Month: July 2018

• 1 You hear two people talking about some music they’re listening to. What does the man say about the song? (C)
  • A It cheers him up.
  • B It reminds him of his family.
  • C It inspired him to take up a musical instrument.
• 2 You hear part of a radio programme in which a teacher is talking about her own education. Why did she become a teacher? (C)
  • A She enjoyed her own time at school very much.
  • B She was encouraged to do so by colleagues.
  • C She wanted others to have the same opportunities as her.
• 3 You hear a woman telling a friend about a new job she has. What problem does she have with the job? (A)
  • A being asked to do tasks she’s not suited for
  • B being too busy at certain times of day
  • C being disrespected by some customers
• 4 You hear two students talking about an architecture course. What do they agree about? (C)
  • A There is too much work on the course.
  • B Their fellow students are creative people.
  • C The course is taught in an interesting way.
• 5 You hear two students talking about the chemistry laboratories at their college. What does the woman say about the laboratories? (B)
  • A The equipment in them should be updated.
  • B They are not large enough.
  • C They need redecorating.
• 6 You hear a woman talking about a place she used to visit as a child. What point is she making? (A)
  • A She might be disappointed if she returned there.
  • B She prefers more sophisticated holidays now.
  • C The place appeals more to children than adults.
• 7 You hear a runner telling his friend about a sports injury he has. What did his doctor advise? (A)
  • A keep going with some training
  • B introduce other sports very gradually
  • C start running very slowly
• 8 You hear a woman talking about her favourite radio programme. What does she say about the stories in the programme? (B)
  • A The creative element in them is what makes them work.
  • B They tend to vary in how interesting they are.
  • C They contain messages we can all learn from.

Expedition to South Pole

• Peter was working as an (engineer) (9) when he applied to join the expedition.

• On the expedition, Peter and his group went to the South Pole on (skis) (10) instead of more typical means of transport.

• Peter says that his greatest challenge was the (loneliness, lonelyness) (11) he suffered.

• Peter says that ensuring they could get enough (water) (12) took up a good deal of the group’s time.

• Peter was surprised at how quickly his (weight) (13) decreased.

• Peter’s (toes) (14) were affected by the cold during the expedition.

• One of Peter’s teammates had a chest infection and the lack of (rest) (15) made it worse.

• When they reached the (half-way, half way) (16) point, Peter’s team were given a medical check.

• Peter felt a great sense of  (relief) (17) when he reached the pole.

• Peter uses the word (alien) (18) to describe the environment at the South Pole.

• 24 Maggie says it took her a long time to learn to kitesurf because (B)
  • A the equipment wasn’t widely available.
  • B it was hard to find the right assistance.
  • C she needed to build up her strength.

• 25 In Maggie’s opinion, since she began kitesurfing (B)
  • A suitable locations have been more clearly identified.
  • B attitudes to some aspects of safety have changed.
  • C participants have become better informed about sea conditions.

• 26 Maggie hopes that by competing in Fiji, she will (A)
  • A encourage others to take up the sport.
  • B have the chance to pick up some new moves.
  • C be invited to start organising future events.

• 27 During one distance event, Maggie became slightly worried when (C)
  • A she had to switch to different equipment.
  • B she experienced a great deal of pain.
  • C she lost sight of the people helping her.

• 28 Maggie thinks her success is due to the fact that (A)
  • A the sport suits her character very well.
  • B her family have given her a lot of support.
  • C she has the opportunity to practise regularly.

• 29 Maggie says that some new kitesurfers she’s met (B)
  • A are likely to develop the sport in interesting ways.
  • B are unwilling to focus on basic techniques first of all.
  • C are too worried about the rules of the sport.

• 30 What does Maggie hope to do in the future? (A)
  • A find sources of investment for her sport
  • B continue to compete at a high level
  • C set up a kitesurfing school

• 1 You hear two friends talking about a laptop computer. - What is the woman doing? (A)
  • A persuading her friend to buy one like it
  • B offering to lend it to her friend for a day
  • C explaining why she needed a new one

• 2 You hear two students talking about a play they have just seen. - What do they agree was good about it? (C)
  • A the script
  • B the set
  • C the actors

• 3 You hear two people talking about a friend. - What do they agree about him? (C)
  • A He’s very helpful.
  • B He’s easy to get to know.
  • C He rarely complains about anything.

