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 on a tour bus. The man is part of the tour group, and the woman is the bus tour guide.


Section 1:

MAN: Excuse me, are we stopping at the art museum next? For an hour?

WOMAN: Yes, it has a wonderful collection of eighteenth-century furniture. I think you’ll find it very interesting.

MAN: Yes, I think you’re right, which is why I wanted to ask if we could stay longer. I doubt an hour will be enough time.

WOMAN: I’m afraid we’re on a tight schedule. If we stay longer, we won’t be able to get to the rest of our stops.

MAN: But couldn’t I stay longer? I don’t mind missing the next stop. I really don’t like wine—not really into tasting and drinking. Perhaps you can come back and get me?

WOMAN: Sorry, I’m afraid we can’t do that either. If I approve such a thing for you, everyone will want to be staying longer here and there.


Now answer questions 1-3.

1- Why does the man approach the woman?
2- What exhibit is at the museum?
3- What is true of the bus tour?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Is everyone ready for lunch? We’ll be stopping at a popular vegetarian restaurant shortly.

MAN: Couldn’t we stop somewhere else instead? I’m not sure I like vegetarian food. Maybe we could go to a place that sells burgers and fries?

WOMAN: I’m afraid we’ve already booked a restaurant. With a group this size, it’s hard to find enough tables at the last minute. We also want quick service since we’re on a schedule.

MAN: Yes, but we haven’t paid yet. There are probably other restaurants nearby. Couldn’t we all just go where we want and meet back at the bus at, say, one o’clock?

WOMAN: I’d rather the group stay together, sir. If anyone gets lost or into some kind of trouble—

MAN: I’m sure we can manage. We’re all adults here.

WOMAN: I’m sorry, sir—I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t manage on your own. But accidents can happen, and I’d like to be able to provide help in that case.


Now answer questions 4-5.

4- Why does the man want to change the lunch plan?
5- What is likely the reason for the woman’s response?

Section 3:

MAN: Excuse me, could we go back? I forgot my umbrella at the restaurant.

WOMAN: Oh dear, it’s quite a way back. We wouldn’t be able to keep to our schedule.

MAN: But it is looking like rain, and I’d really like to have my umbrella.

WOMAN: The rest of our stops are indoors, and I’d be happy to lend you my umbrella, sir.

MAN: But I’d really like to go back and get my own umbrella. It’s an expensive one.

WOMAN: What I’ll do right now is call the restaurant and ask them to keep it safe until you can go back on your own. Would that be okay? Or perhaps they’ll send it to you, if you’d give them your address.

MAN: That’s a great idea—thank you! I’d be able to pick it up after the tour. I suppose I can use my raincoat in the meantime.


Now answer questions 6-8.

6- What is likely true about the man?
7- How does the woman help the man?
8- What is the man’s reaction to the woman’s response?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who know each other. The conversation takes place in a park while they are watching their kids play.

MAN: It’s a hot one today, isn’t it?

WOMAN: Yes, it is very hot. Our apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, so I really look forward to being here in the park in the middle of the day!

MAN: Same here, and for the same reason! It’s nice that these benches are in the shade and still close enough to the playground equipment. Minji doesn’t look very happy today—is your daughter ill?

WOMAN: No, Minji’s fine. She wanted to go to the swimming pool, but I said ‘no.’ It’s just too long a bus ride on a hot day like today.

MAN: I know what you mean. You know, I was thinking, before you came, that they should have some sprinklers or fountains here, for the kids to play in. There’s an open space right over there that’s not being used.

WOMAN: They say we’ll be having more hot spells like this . . .

MAN: It could be a lot of fun—there could be water shooting out of different spouts, some stationary and some spinning around . . . We could call it a sprinkler playground! It should be free, of course!

WOMAN: Of course, and you know, letting kids run through sprinklers would probably be a lot more hygienic than letting them swim in a communal pool. I confess I worry about what Minji might catch when she goes swimming at the pool—ear infections, eye infections . . .

