Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts - Close
Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts - Close

Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a woman and a man. The man is a bus driver and the woman is a passenger trying to get somewhere.

Section 1:

MAN: This is the last stop. Watch your step on the way out, ma’am.

WOMAN: Thanks, driver! Do you happen to know where the little kids’ playground is? I know it’s in the park somewhere. Too bad I forgot my smartphone.

MAN: There are a few playgrounds here . . . Do you mean the one next to the water fountain?

WOMAN: No, the one I’m thinking of is just beside a petting zoo. You know, where there’s goats and rabbits?

MAN: Hm . . . yeah I know there’s a petting zoo, but I don’t know where it is exactly. Anyway, I’m pretty sure there’s a children’s playground over there, past the restaurant. Maybe you could take a look over that way?

WOMAN: Okay, great. Sounds good, thanks very much.


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- What is the woman eventually hoping to find?
2- What best describes the driver’s response?
3- What will the woman probably do next?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Oh, it’s you again. What a coincidence. Are you finished work for the day?

MAN: No, I wish! I’ve got a half hour break before my next trip, so I thought I’d get out of the bus and get some fresh air. My directions didn’t help, eh? Are you lost?

WOMAN: Yes! I’ve been looking but I don’t see any signs or maps posted.

MAN: Tell you what. I’ll look up the map on my smartphone. [Pause] Yikes. You’re nowhere near the playground. It’s way on the other side of the park.

WOMAN: Oh, no! I have to meet someone there really soon.

MAN: Yeah, looks like quite a hike . . . If you walk, you’ll be late. But it says here that a free shuttle bus goes there every 5 minutes. That must be it over there, see?

WOMAN: Do you mean that green bus?

MAN: That big one? No, that’s a tour bus. The shuttle bus would be the little red one.


Now answer questions 4-6.

4- How did the woman meet the man again?
5- Which statement is true?
6- How should the woman get to the playground?

Section 3:

MAN: You’re back! What happened? I thought you were catching the shuttle bus!

WOMAN: I tried to, but it was broken down and out of service. There were lots of angry people, I can tell you.

MAN: I’m glad you aren’t one of them! Hop on, then . . . you’ve got the bus all to yourself. I’m leaving now. I’ll drop you off at the north gate.

WOMAN: Is that near the playground?

MAN: Yup. I checked because I don’t want to give bad directions again. Sorry about that!

WOMAN: So where should I go when I get off the bus?

MAN: Okay, here’s the deal. The north gate is right outside the petting zoo. Walk straight through the petting zoo and you’ll see the playground right behind it. You’ll be there in 5 minutes.

WOMAN: So I won’t be late after all.


Now answer questions 7-8.

7- Why does the bus driver tell the woman he is glad?
8- Will the woman go to the playground?



Part 2: Listening to a Daily Conversation

You will hear a conversation. The conversation is between two co-workers. The woman is having some challenges finishing a project.

MAN: You don’t look so good, Anne. You look pale. Is everything all right with you?

WOMAN: I’m OK. I just haven’t slept much lately and I guess it’s starting to show. I’ve been working on a couple of projects and the work is taking much longer than I thought it would. I’ve been up most nights writing the reports that are due the next week.

MAN: You should get some more sleep. Why don’t you finish the reports after work, before you go home for the day?

WOMAN: I can’t. I have to pick up my son at the daycare right after work, and when I get home I have to fix dinner and watch my son until he falls asleep around 10.

MAN: That’s such a late bedtime!

WOMAN: I know. He’s 5 months old, and we are still struggling with bedtime.

MAN: Can your husband help you?

WOMAN: He helps around the house a lot; he takes care of the cleaning, the laundry and cooks breakfast after work every day, but I’m on my own with the bedtime routine unfortunately.

MAN: Breakfast after work?

WOMAN: Yes! He works the night shift. He gets home around 6:30 in the morning and he cooks us breakfast before he goes to bed.

MAN: Sounds like a very stressful situation. Can you ask for an extension on the project?

WOMAN: It is pretty stressful, but I can’t really ask for an extension. I’m being considered for a promotion and I’m afraid that if I ask for one, my boss might think I’m not competent to take on more responsibilities. I don’t want to risk my chances, and if I get the promotion my husband will be able to work day shifts again, which would be more convenient for our family.

MAN: Is there anything I can do to help you?

WOMAN: Not really, but thanks for the offer. My husband is taking Friday off, and my mom is picking up my son for the weekend so I can finish the reports and hopefully get some sleep.


