Listening test for advanced students

Post all your answers together in one comment with your name and the initial of your surname.

EASY: Listen to the song Cry by Oceana and try to write the first stanza before the chorus. Listen twice stopping where necessary.


ADVANCED: Listen to the author of the book about the management of personal finances Wealth Mechanic and fill in the blanks in the following statements with a maximum of 3 words. Listen twice. The statements are not literal.



1. Debt affects tens of millions of _____________
2. In his book he tries to make people look _____________
3. In the late 1990s he _____________ and, as a result, had financial problems
4. His book also tackles _____________ issues
5. He writes for people who want to save on _____________
6. These people feel that they have to _____________
7. He wants them to understand why they are _____________ they are
8. The book teaches some _____________ that can be applied to any aspect of a person’s life
9. The book is about recovering the _____________we deserve

ADVANCED: Watch this video about fast food and say whether the following statements are true or false. Watch twice.


1. 60% of ­­all US adults are obese or overweight
2. Families used to eat out all the time
3. More people die due to obesity than to smoking
4. In 2002 a few Americans sued McDonalds
5. The lawsuit was on behalf of several 14 year olds
6. People are unaware of the dangers of fast food
7. The population of Spain is 46 million
8. You can find fast food in some hospitals
9. Eating only McDonalds for a month will make him become obese

DIFFICULT: Go to minute 24.30 of this radio program of the 5th of November and listen to the news bulletin. You will hear 7 pieces of news. Note down the general idea of each of them. Listen twice and write your answers. If you can’t get the 7 pieces, listen to it more times and write the rest of the answers separately indicating the number of times you listened to the extract to get the rest of the answers.

Do you segway?

Find more videos about this new means of transport.

A fresh start - Intermediate and Advanced listening

Watch the following trailer and fill in the blanks in the sentences below with a maximum of 3 words. The sentences are not literal but your answers must be. The answers are written in white. Select the blank spaces to see them.

1. Marriage begins with champagne, it should finish the same way too
2. It’s a gay tour of Romantic Tuscany
3. This is my budget, minus the repairs and a rental car to drive off a cliff.
4. I didn’t know you were so handy.
5. This is Italy. You can hire the muscular descendants of Roman gods.
6. My inheritance consists of one grape and other sort of tenants
7. I bought a house because I’m sick of being afraid all the time
8. The storm killed the washing machine.
9. Life offers us a thousand chances, all we have to do is get one
10. Unthinkable good things can happen, even late in the game
11. There’s hot water in the toilet bowl.

Leave a comment. Would you ever consider taking such a radical decision?

South Africa - Reading and Listening

1. Learn information about South Africa for your next lesson by reading from these pages:

http://www.exploresouthafrica.net/
http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html
http://www.southafrica.com/culture/

2. You can also watch the following video:



3. Now try this quiz.

Advanced - 49 up

Watch the following videos about John and Sue.

This is John
This is Sue

• Have their lives been as they imagined?
• How has Sue's life been different from John's?

You can also learn some things about Neil's, Nick's and Tony's lives.

Advanced - First day at work

Watch the video and take note of the 9 tips you will hear. (The answers are written in white. Select the text to see them.)



Step 1. Choose your outfit carefully
Step 2. Show up on time but not too early
Step 3. Be prepared to answer questions
Step 4. Listen and try to remember people's names
Step 5. Introduce yourself
Step 6. Ask someone to have lunch or bring a book or work
Step 7. Offer to help
Step 8. Don't suck up
Step 9. Don't rush out the door

Further practice: Try to transcribe the first minute or so of the video. Add your transcription in a comment and I'll check it.

2nd Intermediate - ReadingTravelling

Read the article and choose a heading for each paragraph. There are 2 extra headings.

a. Old stories and traditions
b. Feels like home
c. Local is better
d. Heavenly wines
e. Breathtaking views
f. Leave the world outside

Answers written in white (select to see them): 1e, 2d, 3a, 4c

2nd Intermediate - Travelling

Watch this video and choose the correct option:

1. The Chinese government wants to
a. eliminate congestion
b. improve the economy
c. reduce pollution

2. The use of the bicycle will
a. increase in the up to 23% by 2015
b. benefit manufacturers
c. create 1500km of bicycle paths

3. Tourists
a. fear using the bicycle in Shanghai
b. increase congestion
c. enjoy bike tours

4. Bikes are especially used
a. because they are cheap
b. in short distances
c. to keep fit

Answers written in white (select the text to see them): 1c, 2a, 3c, 4b

Car trouble

Read the article and match 5 headings to each paragraph. There are 2 extra headings.

1. An economical option
2. Bad luck
3. Cheated by the mechanic
4. It seemed cheaper
5. Money is not a problem
6. Precautions
7. We need a change

Answers written in white. Select the following text to see them: paragraph 1 heading 2, p2 h6, p3 h4, p4 h7, p5 h1

READ and learn more vocabulary

• What to do if your car breaks down
• More car problems

Video: Mr Bean's car trouble

How to reduce your carbon footprint

Watch the video and note down the 10 steps. The answers are written in white
Step 1. Turn the thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter. Close doors and insulate windows
Step 2. Turn off and unplug electronics
Step 3. Change to compact fluorescent bulbs
Step 4. Do your laundry or run a dishwasher only with a full load
Step 5. Eat local and take a canvas tote
Step 6. Bring your own cup or mug when you buy coffee
Step 7. Cut back on bottled water, making and transporting them pollutes a lot
Step 8. Plant a tree, it produces green house gases
Step 9. Use your car less
Step 10. Car pool, use public transport, walk or bike

Health - American and French Health Systems

Listen to this woman comparing the two health systems and say whether the following statements are true or false.