MAN: You might be right. The water would continuously wash away. The kids could still wear their bathing suits, but also sneakers or special water shoes.

WOMAN: I suspect a sprinkler playground would use less water than a swimming pool. Did you know that they’re talking about rationing the water again this summer, at least for watering lawns?

MAN: Yes, I heard that. Perhaps I should send my suggestion to the City Parks and Recreation Department.

WOMAN: I think you should! On a day like today, even I’d use it. Just as I am!


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What is the main topic of discussion?
2- What is true of the man’s apartment?
3- Why does the man ask if Minji is sick?
4- Why is the woman reluctant to take Minji to swimming pools?
5- What does the woman think of the man’s suggestion?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a woman needs information about musical instruments.

MAN: Hi, welcome to Music And More. Can I help you?

WOMAN: Hi! Yes, I'm looking for either a guitar or a drum set. It's for my son, for his birthday. He's always wanted either of those two instruments. Could you tell me a little bit about both?

MAN: Has your son played either instrument before?

WOMAN: Well, he had a toy drum set when he was five and loved it so much that he broke it. He's thirteen now. His friends all play guitar and sometimes he tries playing on their guitars, but he's never taken lessons. I'd prefer if he played the guitar. I think drums would be too noisy; our house has very poor sound insulation.

MAN: Well, we have options that will make both you and your son happy. We sell regular drum sets, but if soundproofing is a concern we do sell electronic drums that you can plug headphones into, so then you won’t hear a thing.

WOMAN: Wow! That certainly would be nice. What about guitars?

MAN: You could get a classical acoustic guitar, or an electric guitar. For a beginner, I'd recommend a classical acoustic with nylon strings. Nylon strings are softer on the fingers and are much easier to learn on.

WOMAN: All his friends have electric guitars, so he'd probably want an electric one too.

MAN: The good thing about the electric guitar is that, like electronic drums, he can plug headphones in and you won't hear him practice. However, electric guitars have steel strings. They can be quite painful on the fingers for beginners, and he may get frustrated and give up quickly.

WOMAN: I see. Well there’s quite a few options. Which is the most affordable?

MAN: An electronic drum set would set you back the most. They start at around $700. A beginner electric guitar would be a lot cheaper and a regular acoustic guitar would be the cheapest. We have some nice quality ones that are on sale right now.

WOMAN: I think an electric guitar might be the way to go. I know it has steel strings, but I think he'd get used to it. Could you show me some?

MAN: Certainly! We have a great variety of styles. Please follow me!


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- What musical experience does the woman’s son have?
2- Why does the woman want to buy her son a musical instrument?
3- What was the man trying to do?
4- What solution does the man offer for the drums?
5- Why does the man say the acoustic guitar might be better?
6- Why does the woman think her son will prefer the electric guitar?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about a couple who started a community garden.

Recently arrived residents Mike and Paula Hendricks are delighted that the community garden they started this spring in their townhouse complex in Arnprior, Ontario, has turned out to be a big hit. The couple have been avid gardeners for years. Mike said they were disappointed that there weren’t any nearby community gardens to join. They decided to start their own.

They soon found that almost everyone in the area was enthusiastic about the idea. A team of thirty residents converted a large unused patch of grass into gardening plots. They filled the beds with soil and compost. They also dug a pond to collect rainwater for watering plants.

Now the garden is packed with vegetables, flowers, and people. One resident, Atsuko Tanaka, said that it’s a great place to hang out and socialize with the neighbours. Another man said he was delighted to find that growing his own vegetables cut down his grocery bill. The local wildlife seem to benefit as well. Gardener and biologist John Cheney, who is researching frog populations in the area, is thrilled that the pond is now home to a species of endangered frogs. Paula said there’s something for everyone in the community garden.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation among three co-workers—two men and one woman. They get together in a meeting room to discuss a new work assignment for one of them.

Larry: Tom! Brenda and I want to talk to you about presentations.

Tom: Presentations? What about them?

Brenda: Well, we’re the sales force. We do all the sales pitches. We meet with potential clients on a regular basis and show them our products in hopes to acquire new accounts. And . . . we think that you should come on board.

