Simply B1 Listening Test 1

8. You will hear two friends talking about a family visit to a cafe.

What did the girl's mother like best?

• the apple juice

• the pictures hanging on the walls

• the cake along with her drink

Answer explanation

8. You will hear two friends talking about a family visit to a cafe.

Boy: I really enjoyed that. It's much nicer than the old cafe in town.

The apple juice was great. (8) How was your mother's hot chocolate? Girl: It was lovely especially with all the cream they put on top and the cake was fantastic. It was really delicious.

Boy: I realised that when she had a second piece. I don't think she is sticking to her diet today, do you?

Girl: No, but she deserves a day off after such a difficult week, I have to say. Anyway, the pictures on the wall were a bit strange though.

Boy: Do you think so? My father and I really liked them. I guess they were a bit too modern for your liking, weren't they?

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ESL Listening Practice

9.

You will hear aboy talking about his big brother learning to drive.

How did they boy's brother feel about his first lesson?

• quite nervous as he was afraid of crashing

• excited to have the chance to get aroung on his own

• bored as he already knew how to drive

Answer explanation

You will hear a boy talking about his big brother learning to drive. [Pause 8 seconds.]

Girl: How did your big brother's driving lesson go? He must have been really nervous.

Boy: He wasn't really. He can't wait to drive as it's so boring waiting for our parents to drive him to places all the time. Sometimes he wants to go somewhere and he can't because either he can't get there or he can't get home again after.

Girl: Wasn't he worried he might crash the car or that someone might crash into him?

Boy: No. (9) He was too excited to be worried. In fact, it was great fun. This is the start of a new part of his life ... Freedom to do what he wants at last! I also want to learn to drive as soon as I finish school.

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ESL Listening Practice

10. You will hear two friends talking about getting a Saturday job.

The girl thinks that

• they would both be too tired

• it's a good idea to look for a job.

• they should take any job they can get.

Answer explanation

10. You will hear two friends talking about getting a Saturday job.

Boy: We need to do something about getting a Saturday job, don't we? (io) r ve had enough of not having any money and asking my parents all the time whenever I want to buy something.

Girl: (10) Me too, but we need to be careful that we don't get jobs that make us too tired to do our school work.

Boy: Right!

Girl: Let's look at shop work because then we will be in the warm and the hours aren't too long.

Boy: Good idea. We can look online to find a job. There must be lots of jobs out there if we look hard enough.

Girl: Well, let's get started then. I'll get my laptop.

11. You will hear two friends talking about a film they have seen.

What do they agree on?

• The film was better than they had expected.

• The characters were not believable.

• There should have been less action.

Answer explanation

You will hear two friends talking about a film they have seen.

Girl: I was disappointed by that film. It seemed to go on forever. I'm surprised because the reviews were really good and other people seemed to like it.

Boy: I know what you mean. It did have plenty of action which I liked but (11) the characters were not very realistic. There is no wav the policeman would have behaved the wav he did.

Girl: (11) Yes. I have to agree with you there. No one would behave like that in real life. And when the woman saw the criminal, she didn't even seem scared.

Boy: Let's see a comedy next time.

12. You will hear a boy telling his friend about a school trip to a museum.

How did he feel about it?

• He would be willing to visit it again soon.

• He thought it was a waste of time.

• It was more interesting than he had expected.

Answer explanation

You will hear a boy telling his friend about a school trip to a museum.

Girl: How was the trip to the museum? Was it a bit boring?

Boy: (12) Well surprisingly, I had a great time. There was a fantastic natural history exhibition with huge dinosaurs. Also the space rooms were great. You could sit in a space rocket and watch videos of the planets and stars.

Girl: Really? But I thought you didn't want to go. (12) You weren't at all keen on going last week.

Boy: (12) I didn't but there was some interesting stuff there. I hadn't realised how big the museum was either. Having said that, I wouldn't really want to go again but I'm glad I went.

13. You will hear two friends talking about a new teacher.

They think the new teacher is

• more interesting than the rest of the teachers.

• funny and never gives them any homework.

• too serious sometimes.

Answer explanation

You will hear two friends talking about a new teacher.

Girl: So what do you think about the new English teacher?

Boy: Well, it's funny because I didn't like her at first but actually I'm enjoying her lessons now. English isn't my favourite subject but I like it more than I used to.

Girl: I agree. (13) She really brings the lessons to life. She's not like the other teachers.

Boy: Yes and she's not too serious but she keeps us all under control.

So far she hasn't given us too much homework either and that's always a good thing.

20. When did Darren first start to write stories?

• after reading a lot while he was a child
• when he was recovering from an illness
• while he was in hospital

21. Writing helped Darren to

• help his family finanicially.
• talk more to his friends and family.
• become one of the happiest teeneagers

22. Why didn't Darren send his book to a publisher?

• He wanted to write a second book first.
• He waned to finish his therapy first.
• He didn't think it was good enough.

23. Darren's family read his book because

• they were anxious about his feelings.
• they always liked the stories he writes in his diary.
• they wanted his sister to make a copy of it.