Oxford preparation and practice b1 preliminary for schools audioscripts

Audioscripts Audioscripts AUDIOSCRIPTS Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Preparation & Practice Test Listening Part 1 Preparation 01 Part 1 Practice 02 On which date did the boy’s grandparents get married? Girl  Are you coming to the concert with us on the 14th? Boy  I’m not sure You see, I’m travelling to Edinburgh with my parents on the 15th It’s for my grandparents’ wedding anniversary, and the train leaves early in the morning I don’t want to be tired after a late night Their anniversary is actually on the 17th, but we want to spend a bit of time in Edinburgh before we visit them What is the woman going to buy today? Man  Can you get some milk and some butter when you go to the shop, please? I want to some cooking later Woman  We don’t need any milk; I bought some yesterday It’s in the fridge, on the bottom shelf I’ll just get butter and bread Man  We’ve got plenty of bread I went to the new bakery on the corner this morning Don’t buy any more What is the man going to on Saturday? Woman  I’m going to a basketball match on Saturday evening Do you want to come with me? It’s going to be great 1 Girl  That was the worst exam ever! I wasn’t able to finish any of the questions Boy  Oh, sorry to hear that But, if you don’t mind my saying, it seemed fair enough to me, actually I mean, all the topics we studied came up … AUDIOSCRIPTS Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Part 2 Preparation 03 © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts 1 Woman  I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables because they’re good for me I have a salad every day Even though pizza is what I like the most, I only eat it once a week Pizza isn’t a very healthy food! 2 Boy  The concert was amazing, wasn’t it? Most of the songs were brilliant Girl  Yeah, and I’m glad they played their hit song first It’s so cheerful Boy  I was surprised by the final one, though It was kind of strange Girl  You’re right It wasn’t really typical of their style 3 Boy  Hi Tom, it’s Faisal My tennis lesson was just starting when you rang at 10.30 Sorry I missed you I’m so tired now; the lesson didn’t end until 12.00! Hey, can you call me back around 2.15 if you have time? 4 Girl  Does your sister Elena still play the flute in the school orchestra? Boy  No, not the flute She played the cello for a while, but she plays the violin at the moment Man  I’d love to, but I’m so busy I’m going to the cinema today, and I need to go shopping later I must buy my mother a present It’s her birthday on Sunday, you see Woman  Well, why don’t you go shopping this evening instead? Then you can come to the basketball game with me Man  OK That’s a good idea I’ll that What did the woman last Sunday? Man  I went to the beach with my family last weekend I had a great time Woman  But it rained, didn’t it? I remember, because we were having a picnic in the park and we had to run home with all our things We got soaked! Man  That was on Saturday We went on Sunday when it was nice and sunny Woman  Oh yes, you’re right I remember now I sat in the garden all day How did the man book his holiday? Man  I’ve booked a fantastic holiday in Italy for next month I can’t wait to go! Woman  That sounds exciting I’d love to go to Italy Did you book it on the Internet? Man  No, I don’t like booking things on the Internet I phoned the travel agent, told her what I wanted and she found me just the right thing I’m going there to pick up the tickets next week What time is the exam? Girl  Why aren’t you ready to go? It’s nearly one o’clock We need to hurry if we’re going to get to the exam hall in time The traffic is really bad today Boy  What’s the rush? The exam is not until 4.00 Girl  No, it starts at 2.00 and ends at 4.00 Check your exam timetable! Boy  Really? Oh no! How did I get that wrong? We’d better hurry up, then! I’ll just grab my things What happens as soon as the man answers his phone? Woman  A man drives across a long bridge He is lost On the far side of the bridge, he parks and gets out of the car Suddenly his mobile rings He quickly grabs it and says, ‘Hello’ But the man accidentally lets the phone fall to the ground, and it smashes A few minutes later, a girl on a bicycle stops to talk to him She gives him directions It’s a pretty exciting film! Audioscripts Girl  Yeah, I probably should have revised more Parts of it were so complicated, though Boy  Look, don’t worry too much I’m sure you’re going to get a good grade Girl  I doubt it But thanks! 2 Man  Fantastic news; my football team has just bought the top player in the world Woman  Sorry, I think it’s disgusting to pay anyone so much money Man  Oh, come on That’s just the way it works in premier league football You know that Woman  Doesn’t make it right So, one man is paid millions to kick a ball while people all over the world have nothing to eat … how is that a good thing? Man  Well, I accept that a lot of people have no money for food, but many of the players loads of work for charity Woman  It’s not enough! I can’t believe you’re defending this It doesn’t make sense 3 Woman  The new clothes shop on Green Street is amazing, isn’t it? Man  Well, I think it’s pretty good, but I wouldn’t call it amazing Woman Really? Man  Yeah, I got some jeans in the sale, but the T-shirts there were rubbish Woman  Oh Well, what did you think of the prices? Man  Too expensive for me! The staff couldn’t have been nicer, though, and the location is great Part 2 Practice 04 You will hear two friends talking about a singer Man  Have you heard Kaylee’s new song? Woman  Yes, I heard it last night Do you like it? Man  It’s good, but I prefer her earlier songs Her last album was amazing Woman  I agree with you I read an interview with her and she said that she’s been working with a songwriter lately They’ve written the lyrics and music for her new album together I think she produces better music when she writes her own songs She’s got real talent, and she’s very creative Man  She’s got a great voice, too You will hear two friends talking about a new café Man  I haven’t been to this café before Woman  Nor have I It’s only been open for a few weeks Man  The food is delicious, isn’t it? AUDIOSCRIPTS Woman  It’s lovely And the staff are really friendly, too Man  Yes, they’re very cheerful and polite They described all the dishes on the menu to help us order Woman  I know! Well, some of the dishes have funny names, so it’s good to know what they are! I just wish the seats weren’t so uncomfortable Man  I know what you mean These chairs are very hard 10 You will hear a girl telling a friend about her art course Boy  So, are you enjoying the art course you’re doing on Saturdays? Girl  Yes, I am Well, most of the time, anyway Boy Oh? Girl  The people on the course are very nice, and the teacher isn’t too bad I find the classes interesting, and it’s fun to something creative I just find the hours a bit much It starts at 8.00 in the morning, which is much earlier than I’m used to It means that I have to get up at 6.00 to get there on time Some days I struggle to stay awake until the end of the class! Boy  Oh dear! You should ask the teacher to take a lot of breaks 11 You will hear two friends talking about their teacher Girl  I wish we didn’t have Mr Harris teaching us history Boy  Why? Don’t you like him? Girl  It’s not that He’s a good teacher, and he always explains things really well He makes the lessons interesting and easy to understand, which is really good Boy  I know I never used to like history before, but I really enjoy lessons with Mr Harris Girl  Me too But I wish he wouldn’t give us so much homework on a Friday Now I’ve got to spend the whole weekend studying! Boy  No, you haven’t! We’ll go to the library together this evening and we’ll be finished in time to enjoy the weekend! 