Tom: You want me to start doing sales pitches? Look, I don’t have the skills or the experience.

Larry: Tom, why would you say that? You started with the company, what, about a year ago as a sales assistant? Since then, you’ve worked in three different departments and you’ve done very well in all three.

Brenda: Absolutely. We’ve been talking with your past and current co-workers to get references, and they all speak very highly of you. You do beautiful charts, top-notch reports, and everybody really seems to like you! How did you manage that, by the way?

Tom: I don’t know, I just help them out when they ask me for things. I try to give them what they need.

Brenda: See? That is the mark of a great salesperson! Identifying the individual’s needs and delivering to their expectations!

Larry: Hold on, Brenda. Tom didn’t seem particularly excited when we offered him the opportunity to start pitching. Now I think it’s important that Tom tell us exactly what it is that’s bothering him.

Tom: Well, it’s a couple of things, really. I don’t feel like I’m competent. What if they ask me questions about our product that I can’t answer? Technical questions?

Larry: I’m sure you know more than you think you know. Plus you’re a great communicator. I don’t think there’s anything here that can’t be solved with a little bit of preparation.

Tom: I’m also not that keen on public speaking. I mean, I’m good one-on-one, but I remember even back at school, when I had to do presentations . . . You know, when you start to blush, and you’re breathing, and your mouth gets dry, and your palms start to get sweaty . . .

Brenda: Tom, I think that you should attend some important sales presentations with our more senior sales representatives. I think that’ll help you get some confidence and be more sure of yourself. It’ll really help you fight that stage fright.

Larry: I agree. A little observation, a little preparation, a little practice—you’d be amazed at how far it can go. You wouldn’t believe how bad I was when I first started.

Brenda: And now he’s winning awards! You mark my words, Tom, you’re gonna follow in his footsteps. Welcome aboard!


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about life in the suburbs.

Suburbs: They're a curious beast. They're neither urban nor rural, and their sole purpose is to provide a space for domestic life. With their homogenous architecture and thematic subdivisions, they're often perceived as ugly. Their visual monotony stems in part from the fact they were meticulously planned—in contrast to city centres, which evolved organically and haphazardly over time, in response to changing economic influences.

But ever since the internal combustion engine revolutionized commuting, the suburbs have attracted the inhabitants of the cramped and chaotic inner city and lured them out to the periphery.

In the 1970s, essayist Narendra Bansal described how this would-be paradise evolved to embody the worst of the post-modern world. Bansal said that suburbanites had opted out of the vibrant urban communities that held society together. She predicted that suburbanites' alienation and boredom would eventually give rise to an anxiety epidemic. This anxiety, she felt, would eventually make suburbanites return to closer-knit, psychologically healthier urban neighborhoods. So in fact, the prefabricated houses and manicured lawns that gave the suburbs their initial appeal would eventually be their downfall. In 2008, suburban sprawl was curtailed by the financial crisis. It was then that Bansal went from disdain to doom-mongering. She famously declared that the death of the suburb was at hand.

This dismal view of suburbia was unwarranted, says demographer Leigh Stevanoic. She maintains that families and professionals are flocking to the suburbs—especially in the developing world, where rapid economic growth has been associated with declining urban density. Stevanoic suggests that as populations gain in wealth, they consume more goods and take up more space. This trend, she says, is proof that we are not witnessing suburbia's demise. Instead, she believes we are witnessing how a growing global middle class is affecting settlement patterns.

Sociologist and bestselling author Manuel Rubio observes that millions of people around the globe are lining up to swap urban frenzy for suburban tranquility. However, Rubio questions whether global suburbia can survive the war on global warming, since car culture is one of suburbia's most persistent features. Meanwhile, in the first world, Rubio sees the young, the bored, and the frustrated turning their collective backs on the white picket fence world they sprang from. To Rubio, this suggests that suburban life satisfies people who are willing to settle for less, but that it can't satisfy the appetites of those eager for material success. Perhaps Bansal's prophecy of mass anxiety is being realized in at least some of the population.

