12_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (1)
I mean, the job’s fine and I quite enjoy it; I mean the boss can be a bit annoying at times, but I guess that’s the same with any job. No, the biggest problem is that I’m always so busy in the summer, and I never get any time off. My husband’s a teacher and he gets long summer holidays, but that’s when I’m at my busiest and so we never get to spend any time together. I mean, I don’t mind doing it every once in a while, but if I stay in this profession my summers are always going to be like this, and I’ll never get to enjoy them.
13_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (2)
This is a very interesting exhibition for anyone who is interested in the social history of this town. We’re displaying the work of Thomas Rowlandson, a cartoonist from late 1700s and early 1800s. As well as being a cartoonist, he was also a painter of landscapes and marine paintings, but this exhibition will feature his caricatures, for which he is best known. His work satires the life and society during this period, so as well as being amusing, the cartoons also act as a fascinating historic insight into the life of the period.
14_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (3)
I’ve looked at your homework, and to tell the truth, there are so many problems with it I can’t correct them all. You’re really going to have to put some work in if you want to get into university because this is not up to standard. If you take a look at the other students’ work, you’ll see just how off the mark you are. If I were you, I wouldn’t pin my hopes on getting into university. And even if you do get in, it’s going to be a big struggle for you.
15_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (4)
Interviewer: So do you get nervous when you’re up there? Singer: I used to. I’d get really wound up thinking about what’ll happen if I go out of tune or forget the words. But then someone said to me, ‘well you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,’ and I realised that this is really what I want to do. There’s no point getting all worked up about it every time. These days I just go out there and enjoy myself. Interviewer: You must be really pleased with yourself for getting so far in the contest. Singer: Yeah, I am, but I realise that some really talented people have been knocked out of the competition. I know I’m really lucky that people out there are supporting me. Without them I wouldn’t have got this far.
16_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (5)
In the north tomorrow, the weather will be much the same as today – unsettled weather with outbreaks of rain throughout the day, and temperatures around ten degrees Celsius. In the midlands and the east, the weather will be warmer, but there are still likely to be some scattered showers and some brisk winds, but there should be some sunny spells too. In the south of the country it should be dry for most of the day, there’ll be a lot of cloud cover but there might be some periods of sunshine – temperatures around eighteen degrees, that’s two degrees warmer than today.
17_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (6)
There’s no simple way of knowing whether someone is lying. You can’t just say, ‘he scratched his nose’ or ‘he looked to the left when he said that’, and know that they aren’t telling the truth. It’s more complicated than that. You first have to establish what we call a base line. That is, how do they act in a normal, everyday situation? When we know this, it’s possible to spot them lying because they use signals which are different from the norm. It might be very subtle, a very small movement in the eyes or a change in the voice.
18_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (7)
I could have taken the train, but that would have taken the best part of a day to get there, and it wasn’t even the cheapest option. The cheapest way was to go on one of those budget airlines, but the flights only go from one airport in the country, so that meant travelling cross-country first, so it wasn’t very convenient. The other option was to fly from the capital, but that was far too expensive for me, although I wish I could have flown because it would have been much quicker.
19_First Certificate in English (FCE) Listening (8)
I think the reason why people are so interested in reading blogs these days is that they offer something different from the more formal types of journalism. Where newspapers and television stations have standards with regards to the balance of opinions, blogs are much more personal. People are putting forward their own stories, and they’re also divulging their sources, so in many ways the information is more honest. And where traditional media is detached, blogs are emotional and that makes them more exciting.
