CAE Listening Test Archives - Page 2 of 3

CAE Listening Practice Test 20

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two friends discussing air travel.

1 They disagree about whether the woman’s flight
A offered good value for money.
B managed to arrive on time.
C provided reasonable comfort level.

2 What is the man’s advice for the woman?
A trying a different air company
B choosing a different destination airport
C changing the means of transport

Extract Two

You hear a science teacher talking about their work

3 What is her opinion of pupils using the Internet to find new information?
A It has altered the teacher’s role in the studying process
B It has to be supervised by a teacher
C It can’t substitute a teacher figure in the classroom

4 What is her opinion of her approach to teaching?
A She is ready change it to better suit student’s needs
B She regrets her colleagues not using the same techniques
C She is certain that it has positive results

Extract Three

You hear two presenters talking about a new recording.

5 What impressed the woman most about the new album?
A the way it was recorded
B the style of the recording
C the variety of instruments used

6 According to the man, what makes the band stand out?
A the originality of their sound
B the high quality of tracks
C the organic combination of various music styles

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 19

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two artists discussing their work.

1 What do they agree about inspiration?
A An artist has to find their own source of it.
B Non-artists won’t be able to understand it.
C It can be difficult to talk about it.

2 The man’s latest project aims to discover if
A holiday brochures are actually works of art.
B the visual component of holiday brochures is effective.
C the image made by holiday brochures is misleading

Extract Two

You hear two club DJs talking about their work.

3 What did the man dislike about his last job as a radio DJ?
A He lacked the knowledge of the industry.
B He didn’t have one of the necessary skills.
C He would often have arguments with the management.

4 What do they agree about being a club DJ?
A It’s not easy to have it as the only job.
B You shouldn’t play music you don’t like personally.
C You have to be receptive to what the audience wants.

Extract Three

You hear part of an interview with a cake shop owner.

5 What does she say about cake making?
A It’s always been her dream to do it for a living.
B She found it interesting as it required different skills.
C It was a skill she picked up at her first job.

6 How does she feel about her new business?
A confident in her own judgement.
B relieved that she listened to an expert advice.
C concerned that the early success might not last.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 18

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two young people discussing buying clothes.

1 What do they agree about?
A Affordable clothing is the better choice.
B Purchasing clothes is a bad idea.
C People should respect your clothing preferences.

2 The man believes that for many people shopping is
A achieving social status.
B commenting on society.
C displaying your connection to a social group.

Extract Two

You hear part of an interview with a musician called Max.

3 What does he say about his music when he was a teen?
A He didn’t feel like sharing it.
B He felt quite self-confident about it.
C He was unwilling to ask for help with it.

4 What does he suggest about his recording contract?
A It didn’t guarantee him ongoing success.
B It didn’t allow him to do music full-time.
C Its terms and conditions weren’t too good.

Extract Three

You hear part of a radio programme in which two dancers are talking about their job.

5 The man got his inspiration to start dancing from
A one reaction to a performance he gave.
B getting encouraged by his friends.
C the physical effort associated with it.

6 The woman admits that as a teenager, she
A could sometimes behave unreasonably.
B resented her parents’ ambitions for her.
C managed to hide certain feelings.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 17

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You will hear two people talking about a problem at work.

1 What is the man’s problem?
A Nobody will listen to his complaints at work.
B There is friction between him and a colleague.
C He’s fallen out with his boss.

2 What does the woman think?
A He needs to approach the problem in a different way.
B He has to accept that there will be problems in any office.
C He is the main cause of all the office problems.

Extract Two

You will hear two people talking about how the woman got her job.

3 What were Janet’s expectations of the recruitment fair?
A She was hoping to get some ideas for a career.
B She was sure that someone would offer her a job in Public Relations.
C She had incorrect preconceptions as to what she would gain from it.

4 How did Paul gain from the recruitment fair?
A He passed an interview there and got a job.
B He impressed someone who then recommended him for a job.
C He applied for several jobs there and was successful.

Extract Three

You will hear two people talking about the man’s job as a prison officer.

5 What does the man say about his job?
A You need to have a degree to get a promotion.
B If you want a promotion you will have to go into management.
C it’s a career that offers incentives for industrious people.

6 What is the woman’s opinion of the man?
A He is both courageous and mad.
B He must have a cruel side to him.
C His desire to get a promotion is more important than anything else

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 16

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You will hear two people talking about a play they saw at the theatre.

1 What do we learn about the writer of the play?
A He died.
B He is dying.
C He nearly died.

2 What do the speakers agree on?
A The writer is quite predictable.
B The writer’s style has changed direction.
C The play wasn’t as funny as some of the writer’s earlier plays.

Extract Two

You will hear part of a radio interview with a trade and commerce researcher.

3 According to Pablo Jenson
A a variety of different shops tends to boost sales.
B traders that have something in common can boost each other’s sales.
C butchers are the most successful traders.

4 Jenson’s theory
A advertised for similar retailers to open shops in one particular area.
B works better for bakers and butchers than for other kinds of retailers.
C seems to have been proved to be credible.

Extract Three

You will hear a report about holiday homes in the Mediterranean.

5 The Costa de la Cruz
A is being spoiled by developers.
B is the cheapest area of Spain in which you can buy a holiday home.
C is close to Portugal.

6 According to Chris Mercer
A there is a danger that the Costa de la Cruz will lose its appeal.
B the Costa de la Cruz can be developed without the area being damaged.
C the government has put a stop to the Costa de la Cruz being developed further.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 15

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two people talking about public speaking.

