our own place. Fortunately, I got more work-and we moved out again, maybe six months ago. I'm hoping I don't have to go back home again.

Woman: I didn't leave home till I was 25-I just couldn't afford it. I left school at 16, got a job

working in a supermarket. The pay was terrible so I had no choice, I had to live at home. My parents and I argued a bit-I was a teenager and all that-but basically it was cool, I helped with the housework, that kind of stuff. Then when I was 18, I got a job in a department store and they said they'd train me up to be a manager-so that was kind of hopeful. But the pay was low so I stayed at home, and paid my parents a bit of rent, which they were glad of. Then when I was 26 they made me a department manager and

the pay was much better, and I was able to move out and share a flat. And now I'm saving for a mortgage. I'm also ready to move on and live in my own place.

Unit 8

Inside view

Conversation 1

Andy: OK, you up for this, Janet?

Janet: Well, I’ve been willing to give it a go, sure. Andy: You will be fine.

Joe: Try and do it in one take, Janet. This woman is really quite busy. Janet: Well, I will do my best. But I find it hard to make any promises.

Joe: OK, here she comes. Hi, Ms Young. I am Joe Varese. We spoke on the phone. Cathy: Hi, Joe. Please call me Cathy.

Joe: And this is Janet Li, our interviewer today, and Andy, our cameraman. Cathy: It’s nice to meet you all. Where do you want me to stand? Andy: Over to you, Janet/

Janet: Oh, yes OK……any where you like Cathy, But I’d like you to describe the skyline. So, maybe over here, where we can both see it. Cathy: Fine, is it OK?

Janet: That’s great. Would you be prepared to talk about the London architecture in general as well as the exhibition?

Cathy: I wouldn’t mind doing that, no, of course not.

Joe: And we're going to try and do this in one take. Cathy, as I know you have to get back for the opening of the exhibition.

Cathy: That's very considerate of you.

Janet: that's the plan. But I'd reluctant to raise your hopes too much. Andy: can we just check the sound level, please? Janet: Cathy Young, thank you for joining us today. Cathy: My pleasure.

Janet: I'm grateful for having the opportunity to ask about the latest architectural exhibition which opens tonight at Somerset House. It's called the London Skyline, past, present and future.

Conversation 2

Janet: Why did ask us to meet you here on the South Bank?

Cathy: Well, it's probably the best place to get an idea of the architectural history of London. Straight ahead we can see St Paul's Cathedral, and over my right , the City of London Skyline. Janet: Tell me about the St Paul's Cathedral.

Cathy: Well, it's the masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, and was completed in 1708. The dome is now one of the most recognizable sights of London.

Janet: And of course, It was a landmark during the 1941 Blitz?

Cathy: Yes. The enemy bombers could see it from a distance, with the result that they knew where

to drop their bombs. But to everyone's astonishment, it wasn't damaged. Janet: And what about the modern buildings over there?

Cathy: Yes, absolutely. Perhaps the most notable one is the rocket-shaped building, which Londoners call the Gherkin. This was designed and built in 2004 by Morman Foster. Janet: He was an architect for a new terminal at Beijing Airport, wasn't he? Cathy: That is absolutely right.

Janet: London is now quite a high-rise city, isn't it?

Cathy: Well, I'm not convinced you're right. It's not at all like Shanghai, or even Beijing. Janet: So what about the future?

Cathy: as you might expect, the future is more skyscrapers. And the most important of all will be the 72 storey Shard of Glass, at 310 metres, one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Janet: And the exhibition opens tonight at Somerset House Cathy: Exactly, and runs until next September.

Janet: I am sure lots of people who will go and see how such a familiar skyline has changed, and will develop in the future. Cathy Young, thank you very much. Joe : One take, thank you. Janet. You should be on TV.

Andy: Amazing Janet. You will be on TV one day. If you keep going like this .Well done.

Outside view

Chicago is the third largest American city after New York and Los Angeles. It's hard to believe that in 1871, a great fire destroyed the whole of Chicago's downtown. The only building to survive the great fire was the Stone Water Tower. The best architects in the world arrived to rebuild the city. Many of them were young and prepared to try new ideas. They used a tall steel frame and curtains of glass to make a different type of building-- the skyscraper. In just 15 years, a new Chicago was born. The centre of the city is now called the Loop, and it takes its name from the elevated track that circled. The buildings contained inside the Loop are a textbook of American architecture. Everyone call Chicago the \City\. Why? It's not because the weather. It's because the politicians of Chicago talk so much about their city. In fact, all the people of Chicago enjoy talking about their city. They like to tell you about Sears Tower, 110 stories of office space. That's a world record. It's so tall it takes 70 seconds to ride the elevator to the top. Beautiful modern sculptures by Picasso and others, help to make Chicago a centre of art. Then there's O'hare International Airport. With 840 flights every day, it's the busiest airport in the world. The people of Chicago are very proud of their beautiful lake shoreline, 29 miles of park land along Lake Michigan. And they don't let you forget that Chicago is the home of the Blues. Musicians like Muddy Waters made Blues popular, and even influenced the Rolling Stones. Chicago is home to the Bulls basketball team and the Cubs baseball team. The city certainly has a wonderful history. Chicago, a city where everyone works hard to be a part of the winning team.

Listening in

I'm Standing in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 3, Beijing Capital Airport's newest terminal which became operational in March 2008. The terminal, which has a third runway and a rail link to the city centre, is the second largest in the world. Designed by the famous British architect Norman Foster, it extends almost three kilometers but took only three and a half years to build. The terminal has been designed to look and feel Chinese. The building, a mixture of glass and steel, uses the traditional Chinese colors of red and gold. Columns(柱体) inside are red and the roof is a dull gold. From the air it is said to resemble a flying dragon.

The building has the largest technology. To save energy, the roof allows in the maximum amount of light and heat, and the advanced baggage system can handle up to 19,000 pieces of luggage per hour.

The terminal is only one of a number of new buildings that have made Beijing a leading example of 21st century architectural design. Another design success is the capital's new National Centre for the Performing Arts, which opened in late December 2007.

The centre, which has created huge interest all over the world, is based at West Changan Avenue, just west of the Great Hall of the People and Tian'anmen Square. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, it took six years to complete. The building is in the shape of a dome made of titanium(钛) and glass, and changes color depending on the amount of sunlight it receives. A manmade lake surrounds it and to enter the building you walk through an 80-metre-long underwater corridor with a glass ceiling.

The inside of the centre is as light as the outside. A glass curtain that goes from the floor to the ceiling reflects sunlight during the day and the city lights at night. The floor is made in ten different colours of marble which came from all over China.

The centre has three main performance venues. The Opera House, with almost 4,000 seats is the largest venue, followed by the Concert Hall with seating for 2,000 and the Theatre with seating for 1,035. Top companies from all over the world will perform there. Guests walking through the gardens and trees that surround the lake describe the building and the performances as \ Listening in 2

Man: Three weeks ago we asked listeners to vote for the most unusual buildings in the world. Architecture is a very popular interest with the public and the response has been astonishing-we’ve been flooded with emails. So here’s the countdown starting with number five.

Woman: yes, number five is Gaudi’s Batllo House in Barcelona, pain, designed by Antoni Gaudi, one of Spain’s greatest architects. The building was completed in 1906 and the amazing thing about it is that the exterior looks as if it’s been made from bones.

Man: it really does. I’ve seen it, it’s most impressive.

Woman: in fact, the skulls are balconies and the bones are the pillars that support them. It's a masterpiece and a huge tourist attraction.