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- Why was the man concerned?
2- What did the man suggest?
3- Why hasn’t the woman slept lately?
4- Why can’t the woman ask for an extension?
5- What is her husband doing to help her finish the reports?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation. A man is interviewing a woman about perfectionism in the workplace.

MAN: Thanks Dr. Burns for speaking to us about perfectionism in the workplace. To get us started, perfection is typically seen as a positive thing. I mean, to be perfect is to make something the best it can be. However, do you think perfectionism is always positive?

WOMAN: Well, not always. Although perfectionism is generally associated with success, it can also be very negative.

MAN: Can you explain more about that?

WOMAN: Our study has found that perfectionists tend to spend much more time on a task than non-perfectionists.

MAN: Isn’t the quality of the work better, the longer you spend on a task?

WOMAN: Not necessarily. Because perfectionists have such a high standard, they devote too much attention to details. In our study it was common for perfectionists to run out of time and fail to complete their tasks. We also found that perfectionists had difficulties sharing work. Perfectionists tended to do all the work by themselves.

MAN: Did that create problems in the workplace?

WOMAN: Most definitely. First, we found that perfectionists are having trouble staying employed in large companies. They are seen as less cooperative and less capable. Second, we found that perfectionists feel more socially isolated. This leads me to our third main finding: those who strive for perfection in the workplace are more prone to severe anxiety and even depression.

MAN: Is it fair to say that perfectionism causes stress and may even cause depression?

WOMAN: No, it’s not a direct cause. We believe time management is the key to this puzzle. Our participants’ anxiety and feelings of depression were often associated with fear of not having enough time to finish the task.

MAN: So, if they managed their time better, anxiety and depression could subside?

WOMAN: We believe so, and that’s the focus of our next research project.

MAN: That is fascinating. Until then, any advice for perfectionists?

WOMAN: I’d say to start with a careful and realistic plan; prioritize what is needed to bring a project to completion and not spend too much time on details. I’d also suggest that they try to work in groups, and discuss their difficulties with other people.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What is the woman’s occupation?
2- What does the woman say about perfectionists in her study?
3- According to the woman, what can perfectionism in the workplace do?
4- Why do perfectionists feel anxious?
5- What does the woman suggest perfectionists should do?
6- What is the focus of the woman’s next project?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a unique medical procedure.

Scientists from Bionic Vision Australia reported that they were successful at implanting the world’s first artificial eye. This eye is a very small computerized device that allows patients who lost their eyesight to have some vision. Dianne Ashworth, who lost her sight 10 years ago, was the first of three patients to receive the device. Dr. Allen states Dianne’s early results are very promising and expects two more patients will receive the eye by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Dianne Ashworth spoke to reporters about the moment when scientists turned the device on. She described it as an amazing experience, and told reporters she hoped that two other patients will have similar results.

Dianne has not regained her full sight yet. She is only able to see shapes, such as the outlines of objects, and to detect movement. According to Dr. Allen, who installed the device, the present device is just a prototype. The prototype will be switched for a much better and clearer artificial eye in three more years.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people at a cafe. They all belong to a conversation club where some members are improving their English and some are improving their French.

MAN 1: Well, that was a good session, eh? All twenty-four members present, eight conversation groups of three—a full house. How did it go for you, Diane?

WOMAN: Our group spoke French for more than half the time. 40 minutes of French and 20 minutes of English. But, hey, I’m not complaining! I need all the French I can get.

MAN 1: Hey, your French is just as good as mine. Keep practising. A few more weeks and you’ll sound like Nicolas here.

MAN 2: And remember, it’s even harder for the allophones here. They’re learning a third language!

WOMAN: Allophones?

MAN 2: They’re people whose first language isn’t English or French. Like . . . Marta. She’s an allophone. She grew up speaking Ukrainian, then she learned English, and now she’s trying to pick up French.

WOMAN: Marta was in my group! She’s amazing! Her French is way better than mine. She said her friend wants to join.

MAN 1: Well, that makes six new members who want to join, and they’re all allophones! The problem is . . . we can’t ask people to start bringing their own chairs. Maybe we need to look at a bigger restaurant.

MAN 2: I think we should just limit the membership to twenty-four. It . . . Can’t we start a waitlist? There’s enough turnover. Colleen and Liam are going back to Germany next week.

WOMAN: The thing is, if you put prospective members on a waitlist, they might just join a different club. I know from working at the community centre, waitlists are unreliable. You can have six people on a waitlist, but when you call them, none of them are interested anymore. So, when people ask to join, we should let them in right away. How about meeting at a second location on different nights?

