06_CAE Listening Part 1- short extracts - free practice test (1)Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
Man: The world cup starts in three weeks! It’s going to be great!Woman: Oh yeah, great. Man: Aren’t you into the world cup then?Woman: Oh, I don’t mind it, I suppose. When I was younger I used to quite like watching all the fit met running around! And it is nice to get together with some friends in the pub and really get into a match. I also like the fact that this is the time when people from all over the world are excited about the same thing. It brings nations together I think.Man: It starts fights between them, more like. I think it’s a great chance to see really good quality football.Woman: Good football? Then why do all the men I see swear at the players because they’re always slipping up? Anyway, this country never does very well.Man: Our problem is that we always do well against the good teams, and then we mess up when we’re playing the not-so -good ones. Anyway, the great thing about the world cup this year is that the country that’s hosting it is only one or two hours ahead of us. I’ll be able to watch loads of matches without staying up all night or missing work. I might go out for a drink with some mates and see a game on a few evenings, if you want to come.
1 What do the two people agree about?They believe the standard of the football is good. They think it is a good opportunity to socialise. CorrectThey agree that it gives a sense of global unity.
2 What, in the man’s opinion, is the best thing about this year’s tournament?It takes place in a similar time zone. CorrectHis team are expected to do well. The tournament coincides with his time off from work.
07_CAE Listening Part 1- short extracts - free practice test (2)Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
Woman: Are you going anywhere nice for your holiday this year?Man: Yes, I’m going to Turkey.Woman: Oh, I know Turkey very well. I used to work there as a tour guide. Man: Did you? How did you get into that?Woman: Well, It was just after university. At the time I wanted to work in overseas development and I needed to clock up some time living abroad so that they would take me seriously. Then I met someone who worked as a tour leader and he told me that his company were always on the look-out for tour guides and that I ought to apply. I mean, it was a great chance to see some new places, although I didn’t get to pick where I worked.Man: It sounds like a perfect job. Woman: Well, it was and it wasn’t. Turkey was great. I loved the scenery, the people and learning the language. But it wasn’t much fun knowing exactly what you will be doing, what you will be eating, even what you will be talking about every day for the next three months. My whole life was decided for me. I realised that in order to be happy, I need be able to do my own thing and work on my own personal projects. I’m not really a people person. I found making small talk to the tourists all day really draining.
3 Why did the woman become a tour guide?She wanted the opportunity to travel to Turkey. She needed experience for her chosen career. Correct Someone from a travel company asked her to work for him.
4 What is the main reason she gives for quitting the job?She didn’t like the busy schedule. She didn’t have the chance to be creative. CorrectShe didn’t like the attitudes of the tourists.
08_CAE Listening Part 2- sentence completion - free practice testDifficulty level: C1 / advanced
Radio Announcer: Last month, the renowned and much-lover singer Lena Horne died in New York, aged 92. This Afro-American singer and civil activist worked in America in the Golden era of stage and screen, meeting such great names as Billie Holliday and Duke Ellington. We have with us here in the studio Joel Lightwater to tell us more about Lena Horne’s remarkable life.
Joel Lightwater: Thank you John. Lena Horne was born in 1917 to a Brooklyn family, described by a prominent writer as the ‘Talented Tenth’ – a name which was given to those members of the African American community who were educated and socially prominent. Her family were activists in African-American rights – her grandmother, Cora Calhoun, was in fact the founding member of the N.A.A.C.P. , that is, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. Indeed, at the age of two, Lena was photographed parading in a protest.
Her childhood was split between her grandparents’ town house in Brooklyn, and her mother’s lodgings in Harlem, her father having left the family when Lena was only three years old. She went to school at Brooklyn Girls High, but when she started singing at the famous Cotton Club at the age of 16, she dropped out without a diploma.
All her life, Lena’s mother Edna had hoped that Lena could use her performances to break down race barriers. This was not an easy thing to do in the race-conscious culture of the time. At one point Lena was advised to advertise her creamy complexion as Latin, something she refused to do; while later in her career, studio executives in Hollywood suggested that she darken her skin colour with make-up.
Matters relating to racial equality were always high up on Lena’s priorities. During World War II, when she was entertaining soldiers and prisoners of war, she noticed that she was always being asked to perform for groups which segregated in terms of colour. In the rare instances where she sang for mixed groups, white German prisoners of war were seated in front of the African American servicemen. She soon refused to perform for such occasions, and, cine the US Army refused to allow integrated audiences, she put on her own show for a mixed-colour audience.
