LISTENING CAE 1

Listening Part 1

Part 1

You will hear three different extracts. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best
according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.

EXTRACT ONE

You hear two friends talking about an experience one of them had as a volunteer.

1 Nigel joined the Blue Ventures project because

• a friend of his encouraged him to do volunteer work

• he had always dreamed of going to Madagascar
• He thought the experience would be useful to him

2 Which word best describes Jenny’s reaction to Nigel’s account?

• enthusiasm
• disinterest
• envy

SCRIPTS

Jenny: Nigell I haven't seen you for a while! Where have you been? Nigel: Madagascar. Jenny: Never! Tell
me about it!

Nigel: Well, you know I want to study marine biology? Anyway, I decided to get some hands-on experience
while in doing volunteer work, and this mate of mine put me in touch with a conservation operation called
Blue Ventures in Madagascar. And off I went! We did a lot of diving to record the marine life around the
reefs and monitor the effects of bleaching on the reefs themselves. Some of them were incredible — a
myriad of fish of different shapes and sizes, with all these vibrant colours. Unfortunately, bleaching is
wreaking havoc and threatening to destroy the coral. Now the Blue Ventures project is trying to both
protect the marine life in the area and also help the local people find a way to survive. They're terribly
poor, but so optimistic and friendly. It was an unforgettable experience!

Jenny: Really? Fascinating ... Did anything exciting happen while you were there?

Nigel: On one dive we saw a huge pufferfish! And then five ...minutes later, we actually saw a white tip reef
shark! It was pretty mind-blowing. Then we ....

EXTRACT TWO
You hear two students at law school talking about possible future jobs

3 When Rich finishes his course, he

• would like to work in commerce

• will join a top firm of solicitors
• intends to do postgraduate study
4 Jenny will work in the area of

• criminal law
• property law
• human rights law

SCRIPTS

Rich: I've finally decided what I'm going to do after graduation.

Jenny: I thought your uncle was taking you on in his office.

Rich: It's a prestigious firm and a good opportunity but honestly, I didn't take up law to be a solicitor on my
own doorstep. The legal department in a multinational is what I'm after. I could do another year at school
and get a Masters degree, but I need to be earning money.

Jenny: I thought of working in the United Nations as a Human Rights lawyer. It'd be my perfect job, but I'd
need more than two foreign languages, so that's out.

Rich: Your results in Criminal Law were brilliant. Why no go for that? Top barristers make serious money.

Jenny: Yes, and it'd be really interesting if it wasn't so competitive. I don't fancy climbing my way, up the
ladder. Property Law is a possibility, and actually I've had an "offer.

Rich: So you'll be sorting out boundary disputes and drawing up leases. Jenny: You do make it sound
exciting! But yes, I guess that's what I'll be doing.

EXTRACT THREE

You hear two friends taking about a football match they have just watched

5 Meggie thinks that England

• deserved to lose
• were not confident enough
• were unfortunate

6 According to Steve

• Gerrard was unfairly treated

• England played badly
• Russia didn’t play well

SCRIPTS

Dave: I can't believe it! We were this close! The. referee was out of order! There was no way Rooney was
offside!

Tracy: Oh, come on, Dave! The replay showed that he was! Actually, I thought England were complacent.
They gave away too many chances. Look at Gerrard missing that open goal. That I couldn't believe!

Dave: Don't remind me! But come on, Tracy. You can't say England played badly. Robinson made a couple
of brilliant saves, and Owen had a good game. But it was the same old story: they just couldn't drive the
ball home, Russia, though, were sloppy. They had no structure in their play, and Pavlyuchenko's goal was
sheer luck.

Tracy: It was well executed, and you know it. Our defence just didn't see him coming. No, Russia saw their
chance and took it. England were too convinced they were going to win. That's what lost them the game. II

Dave: You can say that after the way Owen and Cole played? Tracy: They were only two players, Dave. The
others looked like they were strolling throughout the match. Russia might not have played well, but
England were no better.

Listening Part 2

You will hear a writer talking about a book she has written on the subject of aspirin. For questions 7-14,
complete the sentences.

The story of aspirin

Doctors in 7 (correct answer: ancient Egypt) treated their patients with a medicine derived
from the bark of the willow

Edward Stone believed that 8 (correct answer: willow tree extract) was similar to quinine.
The active ingredient of aspirin was isolated in 9 (correct answer: 1829)
Unfortunately, salicylic acid can affect the 10 stomach quite badly.
The first commercially available aspirins were made by Bayer, a 11 German company
However, there was little 12 (correct answer: research) into the way aspirin works for nearly 70
years.
Some scientist thing that people over 13 (correct answer: fifty or 50) should take aspirin to
prevent certain diseases.
It appears that 14 (correct answer: vegetables) grown without artificial chemicals also contain
the active ingredients of aspirin

SCRIPTS

Writer: We are all familiar with aspirin, that common household remedy which provides relief from pain.
But few people are aware of just how fascinating the subject of aspirin actually is.

