B1 Practice Tests: Test 2 Audioscript

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B1 Practice Tests

Test 2 audioscript
2.01

You are going to answer eight questions. You have 10 seconds per question for questions 1 and 2, and 20
seconds per question for questions 3–8. Start speaking when you hear this tone.
Question 1: What’s your name?
Question 2: Which country do you come from?
Question 3: I’m going to ask you some questions about sport. What sports do you like to watch?
Question 4: Can you tell me about the last time you watched a game or sports event?
Question 5: Do you prefer watching team sports like football or individual sports like tennis?
Question 6: I’m going to ask you some questions about holidays. When do you usually have a holiday?
Question 7: What did you do on your last holiday?
Question 8: Do you prefer going on holiday with your family or with your friends?
2.02

You are going to leave a voicemail message. First read and listen to the task, then decide what you want
to say. You have 40 seconds to leave your voicemail. Start speaking when you hear the tone.
You are on a two-week study holiday in England, staying in a room in a college. However, there are problems
with the accommodation, making it difficult for you to study.
Leave a voicemail for the manager of the accommodation. In your message you should: say who you are;
describe the problems; say what you want the manager to do.
You now have 20 seconds to think about what you want to say.
2.03

You are going to reply to a voicemail message. First read and listen to the task, then decide what you
want to say. You have 40 seconds to leave your voicemail. Start speaking when you hear the tone.
Listen to a message from your friend about going to watch a film at the cinema. Then, leave a voicemail
message for your friend. In your message, you should: ask some questions about the film; explain which
evening is best for you; suggest something to do before the film.
Now listen to the message.
M Hi, Jack here. Listen, I’m free every night next week and was wondering if you want to go out. There’s a
new film on – ‘Behind the Green Door’. Do you fancy doing something before the cinema as well? Let me
know what you think. Bye.
You now have 20 seconds to think about what to say.
2.04

You are going to give a talk. Read and listen to the task, and start speaking when you hear the tone.
Your school’s English department has been given some money to spend. You are going to give a talk to your
English class about the best way of spending the money.
Choose two photographs. Tell your class how you think these would help students improve their English.
You now have 30 seconds to think about what you want to say.
You now have one minute to give your talk.

1  Oxford Test of English  B1 Test 2 audioscript  © Oxford University Press


2.05

You are going to answer six questions about your talk. You have 30 seconds to answer each question.
Start speaking when you hear the tone.
Question 1: Your talk was about learning a language. How old were you when you started learning English?
Question 2: What is a good age to start learning a language?
Question 3: People say that some languages are easier to learn than others. Do you agree?
Question 4: Can you give me some reasons why people learn foreign languages?
Question 5: Some people say everyone in the world should learn to speak the same language. What do you
think?
Question 6: Do you think technology will make language learning unnecessary?
2.06

Listen and choose the correct picture, A, B, or C.


Question 1: A girl is talking to her father while she is packing her suitcase. What does she decide to leave
behind?
F Have you got any room in your case?
M No, it’s completely full.
F I don’t really know what to do.
M Let’s have a look. What’s all the camera stuff for?
F I’m doing something for an art project at school.
M Oh, OK. What about these?
F I wasn’t sure if towels were provided.
M Yes, of course … and you don’t need this in here … you’re allowed to take a laptop separately.
F OK, well, that should all help. That’ll be fine.
Now listen again.
Question 2: A man and a woman are talking. What did the man get from the shops?
M Shopping was a nightmare. Half the shops were shut.
F Oh, I forgot – it’s the fair this weekend.
M Well, the pharmacy was closed.
F Don’t worry, it isn’t urgent. Mum’s still got enough medicine for a week or so.
M Oh, good.
F Anyway, does that mean we’re going out to supper?
M No, the bakery was open, but I spent everything I had there, so I didn’t even bother going to the
bookshop.
F That’s OK – I’ll try the library next week.
Now listen again.
Question 3: A student is calling his mother from his new room at university. What does he need?
M Hi Mum …
F Hello Jason – what’s your new room like?
M Really nice.
F Are you sure you’re going to be warm enough?
M Yes, the central heating’s amazing!
F Oh good, and were we right about them having kitchen equipment?
M They haven’t even got the basics.
F Well, we can sort that out. And I’ll send some cleaning stuff too.
M Actually, we’ve got our own dishwasher.
F I thought they didn’t have anything.
M No, they’re fine for the big things, like cookers and freezers.
Now listen again.

