PRACTICE TEST 2

Part 1 (page 13)

Narrator: You will hear people talking in eight different situations. For questions 1-8, choose the best answer
(A, B or C).
1. You hear someone talking to her friend. What is she going to do?
A interview an actor
B appear on a chat show
C go to a film premier
Woman: I’ve chatted to him once but that was for a student magazine before he left for Hollywood. He played
the lead, as you must know, in Lost World and he’s back over here for the premier at the film festival.
My magazine’s got me 10 minutes with him the following morning. I want to focus on how suddenly
becoming famous affects you, and I wonder if he’ll remember me at all. I don’t suppose so – it
was a few years ago. I expect he goes to so many events and meets so many people. How would he
remember me?
Narrator: 2. You hear a man talking to a friend. What kind of job is he looking for?
A temporary
B full-time
C part-time
Man: Well, since last June, when I lost my job with that computer company, I’ve been looking for
something. You know, something I’d really enjoy. I quite liked working at the hotel, but that was
seasonal for the summer – just to get by really. And then I started my course, so I was just doing a
few hours a week, bar work and stuff. It wasn’t enough, though. But now I’ve got my certificate I
want a proper job with career prospects. But it’d have to be something I’d want to do in the long term.
Narrator: 3. You overhear a woman talking to her friend. Why is she upset with her husband?
A He went to a sporting event.
B He paid a lot for tickets.
C He didn’t get a ticket for her.
Woman: So I said, “Are you mad? You don’t turn down offers like that.” I mean, there are people who pay a
fortune for tickets to something like that and he said no – it wasn’t his sort of thing. Of course, if it
were football, he’d be off like a shot. But it didn’t cross his mind that I might want to go. Goodness
knows when I’ll get the chance to go to Wimbledon – and I don’t work with anyone who could get
me in for free, do I?
Narrator: 4. You hear this traffic announcement on the radio. Why will drivers have problems travelling
north?
A It’s market day.
B The road is being repaired.
C The road is closed this morning.
Announcer: All roads leading into town are pretty busy this morning, and as it’s Tuesday, there’s the usual
disruption caused by market day. The A32 should also be avoided because of roadworks, which
means some lanes will be closed all day. The police have advised motorists to use alternative routes
north. If you ask me though, the best thing to do is to stay at home, turn on the radio and enjoy the
music …
Narrator: 5. You switch on the radio and hear this advertisement. What is being advertised?
A bath products
B a health club
C a holiday

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Announcer: Getting rid of stress needn’t cost a fortune. Forget health club fees and expensive beauty treatments
at a hotel spa. You can treat yourself in the comfort of your own home. Refreshing, relaxing – you
choose the oils according to your mood and simply add them to the water and enjoy the smell of
forest leaves to clear your mind, mountain flowers to help you sleep, or even the tang of sea water to
make you feel alive. There’s no better way to beat the city blues.
Narrator: 6. You hear part of a radio play. Where is the couple?
A in a shop
B at home
C at a campsite
Woman: It says that it’s the best of its kind. Rain or shine, we’ll be safe and dry. Well, that’s what matters in
the country, isn’t it?
Man: It looks quite sturdy – shouldn’t blow down if it’s windy.
Woman: It’s a special offer – down to €79.99. Would normally retail for €99.99 in the shops.
Man: That’s still quite a lot – I mean, we only want it for the odd weekend, don’t we?
Woman: Oh, I don’t know. We could go camping every other weekend. There are so many great places to
visit.
Man: OK, then. Does it say how to order? Yes, by telephone. And I imagine they deliver.
Narrator: 7. You overhear an office worker speaking on the telephone. Who is he speaking to?
A his employer
B a travel agent
C a customer
Clerk: Mr Martin is very sorry, but he won’t be able to make his appointment with you on Monday. Yes,
yes, I know. The thing is that an emergency meeting has been called at our headquarters and he’ll be
out of town until Wednesday. Could we reschedule – the end of the week, maybe? What would suit
you best? Mr Martin specifically asked me to give you first priority as one of his most valued clients.
Narrator: 8. You overhear a woman talking about a wedding. How did she feel on the day?
A upset
B anxious
C excited
Woman: What can I say? I mean we went along and we assumed the whole family had been invited. But
apparently the bride’s mother had done the guest list. There didn’t seem to be many of Greg’s side
of the family. We hardly knew anyone. And as for the reception, I was ready to give it a miss,
but then we caught sight of Auntie Elsie on her own and she looked a bit worried and, you know,
uncomfortable. So we went along to keep her company, but honestly …
Narrator: That was the end of Part 1. Now turn to Part 2.

