PET Listening Practice Test 2

Answer Keys

Tapescript

The part of the text containing the answer is underlined with the question number given in square brackets []. If you still struggle with pet Listening, please refer to Listening tips.

Part 1

Question 1
Woman: Did you finally choose a birthday present for your sister?
Man: Yes. I spent ages looking at handbags, but I couldn’t find one she’d like.
Woman: What about the watch you showed me online?
Man: I nearly bought it, but then I remembered she loves reading on the train to work, so I got her a set of three novels. I think this kind of present makes much more sense for her. [1]
Woman: They don’t call it the best present for no reason!

Question 2
Man: Shall we meet outside the cinema at seven?
Woman: That’s not the best idea. It gets really crowded there before the evening films. Finding each other can get difficult.
Man: Okay. We could meet at the train station instead, how about that?
Woman: Actually, the café opposite the library would be easier for me. [2] I’ll already be in town after my dentist’s appointment, and I can wait there if you arrive first.
Man: Well, fair enough. I’ll see you there then. [2]

Question 3
Man: Have you decided which club you’ll join this term?
Girl: I have. I thought about volleyball because my cousin plays, and I think I would enjoy it too. However, the practice is on Fridays, so it doesn’t really work for me.
Man: Didn’t you also mention tennis? I know you love watching it on TV!
Girl: Yes, indeed. The thing is, there aren’t any places left until next year. So I’ve signed up for badminton. My first lesson is on Tuesday, [3] and I’m really looking forward to it.

Question 4
Weather Presenter: After today’s sunshine, tomorrow will begin with a few clouds, but they’ll disappear before lunchtime. It will stay dry throughout the day, and temperatures will be a little higher than today. [4] Strong winds aren’t expected until Thursday, so tomorrow should be perfect for spending time outdoors.

Question 5
Woman: Oh dear, you look worried. Is everything okay?
Man: My head is in pieces! I thought I had lost my wallet because it wasn’t in my bag. I kept looking all over the place without any luck.
Woman: Did you find it?
Man: Yes, it was in my jacket pocket all along. The real problem is that I can’t find my house keys anywhere. [5] I’ve checked every pocket twice, so I think I left them at work.
Woman: You better call the office to make sure. You do that and I’ll keep looking around the house. Don’t worry, we’ll find them no matter what!

Question 6
Man: Excuse me, are you ready to order dessert?
Woman: Yes. I was going to have the apple pie because everyone says it’s excellent. What would you recommend?
Man: It’s very popular, but we’ve just sold the last piece. May I offer you our specialty, the fruit salad? It is our most ordered item.
Woman: That’s okay. I ‘ll have the chocolate cake instead [6]. I’m not really in the mood for fruits right now, so maybe next time I’ll go with the salad.
Man: Certainly. I’ll be back with your order momentarily.

Question 7
Woman: So, what are we getting Ben for his birthday? We should order it today if we want it to arrive on time.
Man: I liked your idea of buying him a bicycle, but it’s much more than we wanted to spend.
Woman: That’s true. Then I wondered about a new computer, but his sister told me he replaced his old one just a few months ago.
Man: Yeah, I remember that. So I ended up ordering him a coffee machine yesterday. [7] He keeps saying he’s tired of paying for expensive coffee on his way to work, so I think he’ll use it every day.
Woman: I’m sure he’ll love that.

Part 2

Question 8
Man: Are you done packing for your trip to Manchester?
Woman: Almost. I’m taking my tablet because I thought I’d need to show the sales figures during the meeting. [8]
Man: I thought you were going to take your laptop.
Woman: I was, but James has already put the presentation on his computer, so there’s no point carrying mine. And since I will have the tablet on me I won’t need my notepad for notes.
Man: That sounds sensible. And don’t forget your charger.

Question 9
Man: How was the shopping trip, did anything catch your eye?
Woman: Yes, I went to that fancy boutique I told you about. There were some lovely coats in the first shop, but they were far too expensive.
Man: I remember you wanted some boots, didn’t you? Something you could wear when it gets wet and rainy
Woman: We did talk about that, yes, but I changed my mind about those. I found a really nice handbag in a small shop near the café, and it was a real bargain too. I need a new one for work, so I thought it was a good choice. [9]

Question 10
Woman: Hey, Barry, nice to see you! Are you doing anything tonight?
Man: I was planning to go to the gym, but I’ve changed my mind. I’ve been there three times this week already. I need to give my body some rest.
Woman: So, nothing then? Just staying at home?
Man: Not exactly. Tom has invited me to his place to watch the football. [10] I thought about cooking something first, but we’re ordering pizza, so I don’t need to do that either.
Woman: Sounds like a relaxing evening.

Question 11
Woman: I thought you were catching the seven-thirty train this morning. You told me you had to be in town early for the interview.
Man: I had to change my ticket last night. The train wasn’t cancelled or anything; I just realised I’d have to leave home before breakfast if I took it. I hate leaving home on an empty stomach. [11]
Woman: Couldn’t you eat something on the train? I think they have a buffet on all trains nowadays.
Man: That was an option, yeah, but I prefer to eat at home. [11] Jack is taking the earlier train, but that’s because he’s got an exam at nine; no other reason.

