Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts - Close

Practice Test A - Listening Transcripts
Voice1:

MAN: Hello. I’m wondering if you could help me, please.

WOMAN: Sure. What can I do for you?

MAN: Well, since spring is here, I need some flowers for the beds at my place. I’m thinking of roses.

WOMAN: Well, we have a wide variety of roses to choose from. Are you thinking of putting roses in all the beds or in just one?

MAN: I’m thinking of just one bed, but I want a variety of them.

WOMAN: You mean you want different varieties of rose, right?

MAN: Yes. That’s right.

WOMAN: Okay. Because that is important. You see, the roses need to be evenly spaced from each other, about two feet apart. This will give them room to grow and spread.

MAN: I see. It’s a small area. Maybe I should measure the bed then.

WOMAN: I think that is an excellent idea. Doing that will give you an idea of how many roses to purchase.

MAN: Alright. Thanks.

Voice2:

MAN: Well, I’m back.

WOMAN: Oh, hi. You measured that bed. Right?

MAN: I sure did. It measures 16 square feet. I believe I have room for nine rose plants.

WOMAN: Yes. That’s right. Have you thought about the arrangement of the plants?

MAN: Yes. I was thinking of laying them out in a three by three grid.

WOMAN: Great. That would be nice, especially if you were to plant three different colors. You wanted different colors. Right?

MAN: Yes. That’s right.

WOMAN: So have you decided on what colors you want?

MAN: Well, no. Not really. I thought I’d see what colors are available and then decide.

WOMAN: We have roses in all different colors. Red, white, pink. Those are the standard ones. But we also have yellow, peach, orange, purple, and others. You might want to think about the colors you want before you buy your roses.

MAN: I’d like to have something a bit out of the ordinary. Perhaps I should discuss this with my wife and see what she wants.

WOMAN: That might be a good idea. We’ll be here when you decide.

Voice3:

WOMAN: Welcome back. Have you decided about the colors?

MAN: Yes. My wife and I have decided that we want pink, orange, and white roses, three of each.

WOMAN: That sounds interesting. Okay. Let’s go select your plants.

MAN: Alright. I’ll take these oranges, these pink, and, oh, these white.

WOMAN: Okay. Shall I ring you up?

MAN: Yes. I’m afraid I don’t have any cash. Will that be a problem?

WOMAN: No. Actually, it won’t be a problem. You can pay by card or check.

MAN: I’ll pay by debit card. Here you are.

WOMAN: Thank you. It will be $35.89. Your pen, please.

MAN: Yes.

WOMAN: It went through. Happy gardening, and thank you for shopping with us.

Voice4:

MAN: Hey, what happened?

WOMAN: You were late for class. I know, but I was only ten minutes late.

MAN: True, but any more late than that, and the professor wouldn’t have let you in. You got lucky. You know how strict he is about timing.

WOMAN: Well, it couldn’t be helped. My car wouldn’t start, and so I had to take the bus.

MAN: What’s wrong with your car?

WOMAN: I’m not sure. It just won’t start. It would grind every time I tried to turn the engine on.

MAN: Does it get power from the battery?

WOMAN: Yes. The lights and radio are working fine. Maybe it’s a spark plug or something.

MAN: Well, sounds like you need to get it fixed.

WOMAN: Ugh. I wish I could, but I don’t have the money right now. I still have to pay for that medical bill from when I broke my arm three months ago.

MAN: How is it now? You got the cast off three weeks ago.

WOMAN: Thanks for asking. It’s still a bit weak, but much better now. The doctor says that I just need to exercise regularly.

MAN: We also need your car. Maybe you could get a friend to look at it.

WOMAN: I might do that. My brother has a friend who can fix cars. Maybe I can do something in trade.

MAN: Well, then you should call your brother.

Voice5:

WOMAN: Wow. It’s great to meet you. I’m a student chef, and I’m interested in foods that are uniquely Canadian.

MAN: Well, I specialize in Canadian foods. I’ve been a professional chef in some of Canada’s top rated restaurants for over twenty years, but now I own my own restaurant.

WOMAN: Wow. So when it comes to Canadian dishes, for me, a lot of the dishes that were derived from Canadian indigenous people stand out. You cook dishes like pemmican and bannock, but I’m really very interested in poutine. What can you tell me about it?

MAN: Well, it was a dish that originated from Quebec sometime during the nineteen fifties. It was believed to have come from the central area of that province, particularly in the Centre De Quebec area. Since then, it has spread across the nation as well as The United States.

WOMAN: It’s a yummy dish and one of my favorites. I’ve had different varieties, but could you tell me what the basic ingredients?

MAN: Certainly. It consists of French fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy. The fries make up the first layer and are topped with cheese curds. Next, the gravy is poured over the dish.

WOMAN: Oh, how interesting. Can you tell me more about its origin?

MAN: Sure. You know, poutine is considered the quintessential Canadian dish, but as I said, it originated in Saulteaux De Québec. Now several restaurants from the area claimed to be the inventor of the dish, but no consensus exists. All we know for certain is that it came from that region in Quebec.

WOMAN: What do we know besides that information?

MAN: Well, during the nineteen fifties when poutine was first being served, we know it was originally consumed in small, greasy spoon type diners and hockey arenas. Up until more recently, say, the turn of the century, its consumption has been more widespread. So today, you can find poutine in all types of restaurants, from fancy dinner houses to diners to street vendors.

