UNIT 1 – THE CIRCLE OF LIFE (SB)

You will hear an excerpt from a radio program about living forever. Listen and choose the correct answer
for 1 – 7.

1. According to some scientists, technology that allows people to live for thousands of years
A. already exists
B. will exist within 30 years
C. will be causing arguments 30 years from now

2. According to the speaker, why are scientists closer to finding this technology?
A. They are beginning to understand why and how our bodies age
B. Medical technology is improving quickly
C. There are more old people in our societies

3. Some people argue that immortality would have a negative effect on our planet because
A. we would soon use up all the earth’s natural resources
B. everybody would stop caring about the environment
C. the earth would become very overcrowded

4. Why might people have to agree to do, before they would be allowed to live for ever?
A. suggest ways of dealing with over-population
B. not have too many children
C. not commit any serious crimes

5. If you were immortal, you might find it difficult to get up in the morning because
A. you would be exhausted after thousands of other mornings
B. you would know there were going to be many more mornings
C. the technology that kept you alive might make you very weak

6. Some people say that immortality would be pointless because

A. only the very rich would be able to afford it
B. you wouldn’t use your time carefully
C. you would only remember a part of your life

7. You might never fall in love if you were immortal because

A. the most powerful human feelings come from knowing that we will not be here for ever
B. you would get bored with everybody that you’ve met with
C. the technology would change the way in which your brain experiences emotions

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 1

UNIT 1 – THE CIRCLE OF LIFE (WB)
You will hear an excerpt from a radio program about a woman who has achieved something remarkable
at the age of 84. Listen and choose the best answer for 1 – 7.

1. What did Mrs. Schofield learn at school?

A. She learnt to read but not to write
B. She learnt to make a certain article of clothing
C. She learnt nothing

2. What problem did Mrs. Schofield have when she was shopping?
A. She could only buy cornflakes
B. She couldn’t read the labels on packages
C. She only bought things with pictures on them

3. What impressed her about what the man in the shop said?
A. He achieved success through his own efforts
B. He had been poor but he became rich
C. He came to her village and stayed there

4. What was the experience of going to college like for her?

A. She didn’t like the amount of homework she was given
B. She lacked motivation
C. It was one of the hardest things she’s ever done

5. Mrs. Schofield’s plan was to write to

A. her relations in a number of different countries
B. one relation in the USA
C. relations with who she was still in contact

6. How was she able to find out about local news?

A. She used to ask her neighbors
B. She had the local paper read to her by somebody else
C. She used to try to read the local paper

7. What does she want to do now?

A. She wants to gain the confidence to do anything
B. She wants to go on a long journey
C. She wants to carry on learning

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 2

UNIT 2 – Wild

Wilderness Therapy – Redcliff Ascent (SB)

Many of the teenagers who go to the RedCliff Ascent have broken the (1) ____________

The parents of many of the teenagers had no idea how to (2) ____________ their children.

At school, Rachel had been keen on long-distance (3) _________________.

After returning from RedCliff, Rachel decided that she wanted to work with (4) _____________.

Rachel continues to have a good relationship with her (5) __________________.

Rachel’s mother thinks that now Rachel looks really (6) ________________.

Ed caused so many problems for his family that he had to find another (7) ________________.

Ed’s mother Jane, thinks that Ed always wants more (8) _________________.

Two weeks after the camp finished, Ed once again started (9) _______________.

Ed’s mother is hopeful that his second stay at RedCliff will be (10) _______________.

UNIT 2 – Wild (WB)

Listen to the introduction to a radio program about the Ten Tors Challenge. Complete sentences
1 – 10 with a word or short phrase.

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in the (1) ____________ of England.

Jilly is about to take part in the Challenge for the (2) ____________ time.

The Challenge takes place in the month of (3) _________________.

You travel in a (4) _________________ with five other people.

The participants sleep in (5) __________________.

Before the race Jilly was taught how to (6) ________________.

The hardest part for Jilly is crossing the (7) ________________.

On one occasion Jilly nearly lost her (8) _________________.

Last year the event was stopped because of heavy rain and (9) _______________.

Jilly feels that completing the course is a great (10) _______________.

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 3

UNIT 5 – REAL OR FAKE (SB)
Listen to an account of choirgirl Laura-Jane Foley’s experiences in Faking It and choose the best
answer 1 – 7.