Part 2 (page 13)

Narrator: You will hear a radio interview with a man who wants to travel around the world in a balloon. For
questions 9-18, complete the sentences.
Presenter: One of the last great challenges on earth is to circle the globe, single-handed, in a hot-air balloon.
Today, we welcome a guest who has almost managed it … solo! It’s Rick Foster, who just last month
was forced to end his latest attempt. Good morning, Rick, and thanks for joining us.
Rick: Good morning.

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Presenter: So can you tell us about your latest ballooning trip, Rick?
Rick: Well, basically I had the same old problem – dreadful weather. Even with the most careful planning,
you find yourself caught up in these terrible storms. And in a balloon, of course, it is the wind which
basically determines where you go. To get round the world you can’t avoid certain areas, like the
oceans, where the weather is very difficult to predict. This time, I got through the storms and reached
the Andes okay, but I was blown too far off course to continue.
Presenter: So you chose to land?
Rick: Yes, it was a calculated decision. I wouldn’t have made it if I’d carried on. But it wasn’t an easy
landing – the balloon got stuck in a tree and I fell the last few metres. I’ve still got the cuts and
bruises to prove it.
Presenter: What’s it like being alone in a balloon 5,000 metres up in the air?
Rick: Well, it doesn’t get lonely, despite what most people think. I’m in constant contact with my team
on the ground by radio and I can even use the Internet, thanks to modern technology. More than
anything, it’s the night time – you can get a bit scared then. Oh, and I get really hungry, too, because
I can only carry the most basic supplies.
Presenter: This is just a hobby for you, isn’t it Rick?
Rick: Yes, though some might call it an obsession. The rest of the time I run a big computer software
company. That’s my real challenge.
Presenter: So, when did you first become interested in ballooning?
Rick: Well, it was never so much the ballooning as the idea of being the first at something. When I was
growing up, I read lots of adventure stories. My heroes were arctic explorers – people who went
where no one had gone before. I achieved one ambition, though. In my twenties I learnt to fly, but I
never thought of ballooning. Then, about six years ago, I heard about someone who had attempted the
trip and I thought – that’s for me – and luckily, I had enough money to fund an expedition of my own.
Presenter: You must need a lot of equipment for the trip.
Rick: Oh, goodness. The list is endless. But apart from the balloon itself, that’s the major expense, it’s the
ground team and all the communications equipment that put the bill up. I’m alone in the balloon of
course, but I have a great support team behind me. I employ nearly 40 people.
Presenter: And do you think you’ll succeed in going around the world one day?
Rick: Well, I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t. It’s just a question of route. Once we’ve got that right, with a
bit of luck, I’ll make it all the way. Hopefully I’ll be ready for another try by September.
Presenter: We’d like to wish you the best of luck, Rick. And now I’d like to open up the phone lines to our
listeners. If you have a question for Rick, call us now on 061 …
Narrator: Now you will hear Part 2 again.
Narrator: That was the end of Part 2. Now turn to Part 3.

Part 3 (page 14)

Narrator: You will hear five different people talking about their clothes. For questions 19-23, choose from the
list (A-F) what each speaker says. Use the letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do
not need to use.

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Speaker 1: Mum talked me into wearing it. “You’ve got to look smart,” she said. “It’s a special occasion.” For
once, I went along with her – anything for a quiet life. The reception was really great but I didn’t feel
completely comfortable. When Uncle David asked me why I was wearing a uniform, I didn’t reply
and laughed it off. But I could see his point. I live in jeans and that smart suit is just not me. Never
again!
Speaker 2: I always take great care over my appearance. I make sure my suit is well pressed, my tie not
too eccentric, my shoes polished, things like that. First impressions are important – got to look
professional, you know. But once, I remember I’d just done a presentation – big client. It went fine,
but afterwards I noticed that my pale beige trousers were covered in mud! It was raining on the way
there. I must have looked a right mess. I left as soon as I could. Goodness knows what they thought
of me!
Speaker 3: I’d just got a machine and I knew Jill’s wedding was coming up, so I thought, why not? I found some
gorgeous material but it was more difficult than I thought – nearly gave up at one point. Anyway,
I wore it in the end. You’d never find anything like it in the shops. It was really special. And, oh,
the comments I got! Nobody believed it was homemade – they thought it was a designer number.
Someone even said I should go into business. It was very flattering, really.
Speaker 4: It was when I was about 16 that I started caring about what I wore. Before that, I’d throw anything
on – never give it another thought. But at sixth form college, I wanted to – well, stand out a bit. I
wore big baggy gear long before it was in fashion. I used to make my own hats too. People laughed
sometimes, but the point was I was dressing to suit me, not anyone else. I’ve given up on the hats, but
I still try to make a statement – saying “I’m me,” not just someone who follows the crowd.
Speaker 5: We all do it, don’t we – judge people by their clothes. It’s not nice, though. I remember once I was
on a course, and after one session, I overheard some of the students chatting. And I realised they were
talking about me. “Did you see that suit?” one of them laughed. “Yes. You’d think she could afford
better,” another one added. I thought I looked OK. I was upset to think I was being judged like that!
I wanted to turn around and say something, but you never do, do you?
Narrator: Now you will hear Part 3 again.
Narrator: That was the end of Part 3. Now turn to Part 4.

