Practice English Listening Tests for B1 – Listening Test 10

8 A   9 B   10 A   11 B   12 B   13 C

Audioscripts

8   You will hear two friends talking about a trip to the theatre.

Man:   So, are you ready for the theatre this evening? I can’t wait.

Woman:   Yes, I’m really excited too. It’s been a while since I went to the theatre. Don’t forget your student ID, will you? They always ask to see it before they give you the student discount.

Man:   OK. I’ll remind the others in case they forget. I’ll text them in a minute.

Woman:   And it’s only offered to full-time students, remember. Some of our friends are only part time.

Man:   OK, it’s only Tahira who is full time so I’ll let her know.

Now listen again.

9   You will hear two friends talking about the man’s job.

Man:   I’m going to that employment event in town tomorrow.

Woman:   Really? Are you looking for a new job? I always thought you enjoyed it where you work.

Man:   Well, I’m thinking of having a change of career. I’ve been working as an accountant for years now and I feel like doing something different. I’ve got a few friends who are teachers and they think I’d enjoy doing something like that. It would mean a lower salary but that’s OK. So, I’m just going to find out about the qualifications I need.

Now listen again.

10   You will hear a husband and wife talking about breakfast.

Man:   OK, my turn to make breakfast, I think. What would you like?

Woman:   I’d love a bowl of cereal, but the last time I looked in the cupboard we’d run out. Did you get any when you went shopping?

Man:   No, I forgot to put that on the list. Sorry. How about some ham and cheese?

Woman:   Yes, that would be nice. We could use some of that nice bread you bought. And can I have coffee for a change instead of tea?

Man:   OK. Oh, I’m feeling quite hungry now!

Now listen again.

11   You will hear two friends talking about buying a bed.

Man:   I need to get a new bed for my flat. Is there anywhere you can recommend?

Woman:   The furniture store in town has some and they’re good quality.

Man:   Really? I might go there later. I was thinking of looking online but it’s difficult to tell how comfortable they’d be if you can’t try them out first.

Woman:   Well, you might find a bargain that way. You could try one out in the shop and then order the same one online if you find one that costs less than the shop.

Man:   Good idea. I might do that.

Now listen again.

12   You will hear two friends talking about going for a walk.

Woman:   I feel like getting outside in the country today and having a fast walk. Do you fancy joining me?

Man:   I’m not sure. We might need to take our umbrellas. The weather forecast says there’s going to be heavy rain.

Woman:   I know I’ve just checked. But it’s not expected until later this afternoon so I’ll just take my jacket. Anyway, a bit of rain won’t hurt you. And the fresh air will be good for us.

Man:   Yes, I suppose so. And I’ve got nothing to do today so let’s go now, shall we?

Now listen again.

13   You will hear two friends talking about a passport photograph.

Woman:   I need to get a new passport before we go on holiday. Where can I get my photograph taken?

Man:   There’s a machine in the pharmacy round the corner but I think it’s out of order. I saw someone asking one of the shop assistants for help last week.

Woman:   That’s a pity. I might have to go into town.

Man:   There are a lot of places in town. I know you can get it done in the post office. That one probably works OK, and if you want one that’s open in the evening you could try the machine at the train station.

Now listen again.

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

Audioscripts

Interviewer:   On today’s programme I’m speaking to Maggie Taylor and finding out about her love of garlic. Where did this all start Maggie?

Maggie:   I think it started when I went to university about 30 years ago. Garlic wasn’t something you often found in many English kitchens at that time, not among the older generation anyway. My mum certainly never used it and when I went to university, I started seeing other students cooking with it for the first time.

Interviewer:   So how did it go from that to your current love of garlic?

Maggie:   I think my interest in it has just developed over the years. I studied cookbooks and of course discovered what a difference it can make to a meal. Actually, garlic turned me into a cook as I’d never really done much of that before. And because it’s used all over the world, I’ve learnt to cook some interesting dishes.

Interviewer:   Garlic has health benefits too, doesn’t it?

Maggie:   It certainly does. It has a very long history of being used as a medicine. Research shows that it can reduce heart disease. Some people believe that garlic can be used to fight off the common cold, though I’m not sure about that. I’ve even heard it can be used for some skin conditions.

Interviewer:   Have you tried to grow garlic yourself?

Maggie:   I have, yes. The first time I tried to grow it I used garlic from the supermarket, but I later discovered that this isn’t really suitable for an English garden. You need to find garlic that has been selected for different climates. It used to be difficult to find the right type but these days it’s quite easy to find the kind that grows well here.

Interviewer:   And were you successful?

Maggie:   Yes. I didn’t do very well to start with, but I’ve been more successful recently. You must remember to plant it out in the autumn for best results, and it’s usually ready to dig up around July when it’s still green. Then you hang it somewhere warm and dry in the sunshine. Once you’ve picked it, garlic will last for up to a year.

Interviewer:   And finally, have you got a favourite recipe using garlic?

Maggie:   Well, there’s a soup I cook that contains 25 cloves of garlic! I can’t say my family like it. They’re afraid it will make their breath smell. Personally, I think the smell of garlic is wonderful. But they’re wrong to worry anyway, as when garlic is cooked slowly over a long period it becomes mild.

Now listen again.