Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a woman and a man. The man is a bus driver and the woman
is a passenger trying to get somewhere.

Section 1:

MAN: This is the last stop. Watch your step on the way out, ma’am.

WOMAN: Thanks, driver! Do you happen to know where the little kids’ playground is? I know
it’s in the park somewhere. Too bad I forgot my smartphone.

MAN: There are a few playgrounds here . . . Do you mean the one next to the water fountain?

WOMAN: No, the one I’m thinking of is just beside a petting zoo. You know, where there’s
goats and rabbits?

MAN: Hm . . . yeah I know there’s a petting zoo, but I don’t know where it is exactly. Anyway, I’m
pretty sure there’s a children’s playground over there, past the restaurant. Maybe you could take a
look over that way?

WOMAN: Okay, great. Sounds good, thanks very much.

Now answer questions 1-3.

What is the woman eventually hoping to find?

What best describes the driver’s response?

What will the woman probably do next?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Oh, it’s you again. What a coincidence. Are you finished work for the day?

MAN: No, I wish! I’ve got a half hour break before my next trip, so I thought I’d get out of the bus
and get some fresh air. My directions didn’t help, eh? Are you lost?

WOMAN: Yes! I’ve been looking but I don’t see any signs or maps posted.

MAN: Tell you what. I’ll look up the map on my smartphone. [Pause] Yikes. You’re nowhere near
the playground. It’s way on the other side of the park.

WOMAN: Oh, no! I have to meet someone there really soon.

MAN: Yeah, looks like quite a hike . . . If you walk, you’ll be late. But it says here that a free shuttle
bus goes there every 5 minutes. That must be it over there, see?

WOMAN: Do you mean that green bus?

MAN: That big one? No, that’s a tour bus. The shuttle bus would be the little red one.

Now answer questions 4-6.

How did the woman meet the man again?

Which statement is true?

How should the woman get to the playground?

Section 3:

MAN: You’re back! What happened? I thought you were catching the shuttle bus!

WOMAN: I tried to, but it was broken down and out of service. There were lots of angry
people, I can tell you.

MAN: I’m glad you aren’t one of them! Hop on, then . . . you’ve got the bus all to yourself. I’m
leaving now. I’ll drop you off at the north gate.

WOMAN: Is that near the playground?

MAN: Yup. I checked because I don’t want to give bad directions again. Sorry about that!

WOMAN: So where should I go when I get off the bus?

MAN: Okay, here’s the deal. The north gate is right outside the petting zoo. Walk straight through
the petting zoo and you’ll see the playground right behind it. You’ll be there in 5 minutes.

WOMAN: So I won’t be late after all.

Now answer questions 7-8.

Why does the bus driver tell the woman he is glad?

Will the woman go to the playground?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Conversation

You will hear a conversation. The conversation is between two co-workers. The woman is having
some challenges finishing a project.

MAN: You don’t look so good, Anne. You look pale. Is everything all right with you?

WOMAN: I’m OK. I just haven’t slept much lately and I guess it’s starting to show. I’ve been
working on a couple of projects and the work is taking much longer than I thought it would. I’ve
been up most nights writing the reports that are due the next week.

MAN: You should get some more sleep. Why don’t you finish the reports after work, before you go
home for the day?

WOMAN: I can’t. I have to pick up my son at the daycare right after work, and when I get
home I have to fix dinner and watch my son until he falls asleep around 10.

MAN: That’s such a late bedtime!

WOMAN: I know. He’s 5 months old, and we are still struggling with bedtime.

MAN: Can your husband help you?

WOMAN: He helps around the house a lot; he takes care of the cleaning, the laundry and
cooks breakfast after work every day, but I’m on my own with the bedtime routine unfortunately.

MAN: Breakfast after work?

WOMAN: Yes! He works the night shift. He gets home around 6:30 in the morning and he
cooks us breakfast before he goes to bed.

MAN: Sounds like a very stressful situation. Can you ask for an extension on the project?

WOMAN: It is pretty stressful, but I can’t really ask for an extension. I’m being considered for a
promotion and I’m afraid that if I ask for one, my boss might think I’m not competent to take on
more responsibilities. I don’t want to risk my chances, and if I get the promotion my husband will be
able to work day shifts again, which would be more convenient for our family.

MAN: Is there anything I can do to help you?

WOMAN: Not really, but thanks for the offer. My husband is taking Friday off, and my mom is
picking up my son for the weekend so I can finish the reports and hopefully get some sleep.

Now answer questions 1-5.

Why was the man concerned?

What did the man suggest?

Why hasn’t the woman slept lately?

Why can’t the woman ask for an extension?

What is her husband doing to help her finish the reports?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation. A man is interviewing a woman about perfectionism in the workplace.

MAN: Thanks Dr. Burns for speaking to us about perfectionism in the workplace. To get us started,
perfection is typically seen as a positive thing. I mean, to be perfect is to make something the best it
can be. However, do you think perfectionism is always positive?

WOMAN: Well, not always. Although perfectionism is generally associated with success, it can
also be very negative.

MAN: Can you explain more about that?

WOMAN: Our study has found that perfectionists tend to spend much more time on a task
than non-perfectionists.

MAN: Isn’t the quality of the work better, the longer you spend on a task?

WOMAN: Not necessarily. Because perfectionists have such a high standard, they devote too
much attention to details. In our study it was common for perfectionists to run out of time and fail
to complete their tasks. We also found that perfectionists had difficulties sharing work.
Perfectionists tended to do all the work by themselves.

MAN: Did that create problems in the workplace?

WOMAN: Most definitely. First, we found that perfectionists are having trouble staying
employed in large companies. They are seen as less cooperative and less capable. Second, we found
that perfectionists feel more socially isolated. This leads me to our third main finding: those who
strive for perfection in the workplace are more prone to severe anxiety and even depression.

MAN: Is it fair to say that perfectionism causes stress and may even cause depression?

WOMAN: No, it’s not a direct cause. We believe time management is the key to this puzzle.
Our participants’ anxiety and feelings of depression were often associated with fear of not having
enough time to finish the task.

MAN: So, if they managed their time better, anxiety and depression could subside?

WOMAN: We believe so, and that’s the focus of our next research project.

MAN: That is fascinating. Until then, any advice for perfectionists?

WOMAN: I’d say to start with a careful and realistic plan; prioritize what is needed to bring a
project to completion and not spend too much time on details. I’d also suggest that they try to work
in groups, and discuss their difficulties with other people.

Now answer questions 1-6.

What is the woman’s occupation?

What does the woman say about perfectionists in her study?

According to the woman, what can perfectionism in the workplace do?

Why do perfectionists feel anxious?

What does the woman suggest perfectionists should do?

What is the focus of the woman’s next project?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a unique medical procedure.

Scientists from Bionic Vision Australia reported that they were successful at implanting the world’s
first artificial eye. This eye is a very small computerized device that allows patients who lost their
eyesight to have some vision. Dianne Ashworth, who lost her sight 10 years ago, was the first of
three patients to receive the device. Dr. Allen states Dianne’s early results are very promising and
expects two more patients will receive the eye by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Dianne Ashworth spoke to reporters about the moment when scientists turned the
device on. She described it as an amazing experience, and told reporters she hoped that two other
patients will have similar results.

Dianne has not regained her full sight yet. She is only able to see shapes, such as the outlines of
objects, and to detect movement. According to Dr. Allen, who installed the device, the present
device is just a prototype. The prototype will be switched for a much better and clearer artificial eye
in three more years.

Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people at a cafe. They all belong to a conversation club
where some members are improving their English and some are improving their French.

MAN 1: Well, that was a good session, eh? All twenty-four members present, eight conversation
groups of three—a full house. How did it go for you, Diane?

WOMAN: Our group spoke French for more than half the time. 40 minutes of French and 20
minutes of English. But, hey, I’m not complaining! I need all the French I can get.

MAN 1: Hey, your French is just as good as mine. Keep practising. A few more weeks and you’ll
sound like Nicolas here.

MAN 2: And remember, it’s even harder for the allophones here. They’re learning a third language!

WOMAN: Allophones?

MAN 2: They’re people whose first language isn’t English or French. Like . . . Marta. She’s an
allophone. She grew up speaking Ukrainian, then she learned English, and now she’s trying to pick up
French.

WOMAN: Marta was in my group! She’s amazing! Her French is way better than mine. She said
her friend wants to join.

MAN 1: Well, that makes six new members who want to join, and they’re all allophones! The
problem is . . . we can’t ask people to start bringing their own chairs. Maybe we need to look at a
bigger restaurant.

MAN 2: I think we should just limit the membership to twenty-four. It . . . Can’t we start a waitlist?
There’s enough turnover. Colleen and Liam are going back to Germany next week.

WOMAN: The thing is, if you put prospective members on a waitlist, they might just join a
different club. I know from working at the community centre, waitlists are unreliable. You can have
six people on a waitlist, but when you call them, none of them are interested anymore. So, when
people ask to join, we should let them in right away. How about meeting at a second location on
different nights?
MAN 2: Well, if all the new members are allophones, maybe we should change the format. Right
now, each conversation group has one native English speaker, one native French speaker, and one
allophone. But maybe in the new location, it should just be for allophones.

MAN 1: No, we need to mix them in with native speakers like we’re doing now. The allophones kind
of . . . inspire the others by their example, and they’re great translators. For the next little while,
we’ll just have some groups with three and some groups with four until we get more native speakers
in. We’ll need to find a second location for a meet-up on alternate nights. Some people can meet on
Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new group could meet Wednesdays and Sundays.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about a controversial bill being proposed to reduce jail time for prisoners

A new bill proposed by Paul Carter from the New Democratic Party is bound to stir a great deal of
controversy. Mr. Carter, who represents a project called Reading for Freedom, proposes a novel way
to approach jail terms: some prisoners would be able to shorten their sentences by up to 36 days a
year—by reading books. Inmates in provincial prisons in Ontario would receive 3 days off their
sentence for each book they finish reading. They could choose from a selection of 12 works of
literature, philosophy, science, and classics, such as Shakespeare and Tolstoy.

But reading alone would not be sufficient. In order to demonstrate that prisoners have read and
comprehended each work, they would be required to write an essay that must make use of
paragraphs, proper grammar and spelling. Prisoners’ access to the program would depend on the
type of crime they committed and also prisoners’ behavioural record after incarceration. The key
purpose of the project is to reduce conflict among prisoners and encourage personal development.

Though innovative, the project has already met strong opposition from politicians, law enforcers and
the general public. Many wonder how reading novels can genuinely prepare prisoners for real-life
after being reintroduced in society. They asked how reading Shakespeare could help the prisoners
find jobs after prison. Finally some, like Evelyn Brech, a political science student at University of
Toronto, questioned how fair the system would be for those who are already disadvantaged. People
who did not have access to proper education in the first place, or are not fluent in the English
language, would not be able to read these books. This would be unfair for many Aboriginals and
immigrants. According to Evelyn, the program does not give equal opportunities to everyone and
could further victimize the ones whom the system has already failed.

Chris Kendhi, who directs the library system at penitentiaries in Ontario, is more optimistic about the
project and says the main strength of the program is that it can change the prisoners' viewpoint. He
says an inmate can leave prison more bitter and knowledgeable about crime, or enlightened by the
world and the meaning of life. He adds that in his 20 years of experience working in prison libraries,
he has seen books absolutely change people’s lives and he truly believes this program will do just
that.
The first reading of the provincial legislature is scheduled for Thursday and the debate will continue
in the weeks to come when representatives from the general public and different branches of
government are consulted. If the bill passes, it will come into force as early as next year across the
province.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The conversation takes place in an office.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello, Ms. Jeffers? I’m Matthew, your temp, from the agency.

WOMAN: Yes, hello, Matthew. This way please . . . I have you set up here. I’m afraid your task
isn’t very challenging, but it’s just for one day. Please have a seat.

MAN: Thank you. What am I to do?

WOMAN: These boxes on your left contain envelopes. The boxes in the middle contain letters.
I’d like you to put one letter into each envelope. Make sure you fold the letter like this, so the
address shows in the window of the envelope. Then put it in this empty box on your right.

MAN: Would you like me to seal the envelopes as well? If you have a sponge and a little dish of
water or one of those dabber things . . .

WOMAN: No, fortunately, we have a machine that will do that.

MAN: Okay. Is that all? I don’t need to answer any phones?

WOMAN: No, your task is simple—I’m sure you’ll be quite sick of it shortly. I apologize in
advance for that.

Now answer questions 1-2.

Which word best describes the man’s task?

What is at the man’s workstation?

Section 2:

WOMAN: How are you doing, Matthew? Are you ready for a break? I’ll show you where our
break room is.

MAN: Thanks! I am ready for a break! You were quite right about the nature of the job! That’s
exactly why I hope to obtain regular employment soon. May I ask—do you know if there are any full-
time jobs here?

WOMAN: I’m afraid I don’t know. At lunch you could go to the Human Resources department
and ask. If there isn’t anything at the moment for you, be sure to ask if you can fill out an application
anyway.

MAN: Thank you. May I list you as a reference?

WOMAN: Ask me at the end of the day. If you finish stuffing all of the envelopes, and none of
the letters are in backwards, I’d be happy to let you use my name as a reference.

Now answer questions 3-5.

What is the man’s role in the company?

What does the man intend to do at lunchtime?

What can we tell from this conversation?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Hi Matthew, it’s lunch time now!

MAN: Oh, good! My hands are a bit sore, but I think I’m about halfway through.

WOMAN: Yes, it looks like it. That’s good! Do make sure you come find me at the end of the
day! Would you like me to show you where Human Resources is?

MAN: Yes, thank you. And, if I may ask, I have music on my phone, and ear buds—would it be
against the rules to listen to music while I work this afternoon? I think it would help a bit.

WOMAN: Yes, that would be okay, as long as you keep the volume low enough that no one
else hears it.

MAN: Thank you!

Now answer questions 6-8.

What is the man’s response to the woman’s announcement?

What does this part of the conversation imply?

Why does the woman tell him to find her later?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two colleagues, a man and a woman. They are in the
break room at work.

MAN: Hi, Naomi. How are you adjusting to the night shift?

WOMAN: I’m not! I can’t fall asleep during the day—even though I put something over my
eyes to block out the light and wear earplugs to block out the noise. So I’m really, really tired.

MAN: I read an article the other day about how the night shift doesn’t fit our natural body
rhythms. Most of us are built to rest at night. The article also mentioned that people who work the
night shift often have concentration problems and even coordination problems.

WOMAN: Well, then I’m glad we’re cleaners. Imagine operating heavy machinery or piloting a
plane at night . . .

MAN: Yes, there are more accidents on the night shift! The article even said that police officers
who work the night shift are angrier than those who work the day shift.

WOMAN: I believe that! My daughter asked me yesterday why I was so cranky! By the way,
how do you deal with never seeing your family because you work the night shift?

MAN: My parents and siblings are overseas, so it actually works well for me to call them during the
day when I’m at home. But I do miss the after-work things I used to do with my friends.
WOMAN: Yes, I guess it’s hard to maintain a social life when you work the night shift. But on
the bright side, there are no line-ups in the grocery store!

MAN: True enough! Listen, we’ve got ten minutes left on our break. I’ll make you a cup of coffee to
get you through the next couple hours. Do you drive or take the bus home?

WOMAN: Thanks, a coffee would be great. I take the bus.

MAN: Good. Tell the driver what stop you want to get off at and ask him to wake you. That’s what I
do. Then you can try to get some sleep on the way home.

WOMAN: I don’t know if I can, but it’s certainly worth a try! Maybe the movement of the bus
will rock me to sleep!

Now answer questions 1-5.

What are the man and woman talking about?

Which statement is most likely true?

What does the man miss?

Why does the man ask if the woman drives or takes the bus?

What does the man do at the end to help the woman?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a customer and a worker at a mattress and bedding store.

MAN: Hi. Thanks for coming to Mattress and Bedding World. How may I help you?

WOMAN: Hi! I’d like to buy a set of pillows.

MAN: OK! Well, we have a promotion for the holiday season. If you buy two pairs of our new
feather pillows, you get one free!

WOMAN: That sounds great, but my husband is allergic to feathers. That’s the reason why we
have to get new bedding. He keeps getting itchy eyes. I’m interested in getting some synthetic
pillows.

MAN: Ah, I see. Well, we do have the synthetic filling, but there are actually a lot of alternatives
you might want to consider instead of feather. Are you looking for a firmer pillow, or a softer one?

WOMAN: Hmmm . . . I’m not sure. These are meant to be a Christmas gift for my husband.
What are the different types?

MAN: Besides the synthetic, we have the memory foam and the latex, which are both really
comfortable. If you want something good for neck pain, you might consider a micro bead or
buckwheat pillow.
WOMAN: Buckwheat? Really? I remember getting a little buckwheat pillow from my physical
therapist that I could put in the microwave and put on my shoulder when it was sore. It was really
nice, but I don’t know if my husband would like sleeping on it.

MAN: Yeah, you know, I’d only recommend the buckwheat if he really needs it for pain relief. I
think your best bet for a nice gift would actually be the memory foam. It’s a little more expensive,
but it’s our most popular pillow right now.

WOMAN: I’ve heard a lot about memory foam, but I’ve never actually slept on it. What is
memory foam, exactly?

MAN: Well, it was originally developed by NASA. You know, the organization that sends people
into space. It’s basically a foam with a cell structure that allows it to form around whatever touches
it, and then spring back into shape—so it never loses its shape, unlike some other kinds of pillows. It
really is comfortable. I use one myself.

WOMAN: Well, it sounds nice. I think I’ll get these two—one for my husband and one for me!

MAN: Sounds good. Follow me and I’ll ring these up for you. Would you like to take a look at our
pillowcases, as well . . .

Now answer questions 1-6.

Why does the woman want to buy new pillows?

Why did the woman have a buckwheat pillow in the past?

According to the man, which of these is true of buckwheat?

According to the man, which of these is true of memory foam?

Which of these options best describes the man’s opinion?

What will likely happen next?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a community power issue.

Due to the high winds over the weekend, many trees came down in our community, several into
power lines. Consequently, 100 residents were without electricity for several hours. This is nothing
new for most of us, but for Inesh Chandra, the experience was anything but routine. A fallen tree
caused a live power line to land in her backyard. Fortunately, when she opened her door to let her
dog out before retiring for the evening, it refused to move. Puzzled, she shone her flashlight into the
yard to investigate and saw the downed power line, only then hearing the buzzing sound.

Later the next day, Mayor Pine announced that this problem was actually getting worse. He
suggested burying all the power lines or cutting down all the trees within 30 feet of a power line. He
admitted, however, that both solutions are too expensive to consider, and that the latter would be a
shame.

Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution during a power outage. Any wire on the ground
or hanging from a pole should be considered live and be avoided. Fires should be reported
immediately.

Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. One woman, Anna, and two men, Paul and George,
are on break at work.

Anna: Can you believe that announcement today? I mean, I’m still reeling!

Paul: I think everyone in the office is in shock. I mean, three weeks is not enough notice that we’re
moving the whole office all the way across town!

Anna: That’s an extra hour of commuting for me each day. I can’t believe they didn’t consult with
us beforehand. Do they think that they can just do whatever they want and we’ll just go along with
it?

George: I don’t know. I’ve always found management here to be really respectful. I’m sure they
wouldn’t do anything like this unless it was absolutely necessary. It makes me wonder if they’re
running into some kind of financial problem or something. I mean, I know that the rents in that part
of town are a lot cheaper.

Paul: You know, the sales force has been having some real problems. But still, you can’t spring a
move like this with only three weeks’ notice. I just moved to a new apartment to be closer to work. I
should’ve stayed where I was! Now I have to buy a car.

Anna: What I’m most concerned about is how, during rush hour, am I supposed to make it all the
way across town in time pick up my kids at daycare? If I’m one minute past 5:00 pm, I get charged
extra.

George: Couldn’t your husband pick them up instead? Or, if that’s not possible, I’m sure that there
are other daycares in that neighbourhood.

Anna: No, my husband works later than I do, and it’s taken six months for my youngest, Tara, to
get used to the daycare she’s in. The more I think about this, the more I realize I think I’m going to
have to get a new job. I just . . . I can’t handle this commute.

Paul: That’s pretty drastic. I mean, up to this latest stunt, this has always been a very good place
to work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m upset about the move too, but maybe you should ride it out for a
bit before jumping ship?

George: I agree. I’m sure that something can be worked out. Maybe you could change your hours so
you don’t have to travel during rush hour. Or maybe you could even work an hour less each day to
make up for the commute time. You know, getting paid for an hour less per day is a lot better than
not having a job at all!

Anna: You know, maybe you’re right. I think I’ll talk to management first thing tomorrow morning.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about advertising and children.

The increased amount of television advertising aimed at young consumers has led some parents to
question whether such targeting has negative consequences. Kathy Chen is a concerned mother of
three young children. She recently started a parents’ network that is advocating for constraints on
advertisements aimed at children. Chen's personal concern is that advertising to children is unethical
because it causes children to nag their parents for products, harming parent-child relations. Kathy
Chen also believes that these ads make children feel that they are not socially acceptable if they
don’t have a certain product. Children then pester their parents to buy the product for them.

On another level, Chen argues that we should not simply accept that all children are necessarily little
consumers. While it benefits major corporations when everyone has been trained from the cradle to
consume commercial products, we end up with a society driven by short term desire and greed.

Ralph Greenman, CEO of a large advertising company, disagrees. According to Greenman, children
who nag are simply a result of poor parenting. Greenman believes that it is the responsibility of the
parent to decide what products to purchase. Furthermore, Greenman argues that advertisements
don't make kids feel inferior, but instead help children to fit in with their peers and have good social
relations by sharing common styles and products.

Does advertising create a greedy society? Greenman is adamant that it does not. Advertising is
about informing and providing people and, yes, children, with choices. With choice comes freedom
and our society is a free society.

Greenman also points out that it is not in the public interest to ban children’s ads, because this
would reduce the diversity of children’s programs on TV. Advertisements are how most TV stations
receive funding. If ads to children were to be banned, then children's programs would be greatly
reduced in quality and quantity. Greenman says that state broadcasters who are not dependent on
advertising revenue would benefit from such a ban, but this would result in a more limited selection
of choice from other channels.

Kathy Chen disagrees. Reducing advertising, she argues, would reduce the quantity of children’s
programs but it would increase the quality. If private corporations weren’t producing such programs,
high quality, publicly funded educational programs would become more popular.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman in a health club. The woman
provides customer service; the man is a customer.

Section 1:

MAN: Excuse me, before I leave, could you take a look at my account and see
how many cardio classes I have left?

WOMAN: Sure. Do you have your membership card?

MAN: Here it is. I joined this health club a couple of months ago, but haven’t
been keeping track of how often I come.

WOMAN: No worries, I can look it up. Let’s see . . . You have 5 classes left. Did
you know we have a special promotion this month? If you buy a 20-class
package, you get a 10% discount.

MAN: Hmm. I already get a 15% student discount. Can I add it on to that?

WOMAN: Oh, no, sorry, the current promotion can’t be combined with any other
discounts.

MAN: Oh, well. Thanks and have a great day!

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. What does the man want?

2. What discount does the woman offer the man?

Section 2:

MAN: Hi again. Hey, I must be having bad luck. I was on my way home and
once it started raining I discovered that I’d forgotten my umbrella. Do you
have a lost and found bin? I think I might have left my umbrella in the
locker room.

WOMAN: Sure, we have a lost and found. What does your umbrella look like?
MAN: It’s black, the kind where the stem collapses and it becomes really small.
The handle is wooden. It’s the Bay brand. It might have the brand logo on
the handle, I don’t remember.

WOMAN: Let me check . . . Wow, umbrellas seem to be a commonly forgotten item!

But I think I found yours!

MAN: Oh that’s great! Thank you!

WOMAN: You’re welcome! See you next time!

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. Why does the man return to the health club?

4. What does the umbrella look like?
5. Which statement is most likely true?

Section 3:

MAN: Hey, it’s me again. Sorry, I see you’re closing in a few minutes!

WOMAN: No worries. It always takes a while for the last class to leave, and it takes
an hour to clean-up after that. What can I do for you?

MAN: Sorry, but I think I took the wrong umbrella!

WOMAN: What? Really?

MAN: Yeah! Are you sure there weren’t two black Bay umbrellas in the lost and
found? Mine has a rip in the fabric, near the top. But the one you gave me
doesn’t have a rip. Here, see? I don’t feel right taking it.

WOMAN: Wow, what are the chances of that happening? Okay, let me go check the
lost and found again. I didn’t really look that carefully because I thought
for sure that one was yours.

MAN: Yeah, if you could check that would be fantastic.

WOMAN: One second . . . [Pause] Wow, you’re right! I can’t believe there were two
umbrellas exactly the same. Let’s open this one. Yep, it’s got a rip at the
top!