Part 4 (page 14)

Narrator: You will hear an interview with Tricia Brown, a food and restaurant critic. For questions 24-30,
choose the best answer (A, B or C).
Interviewer: Good morning, everyone. My guest today is Tricia Brown our local food critic. Tricia, welcome.
Tricia: Hi, Alan.
Interviewer: Tricia, you spend your working day wining and dining all over town. Talk about the perks of the job!
I think many of our listeners would love to be in your shoes. How did you get started?
Tricia: Well, you wouldn’t believe it but I took a degree in art history. I’d set my heart on working in a
museum, but with so few openings, I ended up helping a friend in his restaurant and eventually,
I became a partner. We ran the place for 11 years, and towards the end, I began writing freelance
restaurant reviews for several newspapers in town. So when The Times was looking for a new food
critic, it suited me perfectly.
Interviewer: So does a good restaurant critic have to have a background in the food business?

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Tricia: Oh, absolutely. You have to know what it takes to serve a good meal, and to keep up with the latest
trends. Having said that, when it comes to writing your column, although you want to inform the
reader, I believe a restaurant review is first and foremost a form of entertainment. If a reader isn’t
entertained, he won’t continue reading the review.
Interviewer: Well, that’s not a problem in your case – people love your column. One thing I’ve always found
amazing is the way you remember every detail, from the colour of the restaurant’s walls to the texture
of the icing on the chocolate dessert. How do you do it?
Tricia: It’s funny because that’s the aspect of the job that I’ve always had trouble with, especially seeing as
I eat in restaurants around 10-12 times a week! I used to tape everything on my way home in the car,
but after a few years, I found it was enough to go to the ladies’ room in the middle of the meal to jot
down a few notes. Now I find I can remember the details if I sit down at my computer as soon as I
get home.
Interviewer: Tell me, when you sit down to write, what do you do when you weren’t particularly happy with a
place? Do you bear in mind that a well-known food critic like yourself can make or break a restaurant?
Tricia: Well, when I first started writing, I suppose I enjoyed that feeling of power. But I’ve seen restaurants
close down partly because of brutal reviews and it’s awful. I mean, you’re putting people out of a job.
Look, when the food is bad and the service worse, the public should know the truth. But there’s always
something positive, some detail you can include that will balance things out a bit.
Interviewer: So how about travelling abroad? Is that an important part of your work?
Tricia: Yes, it’s crucial because today restaurants serve food from every part of the world. As a professional,
you really have to sample the original – for example, to compare an Italian dish you eat locally with
the same dish in Italy. And nowadays, most of our readers will have been abroad as well, so you want
keep one step ahead so to speak.
Interviewer: Tricia, I think our listeners are probably wondering whether your restaurant experiences are
genuine. As a critic, don’t you get special treatment?
Tricia: It is a problem, I admit. For that reason, some of my colleagues actually wear all sorts of disguises so
they won’t be recognised. My own method is just to show up unannounced. I don’t book a table in
advance unless it’s a really busy place, and in that case, I’ll ask my guest to book it, using their name.
Interviewer: Yes, but don’t the staff know who you are the moment you walk in?
Tricia: My guess is that they recognise me only about a third of the time. But even if they do, it’s too late to
change anything. They may still try to spoil me, I suppose, but they can hardly bring in their best chef
or change the evening menu, so I’ve still mananged something of a surprise.
Interviewer: Well, Tricia, I still think you have a fantastic job we’d all love. Being a food critic sounds great!
Thanks for joining us.
Narrator: That was the end of Part 4.
End of Practice Test 2

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