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