1. In France everyone is covered by an insurance company
2. In the US you need insurance to have medical assistance
3. American companies cover everything if you pay
   
4. She has to pay a lot for her medication in the US
   
5. Some hospitals reject patients without insurance in America
   
6. In France she had many health problems too
7. In France when she went to the hospital she was seen very quickly
   
8. She had to pay with several credit cards

Answers: 1F, 2F, 3F, 4T, 5T, 6F, 7T, 8F

2nd Intermediate - 3rd conditional

GRAMMAR THROUGH FILMS

• Watch a video and do the exercises. You'll find the answers at the bottom of the page.
• Watch a video and do the exercises. You'll find the answers in the worksheet.
  

Advanced - How to complain

Watch the following video and answer the questions:


1. What was Kelly's problem? She was convinced (talked off) to buy another mobile phone instead of a blackberry and the alarm wouldn't stop. She got another one with the same problem.
2. What was Bruce's problem? The airconditioning system form Sears had a lot of problems (the compressor, the fan, the thermostat) and he has a 10-year contract with them.
3. What was Ben's problem? He bought a Play Station that didn't work and when he went to the shop again they said the serial number didn't match. That it was stolen.
4. What was Mike's problem? He and his wife paid $4,000 for a cruise in the Caribbean and the stops it made at the ports were shorter than scheduled. The company said they could change the itinerary whenever they wanted without warning.
5. What was Mary's problem? She bought an adjustable bed whose back didn't stay up.
6. What's the secret of complaining? Write a letter to the boss of the company because companies care about the customers. Silverman says he always succeeds.
7. What advice does Silverman give to people who want to complain? Don't call the customer service, don't go to their website, write a letter. Start the letter with praise: "I like your company and you've let me down", explain what you want them to do, what kind of compensation, write brief letters.
8. What did Kelly get? A discount for a new blackberry and kept the other mobile too, now she has 2 mobiles.
9. What did Ben get? A new Playstation
10. What did Mike get? Nothing, the company won't give him a refund.
11. What did Mary get? A new bed.
12. What did Bruce get? A new airconditioning system, in winter.

As always the answers are written in white. Select the area after the questions to see them.

2nd Intermediate - Reported speech

Here you have an explanation about REPORTED SPEECH.

Feeling a little down?

Watch this inspiring video with subtitles in English. Enjoy!

Pronunciation

Visit this page and to improve your pronunciation.

The importance of pronouncing correctly ;). Watch this video and enjoy.

Prepare for the oral exam

Watch these videos about what you should and shouldn't do in the oral exam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa9lU4KJ26Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj0y2hUxM9M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCfyLOvNbok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDMF6uKKmC8

1st Advanced-Travelling

Is this criminal?
READING

Read this article and choose the correct option.

1. Who noticed first that the pilot was drunk?
a) The air controllers
b) The passengers
c) The flight attendants

2. When some travellers spoke to him, the pilot...
a) confronted them.
b) boarded the plane.
c) went away.

3. The air travellers...
a) reported the pilot to the TSA.
b) were embarrassed.
c) refused to go on that flight.

4. The airport police...
a) arrested him in the restoom.
b) detained him in the restroom.
c) interrogated him in the restroom.

5. The pilot's alcohol level ...
a) was over 0.04.
b) wasn't tested.
c) was normal.

6. The pilot said to the police...
a) that he hadn't been drinking.
b) that he needed a day off.
c) that he was sick.

Here are the answers. They are written in white. Select the line to see them:" 1.b, 2.c, 3.a, 4.c, 5.b, 6.c". <- Select this

1st Advanced-Health

SUPERSIZE ME

Watch the introduction to this documentary and try to complete the following tasks. Click here to watch.

T/F

1. 60% of US population are obese or overweight

2. 25% of the population in Mississippi are obese

3. More people die due to smoking than to obesity

4. People are unaware of the dangers of fast food

5. The population of Spain is 46 million

FILL IN THE BLANKS

1. Today, families do it all the time, and they're paying for it -- not only with their wallets, ____________________________.

2. In 2002, a few Americans got fed up with being overweight and did what we do best. They ____________________________.

3. Taking aim at the fast-food companies and blaming them for their obesity and illnesses, ____________________________ in New York ______________________ two teenage girls, one who was 14 years old, 4'10",

4. And this hunger for fast food isn't just in America. It's happening ____________________________

5. That's right -- hospitals. At least you're close when ____________________________.

6. Would I suddenly ____________________________to becoming an obese American?

Visit this page to check your answers

DISCUSSION (leave your opinion)

Do you think Spanish teenagers have a healthy diet?

2nd Intermediate-Stress

Listen to the following video (don't watch) and write down the 7 pieces of advice you can hear. Then watch and check. Click here to play the video.

Answers in white (selec the lines to see them): 1.exercise, 2.meditate, 3.sleep 7-9 hours a day, 4.go to bed 30min or 1h before your normal bedtime and do something relaxing (reading/music)/get a massage, 5.reduce your caffeine intake/try herbal tea, 6.book a vacation, 7.find out if there is a root problem you should deal with, try therapy.