12 You will hear two friends talking about a film they watched Teen boy  Well, that was disappointing Teen girl  Didn’t you enjoy it? I laughed all the way through! There were some fantastic lines in that film I wish I could remember them all! Teen boy  It was funny, I’ll admit that But I was expecting there to be a bit more action, to be honest The trailer we saw last week made the film look really exciting Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Part 3 Preparation 05 Part 4 Preparation 1 Man  Freya was born in 1979 and she lived in Scotland until 1991 Her family moved to Spain and they lived there for four years When they left Madrid in 1995, she was 16 years old 2 Woman  The cottage is available to rent on a weekly basis from June until September In December, it can be rented for a maximum two-night stay 3 Man  The speech will begin at 11 a.m but members of the public are asked to take their seats by 10.45 Doors will be open from 10.30 4 Woman  You can plant carrots in rows that should be around 30 centimetres apart Don’t plant them deeper than two centimetres in the ground Remember to keep the plants around seven centimetres apart 5 Man  The bookshop is around the corner from the town hall It’s on Wingate Street opposite the vegetarian café You’ll see the big sculpture of a fish beside it Part 3 Practice 06 You will hear a man talking to a class of students about a language course Man  Hello, everybody and welcome to the class I’m pleased to see so many of you here today But don’t worry, there won’t be any more of you! There’s always a maximum of 15 in the class, and a minimum of eight Before we start, I’d like to tell you about the AUDIOSCRIPTS course Some of the information you’ll probably know already, but some of it has changed Your class will still be on Tuesday evenings, but it won’t start at seven o’clock It will start at the later time of 7.30, and will end at 9.30, not nine o’clock I hope that change is OK for everyone Unfortunately I can’t be here any earlier than that Another change is the room Next week we need to move to the second floor to the room opposite the art room That’s Room 26 Today is the only time we’ll be here in Room 12 The coursebook will be the same as before, that is Starting French I see some of you have already bought it – that’s good However, if you want to buy it from us, it costs £8 You can order it today, but it takes two weeks so you won’t have it until 1st October One more thing … during the last week of term, there is an International Evening at the college There will be traditional dancing from different countries and every class is asked to provide some food I thought we could take some French cheese, but any other suggestions are welcome And finally, let me remind you that most of your lessons will be completely in French So, let’s begin … 07 Man  So, how many followers you have online? Woman  Um, about 10,000 at the moment Man  Wow, that’s incredible! You must be thrilled Woman  Well, yeah, thanks But, actually, it’s not that unusual Other people have hundreds of thousands of fans and followers! Some have millions I mean, it feels great to have managed so much, but I can always improve Man  Who are your typical fans? Woman  Mostly girls in their early teens, but more and more boys are following me these days Part 4 Practice 08 You will hear a woman called Alice Parker talking on the radio about a new shop Interviewer  Welcome back! I’m here with Alice Parker, who is the owner of a new local business Alice  Hello! My business is called Small World It’s in the centre of town It’s different because it isn’t just a shop At the front, we sell clothes, jewellery, wooden animals, wooden boxes, bowls and other interesting items from around the world Then, at the back, there’s a small café where we sell different kinds of tea and coffee, and home-made vegetarian snacks Interviewer  Starting your own business is a bit of a risk, isn’t it? Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts Teen girl  That’s true It was more of a comedy than an adventure film But at least it had a great cast You have to admit that the acting was brilliant Teen boy  Yeah I suppose so 13 You will hear two friends talking about a website they use Girl  I see they’ve updated Chatter again Boy  I know! I wish they wouldn’t that Every time I get used to using it, they change it again Girl  Yes, but they always improve it and add cool new features Look, now you can have private group chats with your friends And you can add videos to your posts Boy  Hmm But now I can’t find my photo albums Have all my photos disappeared? Girl  Don’t panic You haven’t lost them They’re just here, under Photo Options Boy  Oh, right Girl  You’ll get the hang of it soon! Audioscripts Alice  Yes People ask me why I decided to start my own business when it can be so difficult and when you can’t be sure you’ll make any money Well, I’ve worked for other people in shops and cafés all my life and I wanted to something on my own I wanted to work for myself Interviewer  Are you confident that Small World will be a success? Alice  Well, I feel that I have good experience of the business world I’ve also travelled to many countries including Brazil, Kenya, India and Thailand so I know what people want to buy In fact, it was while I was in Kenya visiting a street market that I had the idea of starting Small World And although there are businesses like mine in many places in Britain, there’s nothing like it in this area Most of the things I sell I’ve collected myself I go abroad regularly in order to get more I look for things that are original and a bit different I bring a lot of it back myself, although larger items have to be sent The prices aren’t too expensive There’s always something there that most people can afford Interviewer  Do you run the business on your own? Alice  At the moment, I employ one other person to work with me, but as we are becoming busier, I’ll probably need more staff I thought about selling food, too – not just in the café, I mean – but a shop selling international food has just opened near here, so I don’t think I’ll that right now Interviewer  Do you enjoy being a small business owner? Alice  It’s hard work and there are disadvantages I’m working more hours now than I’ve ever done and that’s probably the most difficult thing But I enjoy meeting people and get on well with my customers, even the difficult ones I like travelling and learning about new cultures It’s great to something that I’m really interested in Speaking Part 1 Preparation 09 1 Girl  I don’t really care about film stars, but I’m a big sports fan I love Kei Nishikori He’s a tennis player from Japan He’s been playing since he was five years old! 2 Man  I’m always busy doing lots of things on Saturdays But on Sundays I can really relax so that’s the day I prefer I stay in my pyjamas and eat snacks all day 3 Woman  Well, it depends on the time of year In the summer, we stuff outside, like cycling and having barbecues In the winter, we watch a lot of TV AUDIOSCRIPTS 4 Boy  Um, I don’t make many calls, but I text quite a lot, and I check social media pretty often I suppose it’s a few hours every day, altogether Part 3 Preparation 10 Eva  OK, so we need to organize a charity event Personally, I like the idea of a sports day Most people enjoy sports, and it would be fun What you think? Tom  Um, I agree that it would be nice, but I’m afraid I don’t think it’s very practical I mean, I don’t think we’d have enough time to set it all up, would we? Maybe we could arrange a charity car wash instead How does that sound to you? Eva  Well, first of all, I think you’re right about the sports day And, secondly, yeah, it’s true that people like to have their cars washed, but … Tom  But you don’t think it’s a good idea? Eva  Well, look, the main reason is the time of year, you know? Because, these days, the weather is awful It’s pretty cold and it rains a lot; I can’t imagine standing outside washing cars all day Tom  Yeah, I see what you mean You’re right How you feel about the idea of a cake sale, then? That’s something we could indoors Eva  Yes, you’re right about that And we could bake a lot of stuff ourselves, couldn’t we? Tom  Definitely! I’d say we could ask local bakeries and supermarkets to give us some cakes, too I’m sure they’d help Eva  True, there’s just one thing, though Tom  Oh? What’s that? Eva  I’m just not sure we’d make much money selling cakes Do you agree? Tom  Yeah, I Good point What you think we should do? Eva  As far as I’m concerned, a quiz is the best option For one thing, it would be quick to organize, like, we could get the questions off the Internet Tom  That’s right And, for another, it’d be easy enough to find a venue Eva  Great So you don’t mind not having an art exhibition? Tom  No, as far as I’m concerned, we should definitely a quiz I wasn’t in favour of the meet-a-celebrity idea either Eva  Agreed I don’t know any celebrities! Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Practice Test Listening Part 11 AUDIOSCRIPTS Part 12 You will hear two friends talking about a book they read Man  What did you think of the new Inspector Lawson book? Woman  I’ve only just finished it It took me quite a while to read this one Man  It’s not that long, is it? Woman  No, it’s a fairly short book, but I found the plot very difficult to follow, so I had to keep going back and reading things again to work out what was going on Man  It had a great ending, though, didn’t it? Woman  To be honest, I’m not really keen on endings that leave the reader guessing I like the writer to tell me exactly what happened You will hear a boy telling a friend about his uncle Boy  So, my uncle has moved into the house next door to us Girl  Oh, that’s great Have you been to visit him yet? Boy  Yeah, I called in yesterday He’s great, but I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of him Girl  Why? Does he travel a lot? Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts What is the weather forecast for tomorrow? Man  Good afternoon Well, it looks as if tomorrow’s weather won’t be quite what was expected We had some storm warnings earlier, with a forecast of very heavy rain indeed It’s been cloudy this afternoon with a few showers And we can expect more of the same tomorrow, although winds will be stronger than today, before the sunnier weather arrives towards the weekend What does Paul look like? Teen boy  You know that guy with long hair you were just talking to – is that Paul, your brother? Teen girl  Oh, you mean Robbie? No, he’s a friend from school My brother doesn’t look anything like that He’s got shorter hair and would never wear such smart clothes! There he is over there! Teen boy  Oh! I see him, in the sunglasses Teen girl  That’s him He thinks they make him look cool! What exercise does the girl at the moment? Boy  You always seem so healthy How you manage it? Girl  Well, I used to a lot of running and swimming, but I got tired of the jogging after a while Boy  Oh, I know what you mean I’m going to the gym again tonight, but it gets so boring Why don’t we meet up afterwards and go to the cinema? Girl  OK I’ll be out of the pool by 7.00 I could meet you outside the gym at about 7.30 What can teenagers at the new club? Woman  Turning to local news Young people have been waiting for this since the Internet café closed last spring The new club for teenagers finally opened today It’s a fantastic place to listen to music, play table tennis and meet up with your friends And there are plans to open a café next year Why not go along and try it out? What equipment is missing? Man  Hello I’ve just received my new computer through the post this morning and it doesn’t seem to be all here … I’m just looking for the keyboard … Ah, here we are But I can’t see the printer anywhere Woman  That has to be ordered separately, I’m afraid Man  Oh yes, sorry, I forgot about that But there’s no mouse here either Woman  That’s not the first time I’ve heard that Give me your order number and we’ll send you one straightaway Where is the boy’s money? Boy  Mum, where have you put the money for my lunch? Mum  I thought you picked it up It was on the table in the kitchen Have you put it in the front pocket of your bag as usual? Boy  No, I’ve looked there It’s not in my jacket pocket either Mum  Oh, I remember, Jenny took the money from the table, yours is by the front door I put it there so you wouldn’t forget it on your way out How did Susie contact her friend? Girl  Guess what? Susie can come camping after all Boy  Oh good! Did she answer your email, then? Girl  I don’t know if she ever got it It was just lucky that I found an old address book with her number in I left a message and she called me back this morning I was texting her all last week, but she said she lost her mobile two weeks ago and she hasn’t bought a new one yet Audioscripts Boy  No, he doesn’t at all But he’s already a member of every local club you can think of! He’s in two choirs, the chess club, the film club, the bowling club, and he’s a member of the gym, too Girl  Wow! It sounds as though he likes to keep busy! 10 You will hear two people talking about a friend Man  What are you doing on Saturday? Woman  I’m meeting Adam in town We’re going to see a film at the cinema That’s if he turns up, of course! Man  Oh, don’t get me started! I was supposed to meet him last week, and he was over an hour late! Woman  I don’t know how he does it He wears that expensive watch all the time, but I don’t think he ever looks at it! Man  You should tell him to meet you an hour earlier than you want him to That way he might just get there at the right time! 11 You will hear two friends talking about a school trip Girl  Did you enjoy the trip to the museum last week? Boy  Yes, it was good, thanks We saw some interesting things, and I found out some useful information for my history project I just wish we’d had longer to look around the museum Girl  I thought you were there all day? Boy  No, the trip lasted all day But it took us three hours to get to the museum on the coach, and another three hours to get back Most of that time was spent trying to get through the city The traffic there was terrible By the time we got to the museum, it was nearly time to come home again! Girl  That’s a shame 12 You will hear a girl telling a friend about her new home Boy  So, how’s the new flat your family’s just moved into? Girl  Great, thanks! Of course, it’s always strange sleeping in a new place And every building makes different noises, so that takes some getting used to Boy  Oh yes And what about the neighbours? Girl  I’ve just met one girl around my age so far She seemed very friendly Boy  It must be a change for you, living in the city now Girl  It is, but it’s really convenient to be so close to everything now … school, all the shops, you know? I love having everything I need right outside my door I think I’m going to be very happy here AUDIOSCRIPTS 13 You will hear two friends talking about a new department store Girl  Have you been to that new department store in town? Boy  Yes, I went there yesterday They’ve got a great selection of stuff You can buy all sorts of unusual things there Girl  I know, and they’re much cheaper than our other department stores, too Boy  I know! I’d shop there all the time if the queues weren’t so long Girl  Oh, they’re awful, aren’t they? They really need to get some more staff if they don’t want to lose a lot of business Boy  I’m sure they will They won’t want to lose customers Part 13 You will hear a travel writer talking about different holiday destinations Woman  I love being a travel writer, and I love talking about my trips, so thank you for inviting me into the studio today! Right, I’m going to tell you about three different holidays that I can recommend to everyone The first is a good, year-round sun destination: The Canary Islands These islands are known for their big busy seaside hotels in Tenerife and Lanzarote, but there are less well-known islands, like La Gomera If you want a quieter experience, you can stay in traditional villages there and try out the excellent walking routes in the hills Johnson’s Travel currently has two-week holidays in La Gomera from as little as £600 per person, or £900 with an extra week Another island you might like to try is Sardinia, in the Mediterranean And if you and your family want a little more adventure, then a water sports holiday could be the one for you Water skiing and sailing are always popular, and you could even try for a diving qualification while you’re there on one of the specially organized activity weeks offered by SunWorld! SunWorld designs fantastic holidays, and the peak season for families begins in July It’s important to remember, however, that the month of June is reserved for adults only Finally, if you’re not interested in lying on the beach, why not try something completely different? On a trip to Iceland, you and your family could first visit all the main attractions of Reykjavik on a special guided bus tour Then take a traditional Icelandic trip on the back of a horse to the Blue Lagoon, before flying off to the lovely snow-covered mountains of the Askja region A week with Travel the World costs £1,200 per adult for accommodation and return flights to Reykjavik and on to Askja Rates for children are lower Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Part 14 AUDIOSCRIPTS Audioscripts You will hear someone talking about the Westbay Music Festival Interviewer  You’re listening to 3FM, where we’re looking forward to Vancouver’s biggest event of the year, the Westbay Music Festival Matt Harris is here to tell us all about it Matt  The Westbay Festival has been going for quite a number of years It started off as a small gathering of a few hundred people in the early 1980s Just a dozen groups played in a single tent and the event began at lunchtime and was over before it got dark Nowadays it’s a four-day event, featuring some of the biggest acts in world music Interviewer  How many people will be attending? Matt  Ticket numbers have been reduced slightly this year, but more than ten thousand people are expected to attend the festival, which provides a wide range of entertainment for young and old alike Interviewer  What kind of entertainment can people expect? Matt  Well, while it’s still called a Music Festival, there’s actually much more to Westbay The Big Smile Stage will have some of the best names in comedy to entertain the crowds You’ll recognize people such as Mark Whitfield and Sandy Denver from TV, and there are also some new performers from the Vancouver area A number of international names will be appearing, although US comic Joe Reen has unfortunately had to cancel his appearance There are film shows every night in the Big Blue Tent behind the Main Stage Friday night is thrillers night, so there should be some exciting movies On Saturday and Sunday, you can watch a non-stop programme of music biographies and videos covering the history of rock music Amazingly they’ll also be showing some old famous science fiction movies – special outdoor screenings which will only take place if the weather is suitable