Hörverstehen
Listening Comprehension
You will hear each recording twice. After each listening you will have time to complete your answers.
Task 1: Book reviews
You will hear five excerpts from radio reports in which the host reviews audiobooks. Match each book review (1-5) with one of the headings (A-G) by putting the corresponding letter into the correct box. For each book review there is only one answer which sums up the overall idea best. There are two more headings than you need.
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Headings |
|
|
A |
Stealing to survive |
|
B |
A cruel new parent |
|
C |
Downfall of a nation |
|
D |
Territorial expansion |
|
E |
Frustration upon arrival |
|
F |
History from a female perspective |
|
G |
Hope in the face of financial difficulties |
|
Book Review |
Heading |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
Task 2: Lunch
You will hear a BBC report about how lunch breaks have changed.
While listening, fill in the missing information. You need not write complete sentences.
Unless otherwise specified, name one aspect.
|
1. |
Role of lunch breaks in the past (Add two.) |
|
|
2. |
Reason for the return of lunch breaks in a Singapore institution |
|
|
3. |
Purpose of lunch breaks in the banking district of London in the past |
|
|
4. |
Changes in what is consumed (Name two.) |
|
|
5. |
Reason why business lunches have changed |
|
|
6. |
Role of “Marks and Spencer” |
|
|
7. |
Reason why new kind of lunches are considered “democratic” |
|
|
8. |
Changes in the kind of food that can be purchased for lunch |
|
|
9. |
Way the food is usually consumed |
|
|
10. |
Result of an international study on the effect of extended lunches |
|
|
11. |
Assessment of the current situation by the interviewee (Name one aspect.) |
Task 3: A new idea for travelling
You will hear an interview with the British adventurer Alastair Humphreys.
While listening, tick () the correct answer (a, b, c, or d). There is only one correct answer.
Having travelled the world, Alastair Humphreys turned to
|
a |
|
package tours. |
|
b |
|
survival training. |
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c |
|
nature preservation. |
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d |
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unspectacular activities. |
Humphreys says that the week’s experience was
|
a |
|
relaxing. |
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b |
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manifold. |
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c |
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dangerous. |
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d |
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monotonous. |
For Humphreys, the advantage of a microadventure is that it is
|
a |
|
romantic. |
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b |
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exclusive. |
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c |
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inexpensive. |
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d |
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uncomplicated. |
His contribution to the microadventure concept is to have
|
a |
|
popularized it. |
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b |
|
commercialized it. |
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c |
|
come up with the idea. |
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d |
|
placed more focus on sports activities. |
Humphreys’ concept motivates people to
|
a |
|
live healthier lives. |
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b |
|
take random trails. |
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c |
|
cycle along motorways. |
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d |
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explore the places around them. |
For Humphreys, spending a night outside
|
a |
|
unites the family. |
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b |
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provides a new perspective. |
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c |
|
makes you feel insignificant. |
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d |
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helps you understand the world. |
Humphreys’ main message is that you should
|
a |
|
take more but shorter holidays. |
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b |
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take a break from working too much. |
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c |
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go on environmentally friendly holidays. |
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d |
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enjoy ordinary things that fit in with your life. |
Task 1: Book reviews
|
Book Review |
Heading |
|
1 |
E |
|
2 |
B |
|
3 |
A |
|
4 |
D |
|
5 |
F |
Task 2: Lunch
|
1. |
Two of the following:
|
|
2. |
people / traders (complained of) feeling overworked |
|
3. |
entertain clients / cement (lucrative) contracts |
|
4. |
Two of the following:
|
|
5. |
can be seen as an incentive / a bribe / businesses can be fined / business people can lose (their) job |
|
6. |
launched pre-packed sandwiches |
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7. |
everybody (regardless of status or income) will buy it |
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8. |
more exotic / more costly (options available) |
|
9. |
quick in-and-out / eat-at-the-desk experience / (very) quickly / at the desk |
|
10. |
French are (30 per cent) more productive (than their UK counterparts) / productivity/ effectiveness (of work) increases |
|
11. |
good that lunch culture has changed / now sometimes gone too far (the other way) / you have to be able to establish rapport / personal relationships / sit down and talk over a meal |
Task 3: A new idea for travelling
|
a |
|
package tours. |
|
b |
|
survival training. |
|
c |
|
nature preservation. |
|
d |
|
unspectacular activities. |
|
a |
|
relaxing. |
|
b |
|
manifold. |
|
c |
|
dangerous. |
|
d |
|
monotonous. |
|
a |
|
romantic. |
|
b |
|
exclusive. |
|
c |
|
inexpensive. |
|
d |
|
uncomplicated. |
|
a |
|
popularized it. |
|
b |
|
commercialized it. |
|
c |
|
come up with the idea. |
|
d |
|
placed more focus on sports activities. |
|
a |
|
live healthier lives. |
|
b |
|
take random trails. |
|
c |
|
cycle along motorways. |
|
d |
|
explore the places around them. |
|
a |
|
unites the family. |
|
b |
|
provides a new perspective. |
|
c |
|
makes you feel insignificant. |
|
d |
|
helps you understand the world. |
|
a |
|
take more but shorter holidays. |
|
b |
|
take a break from working too much. |
|
c |
|
go on environmentally friendly holidays. |
|
d |
|
enjoy ordinary things that fit in with your life. |