MAN: That’s the one! Here, I’ll trade you.

WOMAN: It’s a deal. See you next time! Just press the buzzer to unlock the door on
your way out.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. Why does the man apologize to the woman?

7. Why does the man return the item?
8. What will most likely happen next?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation. The conversation is between two servers at a restaurant. The
woman is having a problem at work.

MAN: Hey, I haven't seen you before! You must be new here. My name's
Jonathan. How do you like it here so far?

WOMAN: I'm Anna, nice to meet you. Yes, I just started this afternoon. It’s . . . it’s
okay.. Have you worked at this restaurant long?

MAN: Two years now, but I only work 4 days a week. I really enjoy it. But you
. . . you don’t sound like you’re having much fun.

WOMAN: This is my first time waitressing and I'm afraid I'm not very good. I just
spilled wine on a customer a couple of minutes ago! The guy was really
upset, and I didn't know what to do, so I just ran off! What do I do now?

MAN: Aww, that's okay, everyone makes mistakes, even experienced servers!
Don't be so hard on yourself. Don't worry! Just go back and apologize
and bring him another glass of wine, and tell him dessert will be free.

WOMAN: What about his shirt? It's got a huge red wine stain on the arm. I heard
him tell his date that he can't go to the opera with a ruined shirt.
MAN: Hmm. I'll tell you what, I'll go talk to him with you. We’ll tell him the
restaurant will reimburse him for his shirt. But first, we should tell Laura,
the manager, what happened.

WOMAN: Oh no . . . I’ll get fired! She's going to think I'm the worst waitress ever.

MAN: Laura's very understanding. Trust me, you won't get fired! She will make
you practice carrying wine glasses, though. Actually, if this is your first
time waitressing, I'm surprised she let you carry wine glasses at all!
Usually they train you for at least a week first.

WOMAN: Another waitress just passed me a tray with wine glasses on it and asked
me to take it to table five. She said she was too busy.

MAN: Oh, I see. She must not have known it was your first day! Anyways, let's
go solve this situation. You’ll feel much better. It’ll be fine, you'll see!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. How long has the woman been a waitress?
2. Why is the waitress apprehensive?
3. Why was the customer upset?
4. How does the man suggest they fix the problem?
5. What does the man think the manager will do?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation. A man is interested in painting and is at an art supply store.

WOMAN: Hi there! What brings you into Art Land today?

MAN: Hi! I'm looking to take up painting as a hobby and my grandson just gave
me a gift certificate to this store. The problem is, I really have no idea
where to start. I'm wondering if you could give me some advice.

WOMAN: Of course! That's what I'm here for. Well, let me start by asking you a
few questions. Were you looking to enroll in our classes?

MAN: I have a lot of free time, so I figured I would try it on my own.

WOMAN: Certainly. Do you have ideas about what subjects you want to paint?
MAN: I think landscapes. We were looking at some old photographs on my
birthday, and I thought it would be nice to recreate the rolling hills of the
beautiful farm I grew up on in Manitoba. I’ve been living in Toronto for
5 decades now, and though I love city life and the downtown skyline, the
memories of sunsets on the farm are still with me.

WOMAN: Wonderful! Well, the three basic types of paints are watercolour, acrylic,
and oil. They are all suitable for landscapes. I would say watercolour is
the hardest for a beginner to start with, even though it is the most
affordable of them all.

MAN: I don’t think watercolour will be the one for me then. What’s the main
difference between acrylics and oils?

WOMAN: The amount of time it takes for the paint to dry. Acrylic paints dry very
quickly, within a matter of hours, whereas oil paints can take up to
several days, even weeks to dry. A lot of our beginner students like
acrylics because if they make a mistake they don't have to wait long to
paint over it. However, that can also be frustrating, because it's hard to
mix the colours you want when they dry so fast.

MAN: I see. Well, I don't think I'll mind fast-drying paints. I'll go for acrylics,
then. What other kind of supplies will I need?

WOMAN: Do you think you’ll be painting indoors or outdoors?

MAN: Definitely outdoors. I’d like to paint landscapes while immersed fully in
nature myself. I'm a big wilderness explorer.

WOMAN: Sounds lovely! And if you ever feel you need some extra help, we have
painting workshops at a local farm not too far from the city, every last
Saturday of the month. The workshop goes from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
and participants enjoy a nice farm-style lunch meal.

MAN: Thank you. I’ll go at my own pace, but I’ll definitely consider it. It might
be a nice way to learn, socialize, make new friends, and reminisce about
my mother’s cooking.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why is the man at the art store?
2. What is the man interested in doing?
3. Why does the woman advise against watercolour?
4. According to the woman, why is acrylic better than oil paint?
5. Why does the woman suggest the workshop?
6. What is the man planning to do?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about an unexpected event during a family trip.

A family driving near Banff, British Columbia, on a camping trip last weekend narrowly avoided
crashing into a deer, only to hit a large pheasant instead. Banff is a nature reserve, home to
thousands of wild animals including bears, deer, and countless game birds such as pheasant.
Michael Jansen, who was driving at the time, said they were heading back to their campsite
around dusk when they came around a bend of the highway and saw a deer trotting across the
road. Jansen swerved successfully around the animal, but only a few seconds later a pheasant
flew across the road in the opposite direction and hit the windshield. He pulled over to the
side of the road as the deer ran into the forest unharmed. Unfortunately for the pheasant, the
impact of the windshield killed it immediately. However, Jansen's daughter, Emily, who took a
wilderness survival course last year, decided to make the best of the situation. She took the
bird back to the campsite and roasted it with garlic and onions. "It's completely legal to eat
roadkill in British Columbia," she explained. "Why waste perfectly good food? It's sad that we
hit it, but at least it didn't go to waste."

Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people who work together for the same company.
They are members of the organizing committee and they’re meeting to discuss an important
company event.

MAN 1: Well, thanks for being on time, folks. Our agenda today is pretty short:
We’re just trying to decide on the venue for our company’s 20th
anniversary celebration. Any ideas?

WOMAN: I’ve got a couple of places in mind. One’s smaller and one’s larger. It
depends how many people we’re talking about. How many are
coming?

MAN 1: Well, we’re up to a hundred maximum. Everyone’s allowed to invite

their spouse or partner. Here’s the program as we know it: Starting at
7:00 p.m. wine, speeches, and maybe award presentations, followed at
8:00 p.m. by a buffet dinner. Starting at 9:30, there’ll be entertainment
. . . ideally, a live band, if we can afford one.

MAN 2: Up to a hundred people . . . That’s quite a crowd. Obviously, we need

space for everyone, but we don’t want to go over budget.

WOMAN: Well, I have got a few penny-pinching tricks up my sleeve. We could

find a venue on a weekday . . . Monday through Thursday is cheaper.
We can also find a place that’s out of town. Maybe even out in the
 suburbs. And, if worse comes to worst, we could always hire a DJ
instead of a live band.

MAN 2: Also, we don’t need to go overboard on the menu. We could just order
reasonably priced food that everyone will enjoy.

MAN 1: And we can always tweak the menu a bit, assuming the caterer will let
us.

WOMAN: Yeah, I know a place called Griffin's that might be perfect. It’s in
Wimberton.

MAN 2: Where’s Wimberton?

WOMAN: About 30 minutes east by car on Highway 18. Anyway, Griffin's is

family owned, has great ambience, and fairly reasonable prices. They
do group bookings as well. I know the manager. I might be able to talk
him into giving us a discount.

MAN 1: Yeah, my concern would be the location. My brother retired and

moved to Wimberton, and it’s impossible to get there by public transit.
You know, we don’t want to say farewell to people as they’re getting
behind the wheel after a few drinks. You know, we’d want to get them
all to take taxis home, and then we’d have to reimburse them for the
ride.

MAN 2: We don’t want to incur that expense!

WOMAN & MAN 1: Ditto here. Jinx!

MAN 2: Hey, how about The Red Door? It’s just two blocks north of here. It’s
right on the subway line. I know their dining area seats over a hundred
people. I’m pretty sure the owner can accommodate us price-wise . . .
and he just hired the top chef in the city.

MAN 1: Sounds well worth checking out! Brian, could you contact the manager
and get an estimate? Oh, better yet, get two: one for a Thursday and
one for a Saturday. So, we’ll meet again next week and we’ll take it
from there.
Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about the use of uniforms in schools in Canada.

Asha Miller is a grade 11 student at Giles Secondary, a private school. She is pushing for her
school to change their school uniform policy. Asha has recently started a petition protesting
the school's mandatory attire. Her cause has attracted a large number of supporters within the
student body, and also from some parents and school staff. At the same time, many among the
student body, faculty, and parents are in favour of continuing the school tradition.

The debate about whether or not students should wear a uniform to school or not is quite
common in Canadian private schools. Although a few public schools also require students to
wear a school uniform, most public schools don’t require this.

One of the most common arguments for uniforms is that students will not be as distracted from
their studies by fashion choices or peer pressure. Consequently, students focus on better
grades and they are also easier to discipline. Uniforms are also thought to play a role in
creating a sense of belonging and school culture that is important for cooperation and unity.

Critics, such as child psychologist Dr. Jason Ferguson, say there is no concrete evidence that
links school uniforms to improved educational results. In fact, academic performance scores in
schools that adopt uniforms and those that do not often average the same. Moreover,
dissenters point out that students required to wear uniforms typically manage to fight the
rules, and "individualize" their uniforms by wearing unique shoes or accessories. But perhaps
the most damaging argument against uniforms is that they can discriminate against certain
religions or cultures.

The school’s administration advocates that there is a middle ground. Uniforms can work with
students' diverse cultural needs, if the school authorities consult parents about what is
acceptable. Exceptions could be made, such as, for example, allowing Muslim girls to wear
long loose trousers instead of skirts that might not provide adequate coverage.

Asha Miller thinks such accommodations don’t quite suffice, and she advances a different
alternative. She is suggesting that uniforms be abolished in favour of a dress code that
specifies the kinds of clothes that can be worn, including the length of dresses, amount of
exposed skin, cleanliness, and so on. She argues this solution would address the concerns of all
parties. Students wouldn’t feel constrained in how they express their identity and cultural
beliefs; meanwhile, appropriate school attire and discipline would be maintained. She adds
that adolescence is a particularly critical phase in a person’s life in which they are trying to
figure out who they are and where they fit, and clothing choice is a way to truly express one’s
interests and personality.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a woman and a man at a veterinary clinic. The woman is
a veterinarian, and the man is a pet owner.

Section 1:

MAN: Hi, Dr. Anderson. This is my cat, Tiger. Tiger, meet Dr. Anderson.

WOMAN: Hello, Tiger. Aren’t you a lovely cat.

MAN: I’m really worried about her. She’s usually so playful, but this past week all she’s
been doing is scratching herself. Her claws are sharp, and she’s hurting herself.
Look, here.

WOMAN: I see what you mean. Is Tiger an indoor or an outdoor cat?

MAN: Mostly outdoors. I let her stay outside at night.

WOMAN: These marks look like flea bites. If Tiger’s going outdoors, it’s almost certain that
she’s picked up fleas. I’ll give you some medication to kill them. Apply it to her
skin—right here—once a month for three months.

MAN: Okay. Will the fleas get into my house?

WOMAN: Well . . . fleas only live on animals. After Tiger receives the medication, they
can’t live on her anymore, so they’ll die. But you should vacuum and clean every
day to get rid of any flea eggs. If need be, I can always give you a product to
apply to your rugs and furniture.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. What is the main problem with Tiger?

2. What advice did the veterinarian give the man?

Section 2:
MAN: We’re back! So I used the medication, but Tiger’s still been scratching a lot since
her last appointment. At first, she started getting better, but now she’s getting
worse.

WOMAN: Hmm. [Pause] Ooh . . . yes, I see what you mean. That must hurt. Did you give
her the medication once a month, for three months?

MAN: Yes . . . [Pause] Well . . . okay, maybe I missed the last dose. It just slipped my
mind. And I guess I only got around to vacuuming once.

WOMAN: You really have to give her three doses of the medication over three months . . .
and you need to vacuum every day. Here are another three doses. You can pay the
receptionist.

MAN: Okay, thanks. I promise I’ll be more on top of things this time. Sorry about that.

WOMAN: Okay. And think about keeping her inside at night.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. Why did the man have to come back?

4. Which statement best describes Tiger’s owner?
5. Why did the owner apologize to the vet?

Section 3:

WOMAN: How’s Tiger today? Still scratching? [Pause] I see you trimmed her claws.

MAN: No more fleas! But it’s weird . . . she’s gaining a lot of weight, even though she’s
eating more or less the same amount as usual.

WOMAN: Hmm. She hasn’t been spayed yet, has she?

MAN: Right, no surgery yet. She’s too young to get pregnant.

WOMAN: Where’d you hear that? Actually, cats can get pregnant even at six months of age.
[Pause] From the way her abdomen feels, I’d say Tiger’s going to be a mother
soon.

MAN: You’re kidding! That’s the last thing I expected.

WOMAN: If she’s going to keep going outdoors, you really need to get her spayed. It’s a
simple operation; I can do it after she gives birth. In the meantime, you have
some things to do.

Now answer questions 6-8.

1. Why did the man bring Tiger back?

2. How did the man react to the vet’s new information?
3. What should the man do next?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation about donating items to a thrift store.

MAN: Julie, is that you? We’re going to be late to Susan and Anthony’s housewarming
party!

WOMAN: Yes, it’s me, who else would it be? I was just getting groceries on the way
home. You sound upset. Is something wrong?

MAN: I can’t find my favorite grey shirt, the one with the stripes. Did you put it
somewhere? It’s not in the laundry or the closet.

WOMAN: Uh oh… I think I donated that one to the thrift store last week. You said you
didn’t wear it anymore!

MAN: No, that was the solid grey one with the stained collar that I don’t wear
anymore; the one with the stripes, I just bought recently, and it was on sale, too!

WOMAN: I’m sorry! We should make an agreement to always check with each other
before we give things away or sell them. Remember last fall when you sold my
tennis rackets at the garage sale and didn’t tell me?
MAN: Well, you never play tennis. You haven’t played tennis since Mary was born.
That striped shirt, I’ve been wearing all the time!

WOMAN: That’s not true. I played tennis at least three times last summer, thank you very
much! I played with your sister when she came to visit from London. Anyways,
let’s not fight.

MAN: You’re right, fighting gets us nowhere. Okay, it’s a deal. We’ll make an effort to
ask each other from now on. I guess I’ll just wear a different shirt today… I’ll
wear my old blue one.

WOMAN: That blue one looks great on you, anyways. You look so handsome.

MAN: Well, you have to say that, since you gave the other one away!

WOMAN: No, it really does bring out the color of your eyes! Anyways, I need to have a
shower and get ready. Were we supposed to be there at 7:00? That doesn’t leave
me much time. Do you mind unpacking the groceries while I shower?

MAN: Yes, of course. Here, pass me the bags. You go get ready.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What is the relationship of the speakers?

2. How is the man feeling at the start of the conversation?
3. What are they going to do that evening?
4. What were the speakers talking about?
5. Why does the woman like the man’s shirt?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation about renting an apartment.

WOMAN: Oh, hello. I saw a sign on the front door about apartments available in this
building.

MAN: Uh huh.

WOMAN: It said to speak to the building manager in the administration office. The front
door was open, so I thought I’d just come in and ask.
MAN: Well, you’re talking to the right person. Which one are you interested in?

WOMAN: I’m not sure which would be better. The sign said Apartments 1 and 2 are both
850 square feet, but one’s a one bedroom and the other’s a two bedroom, so I’m a
bit confused.

MAN: Apartment 2 has two separate bedrooms, each with its own door—a sort of closed
floor plan if you will. Apartment 1 has what we call an open floor plan. The
living room and one big bedroom are adjoined like they’re one big room.

WOMAN: That type of layout sounds like a bachelor apartment to me.

MAN: Yeah, except that the bedroom area is really big, and there’s sort of an archway
between the living room area and the bedroom area. It’s easy to separate them
with a curtain or room divider.

WOMAN: I see. Well, the apartment is just for me, and I like open spaces I can use in a
flexible way. However, having a second bedroom might also be useful. And the
move-in date would be July 1st with a one-year lease?

MAN: Yup. Everything’s newly renovated. New carpets, new paint, and all the
appliances—fridge, stove, washer/dryer—are brand new. But it’s a walk-up—
there’s no elevator. Apartment 1 is on the ground floor and Apartment 2 is on the
top floor.

WOMAN: I think I’d prefer to be on the ground floor, as long as there aren’t any tap dance
rehearsals going on right above me. Who’s the upstairs tenant?

MAN: The lady in the apartment above you is retired—really quiet and is hardly ever
home. I can show you Apartment 1 around 3:00 p.m. if you’d like. Can you wait
an hour?

WOMAN: Sure. I’ll go for coffee and come back. See you at 3:00.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Where does the conversation occur?

2. Who is the woman talking to?
3. What is the man’s plan for the apartment?
4. What is the difference between the two apartments?
5. What does the man say about the upstairs tenant?
6. On what basis does the woman make her choice?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a stolen wallet.

A tourist in downtown Vancouver got the last laugh yesterday when pickpockets stole his
wallet. Gregory Willis was about to rent bikes to tour Stanley Park with his wife when he
noticed his wallet was missing. He recalled he’d been in a jostling crowd earlier that day
watching a street magician performance when someone had bumped into him, but he’d taken
little notice of the incident. Undaunted, Mr. Willis headed to the nearest police station and
said he knew exactly where his wallet was. He’d attached a GPS chip, a small tracking device
that uses the global positioning system to pinpoint location, on the inside of the wallet. Willis
explained he had initially bought the chip to track their dog on their 20-acre ranch in
Washington state, but had decided to take it on vacation as a precautionary measure against
loss or theft. The GPS chip certainly did come in handy as the Willises, in the company of two
policemen, were able to locate the wallet 30 blocks away where a group of teenagers were
loitering at a park. The young thief was more than surprised when the officers showed up to
arrest him.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three co-workers in a business office. They are talking
about something unusual that is happening outside.

MAN 1: So Jeanette, looks like you bought yourself a nice present. It’s a pretty shiny new
set of wheels in your parking spot. Is that a custom paint job?

WOMAN: Yeah! I love my new car, but I hate what’s happening to it in the parking lot! You
know that tree that hangs over my parking space? It’s dropping this weird sticky
stuff all over the hood of my car.

MAN 1: That’s an ash tree. I could tell by the shape of the leaves. There’s these little bugs
called aphids. They suck the nectar from the leaves, and produce this sticky stuff.
It’s called honeydew.

WOMAN: Ugh, those things are so gross. It dries and hardens in the sun, and it’s almost
impossible to get off my car. It’s wrecking the paint job! I’m going to ask the
maintenance crew if they can just get rid of that tree.

MAN 1: Yeah, they would need a permit first though, or else the City can fine up to ten
thousand dollars. It’s actually illegal to remove a tree unless it poses a hazard. It
could fall on a house of a power line. The City says, usually just treat it with
insecticides.
MAN 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t want to park where they’re spraying chemicals. If it’s
toxic for the aphids, it’s probably toxic for you too, not to mention ladybugs,
birds, fish. . . .

WOMAN: Argh, maybe we could just find a way to kill the tree. Then at least they can chop
it down.

MAN 2: Whoa, that’s extreme. All they need to do is wash the aphids off the leaves. You
know, they just need a hose that shoots a powerful stream of water. The aphids
will fall off onto the ground and die. There’s no food for them on the lawn.

MAN 1: Yeah, but that tree looks a little tall for a garden hose. It’s got to be at least 50
feet. And I don’t think the maintenance department usually deals with that kind of
stuff. They’d probably want to call in a tree care company. They can decide what
to do.

WOMAN: Well, I’ve thought about parking on the street. But I’d have to come in at like
6:00 a.m.

MAN 2: Look, just send an email to Charlie in the maintenance department. He’s very
accommodating. Maybe he can arrange for an eco-friendly contractor to deal with
the aphids. In the meantime, I’m sure he can find you a different parking space.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about the use of electronic textbooks within post-secondary
institutions.

Welcome, and thank you for attending this week’s lunchtime lecture. I am Professor
Menendez, and our discussion today will be exploring the use of electronic textbooks within
post-secondary institutions. To start, I will present the views of three professors at Riverbridge
University.

Law professor Maria Bloomfield is one of several professors who has decided to completely
eliminate print textbooks from her courses, arguing that their exorbitant cost adds an
unnecessary financial burden on students who are already under heavy financial strain. While
Bloomfield recognizes that certain costs, such as those associated with copyright, are
unavoidable, she asserts that there are ways to cut corners. She proposes that professors
create their own electronic textbooks; a move which, by avoiding the intermediary of a
publishing company, could significantly reduce costs. Currently she is collaborating with
several colleagues in order to create an e-textbook for an introductory course in law;
something which she contends will save students thousands of dollars.

However, Ellen Bowler, a sociology professor at Riverbridge, has stated that she has no
intention of tossing her print textbooks anytime soon. She argues that, although Bloomfield’s
motives are honourable, requesting professors to produce their own textbooks is unrealistic.
Between teaching, research, and administrative obligations, the workload of any university
professor is already extremely demanding. To request that professors develop a course
textbook, in addition to their regular duties, is simply not feasible. The development of a
textbook, albeit digital, involves extensive research, writing and reviewing - tasks which are
time consuming and should result in compensation. However, Bowler does not expect that
professors would see any increase in salary if they developed their own textbooks.

While Bloomfield acknowledges that her proposal would lead to extra work, she asserts that
the effort is worth it. In this digital age, the manner in which knowledge is communicated is
rapidly changing, and universities, she argues, must keep up. Publishing a print textbook takes
a significant amount of time from start to finish, often resulting in the inclusion of out-of-date
information. However, with the speed in which information can be updated in an electronic
text, professors are better able to provide students with current and accurate information.

Although history professor Marty Brown sees the potential of e-textbooks, he disagrees with
professors teaching from texts that they have written themselves, arguing that, by doing such,
there is a risk of students not being exposed to the multitude of perspectives in their field.
Furthermore, he insists that many students actually prefer printed textbooks to electronic
ones. Accordingly, he suggests that professors assign course readings that are available in both
print and electronic form, leaving the choice to the students.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between two people in a university office. The woman is about
to start university, and the man is a Student Advisor.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello, how can I help you?

WOMAN: I’m registered for the Honours Psychology program, and for the foreign language
requirement, I’d like to take Latin, but it’s offered at the same time as the first
year Honours Psychology course.

MAN: You could take French instead.

WOMAN: But I took French in high school. Every single year.

MAN: Well, you could take the first year General Psychology course, and then just
switch to the Honours courses in your second year. That way you could take
Latin.

WOMAN: The first year Honours Psychology course isn’t a prerequisite? For me?

MAN: Not really. We have so many students wanting first year Psychology, we just
created two sections. And it makes sense to put all the Honours students in the
one section and the General students in the other. You’re already accepted into
the Honours program, so there’s no problem just registering for the Honours
courses in your second year.

WOMAN: Okay, thank you.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. What is the woman’s problem?

2. What does the woman think about taking French?
3. What does the man imply about the first year Psychology courses?

Section 2:
MAN: Hello again!

WOMAN: I was talking to a friend about what you advised, and she actually did that. But
she said that once she was in second year, she never got anything higher than an
A minus. Her professors thought she was just a General student trying to step up
to the Honours level. Even though, like me, she was an A plus student all through
high school.

MAN: I’m sorry to hear that. Many students’ grades go down once they’re in university.
Perhaps your friends’ high school teachers graded easy. I really don’t think our
professors would be so prejudiced. I’m sure they grade assignments fairly.

WOMAN: I hope you’re right. Even so, I’d like to be considered an Honours student from
the beginning. She also said that by second year, everyone’s formed their groups.
So she felt like an outsider in the Honours program for the rest of her degree.

MAN: I see. Well, there might be another solution. If you took a language course at the
other university, you might get credit for it here. I’d have to look into that. In the
meantime, why don’t you see if they offer a Latin course, and bring back the
course outline, in case the decision here is made on a case by case basis.

WOMAN: Okay, I’ll do that.

Now answer questions 4-6.

4. What grades did the woman’s friend get in high school?

5. What is the woman concerned about?
6. What is the man’s response to the woman’s implication about professors?

Section 3:

MAN: Hello, I have good news—we give transfer credit for all language courses at the
other university. Even English.

WOMAN: Oh, that is good news. They don’t have Latin, but they do offer Chinese, which
I’d like to take. And it doesn’t conflict with any other of my first year courses.

MAN: Not even the Honours Psych?

WOMAN: No!

MAN: Then you’re all set!

WOMAN: Yes!

Now answer questions 7-8.

