CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

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 overhear a man and a woman discussing a news item about the Oxford English Dictionary.
1. What is the new information about the dictionary?
A They have discontinued work on the new edition.
B The digital version has much higher sales figures.
C The printed version might not get released.
2. What is woman's opinion of the change?
A it indicates that people lose interest in the language.
B it is nothing to worry about.
C it means that the books are getting less popular.
Extract Two
You hear two people talking about a car journey.
3. What distressed the man most?
A looking for a parking spot
B backing up down a narrow street
C finding the right address
4. What is woman's reaction to man's story?
A She is angry because he didn't listen to her.
B She is sorry she couldn't help him.
C She is impressed with the way he managed to deal with the problem.
Extract Three
You hear two people discussing a report.
5. How are the speakers related?
A They are two colleagues
B They are a client and a freelancer
C They are a boss and a subordinate
6. According to the woman, what is the problem with the paper?
A different kind of work has to be done.
B it has been done too quickly.
C it has not been proof-read.

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

Part 2
You will hear a woman share her experience of losing a job and how it transformed her life. For questions 7-14,
complete the sentences.
Lara had been working as a 7 ________ before she was made redundant.
As soon as she returned to work after recovering from 8 ________ she found out that she had lost her job.
She decided to travel to 9 ________ as soon as she became unemployed.
Lara chose to focus on getting better at 10 ________ when she came back from the trip.
Lara enjoyed watching the 11 ________ during the time she worked for a holiday company.
Lara realised how 12 ________ her life was previously.
Lara suggests that one shouldn't 13 ________ if the suddenly find themselves unemployed.
Lara feels 14 ________ towards her former employers.

Part 3
You will hear two students discussing an article about a female that went to space. For questions 15-20, choose the
answer (А, В, C or D) which fits best according to what you hear.
15 Both speakers think that an astronaut
A is a profession only people of certain personality can have.
B is not something they would want to do.
C is something nobody expects a woman to be.
D is a very demanding occupation.
16 The woman is fond of Ellen Ochoa because
A she knows how to describe her experiences well.
B how hard she worked to make her childhood dream a reality.
C her knowledge in scientific and technical domain.
D her attitude to people she worked with.
17 The man was surprised that one of the requirements to become an astronaut is
A to be an experienced pilot.
B to have a particular degree.
C to be of certain height.
D to do well in sports.
18 What part of Ellen's life interests the woman most?
A being outside of a spaceship
B working in mission control
C dealing with various difficulties
D operating in weightlessness

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

19 The man regrets that not enough attention was given to

A the unpleasant aspects of being an astronaut.
B the experiments conducted in space.
C the way our planet looks from orbit.
D the social dynamics of the crew.
20 Both speakers are not determined to
A include Ellen Ochoa story in their university project.
B conduct a research about the first people in space.
C dive deeper into the current situation of space discovery.
D visit a talk dedicated to space and astronauts' portrayal in various media.

Part 4
You will hear five short extracts in which people are talking about places they live in.
TASK ONE TASK TWO
For questions 21-25, choose from the list A-H the place where For questions 26-30, choose from the list A-H the reason why each
each speaker lives speaker decided to move there.

A in a houseboat Speaker 1 21 [ ] A it was fairly inexpensive Speaker 1 26[ ]

B in a top-floor flat B it had good transport infrastructure
C in an old cottage Speaker 2 22 [ ] C the location was quiet Speaker 2 27[ ]
D in a house with friends D the view from there
E in a student hostel Speaker 3 23 [ ]
E proximity to leisure facilities Speaker 3 28[ ]
F in a relative’s home F it was ready to be rented
G in accommodation provided by their job G it had a lot of space
H in a basement flat Speaker 4 24 [ ] H it was nicely decorated Speaker 4 29[ ]
hotel
Speaker 5 25 [ ] Speaker 5 30[ ]

