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 at a veterinary clinic. The woman is a veterinarian, and the man is a pet owner.


Section 1:

MAN: Hi, Dr. Anderson. This is my cat, Tiger. Tiger, meet Dr. Anderson.

WOMAN: Hello, Tiger. Aren’t you a lovely cat.

MAN: I’m really worried about her. She’s usually so playful, but this past week all she’s been doing is scratching herself. Her claws are sharp, and she’s hurting herself. Look, here.

WOMAN: I see what you mean. Is Tiger an indoor or an outdoor cat?

MAN: Mostly outdoors. I let her stay outside at night.

WOMAN: These marks look like flea bites. If Tiger’s going outdoors, it’s almost certain that she’s picked up fleas. I’ll give you some medication to kill them. Apply it to her skin—right here—once a month for three months.

MAN: Okay. Will the fleas get into my house?

WOMAN: Well . . . fleas only live on animals. After Tiger receives the medication, they can’t live on her anymore, so they’ll die. But you should vacuum and clean every day to get rid of any flea eggs. If need be, I can always give you a product to apply to your rugs and furniture.


Now answer questions 1-2.

1- What is the main problem with Tiger?
2- What advice did the veterinarian give the man?

Section 2:

MAN: We’re back! So I used the medication, but Tiger’s still been scratching a lot since her last appointment. At first, she started getting better, but now she’s getting worse.

WOMAN: Hmm. [Pause] Ooh . . . yes, I see what you mean. That must hurt. Did you give her the medication once a month, for three months?

MAN: Yes . . . [Pause] Well . . . okay, maybe I missed the last dose. It just slipped my mind. And I guess I only got around to vacuuming once.

WOMAN: You really have to give her three doses of the medication over three months . . . and you need to vacuum every day. Here are another three doses. You can pay the receptionist.

MAN: Okay, thanks. I promise I’ll be more on top of things this time. Sorry about that.

WOMAN: Okay. And think about keeping her inside at night.


Now answer questions 3-5.

3- Why did the man have to come back?
4- Which statement best describes Tiger’s owner?
5- Why did the owner apologize to the vet?

Section 3:

WOMAN: How’s Tiger today? Still scratching? [Pause] I see you trimmed her claws.

MAN: No more fleas! But it’s weird . . . she’s gaining a lot of weight, even though she’s eating more or less the same amount as usual.

WOMAN: Hmm. She hasn’t been spayed yet, has she?

MAN: Right, no surgery yet. She’s too young to get pregnant.

WOMAN: Where’d you hear that? Actually, cats can get pregnant even at six months of age. [Pause] From the way her abdomen feels, I’d say Tiger’s going to be a mother soon.

MAN: You’re kidding! That’s the last thing I expected.

WOMAN: If she’s going to keep going outdoors, you really need to get her spayed. It’s a simple operation; I can do it after she gives birth. In the meantime, you have some things to do.


Now answer questions 6-8.

6- Why did the man bring Tiger back?
7- How did the man react to the vet’s new information?
8- What should the man do next?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation about donating items to a thrift store.

MAN: Julie, is that you? We’re going to be late to Susan and Anthony’s housewarming party!

WOMAN: Yes, it’s me, who else would it be? I was just getting groceries on the way home. You sound upset. Is something wrong?

MAN: I can’t find my favorite grey shirt, the one with the stripes. Did you put it somewhere? It’s not in the laundry or the closet.

WOMAN: Uh oh… I think I donated that one to the thrift store last week. You said you didn’t wear it anymore!

MAN: No, that was the solid grey one with the stained collar that I don’t wear anymore; the one with the stripes, I just bought recently, and it was on sale, too!

WOMAN: I’m sorry! We should make an agreement to always check with each other before we give things away or sell them. Remember last fall when you sold my tennis rackets at the garage sale and didn’t tell me?

MAN: Well, you never play tennis. You haven’t played tennis since Mary was born. That striped shirt, I’ve been wearing all the time!

