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 man and a woman in a children’s toy store. The man is a customer, and the woman is a salesperson at the store.


Section 1:

MAN: Hello, I’m wondering if I can return this and get something else. I bought it as a birthday present for my niece, and her mother -- that is, my sister -- says it’s too girly.

WOMAN: It is one of our best selling dolls, but I understand what the girl’s mother is saying. I think the pink frilly dress is a bit much, too. Many parents these days prefer to buy toys that are not made specifically for girls or for boys.

MAN: So what do you suggest? A stuffed animal? Or bicycle? No, that’s too expensive.

WOMAN: How about this talking computer? It’s designed to make computers fun.

MAN: It is brightly coloured, but not blue or pink, and certainly both boys and girls should play with computers…I’ll take it!


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- Why has the man come to the store?

2- What toy did the man’s sister dislike?

3- What color could the talking computer be?


Section 2:

WOMAN: Hello again! The talking computer wasn’t acceptable either?

MAN: I’m afraid not. It uses batteries, which are toxic waste. My sister is really worried about pollution.

WOMAN: Well, the toy will work with rechargeable batteries, but let’s see if we can find something else... How about this? A puzzle book. MAN: It’s a very big puzzle book!

WOMAN: Yes, there are a hundred puzzles in it. Some are word puzzles -- like arranging letters to make a word. And some are picture puzzles -- like finding an object ‘hidden’ in a picture. MAN: And my sister can just recycle the book later. It’s paper.

WOMAN: Not only that, the book itself is made from recycled paper!


Now answer questions 4-5.

4- Why will the man’s sister probably like the book?

5- Which word best describes the sales person?


Section 3:

MAN: Hello, I just came by to tell you that the puzzle book was a hit! My niece loved it!

WOMAN: Her mother liked it as well?

MAN: She did indeed! From now on, that’s going to be the gift I always buy for children. Too bad there aren’t different editions for different ages.

WOMAN: That’s a wonderful idea! You should write to the publisher! I’ll bet the author has already thought of that..

MAN: You could be right. Maybe the publisher just needs to hear there’s a demand for similar books for older kids. The book is really quite wonderful -- I took a good look at it.

WOMAN: I agree. I gave it to my daughter when she was younger. I’m sure it improved her memory, her ability to focus, and to solve problems. And, of course, she had fun!

MAN: I’m not surprised.

WOMAN: Wait a minute while I get the publisher’s address for you.


Now answer questions 6-8.

6- How does the man feel about the book?

7- What does the woman say about the book?

8- Why does the man want the publisher’s address?


Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation that takes place at work. They are discussing what the man did on the weekend.

WOMAN: Hey Rick! How was your weekend?

MAN: It was awesome! We ended up going to the Greek Festival in the park. Have you ever been?

WOMAN: No, but I’ve always wanted to check it out. How was it?

MAN: It was amazing! I went with my wife and kids and there was really something for everyone: food, music, dancing, art, cooking classes. It was pretty cool. We were there for hours.

WOMAN: I’m crazy about Greek food and I’d love to learn some recipes. The cooking class sounds right up my alley. What kind of dishes were they making?

MAN: Mostly appetizers and finger foods. The chefs were a group of local sisters. I think they have a catering business and work at their family’s restaurant.

WOMAN: Oh! I know exactly who you mean! They’re called the Four Sisters. They’ve actually been on FoodTV and even have a new cookbook out. I would have loved to see them. Did you get to try the stuff they cooked?

MAN: No, there were too many people in front of me to get a sample. But there was a huge tent where they served up a ton of traditional Greek food and desserts: pitas, salads, fish, kabobs, baklava. I wasn’t very hungry, so I just tried some lemon cake. My wife and kids had souvlakis. They looked pretty delicious.

WOMAN: And what about the traditional music and dancing? Did you join in? [teasing]

MAN: Haha! No, not me. You know I have no talent for that. Just two left feet! [laughing] They actually even had lessons for the kids. My daughters thought it was pretty fun.