7. What language course will the woman take?

8. How would you describe the ending?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation that takes place at a bus stop.

WOMAN: Hi! I'm waiting for the number #87 bus that goes by Main Street. Do you know if
this is the right stop?

MAN: Yes, it is the right stop, but apparently we both just missed the bus! I'm just
checking the transit schedule on my phone and it came by five minutes ago, even
though it says it should be here right now. I guess it came early. The next one
comes in half an hour.

WOMAN: Oh, darn. I'm going to be late to my business meeting. I would have driven to
work today, but my car got a flat tire last night. I think I drove over a nail or
something.

MAN: That's too bad. Is your car the red Honda parked on the side of Wordsworth
Avenue?

WOMAN: Yes, it is!

MAN: We're neighbours then! I noticed a red Honda with a flat tire outside my house
this morning.

WOMAN: I live up the street on the next block, but the tire rim was scraping on the ground
and I didn’t want to damage it. Is it okay if I park it in front of your house until I
get it fixed?
MAN: Leave it as long as you like! Did you move here recently? I don’t think I’ve seen
you before.

WOMAN: One month exactly today! I used to live downtown, but I prefer it out here, where
there's more nature.

MAN: I like living out here as well. The only real drawback is that commuting to the
city takes a lot longer.

WOMAN: It would be okay, if only transit was reliable! I'm really late. Maybe I should just
take a cab. Are you going to Main Street as well? Did you want to split a cab
there?

MAN: That would be great, actually. I'm meeting a friend for lunch and I don't want to
keep him waiting.

WOMAN: That works out perfectly then. I'll just call a cab now!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. How long have the man and woman known each other?
2. Why is the woman worried?
3. Where do the man and woman live?
4. Why is the woman taking the bus to work?
5. How do they get to Main Street?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a woman arranges an event.

WOMAN: Hi there, I saw that the Green Butler company won the award for best catering on
bestweddings.com, so I thought I’d drop by. My family and I are planning my
sister’s wedding for July 9th.

MAN: We can certainly cater your event! We provide a comprehensive range of

wedding services from location rentals to floral arrangements, and custom menu
choices.
WOMAN: Well, I’m actually a florist myself, so we won’t need flowers, thanks! And my
sister has already picked Clearwater Park as her location, so that’s covered too.
But everything else we will need.

MAN: Excellent. How many people will be coming to your event?

WOMAN: We’ve invited seventy, and so far fifty have confirmed. Could I let you know the
exact number by the end of next week?

MAN: Oh, no rush! As long as we know a week in advance to the actual day of the
event, that’ll be fine . . . Now, what sort of meal service would you prefer? We
offer full multi-course dinners, buffet-style food, or appetizers on platters.

WOMAN: I think buffet-style would be best. It will be outdoors in the park, and we don’t
want to have to set up too many tables or chairs.

MAN: Great! We have four basic options for buffet menus. One is vegetarian, one is
seafood, one is meat, and one is continental, which is basically a mix of the other
three. Of course, we can modify them if needed.

WOMAN: Sophia and her fiancé are both vegetarian, but the rest of our families are not, so I
think the continental menu would work best.

MAN: Sounds good! Would you like to book this today? We take a 25% deposit at the
time of booking, and the rest of the payment no less than ten days before the
event. If you should need to cancel, the pre-payments and deposits are forfeited.

WOMAN: That all sounds great. Send us a quote with full pricing details laid out, and we’ll
get back to you in a few days.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why is the woman interested in this company?

2. What does the woman say about flowers?
3. Why does the woman want a buffet-style meal?
4. Why does the woman choose the continental menu?
5. What is the woman’s final decision?
6. What kind of event is the woman planning?
Part 4: News Item

You will hear a news item about two people who got lost.

Two hikers lost on Mount Gibson for the past three days were finally found and rescued today.
Ron and Sally Jackson left their home in Calgary, Alberta last Saturday and drove north to
Mount Gibson. The couple had planned to spend the afternoon hiking the mountain trails and
carried a small backpack containing only sandwiches and water. An hour into their hike, they
decided to leave the designated trail and soon became lost in the dense forest. Fortunately, a
local resident noticed that their car had been parked at the base of the mountain for a few
days. He notified the police, and a Search and Rescue helicopter was sent to look for the pair.
When asked how they had managed to survive, Sally Jackson, who was uninjured but very
dehydrated, answered, “We ate berries and drank water from the creek.” Search and Rescue
official Frank Smith said, “People should always carry extra food, water, and clothing when
hiking, and they should also inform someone as to where they plan to hike and approximately
when they expect to return.”
Grateful for his rescue, Ron Jackson said, “We wouldn’t be alive today without the help of the
man who reported our car to the police and the experienced Rescue Crew that found us. And
next time, we’ll stick to the marked trails!”
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three colleagues at work. The man works in the company’s
Legal department, and the women work in the company’s Human Resources department.

Beatrice: Thank you for meeting with us, Ted. We know how busy you are.

Ted: Yeah, too busy for this! Is this meeting even necessary? Every year we present the
“Hostile Workplace” lecture. I talk about the legal issues; you guys talk about the
personnel issues. What’s to discuss? We could’ve picked a time, you could’ve
booked the room . . . we wouldn’t have to have this meeting.

Rosa: Hey, I’m short on time, too. But I want to make some changes to this year’s event,
so let’s talk. First of all, no more standing on the stage while people just sit and
listen.

Beatrice: We thought that the staff could be more actively involved . . . maybe do some
roleplaying games.

Ted: There’s over a hundred staff, and they all have to attend! Doing some kind of . . .
participatory drama games . . . it’s gonna be kind of chaotic, isn’t it?

Beatrice: Well, I’m no expert, but roleplaying is a widely-used learning activity. People can
learn a lot from it. And isn’t that our goal? To help our employees learn? Teach
them what to do and not to do on the job? This affects you directly, you know.
Ted: Well, when you put it that way, I do want to reduce the number of grievances and
prevent lawsuits.

Rosa: And we could do it in small groups. And in a cozier place than the cafeteria.
Obviously, this room would be too small. But maybe we could book a conference
room.

Ted: Look. I’ve got a lot on my plate. I can put aside maybe one day a week to do this . .
. I don’t want to do Marketing one day, Accounting the next day . . . If we could
just book, say, every Monday at 10 o’clock, and do a different department each
week?

Rosa: Actually, I was thinking we could get units to mix and mingle. Have you ever
noticed that at the annual winter party, people just tend to stick to their own
departments? I think it would be good for the company if people weren’t so . . .
attached to their tribes. We should warm up to other people . . . become more
aware of what they do.

Ted: You know, that might go a ways towards creating a less hostile work environment.
If people learned some respect for those in other departments . . . If everyone didn’t
think they were the only ones with important work to do . . . If everyone weren’t so
...

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about city planning.

Back in the 1980’s, Roger Wang lived in Surrey, British Columbia and commuted to work in
Vancouver. The journey took him forty minutes. Over the last thirty years, city planners have
been designing and investing in road improvements and transit systems. Now, thirty years
later, Roger’s son lives in Surrey and commutes to Vancouver just as his father did. The
journey by car takes close to an hour. Despite the changes, traffic congestion has not
improved.

City planners across Canada have been unsuccessfully fighting commuter congestion for
decades. Despite wider freeways, computerized management systems and more transportation
corridors, most cities are worse off than they were three decades ago. Experience has shown
that building more roads simply leads to more traffic. Moreover, most Canadian cities cover a
huge area and demand a lot of roads. The cost of developing such an infrastructure in the low
density suburbs of our cities is immense. What can we do to defeat traffic congestion once and
for all? The short answer is that we need to get people out of their cars. City planning policies
need to consider alternatives to roads. As long as most commuters travel alone in a car, traffic
congestion will remain a problem.

Change will not be easy. Opposition to changes in city planning policies are overwhelming. In
Vancouver, closing down a single lane of a bridge for a bicycle lane met with furious opposition
from motorists. Proposals for a gasoline tax to raise funds for public transportation also met
with protest from motorists. Curiously, the one form of commuter infrastructure investment
that meets with general approval is more road bridges and wider roads—precisely the policies
that have consistently failed over the last few decades.

In short, we have a society that seems determined to persist with failed policies. There are
four reasons why this might be the case. First, for most commuters, private vehicles are
usually faster than public transportation. Second, there is the problem of getting to the
workplace from the train station which may involve an additional ten-minute walk. Third,
fatigue also discourages utilization of our public networks. Few people wish to start and end
their day with an hour of standing in cramped conditions. Fourth, grocery shopping or other
errands after work might be difficult.

It seems that people will continue to rely on private vehicles until this mode of transportation
proves less pleasant than the alternatives. City planners, however, continue to invest hundreds
of millions of dollars in a road infrastructure that makes the motorists’ method of commuting
marginally more tolerable than the alternatives.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. It takes place in the house that the
man is renting from the woman.

Section 1:

WOMAN: Hello, Mr. Adler, you asked me to come over?

MAN: Yes, thanks, please come in.

WOMAN: What seems to be the problem?

MAN: Well, I know it’s sunny outside, but inside it’s so cold! I have both heaters turned
on, but I’m still freezing. The house is small and I thought it would be easy to
heat, but I see now that the ceilings are high. I turned the ceiling fan on, to push
the hot air down, but it’s pulling the hot air up. I can’t figure out how to make it
change direction.

WOMAN: You can’t. The fan is only for the summer. But this cold weather is very unusual.
Normally, it’s warmer than this.

MAN: Do you know how long it will last?

WOMAN: They say only for a few days. Unfortunately, they’re calling for rain after that.
But I can have some firewood delivered, if you like.

MAN: Um . . . Could you show me how to use the woodstove first?

WOMAN: Of course!

MAN: Okay . . . then, yes, I’d like some firewood delivered.

WOMAN: All right, but it probably won’t get here until tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll
bring over another heater for you.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. What is the man’s main complaint?

2. Which word best describes the woman?
3. What is the weather normally like?
Section 2:

WOMAN: Hello?

MAN: Oh, come in.

WOMAN: Here’s the extra heater. Where would you like it?

MAN: Right here in the living room is perfect. In the corner so I don’t trip over it.

WOMAN: Okay, this is the button to turn it on. And this—

MAN: —is the button to turn it off, yes, yes. And I see that I can set the temperature.
And then it will shut off by itself, right?

WOMAN: Yes. Afterwards, when you don’t need it anymore, just put it away in the closet or
something. It’ll be good to have an extra heater here.

MAN: Okay—and thanks for bringing it over so quickly.

Now answer questions 4-5.

4. What should the man do with the heater later?

5. What is likely true of the man?

Section 3:

WOMAN: The wood has been delivered, I see.

MAN: Yes, thank you. I asked them to stack it near the door.

WOMAN: Good. Okay, now before you light the fire, slide the damper—this handle—to the
right to open the chimney. Otherwise, the house will fill with smoke.

MAN: Like this?

WOMAN: No, to the right.

MAN: Ah. And then I put some wood into the stove?

WOMAN: No, first, crumple up some newspaper . . . next you put in some small pieces of
wood . . . and then you light it. Once there is a nice, small fire, you can put in
bigger pieces of wood, one at a time, carefully. Make sure you always close the
door though.

MAN: And when the fire is completely out, I turn the handle to close the chimney? To
the left?

WOMAN: Yes, but just in case, I’ll come back later.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. What is the purpose of the woman’s visit?

7. What did the man do wrong when he opened the chimney?
8. Why does the woman say she’ll come back later?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a phone conversation between a man and a woman.

MAN: Hi, can I help you?

WOMAN: Hi, this is Charlene at CableTron calling. We have an installation date for you.

MAN: CableTron! Great, finally! I’ve survived three weeks in my apartment without the
internet, and I’m starting to lose my mind. Let me just log into my calendar here .
. . hmm . . . Sorry, the internet is a little slow in this coffee shop.

WOMAN: It’ll be a lot faster in your home with CableTron. When you placed your service
order, you said you were available in the mornings. Our installation technician
will come to your house between 7:30 am and 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 10.

MAN: Oh no . . . that’s the day I’m supposed to bring my car to the auto shop for a
mechanical check. I’m new to this province, and my car needs a safety inspection
before I can register it in Ontario. Both have to be done by the 15th.
WOMAN: If you can’t take our April 10th appointment, the next available one will be April
18th. I’m sorry, but we’re unbelievably busy this time of year. Can you change
your car appointment, by any chance?

MAN: Good question. Well, what do you think . . . Which do I need more urgently right
now: the internet or my car?

WOMAN: I’m afraid you’re asking the wrong person! I’m a computer geek who doesn’t
drive and rides her bike everywhere, so I know which one I’d pick. But I’m
biased.

MAN: I’m guessing the mechanics have a bit more flexibility in their schedule than
CableTron, so I’ll go for the internet installation. I’ll call the garage when I get
off the phone. I’m pretty sure they can accommodate.

WOMAN: I hope so. But if you need to reschedule your CableTron installation, please call
us 48 hours in advance. And by the way, welcome to the province of Ontario.

MAN: Thank you! I’ll see your technician on the 10th.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Who is the woman?

2. Why does the man have difficulty logging in?
3. What did the woman intend to do with this phone call?
4. Why does the phone conversation frustrate the man?
5. What does the man do in the end?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a woman gets information about student clubs.

WOMAN: Hi! I’m looking to start a college club and I was told that the Student Society
office was the right place to ask.

MAN: I can definitely help you out with that. What kind of club are you interested in
starting?
WOMAN: Well, I found a brochure of clubs around campus and I noticed there wasn’t a
music club! I play guitar and I sing, and I thought maybe it would be fun to start a
club so students could get together and make some music!

MAN: That’s awesome! Okay, let’s get you started. You will need ten students who
support your club and will sign a petition to launch your club. There’s a special
day next week . . . club day . . . where you can set up a table with posters or signs
to gain students’ interest in your club.

WOMAN: That sounds fun! I’m sure I can get at least ten people interested. Is there funding
for the club?

MAN: Yes, if you get ten signatures and start your club, the Student Society budgets $40
to new clubs and that money can be used towards anything, such as event
planning or food. If you’re looking for additional funding, you could apply for a
grant of up to $300.

WOMAN: Wow! Maybe in the future we could even put on a concert at the college pub or
something. And where do clubs usually meet? Do they book rooms?

MAN: Clubs get the privilege of accessing a lot of college space, like any of the rooms
or lecture halls. You could even hold club meetings outdoors! The only thing
you’d have to be careful about is the noise level, as you’re going to be a music
club. I’d recommend the Couch Lounge next to the college pub. You can be loud,
and there’s even a piano there.

WOMAN: Great! Is there a form I need to fill out?

MAN: Ah yes. Are you going to be the president of the club? There can be up to three
executives.

WOMAN: Just me for now!

MAN: Perfect. Fill out the form and get your ten signatures, then we can process your
application.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why does the woman want to start a music club?

2. What must the woman think about when planning their sessions?
3. What does the woman need to start a club?
4. What kind of event is the woman thinking of organizing?
5. Where do clubs usually meet?
6. Who will lead the club?

Part 4: News Item

You will hear a news item about urban wildlife.

A resident of Lethbridge, Alberta, has lost the use of his backyard due to a family of
unexpected guests. Henry Chang says a pair of raccoons gave birth to a litter of baby raccoons
in his storage shed, a wooden structure where he keeps his tools. Chang said that he hadn’t
renovated the shed yet because it’s old and has a hole in the side. He guessed the raccoons
thought it was a good place to raise a family. Chang soon discovered he could not enter his
backyard at all, as parent raccoons are fiercely protective and aggressive when raising their
young. On the bright side, however, Chang joked that he doesn’t have to tell his children to
stop watching T.V. because they’re too busy watching the raccoon family from the living room.
Even so, Chang plans to fix the shed after the raccoons leave so that the same problem doesn't
happen again next year. Local wildlife expert James Wade reminds residents that urban
raccoons are very common, but certain steps can be taken to keep them out of our houses and
backyards. Wade said the best approach was to block holes in places where raccoons may nest.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people—one woman and two men. They are
discussing a situation that is happening in the hospital gift shop.

Janet: Thanks for getting together today. We need to talk about the situation at the hospital
gift shop. We need to understand exactly what's going on so we can report at the
Hospital Auxiliary meeting next week.

Jason: What situation? I haven't heard anything.

Alec: Haven't you noticed that some of the stock has been disappearing more quickly than
usual? If you check the sales records, sales haven’t been going up, if anything
they’ve been going down lately.

Jason: How can that be? Doesn't everybody know that we’re a volunteer organization and
that all the money we raise there goes to buying medical supplies?

Alec: Well, you'd think so! I mean certainly, the staff appreciate the work that we do. I'm
positive it’s no one from staff involved.

Jason: So are you saying that somebody has stolen the stock? One of the volunteers? Or a
customer? And that someone is stealing money from the cash register? That would
have to be one of the gift shop volunteers, right?
Alec: It's just too dreadful to think about. But we have to decide what we’re going to do
about the situation.

Janet: I think first we should compare the computer inventory with what we actually have
in the store. That way, we can identify what's missing and how much money has
actually been lost.

Alec: That's a good idea. You know, maybe it’s someone from staff who’s just taken
something home on approval and forgot to pay for it. I mean, maybe that’s all that’s
happening.

Jason: Well, there should be a record so that we can tell at a glance what hasn't been paid
for yet and by whom.

Janet: There is—there’s a notebook. Maybe people have forgotten about it. You know
what, we should just get rid of on-approval privilege. It’s always been a nuisance.

Jason: Maybe we should install a security camera. That way, if the problem continues, we
can know exactly what’s happening, and we can involve the police. I could price
some different cameras and then bring up the idea at the next meeting.

Alec: I can call all the volunteers who work in the gift shop and let them know to be more
to watchful. That way, they’ll know that we are aware there’s a theft problem going
on. If it is a volunteer involved, maybe that will resolve the issue.

Janet: First, let’s get the inventory done and see how serious the situation actually is.
Maybe the shelves just look empty and it’s not as bad as we think it is. I can do it
tomorrow morning.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about options for acquiring a car.

Welcome, everyone, to today’s community centre workshop on purchasing a vehicle. Buying a

car can certainly seem like a daunting task, but it’s not actually as complicated as it seems.
The fact of the matter is, what you need really depends on why you need it. This morning we
will explore three options to help you make your decision: buying a used car, buying a new
car, and leasing a new car.

Business owner Jane Repton prefers to buy a used car because it’s the cheapest option. Not
only is the vehicle itself cheap, but insurance for the vehicle will also be low-cost since you’d
probably just get the minimum—the insurance required by law. Presumably you wouldn’t get
replacement insurance: if the car is damaged beyond repair in an accident, you just get rid of
it and buy another one. That being said, buying a used car can be risky because there’s no
warranty: you’ll have to pay for any repairs yourself. And even Repton admits that used cars
can be unreliable. She admits that she takes the bus to work more often than she’d like.
Car salesperson Ron McNab says that if you depend heavily on your vehicle, you should go with
a new car. If you lease, there’s a limit of 20,000 kilometers annually; more than that and it’ll
cost you. So McNab prefers to buy. Another advantage of buying new is that you know the
vehicle’s history from day one, and you’ll be the one managing its long-term condition. McNab
always chooses a new car. Yes, they’re more expensive than used cars, but it’s possible to get
a car loan with no interest—‘zero-percent financing,’ they call it. Plus, with a new car, you
can get up-to-date safety features and the best fuel economy.

On the other hand, lawyer Tom Purdy prefers to lease cars. He pays the monthly fee, and
when the lease is up, he turns the car in and leases a new one. The reason he prefers to lease
is because the company leasing the car looks after everything, including maintenance and
repairs. All the driver has to do is get gas and pay the monthly premium. According to Purdy,
it’s hassle-free driving. However, Repton and McNab agree that they would never lease,
claiming that it takes a lawyer to understand all the legal jargon in the contract.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman on a tour bus. The man is part of
the tour group, and the woman is the bus tour guide.

Section 1:

MAN: Excuse me, are we stopping at the art museum next? For an hour?

WOMAN: Yes, it has a wonderful collection of eighteenth-century furniture. I think you’ll

find it very interesting.

MAN: Yes, I think you’re right, which is why I wanted to ask if we could stay longer. I
doubt an hour will be enough time.

WOMAN: I’m afraid we’re on a tight schedule. If we stay longer, we won’t be able to get to
the rest of our stops.

MAN: But couldn’t I stay longer? I don’t mind missing the next stop. I really don’t like
wine—not really into tasting and drinking. Perhaps you can come back and get
me?

WOMAN: Sorry, I’m afraid we can’t do that either. If I approve such a thing for you,
everyone will want to be staying longer here and there.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. Why does the man approach the woman?

2. What exhibit is at the museum?
3. What is true of the bus tour?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Is everyone ready for lunch? We’ll be stopping at a popular vegetarian restaurant
shortly.

MAN: Couldn’t we stop somewhere else instead? I’m not sure I like vegetarian food.
Maybe we could go to a place that sells burgers and fries?
WOMAN: I’m afraid we’ve already booked a restaurant. With a group this size, it’s hard to
find enough tables at the last minute. We also want quick service since we’re on a
schedule.

MAN: Yes, but we haven’t paid yet. There are probably other restaurants nearby.
Couldn’t we all just go where we want and meet back at the bus at, say, one
o’clock?

WOMAN: I’d rather the group stay together, sir. If anyone gets lost or into some kind of
trouble—

MAN: I’m sure we can manage. We’re all adults here.

WOMAN: I’m sorry, sir—I didn’t mean to imply you couldn’t manage on your own. But
accidents can happen, and I’d like to be able to provide help in that case.

Now answer questions 4-5.

4. Why does the man want to change the lunch plan?

5. What is likely the reason for the woman’s response?

Section 3:

MAN: Excuse me, could we go back? I forgot my umbrella at the restaurant.

WOMAN: Oh dear, it’s quite a way back. We wouldn’t be able to keep to our schedule.

MAN: But it is looking like rain, and I’d really like to have my umbrella.

WOMAN: The rest of our stops are indoors, and I’d be happy to lend you my umbrella, sir.

MAN: But I’d really like to go back and get my own umbrella. It’s an expensive one.

WOMAN: What I’ll do right now is call the restaurant and ask them to keep it safe until you
can go back on your own. Would that be okay? Or perhaps they’ll send it to you, if
you’d give them your address.
MAN: That’s a great idea—thank you! I’d be able to pick it up after the tour. I suppose I
can use my raincoat in the meantime.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. What is likely true about the man?

7. How does the woman help the man?
8. What is the man’s reaction to the woman’s response?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who know
each other. The conversation takes place in a park while they are watching their kids play.

MAN: It’s a hot one today, isn’t it?

WOMAN: Yes, it is very hot. Our apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, so I really look
forward to being here in the park in the middle of the day!

MAN: Same here, and for the same reason! It’s nice that these benches are in the shade
and still close enough to the playground equipment. Minji doesn’t look very
happy today—is your daughter ill?

WOMAN: No, Minji’s fine. She wanted to go to the swimming pool, but I said ‘no.’ It’s just
too long a bus ride on a hot day like today.

MAN: I know what you mean. You know, I was thinking, before you came, that they
should have some sprinklers or fountains here, for the kids to play in. There’s an
open space right over there that’s not being used.

WOMAN: They say we’ll be having more hot spells like this . . .

MAN: It could be a lot of fun—there could be water shooting out of different spouts,
some stationary and some spinning around . . . We could call it a sprinkler
playground! It should be free, of course!

WOMAN: Of course, and you know, letting kids run through sprinklers would probably be a
lot more hygienic than letting them swim in a communal pool. I confess I worry
about what Minji might catch when she goes swimming at the pool—ear
infections, eye infections . . .
MAN: You might be right. The water would continuously wash away. The kids could
still wear their bathing suits, but also sneakers or special water shoes.

WOMAN: I suspect a sprinkler playground would use less water than a swimming pool. Did
you know that they’re talking about rationing the water again this summer, at
least for watering lawns?

MAN: Yes, I heard that. Perhaps I should send my suggestion to the City Parks and
Recreation Department.

WOMAN: I think you should! On a day like today, even I’d use it. Just as I am!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What is the main topic of discussion?

2. What is true of the man’s apartment?
3. Why does the man ask if Minji is sick?
4. Why is the woman reluctant to take Minji to swimming pools?
5. What does the woman think of the man’s suggestion?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a woman needs information about musical instruments.

MAN: Hi, welcome to Music And More. Can I help you?

WOMAN: Hi! Yes, I'm looking for either a guitar or a drum set. It's for my son, for his
birthday. He's always wanted either of those two instruments. Could you tell me a
little bit about both?

MAN: Has your son played either instrument before?