After the war years, Lena had the opportunity to move into the glamorous world of Hollywood, and she was the first African American to be signed on a long-term studio contract. However, this was an age when the colour barrier was still strong. Black actors rarely had the chance to play anything more than maids and butlers. Although Lena was beginning to achieve a high level of notoriety, she found that she rarely had the chance to act, and many of her lines were cut during the editing process. Only in two incidences did she play a character that was central to the plot.
But Lena’s elegance and powerful voice were unlike anything that had come before, and both the public and the executives in the entertainment industry began to take note. By the mid-’40s, Horne was the highest paid black actor in the country, and her songs were instant classics.
However Horne’s great fame could not prevent the wheels of the anti-Communist machine from bearing down on her. During the 1950s, she was marked as a Communist sympathiser as a result of her civil rights activism. She soon found herself blacklisted and unable to work on television or in the movies. At this time, however, she continued to sing in nightclubs, and made some of her best recordings. In the 60s, she was once again back in the public eye.
Since the 16-year old danced her first steps on the stage of the Cotton Club, much has changed. Thanks to her continued musical, theatrical and political efforts, she paved the way for many other non-whites in the entertainment industry. But what she will be remembered for most of all must be her ability to move generations of audiences with her shimmering resonant voice, singing the classic greats, like “Black Coffee” and the unforgettable “Stormy Weather.”
The 'talented tenth' was a label given to those African Americans who had good social positions and were "educated". She left school and began her singing career at the well-known "Cotton Club".Her mother was keen that Lena's singing career would bring about the collapse of "racial barriers".Lena refused to sing for audiences of servicemen and prisoners which were "segregated".When Lena entered Hollywood, black actors were generally only hired to act in the roles of "maids and butlers".While she was working for Hollywood, Lena found that, during the "editing process", much of her spoken work was removed from the film.Lena spent a lot of the 1950s working in "nightclubs" due to her being considered a Communist.Most people will remember Lena for her "resonant voice".
09_CAE Listening Part 3 - free practice test Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
Radio interviewer: I’m backstage at the Birmingham Hippodrome with the comedian Brian Conley. Hello Brian. Nice to see you again.Brian: Nice to see you too.Radio interviewer: Birmingham’s done well for you over the years, hasn’t it?Brain: It certainly has. It’s paid my mortgage, definitely. I mean, it’s not far from where I live, it’s just up the motorway, and I love this theatre. I’ve got some great memories of here. Back in the 90s, especially, when I was doing panto with Britt Eckland, that was a really good time. Radio interviewer: You mention panto, which has, of course an element of audience participation and rowdiness. How do you cope with that? Is it something that’s difficult for you?Brian: It is difficult, especially with the kids, you never know what they’re going to come up with. But I’m up for that. Some theatres don’t like the kids to come up on stage any more, they just finish with a musical number and that’s it, but I think that’s a shame, especially now I’ve got kids of my own. What a lot of theatres do now is get the parents to come down and stand in the aisles, and if there’s a rowdy kid, we bring the parent up, and that puts the onus on the parent to keep the kid in check. But I like all that participation. It’s what gives it energy and makes it live.Radio interviewer: You do a range of different shows though, don’t you?Brian: Yes, I do musical theatre and corporate work as well as panto, but panto’s the best. It plays to my strengths, you know. I like the fact that it’s got everything, singing, dancing, comedy, and if there’s something in the papers that day, I can pick up on it and put it in the show. And that’s something that only I can do, as the comedy character. The other characters in the show can’t diverge from the script so much. But I can ad lib. It’s great. When I work in musical theatre, i can’t do that. I have to stick to the script.Radio Interviewer: So where did it all begin, this comedy career? When was your first time on stage?Brian: The first time I was on stage was when I was two. I was at this holiday camp and my mum and dad lost me in the dance hall. Then they heard loads of people laughing and they saw me up on stage making a fool of myself. That was it after that. I was hooked. But what has also driven me is the fact that I was dyslexic. I found it difficult to keep up at school, because my writing was bad, so I naturally became the class clown, the school joker. But I was always a good singer, and singing was always my first love. Comedy came later. When I started doing clubs when I was 17, I found that you get paid more for doing comedy than you do for singing.Radio Interviewer: And you still do comedy now.Brian: Yeah, I do. Most of the comedy I do now is actually corporate work. You know, these big work events, where there’s free food and drink. It’s very lucrative, but it’s a tough crowd. They’ve got a load of free alcohol and they get boozed up. There’s a big demand for it these days, but a lot of famous comedians can’t do it. I’ve learnt how to handle it over the years, and I’ve got an answer for every situation now. I had to fall into it really, it pays the mortgage. Radio Interviewer: And you still get nerves?Brian: A guy once said to me that it doesn’t get any easier. I dismissed that. I used to reckon that as I got older and more experienced I’d be more relaxed and I wouldn’t get so nervous. But I realise that he was right. I want to do well, and that effects how you feel before the performance.Radio Interviewer: Brain Conley, thank you very much.