Cambridge First (FCE) ListeningPart 2- free practice test
Interviewer: These days we all know that time is money. People don't want to waste a moment of their lives travelling when they could be working, or let's face it, relaxing on holiday. So with this in mind, why is the London-based company Seymour Powell working on a new form of transport which will go from London to New York in 37 hours, when we can already get there in seven? With me here in the studio is Mark Baker. Mark, why on earth would anyone want to travel so slowly? Mark: Well, the company Seymour Powell have come up with the idea that 'slow is the new fast'. It's true that people traditionally want to get to their destination as quickly as possible, but I think everyone would agree that there is nothing pleasant about flying in a small, crowded passenger jet. That's why this company has developed the Aircruise concept. It aims to carry people to their destination in comfort and style. Interviewer:Rather like the old ocean liners. Mark:You could say that. Interviewer:So what is an Aircruise? Is it a type of plane? Mark: No it's not. It is proposed that the Aircruise will be a huge kite-shaped airship. It will fly at 12,000 feet, but it would be able to fly at just a few hundred feet above the ground if there was something interesting to see on the ground. Interviewer: It sounds like a sort of luxurious hot air balloon. Mark: Well the plan is that it will be powered, not by hot air, but another type of air. Hydrogen. Hydrogen is capable of lifting weights of 1.2 kg per cubic metre, and you can also use hydrogen fuel to provide on-board power and drinking water. With hydrogen as the fuel, you'd be able to reach speeds of around ninety miles per hour. It would be pollution free, and what's more, it'd be completely silent! Interviewer: It reminds me of those airships they had back in the 1930s. Mark: Zeppelins Interviewer: That's right. Weren't they very dangerous? Mark: They were rather, and after the famous Hindenburg disaster, in May 1937 which killed 35 of the 97 people on board. But technology has moved on a good deal since then, and scientists are looking at ways that we can create transport options that are more sustainable and kinder to the environment. Interviewer: So you mentioned that this Aircruise was going to be a luxurious form of transport. Why is that? What sort of luxuries can a passenger expect? Mark: Well, first of all it won't be full of people. One Aircruise ship will carry just 100 people. There'll also be plenty of staff to attend to your every need. They're estimating that there'll be one crew member for every five people! Thirdly, you won't be pinned in your seat for the entire journey. You'll be able to walk around. There's to be a bar, private apartments and even a glass floor so that you can see the view beneath your feet! Interviewer: Gosh, I don't know if I fancy that! Mark: No, me neither! Interviewer: And would these airships depart from airports? Mark: No, I think that would be very dangerous! No, the plan is that they would build special landing pads. Compared to airports, these are much smaller, so the airships would be able to land much closer to urban centres. Interviewer: So, this Aircruise idea. Is it just an idea, or is it actually going into production? Mark: Well, that's hard to say at this stage, but the company is certainly gaining a lot of attention. One of the major Korean electrical goods companies is showing a lot of interest and providing some funding. So there is some talk that this dream could be realised in as little as five years' time. Interviewer: So in the future we'll all be gliding slowly to our holiday destinations, while drinking beers at the bar then? Mark: You will if you can afford it! I don't expect that these new airships will be cheap! Interviewer: Well, thank you very much, Mark Baker. Now it's time for ...
21_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 3- free practice test
Speaker 1Some children just can’t live without it. They really are hooked. The colours die away and your kids scream in protest. It’s as if you’ve just taken a drug away from them. We’ve got to accept the fact that these machines are having a terrible effect on children’s standards of literacy. Kids just aren’t interested in reading these days. They feel they have to do it to pass tests. So they just stare at the screen, pushing those buttons. They don’t have to use their brains or their memory. These gadgets are the cause of so much underachievement in today’s society.
Speaker 2One of the things game developers have to worry about is how to prevent people from copying the games illegally and distributing them on the internet. Some companies have gone to great lengths to make sure that everyone who plays the game is a legitimate user, for example, you might have to have a permanent internet connection to play. This is a problem for some people if their internet connection isn’t reliable. So they prefer to buy pirated versions which don’t have all these restrictions.
Speaker 3I realise that a lot of these pay-for-free games are designed to become addictive. You play for free, but once you’ve invested time and effort into your game, you start paying real money to progress further into the game. With people spending huge sums of money on virtual items, I can see why governments might want to regulate games like these. But on the other side, these gaming companies are businesses and they need to make money. Governments should focus on the industry’s business model, rather than the game content. It’s a balancing act, because the last thing you want to do is stamp out the creativity of small companies.
Speaker 4A lot of games are attractive because the virtual world is fairer than the real world. Your success isn’t determined by your age, social status or education. Your peers are loyal, and when you do something good, you are instantly rewarded, so there’s a real sense of achievement. The sense of community in the gaming world is actually really strong, and what we really need to do is bring some of this spirit of working together and accomplishing tasks into the real world. People should stop criticizing these games and start thinking about how we can incorporate the positive spirit of gaming into our real lives.
Speaker 5There have been a lot of studies into whether gaming encourages violent behaviour, but as far as I know, they haven’t been able to come up with any conclusive evidence. Juvenile crime in the States is at a thirty year low, and there is also some evidence that most antisocial acts are committed by kids who don’t play computer games. I reckon all this hype about violent games is a bigger problem than the games themselves. It makes adults suspicious of their kids, and tries to blame big social issues on games rather than eliminating the real cause of youth problems, such as home life and mental stability.