WOMAN: Well, he had a toy drum set when he was five and loved it so much that he broke
it. He's thirteen now. His friends all play guitar and sometimes he tries playing on
their guitars, but he's never taken lessons. I'd prefer if he played the guitar. I think
drums would be too noisy; our house has very poor sound insulation.

MAN: Well, we have options that will make both you and your son happy. We sell
regular drum sets, but if soundproofing is a concern we do sell electronic drums
that you can plug headphones into, so then you won’t hear a thing.
WOMAN: Wow! That certainly would be nice. What about guitars?

MAN: You could get a classical acoustic guitar, or an electric guitar. For a beginner, I'd
recommend a classical acoustic with nylon strings. Nylon strings are softer on the
fingers and are much easier to learn on.

WOMAN: All his friends have electric guitars, so he'd probably want an electric one too.

MAN: The good thing about the electric guitar is that, like electronic drums, he can plug
headphones in and you won't hear him practice. However, electric guitars have
steel strings. They can be quite painful on the fingers for beginners, and he may
get frustrated and give up quickly.

WOMAN: I see. Well there’s quite a few options. Which is the most affordable?

MAN: An electronic drum set would set you back the most. They start at around $700. A
beginner electric guitar would be a lot cheaper and a regular acoustic guitar
would be the cheapest. We have some nice quality ones that are on sale right
now.

WOMAN: I think an electric guitar might be the way to go. I know it has steel strings, but I
think he'd get used to it. Could you show me some?

MAN: Certainly! We have a great variety of styles. Please follow me!

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. What musical experience does the woman’s son have?

2. Why does the woman want to buy her son a musical instrument?
3. What was the man trying to do?
4. What solution does the man offer for the drums?
5. Why does the man say the acoustic guitar might be better?
6. Why does the woman think her son will prefer the electric guitar?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about a couple who started a community garden.

Recently arrived residents Mike and Paula Hendricks are delighted that the community garden
they started this spring in their townhouse complex in Arnprior, Ontario, has turned out to be
a big hit. The couple have been avid gardeners for years. Mike said they were disappointed
that there weren’t any nearby community gardens to join. They decided to start their own.
They soon found that almost everyone in the area was enthusiastic about the idea. A team of
thirty residents converted a large unused patch of grass into gardening plots. They filled the
beds with soil and compost. They also dug a pond to collect rainwater for watering plants.
Now the garden is packed with vegetables, flowers, and people. One resident, Atsuko Tanaka,
said that it’s a great place to hang out and socialize with the neighbours. Another man said he
was delighted to find that growing his own vegetables cut down his grocery bill. The local
wildlife seem to benefit as well. Gardener and biologist John Cheney, who is researching frog
populations in the area, is thrilled that the pond is now home to a species of endangered frogs.
Paula said there’s something for everyone in the community garden.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation among three co-workers—two men and one woman. They get
together in a meeting room to discuss a new work assignment for one of them.

Larry: Tom! Brenda and I want to talk to you about presentations.

Tom: Presentations? What about them?

Brenda: Well, we’re the sales force. We do all the sales pitches. We meet with potential
clients on a regular basis and show them our products in hopes to acquire new
accounts. And . . . we think that you should come on board.

Tom: You want me to start doing sales pitches? Look, I don’t have the skills or the
experience.

Larry: Tom, why would you say that? You started with the company, what, about a year
ago as a sales assistant? Since then, you’ve worked in three different departments
and you’ve done very well in all three.

Brenda: Absolutely. We’ve been talking with your past and current co-workers to get
references, and they all speak very highly of you. You do beautiful charts, top-
notch reports, and everybody really seems to like you! How did you manage that,
by the way?

Tom: I don’t know, I just help them out when they ask me for things. I try to give them
what they need.

Brenda: See? That is the mark of a great salesperson! Identifying the individual’s needs and
delivering to their expectations!

Larry: Hold on, Brenda. Tom didn’t seem particularly excited when we offered him the
opportunity to start pitching. Now I think it’s important that Tom tell us exactly
what it is that’s bothering him.
Tom: Well, it’s a couple of things, really. I don’t feel like I’m competent. What if they
ask me questions about our product that I can’t answer? Technical questions?

Larry: I’m sure you know more than you think you know. Plus you’re a great
communicator. I don’t think there’s anything here that can’t be solved with a little
bit of preparation.

Tom: I’m also not that keen on public speaking. I mean, I’m good one-on-one, but I
remember even back at school, when I had to do presentations . . . You know, when
you start to blush, and you’re breathing, and your mouth gets dry, and your palms
start to get sweaty . . .

Brenda: Tom, I think that you should attend some important sales presentations with our
more senior sales representatives. I think that’ll help you get some confidence and
be more sure of yourself. It’ll really help you fight that stage fright.

Larry: I agree. A little observation, a little preparation, a little practice—you’d be amazed

at how far it can go. You wouldn’t believe how bad I was when I first started.

Brenda: And now he’s winning awards! You mark my words, Tom, you’re gonna follow in
his footsteps. Welcome aboard!

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about life in the suburbs.

Suburbs: They're a curious beast. They're neither urban nor rural, and their sole purpose is to
provide a space for domestic life. With their homogenous architecture and thematic
subdivisions, they're often perceived as ugly. Their visual monotony stems in part from the fact
they were meticulously planned—in contrast to city centres, which evolved organically and
haphazardly over time, in response to changing economic influences.

But ever since the internal combustion engine revolutionized commuting, the suburbs have
attracted the inhabitants of the cramped and chaotic inner city and lured them out to the
periphery.

In the 1970s, essayist Narendra Bansal described how this would-be paradise evolved to
embody the worst of the post-modern world. Bansal said that suburbanites had opted out of
the vibrant urban communities that held society together. She predicted that suburbanites'
alienation and boredom would eventually give rise to an anxiety epidemic. This anxiety, she
felt, would eventually make suburbanites return to closer-knit, psychologically healthier urban
neighborhoods. So in fact, the prefabricated houses and manicured lawns that gave the
suburbs their initial appeal would eventually be their downfall. In 2008, suburban sprawl was
curtailed by the financial crisis. It was then that Bansal went from disdain to doom-mongering.
She famously declared that the death of the suburb was at hand.

This dismal view of suburbia was unwarranted, says demographer Leigh Stevanoic. She
maintains that families and professionals are flocking to the suburbs—especially in the
developing world, where rapid economic growth has been associated with declining urban
density. Stevanoic suggests that as populations gain in wealth, they consume more goods and
take up more space. This trend, she says, is proof that we are not witnessing suburbia's
demise. Instead, she believes we are witnessing how a growing global middle class is affecting
settlement patterns.

Sociologist and bestselling author Manuel Rubio observes that millions of people around the
globe are lining up to swap urban frenzy for suburban tranquility. However, Rubio questions
whether global suburbia can survive the war on global warming, since car culture is one of
suburbia's most persistent features. Meanwhile, in the first world, Rubio sees the young, the
bored, and the frustrated turning their collective backs on the white picket fence world they
sprang from. To Rubio, this suggests that suburban life satisfies people who are willing to
settle for less, but that it can't satisfy the appetites of those eager for material success.
Perhaps Bansal's prophecy of mass anxiety is being realized in at least some of the population.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a female customer and a male ticket seller. It is taking
place in the box office of a local theatre company.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello. May I help you?

WOMAN: Well, I have a problem with these tickets. I got them for my birthday, and they’re
for tomorrow evening, but I can’t come tomorrow. Is there any way I can
exchange them?

MAN: Of course. That’ll only take a few minutes . . . On which day would you like to
see the show?

WOMAN: Tuesday or Wednesday of next week would be best.

MAN: Unfortunately, the show isn’t being performed on either of those days. It plays the
rest of that week and then it closes.

WOMAN: Darn, that doesn’t work for me. Too bad. My friend saw the show a few weeks
ago and said it was amazing! Could I get a refund then?

MAN: I’m sorry, we have a policy of no refunds. Only exchanges.

WOMAN: Isn’t there anything you can do?

MAN: Well, let me speak to my manager. I’ll be right back.

WOMAN: Thanks.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. Why is the woman speaking to the ticket seller?

2. What is most likely true about the show?
3. Why does the man go speak with his manager?

Section 2:
MAN: Sorry that took so long. Unfortunately, my manager says we can’t offer you a
refund. But you can exchange these tickets for another show in our season,
regardless of ticket price. Would that be ok?

WOMAN: I guess so. What other shows are playing this year?

MAN: Our next play is MacBeth—

WOMAN: (hmm) A tragedy? No, I wouldn’t like that.

MAN: We also have Blithe Spirit, which is a comedy, and Beauty and the Beast, a
musical.

WOMAN: I love musicals! I’d like to see that one!

MAN: On which day would you like to see the show? It runs the entire month of
February.

WOMAN: I’ll need a minute—why don’t you help the next person in line.

Now answer questions 4-5.

4. Why does the man give the names of several shows?

5. Why does the woman need a minute?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Hi, I’m back! I’d like tickets for the February 4th performance.

MAN: Alright . . . Now let me turn my computer screen around so you can see . . . there.
This is our online seating chart. All of the seats in green are currently available; the
ones in red are taken. Unfortunately, our balcony will be closed for renovations
during February.

WOMAN: Let’s see . . . I’d like those two in the fifth row in the middle — no, sorry, I mean at
the end. The two at the end.
MAN: Okay . . . done! Now, just a reminder that you aren’t allowed to bring cameras into
the theatre. Food and drink are also prohibited, but can be enjoyed outside in the
lobby. Cell phones are allowed but must be turned off. Anything else I can do for
you?

WOMAN: Actually, now that I think of it, I’d like to get a third ticket for the same
performance. My daughter would love to see it.

MAN: No problem . . . that’ll be sixty-eight dollars, then.

WOMAN: Here you go.

MAN: Thanks! Enjoy the show!

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. What is likely true about the man?

7. How does the woman help the man?
8. What is the man’s reaction to the woman’s response?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between a husband and wife. They have guests coming over for
dinner tonight.

MAN: Hey honey, I'm back! The wine was on sale, so I bought two bottles instead of
one. How's the pizza coming?

WOMAN: I just ruined it! I put the oven temperature way too high by accident. The crust is
all black and burnt! It's totally inedible! And Judy and Paul are supposed to arrive
any minute now!

MAN: Don’t worry, it's not the end of the world! Do we have anything else to prepare
for dinner? Is there any pizza dough left? Maybe we could make the pizza again.

WOMAN: I used up all the dough. There's no more tomato sauce or cheese either. All we
have is salad, and a whole frozen chicken, but that won't thaw fast enough.

MAN: Well, we could always go out for pizza! There's that place a few blocks down the
road, Golden Pizza House.
WOMAN: Ugh, not that place. We went there before, remember? The pizza was soggy and
the sauce was too salty.

MAN: Yeah, you're right. It wasn't very good. Well, there aren't that many other
restaurants around here, except for sushi. But we have chocolate cheesecake for
dessert. Cheesecake doesn't really go very well with sushi. Hmm . . . We still
have vegetables, right?

WOMAN: Yeah, there are plenty of vegetables. Isn't that a bit boring, though?

MAN: It’ll be fine. Judy used to be a vegetarian when I first met her in college. In fact,
she taught me how to cook quite a few dishes! All I ever ate was beef pasta and
canned soup before we became friends. Anyways, let's see. We can make stuffed
zucchini, and cream of mushroom soup. That will go nicely with dessert!

WOMAN: Really? You're such a good cook now! I bet you wouldn't have burnt the pizza.
But you’re right, let’s make the best of it. Stuffed zucchini sounds yummy! And
we still have the salad, too!

MAN: Exactly. And we have two bottles of wine. See? Dinner isn't ruined. It's going to
be delicious! Let's start on the vegetables, before Judy and Paul get here.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Why is the woman troubled?

2. What is the man’s first suggestion?
3. Why did they decide against Golden Pizza House?
4. What do the couple decide to do?
5. How did the man meet one of the guests?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The woman is looking for
volunteer work.

MAN: Hello, Juicy Apple Orchards, this is Michael speaking! How may I help you?

WOMAN: Hi there! My name is Anna Howard. I’ve been backpacking in Canada for the
past three months, and I really wanted to experience working on an organic farm
this summer! I met another traveler who told me about your farm and that you
take volunteers. Is that right?
MAN: That’s right! We’ve been offering free accommodation and food in exchange for
fruit picking for the last ten years! It’s a great way to have fun, experience what
life is like in the Canadian countryside, and meet amazing people from around the
world.

WOMAN: I would love to do that! How many hours a week is it, and what are the duties to
be done?

MAN: We ask our volunteers to work 4 to 5 hours a day, and we schedule rotating shifts
for people. As we’re primarily an orchard, every shift will involve apple picking.
The early morning shift workers also feed the chickens, the noon workers also
turn the compost, and the evening workers also feed the goats!

WOMAN: That sounds really fun! So how do I start?

MAN: You could start anytime! We’ve got quite a few volunteers right now. Still, there
are five rooms left in our volunteer guest house! But I have to ask you first, are
you over the age of 18, and are you a Canadian resident?

WOMAN: I’m 23, and I’m from the States. I’m on a holiday visa. Is that acceptable, or do I
need a working visa?

MAN: Great! No, you don’t need a working visa to volunteer on Canadian farms as long
as you don’t stay longer than four weeks.

WOMAN: That works perfectly, as I’m going back home in three weeks anyways! Your
farm is in Peachland, right? I’m in Castlegar right now, visiting a friend. It’s
Tuesday today . . . would I be able to arrive on Friday?

MAN: Yes, we’re in Peachland! Friday sounds good! We’ll prepare a room for you. See
you then!

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Where does the woman want to volunteer?

2. What does the man offer the woman?
3. Why is the woman in Canada?
4. What time will the woman start work each day?
5. Where does the woman come from?
6. Why does the woman want to volunteer?
Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a bear problem.

Residents living on the outskirts of Chapel Hill are being asked to put a tight lid on their
garbage because of an increase in black bear sightings. Parks and Wildlife Official, Gary
Hampton, explained that the recent heat wave has dried up several of the black bears’ natural
food sources, such as berry bushes and fishing streams, forcing the bears to seek food near
urban areas. Hampton warns residents of Chapel Hill that, “Garbage provides a variety of
appetizing foods for a hungry bear and the best way to avoid problems with bears in the
backyard is to keep garbage cans in the garage or the house until they can be collected by city
workers.” A local resident, Sandra Nelson, complains that keeping her garbage in the house is
not an acceptable solution. Yet, what smells bad to most people can be very appetizing to a
hungry bear. The aroma of garbage can attract bears from far away. So, if residents must put
their garbage outside, Hampton advises them to purchase animal-proof garbage cans. These
cans have lids that are difficult for animals to remove. Not only do the cans keep animals away
from the garbage, but they also keep the garbage smells from attracting the animals.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. There are two women and one man. They are
at their office.

Lynn: Hello, you must be Ivan! I’m Lynn, Chemistry.

Ivan: Hello, Lynn. Yes, Ivan. Math.

Reena: And I’m Reena, Biology. Sorry that I’m late — I had a little trouble finding the
room! So . . . we’re the new part-time instructors! Congratulations to us!

Ivan: Hear! Hear! I think we should all go out and celebrate, once we get this all figured
out [gesturing the space]!

Lynn: [looking around] I can understand why the Human Resources person wanted us to
meet. It’s awfully tight in here, isn’t it? I don’t even think there’s room enough for
three desks! [pause] At least there’s window though!

Reena: I don’t even think there’s enough room for two desks. Let’s hope that our schedules
work out and one person wants to use the office in the mornings, another in the
afternoons, and a third in the evenings. This carpet is ancient! I love it!

Lynn: Let’s ask for a desk that at least has drawers on both sides. I could use the ones on
the left . . .

Ivan: And Reena can take the drawers on the right. And I’ll take one of the draws on the
filing cabinet. That still leaves one drawer for each of us for our files! I think that
should be enough. I would imagine most of us use our laptops for our files.
Reena: Sounds good. Do you think then that means we could have three bookcases, one for
each of us?

Ivan: I’d like that! I don’t mind sharing the desk or a filing cabinet, but I want my own
bookcase!

Lynn: Me too. If we move the filing cabinet over here and the table over there, maybe
there’s room on that wall for three bookcases. Um, we’ll also need a chair for the
desk and one for students, for office hours, to go over papers, answer questions . . .
And a whiteboard over there?

Reena: So much better than a blackboard! I hate getting chalk all over your fingers, and
then all over your clothes . . .

Ivan: Well . . . I guess I can get used to a whiteboard. I also think we should have a
bulletin board over above the desk? For notices, schedules, meetings, what have
you. And . . . we’re gonna need some whiteboard markers and thumbtacks . . .

Lynn: Good idea. I can bring a coffee maker. A tin of biscuits . . . That table is pretty
small but I think it’ll do . . .

Reena: I hope your coffee maker is not too big. I’d like to bring a tea kettle, and I’m sure
we all have our mugs we want to put there.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about multiculturalism policies.

Multicultural societies are more prevalent around the globe than ever before. Canada is often
credited for instigating this movement back in 1971 when Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot
Trudeau, declared Canada to be a multicultural nation. Trudeau envisioned a country which
recognized and respected the contribution by various ethnic groups to the cultural enrichment
of Canada, and he implemented policies to safeguard that contribution.

However, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, recently declared the policy of
multiculturalism a failure. There have been significant demographic changes in many countries
over the last decades; unfortunately, in some nations, this has resulted in inter-cultural
tensions. Thus, other European countries have also condemned multiculturalism as a passing
fad that does not actually promote unity in today's diverse societies.

Sociologist Arlene Brandon argues that these countries cannot condemn a practice that they've
never really attempted to properly implement. Brandon's research on the success of
multiculturalism has shown a strong correlation between citizenship and multiculturalism. The
nations that have most successfully adopted a policy of multiculturalism are those that have
allowed immigrants to eventually become citizens, thus creating a strong sense of unity and
inclusion. Presently, Canada and Australia are the most multicultural countries and, because of
their policies, their demographic changes have generally occurred peacefully and positively.
France, Norway, and Germany, on the other hand, have failed to truly adopt multiculturalism
since they treat foreigners as temporary labour and not as future citizens. Brandon says these
countries should not blame multiculturalism for their problems, but, rather, their poorly
designed policies.

However, not everyone agrees that Canada's multiculturalism has been successful. According
to controversial author Nora Alkabar, present day multiculturalism, as practiced in Canada,
encourages segregation and hyper political correctness. Alkabar argues that multiculturalism
and diversity are not the same thing. She says that diversity refers to differences in thoughts,
opinions, and viewpoints, whereas multiculturalism involves equality and mutual respect
among a population's cultural groups. She maintains that multiculturalism should mean
engaging with others in a meaningful way about their assumptions and goals. Alkabar says that
Canadians today are so worried about offending someone or saying the wrong thing that they
don't engage with other cultures or ask questions they may have, which she finds disrespectful.
Alkabar claims that a true multicultural society is built on mutual respect and hopes that the
next generations engage with each other more honestly.

What do you think, Canada? Is it time to have a frank and honest conversation about
multiculturalism in our nation? We'd love to hear from you after this commercial break.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between two people at a retail store. The man works there; the
woman is a customer.

Section 1:

MAN: Hi, how can I help you today?

WOMAN: I just rented a studio apartment, and I’d like to paint the room.

MAN: Oh, your landlord will let you do that?

WOMAN: Excuse me?

MAN: When my brother moved into a rental apartment, he wanted to repaint the place
too, but he had to get permission from his landlord first. The good thing was that
the landlord paid for it. Usually, they're responsible for maintenance and repairs.

WOMAN: Oh, I didn’t know that. I guess I’d better ask first then.

MAN: Might be a good idea. Is there anything in the apartment that you want the paint to
match? You could always bring in a chair, but a cushion would be easier!

WOMAN: Actually, I’d like the paint to match the curtains. My grandmother made them, so I
don’t want to replace them. Great suggestion! Thanks!

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. Why does the woman go to the store?

2. Who is probably responsible for maintenance and repairs?
3. What will the woman likely bring if she returns?

Section 2:

MAN: You’re back! With curtains! Oh, I can see why you don’t want to replace them!

WOMAN: Do you think we can match this shade of blue?

MAN: Yes, but are you sure you want to do that? If the walls are the same colour, you
won’t really notice the curtains.

WOMAN: Oh, good point. So . . . um . . . how about THAT colour?

MAN: The light green? I was thinking you might want white or beige.

WOMAN: Ugh—too much like my parents’ house! No, actually, with the light green and
blue, the room will look like the ocean, near where I used to live. I miss it a lot,
how the bright sun made the water look different shades of blue . . .

MAN: Then the light green is a perfect choice! Now you’ll also need a roller, a pan,
some masking tape for around the windows, and a brush. You can get those
today. Do you need a drop cloth?

WOMAN: What’s that?

MAN: It’s a big piece of cloth to cover the floor. Your landlord might have one though.
He might also have a ladder, so let’s wait until later for that as well.

Now answer questions 4-6.

4. What does the man think about the curtains?

5. What does the woman think about her parents’ house?
6. What might the woman purchase next time?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Hi, my landlord says he does have a drop cloth, but he doesn’t have a step ladder.
Actually, he does, but it fell apart. So he told me to buy a new one, and he’ll pay
for it. He says he has an account here—Anthony Dillon?

MAN: Okay . . . let’s see . . . yes, he does have an account, and it’s all paid up. Good. I’ll
have one of our standard six-foot step ladders delivered tomorrow! So you’re all
set!
WOMAN: Great! He’s happy that I’m going to paint the room. He even said he’d come help
if it’s too difficult to do on my own.

MAN: I think he should, since technically you’re doing his job for him!

Now answer questions 7-8.

7. Why does her landlord want to buy a new ladder?

8. How does the interaction end?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman about making plans for lunch.

MAN: Hey Aleya, how’s your morning going?

WOMAN: Not bad. I’m just finishing this monthly report. There’s so much information to
gather.

MAN: Well, a bunch of us from our department are going out for lunch today. Why
don’t you take a break and come with us? It’ll do you good to get out of the office
for a bit.

WOMAN: Oh, thank you. That sounds wonderful. Where are we going?

MAN: Do you like Italian food? There’s a really great place, Mario’s, a couple of blocks
from here. They have the best pasta in town, and their garlic bread is amazing.

WOMAN: I’ve never been to an Italian restaurant. I don’t eat out very often. The customs
and food here are quite different from my home country. Thank you so much for
inviting me. I love trying new things.

MAN: I hope you like it. Our team eats there at least once a month. There’s also a great
sushi place nearby that we go to all the time. You’ll have to come with us next
time.

WOMAN: It’s so interesting that you go to a restaurant so often. The boss is so kind. My
former boss never invited us out for meals.
MAN: Just so you know, everybody pays for their own meal. The company would go
bankrupt if they paid for all of our lunches all the time!

WOMAN: Sorry, I didn’t know. I thought when you invited me that it was paid for. In my
home country, the boss pays, or the person who invites pays. I’m a little
embarrassed now . . .

MAN: Don’t worry about it. In Canada, it’s pretty casual. We always pay for ourselves
unless someone specifically says they’ll treat you, and that doesn’t happen very
often. Maybe on your birthday, but that’s about it.

WOMAN: I’m so glad you told me. I would have felt really bad if I had eaten and then not
paid. It’s very different, but I will get used to it.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Where are the man and the woman?

2. Why is the woman invited out to lunch?
3. What is the woman’s opinion of Italian food?
4. Why does the woman think the boss will pay for lunch?
5. What is the woman’s decision about going for lunch?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation that takes place in a woman's home.

WOMAN: Hi Harry, thanks for coming by. You’ve done great work for us before, and now
we have a few more jobs we’d like you to do: painting a wall, replacing floor
tiles, and changing cupboard handles. What do you think?

MAN: Sounds good. Let’s start with the tiles. Where are they going?

WOMAN: In the kitchen. We got a really good deal on these peel-and-stick ones. I love the
colour! Do you think these will work on the kitchen floor?

MAN: They’re good quality and durable, so you made a good choice. What does the
floor surface look like? Can I see it?
WOMAN: Sure, follow me. See, there’s some old ripped flooring here. I was hoping you
could just put the tiles on top of the old floor here, and match them with the rest
of the floor.

MAN: That’s going to be a problem. I’ll have to remove that old flooring, or the new
tiles won’t join properly with the rest of the floor. The kitchen floor isn’t that big.
Why not replace the whole floor with these new tiles? Then it will look really
professional. I think you bought enough tiles, but I’ll measure later to check that
out.

WOMAN: Oh, we didn’t think about that. What a good idea!

MAN: Okay, so what do you want me to paint?

WOMAN: Just this one wall where I’ve filled the holes. I learned how to do that from my
dad who enjoyed repairing walls. Do you think it needs to be sanded before you
paint? I’m concerned about the dust because I need to make dinner each night.