Answer Keys
Part 1
1. C 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. A
Part 2
7. lawyer 8. flu 9. Central America 10. skiing
11. sunrise(s) 12. ordinary 13. panic 14. gratitude
Part 3
15. C 16. A 17. B 18. B 19. A 20. D
Part 4
21. H 22. D 23. B 24. G 25. A
26. G 27. C 28. F 29. A 30. H

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

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

Part 1
Extract One
Man: Did you see that article in the paper saying that the Oxford English Dictionary may never again be published
as a set of books? [1] They were saying that since 1989 a large team of lexicographers have been working away on
the new edition, trying to map what the article called the endlessly flowing river of the English language. Only
about a third of the work's been done so far and it's estimated there's at least ten years’ work still to do. I wonder
how the researchers felt when they were told their work might never actually appear in its traditional book form.
Woman: I didn't read the article but I heard someone on the radio saying it's a typical reflection of the decline of
culture, an increasing sloppiness with regard to words, all the usual stuff. But then someone else said he thought it's
better to see the change as a a good thing and to celebrate it. He argues that the Dictionary had no choice but to be
published as a set of heavy and expensive volumes first — because no better technology was available. But now, at
last, we're able to have it in a much more beautiful and accessible form and don't have to put up with old
inconveniences like books any more. And I'd go along with that. [2] I'm sure there'll be a tendency for lots of other
books to go the same way soon.
Extract Two
Woman: So how did it go then? Was the traffic as dire as you'd expected?
Man: Worse if anything. But at least it made it easier to find where I had to get to. It was off a tiny little side street
and I could easily have missed it if I'd been going a bit faster.
Woman: Oh well. At least you saw it.
Man: Yeah but the street was so narrow with cars parked on either side. I only just managed to squeeze into a
really tight spot at the end. But the worst thing was when I came to leave. The street turned out to be a dead end.
There wasn't enough room for a car the size of ours to turn, so I had to back all the way out. [3] I wished you'd
been there to help guide me.
Woman: Well, I don't suppose you'd have listened to me if I had been there. I get flustered and you get cross.
Man: No, I don't! Anyway, I really wondered if I was going to be able to make it.
Woman: Well, good for you, I hate having to reverse like that. [4]
Extract Three
Man: You wanted to see me?
Woman: Yes, it was just to talk about that report you did for me. [5]
Man: Was it all right? Er, I didn't have as much time to work through all the issues as I'd have liked.
Woman: No, I appreciate that. It was very good, considering the constraints you were under.
Man: Thank you. So ...?
Woman: The thing is, the client has now come back to us with some changes to the specs.
Man: Oh, right. Anything major?
Woman: Well, you're going to have to go away and study the fine print pretty thoroughly. [6] I've only skimmed
his document as I've been so busy with that university project, but there do seem to be one or two significant
points.
Man: So I'll need to start again from scratch?

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

Woman: I don't think that'll be necessary. Anyway, you do what you can on it for the rest of this week and over the
weekend and then we can get together again on Monday and check it through carefully. Oh, um, if you have any
questions about it before then, feel free to email me. I'll be working from home for the next few days.
Man: Oh, OK. Thank you.

