1

A Female DJ on the Spanish Coast

Shelby Wrightmate talks to Frank Words about what it's like being a DJ at
Costa Blanca Radio.

Shelby
Wrightmate is the
only female presenter
at Costa Blanca Radio,
the only English
speaking radio station
on the Costa Blanca
coast. She got into
music while she was a
student in London. She won a
competition at The Hippodrome disco in
Londons West End and hasnt looked
back since. 'I had a 15 minute spot to
mix sounds and impress the judges. I
chose some rap fusion, mixed in some
other sounds, and I even sang myself
for a bit. I thought I was terrible,' she
says, but the judges gave me first
prize and apart from winning 1000,
they gave me a regular 2 hour Friday
night DJ spot at the Hippodrome. I
couldnt believe my luck. It was like a
dream come true. She
workedthere part-time
for eighteen months,
while finishing her
degree in business
studies at The
University of North
London, and took the
next flight to Spain.

Shelby is a London girl and coming to
the Costa Blanca was like being in
London again. 'I grew up in Romford,
Essex which is just outside London,'
she says. 'But Id always dreamed of
living in a sunny country like Spain. My
friends are amazed that I decided to
change my life and my country, but
everyone is so friendly here, there are
lots of English people living here and
who have kindly offered advice and
help. The staff at the radio station have
been fantastic also. Al Koholic , the
station manager, actually lent me one
of the stations lorries to bring my
clothes and furniture over from the
UK.'

Shelby claims never to get nervous

Of course, there has been the occasional
disaster. 'For instance, when I did my
first live concert show from Benidorm.
The Rolling Stones were playing and I
was asked to introduce them to a crowd
of 35,000 and on live TV!.I went on stage
and said: "Please welcome the most
famous rock band in the world, their last
album ....." Then I just went blank. There
was this silence from the crowd, and for
the life of me I couldn't think of the name
of The Stones last album. Someone
shouted the name, Bridges To Babylon,
from the side of the stage. That's one
occasion that Id like to forget.'

Shelby says that
her own musical
tastes are
varied. Im very
lucky at Costa
Blanca because
they let me pick
my own music
for my shows. I select the tracks in
advance and pass them to the station
manager for approval. There isnt usually
a problem because so many listeners
write and tell us how much they like the
music I select,' she says. 'But for
someone who likes music, this is a dream
job. I get to go to concerts, meet the
musicians and interview the stars that
come and play in Spain. It's great to hear
the show business gossip.'
Shelby isn't the sort of girl to get involved
in drink and drugs. 'Of course, I come
across a lot of drugs and alcohol in my
line of work. They are usually offered
around in the clubs and at the parties. I
went a bit crazy when I first came out
here, but I soon realized that its a recipe
for disaster.'
Shelby Wrightmate is very nice, easy-
going and a pleasure to talk to. She is so
full of life that she quickly passes on her
enthusiasm and love of music. She claims
that her ambition in life is to make people
happy through music. In my opinion she
is doingthat already!
2

before a show. Nerves dont help
anyone, she says. 'You can't get
nervous because then you make
mistakes.'
Utiliza las notas que hemos aadido para ayudarte.
8. What do we learn about Shelby in the first paragraph?

A She stopped studying to become a DJ. (Did she stop studying,
or was she working and studying?)
B She expected to win the competition. (Did she think she was
lucky or good?)
C She worked and studied at the same time. (Did she have a job?
Where? Was she at university?)
D She practised singing before the competition. (Did she sing?
Did she practise singing? Is it the same?)
Check
9. What does there refer to? (This is a place where she worked
part-time for 18 months. Read the three previous sentences to find
the answer)

A Costa Blanca Radio
B The Hippodrome Disco
C Spain
D The University of North London
10. What point does Shelby make about the people she has met
in Spain?

A Everyone has been very supportive. (What sort of things do
people do when they give you support?)
B The station manager at Costa Blanca Radio is also a lorry
driver. (Did he drive the lorry or lend it to her?)
C She only came to Spain for the sun not the people. (She
dreamed of living in a sunny country, but is the sun the only reason
she came to Spain?)
D She has had problems making friends in Spain. (Does she
actually say this in the text?)
11. At Shelby's first live concert show she

A was distracted by people shouting names at her. (How many
people shouted at her? How many names?)
B was nervous because of the big crowd and live TV. (What does
she say about being nervious in the first line of the paragraph?)
C got nervous because of The Rolling Stones. (What does she say
3

about being nervious in the first line of the paragraph?)
D had a sudden loss of memory. (Did she forget something?
What?)
12. What does Shelby say about the music she plays on her
radio show?

A She has to play music selected by the station manager. (Who
selects the music tracks and who approves them?)
B She can play what she likes if the station manager agrees.
(Why does she say, Im very lucky?)
C She can only play music that the listeners ask for. (Where in
the text does it say that the listeners ask for particular music?)
D She can play what she likes if she selects it before the show.
(She selects the tracks in advance, and then what happens?)
13. Shelby really enjoys her job because

A She can take lots of drugs. (Does she take drugs now?)
B She finds out secrets about famous people. (She likes hearing
gossip, but do you think this is the only reason she likes her job?)
C Shes involved with all aspects of music (Why is it a dream job
for her? What does she say before and after dream job?)
D Shes making business contacts which could be useful in the
future. (Can you justify and confirm this answer somewhere in the
text?)
14. In the final paragraph, the writer says that Shelby

A Was different from what he had expected. (Where does it say
what he originally expected?)
B Needs music to live and be happy. (Can you justify and confirm
this answer somewhere in the text?)
C Is always happy and enthusiastic. (This maybe true, but can
you find it in the text? Does the text say she is always happy and
enthusiastic?)
D Has fulfilled her ambition. (What does that in the final line refer
to?)