MAN: Yeah, it definitely needs sanding. My electric sander has a dust catcher, though.
Have you already bought the paint?

WOMAN: Yes, we picked it up yesterday when we bought the handles. These are the new
handles for the cupboard doors. They’re so pretty that I just couldn’t resist buying
them! Will they fit these doors OK?

MAN: Yeah, they’ll go on just fine. Okay, this should take me two, maybe three days.
When would you like me to start?

WOMAN: Is tomorrow too soon? I’ll be so glad to finally have this work done!

MAN: No problem. I’ll just take those measurements and draw up an estimate. I’ll give
it to you in about ten minutes.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why is the man visiting the woman?

2. What is the woman’s plan?
3. What did the woman do by herself?
4. Why does the man suggest putting new tiles on the whole kitchen floor?
5. What is the woman worried about?
6. When will the man be finished?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about the effect of recent storms on a community.

Over the past few weeks, storms near Fredericton have damaged many homes and other
structures.

One resident, Jila Amini, had recently installed a large children’s slide in her garden so that
her son and daughter could play outside. Jila woke up last Tuesday morning to discover that
the rain and mud had carried her slide down her hilly backyard and into the neighbourhood
park. After talking to the town council, Jila discovered that the council was already planning
on buying a new slide for the park. The council suggested that Jila leave her slide in the park,
and they offered to replace Jila’s slide at the council’s expense. Jila agreed.

Three nights later, another thunderstorm knocked down an old oak tree in the same park. The
tree fell directly on the slide, crushing it beyond repair. The townspeople have decided to
make the best of the situation. Led by local artist and wood carver Eddy Galen, a team has
started a project to build a new children’s climbing structure in the park using wood from the
fallen oak tree. When the project is completed, these terrible storms will have benefitted
everyone.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three colleagues. There are two women and one man. They
are at a break room at their workplace.

Tia: Let's enjoy our coffee break as long as we can. These new changes at work are
giving me a headache.

Richard: Why are they making the changes?

Tia: Management said that business has grown so much in the last year that they had to
hire a lot of new staff. I guess we can't move, so they are making major changes to
this old space to accommodate more staff.

Alice: The new plan, called office hoteling, isn't unique to us. As a matter of fact, it’s
been proven to work extremely well. If you think of our office like a hotel, the idea
might come clearer. We reserve a desk before we come to work, and then we
check in when we arrive.

Richards: That's an interesting comparison. But I don’t see how these tiny desks work
compare to a spacious, comfortable hotel room.

Alice: Well, the idea is that many of us aren't in the office every day. Therefore, there are
temporary space assignments, like people using a hotel. Those working 9–5 in the
 office every day still keep their desk, like before. I think it’ll be fine; we just need
to get used to it.

Tia: I heard that very few people have private offices now. Instead, we will need to
book a small seminar room if you're meeting with a client. This will require
considerable advanced planning.

Richard: So, what do you do if a client drops to consult with you and there’s no seminar
rooms available? It’ll take considerable time to adjust our work habits to those
kinds of changes.

Alice: Well, the other interesting change is that once you check in for a desk, you sign up
for a laptop for the rest of the day. We can now access our email on any laptop.

Richard: What I don't like is that these shared desks are basically just bare cubicles. You
can't personalize the space or store your own work files. And what about
telephones? I don’t see telephones at each desk.

Tia: I don't understand how this new phone system works, although I know we can't
have a phone at our desk anymore. It's considered too disruptive to others. But
what I will miss most is being together with our team and learning from each
other.

Alice: Yeah, well, there certainly will be a lot of changes. Maybe having coffee like this
together when the three of us are in the office is a good idea. Maybe we should
invite some of our other team members to join us—so they can cope, too.

Richard: That’s a great idea! Let's do it.

Tia: We'll do team-texting to set up meetings!

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about health care in Canada.

As many opinion polls over the years have shown, when asked what makes Canada special, the
Canadian health care system is often the most cited reason. For over fifty years, Canada has
relied on a system of health care that is government run and free to all Canadians. Private,
for-profit health care is only allowed in very few circumstances. When it comes to health care,
money will not buy better doctors or a better hospital. Everyone uses the same services.

Canada’s health care system is generous, effective, and, most believe, equitable. However,
the system is not without its critics. The cost to the government is, of course, huge and this
cost is funded by the Canadian people in the form of taxes. While few have argued against the
health system itself, arguments against the tax rates required to support the system are not
uncommon.

The main criticism of the system, however, is not its cost, but its exclusivity. In almost all
cases, the only health care services available are government services. Why can’t individuals
that can afford to pay for health services go to private clinics? If this were allowed, not only
would they get faster, more efficient service, but they would remove themselves from the
government system. Everybody would benefit from shorter wait times. Canada is one of the
few industrialized countries to effectively ban private medical treatment. Most countries in
Europe and Asia support mixed systems where individuals can choose between public and
private options.

Many in Canada are opposed to a mixed system in which more wealthy citizens receive
different—and perhaps—better health care. The fear is that once the wealthy leave the public
system, they will be even less motivated to pay the taxes required to maintain the public
health care system. Moreover, there is a moral issue at stake: Is it right that some people in
society receive better health care than others?

Those who support a mixed system also say they see a moral issue. In a free country such as
Canada, people should have the right to choose where they go for their health care.

Compromise solutions have also been suggested. Perhaps private practices could be allowed
for screening, but not for treatment. People could have private medical tests, X-rays or
ultrasounds, but they would have to get treatment in the public system.

The debate will continue for years to come. However, there is little evidence that the health
system will change in the near future. Canadians are proud of their health system and change
to that system is likely to be slow in coming.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman in a clothing store. The man is a
salesperson, and the woman is a shopper.

Section 1:

WOMAN: Can I ask your opinion? Both these shirts fit me . . . but which one suits
me better?

MAN: I think they’d both look great on you.

WOMAN: Mmmm. But I’m going to buy only one of them. I can’t decide. On this
one, the neckline really suits my height, and the light colour goes well
with my hair. But this other one’s darker and more formal, which I like,
too.

MAN: Hmm. Where will you be wearing the shirt?

WOMAN: The office. I’ve been promoted and I’ll need some clothes for meetings
with clients.

MAN: Then maybe . . . dress to fit the situation and go with the more formal one?

WOMAN: Yes . . . but I want to make an impression. I need something that looks
really good on me.

MAN: Hmm. Tough decision. They’re both good picks.

WOMAN: I think I’ll take the lighter one. I like it better. I like the price better, too.

MAN: I’ll ring it up for you.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. What did the shopper buy?

2. What best sums up the salesperson’s advice?
3. Which style did the shopper choose?
Section 2:

WOMAN: Excuse me, I bought this shirt here recently, but I’m bringing it back.
Here’s the receipt.

MAN: Thanks . . . [pause] I’m sorry, this receipt is from last month. You bought
the shirt almost two weeks ago. I’m afraid we give refunds only within
one week of the date of purchase. But we could still give you store credit.

WOMAN: No, actually, all I want is to swap this shirt for one I like better.

MAN: Oh! You want to exchange it. In that case, by all means. You can
exchange the shirt for an item of equal or lesser value.

WOMAN: Well that works out well. I know exactly which one I’m after. I think it
was a bit more expensive, though.

MAN: Which shirt was it? Was it over here?

WOMAN: That dark one over there. Size 32, please.

Now answer questions 4-6.

4. Why did the shopper come back?

5. What is one of the store’s policies on returned items?
6. What did the salesperson do?

Section 3:

MAN: Here you go. Oh, look, this shirt’s on sale. Now it costs less than the one
you’re bringing back!

WOMAN: Really?! That’s a good deal.

MAN: But remember, it’s an exchange, so I can’t give you any money back. You
may as well pick up something else, too. How about a belt?
WOMAN: Uh, let me think . . . I really don’t need anything else.

MAN: Earrings, perhaps? Or a scarf?

WOMAN: I think I’ll just get . . . these socks here. You can never have too many
socks.

MAN: All right then. With the socks, the difference is $3.45. How would you like
to pay?

WOMAN: By cash: toonies and quarters.

Now answer questions 7-8.

7. What did the shopper buy?

8. Which statement is true of the shopper?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation about a very busy weekend.

MAN: Good morning, Sue. How was your weekend?

WOMAN: Ugh, it’s all a blur. It started on Friday night with my younger son’s baseball
award ceremony. It was nice to see him get his trophy, but I have to confess it
was tough sitting through 3 hours of trophy presentations.

MAN: I’ll bet. Did you get to relax a bit after that?

WOMAN: Saturday morning, I was up at 6:00 a.m. to take my other son and his friends to
hockey practice. It was my weekend for carpool duty. Hockey’s not really my
thing, you know, but we have to show our support for the kids.

MAN: Well, at least the arena’s indoors. My wife and I used to freeze to death on the
soccer field watching our kids’ matches in the rain or snow. How was the rest of
your weekend?

WOMAN: We spent what was left of Saturday getting ready for my daughter’s birthday
party—baking the cake, preparing the games, stuffing the pinata, filling up loot
 bags, blowing up a zillion balloons, decorating the living room... So Sunday was
utter chaos. It took 3 hours to have the party... and 6 hours to clean up the mess!

MAN: When my kids were little, I always felt lucky they were born in summer. Their
birthday parties were always outdoors—the park, the carnival, the beach, the go-
cart track, the campground... That way, the kids never wrecked my house.

WOMAN: Lucky you! My kids’ birthdays are in January and February. Maybe next year
instead of letting them wreck my house, I should send them outside to play in the
snow.

MAN: Or the ice arena... Maybe you should learn to play hockey with them. Anyway,
here you are back at the sweat shop to do some “real” work, eh?

WOMAN: Trust me, coming here feels like play compared to what I do at home.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. How are the speakers related?

2. How was the woman’s weekend?
3. What do the woman and the man agree on?
4. What does the woman say about her job?
5. Overall, what is the woman expressing?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation about a massage service for office workers.

WOMAN: Hi there! Welcome to Wellness Massage and Spa. How are you today?

MAN: Very well, thank you. I’m organizing a corporate event for my company and my
boss has requested something a little different this time. A co-worker said she
gets massages here, and she recalled that you offer on-site workplace massage
therapy. Is that right?

WOMAN: Absolutely! You’ve come to the right place. We specialize in providing mobile
effective stress relief and therapeutic chair massages. Studies of ongoing office
massage programs have shown that regular massage sessions result in better
performance and decreased job stress and anxiety.
MAN: Sounds like what every workplace needs! I’ve always thought that massage
would be a good component of a company’s success strategy. It’s good to keep
workers happy. Is it like a normal spa massage?

WOMAN: No, it’s quite different. Our practitioners come to your workplace with portable
ergonomic massage chairs. You stay fully dressed, but of course you can remove
your suit jacket and tie to be more comfortable. We never use oils. We do,
however, bring music to set a soothing atmosphere for relieving tension.

MAN: What’s an ergonomic chair?

WOMAN: It’s designed so that the client’s chest and head rest on support cushions, which
reduces pressure on the hips and spinal column. One of the biggest complaints of
office workers is tension in the neck and shoulders. Our practitioners work on
these areas to relieve stress symptoms.

MAN: Great. Now, I should inquire, is office chair massage covered by an extended
health care plan, and are your practitioners fully insured?

WOMAN: Yes, our practitioners are fully certified and insured. However, unless your health
care plan includes individual discretionary funds, which usually cover things such
as fitness memberships, it won’t be covered by your plan. We are certified
massage practitioners, but not massage therapists. We focus on relaxation and
stress reduction, rather than treatment of specific injuries.

MAN: I see. Well, that’s not a problem. I’d like to book your company. Anything else I
need to know?

WOMAN: Wonderful! Fees and prices are listed in our booklet right here. There’s quite a
range of options, depending on how many practitioners you would like to hire.
Let me show you.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. What does the man want from the woman?

2. How did the man meet the woman?
3. How will the man’s company use the massage services?
4. What will workers need to do for the massage?
5. Why does the man ask about health plan coverage?
6. What does the man expect to result from massage services?
Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a lost ring.

Sarah Hunter is smiling again, now that her engagement ring is back on her finger where it
belongs. Last Saturday, Sarah was attending an art class when she decided to remove her
engagement ring and put it in her jacket pocket. After her class, she took a box of old
clothing, including the jacket, to be sold in the local second-hand store. Later that day, Sarah
suddenly realized her mistake. She immediately called the thrift store only to discover that
her jacket had just been sold. “I honestly never expected to see my engagement ring again,”
said Sarah. Surprisingly, the young girl who purchased the jacket soon discovered the ring and
promptly brought it back to the thrift store. Sarah was astonished and thrilled at the return of
the ring, which is valued at five thousand dollars. Sarah immediately contacted the young girl,
a music student at Fairmont College, and thanked her for being so honest. The young girl
quietly explained, “I knew that I’d feel devastated if something like this had happened to me,
so I had to return it.” Fortunately for the young girl, Sarah’s fiancé performs in a popular rock
group and has given her front row tickets to his sold out concert scheduled for next month.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people who belong to a singles’ social club. They
are planning a group trip to Montreal.

WOMAN: So, as of today we have six members signed up for our Montreal trip. I’m still
waiting to hear back from four others. Everyone wants to keep round-trip travel
costs to $100 a person.

MAN 1: The cheapest weekend train fare you can get this time of year is $300 a person,
round trip. And that’s the seniors’ rate for ages 55 and up! Only some of us fall
into that age group.

MAN 2: Well, $300 is a lot more than I intended to pay. Is that a group rate?

MAN 1: No, that’s the individual rate for up to six seniors . . . We only have six people
signed up so far. If ten or more people sign up, we qualify for the group rate.

WOMAN: Now, the problem with the train is that it leaves from Central Station. And with
all the downtown traffic congestion, it can be hard for people to get to, especially
if they’re not one of the few urban dwellers among us . . . or unless they live near
public transit. Is it possible that we can catch the train somewhere near our
homes?

MAN 1: I’ll have to get back to you on that. I do know that in order to qualify for the
group discount, we’d all have to board and disembark at the same station!

WOMAN: Hmm. That’s not so great. Would we be able to rent a van? That way, we can
pick up and drop off people right at their doorsteps.
MAN 2: Well, for seven to fifteen people, we could rent a passenger van. You wouldn’t
have to pay me to drive it. But I would have to get back to you with a quote about
the rental cost. But if we had, say, sixteen to twenty-four people, we could charter
a small tour bus and hire a driver.

MAN 1: But wouldn’t a bus take longer than the train? We’ve only got a three-day
weekend!

MAN 2: Well, a nonstop train gets you there in five hours; we know this for sure. The bus
would only take longer if we decided to take breaks along the way. But
sightseeing breaks are a bonus. We all agreed on that. I mean, that’s one reason
we chose not to go by air in the first place.

MAN 1: One of the downside of chartering a bus is it would cost thousands of dollars, and
we’d have to pay the driver. We’d have to fill every seat to make it cost effective.

WOMAN: Okay, so . . . highway or railway? In terms of price, it sounds to me like six of

one, half a dozen of the other. It really depends on how many people we can get.
Once we know that, we can firm up pricing.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about urban chicken bylaws.

Sarah Chang, manager of the Vancouver Animal Shelter, says it’s time for the feathers to fly at
City Hall over the issue of backyard chicken farming. Chang is petitioning the city to revoke a
two-year-old bylaw allowing city residents to raise poultry. The law was initially brought
before city council by ecologically-minded Vancouverites ultimately seeking to help the
environment by producing a homegrown alternative to factory-farmed eggs. While most
residents supported the initiative, critics were concerned about the potential for excessive
noise, predatory wildlife, poor sanitation, and even bird flu. But Chang’s primary concern was
the birds themselves. She feared backyard poultry farming would cause an influx of abandoned
chickens on animal shelter doorsteps—a prediction which she confirms has come to pass.

But Bruce Webster, an activist and poultry expert who spent 5 years battling city council to
allow urban chickens, has no intention of seeing the bylaw overturned and his own pair of hens
exiled from the city. While Webster admits the city has seen some predatory coyotes and
abandoned hens, he stresses larger food issues. Ensuring access to food is a major concern
throughout the world, and even Canada is not invulnerable to hunger and food supply
problems. Webster points to the growing need for food banks in urban centres. One solution,
says Webster, is local food production, and backyard chicken coops are a part of it.

Also a supporter of local food production, Chang argues that it shouldn’t come at the cost of
animal welfare. Many well-intentioned city dwellers start raising chickens, only to discover
they’re far more work than expected. Most chickens lay eggs for just two of their ten year
lifespan, which, for many urbanites, amounts to too much work for too little payoff. The
result, says Chang, is that hundreds of chickens end their lives in crowded, underfunded
animal shelters. Many are euthanized. Chang also questions whether urban chicken farming
actually aids those in genuine need of access to affordable food. After all, raising fowl
generally requires a backyard. Vancouverites lucky enough to have one tend to be upper
middle class homeowners who could afford to buy—and don’t really need to raise—organic
free-range poultry products.

So, should the urban chicken bylaw be revoked? City councillor Rita Jones thinks the bylaw just
needs more teeth. In addition to the existing limit of 4 hens and the ban on noisy roosters,
Jones wants routine government inspections, fines for abandonment, and a requirement that
wannabes first receive training. Educating prospective chicken owners about what’s involved,
says Jones, would weed out negligent ones before their livestock meet the same demise as the
city’s unwanted pets.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation that takes place in an eyeglass store. The woman has questions
about buying glasses. The man, a salesperson, tries to help her.

Section 1:

MAN: Good morning. Can I help you?

WOMAN: Hi. My husband is convinced I need a pair of glasses for reading. I've
never had glasses, so I’m not sure what to do.

MAN: Well, you've come to the right place. Have you had your eyes checked
recently?

WOMAN: No, not recently. I get regular check-ups from my doctor, but I don't
remember him checking my eyes.

MAN: OK, so the first step is to see an eye doctor and get your eyes tested. If
your vision needs correcting, the doctor will give you a prescription.

WOMAN: Do you do this testing here?

MAN: Actually, there's an eye clinic right next door. It’s on the left. You can go
there and make an appointment. If they give you a prescription, bring it
here and we can help you.

WOMAN: Thanks. I'll do that right now.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. Why is the woman visiting the store?

2. does the man suggest going to an eye doctor?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Hi. I was here last week. I did as you suggested and got my eyes tested. I
have my prescription.
MAN: Oh yes. Can I see your prescription? . . . Well, Mrs. Mackie, this shows
you certainly do need glasses!

WOMAN: Yes, so the doctor said. He was surprised I’d managed to wait so long.

MAN: OK, so first you need to decide which frames you like.

WOMAN: I don’t want anything too pricey. Just regular inexpensive glasses to help
me see better will be fine.

MAN: Here’s what we have in the lower price range. These are plastic frames,
and they usually last a long time. I think these would look nice on you.
Why don’t you try these on and see what you think?

WOMAN: Oh my, they make me look like a different person! The blue frame looks
great with my blue eyes. What do you think?

MAN: I agree, and they are a good price. I’ll take some measurements so we can
prepare the glasses for you. It’ll take a couple of weeks for them to be
ready.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. Why was the doctor surprised she had waited so long?

4. What is most important for the woman in choosing glasses?
5. What does the woman think of the frames he suggests?

Section 3:

WOMAN: I’m here to pick up my new glasses.

MAN: Mrs. Mackie, please have a seat and I’ll get them for you . . . Here we are.
Try them on.

WOMAN: Oh my goodness, these are awesome! I can see! And the text on my
cellphone is so much clearer! I won’t text the wrong person now! This is
wonderful.
MAN: Here’s a special cloth and cleaning solution. If you always use this, the
lenses won’t get scratched. Just wet the glasses, spray on some solution,
then dry them with the cloth. I’d do that every morning.

WOMAN: This is wonderful! My husband will be delighted that I can see now, and
that this whole experience didn’t cost as much as he feared. Thanks so
much!

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. What did the woman come back to the store for?

7. Why does the man talk about cleaning her glasses?
8. What will the woman probably do next?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. They are trying to make some
choices for a work event.

WOMAN: Andrew, do you have a minute? We need to discuss who should get the Top
Employee Award.

MAN: Sure, Irene. I guess you and I are this year’s selection committee.

WOMAN: I don’t know anything about this award. What is it for?

MAN: Well, the selection guidelines are very broad, and there’s really no definition for
“top.” It used to be called Office Choice Award, but that was a popularity contest.
Some people even paid friends to vote for them, if you can believe it.

WOMAN: Wow, the award is that important? There are around 70 employees here, but only
one person can get the award, right? Unless they make 70 mini-awards, or just
give up on the award entirely.

MAN: These ideas were discussed, too. But the award is given during the summer office
picnic, and it’s part of the fun. The Top Employee Award has been given for
three years now. We can only choose 5 recipients, you know.

WOMAN: Really? This is getting interesting. So who got it last year?

MAN: I think Ginette got it because she decorated her office space so well, and because
she made the best cheesecake for the picnic. George also won it because of the
spectacular entertainment he lined up for our Open House last Christmas.

WOMAN: Oh, so the criteria are that relaxed? It sounds like we could just draw names out
of a hat and then justify our choices afterwards!

MAN: Well, to tell you the truth, that is how Ginette and George and the others were
chosen last year! We put everyone’s names into a box and drew 5. Then we came
up with reasons for why they are top employees. Oh, and we don’t choose the
same people each year, and you and I are not eligible. It’s very democratic.

WOMAN: I’ll say! And everyone’s OK with this system?

MAN: Oh yeah. The award is a highlight of the picnic. Let’s get started. This won’t take
long.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Why are the woman and the man meeting together?

2. What is the man’s opinion of the award?
3. How are the award winners chosen?
4. When is the award given?
5. Which statement is probably true about the woman?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a man is trying to arrange his upcoming wedding.

MAN: Hello! I'm getting married this July and I'm looking for a wedding photographer.
My friend John referred you to me. He got married last September and said you
were excellent. I saw your photos and they were beautiful. He also showed me
your online portfolio, and I have to say I was really impressed with your sense of
design.

WOMAN: Oh thanks, that's nice to hear. Yes, I remember John’s wedding. I love garden
ceremonies. Well, I'd be very interested in photographing your wedding. Could
you first tell me the date and location, so I can check my calendar and see if I'm
available?
MAN: Sure! It's July 2nd, and it will be at my parents' property in Halifax. It won't be as
fancy as John’s wedding, but they have a beautiful backyard overlooking the
ocean. My fiancée Sarah and I wanted something outdoors.

WOMAN: Hmmmmm . . . it looks like I am unavailable on that day. I'm flying away to
shoot another wedding. Now, when you checked my online portfolio, you must
have seen my colleague, Cindy Shin’s work. Would you be interested in having
her shoot your wedding?

MAN: Oh, that’s such a pity. I guess I should have called earlier. Yes, I’ve seen her
work, and I liked it as well. Her work bears a lot of similarities to yours.

WOMAN: It certainly does, and that’s because she was my mentor. I’m looking at her
schedule and she happens to be available that day.

MAN: That is really lucky! Would prices be comparable?

WOMAN: We charge the same rates, and we offer three different packages. The basic
package starts at $3000. It includes an engagement portrait session and complete
wedding day coverage, which covers everything from getting ready, to cutting of
the cake, dancing, and guest portraits. In addition, we charge travel costs, food,
and lodging when the ceremony is out of town.

MAN: Basic is fine with me. That's already slightly over my budget, so I'd rather not be
tempted by the other packages! Do I choose which photos I want printed? Is
printing included?

WOMAN: Of course. You'll receive a link to an online photo gallery of the best 200 photos
within 3 weeks. You can pick out the 50 you like.

MAN: That sounds great. I’ll talk it over with my fiancée and get back to you in a few
days. Thank you very much!

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. How did the man find out about the photographer?

2. What will the man’s wedding be like?
3. Why does the woman suggest another photographer?
4. Why does the man consider the woman’s partner?
5. What is the man prepared to pay for?
6. How will the photographer present the photos?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about protesters complaining about a sign.

A group of protesters gathered at the local racetrack yesterday, asking people to sign a
petition they intended to take to city hall. The petition requested that a newly erected
billboard advertising the racetrack be removed. Protesters claim that the sign, with its
blinking lights and animation of a racing horse, is highly distracting. Jillian Smith,
spokesperson for the group, pointed out that the human eye is naturally attracted to bright
lights and movement. She said that, when you’re driving on the highway, that’s a very bad
thing.

Smith went on to say that using a cellphone while driving is now illegal because of the
distraction factor. Therefore, she said, roadside billboard advertising should also be illegal,
especially when it is designed to take our attention off the road.

The owner of the racetrack initially refused to comment, but, when pressed, he insisted there
was nothing wrong with his sign. He pointed out that there’s no law against it, so he sees no
obligation to take it down.