MAN 2: Well, if all the new members are allophones, maybe we should change the format. Right now, each conversation group has one native English speaker, one native French speaker, and one allophone. But maybe in the new location, it should just be for allophones.

MAN 1: No, we need to mix them in with native speakers like we’re doing now. The allophones kind of . . . inspire the others by their example, and they’re great translators. For the next little while, we’ll just have some groups with three and some groups with four until we get more native speakers in. We’ll need to find a second location for a meet-up on alternate nights. Some people can meet on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new group could meet Wednesdays and Sundays.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about a controversial bill being proposed to reduce jail time for prisoners

A new bill proposed by Paul Carter from the New Democratic Party is bound to stir a great deal of controversy. Mr. Carter, who represents a project called Reading for Freedom, proposes a novel way to approach jail terms: some prisoners would be able to shorten their sentences by up to 36 days a year—by reading books. Inmates in provincial prisons in Ontario would receive 3 days off their sentence for each book they finish reading. They could choose from a selection of 12 works of literature, philosophy, science, and classics, such as Shakespeare and Tolstoy.

But reading alone would not be sufficient. In order to demonstrate that prisoners have read and comprehended each work, they would be required to write an essay that must make use of paragraphs, proper grammar and spelling. Prisoners’ access to the program would depend on the type of crime they committed and also prisoners’ behavioural record after incarceration. The key purpose of the project is to reduce conflict among prisoners and encourage personal development.

Though innovative, the project has already met strong opposition from politicians, law enforcers and the general public. Many wonder how reading novels can genuinely prepare prisoners for real-life after being reintroduced in society. They asked how reading Shakespeare could help the prisoners find jobs after prison. Finally some, like Evelyn Brech, a political science student at University of Toronto, questioned how fair the system would be for those who are already disadvantaged. People who did not have access to proper education in the first place, or are not fluent in the English language, would not be able to read these books. This would be unfair for many Aboriginals and immigrants. According to Evelyn, the program does not give equal opportunities to everyone and could further victimize the ones whom the system has already failed.

Chris Kendhi, who directs the library system at penitentiaries in Ontario, is more optimistic about the project and says the main strength of the program is that it can change the prisoners' viewpoint. He says an inmate can leave prison more bitter and knowledgeable about crime, or enlightened by the world and the meaning of life. He adds that in his 20 years of experience working in prison libraries, he has seen books absolutely change people’s lives and he truly believes this program will do just that.

The first reading of the provincial legislature is scheduled for Thursday and the debate will continue in the weeks to come when representatives from the general public and different branches of government are consulted. If the bill passes, it will come into force as early as next year across the province.

Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The conversation takes place in an office.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello, Ms. Jeffers? I’m Matthew, your temp, from the agency.

WOMAN: Yes, hello, Matthew. This way please . . . I have you set up here. I’m afraid your task isn’t very challenging, but it’s just for one day. Please have a seat.

MAN: Thank you. What am I to do?

WOMAN: These boxes on your left contain envelopes. The boxes in the middle contain letters. I’d like you to put one letter into each envelope. Make sure you fold the letter like this, so the address shows in the window of the envelope. Then put it in this empty box on your right.

MAN: Would you like me to seal the envelopes as well? If you have a sponge and a little dish of water or one of those dabber things . . .

WOMAN: No, fortunately, we have a machine that will do that.

MAN: Okay. Is that all? I don’t need to answer any phones?

WOMAN: No, your task is simple—I’m sure you’ll be quite sick of it shortly. I apologize in advance for that.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1- Which word best describes the man’s task?
2- What is at the man’s workstation?

Section 2:

WOMAN: How are you doing, Matthew? Are you ready for a break? I’ll show you where our break room is.

MAN: Thanks! I am ready for a break! You were quite right about the nature of the job! That’s exactly why I hope to obtain regular employment soon. May I ask—do you know if there are any full-time jobs here?

WOMAN: I’m afraid I don’t know. At lunch you could go to the Human Resources department and ask. If there isn’t anything at the moment for you, be sure to ask if you can fill out an application anyway.

MAN: Thank you. May I list you as a reference?

WOMAN: Ask me at the end of the day. If you finish stuffing all of the envelopes, and none of the letters are in backwards, I’d be happy to let you use my name as a reference.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3- What is the man’s role in the company?
4- What does the man intend to do at lunchtime?
5- What can we tell from this conversation?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Hi Matthew, it’s lunch time now!

MAN: Oh, good! My hands are a bit sore, but I think I’m about halfway through.

WOMAN: Yes, it looks like it. That’s good! Do make sure you come find me at the end of the day! Would you like me to show you where Human Resources is?