WOMAN: Nic!

MAN: There was lots of other art as well. They had a man teaching people how to sculpt. My wife loves art, so was really happy to learn sculpting. I think the festival is still on this upcoming weekend. I highly recommend it.

WOMAN: OK, you’ve sold me on the idea! [laughing]. Well, let’s get down to business. We’ve got to get this report done for the meeting this afternoon.


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What are the man and woman discussing?

2- What was the woman most interested in?

3- Why did the man not dance?

4- What did the man eat?

5- What did the woman decide to do at the end?


Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman.

MAN: Hello, I wonder if you can help me. I’m interested in taking the cooking classes your grocery store offers.

WOMAN: Sure. We offer one class each week on Wednesdays, usually with a special theme for the month. For example, this is June and the theme is barbecuing.

MAN: My wife said she wants me to do some of the summer cooking. I can barbecue, so your classes might be very helpful. But wait, now that I think of it, I actually wanted to ask about the Indian curry class advertised in your flyer. We love curry. When is it scheduled?

WOMAN: Oh, that isn’t ours. You know, I saw the ad for that class, too. I think it was a four-week mini-course at the community college starting in October. You need to call them.

MAN: Ok. I’ll start with your barbecuing class. What’s on your menu?

WOMAN: The main meat item is Beer Can Chicken. It involves seasoning a small chicken, then standing it over an open can of heated beer. The beer steams through the chicken, adding wonderful flavour and keeping it deliciously tender.

MAN: That sounds ... how should I say this ... different? We don’t drink alcohol, though.

WOMAN: In that case, it would be a good idea to skip this one and register for next week. That menu contains no alcohol, I guarantee. Apple Marinated Scallops, Cedar Planked Salmon, Roasted Asparagus, and Chocolate Mousse. Just fill out this form and pay the $15.00 and you’re registered. 6:00 p.m. next Wednesday.

MAN: I didn’t realize there was a fee. I thought the grocery store offered these for free.

WOMAN: Well, first you’ll be watching the chef make the food and describing the process as he does it. Then he plates the food, and you eat what he prepared. So you’ll eat dinner in the class! The fee covers the food costs. Oh, and you get copies of the recipes.

MAN: (sounding disappointed) Oh, so we aren’t doing hands-on cooking ourselves?

WOMAN: That’s right. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot, though. So are you interested in our class for next week?

MAN: You’ve convinced me! Sign me up! I’ll also check out that curry class for October. Will my wife ever be surprised this summer!


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What information does the man want from the woman?

2- Why is the man interested in cooking?

3- Why does the woman have information about the curry class?

4- Why will the man wait a week to start?

5- What disappoints the man?

6- What will the man probably do next?


Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a popular event.

Local figure skater, fifteen-year-old Kim Chung, has made the national figure skating team. Although Chung only placed sixth at the National Skating Championships, one of the first five place finishers was injured last week, and Chung was named as her replacement. Happy about the opportunity, Chung told reporters it’s not how she wanted to make the team, but she does think she deserves it, and will do her best! Chung competed in the Nationals last year as well, but a serious injury hampered her performance and she finished a disappointing tenth.

Speaking about the increase in injuries among elite figure skaters, retired coach Elisa Dunlop said that the program requirements have gone crazy. Skaters have to cram their program with so many difficult and high-risk moves. Dunlop claims that overtraining is inevitable, and so are injuries, especially among the younger skaters. Dunlop also lamented that the requirements left no room for artistry anymore.

As a member of the team, Chung will represent Canada at international competitions. A list of these competitions, along with dates and locations, is available on the Skate Canada website.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. They are in the staff lunchroom at the elementary school where they work.

Matthew: Well, the votes are in -- the kids picked Creature-Town for their grade 6 graduation trip. !

Betty: Really? Creature-Town? Not Pirate-Landing? Or any of the less....um...furry and crawly amusement park options? Are they trying to punish me? They know I can't stand bugs, fish, and, well, any sort of four-legged creature.