4

Ej.) My
boss said me
I have to
work on
Saturday.
Answer: My
boss told
me I have to
work on
Saturday.


1.
I have 24 years.



2.
Luis has phoned you an hour ago.



3.
There are always bad news in the newspapers.



4.
Nicole Kidman acts really good.



5.
My friend has a son which looks like Sylvester Stallone.



6.
Stephanie and Terry are living in Spain for 9 years.



7.
I must to buy some milk before mum gets here.



8.
Let me give you a good advice; Never get married.



9.
I can't pass this stupid exam. I don't have vocabulary
enough.



10.
I'm not drinking alcohol. I don't like the taste.



11.
Nearly all people in Spain likes rice.



12.
I am looking forward to receive the information as soon as
possible.



13.
Angeles hasn't never been abroad.



14.
Graham goes rarely to the pub at lunchtimes.



15.
Valencia has such a fantastic weather.



16.
Juan has been working as a waiter since eight months.



17.
Craig's English lessons are always bored.



5

18.
When you make this exercise, make your best not to do
mistakes.



19.
I'm agree with you up to a point.



20.
President Bush don't can understand why people dislike him.



21.
I'll borrow you my camera if I can lend your car for the
weekend.



22.
The people want money but they don't like to work for it.



23.
Fish and chips is a popular English plate.



24.
Excuse me, could you tell me where is the nearest bank?



25.
Do you think Manchester United will win the league this year?
- I don't hope so!



26.
How do you call this in English?



27.
Bart Simpson isn't used to do homework every day.



28.
We went out for lunch yesterday so I didn't must cook.



29.
I went to the night club by my own.



30.
She asked me where was the money and I just laughed.












6

Read the following question from part 2 of the writing paper.



Read the following text thinking about the missing words.
The Start Of A Teaching Career
It was while living on a kibbutz in Israel that Craig first became interested (0)
in
teaching English. His Israeli neighbour, (1) worked with foreign
volunteers, wanted to learn English in order (2) speak to the attractive girls
from abroad. In spite of the fact (3) he only had an old grammar book
from (4) 1960s, Craig succeeded (5) teaching his friend a little
English.

The pleasure and satisfaction he got from this experience took him completely (6)
surprise. So much so that he decided to go to London and do a course in
Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
After (7) than 13 years of teaching English professionally, Craig hasnt
lost (8) enthusiasm and he still thinks of teaching (9) a hobby.

(10) days he lives in Valencia, and a few years (11) he started a
website called La Mansion del Ingls with (12) friend Luis. During the last
four years they (13) helped thousands of students to improve (14)
English, and La Mansion del Ingls is now one of the most popular sites on (15)
internet.




7

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Do not
change the word given. You must use between two and fivewords including the
word given. Follow the example.
Example:
Your employer must sign this contract.
be
This contract
must be signed
by your employer.
1.We havent been to a nice restaurant for weeks.
since
Its weeks a nice restaurant.
2. Samantha didnt speak to me in the pub.
avoided
Samantha in the pub.
3. Perhaps they phoned while we were shopping.
may
They while we were shopping.
4. How long have you been learning to drive?
did
When to drive?
5. Pepito doesnt see his ex-girlfriend anymore.
touch
Pepito has his ex-girlfriend
6. Samantha loves participating in salsa dancing competitions.
part
Samantha loves salsa dancing competitions.
7. Scientists say the universe is expanding.
believed
The expanding.
8. It isnt necessary for you to pay immediately.
have
You pay immediately.
9. Could you take me to the airport Friday morning?
mind
Would to the airport Friday morning?
10. The tsunami disaster in Asia was horrifying.
horrified
We the tsunami disaster in Asia.
complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence. Do not change the word given. You must use
between two and five words.
1. A Harley Davidson is much more expensive than a Honda.
8

far
A Honda a Harley Davidson.
2. I tolerate my mother-in-law because I dont want to cause problems.
put
I mother-in-law because I dont want to cause problems.
3. Samantha cant see me tonight because shes going to Barcelona.
able
If Samantha wasnt going to Barcelona, she see me tonight.
4. It was such a great game I bought it immediately.
so
The bought it immediately.
5. Building a house without permission is illegal, isnt it?
law
Building a house without permission , isnt it?
6. The cake was so good that Craig had to eat all of it.
such
It Craig had to eat all of it.
7. Youll have to pay at least 40 Euros to get a good meal.
difficult
Youll get a good meal for less than 40 Euros.
8. Ive never seen such a sexy man
the
This is I have ever seen.
9. Take my advice; don't go to Argentina at this time of year.
were
If I go to Argentina at this time of year.
10. There aren't any beers left.
run
We beers.







9


1. Please stop making that stupid noise.
wish
I making that stupid noise.
2. Why do you tolerate such bad behaviour from your children?
up
Why such bad behaviour from your children?
3. Samantha managed to finish her work on time.
succeeded
Samantha her work on time.
4. Samantha sent you the keys to her flat.
was
It the keys to her flat.
5. Pepito lives alone in a small flat.
by
Pepito in a small flat.
6. Pepito earns the same amount of money as Samantha.
much
Pepito Samantha.
7. Pepito was the only person who didnt understand.
except
Everyone Pepito.
8. Luis started his business five years ago.
set
Luis five years ago.
9. Im sure theyve read the email by now.
have
They the email by now.
10. Pepito failed the FCE exam because he hadnt studied.
would
If Pepito had studied, the FCE exam.