Elsewhere, you can find a huge variety of things to buy in the festival market place Whether you want to buy a jacket to keep the rain off or a candle for a friend, you’ll find it there I’m particularly looking forward to visiting Fast Eddie’s Music Shop, which sells albums you can’t find anywhere else Interviewer  Will there be food there, too? Matt  Oh yes! When you need a break from all that dancing, laughing and shopping, you’ll want a good meal Westbay has more food stalls from around the world than any other festival in the country You can get a hot vegetable curry from Thailand, enjoy the tastes of Mexico or try Australian barbecued lamb Interviewer  Delicious! It sounds as if there’s going to be something for everyone … Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Practice Test Listening Part Audioscripts 15 What is the girl going to this morning? Girl  I don’t feel very well today, Dad My head hurts and I’m very tired I wish I could just stay at home and rest Dad  Oh, I’m going to make a doctor’s appointment for you right now Maybe she can give you something to make you feel better Girl  But I’ve got a big test this morning, Dad, and I really can’t miss it Could we make a doctor’s appointment for this afternoon? Then maybe I could go there straight from the exam When is the man’s birthday? Man  Can you come to my house for a meal on Tuesday evening? I’m inviting a few friends over to celebrate my birthday, and I’d love you to come Woman  Oh, is it your birthday on Tuesday? I didn’t realize Man  No, it’s actually on Thursday, but I’m going out to dinner with my parents on Thursday evening, and on Wednesday I’m meeting an old school friend in town, so I thought I’d have an early celebration with friends Where is the girl going to go this weekend? Boy  I’m going to the new theme park with my family on Saturday Would you like to come with us? Girl  Oh, thanks, but I went there with my sister last weekend It was good, but I don’t think I want to go there again, not just yet I’ve been invited to my aunt’s house by the sea this Saturday, but I’ve said I can’t go I really just want to have a quiet day in the park instead What happened yesterday? Woman  Yesterday, St John’s School closed for the second time this month, after problems with flooding in the kitchens Only two weeks ago, there was a fire in one of the science labs The fire brigade was called, but luckily no one was hurt It is believed that the school will be closed for a week while they deal with this new problem How did Ben find the information for his article? Woman  This is a really interesting article, Ben It’s full of great facts Did you find this information on the Internet or did you go to the library? Man  Well, I went to the library, but I couldn’t find any good books So I had a quick look on the Internet, but then my friend Simon came in and AUDIOSCRIPTS suggested I look at some new history magazines They were really good, and that’s what I used Where did the boy leave the passports? Boy  Mum, it’s time to go to the airport, but I can’t find our passports! Have you seen them? Did I leave them on the kitchen table? Mum  No, I’ve looked – they aren’t there Maybe you left them upstairs Have you looked on the bed? Boy  No, they aren’t upstairs Oh, I’ve just remembered! I put them in a small bag and I put it by the front door so I wouldn’t forget it That’s where they are! Where are the girl’s parents? Boy  Hi, Angela Do you want to meet us at the cinema in half an hour? Girl  Thanks, Ted, but I can’t I’m babysitting my little brother this evening My parents have gone out with my aunt who’s visiting from Canada Boy  Oh, have they gone to that big concert in town? Girl  Actually they couldn’t get tickets They’re having dinner at that new Italian restaurant opposite the theatre Lucky for them! Part 16 You will hear two friends talking about a play Man  What did you think of the play last night? Woman  It was quite good, really I was pleasantly surprised Man  Me too! I didn’t expect to enjoy a play with no words I thought it would be boring, to be honest I wasn’t looking forward to sitting there for nearly two hours in complete silence! But it was amazing how the actors managed to show us exactly what was happening without saying anything Woman  I agree It just goes to show how much we express with our facial expressions and our body language We can say a lot without actually speaking You will hear a man telling a friend about his new phone Woman  Is that a new phone, John? It’s very smart Man  Yes, it is I’m still getting used to using it I haven’t had this brand of phone before Woman  Oh, you’ll soon get the hang of it Has it got all the apps you need? Man  Yes, I think so I don’t use that many apps, really I mainly just take photos and chat to my friends It’s got a good camera The photos are lovely and clear I just wish it was a bit easier to type on The keys are so tiny I’m always pressing Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press AUDIOSCRIPTS Boy  That sounds fantastic! What did you guys do? Girl  Well, we did a bit of shopping, and we went to the beach But mostly we just relaxed, reading books and enjoying the good weather You’d have been terribly bored! Boy  Yeah, I prefer more active weekends, but everyone’s different! Girl  Well, I needed the rest School has been so busy with exams lately, and I felt tired The weekend was just what I needed Now I’ve got plenty of energy to get back to studying! Part 17 You will hear a woman talking about a conference Woman  Good morning and welcome to our seminar on the toy industry I’d like to start by saying a few words about what you can expect from this seminar, since some of the details on the original plan have changed After the introduction by Sally Connor, Kenji Nakamura will give a talk That’s from 10 a.m to 11 a.m He will tell you about the most recent developments in the toy industry in Japan and will show a short film This will be followed by half an hour of questions Then at 12.00, we’ll have a break for lunch This will be a buffet meal, served in Victoria Hall, which is on the opposite side of the building, next to the library After lunch, we’ll return here for Toys in Britain: Success and Failure This talk will be given by Robert Price who, as you know, is the owner of a chain of over 200 toy shops in the UK The next talk What’s Next for Toys? will take place immediately after this, at 3.30 This will be given by Sarah Smith, who is, of course, our Sales Manager Sarah’s talk will finish at p.m After that, tea and juice will be served in the Green Room, which is on the first floor Please join us there as this will be a chance for everyone to chat and … Part 18 You will hear a man talking on the radio about clubs for young people Interviewer  Welcome back! Charles Ryan is here to tell us about some great activities for children and young people this summer Charles  Thank you! There are a lot of options for young people in the area at the moment Nature Watch is on 25th July at the wildlife centre It includes a talk about birds, an art and craft hour when children can draw and paint their own wildlife, and there’s also a wildlife walk with a guide It’s for younger children aged between five and nine, and parents are asked to stay with their children Interviewer  And what about older children? Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts the wrong letters, so my messages don’t always make sense! Woman  Oh, don’t worry I that all the time! 10 You will hear two people talking about a train Man  What’s happened to the 10.30 to Manchester? It’s ten minutes late already Woman  Oh, I just heard an announcement about it Apparently there’s some kind of problem on the track between here and London Man  Oh no So it’s been delayed Did they say what time it would be here? I hope it won’t be too long Woman  Oh no, it hasn’t been delayed Sorry, I should have been clearer They said that the train won’t be coming at all There’s no way for it to get through It’s been cancelled Man  Oh no! I don’t believe this! How on earth am I going to get to Manchester on time now? 11 You will hear two friends talking about cinema tickets Girl  Did you book tickets for the new film on Saturday? Boy  Yeah, but I couldn’t get any for the time we wanted The 6.15 showing was sold out Girl  Oh, I told Bill and Ramona to meet us there at 6.00 Boy  Ah You’d better let them know that we won’t be going until later Our tickets are for the 8.30 show Girl  Oh, that’s pretty late Didn’t they have any tickets for the afternoon screening? Boy  I didn’t check Shall I try now? Girl  No, no We’ll just keep the tickets we have I hope this film is worth staying up late for! 12 You will hear two young people talking about a blog Boy  Have you seen the review of last night’s concert on Jess’s blog? Girl  Oh, you’re not still reading her blog, are you? You can’t believe anything you read on there! Boy  Why not? It seems like a perfectly good blog to me Plus she always recommends cool places Girl  