1 Both speakers refer to a feeling of
A over-confidence.
В embarrassment.
C achievement.

2 The two speakers agree that a big problem with speaking in public is
A losing the audiences attention during a speech.
В choosing the wrong content for a speech.
C feeling nervous at the thought of giving a speech.

Extract Two

You hear part of a radio programme about the London Underground.

3 The poster campaign came at a time when
A various aspects of life in London were changing.
В many people were reluctant to travel on the Underground.
C the use of posters for advertising was increasing.

4 What does Zoe say about the content of the posters?
A It only appealed to a certain type of person.
В It contrasted with real life for many people.
C It influenced the lifestyles of some people.

Extract Three

You hear two people discussing the news media.

5 What opinion does the man express about the news media?
A It doesn’t deserve its reputation.
В It has become more influential.
C Its standards have risen.

6 The woman mentions medical stories
A to explain her attitude to the news media.
В to illustrate the importance of the news media.
C to describe why people dislike the news media.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 14

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear a sportsman and a businesswoman discussing the issue of being competitive.

1 How does the man feel about the book he’s read on competitiveness?
A surprised that it contradicts a well-established theory
B confused by the wide range of evidence it quotes
C unsure about certain aspects of its argument

2 The woman feels that in the business world, prioritising competitiveness leads to
A a demotivating effect on the workforce.
B a constant drive towards greater productivity.
C an obsession with short-term goals.

Extract Two

You hear two friends discussing some research into the impact of colour on memory.

3 They both say that
A restaurants use clever tactics to attract new customers.
B the research methods used seem valid.
C the same colours can affect people in different ways.

4 The woman feels that the teenager’s findings
A could prove significant in the long-term.
B need the backing of the scientific establishment.
C confirm initial evidence about the way memory is viewed.

Extract Three

You hear two people discussing a television programme about music and the effect it has on the brain.

5 How does the woman feel about the programme?
A surprised by its conclusion
B confused by the approach it took
C disappointed by the lack of explanation

6 What do they agree about music?
A It has unexpected benefits.
B Its effects on intelligence are obvious.
C It’s important to study its psychological impact.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 13

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear a trainee teacher called Susanna talking to her tutor.

1 What point does the tutor make about a teacher’s attitude?
A A good teacher can put any subject across effectively.
B Students will pick up on a teacher’s commitment.
C There’s little point in a teacher trying to fake passion for a subject.

2 What is Susanna doing?
A complaining about her students’ lack of enthusiasm
B proposing ways of making her subject more appealing
C asking for ideas about exercises her students could do

Extract Two

You hear a student called Sam telling his friend Ella about a concert he’s been to.

3 Sam is trying to
A suggest how the visual impact could have been improved.
B challenge Ella’s preconceptions about the music.
C persuade Ella to go to a similar one in the future.

4 In Sam’s opinion, what makes the performer stand out?
A the influence her academic background has on her music
B the instinctive way she responds to her audience
C the high level of stage presence she displays

Extract Three

You hear a woman telling her friend about new policies adopted by her company.

5 Staff have been planting trees in order to
A promote a desirable image.
B encourage a spirit of mutual co-operation.
C compensate for environmental damage.

6 The company was surprised that its remote working initiative resulted in
A more appreciative customers.
B a better standard of new recruits.
C a more motivated workforce.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 12

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear two friends talking about online privacy.

1 Why does the man mention his uncle?
A to criticise his attitude to technology
B to challenge a recommendation made by the woman
C to illustrate the power of the media

2 They agree that modern technology
A makes little difference to the accessibility of personal information.
B is less invasive than some people suggest.
C will continue to reduce people’s privacy.

Extract Two

You hear two trainee chefs discussing the issue of food waste.

3 What does the woman think about her boss’s ideas?
A She’s surprised at his forward-looking attitude.
B She’s dismissive of his attention to detail.
C She’s concerned about his generosity towards customers.

4 In reacting to the woman’s comments, the man reveals that he is
A determined to change practices at his own workplace.
B unsure about the facts she is presenting to him.
C doubtful whether his chef would accept new ideas.

Extract Three

You hear two students talking about an experiment into the way people perceive time.

5 The woman thinks the experiment was important because
A it provided unexpected results.
B it presented a great physical challenge.
C it raised public awareness of the subject.

6 She believes celebrating special events
A convinces people that time passes more quickly.
B provides people with pleasant memories.
C gives people a sense of structure when recalling the past.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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CAE Listening Practice Test 11

The old, print-friendly test

CAE Listening Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, В or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

Extract One

You hear part of a radio interview with a product designer called Charles Loughlan.

1 How does Charles feel about designers who put their names on products?
A He understands their basic needs.
B He is dismissive of their motives.
C He admires their business skills.

2 What does Charles suggest about a good product?
A Its appearance should reflect its function.
B It should encourage a desire to possess it.
C Its ecological impact should be considered.

Extract Two

You hear two friends discussing a TV interview with an actress called Celia Dent.

3 They agree that the interviewer made the mistake of
A dominating the discussion.
B asking predictable questions.
C failing to listen fully to answers.

4 The man says that certain film stars can be difficult to interview because
A they generally show a lack of spontaneity.
B they’re unwilling to reveal their true personality.
C they’re too anxious to promote their latest work.

Extract Three

You hear two freelance journalists talking about their work.

5 When talking about how he tackles a creative writing task, the man
A points out how easily he can assume the right frame of mind.
B tries to justify his antisocial behaviour when working.
C admits that frequent breaks can be beneficial.

6 What does the woman say about her earlier writing?
A She feels she no longer fully relates to it.
B She tends to draw on similar themes in her current work.
C She highlights the improvements she’s noticed in her work.

For this task: Answer Keys :: Tapescript

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