Practice English Listening Test for B1 with answer and audioscript – Test #20

1 B   2 C   3 B   4 B   5 A   6 C   7 C

Audioscript

1   Which of Miranda’s things will Lucy be able to use?

Woman:   Lucy’s joining the tennis club, so that’ll be more equipment I have to buy.

Man:   Oh well, don’t waste too much money. We bought Miranda everything, but then she only went once because she didn’t like the teacher. Actually, I think we’ve still got some of it somewhere. There’s a box of balls in the cupboard certainly, but she gave her cousin the racket, and she wears the shoes for other things. But I could look in the cupboard and give you what’s there.

Woman:   Oh thanks, that’d be great. That would be really helpful

2   What can’t the woman find?

Woman:   I’m going to mend and paint the shelves in your bedroom today.

Man:   Great, Mum. Anything I can do to help?

Woman:   Yes, can you go to the shop and get me a new paint brush – this one’s too old. But before you do that, ask your father what he’s done with the hammer – I’ve looked everywhere for it. There was nothing in the toolbox except this pair of scissors which I lost months ago!

3   Which ring has the woman lost?

Woman:   I wonder if you can help me? I ate here in this restaurant last night, and I think I left my ring in the bathroom when I washed my hands. Have you seen it? It’s got a square bluey-green stone with lots of smaller stones round it. It’s quite valuable but that’s not the point – it was my grandmother’s and I’d hate to lose it.

4   What time did the girl arrive?

Man:   Sorry I’m late – have you been here long?

Woman:   Well … not really, about five or ten minutes perhaps. I left home at five past six and got here at exactly quarter to seven.

Man:   Well … if we hurry, we’ll still make it for the beginning of the film at seven.

5   What will be on television at 10 o’clock this evening?

Man:   Here is an announcement about a change to our advertised programmes this evening. The football match between Spain and Hungary is now going to finish later than expected. When the match ends at 10.30 our programmes will continue as planned with a visit to an open air rock concert. But ‘The Blue World’ programme about life under the sea, which was due to begin at 10.00 o’clock this evening will now be shown next week instead.

6   Where will the party be?

Man:   What time are we leaving for Maria’s party tonight?

Woman:   Not too early. It’ll only take ten minutes to get to the nightclub.

Man:   Oh, I thought we were all meeting at the outdoor concert?

Woman:   There’s been a change of plan. The two of us are meeting Maria at the club. We’re told her the party’s there. But the other guests will go to her flat and prepare everything while we keep Maria busy. We’ll take her back there after about an hour – she will be surprised!

7   What did the man buy?

Woman:   Oh, good, you’re home! Did you get all the shopping? How about the orange juice?

Man:   Well, actually, at first I thought the shop didn’t have any orange juice. I was thinking we’d have to manage without. Then I realised they’d moved it to a different shelf. I hope this is enough.

Woman:   Don’t worry, that’s plenty. Did you find the grapes?

Man:   Yes, there were lots of grapes. Only they looked a bit sour, so I got strawberries instead. They were a bit expensive, though.

8 B   9 A   10 C   11 A   12 B   13 C

Audioscript

Woman:   With us today, to tell us about his trip across Africa, is the biologist Paul Hart.

Man:   We started on the east coast and travelled on foot across Africa to Gabon in the west, collecting plants and flowers along the way. It wasn’t easy, but my route crossed a region rich in plants and I chose it because it won’t stay that way for long when more roads are built. It was my only chance to get important information about the natural life of the sea.

I had a team of eleven scientists. We walked from six in the morning, but the forest was so thick it took hours to cut our way through it, and some days we only walked one kilometre before dark. Fortunately, we carried special equipment that was very light and we took as little food as possible. But we were always tired when we put the tents up at night.

Sometimes we saw elephants or lions. They were amazing to watch and never attacked us. Every day, I collected plants and added to my notes. There was so much new information to write down. There were, of course, some low points, especially when I got anxious about the team. It was my job to make sure everyone got home safely.

Towards the end of the trip, I suddenly discovered one day that the food had nearly all gone. It was strange because we’d brought enough dried food with us to last the trip – food that wouldn’t ever go bad – and we’d stopped at villages for fresh food too. But then I found that some of the team had eaten much more than they were supposed to. I was angry with them because it was a silly thing to do.

Then we started walking again. There were no maps for the area, but we had a local guide. Then one of the team got sick and we couldn’t go any further. We let him rest, but he got much worse. Thankfully his life was saved by a fisherman who came along the river in a boat and took him to a doctor in the nearest village.

Finally, I returned home, and I’m back with my family and friends. I really missed them while I was away. But I learnt so much on the trip and I’m really glad I went. I was asked to go on another trip – this time to Australia – but I said that I couldn’t because I’m busy here in London. And I think I’ve done enough travelling.

14 fit   15 rain   16 boots

17 mini-bus   18 March   19 01252 88492

Audioscript

Woman:   If you’re looking for an extra special present for yourself or a friend, why not book a flight in a hot air balloon! These exciting trips give you the chance to enjoy a really unusual view of the countryside.

Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There’s no upper age limit and everyone is welcome. However, it is essential that all passengers are fit. This is because you will have to climb in and out of the basket under the balloon.

For a successful flight we need light winds. It’s also important that there’s no rain and that we have a clear sky. If there is too much cloud we’ll cancel the flight and re-arrange it for another date.

The temperature in the air is similar to that on the ground so you should wear casual outdoor clothes. Also, you must remember to wear boots. That’s because you may have to walk in fields that are wet and dirty at the end of the trip!

The direction the flight takes depends on the wind. The pilot will choose a suitable landing place which may be between 5 and 30 kilometres from the airfield we start from. But don’t worry because transport is provided – a mini-bus will collect you. You won’t have to walk all the way back to the airfield!

All our flights take place in the evening and departure times depend on when the sun sets. The season starts in March, and in May, for example, the flights would be at 6.00 p.m. The last flights are in October, and after that we close for the winter.

If you’d like to book a flight or to receive more information about hot air balloons, just call 01252, double 8, 492, or visit our website www.hotairbaloons.com. It’ll be a trip you’ll never forget …

20 A   21 A   22 B   23 A   24 B   25 B

Audioscript

Man:   So Ella, the holidays at last! What are you going to do for the next three weeks?

Girl:   Nothing, just relax. I’ve been so busy at school recently, what will my exams and everything; I just want to relax for a while.

Man:   Well, yes you have done a lot of studying, but surely you want to do something in the holidays … I don’t know … have some friends round perhaps or maybe we could all go camping for a few nights?

Girl:   Mmm … I always have friends round in term time; I’d just like to have come time to myself.

Man:   Oh, I see.

Girl:   Anyway, to be honest, I need a break from my friends. All they ever do is talk about pop-stars and make-up. None of them seem to be interested in my kind of things.

Man:   OK, then. How about you, your brother Alex and me going off to the beach for a couple of days; you know Alex loves camping and I could easily take some time off work …

Girl:   Dad, it’s spring! The sea will be freezing and there’ll probably be a gale blowing, like last time, when we had to come home early because our tent got flooded! No way! I just want to relax in my warm, cosy bedroom thanks!

Man:   Yes, but you need to get out and get some fresh air. I know … I thought you were going to help Mr Atkins with that new horse he’s bought. What happened to that idea?

Girl:   Well, I’d love to do that this holiday, but when I asked him about it he said that he thought I was perhaps too young to look after a horse on my own. “Maybe next year” he said.

Man:   Well, I give up! Don’t get to the end of the holiday and complain that you’ve been bored with just sitting around all the time! Nothing I suggest seems any good …