• 4 You hear a lecturer talking to some of his students about their history project. - What is he doing? (A)
  • A encouraging them to ask him questions about it
  • B recommending some books that will help with it
  • C advising them on how to organise their time

• 5 You hear two TV sports presenters talking about their work. - What do they agree about sports presenters? (B)
  • A They’re generally more effective when using a script.
  • B They have to be able to relate well to their audience.
  • C They should adopt an attitude that isn’t too serious.

• 6 You hear a woman talking about a radio programme. - What does she say about the programme? (B)
  • A It provided her with a lot of useful information.
  • B It was more interesting than she had expected.
  • C It made her want to find out about a place.

• 7 You hear two music students talking about an assignment they have to do. - What are they both unsure about? (A)
  • A what to include in the piece of writing
  • B how to organise the recording
  • C what kind of music they should perform

• 8 You hear a writer talking about a book she wrote which has been turned into a film. -How does the writer feel about the film director? (A)
  • A She thinks he has made a good film.
  • B She is upset because her opinion was ignored.
  • C She found him easy to work with.

Archery

• Anne used to shoot arrows from a bow made of (plastic) (9) when she was a child.

• Anne only had time to read about the (rules) (10) of archery before the beginner’s archery course.

• Anne’s archery course took place in a (field) (11) .

• Anne was surprised that learning to (stand) (12) properly was so difficult.

• The teacher told Anne she needed to relax her (shoulders) (13) .

• One of Anne’s arrows went into a (tree) (14) by accident.

• During the breaks, Ann was happy to look at the (view) (15) and talk to other people.

• Some of the people on Anne’s course said that a (TV series, television series) (16) had inspired them to try archery.

• Anne was excited when the class were allowed to start (scoring, keeping a score) (17) .

• Anne is trying to persuade her (parents) (18) to do an archery course with her.

• 24 Why did Jane choose to study at Longley University? (A)
  • A The location suited her.
  • B She knew people there.
  • C The quality of the accommodation was good.

• 25 What did Jane like about her course? (A)
  • A She gained practical experience.
  • B The teachers helped her a great deal.
  • C She learned to work with other people.

• 26 What does Jane say about her food tasting training? (C)
  • A It was a little boring.
  • B It was rather time-consuming.
  • C It was sometimes stressful.

• 27 How did Jane feel when she was offered her first job? (B)
  • A excited to be involved in a challenging area
  • B relieved to have been able to find employment
  • C concerned she might not do her work well enough

• 28 Jane is proud that in her first job she (B)
  • A came up with her own original idea for a product.
  • B proved that she was capable of working independently.
  • C succeeded in doing something nobody thought she could.

• 29 How did working in Denmark help Jane’s career? (A)
  • A She made useful contacts.
  • B She came across new recipes.
  • C She found a better job.

• 30 What aspect of her job does Jane enjoy? (A)
  • A the wide variety of activities she does
  • B the opportunity to meet new people
  • C the experience of trying new foods

• 1 You hear a psychologist talking about green spaces in cities. - What does she say about them? (A)
  • A People fail to appreciate them as much as they should.
  • B They are more important for children than for adults.
  • C Few governments make them a priority.

• 2 You hear part of an interview with a singer. - What does he say about playing tennis? (C)
  • A It calms him down after a performance.
  • B It is used by a lot of singers to improve their technique.
  • C It requires similar skills to singing.

• 3 You hear an actor talking about how she met her husband. - How did she first meet him? (B)
  • A She sat next to him in a cinema.
  • B She appeared in a play with him.
  • C A friend introduced them.

• 4 You hear two people talking about a bus service. - What does the man say about it? (C)
  • A It is frequent.
  • B It is cheap.
  • C It is punctual.

• 5 You hear a retired ballerina comparing dancers today with dancers in the past. - She says professional ballet dancers today (A)
  • A are less concerned about expressing emotion.
  • B are more interested in being celebrities.
  • C dance with less technical ability.

