CPE Listening Test 1

Extract One You hear a reviewer on a radio programme talking about a book.

1 The speaker says that the book's title refers to the point at which   (B)

A social epidemics are at their height.

B something becomes a social epidemic.

C people become concerned about social epidemics.

2 The speaker says, that in her opinion, the book   (A)

 A presents some challenging conclusions.

 B is less complex than it may appear.

 C uses terminology that may confuse readers .

Extract Two You hear a reporter on a radio programme talking as he climbs a big rock.

3 One question the speaker asks himself is   (C)

A why he feels the way he does.

B where his climbing partner has gone.

C what has motivated him to climb the rock.

4 The speaker says that at this exact moment   (B)

A he doesn't care about the risk he is taking.

B he is relishing the experience.

C he feels that age is irrelevant.

Extract Three You hear part of a radio programme about literary festivals.

5 The interviewer says that when writers appear at events at literary festivals,   (B)

A they dislike being asked difficult questions.

B they find the experience easier if they read their own work.

C they seldom prepare as thoroughly as they should.

6 Why, according to William, do writers like meeting readers?   (A)

A Writers are made to feel they have succeeded in their aim.

B Writers want readers to know what they are really like.

C Readers give writers ideas for future work.

Stop the recording when you hear 'That's the end of Part 1:

At the end of her first work experience, Karen spent two days (7) (planning rotas) and checking rooms with the floor housekeeper.

Her last work experience was spent in the hotel's (8) (front office).

The subject of Karen's next course was (9) (Hospitality Management).

During her HND course, the subjects she had to study were business studies, hotel management, human resource management and (10) (operational techniques).

The topic of her report was (11) (green issues) in hotels.

In her report, she wrote reviews of various (12) (give-aways).

She joined an organisation with the initials (13) (HCIMA).

She got information from a magazine called (14) (Caterer and Hotelkeeper).

In her present job, she has to deal with problems caused by the hotel being (15) (overbooked).

Stop the recording when you hear 'That's the end of Part 2:

16 Brigid says that she consulted a life coach because (D)

A she had read a great deal about them.

B both her work and home life were getting worse.

C other efforts to improve her life had failed.

D the changes she wanted to make were only small ones.

17 What did Brigid's coach tell her about money?  (A)

A It would be very easy for Brigid to get a lot of it.

B Brigid's attitude towards it was uncharacteristic of her.

C Brigid placed too much emphasis on it in her life.

D Few people have the right attitude towards it.

18 What does Brigid say about her reaction to her coach's advice on money?  (C)

A She felt silly repeating the words her coach gave her.

B She tried to hide the fact that she found it ridiculous .

C She felt a lot better as a result of following it.

D She found it difficult to understand at first.

19 What does Brigid say happened during the other sessions?  (A)

A She was told that most people's problems had the same cause.

B Her powers of concentration improved.

C Some things she was told to do proved harder than others .

D She began to wonder why her problems had arisen in the first place.

20 What has Brigid concluded?  (B)

A The benefits of coaching do not compensate for the effort required.

B She was too unselfish before she had coaching.

C She came to expect too much of her coach.

D It is best to limit the number of coaching sessions you have.