MAN: Yes, thank you. And, if I may ask, I have music on my phone, and ear buds—would it be against the rules to listen to music while I work this afternoon? I think it would help a bit.

WOMAN: Yes, that would be okay, as long as you keep the volume low enough that no one else hears it.

MAN: Thank you!

Now answer questions 6-8.

6- What is the man’s response to the woman’s announcement?
7- What does this part of the conversation imply?
8- Why does the woman tell him to find her later?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two colleagues, a man and a woman. They are in the break room at work.

MAN: Hi, Naomi. How are you adjusting to the night shift?

WOMAN: I’m not! I can’t fall asleep during the day—even though I put something over my eyes to block out the light and wear earplugs to block out the noise. So I’m really, really tired.

MAN: I read an article the other day about how the night shift doesn’t fit our natural body rhythms. Most of us are built to rest at night. The article also mentioned that people who work the night shift often have concentration problems and even coordination problems.

WOMAN: Well, then I’m glad we’re cleaners. Imagine operating heavy machinery or piloting a plane at night . . .

MAN: Yes, there are more accidents on the night shift! The article even said that police officers who work the night shift are angrier than those who work the day shift.

WOMAN: I believe that! My daughter asked me yesterday why I was so cranky! By the way, how do you deal with never seeing your family because you work the night shift?

MAN: My parents and siblings are overseas, so it actually works well for me to call them during the day when I’m at home. But I do miss the after-work things I used to do with my friends.

WOMAN: Yes, I guess it’s hard to maintain a social life when you work the night shift. But on the bright side, there are no line-ups in the grocery store!

MAN: True enough! Listen, we’ve got ten minutes left on our break. I’ll make you a cup of coffee to get you through the next couple hours. Do you drive or take the bus home?

WOMAN: Thanks, a coffee would be great. I take the bus.

MAN: Good. Tell the driver what stop you want to get off at and ask him to wake you. That’s what I do. Then you can try to get some sleep on the way home.

WOMAN: I don’t know if I can, but it’s certainly worth a try! Maybe the movement of the bus will rock me to sleep!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What are the man and woman talking about?
2- Which statement is most likely true?
3- What does the man miss?
4- Why does the man ask if the woman drives or takes the bus?
5- What does the man do at the end to help the woman?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a customer and a worker at a mattress and bedding store.

MAN: Hi. Thanks for coming to Mattress and Bedding World. How may I help you?

WOMAN: Hi! I’d like to buy a set of pillows.

MAN: OK! Well, we have a promotion for the holiday season. If you buy two pairs of our new feather pillows, you get one free!

WOMAN: That sounds great, but my husband is allergic to feathers. That’s the reason why we have to get new bedding. He keeps getting itchy eyes. I’m interested in getting some synthetic pillows.

MAN: Ah, I see. Well, we do have the synthetic filling, but there are actually a lot of alternatives you might want to consider instead of feather. Are you looking for a firmer pillow, or a softer one?

WOMAN: Hmmm . . . I’m not sure. These are meant to be a Christmas gift for my husband. What are the different types?

MAN: Besides the synthetic, we have the memory foam and the latex, which are both really comfortable. If you want something good for neck pain, you might consider a micro bead or buckwheat pillow.

WOMAN: Buckwheat? Really? I remember getting a little buckwheat pillow from my physical therapist that I could put in the microwave and put on my shoulder when it was sore. It was really nice, but I don’t know if my husband would like sleeping on it.

MAN: Yeah, you know, I’d only recommend the buckwheat if he really needs it for pain relief. I think your best bet for a nice gift would actually be the memory foam. It’s a little more expensive, but it’s our most popular pillow right now.

WOMAN: I’ve heard a lot about memory foam, but I’ve never actually slept on it. What is memory foam, exactly?

MAN: Well, it was originally developed by NASA. You know, the organization that sends people into space. It’s basically a foam with a cell structure that allows it to form around whatever touches it, and then spring back into shape—so it never loses its shape, unlike some other kinds of pillows. It really is comfortable. I use one myself.

WOMAN: Well, it sounds nice. I think I’ll get these two—one for my husband and one for me!

MAN: Sounds good. Follow me and I’ll ring these up for you. Would you like to take a look at our pillowcases, as well . . .

Now answer questions 1-6.

1- Why does the woman want to buy new pillows?
2- Why did the woman have a buckwheat pillow in the past?
3- According to the man, which of these is true of buckwheat?
4- According to the man, which of these is true of memory foam?
5- Which of these options best describes the man’s opinion?
6- What will likely happen next?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a community power issue.