• 6 You hear a chef talking about making a TV series. - What does he say about it? (A)
  • A He didn’t expect to enjoy the experience so much.
  • B He didn’t get on with his co-presenter.
  • C He didn’t like the working hours.

• 7 You hear two friends talking about an art course. - What do they agree about it? (B)
  • A The teacher is inspiring.
  • B The class is the right size.
  • C The content is interesting.

• 8 You hear a swimmer talking about a competition she took part in. - How does she feel about it? (B)
  • A disappointed with her result
  • B excited about where it will lead
  • C surprised by the support she received

Journalism Course

• Sid did the same course in journalism that his (cousin) (9) did.

• On the first day, Sid had to do a reporting exercise about a man who was rescued from a (roof) (10) by helicopter.

• An assistant editor from the (sport, sports) (11) section of a local newspaper gave aninteresting talk about being a journalist.

• Sid’s main tutor had written a biography of a famous local (singer) (12) .

• Sid had an idea for an article about a man who makes (violins) (13) for young people to borrow.

• Sid’s first article was published in a (magazine) (14) soon after he wrote it.

• Sid had to report on a council meeting about proposed improvements to the (museum) (15) in the town.

• One aspect of the course Sid didn’t enjoy was the (typing) (16) classes.

• Sid found it useful to chat to his classmates in the (canteen) (17) at the college.

• Sid now has a chance of getting a job at a (radio station) (18) .

• 24 What first interested Peter about the gingko tree? (C)
  • A how its leaves grow
  • B the family it belongs to
  • C what’s known about its history

• 25 What does Peter say about the gingko tree in ancient China? (B)
  • A It wasn’t originally grown for its nuts.
  • B It wasn’t common before people started growing it.
  • C It was one of the earliest plants to be grown there.

• 26 When asked about the medicinal uses of gingko, Peter says (B)
  • A researchers in different parts of the world disagree about it.
  • B scientists have failed to identify any positive effects.
  • C some parts of the plant help the brain to function.

• 27 Why are there so many gingko trees in cities all over the world? (A)
  • A They don’t suffer from problems that usually affect trees there.
  • B Other trees can’t survive if they are too close to the species.
  • C People take more trouble to look after them than other trees.

• 28 Peter says that street trees benefit people by providing (A)
  • A some protection from the sun.
  • B a reduction in traffic noise.
  • C increased privacy.

• 29 Peter says people can help other species of plant to survive by (C)
  • A leaving plants to grow in the wild.
  • B protecting them from plant-eating animals.
  • C growing them in many different places.

• 30 How does Peter’s work influence the way he thinks about the world? (B)
  • A It makes him feel concerned about the future of human beings.
  • B It reminds him that human beings are a relatively new species.
  • C It allows him to understand why human beings focus on the present.

• 1 You hear part of an interview with a crime writer. - What does he say about his home town? (A)
  • A It was a good background for the writing he does.
  • B He generally feels uncomfortable returning there.
  • C People there tend to treat him differently now.

• 2 You hear a careers adviser talking to a woman who has applied for two jobs. - What suggestion does he make? (C)
  • A find out more information about the first job
  • B withdraw the application for the second job
  • C ask the first company to be flexible

• 3 You hear a girl talking about a psychology textbook. - What does she say about it? (C)
  • A It is not very interesting.
  • B It is good value for money.
  • C It is going to come in useful.

• 4 You hear the mother of a famous skier talking about a competition. - She says that her daughter (B)
  • A expected to win the competition.
  • B didn’t tell her mother she was entering it.
  • C gave up her job to practise for it.

• 5 You hear a film director talking about the actors she works with. - How does she feel about the actors in her current film? (C)
  • A She sympathises with their problems.
  • B She admires the sacrifices they make.
  • C She approves of their attitudes.

• 6 You hear a man talking about his first job interview. - How did he feel during the interview? (A)
  • A confident that he was right for the job
  • B embarrassed because of the long silences
  • C relieved he could answer most of the questions

• 7 You hear two friends talking about a popular television programme. - What is the programme about?  (B)
  • A retirement
  • B cookery
  • C teaching

• 8 You hear two people talking about a place they have visited. - What kind of place is it?  (A)
  • A a museum
  • B a library
  • C a shop

Volunteer at the Children’s University

• The Children’s University was started by a (local charity, charity) (9) five years ago.