2  Oxford Test of English  B1 Test 2 audioscript  © Oxford University Press


Question 4: A man and a woman are talking about clothes. What does the woman decide to wear?
F I’m wondering what to wear to Charlotte’s party.
M Something quite smart, but not too smart.
F That’s not a great help. Um, what about this?
M I’m not sure that will be warm enough.
F Oh yes, I remember her house is always freezing. Um, well, it’ll have to be this again, I suppose.
M That looks very nice, and it’s good it’s got sleeves.
F It doesn’t really go with my boots with the heels, though.
M You can wear the others, it’ll be fine.
Now listen again.
Question 5: A man and woman are talking about what’s on TV. What do they decide to watch?
M Is there anything else on?
F Why, what’s wrong with this?
M I’m just a bit tired of documentaries.
F OK. Let’s have a look at Channel 2 …
M That’s a pity, the news is almost finished.
F Well, you can listen to it later.
M Try Channel 9, they’ve often got something.
F OK – Oh, right … there was something about this orchestra in the paper …
M It’s not exactly exciting to watch, though.
F No, I suppose not.
M Let’s just go back to where we were.
F Are you sure?
M Yeah.
Now listen again.
2.07

Listen to a student giving a friend information about university accommodation. Choose the correct
answer (A, B, or C) for each gap (1–5). The first one has been done for you. You now have 30 seconds to
look at the task.
F Hi Emma, sorry to have missed you … um … but your mum asked me to tell you about the
accommodation here at university and what’s good and what’s not. I started here last year, and this year I’m in
a house in town, and I’ll probably stay here for my final year.
OK, well, I was in the Parker Building my first year. Like most of the other places you can stay, it’s brand new
and the rooms are a good size. It’s also a long way from the main road, so there’s no noise from traffic, and
that’s great.
I moved in my second year because Parker is a long way from the Maths Department, but you’ll be OK
because your French Department is just round the corner. On the other hand, the Sports Centre is miles away,
but you can’t have everything.
The Wilson Building is quite good too. None of the rooms have kitchens, but that’s not too bad as you get all
your meals provided, mainly simple things like burgers and chips or pizza. It does mean though, that it costs
a huge amount more than anywhere else, so that is something to think about.
Oh, the students are quite varied – you get some first years and some older ones, and they all do things like
maths, French, medicine. It means they’re all different from each other, so you’ll have the chance to meet lots
of interesting people.
The only other place you could think about is Palladian House, although everyone I’ve ever met who’s lived
there complains the central heating never works, so you’d think it ought to be cheaper, but it isn’t. On the
other hand, it’s in the nicest part of town, the old part, with lots of lovely places round it like the cathedral
and the theatre.
Anyway, I think any of those would be fine really, I think what matters far more is who you meet and the
friends that you make and that’s just a question of luck.
Now listen again.

