Listening: Sample Exam

PART ONE

You will hear three different extracts.

For questions 1 – 6, choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best according to what you hear.

There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear a man talking about a new project being launched in a group of small Atlantic islands.

1. What is the main objective of the project?

  A) to raise environmental awareness

  B) to encourage tourism in the islands

  C) to follow the movements of tides

2. What is the speaker’s opinion of the new project?

  A) The idea is over-ambitious.

  B) The approach is innovative.

  C) The experiment is unscientific.

Extract Two

You hear part of an interview with an art critic, in which an exhibition featuring the latest work of photographer Tim Fitzgerald is discussed.

3. What is the art critic’s opinion of Fitzgerald’s latest work?

  A) It demonstrates his lack of artistic range.

  B) It compares favourably with his previous work.

  C) It shows his poor understanding of relationships.

4. The art critic says that Fitzgerald’s pictures in the current show

  A) are unsuitable for rounding off the exhibition.

  B) do not manage to engage the visitor’s interest.

  C) lack artistic originality.

Extract Three

You hear a woman talking on the radio about her favourite piece of music.

5. How does the speaker say she feels when listening to her favourite piece of music?

  A) engrossed

  B) nostalgic

  C) inspired

6. The speaker believes that critics of her favourite music are wrong to

  A) doubt the level of its popularity.

  B) disregard the composer’s skills.

  C) underrate it for its wide appeal.

PART TWO

You will hear a nutritionist talking about the production and uses of mastic, a spice that is found in the Mediterranean area.

For questions 7 – 15, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.

Mastic is collected from a tree which looks like a smaller form of the ___________ 7 tree.

Mastic resin will ______________ 8 only in the region around the Mediterranean. 

Basic tools like _______________ 9 are employed to remove impurities from the mastic.

Crystals of mastic have been referred to as ______________ 10 in literature.

The sale of mastic crystals is handled by a _______________ 11 to ensure that the growers get a fair deal.

It is thought that mastic was first used as ________________12 by ancient peoples.

When mastic is added to ________________ 13 it slows down the melting process.

Flavoured drinks are made in _________________ 14 which have had mastic burned under them.

Some people believe that mastic can help in the treatment of health problems, especially some ________________15 conditions.

PART THREE

You will hear a discussion in which two marine biologists, Gina Kelso and Thomas Lundman, talk about an award-winning television film they made about wildlife in Antarctica.

For questions 16 – 20, choose the answer (A, B, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.

16. Gina’s interest in marine biology dates from

  A) her earliest recollections of life in Africa.

  B) one memorable experience in childhood.

  C) the years she spent studying in England.

  D) a postgraduate research project she led.

17. The first wildlife TV series they both worked on

  A) made use of a previously untried format.

  B) was not filmed in a natural environment.

  C) was not intended to be taken too seriously.

  D) required them to do background research.

18. How did Thomas feel when he was asked to produce the programmes about Antarctica?

  A) disappointed not to be presenting the series

  B) surprised that people thought he was suitable

  C) uncertain how well he would get on with the team

  D) worried about having to spend the winter there

19. When they were in Antarctica, they would have appreciated

  A) a less demanding work schedule.

  B) more time to study certain animals.

  C) a close friend to share their feelings with.

  D) a chance to share their work with colleagues.

20. What was most impressive about the whales they filmed?

  A) the unusual sounds the whales made

  B) the number of whales feeding in a small bay

  C) how long the whales stayed feeding in one area

  D) how well the whales co-operated with each other

PART FOUR

You will hear five short extracts in which different people are talking about taking a gap year – the time which some young people take off from their studies to gain other experience.

TASK ONE

For questions 21 – 25, choose from the list (A – H) what each speaker did during their gap year.

TASK TWO

For questions 26 – 30, choose from the list (A – H) which benefit of having a gap year each speaker mentions.

You will hear the recording twice. While you listen, you must complete both tasks.

A) taught a language

B) travelled widely

C) worked in an office

D) did voluntary work

E) taught a sport

F) worked in a hotel

G) worked as a tour guide

H) went on an organised expedition

Speaker 1 ___ 21

Speaker 2 ___ 22

Speaker 3 ___ 23

Speaker 4 ___ 24

Speaker 5 ___ 25

A) making long-lasting friendships

B) overcoming financial problems

C) increased independence

D) improved linguistic skills

E) dealing with disappointment

F) a renewed sense of adventure

G) a more mature approach to studying

H) a chance to consider future plans

Speaker 1 ___ 26

Speaker 2 ___ 27

Speaker 3 ___ 28

Speaker 4 ___ 29

Speaker 5 ___ 30