WOMAN: That’s not true. I played tennis at least three times last summer, thank you very much! I played with your sister when she came to visit from London. Anyways, let’s not fight.

MAN: You’re right, fighting gets us nowhere. Okay, it’s a deal. We’ll make an effort to ask each other from now on. I guess I’ll just wear a different shirt today… I’ll wear my old blue one.

WOMAN: That blue one looks great on you, anyways. You look so handsome.

MAN: Well, you have to say that, since you gave the other one away!

WOMAN: No, it really does bring out the color of your eyes! Anyways, I need to have a shower and get ready. Were we supposed to be there at 7:00? That doesn’t leave me much time. Do you mind unpacking the groceries while I shower?

MAN: Yes, of course. Here, pass me the bags. You go get ready.


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What is the relationship of the speakers?
2- How is the man feeling at the start of the conversation?
3- What are they going to do that evening?
4- What were the speakers talking about?
5- Why does the woman like the man’s shirt?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation about renting an apartment.

WOMAN: Oh, hello. I saw a sign on the front door about apartments available in this building.

MAN: Uh huh.

WOMAN: It said to speak to the building manager in the administration office. The front door was open, so I thought I’d just come in and ask.

MAN: Well, you’re talking to the right person. Which one are you interested in?

WOMAN: I’m not sure which would be better. The sign said Apartments 1 and 2 are both 850 square feet, but one’s a one bedroom and the other’s a two bedroom, so I’m a bit confused.

MAN: Apartment 2 has two separate bedrooms, each with its own door—a sort of closed floor plan if you will. Apartment 1 has what we call an open floor plan. The living room and one big bedroom are adjoined like they’re one big room.

WOMAN: That type of layout sounds like a bachelor apartment to me.

MAN: Yeah, except that the bedroom area is really big, and there’s sort of an archway between the living room area and the bedroom area. It’s easy to separate them with a curtain or room divider.

WOMAN: I see. Well, the apartment is just for me, and I like open spaces I can use in a flexible way. However, having a second bedroom might also be useful. And the move-in date would be July 1st with a one-year lease?

MAN: Yup. Everything’s newly renovated. New carpets, new paint, and all the appliances—fridge, stove, washer/dryer—are brand new. But it’s a walk-up—there’s no elevator. Apartment 1 is on the ground floor and Apartment 2 is on the top floor.

WOMAN: I think I’d prefer to be on the ground floor, as long as there aren’t any tap dance rehearsals going on right above me. Who’s the upstairs tenant?

MAN: The lady in the apartment above you is retired—really quiet and is hardly ever home. I can show you Apartment 1 around 3:00 p.m. if you’d like. Can you wait an hour?

WOMAN: Sure. I’ll go for coffee and come back. See you at 3:00.


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- Where does the conversation occur?
2- Who is the woman talking to?
3- What is the man’s plan for the apartment?
4- What is the difference between the two apartments?
5- What does the man say about the upstairs tenant?
6- On what basis does the woman make her choice?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a stolen wallet.

A tourist in downtown Vancouver got the last laugh yesterday when pickpockets stole his wallet. Gregory Willis was about to rent bikes to tour Stanley Park with his wife when he noticed his wallet was missing. He recalled he’d been in a jostling crowd earlier that day watching a street magician performance when someone had bumped into him, but he’d taken little notice of the incident. Undaunted, Mr. Willis headed to the nearest police station and said he knew exactly where his wallet was. He’d attached a GPS chip, a small tracking device that uses the global positioning system to pinpoint location, on the inside of the wallet. Willis explained he had initially bought the chip to track their dog on their 20-acre ranch in Washington state, but had decided to take it on vacation as a precautionary measure against loss or theft. The GPS chip certainly did come in handy as the Willises, in the company of two policemen, were able to locate the wallet 30 blocks away where a group of teenagers were loitering at a park. The young thief was more than surprised when the officers showed up to arrest him.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three co-workers in a business office. They are talking about something unusual that is happening outside.

MAN 1: So Jeanette, looks like you bought yourself a nice present. It’s a pretty shiny new set of wheels in your parking spot. Is that a custom paint job?