1 Brian likes Birmingham because:It has provided him with a steady income CorrectIt is where he grew up It was where he first became famous
2 When they discuss children’s participation in panto, Brian says thathe prefers children not to come up on stage it’s important to get the parents’ permission if a child wants to participate he thinks that children’s participation adds a certain quality to the show Correct
3 According to Brian, the advantage of panto is thatAll the actors can change their lines to reflect current events. The qualities required in panto match his talents. CorrectIt gives him the chance to play a comedy character.
4 Brian became involved in comedy becauseHe had wanted to do it since he was a child. His friends at school encouraged him to do it. He found he could earn more by doing comedy. Correct 5 What does Brian say about providing comedy for corporate events?It is easy because the audience has had a lot to drink. He has learnt how to respond to comments from the audience. CorrectIt’s the only way for many comedians to find work.
6 What does Brian feel with regards to nerves?He agrees with a comment someone made early in his career CorrectHe no longer feels nervous because he is more experienced The extent of his nerves has changed over the years
10_CAE Listening Part 4- free practice testDifficulty level: C1 / advanced
Speaker oneWell, it was supposed to be like one of those endless summer hols like when you were a kid, you know? Just pottering around, watching some daytime TV, seeing some mates, staying in bed till noon. But inevitably, the more I hung around the place, the more I realised how much needed doing. Before I knew it, I was digging up the garden, fitting shelves, tidying up. The only time I went out was to go to the DIY shop for more bits and bobs. By the end of the week, I was more shattered than I had been at the beginning. So much for that idea! In future I’ll make a point of getting away!
Speaker twoIt was great. It took two hours to get there and the key was waiting for us. We didn’t have to deal with anybody. No hanging around in airports, no checking into hotels, no lugging baggage vast distances, no making a fool of myself in another language. We just rolled up and let ourselves in. It had all the home comforts, and more importantly, it was clean and tidy! Within three hours of leaving home we were sitting at a pub by the riverside, beer in hand. I don’t know why we ever bothered going on exotic holidays when we could have just done this. Well, I’ll know for next time!
Speaker threeOh, I’m so glad I did it! I mean, it was hard work, getting up at the crack of dawn so we could get well on the way before the heat of the afternoon. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired in my life! And my feet were killing me by the end of it! But it was a brilliant way to meet people; not just tourists like me, but also the porters and the guide. They opened our eyes to the cultural aspects of the trip, so that was an added bonus. I’m glad I had them to carry the tent for me. I’d never have made it otherwise. It was such a brilliant feeling though, when we finally made it there. I’ll never forget it.
Speaker fourWell I have to say I was dreading it, but my husband had been pestering me for weeks. I mean, it’s not much of a getaway is it? Having to be on your best behaviour and making polite conversation all the time? But I have to say, it wasn’t half as bad as I expected. There are some quite nice places to visit near their place, and so we did manage to have some time to ourselves. And of course we got waited on hand and foot too! All our meals provided for us, although we did have to chip in with the washing up. The great thing was, we had plenty of time to just relax, sit in the garden with a book, watch a movie, do some shopping . I didn’t expect to feel as refreshed by the end of it as I did.
Speaker fiveThe place didn’t have a lot going for it, I mean it’s not really on the main tourist trail, so it hasn’t got much in the way of culture. There were some interesting buildings and some nice bars, but nothing special really. I wouldn’t have liked to stay there any longer, because we’d run out of things to do by the end of the second day. But the hotel was clean, the food was nice, I got the chance to practice my language skills, and pick up some bargains. When I got back to work, I did feel as if I’d been away for longer, so it must be true what they say – a change is as good as a rest. But now it’s back to the grindstone.