Practice Test B - Listening Transcripts

Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The man is an assistant at a medical clinic, and the woman wants to see a doctor.


Section 1:

WOMAN: Hi. I was hoping you could help me. I’ve never been to this walk-in clinic before. I moved here a few months ago, and I still don’t have a family doctor, but I really need to see one right away.

MAN: Sorry, but you’ll have to take a number and wait to be called. There are a couple people ahead of you. It shouldn’t be too long, though.

WOMAN: Oh, sorry! I didn’t realize I had to take a number. I assumed that since no one was at the counter when I came in, I could just walk up. Where are the number tickets?

MAN: Yeah, it happens all the time. The numbers are just to the left of the door, in the red dispenser. Like I said, it won’t be long. In the meantime, you can take a seat.


Now answer questions 1-2.

1- Why is the woman at this clinic?
2- What does the woman need?

Section 2:

MAN: Number 47 please!

WOMAN: Hi, I’m back. I’d like to see a doctor, please. I’ve been having sharp pains in my stomach for over a week now.

MAN: Okay, I’ll just need to see your provincial health card please . . . And since we don’t have your information on file, I’m going to need you to fill out this patient information form.

WOMAN: Sure. Oh darn, I don’t have a pen. Do you have one I could borrow?

MAN: Yes, here you are. Please bring the form and pen back up when you’re done.

WOMAN: Thank you. Oh wow! There are certainly a lot of questions here!

MAN: You only need to fill it out for your first appointment and then we keep it on file. You can go and sit down and complete the form. It’ll only take a few minutes.

WOMAN: Will it ever!


Now answer questions 3-5.

3- What does the man ask the woman for?
4- What does the man ask the woman to do?
5- How does the woman feel about the form?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Okay, I filled out all the information I could. I don’t really know my family’s history of illnesses, so I just left that section blank.

MAN: That’s all right. Oh, I see you missed this section on the back of the page—the one about your allergies and medications.

WOMAN: Oops, I didn’t realize it was two-sided. Here you go. Do you know how long the wait will be?

MAN: Well, it’s hard to say exactly. But at this point, it’s looking like at least one hour.

WOMAN: One hour! Seriously? This waiting room is practically empty!

MAN: Well, it is flu season. And sometimes people step out for a bit while they’re waiting. There are quite a few names ahead of yours, and only two doctors on duty.

WOMAN: Well, I guess I don’t really have a choice. Let’s hope some of the people who have stepped out just decided to leave.


Now answer questions 6-8.

6- How does the woman feel about the wait time?
7- Why is the wait to see a doctor so long?
8- What does the woman decide to do at the end?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who are friends.

WOMAN: Hi Andy, how are you? I was wondering . . . do you have any plans for tomorrow?

MAN: Not in the morning, no. But in the afternoon, I was going to visit my grandmother at the nursing home. We spend some time together every Saturday.

WOMAN: Oh, I hope she’s not ill. You’re such a thoughtful grandson!

MAN: I suppose, but I don’t do it to be kind or anything. I genuinely enjoy spending time with her. She’s an amazing person.

WOMAN: Then I’d like to meet her some time! Well, since you don’t have plans for the morning, would you like to come with me to pick strawberries? There are two ‘pick your own’ farms nearby, but I go to the one on Carter Road because it has the best strawberries.

MAN: What, exactly, is a ‘pick your own’ farm?

WOMAN: It’s exactly what it says! You go to the farm and buy an empty basket, unless you have your own. Then they take you out into the field, show you which row is ready to be picked next, and you just make your way along the row, filling your basket. When you’ve got as much as you want, you go back, they weigh what you have, and you pay.

MAN: What an excellent idea! I imagine the fruit is cheaper when you pick your own?

WOMAN: Usually, but not always. The same goes for the health factor. I incorrectly assumed that none of the ‘pick your own’ farms used pesticides. Now I know, I only go to the farm on Carter Road.

MAN: Ah. I’ll bet people who make their own strawberry jam get their strawberries at ‘pick your own’ farms, if only because they’d be fresh.