Gavin: (laughs) I figured they’d pick Pirate-Landing too….I guess Dan’s science class has left an impression.

Matthew: As much as I’d like to take the credit, it was all them -- they’re just really into science. Well....maybe I did try to sell them on Creature-Town a little bit…. (laughing)

Betty: Aha! So I have you to blame! (laughing). Anyway, now that it’s settled where we’re going, we need to figure out funding. I’m tired of the kids always losing out when there are budget cuts, and I've heard there could be more coming before the end of the year.

Gavin: Definitely. The kids understand we can only go if we raise the money, but I don’t want to disappoint them. Matthew: Well, there’s the old standard -- selling chocolate door to door? That’s what I did as a kid.

Although... I usually ended up eating more than I sold. Betty: (laughs) No surprise with that sweet tooth of yours!!….But I'm not sure that's the best idea for our school. Most parents wouldn’t like their kids going up to strange houses. I know we used to do it, but parents are more cautious these days.

Gavin: It’s unfortunate, but you’re right. I can’t see any of the parents OK-ing that option. What about a baseball tournament? Kirkfield Elementary held one last year... Players paid an entry fee and the winning team got 25% of the money raised.

Matthew: Not baseball! That has got to be the most boring sport on the planet!! And it would only work if we managed to get enough players. With this weather I can’t imagine much interest.

Betty: It has been unseasonably cold. Wait...what about a dance? My cousin is in a band. They've been getting a lot of local radio play recently. They even got hired to play at The Tunnel, that new nightclub in town. We could hold it in the gym, charge a small entrance fee and invite the whole community.

Gavin: That’s perfect! It would raise money and the kids would love it. Maybe we could even decorate with a theme...like “lost in the jungle” or something...have everyone wear costumes.

Matthew: I don’t know about making it a theme party, but I like the dance idea. If your cousin’s band is actually good, it could raise lots of money. Can we hear their music somehow before deciding?

Betty: Sure….they’ve got some videos online. Let's check them out.


Listening Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints.

You will hear a presentation about children and TV.

Many of us will remember, as children, waking up early Saturday morning, trekking downstairs while our parents slept and flipping on our favorite Saturday morning cartoons. A weekend ritual that entertained children and allowed weary parents a few extra hours of sleep, Saturday morning cartoons seemed like a win-win situation. Indeed, despite their primary purpose being a means to advertise products to a young and captive audience for several hours a week, most parents likely appreciated the brief reprieve that they provided.

However, Natalie Kingsley, spokesperson for the parent advocacy group, “Turn it off,” contends that children today watch far more than just a few hours of TV a week--the current average being closer to two hours daily. With most Canadian homes now owning multiple televisions, in addition to other electronic devices, such as computers, tablets, or cellphones, children now have access to round the clock TV programming and games. Kingsley believes the excessive time spent in these sedentary behaviors can be blamed for the increasing prevalence of disorders such as obesity and Attention Deficit Disorder seen in children today. She also aptly points out the disturbing trend towards infant and toddler specific television programming, such as LaLa TV, which, despite warnings from the majority of pediatricians that children under two should never watch TV, are becoming increasingly popular.

Yet, for Maya Pang, a working mother of three, LaLa TV has been a lifesaver. While Pang understands the importance of not letting her 10-month old watch TV all day, she is grateful for the hour of quiet provided when her child watches his favorite TV show; a rare moment of calm that allows her to get supper prepared. Being a parent herself, Kingsley understands Pang’s sentiment, however, she asserts that, although this one hour may seem harmless, before the age of three, children learn better from the real world. They may be fascinated and entertained by the images they see on a screen, but they are unable to make sense of them. Time spent watching TV takes away from time that should be spent exploring the real world; a fact which can have adverse effects on learning, in particular, language development. While Pang is aware of these concerns, she believes parents can drive themselves nuts trying to be perfect. Letting her son watch LaLa TV each day gives her the time to prepare a healthy, home-cooked dinner for her family. Before LaLa TV, a fussy infant combined with Pang’s busy schedule, meant dinners often consisted of take-out or frozen meals. For Pang, although not a perfect solution, it is one that works for her family.

Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman at a large warehouse store. The man works at the store.


Section 1:

MAN: Hi! Welcome to Bulk Club! Can I see your membership card?

WOMAN: Oh. A membership card? For a grocery store? I’ve never heard of that before. I have other identification cards with me.

MAN: Sorry, Bulk Club is actually a warehouse club. You can join the store by purchasing a membership, and then you can take advantage of all of our great low prices by buying in bulk.

WOMAN: Well, I really just need some milk and a few produce items. I just moved to this area, and I noticed this was my closest store. I guess I’ll go somewhere else.

MAN: OK. But we do sell milk and produce. For example, we have a special on bags of apples this week – five pounds of apples for five dollars.

WOMAN: Hmm. That is a good price for apples. Do you have some information I can take with me?

MAN: Sure. Here is our membership information brochure and our flyer for this week. If you have any questions, just let me know.


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- What problem does the woman have?

2- What seems to be true about the woman?

3- What is the man trying to do?


Section 2:

MAN: Oh, hi! I remember you from a few days ago. So, have you decided to join? Apples are still on sale!

WOMAN: Well, I’m not sure yet. I was talking to my neighbour, and she said she is here on a weekly basis. She has four kids, so buying everything in bulk really helps her save money.

MAN: Yes, our store is popular with families since we sell everything in large quantities.

WOMAN: Yes, so she lent me her card to use today. I figure I’ll try it out and see if I like it.

MAN: [Very politely] Oh, unfortunately the membership cards are non-transferable. You would have to come with your neighbour.

WOMAN: So, you mean I can’t even come into the store? Even just to buy one or two items? I’m not interested in those huge boxes of candy or large packages of meat. It’s just my husband and me at home—and we’re vegetarians!

MAN: [Very politely] Sorry, but you’ll have to go talk to the staff at our membership desk. They can help you with membership questions.

WOMAN: [angrily] Well, I hope they can help with complaints!


Now answer questions 4-6.

4- What does the man say about Bulk Club cards?

5- Which item does the woman most likely want to buy at Bulk Club?

6- Why is the woman upset?


Section 3:

WOMAN: [still upset] OK, here’s my card.

MAN: That was fast! I’m glad you decided to join.

WOMAN: Well, I went over there to complain, but then they showed me the different membership options. There is actually a special rate for seniors, so I was only charged half price for the same card.

MAN: Wonderful. And your picture came out nicely, too!

WOMAN: Yes, better than my driver’s license, that’s for sure!

MAN: OK, well here are some coupons we’re giving all our customers today.

WOMAN: More discounts! I’m starting to like this place!


Now answer questions 7-8.

7- Why did the woman decide to join Bulk Club?

8- What seems to be true about Bulk Club cards?


Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between two neighbours.

WOMAN: Hey Jun! I'm looking for someone to take care of my cat while I’m away next week. There’s absolutely no pressure though. I know you’re busy.

MAN: I'd be happy to look after your cat, Tracy! His name is Blue, right? Sometimes he comes over and naps on my doorstep.

WOMAN: Great, thanks! My sister and I are taking a trip to California.

MAN: And you'll be gone for the whole week? Okay, what exactly do I have to do to look after Blue?

WOMAN: Well, I think it'll be better if he just stays at my house. You live right next door, and it's such a hassle when I have to take him to a new place. All you really have to do is feed him twice a day and fill his water dish.

MAN: But he’s an outdoor cat, right? Surely I have to let him in and out of the house, too?

WOMAN: : Well, ideally he’s an outdoor cat, but I don’t want to create extra work for you. He can just stay inside for the week.

MAN: No, no, it’s no problem! I’ll let him in and out of the house when I can. I’m mostly working from home these days anyway.

WOMAN: Are you sure? You'll need to make sure he’s inside when it gets dark. But he stays pretty close to the house, so it’ll be easy for you to find him.