For questions 1-5, choose from the list the type of holiday the person had.1. Speaker 1: A break at home 2. Speaker 2: A cottage holiday3. Speaker 3: A walking holiday4. Speaker 4: A stay with relatives5. Speaker 5: A mini-break
For questions 6-10, choose from the list what each speaker is expressing.6. Speaker 1: it wasn't sa restful as expected.7. Speaker 2: it was less problematic than past holidays.8. Speaker 3: it was a wonderful achievement.9. Speaker 4: it was surprisingly relaxing.10. Speaker 5: it was a break from the usual routine.
11_CAE Listening test 5Difficulty level: C1 / advanced
We are pleased to be able to recommend Anna Brown's "Go Organic", the essential book for all concerned consumers.
"Go Organic" is a fresh, modern, and inspiring sourcebook which has started a revolution in favour of organic living. It can help you make simple lifestyle changes that will have a big impact on our planet.Part of the reason for our support is that we think naturally grown produce, and pesticide and chemical-free meat and poultry taste so good. It is honestly produced, marketed fresh, more flavourful and better for our health than intensively produced food.
But our interest in the subject also reflects the anxieties so many of us feel about big agribusiness meat and vegetables. We all want to know where our food has come from and what has been put on it. Intensively-reared dairy cows and farm animals are fed a dangerous cocktail of growth promoting drugs, antibiotics and anti-parasite drugs on a daily basis, whether they have an illness or not. These drugs are passed directly onto the consumers of their dairy produce or meat., which must be a contributing factor to meat-related diseases like coronaries and high blood pressure.
None of us likes the idea of hormones and growth promoters, or pigs and chicken kept in crowded , cramped conditions. We hate the idea of chickens having to be debeaked so they don't peck each other, or pigs having their tails cropped.
We dislike feeding our children - and ourselves - on vegetables that have been pumped up with chemical fertilizers, then sprayed with pesticide to keep the apples glossy and the pears unblemished. Over £2.5 million of public money is spent every year just to monitor the use of pesticides when a rational food and agriculture policy would find means of eliminating this source of pollution from the food chain altogether - or, at least, of reducing it so the costs are less ridiculous. We spend billions of pounds every year cleaning up the mess that agro-chemicals make to our natural water supply.
The average conventionally-grown apple has 20-30 artificial poisons on its skin, even after rinsing. Fresh organic produce contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micro-nutrients than intensively farmed produce.
We don't want to buy tomatoes that have been genetically modified (that is, GM) with the DNA of a fish just to expand their shelf life for the convenience of the wholesaler and retailer. And we don't want to buy tomato paste made from GM tomatoes. At the very least, we want GM products to be clearly labelled as such, so that we have the choice of buying non-GM merchandise.
Organic foods cost more at the moment, but prices are coming down - the more we buy, the cheaper it will get. This is one area where the consumer is sovereign -it is the consumers who have made the organic food revolution.
Intensive farming can seriously damage farm workers' health. There are much higher instances of cancer, respiratory problems and other major diseases in farm workers from non-organic farms. This is particularly true in developing countries, and for agrochemical farms growing cotton. So we need to go organic if we care about other people.
The trouble is, it can be difficult to shop organically –there are competing interests with competing claims - and different labels. If you want to safeguard you and your family's health, you should go organic. Going organic is the only practical way to avoid eating genetically modified food. And if you want to go organic, you cannot miss reading "Go Organic", the book for everyone who aspires to a better lifestyle and a better world.
We support naturally grown produce partly because it "tastes so good". Naturally grown produce is healthier than "intensively produced" food. Whether farm animals have an illness or not, they are given growth promoting drugs, "antibiotics" and anti-parasite drugs on a daily basis. Consumers dislike the idea of animals raised in "cramped conditions". The use of pesticides is monitored every year, for which more than "£2.5 million" of public money is spent. Billions of pounds are spent on cleaning up the mess made by "agro-chemicals". "Wholesalers and retailers" are the ones who benefit from GM products. Organic food becomes less expensive as consumers "buy more". It's also important to reduce "health problems" in farm workers. However, shopping "organically" is difficult, since there are competing interests.