WOMAN: Yeah! I love my new car, but I hate what’s happening to it in the parking lot! You know that tree that hangs over my parking space? It’s dropping this weird sticky stuff all over the hood of my car.

MAN 1: That’s an ash tree. I could tell by the shape of the leaves. There’s these little bugs called aphids. They suck the nectar from the leaves, and produce this sticky stuff. It’s called honeydew.

WOMAN: Ugh, those things are so gross. It dries and hardens in the sun, and it’s almost impossible to get off my car. It’s wrecking the paint job! I’m going to ask the maintenance crew if they can just get rid of that tree.

MAN 1: Yeah, they would need a permit first though, or else the City can fine up to ten thousand dollars. It’s actually illegal to remove a tree unless it poses a hazard. It could fall on a house of a power line. The City says, usually just treat it with insecticides.

MAN 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t want to park where they’re spraying chemicals. If it’s toxic for the aphids, it’s probably toxic for you too, not to mention ladybugs, birds, fish. . . .

WOMAN: Argh, maybe we could just find a way to kill the tree. Then at least they can chop it down.

MAN 2: Whoa, that’s extreme. All they need to do is wash the aphids off the leaves. You know, they just need a hose that shoots a powerful stream of water. The aphids will fall off onto the ground and die. There’s no food for them on the lawn.

MAN 1: Yeah, but that tree looks a little tall for a garden hose. It’s got to be at least 50 feet. And I don’t think the maintenance department usually deals with that kind of stuff. They’d probably want to call in a tree care company. They can decide what to do.

WOMAN: Well, I’ve thought about parking on the street. But I’d have to come in at like 6:00 a.m.

MAN 2: Look, just send an email to Charlie in the maintenance department. He’s very accommodating. Maybe he can arrange for an eco-friendly contractor to deal with the aphids. In the meantime, I’m sure he can find you a different parking space.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about the use of electronic textbooks within post-secondary institutions.

Welcome, and thank you for attending this week’s lunchtime lecture. I am Professor Menendez, and our discussion today will be exploring the use of electronic textbooks within post-secondary institutions. To start, I will present the views of three professors at Riverbridge University.

Law professor Maria Bloomfield is one of several professors who has decided to completely eliminate print textbooks from her courses, arguing that their exorbitant cost adds an unnecessary financial burden on students who are already under heavy financial strain. While Bloomfield recognizes that certain costs, such as those associated with copyright, are unavoidable, she asserts that there are ways to cut corners. She proposes that professors create their own electronic textbooks; a move which, by avoiding the intermediary of a publishing company, could significantly reduce costs. Currently she is collaborating with several colleagues in order to create an e-textbook for an introductory course in law; something which she contends will save students thousands of dollars.

However, Ellen Bowler, a sociology professor at Riverbridge, has stated that she has no intention of tossing her print textbooks anytime soon. She argues that, although Bloomfield’s motives are honourable, requesting professors to produce their own textbooks is unrealistic. Between teaching, research, and administrative obligations, the workload of any university professor is already extremely demanding. To request that professors develop a course textbook, in addition to their regular duties, is simply not feasible. The development of a textbook, albeit digital, involves extensive research, writing and reviewing - tasks which are time consuming and should result in compensation. However, Bowler does not expect that professors would see any increase in salary if they developed their own textbooks.

While Bloomfield acknowledges that her proposal would lead to extra work, she asserts that the effort is worth it. In this digital age, the manner in which knowledge is communicated is rapidly changing, and universities, she argues, must keep up. Publishing a print textbook takes a significant amount of time from start to finish, often resulting in the inclusion of out-of-date information. However, with the speed in which information can be updated in an electronic text, professors are better able to provide students with current and accurate information.

Although history professor Marty Brown sees the potential of e-textbooks, he disagrees with professors teaching from texts that they have written themselves, arguing that, by doing such, there is a risk of students not being exposed to the multitude of perspectives in their field. Furthermore, he insists that many students actually prefer printed textbooks to electronic ones. Accordingly, he suggests that professors assign course readings that are available in both print and electronic form, leaving the choice to the students.

Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving
You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman in a clothing store. The man is a salesperson, and the woman is a shopper.


Section 1:

WOMAN: Can I ask your opinion? Both these shirts fit me . . . but which one suits me better?

MAN: I think they’d both look great on you.

WOMAN: Mmmm. But I’m going to buy only one of them. I can’t decide. On this one, the neckline really suits my height, and the light colour goes well with my hair. But this other one’s darker and more formal, which I like, too.

MAN: Hmm. Where will you be wearing the shirt?

WOMAN: The office. I’ve been promoted and I’ll need some clothes for meetings with clients.

MAN: Then maybe . . . dress to fit the situation and go with the more formal one?

WOMAN: Yes . . . but I want to make an impression. I need something that looks really good on me.

MAN: Hmm. Tough decision. They’re both good picks.

WOMAN: I think I’ll take the lighter one. I like it better. I like the price better, too.

MAN: I’ll ring it up for you.


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- What did the shopper buy?
2- What best sums up the salesperson’s advice?
3- Which style did the shopper choose?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Excuse me, I bought this shirt here recently, but I’m bringing it back. Here’s the receipt.

MAN: Thanks . . . [pause] I’m sorry, this receipt is from last month. You bought the shirt almost two weeks ago. I’m afraid we give refunds only within one week of the date of purchase. But we could still give you store credit.

WOMAN: No, actually, all I want is to swap this shirt for one I like better.

MAN: Oh! You want to exchange it. In that case, by all means. You can exchange the shirt for an item of equal or lesser value.

WOMAN: Well that works out well. I know exactly which one I’m after. I think it was a bit more expensive, though.

MAN: Which shirt was it? Was it over here?

WOMAN: That dark one over there. Size 32, please.


Now answer questions 4-6.

4- Why did the shopper come back?
5- What is one of the store’s policies on returned items?
6- What did the salesperson do?

Section 3:

MAN: Here you go. Oh, look, this shirt’s on sale. Now it costs less than the one you’re bringing back!

WOMAN: Really?! That’s a good deal.

MAN: But remember, it’s an exchange, so I can’t give you any money back. You may as well pick up something else, too. How about a belt?

WOMAN: Uh, let me think . . . I really don’t need anything else.

MAN: Earrings, perhaps? Or a scarf?

WOMAN: I think I’ll just get . . . these socks here. You can never have too many socks.

MAN: All right then. With the socks, the difference is $3.45. How would you like to pay?

WOMAN: By cash: toonies and quarters.


Now answer questions 7-8.

7- What did the shopper buy?
8- Which statement is true of the shopper?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation about a very busy weekend.

MAN: Good morning, Sue. How was your weekend?

WOMAN: Ugh, it’s all a blur. It started on Friday night with my younger son’s baseball award ceremony. It was nice to see him get his trophy, but I have to confess it was tough sitting through 3 hours of trophy presentations.

MAN: I’ll bet. Did you get to relax a bit after that?

WOMAN: Saturday morning, I was up at 6:00 a.m. to take my other son and his friends to hockey practice. It was my weekend for carpool duty. Hockey’s not really my thing, you know, but we have to show our support for the kids.

MAN: Well, at least the arena’s indoors. My wife and I used to freeze to death on the soccer field watching our kids’ matches in the rain or snow. How was the rest of your weekend?

WOMAN: We spent what was left of Saturday getting ready for my daughter’s birthday party—baking the cake, preparing the games, stuffing the pinata, filling up loot bags, blowing up a zillion balloons, decorating the living room... So Sunday was utter chaos. It took 3 hours to have the party... and 6 hours to clean up the mess!

MAN: When my kids were little, I always felt lucky they were born in summer. Their birthday parties were always outdoors—the park, the carnival, the beach, the go-cart track, the campground... That way, the kids never wrecked my house.

WOMAN: Lucky you! My kids’ birthdays are in January and February. Maybe next year instead of letting them wreck my house, I should send them outside to play in the snow.