There’s a reason for that She gets paid to write about those places! Boy  Oh, come on! Which blogs you read, then? Girl  I don’t read any But I buy magazines sometimes Boy  That sounds so old-fashioned! I think you should give Jess’s blog another chance 13 You will hear a girl telling a friend about her weekend Boy  Hi, Emma How was your weekend? Girl  Oh, it was wonderful! My cousin came to visit Audioscripts Charles  For children aged 12 and above, there’s the new music club It’s on every week during the school holidays and if it’s successful, the organizers are thinking of continuing it in term time Young people bring their music to the club, exchange information about musicians and listen to and talk about music The organizers are also planning to invite a local band to play at the club Interviewer  Excellent! Are there any sports clubs around? Charles  Yes, of course There’s the football club, for young people who want to improve their game There are two groups: ages 6–9 and 10–12 It’s on every morning for a week – that’s from a.m to 12 p.m., so children should take snacks They’ll be home in time for lunch Drinks will be provided free of charge The Dance Academy is an excellent dance school that teaches ballet, jazz dance, ballroom – all kinds of dance styles, in fact There will also be one-day courses for children aged 8+ in modern dance The children learn new steps and routines during the course and show their parents what they’ve learned at the end of the day Keep Moving is a keep-fit club for teenagers It’s on once a week, on Mondays from p.m to p.m during term time, and during the school holidays, it will be on twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, at the same times There will be all the usual activities including dance, team games and using the gym equipment Finally, FastFit Leisure Centre is having an open day on 16th August Everything is free on this day and children of all ages can try all the facilities at the centre, including squash, tennis, basketball, diving and climbing Interviewer  It sounds like there’s a lot to do! If you have any questions … AUDIOSCRIPTS Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Practice Test Listening Part 19 AUDIOSCRIPTS Part 20 You will hear two people talking about a painting Woman  This is an amazing portrait, isn’t it? You feel as though the woman is really looking at you Man  I know She has a very interesting expression on her face, too She looks as though she’s done something that she really regrets It looks like she’s very sad, but she’s trying not to show it Woman  Do you think so? I think she looks as though she’s just realized the answer to a difficult problem She looks relieved and calm to me Man  Oh well, that’s interesting I wonder why we both have such different ideas about what she’s thinking Maybe you’re a more positive person than I am! Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Audioscripts What did the boy have to drink? Girl  Have you been to that new café on the High Street? Boy  Yes, I’ve been there a few times Girl  What kinds of tea they have? Boy  I don’t know I don’t drink tea I usually have a milkshake or something like that when I go to a café Girl  Oh well, are the milkshakes any good? Boy  I don’t know that either, I’m afraid, because they don’t sell them The orange juice is OK It’s nothing exciting, though On which date will the author sign books? Man  We’re very pleased to announce an exciting new event at our bookshop World-famous author Karabo Drumbo is going to be here next month! She’ll be reading from her latest novel, Philo and Burke, at p.m on April 24th There’s a separate book-signing event with Karabo on the 25th Tickets for both can be purchased from the 21st We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment This is going to be very special indeed Don’t miss it! What was the weather like in the afternoon? Mum  Well, are you all having fun at the beach today? Girl  Oh, hi Mum Well, it started out great because the weather was amazing It was really sunny early this morning so everyone went for a swim in the sea That was lovely A couple of hours later, we decided to play beach volleyball, but it was a disaster because the weather completely changed! The wind was incredibly strong and no one could control the ball It was funny, though After lunch, it started to rain so we all went to the beach café for some cake That’s where I am now! What time is the English exam? Woman  Can you all please remember that the date of your English exam has changed It’s no longer on Friday at nine o’clock It’s now on the following Monday The time remains the same, but don’t forget to get here half an hour earlier so that you can be calm and ready to begin Don’t forget French is still on Monday afternoon at one o’clock, so you’re all going to have a busy day Make sure you get plenty of rest on Saturday and Sunday What does the girl’s new friend look like? Girl  Is it OK if I invite Sara to come shopping with us? She’s a new girl at my gym You’ve seen her She works out on the running machines a lot Boy  Sure, that’s fine It’s always nice to meet new people Is Sara the girl with short dark hair? Girl  She’s got dark hair, but it’s long and she always ties it back Boy  Oh yeah I know who you mean Yes, bring her along I look forward to meeting her Where is the man going tomorrow? Woman  I’m going shopping and then to the cinema tomorrow Do you fancy coming? It should be a fun day Man  I’d love to, but I’ve already arranged to meet some friends in town Woman  Are you having lunch or something? I’ve heard that the new burger place is quite good Man  Yeah, that’s where we’re meeting, actually We all wanted to try it out It’s right next to the cinema, so maybe you could come along after the film and join us Where is the magazine? Boy  Have you finished reading the magazine I lent you? Girl  Oh yeah, thanks It was great Do you want it back? I’ve left it upstairs, in my room Boy  Yes, please There’s an article I wanted to read in it Can I go up to your room and get it? Is it in your bag? Girl  I took it out of there and put it on my desk It’s on top of my English book And that reminds me I need to my homework Can you bring my book down with you, please? Audioscripts You will hear a woman telling a friend about her new bag Woman  Oh, where are my keys? I know I put them in my bag! Man  It’s a very smart bag Woman  I know I bought it last week It looks great, but it drives me crazy because I can never find anything in it! I thought it would be better than my old bag because it’s bigger and it has so many useful pockets Man  It certainly looks like there’s a pocket for everything Woman  There is But I can never remember which pocket I’ve put things in! I hope I’ll get used to it soon, or I’ll have to go back to using my little old bag! 10 You will hear two friends talking about a song Man  Not that song again! I can’t get it out of my head It seems to be playing everywhere I go at the moment I can’t seem to escape it! Woman  I know It’s really popular, isn’t it? It’s on every radio station, in every shop or café … I think it’s really catchy! Man  You can say that again I keep singing it without realizing I wish I could stop, but it’s like a disease! Woman  Haha! You’re funny I’d love to hear you singing it Man  Well, if I start, please pinch me I really need to stop doing it! 11 You will hear two friends talking about a swimming pool Girl  Did you enjoy your swim this morning? Boy  Yeah, it was great I feel really refreshed now Hey, have you been to the new swimming pool? Girl  Yes, I went with Celia last Saturday afternoon It was really busy, though We could hardly find room to swim! Boy  Oh, it was lovely and quiet this morning Next time, you should go early in the day – there was hardly anybody else there first thing this morning The water was freezing, though! I nearly screamed when I jumped in! I had to swim really fast to warm up Girl  Oh dear! That’s certainly one way to make people get fit! 12 You will hear a woman telling a friend about her weekend Man  Did you have a good weekend, Sarah? Woman  Yes, thank you I visited some friends in the countryside Man  That sounds relaxing It’s good to get out of the city sometimes, isn’t it? AUDIOSCRIPTS Woman  Yes, it was very peaceful and it’s wonderful to breathe clean air after all the pollution in the city They live in a quiet village surrounded by fields and trees Everything was so green I found it a bit scary at night, though When it gets dark in the countryside, it gets really dark There are no street lights, or lights from cars and buildings Man  I bet you had a fantastic view of the stars, though! Woman  That’s true It was really beautiful 13 You will hear two people talking about a curry Man  Did you enjoy that curry, Laura? I thought it was very tasty Woman  What, really? I thought it was horrible! I left most of it on my plate; look Man  Oh, was it too hot for you? Woman  No I like spicy food! I just thought this curry had a terrible flavour It