Due to the high winds over the weekend, many trees came down in our community, several into power lines. Consequently, 100 residents were without electricity for several hours. This is nothing new for most of us, but for Inesh Chandra, the experience was anything but routine. A fallen tree caused a live power line to land in her backyard. Fortunately, when she opened her door to let her dog out before retiring for the evening, it refused to move. Puzzled, she shone her flashlight into the yard to investigate and saw the downed power line, only then hearing the buzzing sound.

Later the next day, Mayor Pine announced that this problem was actually getting worse. He suggested burying all the power lines or cutting down all the trees within 30 feet of a power line. He admitted, however, that both solutions are too expensive to consider, and that the latter would be a shame.

Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution during a power outage. Any wire on the ground or hanging from a pole should be considered live and be avoided. Fires should be reported immediately.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. One woman, Anna, and two men, Paul and George, are on break at work.

Anna: Can you believe that announcement today? I mean, I’m still reeling!

Paul: I think everyone in the office is in shock. I mean, three weeks is not enough notice that we’re moving the whole office all the way across town!

Anna: That’s an extra hour of commuting for me each day. I can’t believe they didn’t consult with us beforehand. Do they think that they can just do whatever they want and we’ll just go along with it?

George: I don’t know. I’ve always found management here to be really respectful. I’m sure they wouldn’t do anything like this unless it was absolutely necessary. It makes me wonder if they’re running into some kind of financial problem or something. I mean, I know that the rents in that part of town are a lot cheaper.

Paul: You know, the sales force has been having some real problems. But still, you can’t spring a move like this with only three weeks’ notice. I just moved to a new apartment to be closer to work. I should’ve stayed where I was! Now I have to buy a car.

Anna: What I’m most concerned about is how, during rush hour, am I supposed to make it all the way across town in time pick up my kids at daycare? If I’m one minute past 5:00 pm, I get charged extra.

George: Couldn’t your husband pick them up instead? Or, if that’s not possible, I’m sure that there are other daycares in that neighbourhood.

Anna: No, my husband works later than I do, and it’s taken six months for my youngest, Tara, to get used to the daycare she’s in. The more I think about this, the more I realize I think I’m going to have to get a new job. I just . . . I can’t handle this commute.

Paul: That’s pretty drastic. I mean, up to this latest stunt, this has always been a very good place to work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m upset about the move too, but maybe you should ride it out for a bit before jumping ship?

George: I agree. I’m sure that something can be worked out. Maybe you could change your hours so you don’t have to travel during rush hour. Or maybe you could even work an hour less each day to make up for the commute time. You know, getting paid for an hour less per day is a lot better than not having a job at all!

Anna: You know, maybe you’re right. I think I’ll talk to management first thing tomorrow morning.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about advertising and children.

The increased amount of television advertising aimed at young consumers has led some parents to question whether such targeting has negative consequences. Kathy Chen is a concerned mother of three young children. She recently started a parents’ network that is advocating for constraints on advertisements aimed at children. Chen's personal concern is that advertising to children is unethical because it causes children to nag their parents for products, harming parent-child relations. Kathy Chen also believes that these ads make children feel that they are not socially acceptable if they don’t have a certain product. Children then pester their parents to buy the product for them.

On another level, Chen argues that we should not simply accept that all children are necessarily little consumers. While it benefits major corporations when everyone has been trained from the cradle to consume commercial products, we end up with a society driven by short term desire and greed.

Ralph Greenman, CEO of a large advertising company, disagrees. According to Greenman, children who nag are simply a result of poor parenting. Greenman believes that it is the responsibility of the parent to decide what products to purchase. Furthermore, Greenman argues that advertisements don't make kids feel inferior, but instead help children to fit in with their peers and have good social relations by sharing common styles and products.

Does advertising create a greedy society? Greenman is adamant that it does not. Advertising is about informing and providing people and, yes, children, with choices. With choice comes freedom and our society is a free society.

Greenman also points out that it is not in the public interest to ban children’s ads, because this would reduce the diversity of children’s programs on TV. Advertisements are how most TV stations receive funding. If ads to children were to be banned, then children's programs would be greatly reduced in quality and quantity. Greenman says that state broadcasters who are not dependent on advertising revenue would benefit from such a ban, but this would result in a more limited selection of choice from other channels.

Kathy Chen disagrees. Reducing advertising, she argues, would reduce the quantity of children’s programs but it would increase the quality. If private corporations weren’t producing such programs, high quality, publicly funded educational programs would become more popular.