What did Mike do yesterday?

E.g. What does Marcia’s mum want her to do first?

A:Marcia, can you come downstairs a minute, please?

B:Oh Mum! I’m really busy. I’ve got loads of homework to do.

A:I know that, but you should have started doing it earlier. It’s your turn to wash the dishes tonight.

B:Can’t Trevor do it tonight?

A:He’s tidying his room at the moment. Come on! It will take 15 minutes max. Then you can do your homework afterwards.

B:Oh Mum!

What colour is Sonia going to paint her room?

A:I’m really bored with my bedroom so I’ve decided to paint it.

B:Really? But I think it’s a lovely shade of yellow, Sonia.

A:Well, I’m sick of it. It’s been like this for ages. I want something more … I don’t know … happy!

B:Why don’t you paint it green like it was before?

A:No. I’ve already chosen the colour. It’s going to be blue this time.

Which sport does Frank want to participate in?

A:There are so many different sports on offer at the new sports centre.

B:Yes, you’re right, Frank. I called in there yesterday and signed up for swimming. The pool is huge!

A:That’s a good idea, but I don’t think I’ll have time for that.

B:They have great tennis courts too.

A:That’s not really my cup of tea. I’m more of a football person. That’s what I’m going to do.

What does Tim do to relax before exams?

A:Oh, I’m so stressed about these exams. So much depends on the results.

B:Well, you’re sure to do badly if you get really stressed. Try and calm down.

A:It’s easy for you to say, Tim. You’ve finished yours. Anyway, I’ve tried everything – exercise, going out with friends to the cinema – nothing works.

B:Well, when I was doing my exams last year, I was really nervous too, but you know what helped a lot?

A:What?

B:A long hot bath the night before. I felt great afterwards.

What does Jennifer like most about the forest?

A:Oh, what a fantastic day! This was a great idea of yours, Jennifer, to go for a walk in the forest. Just breathe in that fresh air!

B:I always come here for a walk on Sundays if the weather is nice. It’s just so relaxing, listening to the sound of the breeze in the trees.

A:I never knew we had such a beautiful forest in our area.

B:And you should come early in the morning when the birds are singing. It’s just magical. That’s the best thing.

What did Mike do yesterday?

A:Hey Mike, you look really suntanned. What were you up to over the weekend?

B:I had a great weekend. On Saturday, I went white-water rafting. That was some experience!

A:I’m sure it was. Those extreme sports give me a real thrill. I’ve even tried bungee jumping. It’s brilliant. But why are you so tanned? Were you at the beach?

B:No. Yesterday, I went mountain climbing with the mountaineering club. I was out in the sun all day.

TEST 5 A/B - Listening

Entertaining at home can be great fun but it can be stressful, too. Every host wants to treat their guests to a well presented and, it goes without saying, delicious meal. I’d like to give you a few smart tips about how to be the host with the most so that you can dazzle your friends and enjoy yourself at the same time!

First of all, it’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of preparation time. Don’t leave things until the last minute. So, do your shopping the day before. Try to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in your home. Lovely, fresh flowers are great. You could even get your florist to create some stunning designs for you. And don’t forget to have lots of candles. Their soft, warm light will help your guests relax.

But the most important thing of all is the food! Keep it simple. Don’t make anything that is too difficult – it’s a recipe for disaster! Smoked salmon or prawns make a good starter and take next to no time to prepare. Remember: variety is the spice of life, so have lots of salad and fresh vegetables to go with your main meal. To end your evening, serve a good dessert and some fresh fruit.

If you don’t think you can manage all this, then you can always call up one of the many catering companies listed in the phone book.

Have a go! Invite your friends around and be the centre of attention all evening.

Good luck!

If you’d like a copy of our free information leaflet, call …

TEST 6 A/B - Listening

Frank:Well, it was a fantastic day. After four long years of hard work, I was finally graduating. Everyone was very excited. They had prepared the main hall for the ceremony – that’s the one behind the canteen – and it looked great. I guess we all looked rather silly because we had to attend the ceremony in full graduation dress, but I suppose everyone goes through that! I got mine from Paxmans. It was really handy because they had a counter at the university on the day.

Anyway, my parents arrived and went and found their seats. I wanted to invite my girlfriend too, but we were only allowed two guests. I suppose I owed it to my parents, really, after all the help they had given me. Thankfully, my girlfriend didn’t mind!

So, there we were, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was supposed to start at 10 am but we had to be sitting down and ready by 9:45 am. None of us could sit still! Then the microphone wasn’t working and it took ages to get a replacement. We eventually started at 10:15 with a speech by the Dean of the University, Mr Daniel O’Hare. Then there were lots of other speeches by the Heads of Faculties. But, finally, it was our turn to go and collect our degrees. I remember looking at my mum as I got mine and saw the tears streaming down her face. She gets really emotional at times like these. Luckily, she had stopped crying by the time we went to have the official photos taken. They turned out really nice, actually. So, all in all, it was a brilliant day.

TEST 7 A/B - Listening

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1350