• The focus of this year’s Children’s University was the topic of (industry) (10) .

• Laura’s partner was Mark, who works as a (lawyer) (11) when he is not volunteering.

• Laura’s group of volunteers gave some workshops about how (chocolate) (12) is made.

• Laura says the children had a booklet called a ‘ (passport) ’ (13) which was stamped to show their progress.

• Laura and the children went to the graduation ceremony in the (concert) (14) hall of the local University.

• Some children received a (gold medal) (15) for attending a lot of workshops.

• Laura said the scheme allowed her to develop skills such as (problem-solving, solving problems) (16) .

• Laura will most probably become a (social worker) (17) in the future.

• Laura says she can give people in her audience something called an (information pack) (18) for volunteers.

• 24 Why did pottery not appeal to Mark when he was younger? (A)
  • A He was put off by his mother’s achievements.
  • B His many attempts always seemed to end in failure.
  • C He was too busy playing in a band to take an interest.

• 25 Why did Mark decide to take up pottery? (C)
  • A His business wasn’t as successful as he wanted it to be.
  • B He saw how enjoyable pottery classes could be.
  • C He realised he needed to be more creative.

• 26 What did Mark say about being a student again? (C)
  • A He missed having responsibility.
  • B He was made to feel that he was different.
  • C He felt physically challenged.

• 27 Mark describes the pots he makes as (B)
  • A reflecting shapes in nature.
  • B objects that are to be used.
  • C similar to his mother’s in design.

• 28 What has surprised Mark about the pottery community? (A)
  • A how supportive they have been to a newcomer
  • B how willing other potters are to share ideas
  • C how content they are with their lifestyle

• 29 What advice from his mother has Mark valued most? (B)
  • A to concentrate all his efforts on perfecting pottery
  • B to remember the skill of potters from the past
  • C to be realistic about the money-making possibilities of pottery

• 30 In the future, Mark says he would like to be able to (C)
  • A develop some new colours for his pots.
  • B exhibit his pots in a gallery.
  • C explore different techniques for making pots.

• • Extract One - You hear part of an interview with a broadcaster who is talking about a series of programmes he presented about landscape painting.
   
  • 1 Why did he decide to include a picture by a politician? (A)
    • A to point out how painitng helps people in different ways.
    • B to show some interesting points about styles of painting.
    • C to stress that amateur art can equal professional painting.
   
  • 2 How does he feel about the process of drawing? (C)
    • A The activity relaces him.
    • B He is ashamed of the results.
    • C Concentrating on it is exciting.
   
  •  Extract Two - You hear an amateur pilot called Gina Nesbit talking about doing aerobatics in her small plane.
  • 3 What does Gina find hard about learning new aerobatic movements? (C)
    • A It is difficult to practise without any instructions.
    • B Trying out some of them makes her feel sick at first.
    • C She can get nerveous flying the plane unaccompanied.
   
  • 4 What gives Gina most pleasure when taking part in competitions? (B)
    • A the relief she feels after completing a sequence of actions.
    • B the satisfaction of knowing she has performed accurately.
    • C the rpide she takes in preparing as thoroughly as possible.
   
  • Extract Three - You overhear a chef called George talking to a friend about his daily routine.
  • 5 What does George appreciate most about riding a motorbike? (C)
    • A It allows him to avoid the traffic jams on the way to work.
    • B It reminds him of when he was a teenager.
    • C It gives him some time for himself.
   
  • 6 Which is George's favourite object in his house? (B)
    • A the kitchen table
    • B the shower.
    • C the cooker.

Making mosaics

• Rosa feels that the real experts in mosaics were the (Greeks)(7).

• Rosa says that the greatest changes have occurred in the (design)(8) of mosiacs.

• Until recently, modem mosaics were mostly found in (public libraries)(9) and swimming pools.

• Rosa says that the process of making mosaics calls for both (time and motivation)(10)

• Most students attend what's called a (weekend workshop)(11) as part of their course.