MAN: Sounds good. Does he come when he's called by name?

WOMAN: Usually. If he doesn't, just shake his bag of cat treats!

MAN: Perfect! This actually sounds like fun. I’ve always wanted to experience having a pet, so this will be a great way for me to see what it's like!


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What is the conversation mainly about?

2- Why does the man think her cat is an outdoor cat?

3- What reason does the woman give for suggesting her plan?

4- What detail does the woman worry about?

5- What will most likely happen next?


Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between two office colleagues who are in the lunch room.

M Hey! You weren’t at the staff meeting. You missed an important announcement about the Beverage Club.

W: The Beverage Club? What’s that? Some new catering service? An after-hours drinking group?

M: Neither. Remember that survey I sent out a couple weeks ago, asking what people tend to drink during the day?

W: Yeah, I was wondering about that. I figured it probably had something to do with the upcoming staff retreat; getting everyone’s drink preferences for the caterer or something.

M: Well, actually, you might have noticed we’re running out of room in the fridge, what with everyone having their own bottle of juice or carton of milk or cream for their tea or coffee--

W: Yeah, I frequently see three cartons of exactly the same thing, each with a different name on it--

M: Right, so we’re going to start a Beverage Club. I’ve prepared a list that covers almost everything people drink: juice, regular coffee, gourmet coffee, green tea, regular tea--which, around here, is orange pekoe--and sugar, milk, and cream. We’ll provide it all, so people don’t have to buy their own--we can share.

W: (hesitant) I like the idea... but how are we going to pay for it? I’m assuming management hasn’t volunteered to fund this.

M: (laughs) Not quite! But look, I’ve priced everything on this sheet here. You just add up how many cups of what you drink each day to figure out how much to pay. You pay at the beginning of each month, and then you’re covered.

W: That sounds pretty complicated. Why not just charge everyone the same amount?

M: Because that wouldn’t be fair. Suppose you drink two cups of green tea per day. That’s about 5 cents a day. Someone else might drink six cups of gourmet coffee with cream--that’s almost 10 bucks! Why should you both pay the same?

W: Hmm... Good point…but still, I’m not sure it will work. How will we prevent people from paying for the green tea and then drinking the gourmet coffee? Or paying for one cup and drinking five?

M: I’m pretty sure people around here are a little more honest than that? That would be stealing.

W: Don’t be so sure! Stuff is always going missing from the supply cabinet. People take staples, pens, pads of paper…and they don’t pay a dime for them!


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What does the man explain?

2- How did the man come up with the drinks menu?

3- When are people supposed to pay?

4- Why does the man mention gourmet coffee with cream?

5- What did the man and woman agree about?

6- What does the woman think about people in the office?


Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a popular event.

Halifax attracts visitors all year round, but since 2010, it is particularly busy in fall when the unique event Hal-Con takes place, "Hal" being short for Halifax, and "Con'' short for convention. In Hal-Con's first year there were 1,700 attendees. A mere six years later, an incredible 9,000 delegates crowded into the city for the event. Hal-Con celebrates geek pop-culture, a trend that continues to grow in popularity among those under 40.

To help those unfamiliar with the jargon, we interviewed local organizer Alex Jarvis. He explained that geek pop-culture refers to activities of people interested in science fiction, fantasy, video games, board games, comic books, and elaborate role-playing that involves costumes. Jarvis said that many attendees appear in costumes that boggle the mind. These aren't adult versions of Halloween costumes, but clothes carefully crafted by each individual for a unique role-play character. Gaming for these participants means live enactments, not just computer games.

Not everyone in the city welcomes such unusual events, perhaps fearing an encounter with an unfamiliar dressed-up character, but Hal-Con will return next year with an expected 10,000 attendees, bringing revenue and a dash of colourful excitement.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. They are starting a painting company. The discussion takes place at the house of one of the people.