WOMAN: That’s certainly true! Often they take their kids and make a day of it. Some farms even have a play area for the kids.

MAN: Okay, let’s do it! We can take some fresh strawberries to my grandmother in the afternoon! I’ll introduce you!


Now answer questions 1-5.

1- What is the main purpose of the conversation?
2- What does the woman describe to the man?
3- Why does the woman prefer the farm on Carter Road?
4- What is true of pick-your-own farms?
5- What will the woman likely be doing Saturday afternoon?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You are about to hear a conversation between a man and a woman.

MAN: Welcome to the Renters’ Legal Clinic. What brings you here?

WOMAN: Well, when I signed the lease to rent my apartment, my landlord made me pay extra, and I want that money back.

MAN: What fees did the landlord charge you, apart from the first month’s rent?

WOMAN: Well, the rent is $1,000 a month. In addition to that, he collected an equal amount for a “damage deposit,” which he said he’d repay at the end of the lease if the apartment was left in good condition. But what if he finds some excuse not to pay it back?

MAN: Exactly. It’s illegal for landlords to collect damage deposits that are more than half a month’s rent in this province. The landlord should know that. It says so right in the lease agreement. Did you read that part of the contract before you signed it?

WOMAN: No! He rushed through and turned that page really fast, so I didn’t even see where it said that! But can I just not pay the rent for the final month of the lease? The rent is $1,000 a month, so not paying for the last month would be the same as him refunding my deposit, right?

MAN: Mmm, I wouldn’t recommend withholding rent money because then your landlord might come after you for nonpayment. What you should do is write a letter to your landlord requesting that half of the deposit be returned to you.

WOMAN: Ah, so it’s better to be on the offensive?

MAN: Right. I’ll dictate a letter for you to type and sign. The letter warns the landlord that the money was collected illegally and demands that if he doesn’t repay it to you in ten days, you’ll appeal to the Rental Board to recover the money. In that case, there’ll be a hearing in court, and the government will collect the money for you.

WOMAN: Do I have to pay a lawyer?

MAN: Not me—I volunteer my time. You pay the Rental Board. It costs $70 to file a claim—if that becomes necessary. But you’ll get that money back. The landlord will have to pay your deposit, plus the $70 and 6% interest.

WOMAN: Sounds fair.

MAN: Just be sure you send the letter by Registered Mail. That way you can track the delivery online and know whether or not he actually received it.

WOMAN: Okay, let’s get started.


Now answer questions 1-6.

1- Why did the woman go see the man?
2- What was the problem with the woman’s damage deposit?
3- What does the man say the woman should do about her rent?
4- What step will the woman take next?
5- What does the man charge for his services?
6- How should the woman make her request?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about a ring purchase.

Seventeen year old Shauna Bergman made over $1000 this weekend because of her love of thrift store shopping. Bergman was browsing second hand jewelry at her local thrift store on Friday when she found five silver rings with what looked like different shapes of pretty glass set on the top. Shauna bought the set for ten dollars, thinking she’d give them as gifts. When she returned home, however, her mother suggested the stones might not actually be glass but amber. Amber is fossilized resin from trees that are millions of years old. Shauna did some research on how to recognize genuine amber from fake amber. If real amber is rubbed vigorously on fabric, it becomes electrostatically charged and will visibly attract dust particles. Shauna discovered she’d bought six real amber rings. Because the amber had been melted and pressed, it looked like man-made glass. However, a local jeweler confirmed her conclusion, appraised them to be amber and offered her a handsome price. Shauna decided to use the proceeds to finance a trip to Peru.


Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation among three employees. Two men and one woman in a coffee shop. They are discussing something they've noticed in their workplace.

Nick: Hey guys. Thanks for coming for coffee this morning.

Ron: No problem. It's been a while since we got together. We should do this more often!

Claudia: Yeah. It’s really nice to get out of the office once in a while. We work too hard and ignore our breaks!