• Rosa admits that making mosaics can be compared to doing (puzzles)(12)

• Rosa gives the example of ashtrays and (soap dishes)(13)  as objects that are now being made using mosaics

• Rosa has even considered putting a mosaic border on (chests of drawers)(14)

• 15 Sally feels that the main advantage of audio books is that they (B)
  • A encourage children to read more.
  • B make more books accessible to children.
  • C save parents from having to read to children.
  • D are read by experienced actors.

• 16 What does Martin say about the woman who came into his shop? (A)
  • A    She no longer worries about long journeys.
  • B   Her children used to argue about what to listen to.
  • C   She no longer takes her children to France.
  • D   Her children don't like staying In hotels.

• 17   Martin says that in the USA there is a demand for audio books because people there (B)
  • A   were the first to obtain audio books.
  • B   have to drive long distances.
  • C    are used to listening to the spoken word on the radio.
  • D   feel that they do not have time to read books.

• 18   Sally says that authors may record their own books on tape if (B)
  • A   their book has just been published.
  • B   they want it read a certain way. ·
  • C    they have already read extracts from it aloud.
  • D   there are no suitable actors available.

• 19   According to Sally, successful abridgements depend on (C)
  • A   their closeness to the original.
  • B    the length of the original.
  • C    the style of the author.
  • D   the type of story.

• 20   Martin feels that unabridged versions (D)
  • A   are better than abridgements.
  • B   can be too expensive.
  • C    contain too much detail.
  • D   are becoming more popular.

• Extract One - You overhear a man telling a friend about a trip to the theatre.
• 1 The man says that the theatre? (C)
  • A had recently moved.
  • B was overcrowded.
  • C was unusually small.

• 2 The man criticises the actor for (B)
  • A lacking enthusiasm.
  • B forgetting their lines.
  • C wearing inappropriate make-up.

•  Extract Two - You hear a media interview with a tour operator at a conference on what is called "resposible" tourism.

• 3 What distinctive feature of his company is the tour operator keen to stress? (A)
  • A It is responsive to local employment needs.
  • B It designs tours for selected groups and special interests.
  • C It makes limited used of non-renewable sources of energy.

• 4 He makes the point thtat the majority of tourists are now (C)
  • A conscious of a greater need for social justice.
  • B willing to pay additional amounts for responsible tourism.
  • C unaware that the choices they make have far-reaching effects.

• Extract Three - You hear two local radio presenters, Laura and Steve, talking about a forthcoming rugby match.

• 5 What do they agree about? (B)
  • A The ticket allocation has been unfair.
  • B The final result is almost impossible to predict.
  • C The absence of certain players will make for a less exciting game.

• 6 Listeners who are planning to go to Australia to see the match should (A)
  • A organise their accomodation in advance.
  • B join the official fan club to reduce their travelling costs.
  • C bring their children along to introduce them to the sport.

Skydiving

• Kate says that in the USA people from a variety of (age groups) (7) enjoy skydiving.

• Kate first tried skydiving when she was a (university student, student) (8) and it cost relatively little.

• Kate says skydiving can help overcome a fear of (heights)(9) and increase confidence.

• More people are buying skydiving equipment from (websites) (10) these days.

• Kate recently bought a (helmet) (11) at a bargain price.

• To become an instructor, a skydiver must have done at least (2000, 2,000) (12) previous jumps.

• You can find the Parachute Association by contacting the nearest (airport) (13)

• Kate advises people to spend a period of (several months) (14) learning to skydive.

• 15 How did Roger feel initially about being made redundant? (C)
  • A angry
  • B resigned
  • C depressed
  • D disinterested

• 16 Roger regards his early days in business as (B)
  • A frustrating.
  • B demanding.
  • C irrelevant.
  • D boring.

• 17 What does Roger feel is the greatest benefit of running his own business? (D)
  • A He arranges his free time as he pleases.
  • B He gets on better with other people.
  • C He has more leisure time than before.
  • D He is free of an environment he disliked.

• 18 What is Roger's attitude towards his future? (A)
  • A He considers his position to be no less secure than before.
  • B He thinks he'll be more vulnerable than he used to be.
  • C He'd feel financially more secure working for someone else.
  • D He considers himself too old to change direction again.