Part 2
Lara: My name's Lara King and I'm here to tell you about my experience of losing my job. I'd had a feeling I
would get made redundant. One of my best friends worked as a banker and she'd lost her job, as had another one
who was an IT consultant. I had a good job as a lawyer and the company I was employed by had just been taken
over. [7] I'd been working there for three years and I loved it!
I lost my job in August. I'd just been off sick with flu. [8] I don't usually catch things. The last time I was ill was at
school when I had bronchitis quite badly once — anyway, I'd been off for over a week. Then, on my first day back
at work, I found I didn't have a job any more. [8]
My first reaction was to rush back home to my parents in Ireland but I decided to resist that. Then within a week I'd
booked a flight to Central America and spent a month travelling there. [9] I thought to myself: I'm 33, I don't have
any ties and I don't have to find a new job; I can use this as an opportunity to do something totally different.
Anyone with a job like I had should have something they'd like to do if they get made redundant - something like
improve their French or learn how to play golf. I'd recently been skiing for the first time and I really enjoyed it but
had thought to myself that I'd never be able to get that good if I only did it once a year. So, it seemed like the
perfect opportunity to spend more time in the mountains. [10]
I began working as a rep with a winter holiday company. It was like nothing I've ever done before. I'm not
normally someone who likes early mornings but when I had to get up at 6 am and saw the sunrise, it was all worth
it. [11] I don’t think I've ever seen such beauty. Six months ago I was working at a computer all day, every day and
who knows what I'll be doing this time next year. I liked my life before, but I appreciate now that it was very
ordinary, and there's an awful lot more out there. [12]
If one of my friends got made redundant tomorrow, what advice would I give? Well, the first thing I'd say is to
welcome it, and above all, don’t panic. [13] See it as a chance to do something you've never done before.
As for the people who've put you in that position, I think it's also crucial not to feel a sense of anger towards them,
partly because there's no point, but also because they've actually given you an opportunity. My main feeling now
towards the people who fired me is, honestly, one of gratitude. [14] If you're given the chance to try something
different, you should just take it.

Part 3
Tom: That was a really interesting article the tutor recommended about Ellen Ochoa, wasn’t it, Bella?
Bella: It certainly was, Tom. I used to dream of going into space when I was a kid. Though I know now I wouldn't
be the right kind of person for the job.
Tom: But surely they need all sorts of different types of people?
Bella: Mm, I’m not sure about that. I'd get too panicky if there were problems I think. Anyway, I found it
particularly interesting to read about a spacewoman. There aren't too many of those around. [15]
Tom: You're right there! [15]

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

Bella: Anyway, I'm sure they'd be just as able as men to cope with all the challenges of the job. The article
certainly suggests that Ellen was something special, the way she defied all the odds in her determination to do what
she'd wanted to do ever since she was small. What I liked best were the sections which quoted her — I thought she
was amazingly good at conveying what it was like to go into space. [16]
Tom: True. And she's also obviously a very talented scientist.
Bella: Yes, she did amazing work and I think she sounds as if she must have been a wonderful colleague for the
others in her team.
Tom: Absolutely, Bella! I also found the article interesting in what it said about the requirements for becoming an
astronaut. I knew you'd have to have done loads of flight hours as an ordinary aircraft pilot of course. And I
suppose it's not that surprising they want people who are good at sport and who aren't either too small or too tall.
Bella: Mm, well, I was surprised, Tom, that being shorter than the average was not acceptable. I wouldn't have
expected that to be an issue. But I never imagined that you needed to have a post-graduate degree. I don't think I
even realised you had to be a graduate. [17]
Tom: Me neither, I never imagined that. Anyway, she does have an interesting life, doesn't she?
Bella: Yes, Tom, I know. Imagine walking in space. And having to work inside and outside the capsule when you're
weightless!
Tom: Yes, that must be extraordinary. For me I think the most interesting bit would be having to deal with all the
little unexpected problems that arise, having to sort things out within your little team. That must be amazing.
Bella: Yes, it must. But I particularly was intrigued by her account of the role she sometimes has as one of the
people on earth who are in control of the mission. [18] You know when she helps. them communicate with other
astronauts in space. I thought that sounded really fascinating. Being the one person present on the ground who
really understands what life is like for the space crew. She must be able to make things go much more smoothly.
Anyway, all in-all I thought it was brilliant article.
Tom: Yes, it was. Thought I thought it was a pity it didn't tell us as much as it might have done about the less
pleasant sides of being in space. [19] I can't believe that it's always straightforward, that all the do is admire the
views and carry out ground-breaking scientific research. There must be some low points - even if it's only being
irritated by some annoying habit of a fellow crew member or getting fed up with the same old food.
Bella: Well, we could always try to do a bit more research into that sort of area, if you liked, Tom. I wondered even
if Ellen Ochoa's experiences might make a topic for that science coursework we've got to do next term. Or, you
know, we could see what we could learn about everyone who's gone into space from Yuri Gagarin to the present
day.
Tom: Well, I'm not sure about that. I was quite keen to do something on the funding of space research. Anyway, I
suppose we could bear it in mind. But what I do fancy doing is going to a series of lectures I've seen advertised on
astronauts and how they're portrayed in the cinema and in books.
Bella: Wow! That sounds brilliant! Do you mind if I come along too? [20]
Tom: Of course not, Bella. It'd be good to together.