Devon: So we’ve got to figure out some details about this house painting company that’s of ours. For example, we’re not limiting ourselves to houses, are we? I mean, we’ll also paint porches and outdoor furniture if that’s all people want?

Ren: Sure, I’ll go for that. But then we should reconsider the name of our company. Devon, you should be the one to provide the estimates because you’re good at it. You say a job will take us three days and it does!

Devon: (modestly) It’s just arithmetic. So much per square meter of surface area, plus so much per window.. Alice, you should be the one to meet with prospective clients; you are good at that!

Alice: Okay, I don’t mind. (laughing) I’ll make sure there are no misunderstandings about what we’re supposed to be doing and when.

Ren: When you talk to them, don’t forget to mention dogs. If they have doges, they should keep them inside. On our last job, a dog came rushing out of a house, and it scared me so bad, I almost fell off the ladder! It was huge!

Alice: Speaking of falling off ladders, we should get insurance. Maybe we should all go together, to a few different insurance companies. Find out what kind of policy we need, find out how much it will cost, where we can get the best deal...

Ren: That’s a good idea. And I can be in charge of all equipment. We’ll need to buy new brushes, paint rollers, pans, paint thinner, ladders … Oh, and I should pick up paint samples from all the paint companies.

Alice: And a binder to put them in. That way it’ll be convenient for me to show people what their options are. And a binder will keep the cards clean.

Devon: And speaking of equipment, are we going to hold off on buying our own scaffolding? It’s expensive, and we don’t need it at every job. We can rent it when we need it.

Ren: No, I think we should go ahead and buy it. It’ll be less expensive in the long run.

Alice: But we don’t have room on our truck for all our ladders and scaffolding, do we? Couldn’t we just use our extension ladders?

Devon: Maybe we should hold off on this and make a decision later on. What about the books?

Alice: My sister will take care of that, if you like. But we have to be sure to save all our receipts and make sure we make note of every detail so she can make up the invoices.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about a workplace issue.

In this new age of technology, workplace norms and workplace culture are rapidly changing. Previously, employees were generally expected to commute to a physical office and complete their work in company provided workspaces. Today, with mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, and laptops commonplace, many companies are moving towards more flexible work arrangements, with work hours and work locations no longer being fixed. While many welcome such changes, others are not yet convinced.

Emmanuel Corley, head of operations at Think-Tech Inc., a global corporation, manages a workforce of fifty-two employees. Having held this position for over fifteen years, Corley takes pride in maintaining a productive and enjoyable work environment. He values teamwork and believes that a productive workplace is best achieved when co-workers are friends. Consequently, Corley views the growing 'work from anywhere' trend with trepidation. Not only is it more difficult to supervise workers who are not physically present, but with an entire workforce working from home or some other remote location, there is little opportunity for getting to know one’s co-workers. Corley worries that, while the flexibility of working from anywhere may initially appeal to some, eventually employees will feel isolated and lose their sense of commitment.

However, for Daniel Sage, a computer programmer, mobile working has had an enormous impact on his ability to maintain a healthy work/life balance. A single father, Sage used to miss countless days of work when his children were home sick; this affected not only his productivity, but also how co-workers and managers perceived his commitment to the company. According to Sage, the stress of trying to keep up with home and work commitments was taking its toll on his health. Having spent the past two years working from home, Sage is emphatic that flexible work arrangements are the way of the future. Although he admits to occasionally missing the camaraderie of his colleagues, the benefits of being able to work when and where he wants far outweigh any drawbacks.

Anita Buffill, CEO of Global-Solutions, acknowledges the concerns of Corley; however, she believes that a mobile workforce can be a win-win situation. Not only do employees appreciate the flexibility and control afforded to them, but companies benefit from lower infrastructure costs. If one’s entire workforce works from home, the costs involved in maintaining an office space disappear. Although Buffill admits that switching to mobile work arrangements can pose certain challenges when it comes to employee supervision, she believes that this can be countered by a shift in thinking. At Global-Solutions, employee performance is determined solely by the tangible results they achieve, not the time spent in achieving them.