Police could neither confirm nor disconfirm that roadside billboards are a contributing factor
in highway accidents.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people who work at a college. The two women
work as writing skills tutors, and the man is their supervisor.

Max: OK, I’ve been getting emails that you two are refusing to help students with their
writing assignments. It’s my understanding—and I thought that you two understood
this as well—that that is exactly what your job is. You are the Writing Skills Tutors.

Robin: Yes, but it’s the end of the year, and students are coming to us for help with the
end-of-the-year assignments worth half their grade! We both think it’s cheating
and—

Max: Cheating? How so?

Claire: Well, by the time we’re through with their essay, we’ve turned a D essay into a B
essay. We’ve done that. With our comments, our suggestions, our corrections, our
questions . . .

Robin: Getting that level of help with a major year-end essay? It isn’t fair to the students
that have done the work on their own.

Max: Isn’t there some way you can, I don’t know, lead the students to make the
improvements themselves? Show them what to do without doing it for them?
Robin: Normally, yes. But it’s March, and the students that are coming to our door now—
for the first time—they’re not interested in doing the work themselves. They come
in, throw their rough notes on the desk, and expect us to do the rest of the work.

Claire: We make suggestions and demonstrate how to use them, but the students just
pretend to listen—they didn’t come here to learn; they came here for free editing.

Max: So how do you help? I mean, what did we hire you for?

Robin: Well, the way I see it is that we’re here to help the students with their homework—
the day-to-day assignments. And those students that have gotten help with the
practice work are then prepared to do the graded assignments on their own. The
others—I assume they don’t even do their homework. Like Claire said, they’re just
here to get their corrections done for free.

Max: What if you helped them with the final assignments only with the teacher’s
authorization? That way the instructor would know which essays have had the
benefit of your help and which ones the students have done on their own. And they
can take that into account when they’re doing the grading.

Claire: I don’t know . . . I guess we could try. As long as the teachers know that what
they’re grading is partly our work, I guess that would be fair. But—I’m telling
you—as soon as word gets out that we’re willing to help with final essays, you’re
going to have to hire another half dozen Writing Skills Tutors.

Robin: At least.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about working from home.

Harold is a sales executive at an export company. Every day he spends two hours on the road
getting to and from work. At work, Harold spends his day talking and texting with his clients in
China and India. Every week Harold uses a hundred dollars of gas and spends 10 hours stuck in
traffic in order to talk to people who are in another country. Surely he could do his work from
home.

The question is: Why are we still commuting? Why not allow people like Harold to commute
online rather than through our often-clogged transportation systems? If we did allow people to
work from home, other economic benefits would follow. We would spend less on gas and more
on leisure, education, and other consumer goods. Community restaurants and coffee shops
would thrive. More importantly, there would be benefits to the environment with a decrease in
gas consumption, especially in urban centres.

Perhaps we are still commuting because corporations still associate productivity with physical
presence and hours spent in the office. Clearly, though, corporations could also benefit from
employees working at home. With staff working from home, corporate offices could be smaller
and hence cheaper to run. Productivity per employee might also increase. Employees would be
more able to work at times that might otherwise have been spent commuting. They could also
tailor their work schedule to fit their family lives, which would improve their mental health
and wellbeing.

It seems that online commuting would have a positive impact on families, corporations, and
our society as a whole. We might well wonder, then, why we still encounter traffic gridlock in
almost every major city.

Experts say there are four key difficulties with working from home. First, corporations fear
offsite employees will be more easily distracted and work less. Second, many managers are
concerned that they will not be able to manage staff when their staff are not present in the
corporate workplace. A third issue is that the office is not simply a physical location. It is also
a psychological space in which a team can develop a sharp, shared focus on the tasks at hand.
People who work in the same space can think together and share ideas. Finally, the collective
workspace helps staff to feel they belong to a community or culture. They will care more
about their company’s product or service.

So, will we always work in offices? Younger people increasingly ask to work from home. The
younger generation has been raised in a socially networked world in which connections,
culture, and creativity are no longer anchored in a geographical or physical space. Perhaps, as
some in this generation are already saying, the office will become outdated.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman in a pharmacy. The man is asking
about eye drops. The pharmacist shows him different types of non-prescription drops.

Section 1:

WOMAN: Good morning. Can I help you?

MAN: I’m having a problem with my eyes. They are red and really itchy and
driving me crazy. I’m wondering if you can recommend something.

WOMAN: I can see your eyes look really sore. Have you gone to your doctor?

MAN: No, not yet. I thought I’d get some drops to make the problem go away as
quick as possible.

WOMAN: Well, we have over-the-counter eye drops that might help.

MAN: What does over-the-counter mean?

WOMAN: It means that the product doesn't require a prescription. Usually an over-
the-counter product is much less expensive, but it can be just as good as
the prescription.

MAN: That’s what I want. Which eye drops should I get?

WOMAN: Well, this brand is usually effective. But, it depends on what’s wrong with
your eyes. If you have an infection, for example, you really should see
your doctor.

MAN: OK. I’ll get these, but if they don’t help in a few days, I’ll see the doctor.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. Why does the woman explain about over-the-counter products?

2. What advice did the woman give the man?
3. Why does the man buy over-the-counter eye drops?
Section 2:

MAN: Hi. I was here a few days ago and got some eye drops.

WOMAN: Yes, I remember. Did the drops help?

MAN: Not as much as I hoped, so I took your advice and went to the doctor. He
gave me this prescription.

WOMAN: Do you have a health plan that covers your prescriptions?

MAN: No, I don't. So how much will these drops cost?

WOMAN: $30. These are really good eye drops. They should take care of your
problem quite quickly.

MAN: Yeah, but $30 is a lot. The other eye drops were only $10 and they made
my eyes feel a little better. Why is this prescription so much more
expensive?

WOMAN: Well, I think it’s just the way pharmaceutical companies set their prices.
However, your doctor knows the best medicine to solve your problem, so
you can trust that these are excellent eye drops. I’ll have them ready for
you in ten minutes.

Now answer questions 4-5.

4. Why does the man return to the pharmacy?

5. Why is the man upset about the price?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Your eye drops are ready. Use the drops every day for the next seven days.
Put two drops in each eye three times a day. Try to space the time out
evenly over the course of the day.

MAN: I can do that, no problem.

WOMAN: The easiest way to get the drops into your eye is to pull out the bottom
eyelid and squeeze in the two drops. Then close the eye and rub very
gently to move the drops around. Then do the other eye.

MAN: That sounds really hard, but I’ll give it a try. I don’t like anything getting
near my eyes.

WOMAN: You should see a lot of improvement in two or three days. These are really
good drops.

MAN: Great. Thanks for your help.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. Which picture best fits the woman’s instructions?

7. Why does the man think the instructions are difficult?
8. Why does the woman tell the man how to use the eye drops?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman at a department store.

WOMAN: Wow, that was quite the lineup for Customer Service. I’d like to return this
purchase and get my money back.

MAN: Sorry you had to wait so long. We’re short-staffed today, and the manager is off
sick. Is there anything wrong with the printer?

WOMAN: No, it’s a great machine, and a really good deal too—an all-in-one printer,
scanner, copier, and fax for about $90. What’s not to like? The thing is, I won’t
really use it because my son just bought me one exactly like it.

MAN: So it’s not needed any more. Okay, our return policy is that we refund the
purchase price of returned electronic devices if they’re brought back in new
condition within 30 days. Do you have your receipt with you?

WOMAN: Right here—sorry, it got a bit crumpled in my wallet. I bought the printer on
August 9th, just ten days ago. So it’s covered under your return policy, right?
MAN: Let’s take a look inside and see. All the original packaging is here . . . the serial
number on the printer matches the one on the box . . . you’ve brought the
instruction manual, USB cable, telephone line cord. Where are the ink cartridges?

WOMAN: They’re inside the printer. I installed them already. They work just great, and
there’s still lots of ink in them.

MAN: No worries. We’ll take this printer back for you. If you give me your Visa card, I
can reimburse you.

WOMAN: I see on the receipt that I was also persuaded to buy a one-year warranty for $10.
And there was also some sort of $9 charge called an “Eco-Fee.” What’s that?

MAN: It’s a fee the government collects at all stores, province-wide, to help pay for
recycling and safe disposal of electronic items. We’ll refund your Eco-Fee as well
as the warranty. The $14 in sales tax will also be credited back to your account.

WOMAN: Wow, $90 for the printer . . . plus $33 in warranties, eco-fees, and taxes. That’s a
lot of hidden fees. Now that I think about it, that purchase wasn’t such a bargain
after all.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Who is the woman talking to?

2. What happened in this conversation?
3. Why does the man open the box?
4. What does the woman get?
5. What should the woman have done differently?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation where a man gets information about landscaping.

WOMAN: Hi. Welcome to King's Landscaping. What can I do for you?

MAN: Hi there! I'm having a problem with a tree in my backyard. I thought maybe I
should ask an expert.

WOMAN: You’ve come to the right place! Our landscapers have over 20 years of
experience. What seems to be the problem?
MAN: I have a very large maple tree, and I think it’s rotting. It has fungus growth all
over the trunk and it has recently started to bend a little, like it’s falling over. It
blocks a lot of light to my living room windows anyways, so I thought maybe
now is the time to remove it.

WOMAN: Large fungus growth sounds like heart rot disease. That’s common in maple trees.
It will decay maples from the inside out, often causing a hollow inside. I would
recommend getting one of our tree removal experts to come look at it and give
you a price estimate.

MAN: That's what I think, too. I have a neighbour who offered to remove it for free, but
the tree is very close to a power line, so I don’t want any accidents. Also, there
might be some difficulty with removing the tree. I live on a steep hillside
overlooking a lake, and my backyard is quite small.

WOMAN: I agree with you. Removing trees around power lines can be dangerous and
should only be handled by professionals. The space of the property shouldn't be a
problem, though. We have several ways that we can remove a tree if there is
limited space. We can saw it into many pieces, or if your property is close to the
water, we can bring in a boat to haul the tree.

MAN: Oh, great. Now, what about the remaining stump of the tree? The tree is pretty
big—I would say the stump is at least 3 feet in diameter.

WOMAN: We grind it down to the ground, and then you can just let lawn grow over it. Are
you or any of your neighbours gardeners? We usually leave the wood chips from
the stump to place around flowerbeds.

MAN: I'm not, but some of my neighbours are and I'm sure they would love that.
Wonderful! Let's book a time this week for someone to come out and take a look.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why did the man call the woman?

2. Why won’t the man allow his neighbour to help?
3. Which of the woman’s suggestions is the man most pleased with?
4. Why does the woman ask if the man and his neighbours are gardeners?
5. Why is the man happy that the tree will be cut down?
6. What decision do they make at the end of the conversation?
Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a surprising book.

Recently, at a neighborhood yard sale, book enthusiast Dale Mackenzie discovered a literary
treasure. At the yard sale, Mackenzie bought several books for just $5.00. When he returned
home, he noticed that one of the books, an old copy of Emma by the famous English novelist
Jane Austen, was a rare first edition of the novel. Curious about the value of the book,
Mackenzie looked up an antique book dealer on the internet. “I thought the book might be
worth about fifty dollars,” said Mackenzie. But, much to his surprise, he found out that a first
edition of Emma, like the one he bought at the yard sale, was valued at approximately ten
thousand dollars. Mackenzie plans to sell the novel through an internet auction site. He wants
to donate half of the profits to the public library—which is in need of a new reading room. “I
love books,” said Mackenzie, “and would really like to improve our public library so that other
booklovers can have a quiet place to go and read.” With the remaining money, Mackenzie
plans to take a vacation to Germany to visit one of the world’s largest annual book fairs.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation among three employees, two men and one woman, in a
company’s break room. They are discussing an issue at work.

Jake: Hey guys, have you seen next month’s schedule? It was posted last night.

Gene: Yeah, and I noticed that I’m scheduled for three weekends in a row. Same thing
happened to me last month. I didn’t say anything about it because I didn’t want to
rock the boat, but I really need a weekend off next month.

Jill: That doesn’t seem very fair. I wonder what’s going on with scheduling.

Jake: Well, maybe it’s because most of us and the other supervisors have children and
you’re single, Gene. I mean, it can be really hard to work weekends when you have
family responsibilities. My wife works most weekends—I have to be home.

Jill: But Jake, that’s not really fair. I mean, he probably has other responsibilities too.
Just because he doesn’t have kids doesn’t mean he should work almost every
weekend.

Jake: Listen, I wouldn’t be happy either. Have you talked to the boss about it, Gene?

Gene: Yes, but he said he can’t do much about it because it’s already been posted. It’s up
to me to find someone to change with. He also said that because I have the most
seniority, he likes to have me there on busy weekends. There’s a lot of sports
equipment rentals and special orders and stuff, but you guys could totally handle
that.

Jill: Yeah, I think any of us could cover the weekends. I actually think it would be good
for us to get used to the busy weekend rush. It can’t be any busier than the
 mornings that we get stock. I mean, it took us hours to put away the hockey
equipment and the snowboards last Wednesday!

Gene: I wanted to get away for a ski weekend with some friends next month. I wanted test
out the downhill skis I bought here last week. Would someone be able to switch
shifts with me? I would very happily do two evening shifts in exchange for a
weekend shift.

Jake: I’m sorry, Gene. I would if I could, but I have family coming in, visiting next
weekend and my wife’s working. And my son has a hockey tournament the
weekend after that. I actually reserved these weekends off months ago.

Jill: I could switch shifts with you next weekend. Would you be willing to take two day
shifts for me at the end of the month, though? My son has a field trip, and my
daughter has a school play, and I’d really like to go!

Gene: Oh, thanks a million, Jill! I’ll go talk to Mr. Smith right now.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about a city compost initiative.

Welcome to Chat Radio. On today’s agenda is the topic of green bins: are they a success or a
failure? Started two years ago, the green bin program is a waste management strategy
implemented to reduce the amount of garbage sent to municipal landfills. As part of the
program, individuals are asked to separate their compostable waste, such as food and yard
waste, into green bins provided by the city. The bins are collected on a weekly basis and,
rather than taken to a landfill, are brought to a facility that turns the waste into compost.
Although generally well received, the program has had its share of criticism

For example, for Judith Knightley, a busy mother of three, the green bins are a nightmare.
Knightley complains that, not only is it time consuming to sort the copious amount of garbage
produced by a large family, but the bins are also unsanitary, attracting both animals and bugs.
Although the green bin is not obligatory, since the program began, regular garbage pick-up has
been reduced to bi-monthly, leaving many, like Knightly, feeling forced into its use.

In contrast, Kirk Beauregard, an avid gardener, is thrilled with the city’s initiative.
Beauregard, who, for many years, has composted his own garbage in a backyard composter, is
glad to see the city catching up. He insists that composting is an easy way to turn waste into a
valuable product, a product used by many farmers and gardeners in place of chemical
fertilizers. While Beauregard acknowledges that backyard composting might not be enjoyed by
everyone, he sees the green bin program as a way to make the composting of one’s own
garbage accessible to everyone.

Councillor Trudy Volkov, on the other hand, argues, regardless of like or dislike, that the
program was necessary. With the city’s rapid population growth, finding an economical way to
manage the incredible amount of garbage being produced was essential. According to Volkov,
city council was faced with two choices: either build a new landfill, or decrease the amount of
waste brought to the current landfill. For Volkov, the green bin is a win-win solution. Not only
is the waste diverted from the landfill, but it is converted into a useful product whose sale can
help defray some of the costs of running the program.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The man is an assistant at a
medical clinic, and the woman wants to see a doctor.

Section 1:

WOMAN: Hi. I was hoping you could help me. I’ve never been to this walk-in clinic
before. I moved here a few months ago, and I still don’t have a family
doctor, but I really need to see one right away.

MAN: Sorry, but you’ll have to take a number and wait to be called. There are a
couple people ahead of you. It shouldn’t be too long, though.

WOMAN: Oh, sorry! I didn’t realize I had to take a number. I assumed that since no
one was at the counter when I came in, I could just walk up. Where are the
number tickets?

MAN: Yeah, it happens all the time. The numbers are just to the left of the door,
in the red dispenser. Like I said, it won’t be long. In the meantime, you
can take a seat.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. Why is the woman at this clinic?

2. What does the woman need?

Section 2:

MAN: Number 47 please!

WOMAN: Hi, I’m back. I’d like to see a doctor, please. I’ve been having sharp pains
in my stomach for over a week now.

MAN: Okay, I’ll just need to see your provincial health card please . . . And since
we don’t have your information on file, I’m going to need you to fill out
this patient information form.

WOMAN: Sure. Oh darn, I don’t have a pen. Do you have one I could borrow?
MAN: Yes, here you are. Please bring the form and pen back up when you’re
done.

WOMAN: Thank you. Oh wow! There are certainly a lot of questions here!

MAN: You only need to fill it out for your first appointment and then we keep it
on file. You can go and sit down and complete the form. It’ll only take a
few minutes.

WOMAN: Will it ever!

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. What does the man ask the woman for?

4. What does the man ask the woman to do?
5. How does the woman feel about the form?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Okay, I filled out all the information I could. I don’t really know my
family’s history of illnesses, so I just left that section blank.

MAN: That’s all right. Oh, I see you missed this section on the back of the
page—the one about your allergies and medications.

WOMAN: Oops, I didn’t realize it was two-sided. Here you go. Do you know how
long the wait will be?

MAN: Well, it’s hard to say exactly. But at this point, it’s looking like at least one
hour.

WOMAN: One hour! Seriously? This waiting room is practically empty!

MAN: Well, it is flu season. And sometimes people step out for a bit while
they’re waiting. There are quite a few names ahead of yours, and only two
doctors on duty.
WOMAN: Well, I guess I don’t really have a choice. Let’s hope some of the people
who have stepped out just decided to leave.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. How does the woman feel about the wait time?

7. Why is the wait to see a doctor so long?
8. What does the woman decide to do at the end?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who are
friends.

WOMAN: Hi Andy, how are you? I was wondering . . . do you have any plans for
tomorrow?

MAN: Not in the morning, no. But in the afternoon, I was going to visit my grandmother
at the nursing home. We spend some time together every Saturday.

WOMAN: Oh, I hope she’s not ill. You’re such a thoughtful grandson!

MAN: I suppose, but I don’t do it to be kind or anything. I genuinely enjoy spending

time with her. She’s an amazing person.

WOMAN: Then I’d like to meet her some time! Well, since you don’t have plans for the
morning, would you like to come with me to pick strawberries? There are two
‘pick your own’ farms nearby, but I go to the one on Carter Road because it has
the best strawberries.

MAN: What, exactly, is a ‘pick your own’ farm?

WOMAN: It’s exactly what it says! You go to the farm and buy an empty basket, unless you
have your own. Then they take you out into the field, show you which row is
ready to be picked next, and you just make your way along the row, filling your
basket. When you’ve got as much as you want, you go back, they weigh what you
have, and you pay.

MAN: What an excellent idea! I imagine the fruit is cheaper when you pick your own?
WOMAN: Usually, but not always. The same goes for the health factor. I incorrectly
assumed that none of the ‘pick your own’ farms used pesticides. Now I know, I
only go to the farm on Carter Road.

MAN: Ah. I’ll bet people who make their own strawberry jam get their strawberries at
‘pick your own’ farms, if only because they’d be fresh.

WOMAN: That’s certainly true! Often they take their kids and make a day of it. Some farms
even have a play area for the kids.

MAN: Okay, let’s do it! We can take some fresh strawberries to my grandmother in the
afternoon! I’ll introduce you!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What is the main purpose of the conversation?

2. What does the woman describe to the man?
3. Why does the woman prefer the farm on Carter Road?
4. What is true of pick-your-own farms?
5. What will the woman likely be doing Saturday afternoon?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You are about to hear a conversation between a man and a woman.

MAN: Welcome to the Renters’ Legal Clinic. What brings you here?

WOMAN: Well, when I signed the lease to rent my apartment, my landlord made me pay
extra, and I want that money back.

MAN: What fees did the landlord charge you, apart from the first month’s rent?

WOMAN: Well, the rent is $1,000 a month. In addition to that, he collected an equal amount
for a “damage deposit,” which he said he’d repay at the end of the lease if the
apartment was left in good condition. But what if he finds some excuse not to pay
it back?

MAN: Exactly. It’s illegal for landlords to collect damage deposits that are more than
half a month’s rent in this province. The landlord should know that. It says so
 right in the lease agreement. Did you read that part of the contract before you
signed it?

WOMAN: No! He rushed through and turned that page really fast, so I didn’t even see where
it said that! But can I just not pay the rent for the final month of the lease? The
rent is $1,000 a month, so not paying for the last month would be the same as him
refunding my deposit, right?

MAN: Mmm, I wouldn’t recommend withholding rent money because then your
landlord might come after you for nonpayment. What you should do is write a
letter to your landlord requesting that half of the deposit be returned to you.

WOMAN: Ah, so it’s better to be on the offensive?

MAN: Right. I’ll dictate a letter for you to type and sign. The letter warns the landlord
that the money was collected illegally and demands that if he doesn’t repay it to
you in ten days, you’ll appeal to the Rental Board to recover the money. In that
case, there’ll be a hearing in court, and the government will collect the money for
you.

WOMAN: Do I have to pay a lawyer?

MAN: Not me—I volunteer my time. You pay the Rental Board. It costs $70 to file a
claim—if that becomes necessary. But you’ll get that money back. The landlord
will have to pay your deposit, plus the $70 and 6% interest.

WOMAN: Sounds fair.

MAN: Just be sure you send the letter by Registered Mail. That way you can track the
delivery online and know whether or not he actually received it.

WOMAN: Okay, let’s get started.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why did the woman go see the man?

2. What was the problem with the woman’s damage deposit?
3. What does the man say the woman should do about her rent?
4. What step will the woman take next?
5. What does the man charge for his services?
6. How should the woman make her request?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about a ring purchase.

Seventeen year old Shauna Bergman made over $1000 this weekend because of her love of
thrift store shopping. Bergman was browsing second hand jewelry at her local thrift store on
Friday when she found five silver rings with what looked like different shapes of pretty glass
set on the top. Shauna bought the set for ten dollars, thinking she’d give them as gifts. When
she returned home, however, her mother suggested the stones might not actually be glass but
amber. Amber is fossilized resin from trees that are millions of years old. Shauna did some
research on how to recognize genuine amber from fake amber. If real amber is rubbed
vigorously on fabric, it becomes electrostatically charged and will visibly attract dust particles.
Shauna discovered she’d bought six real amber rings. Because the amber had been melted and
pressed, it looked like man-made glass. However, a local jeweler confirmed her conclusion,
appraised them to be amber and offered her a handsome price. Shauna decided to use the
proceeds to finance a trip to Peru.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a conversation among three employees. Two men and one woman in a coffee
shop. They are discussing something they've noticed in their workplace.

Nick: Hey guys. Thanks for coming for coffee this morning.

Ron: No problem. It's been a while since we got together. We should do this more often!

Claudia: Yeah. It’s really nice to get out of the office once in a while. We work too hard and
ignore our breaks!

Nick: True enough. Actually, the reason I got us all together was there’s something I
wanted to run by the two of you, something that's been bothering me. It has to do
with how devoted we are to our jobs.

Claudia: Hmmm, you've got me curious. Are you going to suggest that we get raises because
of our dedication? Good luck with that!

Ron: Hey, some people got raises last year, just not everyone. Didn't you hear about that?

Nick: Yeah, this is actually all connected to what I wanted to talk to you guys about. I've
been noticing a lot of favouritism lately.

Claudia: I agree. Just last week the boss hand-picked two of her favourites to go to the
programming conference in Montreal. The same two went last year! I mean, what
 about the rest of us? I’m more qualified; I even asked if I could pay my own
conference fees, and just get paid for two days’ work. She still refused.

Ron: Well, we call it favouritism but, according to company policy, it’s perfectly legal.
Managers can select anyone they want for any project, even if there’s extra pay or
benefits, as long as the length is not more than six months. And managers can pick
the same person every time.

Nick: But this policy fosters favouritism! I mean, the managers have no accountability for
the decisions they make, and the decisions rarely reflect the quality of work. I had
to do some revisions for one of the favourites just last week even though I was
completely busy with my own work—I didn’t get any extra pay. Her work was
terrible. Maybe we should start a workers’ union.

Claudia: Well, I don’t think a union is the solution. I mean, it may reduce favouritism, but it
can produce a whole other set of problems. I think our communication with
management is pretty good overall.

Ron: Yeah. I took a risk and talked to the HR manager —he said everything is legal, and
that managers would make the best choice.

Nick: So I guess we just have to deal with favouritism then? I mean, we might as well just
focus our passion and enthusiasm outside the workplace. We can collect our salary
and put our heart and souls into something else.