1. How did Laura-Jane and the programme-makers first make contact?

A. The programme-makers emailed lots of choir singers, including Laura-Jane.
B. Laura-Jane phoned the TV company.
C. The programme-makers went to see her choir.

2. Laura-Jane was amazed that

A. the programme-makers were interested in a Cambridge student.
B. so many people from the TV company went to see her.
C. the programme-makers started filming so soon.

3. Laura-Jane's new identity was going to be

A. BJ, lead singer of the band Remake.
B. JJ, lead singer of the band Reload.
C. LJ, lead singer of the band Rehab.

4. According to Laura-Jane, why were arguments with Harry inevitable?

A. Harry leads a real rock singer's lifestyle.
B. Harry and Laura-Jane both have strong opinions.
C. They only had four weeks for all the training.

5. Laura-Jane thought her first rock concert

A. was not very safe.
B. was frightening but fun.
C. was fun, but not something she'd want to do again.

6. In what sense was Laura-Jane's training a failure?

A. She didn't really change her style or attitude.
B. She didn't enjoy the whole experience of becoming a rock singer.
C. She didn't make the judges believe that she was a real rock singer.

7. One positive result of the experience is that it made Laura-Jane

A. change her views on life.
B. become a more confident person.
C. change her opinion of rock singers.

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 4

UNIT 5 – REAL OR FAKE (WB)
Listen to someone being interviewed about a famous radio program broadcast in the USA. For questions
1 – 7, choose the best answer (A, B, or C).

1. The broadcast by Orson Welles was

A. based on a book by Rachel Watson
B. based on a book by an English novelist
C. an original piece of work

2. In the story
A. aliens come to Earth from Mars
B. enormous fighting machines travel from Mars
C. the people of London build machines to defend themselves

3. What was Orson Welles known for at all time of the broadcast?
A. writing with screenplays
B. directing films
C. directing plays and radio programs

4. Why does Rachel think that many listeners believed the news report?
A. The action was set in many places they knew
B. The program makers didn’t warn listeners that the reports weren’t real
C. Listeners didn’t notice the warnings

5. Why were people worried about gas?

A. They believed the Martians were using it to attack people
B. Some people fled their homes and left the gas on
C. It was impossible to smell it

6. Why does Rachel believe the listeners weren’t stupid?

A. The news reports were really realistic and believable
B. They weren’t used to hearing news like that on the radio
C. Radio was new and people weren’t used to it

7. What did the radio station promise to do?

A. Warn listeners properly next time
B. Never use fake news reports again
C. Stop making drama programs

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 5

UNIT 9 – GOING TO EXTREMES (SB)
You will hear a man called Alec Gardiner talking about the things he collects. For questions 1 – 10,
complete the sentences.

1. Alec isn't exactly ________________ why he collects things.

2. Alec started collecting when he was ________________.
3. As a child Alec kept the things he collected in ________________.
4. Alec says it’s a wonderful feeling when he completes a ________________ of something.
5. Alec likes collecting cartoon figures because they look ________________ and they amuse
him.
6. It’s possible to collect so many Mickey Mouse figures because Mickey is the ____________
cartoon character.
7. Alec keeps most of his cartoon figures in the living room on small ________________.
8. Alec used to buy things at collectors’ ________________ and antique shops.
9. Alec doesn't like to leave the house for too long because he's afraid of ________________.
10. In order to complete a set of something, Alec sometimes has to pay out ________________
hundred pounds.

UNIT 9 – GOING TO EXTREMES (WB)

Listen to an extract from a radio program about the climber Annabelle Bond. Complete sentences 1 – 10
with a word or short phrase.

1. The mountains Annabelle climbed are on seven different ________________.

2. Annabelle’s father used to work for a ________________.
3. Annabelle‘s ________________ was also a climber.
4. While working as a real estate agent, Annabelle had to train between ________________
with clients.
5. When she visited Everest base camp she was impressed with the magnificent ___________.
6. Two people who joined their group ________________ while climbing Everest.
7. It was difficult to remain ________________ because of the limited diet.
8. She was accompanied on the climbs by ________________ from an adventure company.
9. During her year-long adventure she mostly lived in ________________.
10. Annabelle is getting a lot of work as a celebrity ________________.

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 6

UNIT 11 – MAN AND MACHINE (SB)
You are going to listen to a radio program about inventors. Choose the correct answer for
questions 1 – 7.

