Paper 4 (Listening) - Part 1

E.      Now listen and answer the multiple-choice question. 

At the railway station, you hear two people talking. 

What do they agree on?

A.      The trains are more reliable than they used to be.

B.      The trains are cleaner than they used to be.

C.      The train staff are more helpful than they used to be. 

Extract 3 (Recording 17.3)

You hear a woman on the radio talking about zoos. 

F.       Answer the following questions before you answer the exam question.

1.      When do most parents take their children to the zoo?

2.      Where do the animals live in the zoo?

3.      What adjective(s) does the woman use to describe zoos in general?

Check your answers.

Now answer the exam question.

G.     What does the woman say about zoos?

A.      She enjoys visiting them.

B.      She thinks they are unnatural.

C.      She believes they are doing a good job. 

Extract 4 (Recording 17.4)

You overhear a woman talking in a café to her husband. 

She addresses her husband as ‘darling’. We are now going to look at different ways of addressing people.

H.     Match the words on the left to their meaning.

Ways of addressing people

A formal way of addressing a man.

A very formal way of addressing a man. 

An informal way of calling a ‘friend’. Most commonly used between men.

A very formal ways of addressing a woman

A formal way of addressing a woman.

An informal affectionate term typically used within couples.

Now, listen to the woman talking to her husband and answer the questions.

I.        Why has she decided to change her job?

A.      To earn more money

B.      To meet more people

C.      To have more free time

Answers

A.

Audio script (Video 17.1)

Paper 4 contains 4 parts with 30 questions in total. You may be tested on the following aspects:

Understanding gist

Main points

Detail or specific information

Deduce meaning from a text

You may listen to monologues or speakers interacting in a variety of scenarios. You will listen to each part two times.   

In Paper 4, there are always 30 questions and 4 separate parts. The test lasts approximately 40 minutes. Each questions carries 1 mark. Parts 1, 3 & 4 are marked by computer. Part 2 is marked by experienced markers. 

1.      4

2.      30

3.      Twice

4.      Approximately 40 minutes

5.      One

6.      Part 1, 3, 4 are marked by a computer. Part 2 is marked by experienced markers. 

B

C

C

1.      Film

2.      Impressed

3.      The beginning

4.      Action scenes

5.      Special effects

6.      Really abruptly

7.      A long film

8.      A sequel

Audio script (Recording 17.1)

Boy:     I thought the film we saw on Friday was excellent.

Girl:     Did you really?

Boy:     Yeah, I loved it. I’ve told all my friends to go and see it.

Girl:     Well, I didn’t think that much of it.

Boy:     Really? You surprise me. I thought you had enjoyed the film?!

Girl:     No, I wasn’t that impressed. To start with, the beginning was so slow. I thought the film would never get started. 

Boy:     Yes, but it did and the action scenes that followed were brilliant.

Girl:     I agree and the special effects were great, but the film ended really abruptly. I felt like it had just got started and then it ended.

Boy:     It wasn’t a long film and I think the ending is definitely open to interpretation.

Girl:     I know and I’m sure there'll be a sequel. 

D.

E.

Audio script (Recording 17.2)

Woman:        Do you think the train will arrive soon? It’s 30 minutes late as it is. 

Man:             I’ve no idea. All I know is that I’m really late for work. It’s unusual though as I don’t usually have a problem with this train. 

Woman:       Yes, I tend to agree. I think the trains are more reliable nowadays. I still don’t think the staff here are any good. I just asked two of them what the problem was today and they looked at me blankly. 

Man:             True. But what gets me is that the trains at this time of day are often really dirty. I thought it will a better service, the trains would be cleaner but it’s not the case.

Woman:       Really? I’ve never noticed the trains being that dirty. They always seem clean to me. 

Answer = A

F.

Audio script (Recording 17.3)

I don’t understand it. Every school holiday, parents end up taking their kids to zoos. It doesn’t matter which country or city they are, parents always take their children there. And yes, of course the kids have a great time. It doesn’t seem to upset them that they creatures they are admiring are thousands of miles away from their natural habitat. And that they are being locked each day in a tiny cage unable to wonder around freely. I hope one day they will see how cruel it is and they will turn around to their parents and tell them they no longer want to go. Until then, I guess the zoos will continue to make healthy profits. 

1.      During the school holidays. 

2.      In cages

3.      Cruel

G.

B

H.

Audio script (Recording 17.4)

Husband:     Ok, so you’re definitely changing your job?

Wife:            Yes, darling, we’ve been through this a hundred times. I am changing my job and yes I’m sure. In fact, I’ve seen a new job advertised online and although it’s a lower salary, I’m going to apply. I think it’s the perfect job for me. I’ve also heard from some colleagues that the people at the company are friendly – it’s probably because it’s a smaller company. 

Husband:      Well, that sounds great. What about the hours?

Wife:            That’s the best bit. I’ll be working from 9 until 2 so not until 5, like in my current job. So this way I’ll be able to spend more time with the kids. 

1.      An informal affectionate term typically used within couples.

2.      An informal way of calling a ‘friend’. Most commonly used between men.

3.      A formal way of addressing a man.

4.      A formal way of addressing a woman.

5.      A very formal ways of addressing a woman

6.      A very formal way of addressing a man. 

I.

C