tasted kind of sour to me It was disgusting Man  Hmm, that’s very strange because I loved it For me, it had an excellent balance of flavours I was tempted to get some more, to be honest Woman  Well, you can have mine I’m going to buy a sandwich or something because I’m still hungry Part 21 You will hear a radio presenter talking about a sports festival Man  Are you wondering what to over the summer holidays? The international sports festival starts on the 30th of June, lasts for two weeks and ends on the 13th of July with prize giving and fireworks It’s well worth attending Here’s why The fun starts on day one with a huge event in Prospect Park Organizers will arrive early to set up, but the event for the public begins at 12 p.m and lasts all day until 6.00 Throughout the day, many different clubs and companies will be giving free workshops, which means you’ll be able to try sports that you may never have tried before Some of the highlights at the opening event include skateboarding and break-dancing workshops You might also like to bring your bike and try some extreme cycling Before you start, an expert will check over your bike to make sure it’s safe There will also be a bike race To find out more information about exact times of each workshop, look on our website You’ll also be able to download a map which shows where everything will be in the park on the day For the remaining two weeks of the festival, you’ll be able to enjoy further workshops and sessions in the area Locations and events include water Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools sports at River Swimming Complex, track events at the Athletics Stadium and you can also take part in indoor team games at Central Leisure This festival is the first of its kind in our town and I really recommend you see what it’s all about Part 22 AUDIOSCRIPTS Audioscripts You will hear someone talking about an organization that takes young people on expeditions Presenter  Hello and welcome to the programme Today, I’m talking to David Watts, who is a leader of Youth Expeditions, which is an organization that gives opportunities to young people to explore different parts of the world David is here to try to show us that going on expeditions is a challenge that all young people can take part in, not just the super fit and super confident David, could you tell us first about what the organization does? David  Hello Yes, we organize expeditions to different places and invite young people aged 16–20 to go on them at as low a cost as possible Basically we provide a grant for about 75% of the total The aim is to develop confidence and a sense of adventure, but we also work with scientists and environmentalists Although we want people who are keen to learn, we don’t expect them to have expert scientific knowledge already Presenter  How often you organize expeditions? David  About three or four every year and they include month-long summer expeditions to the Arctic for those aged between 16 and 20 And then, for those over 18, there are our Arctic and desert gap-year expeditions Presenter  Tell us about one of your most recent expeditions David  This June, a group went to the edge of the Arctic Ocean They went with seven leaders and a group of scientists They cross-country skied to where they were camping and then went everywhere on foot They took part in a series of scientific studies, investigating glaciers, rivers, plants and so on It was a very interesting trip Presenter  You also run competitions David  That’s right And for this year’s, three young explorers can win a place on our next expedition to the Arctic for which we’ll pay the whole cost For two months they’ll live in tents and snow caves and will learn how to survive in the extreme cold For part of the time they’ll work with environmentalists on the subject of climate change, but there will also be opportunities for mountaineering and cross-country skiing It should be a lot of fun Presenter  So how people enter? David  Entrants should make a short film that gives information about themselves; why they are interested in going to the Arctic, and what they hope to get out of the experience They should send this to us by post and we’ll choose a number of people to come for an interview From those, we’ll decide who has won Presenter  It sounds like an excellent opportunity and I wish our listeners luck with that Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Practice Test Listening Part Audioscripts 23 What date does the woman’s holiday begin? Man  Hi! Are you all ready for your holiday? I heard that you’re going next Friday! Woman  On the 18th? No We were planning to leave then, but my cousin isn’t free that weekend, so we’re going the following Friday now Man  Oh! That’ll be the 25th, the day before I leave, too I can’t wait to get away How long are you going for? Woman  Only ten days, but I’m really looking forward to it Where did the boy first find out about the festival? Boy  Look at this! The City Festival’s on next weekend Do you want to go? Girl  Oh yes, I really want to go, but I didn’t know it was on so soon There was an ad on TV the other day, but I didn’t notice the dates Boy  Well, I only realized it was on because my dad had last Sunday’s newspaper Here, have a look at the website and we can decide what to get tickets for What does the boy ask the girl to buy? Girl  I’m going to the shops to get some milk Do you want me to get you anything? Boy  Yeah, can you get me some eggs, please? I’m going to make a cake for Mum’s birthday Girl  No problem Shall I get some flour, too? Boy  Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty in the cupboard I was thinking of doing something different to my usual chocolate cake Could you get a lemon and I’ll try this new recipe? It looks very tasty How you get to the bookshop? Woman  The bookshop? Oh yes, it’s just off Bridge Street, next to the museum Go straight across this roundabout and then after about 500 metres you’ll have to turn right at the crossroads Sorry, I mean left, into Bridge Street Go down the road a little way and you’ll see the museum on the corner It’s a big building with columns at the entrance The bookshop is down a small side turning beside the museum – you can’t miss it How many people live next door? Boy  Hi! Where have you been? Girl  Oh, hi! I’ve just been chatting with our new neighbours The mum and dad seem really nice And there’s a girl called Monica who’s about my age Maybe we’ll be able to hang out together AUDIOSCRIPTS Boy  Oh! I thought I saw an older girl there yesterday Girl  Actually, Monica’s got two older sisters, but one’s already left home Anyway, you should call in and say hi! Where are they going on holiday? Boy  So, are you looking forward to going on holiday with your parents? Girl  No We’re still arguing about it! Dad wants to rent this quiet house in the countryside, but Mum says it’s way too far from the coast She’s seen these great apartments online; they’re right beside the beach Boy  Those apartments sound pretty amazing to me Is that where you’d like to go as well? Girl  No way I’d much prefer a city break! There are so many fun things you can in a new city, and we could rent a really cool flat in the city centre, you know? But Mum has won this time She really loves the seaside What does the girl decide to wear to the concert? Girl  Well, it’s a shame you can’t come to the concert tonight I’ll have to go on my own I was planning to wear those dark jeans with a black shirt Do you think that’s smart enough? Boy  How would I know? If you want to look smarter, there’s that blue dress you got from the market? Girl  Brilliant idea! Much better than trousers Boy  Well, whatever you think, but I’m sure it would be fine to just wear jeans and a T-shirt if you wanted It’s only a small concert Part 24 You will hear two friends talking about football training Girl  So, did you enjoy football training after school yesterday? You haven’t done it before, have you? Boy  No, that was my first time Yeah, I enjoyed the training session, but I don’t think I was very good Girl  What you mean? Why? Boy  Those guys are so fit! Seriously, I really struggled to keep up And a couple of times I didn’t manage to catch the ball I think everyone was disappointed in me Girl  But all players feel like that at first I’m sure you’ll get better, with practice You will hear two friends talking about travelling to and from school Boy  So, you always cycle to school? Girl  Most of the time But if the weather’s really bad, I take the bus What about you? Do you usually walk to school? Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools AUDIOSCRIPTS and, at the moment, I’m just experimenting with various techniques Boy  Well, I think you have a lot of talent 13 You will hear two friends talking about a TV show Man  Oh, why they that at the end of every series? I hate it when they end the show just as something terrible or exciting is about to happen They leave you desperate to know what happens next, and you have to wait months for the next series to start so that you can find out! Woman  That’s the whole idea, isn’t it? They don’t want you to forget to watch the new series Man  Well, there’s no chance of that! I’m going to be wondering about the next episode all summer now Woman  I’m sure you’ll find something to take your mind off it before the next series starts! Part 25 You will hear a recorded message giving information about a museum Woman  This is the information line for the Dorset Chocolate Museum; the home of chocolate lovers and the ideal place to spend an afternoon Do you know who used cocoa beans as money in the 16th century, or where chocolate was drunk as a medicine? At the Dorset Chocolate Museum, you’ll find out about all this and more Our fascinating displays will guide you through the history of chocolate making from its earliest use in South America to the modern day Then move on to the demonstration area of our small family-run factory Here you can watch our skilled chocolate-makers making a variety of chocolate bars, as well as other sweets, and you can even have a try at making your own We open seven days a week from 12.00 midday till p.m., except in July and August when we are open until p.m From September to December we are open at weekends only We are closed throughout January, but open again from the 1st of February Admission is £10 for adults and £5 for children up to the age of 16, while children under five are free Students pay £2 less, so that’s £8, but only if they have a student ID card Special reduced entrance fees are available for groups of ten or more people We can also make special arrangements for schools on weekdays between 12 and p.m All groups will be provided with a private tour guide, and at the end each member of the group will receive a bag of lovely hand-made chocolates Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Audioscripts Boy  No! It’s much too far to walk or cycle from home My brother and I get a lift with Dad in the mornings; our school is on his way to work Girl  And how you get home, then? Boy  We get the train I quite like it actually I often my homework on the train, or most of it anyway, so I can chill out when I get home 10 You will hear two people talking about a recipe Boy  Oh, it’s no good I just can’t get it right Girl  What’s the matter? Boy  I’m trying to make the cookies my grandma used to bake for me when I was little My mum gave me the recipe I’ve followed all the instructions, but I just can’t make them taste the same I wonder if the measurements in the recipe are wrong Or maybe I’m using different brands of ingredients, and that’s making the cookies taste different Girl  Perhaps your grandma had a secret ingredient which she didn’t tell your mum about Boy  Do you know, I bet you’re right! That’s just like my grandma! I wonder what it could be … 11 You will hear two people talking about a gym Woman  What you think of the new gym in town? Man  It’s great! I’ve been there a few times now The equipment is very modern, and everything is very clean and smart Woman  It certainly seems very popular It’s always full of people Man  Yes, it does get very busy, but you never have to wait for equipment There are enough machines for everyone Woman  That’s true I just wish there were a few more lockers in the changing rooms By the time I get there, they’re all taken, so there’s nowhere for me to leave my things I suppose I’ll have to start going earlier 12 You will hear a girl telling a friend about her new hobby Boy  Wow, these photographs are amazing Did you take them? Girl  Thanks! Yep, they’re my photos Boy  Seriously, they look really professional You could sell them Girl  Oh, I don’t know about that … maybe when I get a bit better at it Boy  Did you take all of these with your phone? Girl  No, not these ones I started getting interested in photography about a year ago Then my parents gave me a really good camera for my birthday, and I decided to sign up for a photography course I learned a lot of basic stuff Our special range of chocolate boxes and bars is always available to buy in our gift shop For more details phone the gift shop on 01632 960054 Part Audioscripts 26 You will hear a chef talking about his career Interviewer  What does it take to be a head chef? Paul Heaton is here to tell us all about it Paul  Thanks! I didn’t enjoy school that much, and I decided quite early on that I was going to leave as soon as I could, which was at 16 I tried a few other things, including the local supermarket, but nothing really interested me until I got a job as a kitchen assistant I was a fresh-faced 17-year-old when I turned up at the Grand Hotel It was hard, dirty work and the pay wasn’t great either On the positive side, I was in a really busy kitchen where the top chefs were highly skilled and during my breaks I could watch and learn I was fascinated by all the equipment and the unlikely stories of people injuring themselves with kitchen tools Interviewer  I imagine that kitchen assistants don’t work from 9.00 to 5.00 Paul  No! I had to get used to long hours and working late They needed me when the kitchen got busy, around twelve o’clock, which doesn’t sound bad, but I sometimes wouldn’t finish until two o’clock the next morning I’d spend most of the time cleaning the kitchen equipment or preparing food for the chefs to use I must’ve washed and prepared literally millions of carrots and potatoes Interviewer  But those days are behind you now, aren’t they? Paul  Yes, these days I’m a head chef, so I’m responsible for organizing the kitchen This includes preparing the menus, selecting and training staff and keeping the kitchen in good working order And, I still love to cook of course But now I don’t have to it every day, but can choose to it when I really want to Interviewer  What advice would you give to anyone thinking of becoming a chef? Paul  You have to be able to work in a team, whether you’re cleaning the floor or grilling a steak You must be prepared to deal with stressful situations And you have to be able to think quickly – if the fish you wanted to use for your main dish doesn’t arrive, you’ve got to invent something completely different People sometimes think that preparing food in a first-class restaurant is a complicated and difficult thing to This is partly true – there’s a lot to think about and your work needs to be right every time – but the key to success is to buy the best and the freshest food available and keep things simple AUDIOSCRIPTS Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Practice Test Listening Part 27 AUDIOSCRIPTS Part 28 You will hear two people talking about the weather Woman  Oh dear It’s raining again I’m getting really fed up with all this wet weather I wanted to go for a picnic this weekend Man  Well, the weather forecast says that the rain is going to stop by Saturday morning, and we’re going to have a few sunny days Woman  Really? I’ll believe that when I see it I don’t trust the weather forecast Man  I don’t know They’re pretty accurate these days I rely on the weather app on my phone to tell me when I need to take an umbrella with me! Woman  Well, I hope that you and your weather app are right A few sunny days would be lovely Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Audioscripts What is the woman going to buy today? Woman  I’m going shopping in town this afternoon I need to get a present for Jan It’s her birthday next week Man  Oh, really? What are you thinking of getting her? Woman  I’ve already got her a bag and I thought about buying her a book or a scarf, too What you think? Man  I don’t think she reads much, so I think a scarf would probably be better Woman  OK Thanks I’ll see if I can find something she’ll like What time did Clara finish band practice? Mum  You’re home late, Clara! I was starting to get worried about you It’s nine o’clock! Girl  Yes, I know, Mum I didn’t catch a train until 8.00 Mum  Were you at band practice all that time? That was a long rehearsal! Girl  No, I left at 6.00, but I met Eva on my way to the station We got chatting and decided to go to a café I hadn’t seen her for ages, so we had a lot to talk about Which piece of equipment was missing? Dad  Gosh, you’re back very early from cricket, Anthony Do you not feel well? Boy  No, I’m OK But I didn’t get to play cricket today Dad  Why not? Did you forget your bat? Boy  No, I remembered to bring it Actually, Toby forgot his helmet but, luckily, I had an extra one, so he was fine Dad  Right Then why on earth didn’t you play? Boy  No one had a ball, Dad! We were all there, ready to play, and … Dad  Oh no! Sorry, Anthony What is the weather going to be like this afternoon? Woman  After a bright and sunny morning, clouds are beginning to form and it looks like we’re going to see some rain later today, probably from around two o’clock, so don’t forget your umbrellas The rain will be light, however, and no thunderstorms are expected It will clear up in the evening, and there’ll be light cloud for the