3  Oxford Test of English  B1 Test 2 audioscript  © Oxford University Press


2.08

Listen to a man and a woman talking about working for big companies. Match the people (woman, man,
or both) to the opinions below. The first one has been done for you. You now have 30 seconds to look at
the task.
M I was talking to Dave the other day – he’s just left university and he’s trying to decide what sort of job to
apply for.
F He’s got a degree in Computer Science, hasn’t he?
M Yeah, so it won’t be difficult to find something. He thinks he should join a big company, and I suppose that
could be fun when you’re young and you’re working with lots of people the same age.
F I know my brother liked it – when he started, his company employed about 200 other graduates and they
had a great time. What’s even better is that he didn’t have to go out and make friends and meet people.
M I can see that makes things easy. I do think you should still see your old friends, though, you know, people
from school or university at least some of the time. Probably most of it, actually.
F Is that the way to do well in a big company? Looking back at when I was at the bank, the people who got
to the top were the ones who knew all the important people, they invited the managers home for dinner,
that sort of thing.
M I think that’s rather sad, but that’s just the way things are, I suppose. At least the salaries for new graduates
are good in these big companies, compared with small family firms.
F To begin with they are but, I’m not sure that’s true later on. They do go up, but only very slowly, and
actually, I think that’s what’s wrong with these huge organisations. They’ve got lots of rules you have to
follow, you’re just a very small part in a big machine.
M I know, but in something like a bank, you can’t really have everybody doing what they want, can you? Just
think of the problems. But if you’re happy to follow the rules it must be quite relaxing.
F I think that’s the difference really. You have a lot more freedom in a small organization and it’s much easier
to move up. I mean, look at you – you were a classroom teacher and then the head of department in how
long?
M Eleven weeks. But I wouldn’t call my school small! I was simply the right person for the job.
F Anyway, what did you tell Dave to do in the end? Did you give him any advice?
M Yeah – actually I said he ought to think about starting his own company.
Now listen again.
2.09

Listen and choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).


Question 1: Two people are talking on a train. What is the woman’s opinion of travelling by train?
A  It is unreliable.
B  It is too expensive.
C  It is uncomfortable.
F It hasn’t been too bad today, has it?
M No, and we managed to get seats and we might even arrive on time.
F That’d make a nice change – at the moment I never arrange appointments for the morning – but
apparently things are going to get better next year.
M With the new trains?
F Yeah, and hopefully they’ll be nice and clean, and a bit faster.
M The problem is they’ve spent millions on them, so you know what that means.
F The tickets will go up.
M Yes. Again.
Now listen again.

4  Oxford Test of English  B1 Test 2 audioscript  © Oxford University Press


Question 2: A woman is talking to her mother. What did the woman think of the play?
A  The actors needed more preparation.
B  The performance was of a high quality.
C  The new actress was popular with the audience.
F We went to Joanna’s school play the other day, and that was only really because she had a small part in it.
I have to say that, after the last school play when everyone forgot their words, I wasn’t looking forward to it.
But I think that new drama teacher has made an amazing difference. Emma’s daughter still seems to get the
biggest parts, but who knows, even that may change.
Now listen again.
Question 3: A man is talking to his wife. What does the man think about going to university?
A  It is necessary for a successful career.
B  It suits some people more than others.
C  It is important to choose a course that interests you.
F Your brother didn’t go to university, did he?
M No, I tried to persuade him because I was having such a good time, but he wasn’t interested.
F That’s a shame.
M Well, he did look at the course in computing, but it wasn’t what he wanted, and he had a job offer from a
games company.
F And they don’t worry too much about qualifications.
M No. I needed a degree for what I do, but he’s got to the top without anything.
Now listen again.
Question 4: A woman is talking to her father. What does the woman say about Hilltop Garage?
A  Their work is excellent.
B  It is surprisingly cheap.
C  The staff work quickly.
F I’ve got to take the car to the garage this week.
M Same place?
F Yes, Hilltop. I want them to check the engine and change the oil, and they don’t cost quite as much as
Worthing Garage.
M Well, you get what you pay for. At least at Worthing they’d do it properly.
F But they take so long. Hilltop only need it for an afternoon.
M That’s what worries me.
Now listen again.
Question 5: A man is talking to a colleague. What did the man think of the restaurant on his last visit?
A  He was disappointed by the food.
B  He was surprised by the new menu.
C  He was pleased about the improved service.
M The first time Anna and I went to the Orchid was a couple of years ago, when it had just opened. I loved it
because I used to live in Thailand, and the food at the Orchid was just like I had there. Anna wasn’t so keen, it
was much too hot and spicy for her, and service was a bit slow, which didn’t help. Anyway, we went back the
other day, and they’ve changed the menu so that it’s a bit more English, and this time it was Anna that loved
it. And actually, the service was a lot better, but that didn’t really make up for it.
Now listen again.

5  Oxford Test of English  B1 Test 2 audioscript  © Oxford University Press

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