Part 4
Speaker 1
I got a job here six months ago and didn't know anyone here at all. I'd visited once before with my grandparents for
a day — and remember having a great time rowing on the river — but otherwise it was all quite unfamiliar territory
for me. I got the local paper and looked at a few quite nice places that were being advertised in it. But they were all
far too expensive. Anyway, then I went along to see another place and fell in love with it at first sight, even though

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CAE Listening – Practice Test 26

it wasn't cheap. It just had so much room [26] and I'd been living in such a poky little house with other students for
the last three years. You don't expect to find somewhere so nice in a place below the ground floor of a big house.
[21] But it's absolutely beautiful and I feel very lucky that I was able to snap it up before anyone else did.
Speaker 2
I'd always dreamt of living on the river and I was able to rent a houseboat when I first moved here. But it really
wasn't as idyllic as I'd imagined — surprisingly noisy as people were always walking or cycling along the river
bank at all hours of the day and night - and when some people from the sports club I'd joined invited me to share
with them, I jumped at the chance to escape the noise! [22] We rent a pleasant little place in a back street in the
centre of town. You'd be amazed at how peaceful it is there. [27] You feel as if you're in a village. Yet, it's still easy
walking distance from work and most of the other places I like to visit in the centre. We've got quite a lot of
decorating to do there but I enjoy that and the landlord has agreed to cover the cost of the paints, so that’s
something!
Speaker 3
One of the reasons why I took the job here was that it was the town where I'd been to Uni and I had a great time
here. The city has brilliant facilities for young people. So I was looking forward to living here again. When I was
studying I'd lived with my aunt who had a flat here and I'd rather thought I might be able to do that again. It’d have
been a great cheap option. But unfortunately her work posted her abroad just before I was due to move back here.
She had to sell her flat so I had to find an alternative at relatively short notice. Most of the flats that were being
advertised turned out to be already taken when I called, but in the end I found one. [28] I agreed to take it because I
was able to move in at once. It’s in an old house and it has a nice large attic which has been converted into a one-
bedroom flat. [23] I haven't got to know any of my neighbours yet, but hopefully they'll become friends.
Speaker 4
I was lucky to get the place where I live. It’s a really convenient location in that it's right beside both the railway
and the bus station. But that's not why I moved there. In fact, it's a flat that belongs to my workplace and they rent
it out at a very reduced rates to member of staff. [24,29] I was really pleased as it'll make it easier to save up for a
place of my own. My long-term dream is to buy an old cottage in a lovely quiet country village and redecorate it
from scratch, so that it’s beautifully modern inside while being very picturesque and old-world outside. Anyway,
the place I've got here is pretty nice - it’s got plenty of room, which I'm enjoying after several years of living in a
cramped student room in a modern hall of residence. And the views are surprisingly good, given that I'm only on
the second floor.
Speaker 5
I'd been living in this town for ages, first in a student hostel - which was fun because I always had friends on hand -
and then in a shared house - which was also great, both cheap and right next door to the fitness centre where I was
actually working at the time. However, then I got a much better paid job at the other side of town and decided I
could afford to look for something a bit better. I was longing for somewhere with a bit more space by then.
Anyway, a colleague in my new job lived in a houseboat on the river. I had dinner with him one night and he
persuaded me to get the one moored next to his which was for sale. It's tiny but I love it. [25] Mainly because it is
so beautifully done up inside — all exactly to my taste. [30] All my family are taking turns to visit — there's only
space for one spare bed!

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