Claudia: Actually, that’s what I do. I tutor kids that have difficulty reading at my son’s
school. It’s really rewarding. Maybe we could freelance, too, add a little money to
that satisfaction.

Ron: So I guess it’s decided then. To cope with all this favouritism, we are going to focus
our energy outside the workplace. I mean, it’s a sad solution, but I guess it’s going
to be the safest one.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about a current issue in Canadian universities.

The humanities are a group of academic disciplines that focus on human culture, including
subjects like literature, history, and philosophy. A recent Statistics Canada report indicates
that 30% of university graduates with a humanities degree are overqualified for the jobs they
hold. Many don't even have jobs. Does this mean that students shouldn’t study the
humanities—and universities shouldn't bother offering humanities degrees?

If the purpose of universities is to provide career training, then at a glance the future looks
grim for the humanities. After all, university is expensive. Many students—along with their
tuition-fee-paying parents—expect to eventually receive a reasonable return on their
investment. Such students should probably study accounting and engineering instead of
literature and philosophy. But this raises the question, "What is the purpose of university?"

Many would argue that universities exist in order to provide a broad education, not job
training. That education, they'd argue, should include the humanities. Traditionally, the
humanities help produce a citizenry that can distinguish between fact and propaganda, a
citizenry not susceptible to the manipulative rhetoric of potential demagogues. However, not
everyone considers this outcome desirable—because such a populace is cognitively well-
equipped to question the distribution of power and hence potentially disrupt the status quo.

Even if it is the purpose of the university to make students job-ready, it appears that
employers still want their workers to have good critical thinking skills. These skills are learned
in the humanities. Most philosophy departments, for example, offer a course in critical
thinking skills. They also teach ethics, a branch of philosophy that enables people to make
reasoned decisions about right and wrong.

And yet, how often do we see an entry-level job ad mentioning a philosophy course as a
requirement? Still, when surveyed, today’s employers say they want new hires to have critical
thinking skills. However, entry-level workers say that their employers want them to think
critically only about certain things. Critical thinking about cost-cutting? Probably. Critical
thinking about policies and procedures? Probably not. And as for ethics—workers report that
their employers want compliance with the company’s code of ethics.

Employers seem to want it both ways: workers who are job ready and who think critically;
workers who think critically about some things but not all things. It seems employers want to
have their cake and eat it, too—which is, to many critical thinkers, a logical impossibility.
Perhaps in the end it is the employers who need the humanities courses.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The man is a customer at a store,
and the woman works at the store.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello! I bought one of your bicycles last week. I guess I didn’t look at it
carefully enough, because yesterday when I had to ride home in the rain, I
realized it doesn’t have any of those . . . uh . . . things that cover the
wheels . . . you know . . . fenders. My clothes got all wet and dirty.

WOMAN: I’m sorry to hear that! None of the bikes we sell include fenders. They
have to be purchased on their own.

MAN: Really? I just assumed they’d be part of the bike, like the handlebars.

WOMAN: I’m afraid not. [pause] We do have packages that include front and back
fenders, and all the hardware you need to install them yourself.

MAN: All right, I guess I need to buy that package.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. What does the man want?

2. What surprises the man?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Hello again! Oh . . . is there a problem with the fenders you bought?

MAN: No, they’re fine, but I had to ride home last night in the dark, and then I
realized that the bike doesn’t have a light.

WOMAN: Yes, they’re extra as well. We have battery-operated lights that go on the
front of the bike—they’re white—and we have reflector lights that go on
the back—they’re red.
MAN: This is ridiculous! Soon you’ll be selling bikes and saying the wheels and
seats are extra! Speaking of which, the seat on the bike is narrow and hard.
It’s uncomfortable.

WOMAN: I can special order a seat for you that’s wider and has more cushioning.

MAN: How much is it?

WOMAN: Well, it is expensive—$70—but this padded seat cover is only $17.

MAN: Hm . . . I have a long ride . . . Can I return the seat cover if it doesn’t do
the job?

WOMAN: Well, we’re supposed to allow returns only on equipment that’s still brand
new, but if you try it only for a few minutes and keep the original
packaging, I suppose that it will be okay.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. How many kinds of lights does the woman describe?

4. What does the man want?
5. What does the store refuse to take back?

Section 3:

MAN: It’s me again. I’d like to get that seat you mentioned. If I order it today,
when will it be here?

WOMAN: Friday. Would you like it in black or grey?

MAN: Black, please. Now, while I’m here, is there any other important thing that
didn’t come with the bike?

WOMAN: The only other thing I can think of is that some people like to have a small
horn or bell to warn pedestrians of their approach.
MAN: Oh, that’s a good idea. I don’t want to run into anyone by accident! I’ll
buy whichever is loudest.

WOMAN: That would be the horn. Will there be anything else?

MAN: No, I’m not thrilled about how much all this is costing, but I’m happy to
finally have everything I need.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. Why does the man return to the shop this time?

7. What drives the man’s decision to buy a horn?
8. What best describes the man in the end?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a conversation between two neighbours.

MAN: Hi Janice. It looks like summer's over, doesn't it?

WOMAN: Yes, it does. Pretty soon it'll be time for nice warm fires in the fireplace, right?

MAN: Yeah. Hey, you know that old tree in my backyard? The one that keeps its
needles all year long? I forget what it's called, but it looks like a Christmas tree.

WOMAN: Your evergreen is a fir tree. I love looking at it through my kitchen window when
I'm doing the dishes. The birds enjoy the tree, too, especially the sparrows.

MAN: Well, I know nothing about trees or birds, but this tree looks kind of old. Maybe it
should be cut down before a strong wind or a storm takes it down. What do you
think?

WOMAN: Well, it's easy enough to cut down because it's a softwood tree. But do you really
want to cut down your beautiful fir tree?

MAN: Well, you know we just had a woodstove installed, and I thought it would be
good for firewood! However, John across the street said this kind of wood isn't
good for woodstoves. What do you think?
WOMAN: I agree with John because softwood has a lot of resin, or sticky sap. When it
burns, it messes up the inside of your chimney. This causes a problem that has to
be cleaned out by a chimney cleaning specialist or you'll have a chimney fire.

MAN: Wow, I'm glad I asked you! You sure know a lot about firewood! Doesn't the
chimney have to be cleaned out every year, though, for safety and insurance
reasons?

WOMAN: Definitely, but your chimney will stay cleaner if you burn only hardwood. All
that firewood we have stacked beside our garage is hardwood. Take some of that,
if you like, because we have more than enough.

MAN: That's very generous of you, but Mary wants us to have our own woodpile. I
thought cutting down that tree would be a good start.

WOMAN: Well, although it's your tree, I really love it! Perhaps you could take a big stack of
our firewood in exchange for leaving the tree as it is? Then we'll all be happy!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What is the man’s purpose in talking to the woman?

2. Why does the man want to cut down his tree?
3. Why does the man need his chimney cleaned?
4. What information has the man learned?
5. What solution does the woman suggest?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The woman is a child behaviour
expert and the man is a father.

MAN: Thank you for meeting with me. I wanted to ask for your advice about how to
teach my kids some financial responsibility. They keep coming to me for money
because they keep exceeding their maximum internet allotment. Every time they
ask me, I give them my credit card to make the purchase. Oh my!

WOMAN: I take it your children are teenagers? I would advise not giving a credit card to a
child. The concept of buying on credit would be beyond their comprehension.

MAN: I have two children. One is fifteen; the other is ten. Both have problems
understanding money, but yes, only the teenager uses the credit card.
WOMAN: I see. What have you done to this point to teach them financial responsibility?

MAN: Well, I remind them that money doesn't grow on trees, that I can't keep giving
them money.

WOMAN: And then you do just that? Keep giving them money?

MAN: Well, yes. They don't have jobs . . .

WOMAN: They should! They should have chores, jobs at home that they need to do in order
to get their allowance. You give them an allowance, right?

MAN: Well, actually . . . I thought that would be the wrong thing to do — to just give
them money every week.

WOMAN: Only part of it should be given, no matter what. The rest of it should be earned. It
should be payment for doing the assigned chores. If they have never had to work
for the money they get, you can see why they don't value it, right?

MAN: Yes, you're right . . . I did try giving them chores to do at one time, but they just .
. . didn't do them. We got into awful fights.

WOMAN: If they don't do their chores, then they shouldn't get paid. You should withhold
that portion of their allowance. If they had to work for their money, and if you
insisted they put some of it aside for Savings, some for Charity, and the rest for
Fun. . .

MAN: Then they would develop some self-discipline. They would learn that money
doesn't grow on trees!

WOMAN: Exactly! And if they know there's only so much they can earn, they would choose
more carefully how to spend it.

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. What problem does the man have?

2. What does the man likely mean when he says, “Oh my?”
3. Why does the woman discourage giving credit cards to a child?
4. What kind of allowance does the woman suggest?
5. Why does the man stop assigning chores to his kids?
6. Why does the woman mention savings and fun?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a Pine Lake resident.

When Pine Lake resident Kim Chu noticed what she thought was a dog stranded on a chunk of
floating ice, she paddled out in her kayak to provide help. As she approached, she realized it
was a fox! "I wasn't keen on having a wild animal in the kayak with me," Chu said. "It didn't
look sick, but you never know." She thought maybe it would just step onto the prow for a ride
back to shore, but the animal backed away at Chu's approach, then paced back and forth,
clearly distressed.

She returned to shore, tied a Styrofoam surf board to her kayak, put some food on it, then
paddled back out. "I pulled up beside the ice, then just waited," Chu said. Eventually the fox
stepped onto the board and started nibbling. Chu carefully paddled away, back toward shore.
"The little fox just surfed its way back, behind me!" she said. Chu speculates that the fox
chased after some geese only to discover that the ice had shifted away from shore. "And I don't
blame it for not wanting to swim back," she said.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people: two men and one woman. They are the
owners of a family-run convenience store. The conversation is taking place in the break room.

Ron: So . . . it’s official! This April, a Supershop is opening up . . . just a block from us.

Jeremy: Well that’s great, there goes half our customers! Who’s gonna shop here when
“grocery heaven” is up the street? We won’t stand a chance!

Tina: Actually, I think we’ll be OK! I mean, sure, a Supershop offers a lot more variety
than us, and customers probably like to be able to buy clothes for their kids in the
same place as their milk, but, we offer a different form of convenience.

Ron: Like what? We offer far fewer products.

Tina: Well, yeah. We might not have the space to offer as much selection, but what if
what we do offer is exactly what the customer wants, it saves them time! It’s way
quicker to find what you want in our store than in one with endless aisles and every
kind of dish detergent under the sun.

Jeremy: True. But we still need a plan. I don’t want to just sit in this chair and watch our
customers pass by on their way to the Supershop.
Ron: Well, we’re already open all day every day, so extending our store hours isn’t
possible. But I agree with Tina . . . we want to make sure we stock exactly what the
customer wants.

Tina: Yeah, so . . . we’d probably have to make a few changes, since what we sell now is
the same as what you’d find in a Supershop. But I’m thinking . . . we’re located in a
culturally diverse community . . . we have people from all over the map that shop
here. What if we were to specialize in international foods?

Jeremy: It’s true, this is a really diverse area. Actually, just the other day, there was a man
who moved to Canada recently from Ethiopia. He was telling me - he drives across
town every week to pick up fresh injera – it’s an Ethiopian bread he misses. What if
we were to go to his supplier and stock injera bread in our store? He could buy it
here from us! Way more convenient!

Ron: This could actually work. (laughs) I don’t imagine you’ll be able to find injera
bread at the Supershop anytime soon. Maybe we could even start a survey . . . ask
our customers what products they’d like to purchase, but can’t find at a regular
grocery store.

Tina: Great idea! See, we’ve got nothing to worry about . . . (laughs) It's the Supershop
that should watch out for us!

Jeremy: Yeah . . . !

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about a controversial wage issue.

Canadian labour law stipulates the lowest hourly rate employers can pay their employees. Any
increase in this minimum wage invariably draws attention, which invariably sparks suggestions
that Canada implement a maximum wage. Philosopher Judith Meyer argues that such a
proposal is consistent with principles of justice. There is a limit to how hard people can work,
so there should be a limit to how much they are paid. If it is impossible for someone to work
twenty times harder than everyone else, then that person shouldn't be paid twenty times more
than everyone else. Meyer points out that many high-income earners in Canada are paid two
hundred times the average Canadian. She also points out that limiting the pay of CEOs, or
Chief Executive Officers, to one hundred times the minimum wage would still enable them to
make about $1.5 million per year.

Sociologist Michael Mishin counters that effort shouldn’t be the measuring stick. Using athletes'
exorbitant high incomes as an example, he suggests that it doesn’t matter if someone works
harder than everyone else to run a hundred metres in under ten seconds. If that doesn’t
contribute to society in any way, why should we pay the person anything at all, let alone more
than everyone else? Measuring contribution to society, however, requires consensus about
values, and Mishin admits such a consensus is unlikely.

Economist Ethel Ellis presents yet another view. If we reduce the income of our high-income
earners, we reduce the amount of money they can put back into circulation by spending, she
says. However, this assumption that money trickles down from high-income earners to the rest
of us is challenged by several studies. Furthermore, Ellis says, if we reduce the income of our
high-income earners, we reduce the amount of taxes they pay. That is a consequence we
should think very carefully about. Cynics respond, however, that high-income earners are
already paying reduced taxes because they know very well how to take advantage of loopholes
in the tax laws.

Yet another argument against a wage ceiling is that it would reduce the drive to do more and
to do better. A worst case scenario is that the high-income earners would leave and move to a
country without a wage ceiling. Recalling Meyer’s point, though, surely $1.5 million per year
provides motivation enough. And if not, perhaps people should re-evaluate their priorities. As
they say, money can’t buy happiness—and I can certainly attest to that!
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman, who are at a dogsled
tour business.

Section 1:

WOMAN: Hello, is this where I can book a dogsled ride?

MAN: It is! Are you looking to ride as a passenger, or would you like to drive
your own?

WOMAN: I can drive my own dogsled? But . . . I don’t know how . . .

MAN: Our dogs are very well trained. I’ll tell you everything you need to know.

WOMAN: Okay, sign me up! For the drive, not the ride, that is.

MAN: And would you like the hour-long trip or the overnight trip?

WOMAN: The hour-long trip please.

MAN: That’ll be $75 then. Will you be paying by credit card?

WOMAN: Yes. Just give me a second to find it. It always gets lost at the bottom of
my purse. Ahh, here it is.

MAN: Thanks . . . Now we just need you to read and sign this waiver. Hm . . .
I’m afraid your credit card has been declined.

WOMAN: Oh. I’m sorry—I forgot I put several souvenirs on it last night. Here, try
this card instead.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. What is the main purpose of this interaction?

2. What is the problem with her payment?

Section 2:
WOMAN: Wow! The dogs are big! Are they friendly?

MAN: Absolutely . . . they’re real people-pleasers! Ok, now, step onto the sled,
yes, like that, and hold on to the handles. Good. Now bend your knees a
little bit, and move from side to side, that’s right. That’s what the ride will
be like.

WOMAN: How do I tell the dogs where to go?

MAN: You won’t need to. They’re trained to run on the track around the lake.

WOMAN: Around the lake? What if they run onto the lake? I don’t want to fall
through the ice!

MAN: Don’t worry . . . even if the dogs did run onto the lake, its frozen solid.

WOMAN: I don’t know . . . even if ice looks frozen there can still be thin patches.

MAN: Well, yes . . . But on this lake, heavy trucks regularly drive over even the
thinnest areas . . . so I’m pretty sure it is safe enough for you and few dogs

WOMAN: Okay . . .

MAN: But if you’re ever nervous and want to stop or slow down, just step with
both feet onto the brake.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. What is the woman’s main concern?

4. How does she stop the dogsled?
5. Why does the man joke about thin ice?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Wow! That was amazing! But someone on a snowmobile followed me

around the whole time—it was loud!
MAN: That was me! We do that for the drive-your-own rides. Just in case.

WOMAN: Oh . . . I guess I should say thank you then, but, well, the noise.

MAN: Yes, the noise really does carry. If you come back again, maybe you
would prefer the dogsled ride. Without the snowmobile, it’s a lot more
peaceful.

WOMAN: Yes, l’ll definitely consider that. Do you by any chance have a special rate
for groups? My daughter’s eighth birthday is coming up . . . she and her
friends would love this.

MAN: Of course! Come inside and we can discuss the prices.

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. Why did the man follow her?

7. Why did the woman mention the snowmobile?
8. What would the woman likely tell others about her experience?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman and a customer.

WOMAN: Hello, may I please speak to Manaz?

MAN: Manaz isn’t home at the moment. Can I take a message?

WOMAN: I’m calling from The Gazette. Manaz was a subscriber last year, and we’re now
offering a special promotion for our former customers.

MAN: Oh, I see. Well, Manaz will be home later this afternoon . . .

WOMAN: It is a very good deal we are offering. Perhaps you would also be interested. Can I
tell you a little bit more about it?

MAN: Well, I’m a little bit, um . . . busy . . . but -

WOMAN: It will only take a few minutes!

MAN: Sure. I guess so.

WOMAN: Wonderful! What we’re offering is daily delivery of The Gazette for the price of
the weekend papers only. What that means is you’ll get seven days of delivery, for
the price of just two days! So today, for a limited time only, it's a weekly cost of
only $3.75. That’s a 50% discount off our normal price of $7.50.

MAN: That does sound like a good deal . . . and I do enjoy reading the free Gazette
articles available online. It might be nice to have access to the whole newspaper
though . . . instead of just one article from each section. But, I’m always wary of
promotions that are for a limited time only. When will the price go up? And can I
cancel when it does?

WOMAN: I understand your concerns. The price will go up after three months, but you can
cancel at any time. You’ve really got nothing to lose by trying it out.

MAN: Hmm . . . You’ve almost convinced me, but I’d like to talk to Manaz first and we’ll
decide together. Can you call us back later this week?

WOMAN: Absolutely. I will call later this week. And who should I ask for when I call?

MAN: You can ask for either me or Manaz.

WOMAN: I don’t know your name.

MAN: Oh, of course, yeah. My name is Amir.

WOMAN: Thank you, Amir. I will be in touch later this week.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What does the woman want to sell?

2. Why is the woman offering Amir this promotion?
3. How does Amir feel about limited-time promotions?
4. Why does the woman say, “I don’t know your name”?
5. What content does The Gazette publish online?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman who work at a university. The man,
who is the woman’s supervisor, has stopped to speak to the woman.

MAN: Cheryl, do you have a minute? You might not have heard, but the university has
decided to rent out its classrooms to the public when not in use by a course.
We’re hoping to raise funds for some much-needed renovations. Diane will
continue to book the rooms for our courses, but I’d like you to handle queries
from the community.

WOMAN: Sure. What’s involved? I’m not too familiar with the booking software. I’ve only
used it once.

MAN: No worries. First, open the booking form, see? Just ask for their information and
fill it in. The person’s name, address, phone number, etc.

WOMAN: That’s easy enough. Will they already know which room they want to book?

MAN: No, you’ll have to help them figure that out. Just open up the rooms list, here. It
lists all the rooms, indicating size, location, and so on.

WOMAN: I think I’ll print that list and go check out the rooms around campus. It’ll give me
a better idea of what to recommend.

MAN: Good idea. For example, if they’re going to give a lecture, they’ll want one of the
auditoriums. If they’re holding a workshop, one of the classrooms. And, of
course, some classrooms have tables and chairs that can be moved, others have
desks bolted into the floor . . .

WOMAN: So, let’s say someone is holding a First Aid Certification course, they’d probably
want a medium sized classroom and to be able to move the tables and chairs. I
think I got it. When I walk around later, I’ll also make note of which rooms are
near washrooms, which ones near a main entrance. You never know what people
will want.

MAN: Excellent. Now the price list is here.

WOMAN: Do they send the payment to us?

MAN: No, once the booking form is complete, send a copy to them, and a copy to
Michael, in Finance. He’ll send them an invoice . . . and follow-up if they don’t
pay on time.
WOMAN: Okay, anything else? If what they want isn’t available, shall I suggest they
contact the Community Center?

MAN: No. Tell them you’ll get back to them, then call Diane. She may be able to
reschedule the class using the requested room. We really need the revenue, so I’d
like to pursue that option first.

WOMAN: Okay, no problem!

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why does the man come speak to the woman?

2. What is likely true about the university?
3. What does the woman think might occur?
4. Why would she send a copy of the booking form to Michael?
5. If the room is already booked, what will the woman do?
6. How does the woman feel about the man’s request?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news story about a magician.

Street magician Carson Witt has been arrested and charged with stealing from his audiences.
The 26-year-old performer has been traveling around Canada for the last four months, amazing
people with his sleight of hand. One of his best-known tricks is to ask an audience member for
a twenty-dollar bill, rip it into shreds, then pull the same bill unharmed out of an orange. Witt
was performing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival when he got caught. Twelve-year-old Patricia Wu
had the insight to take a picture of the serial number of her twenty-dollar bill with her dad’s
cell phone before she handed it over to Witt. When he returned it to Patricia, she announced
it wasn’t the same tracking number. She’d been doing a school project on counterfeit bills and
noted that the new $20 bill didn’t have raised ink on the large number of the bill like it should
have. She told her father, who alerted security. Witt was found with a stack of fake twenties
in his possession. Although this does not happen regularly, police warn festival goers to be
careful with their money.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three colleagues. There are two women and one man. They
are in a meeting room at their workplace.

Eric: Hey Isabella, Marie. Sorry I’m late. Hey, I hear our company is thinking
about having a fundraiser for the children's hospital. I hope so, as it's a great
cause. I’m ready to get cracking!
Isabella: I’m glad to hear your enthusiasm! Yes, it’s our team’s turn to organize the
fundraiser. Our manager thinks a worthy recipient is the children's hospital
because some of the wards need refurbishing.

Eric: Hmm, that’s interesting. My wife’s a nurse there and she mentioned up-to-
date equipment is a priority. But I’m not sure what equipment that is; I could
check and find out.

Isabella: OK, why don’t we see about changing the purpose and aim at raising money
for the children's hospital, but they can use it according to their priorities list.
Is that better?

Marie: Yes, much better, Isabella, as that gives us more flexibility. Are we going to
have a silent auction?

Eric: What’s a silent auction?

Marie: Well, it’s a lot less confrontational than a regular auction. Each item is
numbered and displayed. And there's a starting price for each bid. If you're
interested in the item, you put an amount down on a piece of paper—plus
your name and phone number—and then fold the piece of paper in half, and
put it into the bidding jar. The highest bid at the end wins.

Isabella: But I was thinking maybe we could change the bidding system. We could
assign bidders a personal code number. They write their number, and their
bid, on a chart next to the item that they want. Everyone would see the chart
and the bidding amounts, but no names. The traditional silent auction drives
me crazy because I never know how much to bid.

Marie: Although, I wonder if people will be inclined to bid less because they can see
what everybody else is bidding. What I really like about a traditional auction
is that if you’re really interested in an item, you just bid really high to ensure
that you get it.

Eric: On the other hand, if two or three people want it, they can keep bidding higher
and higher if they know the amount already bid.

Isabella: Exactly. And the revised system would save everyone a lot of time, too. We
wouldn’t have to sort through all the bid papers. The highest bid would be
crystal clear because we identify the winning bidder by checking our personal
 codes list. Then buyers pay for the item at the end of the evening, and they
take it with them.

Marie: Well, do we have to make this decision ourselves, or could we consult the
manager? I think we need a buy-in from everyone in order to make such a big
change.

Isabella: I'll talk to the manager this afternoon. Let's meet at the same time tomorrow to
start planning the details.

Marie and Eric: OK.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about community development.

Good morning, and welcome to Monday’s edition of the Daily Buzz. This is Nadia Cooper
reporting. Calgary city council is currently negotiating a controversial proposal in relation to
the demolition of Henley Car Factory, an abandoned factory located at the east edge of town.
Developer George Nelson, of Nelson Development Company, feels that the area has significant
economic potential and has put forward a proposal to develop several apartment buildings and
retail shops on the newly cleared land. Accordingly, he has requested that the area be rezoned
for residential and retail space.

However, not all members of the community are happy with this request. Eleanor Wentworth,
a high school teacher and mother of two, has spearheaded a campaign against further
development in the area, stating that community, rather than economic interests should take
precedence. She argues that the area is primarily composed of families with children who need
a safe place to play and that, as it is, there is already insufficient green space. Furthermore,
she emphasizes that they live in a tight-knit community and fears that a more densely
populated neighbourhood could put this at risk, since living in a highly populated area often
makes it less likely that one will know their neighbours. As such, Wentworth and her
supporters would, instead, like to see the old car factory replaced by a large park.