Question 12
Man: So, how are you finding the new job? You must be pleased that the office is closer to your house! No more time wasted in traffic for you!
Woman: Yeah, it’s great. My journey is much shorter now, although the working hours are almost exactly the same as before.
Man: What about the work itself – is it interesting enough for you?
Woman: I think the best thing is actually the people. [12] Everyone’s been really friendly, and they were very helpful when I was learning how everything worked. I already feel like part of the team. Oh, and the work is great too, by the way.

Question 13
Man: We should make a list of things we need before we go camping next month. Do you think we need a new tent?
Woman: I checked the old one yesterday. It’s still perfectly good, and there’s plenty of room for all of us. So we are all set there.
Man: What about getting a roomier car? We’ll have quite a lot of luggage.
Woman: I don’t know. We can manage with the one we’ve got. But the children’s bicycles are definitely too small now. I’d like to buy them new ones because they can use them during the holiday and at home afterwards. [13]
Man: Good idea. Let’s look at some this weekend.

Part 3

Woman: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Riverside Science Centre. I’m Raechel and I’ll be your guide today.
Before we get started, let’s make sure everyone knows where to meet. Some of you may have already been inside the main building, but please don’t wait there after the break. Our group will meet outside the planetarium, which is the round building on the left as you come through the main entrance. [14]
Our first activity begins at ten o’clock. We’re going to watch a demonstration about electricity. [15] You might have seen the advertisement for the centre’s space exhibition, but that’s a separate part of the building, and we won’t be visiting it today.
You’ll have a short break after the demonstration. If you want to take photographs, that’s fine, but please remember to bring your camera with you [16] when we move to the next room. Phones are also allowed, of course, but some of the activities aren’t suitable for taking pictures.
We’ll have lunch in the centre’s café. The café normally opens at eleven, but our group has a later booking, so lunch will begin at 12:15. [17] You can buy drinks there, although you may want to bring some water with you.
After lunch, we’ll have a workshop. The original plan was to build a model rocket, but there wasn’t enough space for the equipment this week. Instead, you’ll work in small groups to build a model bridge [18] and test how much weight it can hold.
We’ll finish the workshop at around three. You don’t need to return to the planetarium afterwards. Our coach will be waiting outside the main entrance, and we’ll leave the centre at 3:30. [19]
If anyone has lost a jacket, or a bag, please let me know before we start. Other than that, I believe that we’re ready to begin.

Part 4

Presenter: Today we’re talking to Maya Lewis, who gave up her office job three years ago and has since become a successful pottery maker. Maya, welcome.
Maya: Thank you. It’s nice to be here.
Presenter: Let’s go back to the beginning. How did you get interested in pottery?
Maya: It actually started when I moved into my first house. I wanted some new plates and bowls for the kitchen, and I found a local shop selling handmade ones. They were beautiful, but quite expensive. [20] I started wondering whether I could make something similar myself. And then a friend later suggested a beginners’ pottery course, so I signed up. I wouldn’t say she persuaded me exactly, but she certainly gave me the push I needed.
Presenter: Was it easy to learn?
Maya: Not at all. The teacher showed us how to use the equipment safely, and that part was quite straightforward. But my biggest problem was, probably, getting the clay to stay in the shape I wanted. [21] I’d start making a bowl, for example, and it would become wider on one side than the other. I also used far too much clay at first, but I got better at that fairly quickly.
Presenter: What keeps you interested now?
Maya: I love the fact that you never know exactly what you’re going to get. [22] You can have a clear idea in your head, but the clay has its own way of behaving. Then you put something in the oven, and the colour can change slightly as it dries. That’s probably my favourite part. I enjoy making things that people can use, of course, but the surprise at the end is what keeps me coming back.
Presenter: You’ve also exhibited your work. How did your first exhibition go?
Maya: It was much busier than I’d expected. I’d imagined a few friends and family members would come along, but there were people I’d never met asking me questions about the pieces. I was nervous at first. I did manage to sell one small bowl, which was lovely, [23] although that wasn’t really what I’d been thinking about when I agreed to take part. I was simply happy that people seemed interested in my work.
Presenter: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about trying pottery?
Maya: I’d definitely recommend having a few lessons before spending money on equipment. [24] You might discover that you don’t actually enjoy it, and pottery wheels aren’t cheap. But I wouldn’t worry too much about producing perfect bowls or cups at the beginning. Your first attempts will probably look strange, and that’s completely normal. Just enjoy learning how the material works.
Presenter: And do you have any plans for the future?
Maya: I’d like to keep making my own work, but I’m not interested in opening a shop or producing hundreds of pieces for local businesses. What I’d really like to do is spend more time teaching. [25] I’ve already started helping at the beginners’ course where I first learned pottery, and I find it surprisingly enjoyable. Maybe one day I’ll run a few classes of my own.
Presenter: Maya, thank you very much for your time
Maya: Thanks for inviting me!