The key ingredient of this wonderful drug is found in several plants, and 5,000 years ago, physicians in
ancient Egypt were using an extract from the bark of the willow as a cure for a variety of complaints. But it
was to be many centuries before the scientific basis of this medication was understood.

Then, in the 18th century, an Englishman, Edward Stone, accidentally rediscovered the medicinal
properties of willow tree extract, although he mistakenly attributed its efficacy to its bitter taste and its
supposed resemblance to another drug, quinine. Later on, in 1829, _a pharmacist isolated the active
ingredient, salicylic acid. Unfortunately, the chemical has several undesirable side effects, the most serious
of which is that it can upset the stomach.

However, at the end of the 19th century, a chemist working for Friedrich Bayer, a German company, found
a way of combining salicylic acid with an acetyl group. A few years later, Bayer marketed the first aspirins,
and for the next 70 years it was regarded as a miraculous painkiller. Curiously, during all that time, hardly
any research was done into the way aspirin works.
Then, in 1971, groundbreaking findings were published that showed how aspirin slows down swelling and
the coagulation of the blood. This means it also dramatically reduces the risk of heart disease. As you can
imagine, this was exciting news. Further research showed that a third of all people at risk from a heart
attack will not have one if they take aspirin regularly. Although that sounds too good to be true, most
doctors now accept that aspirin really does possess these miraculous qualities. More controversially, some
scientists believe that near ever one over the age of 50 would benefit from taking aspirin regularly as a
preventative measure. Now it seems that the active ingredients of aspirin can also be found in man
organically grown vegetables - and regular consumption of such foods might be an alternative to an aspirin
a day ...

Listening Part 3

You will hear part of an interview with Stan Levin, a dancer critic, about a modern ballet production
involving animals.

For questions 15-20, choose the answer (A, B, C or D), which fits best according to what you hear.

15 We gather that the ballet being discussed here

• has received general critical acclaim

• has caused considerable controversy
• has not been well received on the whole
• has become popular with animals-lovers

16 It appears that the function of the dogs in the ballet is to

• reflect what happens to the human characters

• act as a contrast to the human characters
• show how wild animals behave in a civilized society
• symbolize homeless people

17 How does Stan feel about the increasing use of technology in dance?

• He thinks this trend has gone too far

• He prefers more traditional approaches to dance
• He does not approve of it in principle
• He believes it is creating a new art form

18 What aspect of the ballet is of greatest interest to audiences?

• the way the dogs behave during dance sequences

• the way the dogs perform their tricks
• the sight of the dogs in a pack
• the way the dogs copy the actions of one character

19 What causes the lapse in mood during the performance Stan saw?

• the inability of the dogs to concentrate

• the audience’s unwillingness to accept the dogs.
• the behavior of a member of the audience
• the inability of dogs and humans to work as a team
20 What aspect of the performance made the most powerful impression on Stan?

• the implicit potential for violence

• the aggression shown by the dogs
• the bond between the dogs and the tramp
• the primitive appearance of the dogs

SCRIPTS
Interviewer: Stan, you are known as being something of a conservative as far as dance is concerned, so I
was intrigued when you told me you wanted to discuss Alain 1 Platel's ballet Wolf on tonight's
programme. Wolf generated a furore in certain circles when it was first performed, didn't it?

Stan: Yes, it's attracted its fair share of criticism, but it's also been welcomed as one of the most
fascinating modern dance productions in recent years.

Interviewer: Some of our viewers may not have seen the ballet and they may be wondering why all the
fuss, so could I ask you to describe briefly what Wolf is about.

Stan: Well, basically, it's about homeless people living in a disused shopping mall and returning to some
sort of pre-civilised life. And it features some startling innovations, including the use of dogs as characters.

Interviewer: How do the dogs come into it?

Stan: Well, as I understand it, the pack of dogs represents this return to a primitive state. At least, that's
the idea Platel is trying to convey.

Interviewer: What do you think of the idea of using animal on stage in this way? Can it be justified?

Stan: Well, more and more choreographers these days are moving beyond the traditional limits of dance,
and I don't disapprove of this in principle. Many are turning to technology, for instance, using computers to
plan the actual choreography.

Interviewer: Sometimes even using projections of dancers alongside the real ones ...

Stan: Exactly. I find all this very interesting - take the work of Annette Sanderson in New York, for instance
— but I think it's now going beyond the genre of dance and turning into something else. Whereas I think
Plate is coming from the other direction, if you like, working more with improvisation and basic ensemble
techniques.

Interviewer: How do audiences respond to Wolf?