MAN: Or the ice arena... Maybe you should learn to play hockey with them. Anyway, here you are back at the sweat shop to do some “real” work, eh?

WOMAN: Trust me, coming here feels like play compared to what I do at home.


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- How are the speakers related?
2- How was the woman’s weekend?
3- What do the woman and the man agree on?
4- What does the woman say about her job?
5- Overall, what is the woman expressing?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation about a massage service for office workers.

WOMAN: Hi there! Welcome to Wellness Massage and Spa. How are you today?

MAN: Very well, thank you. I’m organizing a corporate event for my company and my boss has requested something a little different this time. A co-worker said she gets massages here, and she recalled that you offer on-site workplace massage therapy. Is that right?

WOMAN: Absolutely! You’ve come to the right place. We specialize in providing mobile effective stress relief and therapeutic chair massages. Studies of ongoing office massage programs have shown that regular massage sessions result in better performance and decreased job stress and anxiety.

MAN: Sounds like what every workplace needs! I’ve always thought that massage would be a good component of a company’s success strategy. It’s good to keep workers happy. Is it like a normal spa massage?

WOMAN: No, it’s quite different. Our practitioners come to your workplace with portable ergonomic massage chairs. You stay fully dressed, but of course you can remove your suit jacket and tie to be more comfortable. We never use oils. We do, however, bring music to set a soothing atmosphere for relieving tension.

MAN: What’s an ergonomic chair?

WOMAN: It’s designed so that the client’s chest and head rest on support cushions, which reduces pressure on the hips and spinal column. One of the biggest complaints of office workers is tension in the neck and shoulders. Our practitioners work on these areas to relieve stress symptoms.

MAN: Great. Now, I should inquire, is office chair massage covered by an extended health care plan, and are your practitioners fully insured?

WOMAN: Yes, our practitioners are fully certified and insured. However, unless your health care plan includes individual discretionary funds, which usually cover things such as fitness memberships, it won’t be covered by your plan. We are certified massage practitioners, but not massage therapists. We focus on relaxation and stress reduction, rather than treatment of specific injuries.

MAN: I see. Well, that’s not a problem. I’d like to book your company. Anything else I need to know?

WOMAN: Wonderful! Fees and prices are listed in our booklet right here. There’s quite a range of options, depending on how many practitioners you would like to hire. Let me show you.


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What does the man want from the woman?
2- How did the man meet the woman?
3- How will the man’s company use the massage services?
4- What will workers need to do for the massage?
5- Why does the man ask about health plan coverage?
6- What does the man expect to result from massage services?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a lost ring.

Sarah Hunter is smiling again, now that her engagement ring is back on her finger where it belongs. Last Saturday, Sarah was attending an art class when she decided to remove her engagement ring and put it in her jacket pocket. After her class, she took a box of old clothing, including the jacket, to be sold in the local second-hand store. Later that day, Sarah suddenly realized her mistake. She immediately called the thrift store only to discover that her jacket had just been sold. “I honestly never expected to see my engagement ring again,” said Sarah. Surprisingly, the young girl who purchased the jacket soon discovered the ring and promptly brought it back to the thrift store. Sarah was astonished and thrilled at the return of the ring, which is valued at five thousand dollars. Sarah immediately contacted the young girl, a music student at Fairmont College, and thanked her for being so honest. The young girl quietly explained, “I knew that I’d feel devastated if something like this had happened to me, so I had to return it.” Fortunately for the young girl, Sarah’s fiancé performs in a popular rock group and has given her front row tickets to his sold out concert scheduled for next month.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people who belong to a singles’ social club. They are planning a group trip to Montreal.

WOMAN: So, as of today we have six members signed up for our Montreal trip. I’m still waiting to hear back from four others. Everyone wants to keep round-trip travel costs to $100 a person.

MAN 1: The cheapest weekend train fare you can get this time of year is $300 a person, round trip. And that’s the seniors’ rate for ages 55 and up! Only some of us fall into that age group.