22_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 4 - free practice test
Interviewer: Well, we’re privileged to have in the studio with us today Carlene Belfort who is a professional ghost hunter! Carlene, that’s an unusual hobby, how did you get into it? Carlene: Well, when I was about 8 years old, my grandmother died and my family moved into her house. And I kept hearing all sorts of strange noises in the night. I told my parents, and they told me I was imagining things, but I knew it was ghosts. So you could say I started ghost-hunting whenever I walked around the house alone at night! Interviewer: So, what do you need in order to be a ghost hunter? Do you have some special psychic powers? Carlene: Well, some people, mediums that is, have the gift to communicate with people who have passed away, or at least they claim to do that. But, no, I don’t claim to have any special powers. Ghost hunters aren’t the same as mediums. We use audio recorders, cameras and electromagnetic devices to detect the presence of ghosts. But I think it helps if you have an open mind and a spirit of adventure. Interviewer: So what sorts of people ask you for your services? Carlene: Well, as I said, I don’t claim to communicate with ghosts. I do get phone calls from bereaved people who want to communicate with their lost ones, but I have to turn them away. That’s not what I do. No, my clients are those people who hear or see things in their homes and are worried they might be going crazy. They call me in, and I can put their minds at rest. Of course I also get the odd few who are desperate to have a ghost in their homes and interpret every creak in their house as a possible visitor. Interviewer: So you don’t find ghosts everywhere you look. Carlene: No, not at all. Interviewer: So how do you detect the presence of ghosts? Carlene: Well, sometimes it is just a feeling. Something that makes you hair stand on end, or there may be a sudden drop in temperature. But the most conclusive way to do it is to get some sort of proof, so we take photographs, voice recordings and meter readings. Interviewer: And what has been your scariest moment? Carlene: Oh, there have been so many! I mean, there was one time when I was with my team, and my team-mate’s camera stopped working. My camera was still functioning, so I took a picture of my colleague so that we could find out whether it was spirits causing the malfunction. When we looked at the pictures later, we could see three streams of energy attacking the camera around my colleague’s neck! That was certainly very spooky, but of course we didn’t know that was going on when we took the picture, and when we looked at the photograph we were far away. There are some hair-raising moments when you see things flying across the room on their own accord. But to tell the truth, there’s nothing more frightening than being in the presence of true evil. Interviewer: So there are evil ghosts out there? Carlene: Oh yes, most definitely. Interviewer: Now, as I’m sure you’re aware, there are a large number of sceptics out there, and I’m sure there’ll be people among our listeners, who believe that ghost hunting is a lot of nonsense and that you have no scientific basis for your work. What do you have to say to them? Carlene: Well, I can see why people with more scientific minds are unconvinced, as there have been a lot of hoaxes in the past. But now, with better technology we’re able to take a lot more data and evidence to back up our sightings, although I realise that some scientists are still not convinced by that. But, well, if they’re not satisfied with the data, well I’d like to invite them on a ghost hunt and see how they explain furniture flying across a room! Interviewer: So it’s not just a big con? You’re not just filling up people’s mind with a lot of nonsense in return for their money? Carlene: Well, I realise that some people see it like that, and that’s a shame. But as I see it, I’m no different from a plumber or an electrician. If someone has a problem in their house, they call me, and I come over with the right equipment and some skills, and I can solve their problem and put their minds at rest. Interviewer: So what do you recommend that people should do if they feel their house is haunted? Carlene: They can contact me via my website and arrange for a consultation. And I’m also happy to take people out on hunts if they want a spooky experience! Interviewer: Well, Carlene, it has been most interesting talking to you. Thank you very much for coming in.
23_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test (1) test2
Could Miss Francesca Meyer travelling on flight BA 385 to Berlin please make her way immediately to gate 23 for boarding, as the flight will be leaving in five minutes.
24_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test
This is a station announcement. We are sorry but, because of the bad weather, the 18:57 to Bristol has been cancelled. A replacement bus service is available. Could passengers please make their way to the station entrance and make themselves known to station staff. The service will leave in fifteen minutes. 25_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test (3) test2
Woman: Is that our guy on the board now?Man: Yes, that’s him, getting ready to jump – there he goes!Woman: Wow! How many times did he spin round?Man: Three and a half. And there was barely a splash when he went in. That one must score at least nine. Yeah – there it is, nine from three judges. That will put us into second place.
26_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test (4) test2
Anyone travelling on to Lenton Bridge? This bus isn’t going any further. If you want to go on to Lenton Bridge, you’ll need to get off here and change onto the 10a. You won’t need to get another ticket. Just show the one you’ve got. There’ll be a bus here in about 5 minutes.
27_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test (5) test2
Woman: That’s our guy, in lane 4. His name’s Richard King. Man: Okay, in the blue shorts?Woman: Yes, that’s him. He was junior European champion last year, so he should do quite well.Man: And how many laps of the track will they do?Woman: Just one. Okay, they’re getting into the starting blocks now.