WOMAN: There was a time when poutine was looked down upon, if I remember correctly.

MAN: Yes. You’re right. It was for long mocked as a culinary invention and even used as a means of ridiculing Quebec society in order to reduce its legitimacy as an authentic dish.

WOMAN: That’s surprising to know since it’s enjoyed throughout Canada.

MAN: That’s a good point. Today, poutine is enjoyed in many annual poutine festivals in Quebec, the rest of Canada, and in The United States. It’s even served in Japan.

Voice6:

WOMAN: When it comes to fighting fires, you are never too old to lend a hand. That’s what one senior citizen is proving in her community. Wilma Flint, age 68, has been volunteering at her local fire station for the past fifteen years, and she is still going strong.

More than that, she states that it’s the best job she has ever done and the longest too. She and her husband moved to the community eighteen years ago, and they decided to volunteer together.

Her husband Dave, aged 76, retired from volunteering two years ago. According to Flint, it was her idea to volunteer, and it was not only a way to give back to the community, but also a way to meet their neighbors and integrate into the community.

She states that when they decided to move to the tiny rural community, it was such a hassle to leave behind the urban life. There was a great need to help the fire department. So the Flints took the plunge.

Even though her husband has retired, she plans to keep volunteering as long as she is physically able. This means that when the fire pager signals, she’s off to the fire station where she puts on her gear, boots, helmet, and all. Just like any other firefighter.

She has done various jobs with the fire department, including dispatch and clerical work. Her current assignment is that of a staging officer, which is a support role in which she joins the firefighters at an incident and makes sure that everyone is accounted for and is safe.

Video:

WOMAN: Alright. We need to discuss the benefits we want to offer our employees. There’s a lot we can do, but we also have to consider our operating budget. So there are things which are already offered, like contributions to a retirement plan.

MAN1: Most people want health insurance. Even though they are enrolled in the provincial health care system, many have come to me stating that they want insurance to pay for the things that aren’t covered under the provincial system.

MAN2: You know, I like that idea, Jeff. Moreover, the provincial plan doesn’t cover dental care and some basic routine tests, which people want.

MAN1: Mary, Sam is right. We should offer such insurance to our employees.

WOMAN: Alright. But like I said, we need to watch our bottom line. We essentially have two options in terms of funding the policy we ultimately choose. We can either pay in full or share the cost with the employees.

MAN1: That’s a big issue. I know that Johnson Mercantile offered full insurance, but it cost them so much that they had to shift. Now they split the cost. The company pays 50% and their employees pay the other half.

WOMAN: Well, sharing the cost sounds like a good idea. So, first we should decide how the company will contribute and how much the employees will pay.

MAN2: You know, we could do that. It would give us an idea of how much we’re willing to spend.

WOMAN: Alright. Shall we set the amount? I think we should consider $50.50 a share on monthly premiums.

MAN1: Mary and Sam, I’m inclined to wait. I think it would be more prudent to learn what plans are available first. From there, we’ll have a better idea of cost and then we can decide about the contribution.

MAN2: Okay. But shouldn’t we go ahead and at least set a number?

MAN1: No, I don’t think so, Sam. When we know more about the plans, we’ll be more informed to make a better decision.

WOMAN: Okay. Sam, since you are head of HR, you will contact our insurance broker about the different plans. Are we set?

MAN2: Okay.

MAN1: I think so.

Voice7:

WOMAN: One of the major concerns facing voters in Alberta is unemployment and the status of jobs across the province. According to recent statistics, the unemployment rate for Alberta is set at 6.4%, the fourth highest in the nation.

While this might seem good compared to the rest of the nation, it is still troublesome for thousands of Albertans who are either not working or not working enough. This was the central issue pointed out by the conservative party leader Bruce Anders in a recent debate.

According to Anders, there is great need to discuss this issue, but more importantly to find solutions which will get Albertans back to work.

Political commentator, Annabelle Judith, who has been watching the elections and the campaigns, notes that while the issue regarding unemployment is real, it’s sad to see how the parties are politicizing it. So far she has yet to hear a viable plan from all parties contesting the election.

The parties have come up with ideas, but there are no plans being offered. Anders in his speech has hinted at a plan that is being worked out by his party, but points out that inputs are being gathered from business leaders, social service organizations, and the community at large.

Four years ago, Alberta’s unemployment was 5.1%, and while it took several weeks for the average worker to find employment, today on average, it takes approximately two months to find a steady job.

This means that any solution being put forth must consider the long term effects. Economist Michelle Banks, who focuses on labor issues reckons this as the reality for Alberta.

She states that unemployment is going to be a chief issue throughout the province for decades, and this should be the focus for any job plan introduced. This is echoed by Judith, who states that all parties must look for continued growth in jobs. She points out that while any plan put forth is likely to create new jobs, the focus must be on the long term.

If they don’t do anything, then job recovery is going to be much slower than that is hoped for. She’s also quick to point out that any solution won’t suddenly bring about a lot of jobs and is unlikely to bring any significant shift in job creation once the election is over.

She notes that this is due to the lack of any well thought plan by all the contestants. Banks is likely to agree. She suggests that both the public and politicians focus on the long term rather than the current fluctuating rates.

She states that the current approach is the band aid focus in which quick fixes are employed. She suggests that the major industries and policy makers should focus on economic growth and development in the long term.

She states that it’s vital that representatives from the different industries come forward because they are going to be the primary players in creating new jobs.