MAN 2: Well, $300 is a lot more than I intended to pay. Is that a group rate?

MAN 1: No, that’s the individual rate for up to six seniors . . . We only have six people signed up so far. If ten or more people sign up, we qualify for the group rate.

WOMAN: Now, the problem with the train is that it leaves from Central Station. And with all the downtown traffic congestion, it can be hard for people to get to, especially if they’re not one of the few urban dwellers among us . . . or unless they live near public transit. Is it possible that we can catch the train somewhere near our homes?

MAN 1: I’ll have to get back to you on that. I do know that in order to qualify for the group discount, we’d all have to board and disembark at the same station!

WOMAN: Hmm. That’s not so great. Would we be able to rent a van? That way, we can pick up and drop off people right at their doorsteps.

MAN 2: Well, for seven to fifteen people, we could rent a passenger van. You wouldn’t have to pay me to drive it. But I would have to get back to you with a quote about the rental cost. But if we had, say, sixteen to twenty-four people, we could charter a small tour bus and hire a driver.

MAN 1: But wouldn’t a bus take longer than the train? We’ve only got a three-day weekend!

MAN 2: Well, a nonstop train gets you there in five hours; we know this for sure. The bus would only take longer if we decided to take breaks along the way. But sightseeing breaks are a bonus. We all agreed on that. I mean, that’s one reason we chose not to go by air in the first place.

MAN 1: One of the downside of chartering a bus is it would cost thousands of dollars, and we’d have to pay the driver. We’d have to fill every seat to make it cost effective.

WOMAN: Okay, so . . . highway or railway? In terms of price, it sounds to me like six of one, half a dozen of the other. It really depends on how many people we can get. Once we know that, we can firm up pricing.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about urban chicken bylaws.

Sarah Chang, manager of the Vancouver Animal Shelter, says it’s time for the feathers to fly at City Hall over the issue of backyard chicken farming. Chang is petitioning the city to revoke a two-year-old bylaw allowing city residents to raise poultry. The law was initially brought before city council by ecologically-minded Vancouverites ultimately seeking to help the environment by producing a homegrown alternative to factory-farmed eggs. While most residents supported the initiative, critics were concerned about the potential for excessive noise, predatory wildlife, poor sanitation, and even bird flu. But Chang’s primary concern was the birds themselves. She feared backyard poultry farming would cause an influx of abandoned chickens on animal shelter doorsteps—a prediction which she confirms has come to pass.

But Bruce Webster, an activist and poultry expert who spent 5 years battling city council to allow urban chickens, has no intention of seeing the bylaw overturned and his own pair of hens exiled from the city. While Webster admits the city has seen some predatory coyotes and abandoned hens, he stresses larger food issues. Ensuring access to food is a major concern throughout the world, and even Canada is not invulnerable to hunger and food supply problems. Webster points to the growing need for food banks in urban centres. One solution, says Webster, is local food production, and backyard chicken coops are a part of it.

Also a supporter of local food production, Chang argues that it shouldn’t come at the cost of animal welfare. Many well-intentioned city dwellers start raising chickens, only to discover they’re far more work than expected. Most chickens lay eggs for just two of their ten year lifespan, which, for many urbanites, amounts to too much work for too little payoff. The result, says Chang, is that hundreds of chickens end their lives in crowded, underfunded animal shelters. Many are euthanized. Chang also questions whether urban chicken farming actually aids those in genuine need of access to affordable food. After all, raising fowl generally requires a backyard. Vancouverites lucky enough to have one tend to be upper middle class homeowners who could afford to buy—and don’t really need to raise—organic free-range poultry products.

So, should the urban chicken bylaw be revoked? City councillor Rita Jones thinks the bylaw just needs more teeth. In addition to the existing limit of 4 hens and the ban on noisy roosters, Jones wants routine government inspections, fines for abandonment, and a requirement that wannabes first receive training. Educating prospective chicken owners about what’s involved, says Jones, would weed out negligent ones before their livestock meet the same demise as the city’s unwanted pets.