Stan: By and large, quite enthusiastically. I think some people are surprised at how well it all works. The
dogs generally keep very close to one of the characters. Apparently, the dancer works intensive! with them
during rehearsal, and the dogs have learned to imitate his movements. That fascinates audiences. Of
course, sometimes the dogs distract attention from an important piece of dancing, but I don't feel this is a
real problem.

Interviewer: Do the dogs do anything special during the performance?

Stan: No. Their main function is to add atmosphere. It's not like a circus, with the dogs performing tricks!
At the same time, you realise they have been trained and are, in a sense, putting on a show by remaining
on stage with the human performers. During the performance I saw a member of the audience in the front
row tried to call the does over to him, which made them look away from the dancers towards the
audience. It spoiled the mood -though of course, this wasn't the dogs' fault.

Interviewer: So the dogs fulfil a kind of symbolic function in the story?

Stan: Yes and no. They are attached to one of the characters, a tramp, and we are meant to understand
that they have become a pack. I must say this works rather well: you really do get the impression that the
dogs and the tramp have bonded to form a sort of community. But for me, the most striking aspect of the
production was the lurking possibility of aggression, largely as a consequence of the presence of the
animals.

Interviewer: Well, Stan, I must say it all sounds fascinating. Thank you for coming along tonight and sharing
your insights with us.

Stan: My pleasure.

Listening Part 4

You will hear five short extracts in which people talk about fitness and health. While you listen you must
complete both tasks

TASK ONE

For questions 21-25, choose from the list A-H what each person says is his or her reason for attending a
gym regularly

A the gym has a social function for me

B I have a sedentary job
C My company pays for me to attempt a gym
D I’m studying sport science at college
E Being fit gives me a sense of achievement
F I compete in high-level sporting events
G I come here with members of my cycling club
H I started exercising regularly after an injury

Speaker 1 21 E (correct answer: B)

Speaker 2 22 H
Speaker 3 23 A
Speaker 4 24 D
Speaker 5 25 F

TASK TWO

TASK 2

For questions 26-30, choose from the list A-H what opinion each speaker expresses about fitness and
health, generally

A it is alarming that so many people have an unhealthy lifestyle

B Being good at sport commands respect
C I find it hard to commit myself to exercising
D Diet is as important as exercise
E Exercise machines are extremely boring
F Achieving heath requires self-sacrifice
G Exercise is necessary to keep weight under control
H Genetic made-up has a lot to do with fitness

Speaker 1 26 C (correct answer: G)

Speaker 2 27 F
Speaker 3 28 H
Speaker 4 29 E (correct answer: D)
Speaker 5 30 D (correct answer: B)

SCRIPTS

Speaker 1: 1 play football for my local team at weekends, which is a big commitment because our club is
ambitious and we're climbing up the league. I love junk food and I need to keep on the go or I put on
weight. I had no trouble burning off calories when I was at college because I did some sort of sport most
days, but now I've started work in an insurance company and I'm at my desk eight hours a day. I cycle to
work and luckily there's a fitness club next to the company, so I work out for an hour early in the morning
before I go into the office.

Speaker 2: I'm not what you'd call a fitness fanatic, but about three years ago I was knocked off my bike by
a car, and I had to stay in hospital for a month. It took me a long time to regain the full use of my legs. And
the physiotherapist made me promise to exercise in a gym at least three times a week. She also said I
needed to stop smoking and lose weight. I think it makes sense - you can’t expect to be fit if you have such
unhealthy habits, can you?

Speaker 3: I suppose if I'm honest, one of the reasons I work out in the gym is that I've got to know a lot of
people here, and I enjoy seeing them. Now and then we meet up outside the gym for a drink, or to go to
the cinema. Of course, I do think keeping fit is important as well. Although I think it's harder for some
people to keep slim and healthy. It's in the blood. I have a friend who doesn't eat much and takes regular
exercise,. but he's still overweight. It's as if his body doesn't want to be thin.

Speaker 4: 1 have to admit I'm more keen on sport than working out in the gym. But new equipment is
coming out all the time and I like to have direct experience of how the different groups of muscles are
exercised by the different machines. Physics and chemistry anctthe3lay in sport are all on the course I'm
doing. I'd like a job with a major sports body when I graduate, giving advice to athletes on nutrition,
devising exercise regimes for them -both are equally vital for their professional success. I also want to look
into the reasons why performance drugs are part of the lifestyle of some sportspeople.

Speaker 5: My pare No tints think I spend more time playing sport than I should and are worried I won't get
good grades. And certainly, representing my college at the national level is a major commitment, with
weekly fixtures and two or more hours a day spent in the gym. But my tutors take this into account and cut
me some slack when it comes to handing in assignments. I know that sporting success gives my
college more status. My friends give me loads of support, I have a lot of energy and watch my diet, and I
seem to be able to combine both sides of my life without sacrificing too much.