[originaltext]W: There’s an element there about competition, though, isn’t ther

W: There’s an element there about competition, though, isn’t there? Because British Railways are a nationalised industry, there’s only one railway system in the country. If you don’t like a particular can of baked beans, you can go and buy another, but if you don’t like a particular railway, you can’t go and use another.
M: Some people who write to me say this. They say that if you didn’t have a monopoly, you wouldn’t be able to do the things you do. Well, I don’t think we do anything deliberately to upset our customers. We have particular problems. Since 1946 when the Transport Act came in, we were nationalised.
W: Do you think that’s a good thing? Has it been a good thing for the railways, do you think, to be nationalised?
M: Oh, I think so, yes. Because in general, modes of transport are all around, let’s face the fact. The car arrived, the car is here to stay. There’s no question about that.
W: So what you’re saying then is that if the railways hadn’t been nationalised, they would simply have disappeared.
M: Oh, I think they would have. They’re disappearing fast in America. Er, the French railways lose ￡1 billion a year, the German railways ￡2 billion a year. But you see, those governments are prepared to pour money into the transport system to keep it going.
W: So in a sense you’re caught between two extremes, on the one hand you’re trying not to lose too much money, and on the other hand you’ve got to provide the best service.
M: Yes, you’re right.
Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
12. What does the woman say about British Railways?
13. What do some people who write to the man complain about?
14. What does the man say threatens the existence of railways?
15. What does the man say about railways in other countries?