• 19 How can Roger's appraisal of engineers best be summarised? (B)
  • A They are dedicated workers.
  • B They are creative artists.
  • C They are well-balanced realists.
  • D They are powerful leaders.

• 20 What does Roger find most satisfying about the 'tools of the trade'? (B)
  • A They are intricate beyond belief.
  • B They are the creations of colleagues.
  • C They are theoretical in design.
  • D They are exciting to contemplate.

• Extract One - You overhear part of a conversation between the secretary of a golf club and a visitor to the club.

• 1 What does the visitor feel about installing satellite navigation in her car? (C)
  • A worried about its cost
  • B unsure of its usefulness
  • C doubtful about its reliability

• 2 When he talks about in-car satellite navigation systems, the secretary is  (B)
  • A helping his visitor to choose the best model.
  • B providing his visitor with information about them.
  • C warning his visitor about the drawbacks of using one.

• Extract Two - You hear part of a discussion in which the anthropologist Paula Drew and the comedian Mike Morton are talking about their lives.

• 3 What does Mike say about his use of comedy as a child?  (A)
  • A He appeared to have an instinctive talent for it.
  • B His long-term friendships depended on it.
  • C It was one of a number of skills he developed.

• 4 Both speakers agree that, for a successful life, people need  (B)
  • A a belief in themselves.
  • B a clearly defined goal.
  • C a commitment to hard work.

•  Extract Three - You hear part of a radio discussion about holiday reading.

• 5 The man reads books which  (C)
  • A remind him of people he's met.
  • B make a change from his work.
  • C are set somewhere he doesn't know.

• 6 His work involves  (B)
  • A a lot of travel.
  • B looking out for new words.
  • _{C studying classical literature.}

A visit to the Arctic Circle

• As her plane was landing, (seals) (7) were the first animals Ruth saw.

• Soon after arriving, the team of biologists was able to identify a (wolf) (8) in the distance.

• The term (oasis) (9) is used to describe a small patch of ground where the growth of plants is possible.

• The largest part of the yellow Arctic poppy is its (root, roots) (10)

• The majority of birds returning to the area in the spring feed on (seeds) (11)

• The team stayed in tents with smalll (tunnels) (12) at the entrance.

• Ruth was given advice on what to do if approached by a (polar bear) (13)

• It was difficult for Ruth to carry out her work because (the batteries, batteries) (14) are affected by freezing temperatures.

• 15 How does Helena feel about the use of Jed's name for their joint business? (A)
  • A occasionally frustrated that her contribution goes unnoticed
  • B amused that they have a name people tend to remember
  • C appreciative of the respect that the name has brought her
  • D irritated by the fact that Jed is more of a celebrity than she is

• 16 What is Jed's attitude to his public profile? (D)
  • A He likes the fact that complete strangers often want to talk to him.
  • B He's unhappy that it prevents him doing everyday activities.
  • C He enjoys it more now than he did when he was younger.
  • D He's proud of the way it reflects his achievements.

• 17 How did Helena feel about her work on The Travel Show? (D)
  • A She would have enjoyed it more in different circumstances.
  • B It was convenient for her to be away from the house then.
  • C It was a welcome alternative to manual work.
  • D She felt obliged to do it at that particular time.

• 18 What gave Jed the incentive to make a jewel garden? (B)
  • A He wanted to realise a long-held ambition.
  • B He had led people to believe that it already existed.
  • C He wanted to show pictures of it at a gardening event.
  • D He was inspired by the illustrations at a talk he attended.

• 19 What explanation does Helena give for the name of the garden? (A)
  • A It provided a useful framework for the project.
  • B It was a response to the bright colours they wanted there.
  • C It allowed them to experiment with a wide range of options.
  • D It was meant to inspire them to embrace unconventional ideas.

• 20 Jed says that, for him, the name 'jewel garden' is (C)
  • A a reminder of the value of creativity.
  • B an appropriate one for something so beautiful.
  • C a positive way of combining both past and present.
  • D a way of explaining his philosophy of design to people.