1. Why did Dr Franklin research female inventors?

A. to prove to her colleagues that they existed
B. to inspire girls to study science subjects
C. to find out how many inventions they were responsible for

2. Why aren't there more women inventors in history?

A. It wasn't an acceptable thing for a woman to do.
B. Women didn't want to seem clever, even if they were.
C. Very few women studied science.

3. Why were inventions often in the husband's name?

A. The husband wanted to take the credit for his wife's ideas.
B. Women couldn't afford to pay for patents.
C. Wives did not have any right to ownership.

4. Lady Ada Lovelace didn't patent her invention because

A. society didn't approve of women doing such things.
B. she wasn't accepted as a lady.
C. she wasn't of the right social class.

5. Josephine Cochrane became an inventor because

A. she spent a lot of time at home.
B. she didn't like washing up.
C. her staff were careless.

6. Mary Anderson's invention became an obligatory safety feature

A. for all vehicles in cold climates.
B. for vehicles of all kinds.
C. for all trams and buses.

7. Emily Canham’s invention changed car headlights for the better by making them
A. interfere less with other drivers.
B. light up the road more brightly.
C. shine to the side, not straight ahead.

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 7

UNIT 11 – MAN AND MACHINE (WB)
Listen to a radio documentary about flying machines. Choose the best answer for questions 1 –
7.

1. The interviewer and her guest both used to think that jetpacks
A. would become a part of everyday life
B. would become available in the 21st century
C. would only exist in films

2. The main problem with jetpacks has been

A. they aren’t powerful enough to go very high
B. they’re too heavy for a person to wear on their back
C. they can’t stay in the air for very long

3. What was Russian inventor Aleksandr Andreyev the first person to do?
A. Make a jetpack that worked
B. Design a jetpack
C. Fly with a jetpack

4. What part did the US military play in the development of the Rocket Belt?
A. They showed how it could be used for spying
B. They provided some of the money
C. They provided the original design

5. What is Glenn Martin’s company offering?

A. A jetpack that you can buy for around $200,000
B. A jetpack that you can build in your own garage
C. Twelve different types of jetpacks

6. What is the main advantage of Glenn Martin’s jetpack over earlier jetpacks?
A. It can fly much higher
B. It is much less heavy
C. It can fly much further

7. Ben Hatton’s general view of jetpacks is

A. they’re a piece of technology with an exciting future
B. they will never be a popular form of transport
C. they won’t be widely used until they become a lot cheaper

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 8

UNIT 12 – MAKE A DIFFERENCE (SB)
You will hear council leader Jane Newton talking about a new way of controlling teenagers.
Listen and complete sentences 1-10.

1. Councillor Jane Newton is giving a press conference inside the _______________.

2. She claims that vandals are responsible for more than ________________ pounds of damage
a year.
3. Most of the vandalism in the town centre happens after ________________ and before 2 a.m.
4. The Mosquito doesn't affect ________________ because the noise is too high-pitched.
5. The first Mosquito will be installed in the ________________.
6. There are plans to install ten devices before ________________.
7. According to Jane Newton, ________________ per cent of vandalism is committed by
teenagers.
8. Evidence from other ________________ suggests that the Mosquito does reduce crime.
9. She acknowledges that the Mosquito has I already been banned in both ________________
and ________________.
10. She is confident of the Mosquito’s ________________ despite recent research.

UNIT 12 – MAKE A DIFFERENCE (WB)

Listen to a radio program about Mick Davidson, an animal rights activist. For questions 1 – 10, complete
the sentences with a word or short phrase.

1. Animal rights protesters destroyed expensive _________________ at a research laboratory.

2. Davidson believes that using animals in experiments is a _______________.
3. Firms need a lot of _________________ to set up experiments.
4. Davidson hasn’t any shoes that are made of _______________.
5. Newspapers publish _______________ that Mick Davidson has written.
6. Davidson damaged _______________ in a shop in London.
7. In one illegal action, Davidson removed video _______________ from a laboratory, which
halted the research.
8. In the attack on a laboratory, Davidson and his ADG colleagues took thirty ______________
away with them.
9. Davidson doesn’t support the use of _______________, except against property.
10. The ADG has apologized to people that they have _______________ without meaning to.

Source: Cambridge Listening Training 9