rest of the night, with a clear day tomorrow How did the man find out about the play? Woman  That was a fantastic play Thank you for recommending it Man  You’re very welcome I’m glad you enjoyed it Woman  How did you hear about it? Did you read a review about it? Man  No, I know there have been some good reviews in the newspapers, but I didn’t see them My friend John heard about it on the radio and emailed me and suggested I went to see it He’ll be pleased to hear that we both enjoyed it When is the man’s first guitar lesson? Woman  Have you started guitar lessons yet? Man  Not yet They’ve been delayed They were going to start on the 15th, but the teacher was ill Woman  Oh dear I hope she’s better now Man  Yes, she is, and she’s going to give two lessons in one week this week to catch up The first one will be on the 21st and the second will be on the 23rd Woman  Great! I look forward to hearing you play something soon Man  Haha! It might be a while before I can play a song! How does the woman usually keep fit? Man  Hi, Sally It’s great seeing you here I didn’t know you liked running! Woman  I don’t! I go to the gym most days, but it’s closed at the moment They’re doing some building work I’ve got to something while it’s closed and I haven’t got a bike, so I thought I’d better try running Man  Oh well, why don’t you join me? I’m here every morning, and it’ll be good to have some company Audioscripts You will hear a girl telling a friend about her dreams for the future Boy  Where you think you’ll be in 20 years’ time? Girl  Ooh – that’s difficult Perhaps I’ll be living by a beautiful Italian lake surrounded by mountains I could work as a windsurfing instructor Or maybe I’ll be a businesswoman getting rich in New York City – I wonder what that would be like Boy  You don’t think you’ll still be living here in Ireland, then? Girl  Oh yes, that’s it I’ll live in one of those pretty little cottages you see round here, and sell my pictures of the local landscape Boy  That makes sense You’re a very talented painter 10 You will hear two siblings talking about a trip Sister  I’m so excited about our trip to London next month Shall we go ahead and buy our train tickets online now? If you book early, it’s cheaper Brother  Ummm, I don’t know … Sister  What, why? Do you not want to go anymore? Brother  No, it’s not that I’m really looking forward to London, but I was thinking maybe we should take the bus instead It’s better value for money Sister  But doesn’t the bus take longer? Brother  It does, but not much, and it’s still more convenient If we get the train, we’ll have to change at Birmingham and carry our bags to a different platform, you know? But the bus is direct 11 You will hear a boy telling a friend about his father’s job Girl  I think it’s so cool that your dad is a firefighter He must face danger every day Boy Well, not every day, but it is cool! He told me that most of the calls they get are not actually for fires They rescue people from all sorts of situations And, when they get called to a fire, they have all the right equipment Apparently, the biggest danger is when a firefighter isn’t fit enough It’s really important to keep fit in that job Girl  Yes, it must be And I expect communication is important, too Boy  Oh yes Everyone on the team needs to communicate really well, and to trust each other, too If they work together well then everyone is a lot safer 12 You will hear two friends talking about a song Girl  This song is great, Tony Have you heard it yet? Boy  Don’t tell me you actually like it It sounds so miserable! Girl  Come on, it’s not that bad Listen to the words she’s singing AUDIOSCRIPTS Boy  OK, I can see that the song is well-written You might even say that it’s interesting – but it just goes on and on! Girl  Well, it makes me smile I can’t stop listening to it Boy  I guess we just have different tastes You know I prefer songs that sound more positive 13 You will hear two friends talking about a computer game Boy  Look at this new game! Isn’t it fantastic! The characters look like real people Girl  Wow! It’s just like watching a film! That’s fantastic Is it good fun to play? Boy  It’s great! The puzzles are a bit difficult, though Sometimes it can take me days to work out what I need to to get to the next stage of the game Girl  Well, you don’t want it to be too easy, or you’ll finish the game too fast! Boy  That’s true, but I like to find out what happens next in the story I get bored if I have to wait too long to move on in the game Part 29 You will hear a woman talking to a group of families about their holiday Woman  Good afternoon, families! It’s lovely to see you all at our wonderful resort You’ve certainly got some great weather for your holiday! Now, in a moment you’ll be shown up to your rooms Then in about an hour’s time, at about one o’clock, a light lunch will be served in the dining room The dining room is at the front of the hotel, next to the fitness centre For your information, breakfast is served between a.m and a.m., lunch is from 12 p.m to p.m and dinner is served in the evening between p.m and 11 p.m Traditional music is played by local musicians twice a week during dinner Now a few words about activities There are family trips most mornings which you can join, if you like These include visits to local places of interest, including the ruins and various monuments I’ll give you more details about those later You can also visit an outdoor market where you’ll be able to find souvenirs to take home That’s only on Thursdays, so don’t miss it In the afternoons, you can either walk to the beach, which is just five minutes away, or you can relax by the hotel swimming pool That’s it for now, I think I hope you like your rooms Please stay behind if you have any questions Otherwise, I’ll see you in the dining room in about an hour Thank you very much Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Part 30 AUDIOSCRIPTS Jack  Yes, but they don’t offer our prices Like other centres, we offer discounts to students and the over 60s, but people can also buy a membership card for just £15 a month For this, you can use all the facilities as often as you like You pay much more for membership in other centres Interviewer  That sounds very good Thank you for coming in, Jack … Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Audioscripts You will hear an interview with the manager of a new leisure centre Interviewer  Welcome to the Leisure Programme Today I’m interviewing Jack Hutchinson, the manager of a new leisure centre that opened last month Welcome to the programme, Jack Jack  Thank you Interviewer  Jack, there are several leisure centres in this area Why you think yours has become so popular already? Is it because it has such a fantastic gym? Jack  No, I don’t think it’s because of the gym, although the gym is excellent I think it’s because so many articles have been written about us in the local newspapers People want to see if we’re as good as the journalists say Interviewer  So, tell us about the centre Jack  Well, let’s start with the pools – we’ve already got a very good, large swimming pool with a diving area There’s also a smaller training pool, which is for children and for adults having lessons, and there are plans to build a fun pool with slides for children Interviewer  And what about this amazing gym? Jack  The equipment is excellent and we have experienced staff who are very happy to give advice Interviewer  Are the staff there all the time? Jack  They’re usually there for two hours in the afternoon and an hour in the evening We’re hoping to increase the time they’re available when we employ more staff Interviewer  What about courts? Jack  There are indoor courts for tennis, badminton, volleyball and basketball The outdoor tennis courts aren’t quite ready, but they’ll be available next week Interviewer  What about classes? Jack  There are swimming classes at all levels, karate, aerobics and keep-fit We also offer one-day scuba-diving courses at the pool They’re given by instructors from the local diving school I’ve done one myself and so have most of our swimming instructors I can highly recommend them Interviewer  So, in what way you think your leisure centre is better than others? Jack  The facilities are of a very high quality We offer a wide range of different activities and we have a café that sells good, healthy food Interviewer  Well, other centres offer all that, too  ... came up … AUDIOSCRIPTS Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools Part 2? ?Preparation 03 © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts 1 Woman  I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables... Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Part 3? ?Preparation 05 Part 4? ?Preparation 1 Man  Freya was born in 1979 and she lived in Scotland... Why? Does he travel a lot? Oxford Preparation & Practice for B1 Preliminary for Schools © Copyright Oxford University Press Audioscripts What is the weather forecast for tomorrow? Man  Good afternoon