28_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test (6) test2
This is your captain speaking. We are sorry for the delayed departure from Stuttgart. This was due to earlier problems at Heathrow airport, where it’s been very busy today. We’re pleased to say that we’ll be taking a slightly shorter route back to Heathrow, and as a result, we should arrive at round about our scheduled time of 17:35, local time.
29_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test
Man: Come on, are you ready to go? We've booked the court from four o’clock. Woman: I can’t find my racket.Man: I’ve got your racket. Woman: What about the shuttlecocks?Man: I don’t have those, but we can buy some at the sports centre.Woman: Alright then. Come on.
30_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 1- free practice test
Could passengers travelling to stations to Hastings please make sure they are in coaches A and B, and passengers travelling to Ashford please go to coaches C, D or E, as this train will divide in Tonbridge.
31_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 2, test 2- free practice test
Rebecca: Are you going to the Welcome Fair today? Geraint: What Welcome Fair? Rebecca: You know - there’s a big event in the university sports hall. All the clubs and societies have stands there. You can see what clubs there are, and sign up for them. Geraint: Oh, I know what you mean. Is that today? Rebecca: Yeah! It should be good. I want to sign up for so many things! Geraint: I’m not really that sporty. Rebecca: It’s not just sports clubs. There are loads of clubs - like the… like the International Society - my friend Lisa is the president of that, and the Literature Society, and loads more. Every department has its own society, I heard. Geraint: Oh, OK. So what are you going to sign up for then? Rebecca: Well, I’m definitely going to join the sailing club. I’ve always wanted to try that. And there’s an archery club too. I’d love to have a go at that as well. Geraint: That sounds pretty good. I’ve never tried either of those. Rebecca: I’ll probably join the volleyball club, because I was the captain of the team at school. I don’t know whether to join the orchestra and the choir or not. I was in the orchestra and the choir at school, but I think I want a change now. I might join the drama society instead. And I’ll join the French Society of course. It’ll be good for my course, and I hope I’ll meet some French people to practice my speaking. What about you? Geraint: I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it. Rebecca: Well, what do you do in your spare time? Geraint: I play board games a lot. If there’s a chess club, I might join that. Rebecca: Oh I’m pretty sure there’s a Gaming club. I saw some signs up for it. But aren’t you going to try something new? Geraint: I don’t know. I’ll see what there is. I like hiking, so if there’s a walking society, I’ll join that. Rebecca: There is. It’s called the hill-walking society. I’d love to do that too, but I’m not sure I’ll have time, with everything else. You should join the adventure club. Geraint: What’s that? Rebecca: It’s like the hill-walking society, but much more exciting. They do caving and rock-climbing. It sounds really exciting. I wanted to join that too, but I decided to focus on water sports. Geraint: I don’t really like adventure sports much. I went skiing on a trip at school, and I got cold and wet, and I hurt myself. I didn’t enjoy it at all. I prefer to stay comfortable.
32_Cambridge English First (FCE) Listening Part 3- free practice test2
Speaker 1When I was a kid, I made friends for, what seemed like arbitrary reasons. My best friends were the kid who lived down my street, and the boy who sat next to me in class, whose name was next to mine in the alphabet. When I think about it, it’s strange that we remained friends for so long. But since I moved away, we’ve inevitably drifted apart. Their lives and mine are just so different now. It seems like I’ve moved on, but they’re still doing the same things we did together when we were 17. Going to the same old bars, playing computer games, you know. That stuff doesn’t interest me any more.
Speaker 2I must say that I’ve been find it difficult making friends lately. After we’ve gone through the usual small talk – Nice day today isn’t it, what did you do at the weekend - I can’t think of anything else to say. So going out has seemed more like a chore than a pleasure of late. That’s why I wasn’t that bothered about going to my school reunion. But in the end I decided to go, and I’m glad I did. As soon as I met up with my old pal Barney, we just picked up from where we’d left off. There weren’t any social graces. Within minutes we were teasing each other just the same as we had done ten years ago.
Speaker 3Whenever I meet up with new people, even briefly, I always get their email address and hook up with them online. People say it’s stupid and these aren’t real friendships. ‘A friend is someone you spend time with, face to face’ – they say. I don’t think that’s strictly true, as people have written to penfriends for decades, and I’m sure most people consider people friends even if they only see them once in a blue moon. I love going online, reading people’s posts and seeing what they’ve been up to. We get into random conversations and comment on interesting topics. I know that without the Internet, our friendships would never have withstood the test of time.