Nick: True enough. Actually, the reason I got us all together was there’s something I wanted to run by the two of you, something that's been bothering me. It has to do with how devoted we are to our jobs.

Claudia: Hmmm, you've got me curious. Are you going to suggest that we get raises because of our dedication? Good luck with that!

Ron: Hey, some people got raises last year, just not everyone. Didn't you hear about that?

Nick: Yeah, this is actually all connected to what I wanted to talk to you guys about. I've been noticing a lot of favouritism lately.

Claudia: I agree. Just last week the boss hand-picked two of her favourites to go to the programming conference in Montreal. The same two went last year! I mean, what about the rest of us? I’m more qualified; I even asked if I could pay my own conference fees, and just get paid for two days’ work. She still refused.

Ron: Well, we call it favouritism but, according to company policy, it’s perfectly legal. Managers can select anyone they want for any project, even if there’s extra pay or benefits, as long as the length is not more than six months. And managers can pick the same person every time.

Nick: But this policy fosters favouritism! I mean, the managers have no accountability for the decisions they make, and the decisions rarely reflect the quality of work. I had to do some revisions for one of the favourites just last week even though I was completely busy with my own work—I didn’t get any extra pay. Her work was terrible. Maybe we should start a workers’ union.

Claudia: Well, I don’t think a union is the solution. I mean, it may reduce favouritism, but it can produce a whole other set of problems. I think our communication with management is pretty good overall.

Ron: Yeah. I took a risk and talked to the HR manager —he said everything is legal, and that managers would make the best choice.

Nick: So I guess we just have to deal with favouritism then? I mean, we might as well just focus our passion and enthusiasm outside the workplace. We can collect our salary and put our heart and souls into something else.

Claudia: Actually, that’s what I do. I tutor kids that have difficulty reading at my son’s school. It’s really rewarding. Maybe we could freelance, too, add a little money to that satisfaction.

Ron: So I guess it’s decided then. To cope with all this favouritism, we are going to focus our energy outside the workplace. I mean, it’s a sad solution, but I guess it’s going to be the safest one.


Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about a current issue in Canadian universities.

The humanities are a group of academic disciplines that focus on human culture, including subjects like literature, history, and philosophy. A recent Statistics Canada report indicates that 30% of university graduates with a humanities degree are overqualified for the jobs they hold. Many don't even have jobs. Does this mean that students shouldn’t study the humanities—and universities shouldn't bother offering humanities degrees?

If the purpose of universities is to provide career training, then at a glance the future looks grim for the humanities. After all, university is expensive. Many students—along with their tuition-fee-paying parents—expect to eventually receive a reasonable return on their investment. Such students should probably study accounting and engineering instead of literature and philosophy. But this raises the question, "What is the purpose of university?"

Many would argue that universities exist in order to provide a broad education, not job training. That education, they'd argue, should include the humanities. Traditionally, the humanities help produce a citizenry that can distinguish between fact and propaganda, a citizenry not susceptible to the manipulative rhetoric of potential demagogues. However, not everyone considers this outcome desirable—because such a populace is cognitively well-equipped to question the distribution of power and hence potentially disrupt the status quo.

Even if it is the purpose of the university to make students job-ready, it appears that employers still want their workers to have good critical thinking skills. These skills are learned in the humanities. Most philosophy departments, for example, offer a course in critical thinking skills. They also teach ethics, a branch of philosophy that enables people to make reasoned decisions about right and wrong.

And yet, how often do we see an entry-level job ad mentioning a philosophy course as a requirement? Still, when surveyed, today’s employers say they want new hires to have critical thinking skills. However, entry-level workers say that their employers want them to think critically only about certain things. Critical thinking about cost-cutting? Probably. Critical thinking about policies and procedures? Probably not. And as for ethics—workers report that their employers want compliance with the company’s code of ethics.

Employers seem to want it both ways: workers who are job ready and who think critically; workers who think critically about some things but not all things. It seems employers want to have their cake and eat it, too—which is, to many critical thinkers, a logical impossibility. Perhaps in the end it is the employers who need the humanities courses.