Speaker 4I remember reading when I was a kid in a magazine ‘Relationships come and go, but a good friendship can last a lifetime’. At the time, I was sceptical, but over the years, my friend Hannah helped me out through so many ups and downs of life that I came to believe it. That’s why, when she broke up with her long-standing partner after 7 years and lost her job at the same time, I welcomed her into my flat and made sure she was okay. Six months later, she was still there and wasn’t making any effort to contribute to the bills, not matter how much I asked. In the end, I had to ask her to leave. It wasn’t pleasant, and we haven’t been in contact since, sadly.
Speaker 5I was at an anniversary dinner party not long ago, where I didn’t really know anyone except my parents. I was on a table of young people in their late teens and early twenties, which I thought was nice. After all, I didn’t want to hang around with my parents all night. But it soon became apparent that the oldies were having a far better time than we were. I tried to make conversation, but everything I said seemed to fall flat. The people on my table all had their smart phones switched on, and they spent the whole evening texting. They barely said a word. My parents had a whale of a time and by the end of the night, they’d been invited to three more social engagements with people they’d only just met. I came away with nothing, and felt profoundly miserable.
33_Cambridge First (FCE) Listening Part 4, test 2 - free practice test Woman: Hello, can I help? Man: Well, I’m just looking for things to do here in Guernsey. Woman: Sure, well, I can show you a few things. Here’s a map of the capital, St. Peter Port. This is Castle Cornet. It’s over 800 years old. Once, the sea went all around it, but now you can walk there. In fact, there’s a concert at the castle on Saturday night. Do you like classical music? Man: Yes, I do. Woman: Well, a symphony orchestra is performing Beethoven’s 9th symphony. It’s a great place to hear it. A great atmosphere. Man: Sounds good. I’ll think about that. What else is there to see? Woman: If you’re interested in history, go to the St James concert hall. You can see an interesting tapestry which shows the history of the island. Man: Sounds interesting. Woman: It is. The Candie Gardens are here, and this is Hauteville House. The French writer Victor Hugo lived here. Did you know that? Man: No, I didn’t. Woman: Of course, there are lots of shops, here, and there are lots of lovely cafes next to the harbour where you can relax with a coffee. Man: Where’s the best place to go walking? Woman: Oh, there are super places to go walking. Cliff paths, country lanes… You can join a guided walk if you like, or explore the island by yourself. Man: A guided walk? That sounds like a good idea. Woman: Yes, we have guided walks on lots of different topics. The leaders are experts in subjects like history or nature. Here’s a list of the guided walks available. Man: What’s on today? Woman: Let’s see. Well, there’s a guided walk around St Peter Port today. It’ll take you around the major sites and the guide will give you a potted history lesson! It costs 5 pounds and lasts an hour and a half. Man: Sounds good. What time’s that? Woman: Two o’clock. Man: Can I buy tickets here? Woman: No, but you’ll meet your guide right here, outside the door of the information centre. You can pay then. Man: Great. Are there any others? Woman: Well, sadly it was our Autumn walking week last week. We had lots of different tours all over the island, to the reservoir, the wine region, along the canal - but that’s all finished now. Man: What a shame. I would have enjoyed that. Woman: But you can buy our booklet of self-guided walks and visit these places by yourself. Man: This one? Woman: Yes, it costs £7.50. There you are. I’d really recommend this walk here - along the west coast. The cliff path is really dramatic here. Man: Okay. This looks good. I’ll buy it. Another thing, I keep seeing signs for Tennerfest - what’s that? Woman: Tennerfest? Oh, that’s our food festival! It’s great. Lots of restaurants offer really good meals for just ten pounds. Man: Oh, is that why it’s called Tennerfest, because everything costs a tenner? Woman: Yes, that’s it. Man: Is it on now? Woman: It starts on Saturday - in two days time. Man: Sounds as if I’ve come just at the right time then. How long is it on? Woman: It lasts a full six weeks. Here’s a list of the participating restaurants. Man: Wonderful. Any recommendations? Woman: Oo, well they’re all good, but last year I had crab at the Atlantic Hotel. It was excellent. Man: Mmm! Woman: The ten pound menus aren’t available all day though, so make sure you check the leaflet. Man: Oh yes, the menu at the Atlantic is only available from midday until two. Woman: Yes. They’ll all be like that. But it’s really worth it. And ferry trips to Jersey are cheaper during Tennerfest, so if you’re interested in visiting that island too, you’ve come at the right time. Man: Well, I wasn’t planning it. I went there last year. It was a bit busy for my liking. Woman: Okay, well, if you change your mind you can get times and prices from the Condor Ferries office, on the quay. Is there anything else I can help you with? Man: Er, no thanks. I think that’s everything thank you. Can I just pay for this book?