Nelson has countered such criticisms by stating that his proposal does, in fact, leave adequate
room for green space. Included in the proposal, is the cleaning up of Stanley creek, a nearby
creek which has long been clogged with garbage. The rehabilitated creek would then be turned
into a nature walkway for residents. Additionally, Nelson points out that the development of
high-density apartment buildings actually helps preserve green space by preventing urban
sprawl. Furthermore, with regards to retail operations, he plans for no more than four or five
small, family-owned shops. This, he insists, would actually help to build community by
maintaining a localized economy.

City Council member Emma Orr wonders if there is the potential for compromise within the
opposing camps. She believes the factory area is large enough to hold both a medium-sized
park as well as several apartment buildings or shops. Since the creek runs in a fairly straight
line along the north side of the factory, she suggests that the park be built alongside the
creek. This would maintain adequate green space for both a walking trail as well as a play area
for children and youth. The rest of the land could then be rezoned for residential and retail
purposes. She is currently discussing her proposal with both parties.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You are about to hear a conversation between a man and a woman at a store. The man is a
salesperson and the woman is a customer.

Section 1:

MAN: Can I help you find anything?

WOMAN: Yes. I'm looking for a Norgus. I just tried the outdoor supply store next
door, but they’re sold out.

MAN: Hmm. I’m not familiar with Norgus. Is that a type of tent?

WOMAN: No, but you can use it while camping! You wear it on your head and it's
got this wide brim to prevent sunburn. There's a zippered pocket inside for
your credit cards. And, in a boating emergency, you can inflate it and use
it as a flotation device.

MAN: Ohhhh, I've heard of those! They're those ones with the net you that you
can pull down over your face to keep the bugs away. Let me just check my
computer . . . No, sorry, we don't have them in the store, but you can order
one online.

WOMAN: Your store online?

MAN: Yes, we have a wider selection of clothing online. This store is so small;
we mainly carry sports equipment.

WOMAN: Okay, thanks!

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. What is the woman looking for?

2. What does the woman say about the product she wants?

Section 2:

MAN: Any luck with the Norgus hat?

WOMAN: Sort of . . . I started to order one, but I stopped before paying. Your store’s
website charges $40 for the hat—which is a good deal!—but then they
want $20 for shipping.

MAN: Well, you can get free shipping if you join our customer club.

WOMAN: Yeah, I saw that . . . But it costs $50 a year to join, so it's really not worth
it for me. I don’t think I would use it that often.

MAN: Yeah, I see your point. What I would do is join the customer club, then
buy your hat online and get the free shipping. There’s a 30-day free trial
period, so after three weeks, you could cancel your membership. You
won’t be charged—unless you wait too long.

WOMAN: I like that idea.

MAN: Yeah, why pay for a full-year membership if you only need it once?

WOMAN: Right. You know, I can order it right here from my phone . . .

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. What problem does the woman have now?

4. How much does the store charge for a Norgus hat?
5. Why does the man want to help the woman?

Section 3:

MAN: Success?

WOMAN: Yes! I just placed my order. And I texted my daughter about the free
shipping.

MAN: Oh, great! Is she familiar with our store’s website?

WOMAN: Oh yeah! She texted me back saying that she used to have a membership,
but it’s expired. She found a tennis racquet on the site that she wants me
to order for her.

MAN: Well, why not? You get free shipping for now.

WOMAN: Yeah . . . but my daughter lives far away. Will the store ship my order to
her for free?

MAN: Sure. Use your address for billing, and enter her address for shipping. It
will still be free.

WOMAN: Great! My daughter will be thrilled!

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. Why is the woman happy?

7. How does the woman initially feel about shipping to her daughter?
8. What seems true about the woman's daughter?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You will hear a presentation between a man and a woman about volunteering.

MAN: Hi Shirin. Has the #8 bus gone by yet?

WOMAN: Hi Farhod. Not yet. It’s always late. Did you finish everything you needed
to do at the office?

MAN: Yeah, I did at last. It took me most of the afternoon, though, so I missed
the staff meeting. What did they talk about?

WOMAN: It was interesting for a change. There was a presentation on the importance
of volunteering in the community. The speaker gave us a list of websites
to check, and she mentioned a few organizations that are looking for
volunteers. You know, I bet a lot of places are looking for a volunteer
bookkeeper. You would be in demand!

MAN: Maybe, but I think if I spend my time volunteering, I’d prefer to do

something where I help people. You know what I mean? Something
meaningful and rewarding. Bookkeeping doesn’t use my people skills! My
 dream was to be a paramedic, but I don’t think there are volunteer
opportunities on an ambulance.

WOMAN: The speaker said the hospital is looking for volunteer greeters, especially
in the kids’ cancer center. I guess they welcome patients and caregivers,
give them directions, and help keep the children busy. You’d be great
doing that!

MAN: Hmmm, I don’t know. That could be stressful. I don’t have any training
for helping sick people. Our kids are almost never sick! Did the speaker
mention anything about volunteering at the library? I can see me doing
that. I’m kind of a quiet, reserved guy anyway.

WOMAN: You underestimate yourself! You’re always very friendly, cheerful, and
helpful at work, and you’re always willing to take that extra step to help
someone. I think volunteering at the hospital would be perfect for you, as
it would require people skills. You’d certainly get that good feeling of
helping people!

MAN: Wow, that’s wonderful praise! Maybe you’d write a reference letter for
me, then?

WOMAN: Sure! First thing tomorrow morning while you fill out the online volunteer
application for the hospital. Oh, here comes the #8. Right on time for a
change.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What is the relationship between the man and woman?

2. Where are the man and woman?
3. Where does the man think he would enjoy volunteering?
4. Why would the man be an excellent hospital volunteer?
5. Why might the man take the woman's advice?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between two office employees, a man and a woman.

MAN: Hello, Ms. Green? I'm Robert. I've been told to report to you.

WOMAN: Oh hello, Robert. Yes, please, this way. This will be your workstation.
Someone from Info Tech will be up later this morning to get you set up
 with your computer password and make sure that you can access all our
basic programs.

MAN: Do you use Windows? Microsoft Office? I’m quite familiar with that
operating system and those programs.

WOMAN: Yes, we do. There are also two other specialized programs you’ll be
using, but Info Tech will show you how to access the self-study tutorials.
In a couple days, I’ll check with you to see if you have any problems.

MAN: Thanks. I shouldn’t have any issues, though. I’ve done this type of work
before.

WOMAN: That’s good to hear! Our supplies closet is at the end of the hall. Marie
should have equipped your desk with everything you need, but if there is
something missing, please go help yourself. Do remember to sign the
sheet for everything you take.

MAN: Okay. If there’s something I need that isn’t in the closet, should I ask
Marie?

WOMAN: Yes. If it’s not something she can provide, come see me. We may need to
make a special request, though I can’t imagine you’ll need anything
other than our usual supplies.

MAN: Got it. I doubt I’ll be needing anything else either.

WOMAN: You’re scheduled to see someone in Human Resources later this

afternoon. She’ll walk you through all the paperwork to get you set up,
direct deposit for payroll, as well as our various benefits. Most people
find the information overwhelming, so feel free to take it home with you.
You’ll want to think about the various options with respect to medical
and pension.

MAN: I didn’t have any benefits at my last job, so I think I may indeed be
overwhelmed. Thank you for your advice.

WOMAN: Lastly, we stagger our lunch hours so our department is always staffed.
Are you okay with 12:30?
MAN: Yes, that’ll be fine. The lunch break is 45 minutes?

WOMAN: Yes. There’s a cafeteria on site, but for your breaks, if you want a snack,
there’s a snack cart that comes around. You’ll know when it’s here—
people rush out of their seats to get the good stuff! My personal favourite
are their soft pretzels!

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. What best describes the woman's role?

2. What does the conversation imply?
3. When will Info Tech see the man?
4. What is true of the specialized computer programs
5. What will the man likely do about benefits?
6. What is likely true about the woman?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about an education issue.

This fall, Cooper College will offer significantly more continuing education opportunities.
According to Program Director Amy Buffer, the increase is due to the almost doubling of the
city's population over the last five years. Not only are there far more qualified people to offer
continuing education programs, she says, but there is an increased desire for them. The
College will also introduce a new delivery format. Traditionally, programs were either full or
half courses, lasting eight or four months, or they were week-long seminars. The College has
plans, however, for more than sixty single-day sessions dedicated to diverse, but specific
subject matters. Most professionals, Buffer says, neither need nor can afford an entire week of
study. She mentions that while employers used to pay for such courses, the prevalence of
contract employment has unfortunately meant the end of such employer-provided benefits.
The sessions will be held not at the main campus or even one of its two satellite campuses.
Instead, Buffer says, locations will be determined by the sessions themselves. For example,
the digital photography session will be held at a local studio, and the business start-up session
will be held at the local Chamber of Commerce.

Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. They are colleagues at work. They are having
a conversation in the lunch room.

Mark: Hey, have you two heard that they’re thinking of changing our vacation
policy?

Glenda: Changing it how? I hope they’re not thinking of reducing the number of
days we get!
Trish: They’d better not be thinking that! I’ve worked here a long time in order
to earn my three weeks’ vacation every year. I’ll sue if they suddenly say
I can only have two weeks!

Mark: No, I don’t think they’re changing the total number of days that we’re
entitled to. I believe they’re considering changing how many we can take
at one time.

Trish: You mean I can’t take all my weeks at the same time? But one week isn’t
long enough to go anywhere! Two weeks is barely long enough!

Mark: No, what they’re saying—or, at least, what I believe they’re saying—is
you can’t just take a day here and a day there. You know how Phil takes
all of his vacation days on Fridays? So he has three-day weekends all
summer long?

Glenda: This new rule applies to any single days? But I often take my vacation
days for when my kids are sick.

Mark: Well . . . I think what they’re saying is you have to take your vacation in
minimum 5-day chunks—whole weeks. I sort of see what they’re saying.
It’s a lot harder to cover one day than it is to hire a temp for a week or
two.

Glenda: You’re right—a temp for a day doesn't help much. Still, I think we
should be able to take our vacation days however we want.

Trish: I totally agree. Too bad we don't have a union. Do either of you want to
come down to Human Resources with me to make a complaint?

Mark: No, don’t do that! I mean, at least confirm the change in policy first. At
this point, it’s all just hearsay, rumours . . .

Glenda: I’ll come with you. I need those individual days for when my kids are
sick!

Trish: I'm not sure your point is relevant. We’re all entitled to days off. What
you do on those days shouldn't be considered any more important than
anyone else's choices.
Glenda: I agree, in theory. But—you don’t have kids, do you? . . .

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about free trade.

Have you heard this crazy thing about free trade in Canada? It is actually easier for a winery in
California to send a case of wine into Alberta than for a BC winery to do the same—all because
of the existing trade agreement between the provinces, which has been in effect since 1995.

Despite the fact that 40% of Canada’s exports are actually to other provinces, the regulatory
environment on trade is completely restrictive. And it’s not just wine and beer that have been
affected. Everything from refrigerators to artisanal cheese has had barriers to their trade,
from outright restrictions to enormous amounts of red tape.

In the previous trade agreement, the provinces had to list all of the trade items that were to
be allowed to pass freely over the borders, and it was inevitable that some items were left off
the list. Wine and beer, for example, have been left off the list since 1928, when a law was
enacted that allowed provincial governments to control alcohol sales across their borders.
Slow-moving change makes it understandable why these details have never come off the
books.

On July 1, 2017, Canada’s 150th birthday, the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, or CFTA, was
brought into effect. It uses a “negative list” approach. Essentially, jurisdictions will lift all
barriers to trade, but must now list specific exceptions.

Terry Witten, a prominent trade lawyer, says, “The solution is a modern and ambitious
agreement, and one that will primarily reduce regulatory barriers. It promises to reduce or
eliminate red tape for businesses, and this will allow for freer movement of workers in the
trades and working across boundaries. Also, businesses can bid on work in different provinces.”

To others, the CFTA sounds better in theory. Instead of having to depend on a list of approved
trade items, everything is fair for export, unless there’s a mention of it in the exceptions list.
But in all the hype about how great this agreement is, no one mentions the fact that there are
160 pages of exceptions!

Because of this, some think that instead of just dropping regulations from almost 100 years
ago, they’ve created more procedures and processes. In response to critics, the government
has now created a CFTA working group to devise a solution. Sandy Ford, an activist and
business owner, is skeptical. “This is really just creating one more step instead of simply lifting
all restrictions,” she says. Really, in the end, all we can hope for is that a more liberal process
will be forthcoming, because now it is only marginally better than it was before!
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a woman and a man. The man is a bus driver and the
woman is a passenger trying to get somewhere.

Section 1:

MAN: This is the last stop. Watch your step on the way out, ma’am.

WOMAN: Thanks, driver! Do you happen to know where the little kids’ playground is? I
know it’s in the park somewhere. Too bad I forgot my smartphone.

MAN: There are a few playgrounds here . . . Do you mean the one next to the water
fountain?

WOMAN: No, the one I’m thinking of is just beside a petting zoo. You know, where
there’s goats and rabbits?

MAN: Hm . . . yeah I know there’s a petting zoo, but I don’t know where it is exactly.
Anyway, I’m pretty sure there’s a children’s playground over there, past the
restaurant. Maybe you could take a look over that way?

WOMAN: Okay, great. Sounds good, thanks very much.

Now answer questions 1-3.

1. What is the woman eventually hoping to find?

2. What best describes the driver’s response?
3. What will the woman probably do next?

Section 2:

WOMAN: Oh, it’s you again. What a coincidence. Are you finished work for the day?

MAN: No, I wish! I’ve got a half hour break before my next trip, so I thought I’d get
out of the bus and get some fresh air. My directions didn’t help, eh? Are you
lost?

WOMAN: Yes! I’ve been looking but I don’t see any signs or maps posted.
MAN: Tell you what. I’ll look up the map on my smartphone. [Pause] Yikes. You’re
nowhere near the playground. It’s way on the other side of the park.

WOMAN: Oh, no! I have to meet someone there really soon.

MAN: Yeah, looks like quite a hike . . . If you walk, you’ll be late. But it says here
that a free shuttle bus goes there every 5 minutes. That must be it over there,
see?

WOMAN: Do you mean that green bus?

MAN: That big one? No, that’s a tour bus. The shuttle bus would be the little red one.

Now answer questions 4-6.

4. How did the woman meet the man again?

5. Which statement is true?
6. How should the woman get to the playground?

Section 3:

MAN: You’re back! What happened? I thought you were catching the shuttle bus!

WOMAN: I tried to, but it was broken down and out of service. There were lots of angry
people, I can tell you.

MAN: I’m glad you aren’t one of them! Hop on, then . . . you’ve got the bus all to
yourself. I’m leaving now. I’ll drop you off at the north gate.

WOMAN: Is that near the playground?

MAN: Yup. I checked because I don’t want to give bad directions again. Sorry about that!

WOMAN: So where should I go when I get off the bus?

MAN: Okay, here’s the deal. The north gate is right outside the petting zoo. Walk straight
through the petting zoo and you’ll see the playground right behind it. You’ll be
there in 5 minutes.

WOMAN: So I won’t be late after all.

Now answer questions 7-8.

7. Why does the bus driver tell the woman he is glad?

8. Will the woman go to the playground?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Conversation

You will hear a conversation. The conversation is between two co-workers. The woman is
having some challenges finishing a project.

MAN: You don’t look so good, Anne. You look pale. Is everything all right with
you?

WOMAN: I’m OK. I just haven’t slept much lately and I guess it’s starting to show. I’ve
been working on a couple of projects and the work is taking much longer
than I thought it would. I’ve been up most nights writing the reports that are
due the next week.

MAN: You should get some more sleep. Why don’t you finish the reports after
work, before you go home for the day?

WOMAN: I can’t. I have to pick up my son at the daycare right after work, and when I
get home I have to fix dinner and watch my son until he falls asleep around
10.

MAN: That’s such a late bedtime!

WOMAN: I know. He’s 5 months old, and we are still struggling with bedtime.

MAN: Can your husband help you?

WOMAN: He helps around the house a lot; he takes care of the cleaning, the laundry
and cooks breakfast after work every day, but I’m on my own with the
bedtime routine unfortunately.
MAN: Breakfast after work?

WOMAN: Yes! He works the night shift. He gets home around 6:30 in the morning and
he cooks us breakfast before he goes to bed.

MAN: Sounds like a very stressful situation. Can you ask for an extension on the
project?

WOMAN: It is pretty stressful, but I can’t really ask for an extension. I’m being
considered for a promotion and I’m afraid that if I ask for one, my boss might
think I’m not competent to take on more responsibilities. I don’t want to risk
my chances, and if I get the promotion my husband will be able to work day
shifts again, which would be more convenient for our family.

MAN: Is there anything I can do to help you?

WOMAN: Not really, but thanks for the offer. My husband is taking Friday off, and my
mom is picking up my son for the weekend so I can finish the reports and
hopefully get some sleep.

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. Why was the man concerned?

2. What did the man suggest?
3. Why hasn’t the woman slept lately?
4. Why can’t the woman ask for an extension?
5. What is her husband doing to help her finish the reports?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation. A man is interviewing a woman about perfectionism in the
workplace.

MAN: Thanks Dr. Burns for speaking to us about perfectionism in the workplace.
To get us started, perfection is typically seen as a positive thing. I mean, to
be perfect is to make something the best it can be. However, do you think
perfectionism is always positive?

WOMAN: Well, not always. Although perfectionism is generally associated with

success, it can also be very negative.
MAN: Can you explain more about that?

WOMAN: Our study has found that perfectionists tend to spend much more time on a
task than non-perfectionists.

MAN: Isn’t the quality of the work better, the longer you spend on a task?

WOMAN: Not necessarily. Because perfectionists have such a high standard, they
devote too much attention to details. In our study it was common for
perfectionists to run out of time and fail to complete their tasks. We also
found that perfectionists had difficulties sharing work. Perfectionists
tended to do all the work by themselves.

MAN: Did that create problems in the workplace?

WOMAN: Most definitely. First, we found that perfectionists are having trouble
staying employed in large companies. They are seen as less cooperative
and less capable. Second, we found that perfectionists feel more socially
isolated. This leads me to our third main finding: those who strive for
perfection in the workplace are more prone to severe anxiety and even
depression.

MAN: Is it fair to say that perfectionism causes stress and may even cause
depression?

WOMAN: No, it’s not a direct cause. We believe time management is the key to this
puzzle. Our participants’ anxiety and feelings of depression were often
associated with fear of not having enough time to finish the task.

MAN: So, if they managed their time better, anxiety and depression could
subside?

WOMAN: We believe so, and that’s the focus of our next research project.

MAN: That is fascinating. Until then, any advice for perfectionists?

WOMAN: I’d say to start with a careful and realistic plan; prioritize what is needed to
bring a project to completion and not spend too much time on details. I’d
also suggest that they try to work in groups, and discuss their difficulties
with other people.
Now answer questions 1-6.

1. What is the woman’s occupation?

2. What does the woman say about perfectionists in her study?
3. According to the woman, what can perfectionism in the workplace do?
4. Why do perfectionists feel anxious?
5. What does the woman suggest perfectionists should do?
6. What is the focus of the woman’s next project?

Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a unique medical procedure.

Scientists from Bionic Vision Australia reported that they were successful at implanting the
world’s first artificial eye. This eye is a very small computerized device that allows patients
who lost their eyesight to have some vision. Dianne Ashworth, who lost her sight 10 years ago,
was the first of three patients to receive the device. Dr. Allen states Dianne’s early results are
very promising and expects two more patients will receive the eye by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, Dianne Ashworth spoke to reporters about the moment when scientists turned the
device on. She described it as an amazing experience, and told reporters she hoped that two
other patients will have similar results.

Dianne has not regained her full sight yet. She is only able to see shapes, such as the outlines
of objects, and to detect movement. According to Dr. Allen, who installed the device, the
present device is just a prototype. The prototype will be switched for a much better and
clearer artificial eye in three more years.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion between three people at a cafe. They all belong to a conversation
club where some members are improving their English and some are improving their French.

MAN 1: Well, that was a good session, eh? All twenty-four members present, eight
conversation groups of three—a full house. How did it go for you, Diane?

WOMAN: Our group spoke French for more than half the time. 40 minutes of French and
20 minutes of English. But, hey, I’m not complaining! I need all the French I
can get.

MAN 1: Hey, your French is just as good as mine. Keep practising. A few more weeks
and you’ll sound like Nicolas here.

MAN 2: And remember, it’s even harder for the allophones here. They’re learning a third
language!

WOMAN: Allophones?
MAN 2: They’re people whose first language isn’t English or French. Like . . . Marta.
She’s an allophone. She grew up speaking Ukrainian, then she learned English,
and now she’s trying to pick up French.

WOMAN: Marta was in my group! She’s amazing! Her French is way better than mine.
She said her friend wants to join.

MAN 1: Well, that makes six new members who want to join, and they’re all allophones!
The problem is . . . we can’t ask people to start bringing their own chairs. Maybe
we need to look at a bigger restaurant.

MAN 2: I think we should just limit the membership to twenty-four. It . . . Can’t we start
a waitlist? There’s enough turnover. Colleen and Liam are going back to
Germany next week.

WOMAN: The thing is, if you put prospective members on a waitlist, they might just join a
different club. I know from working at the community centre, waitlists are
unreliable. You can have six people on a waitlist, but when you call them, none
of them are interested anymore. So, when people ask to join, we should let them
in right away. How about meeting at a second location on different nights?

MAN 2: Well, if all the new members are allophones, maybe we should change the
format. Right now, each conversation group has one native English speaker, one
native French speaker, and one allophone. But maybe in the new location, it
should just be for allophones.

MAN 1: No, we need to mix them in with native speakers like we’re doing now. The
allophones kind of . . . inspire the others by their example, and they’re great
translators. For the next little while, we’ll just have some groups with three and
some groups with four until we get more native speakers in. We’ll need to find a
second location for a meet-up on alternate nights. Some people can meet on
Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new group could meet Wednesdays and Sundays.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a report about a controversial bill being proposed to reduce jail time for
prisoners

A new bill proposed by Paul Carter from the New Democratic Party is bound to stir a great deal
of controversy. Mr. Carter, who represents a project called Reading for Freedom, proposes a
novel way to approach jail terms: some prisoners would be able to shorten their sentences by
up to 36 days a year—by reading books. Inmates in provincial prisons in Ontario would receive 3
days off their sentence for each book they finish reading. They could choose from a selection
of 12 works of literature, philosophy, science, and classics, such as Shakespeare and Tolstoy.

But reading alone would not be sufficient. In order to demonstrate that prisoners have read
and comprehended each work, they would be required to write an essay that must make use of
paragraphs, proper grammar and spelling. Prisoners’ access to the program would depend on
the type of crime they committed and also prisoners’ behavioural record after incarceration.
The key purpose of the project is to reduce conflict among prisoners and encourage personal
development.

Though innovative, the project has already met strong opposition from politicians, law
enforcers and the general public. Many wonder how reading novels can genuinely prepare
prisoners for real-life after being reintroduced in society. They asked how reading Shakespeare
could help the prisoners find jobs after prison. Finally some, like Evelyn Brech, a political
science student at University of Toronto, questioned how fair the system would be for those
who are already disadvantaged. People who did not have access to proper education in the
first place, or are not fluent in the English language, would not be able to read these books.
This would be unfair for many Aboriginals and immigrants. According to Evelyn, the program
does not give equal opportunities to everyone and could further victimize the ones whom the
system has already failed.

Chris Kendhi, who directs the library system at penitentiaries in Ontario, is more optimistic
about the project and says the main strength of the program is that it can change the
prisoners' viewpoint. He says an inmate can leave prison more bitter and knowledgeable about
crime, or enlightened by the world and the meaning of life. He adds that in his 20 years of
experience working in prison libraries, he has seen books absolutely change people’s lives and
he truly believes this program will do just that.

The first reading of the provincial legislature is scheduled for Thursday and the debate will
continue in the weeks to come when representatives from the general public and different
branches of government are consulted. If the bill passes, it will come into force as early as
next year across the province.
Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving

You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman. The conversation takes place in an
office.

Section 1:

MAN: Hello, Ms. Jeffers? I’m Matthew, your temp, from the agency.

WOMAN: Yes, hello, Matthew. This way please . . . I have you set up here. I’m afraid your
task isn’t very challenging, but it’s just for one day. Please have a seat.

MAN: Thank you. What am I to do?

WOMAN: These boxes on your left contain envelopes. The boxes in the middle contain letters.
I’d like you to put one letter into each envelope. Make sure you fold the letter like
this, so the address shows in the window of the envelope. Then put it in this empty
box on your right.

MAN: Would you like me to seal the envelopes as well? If you have a sponge and a little
dish of water or one of those dabber things . . .

WOMAN: No, fortunately, we have a machine that will do that.

MAN: Okay. Is that all? I don’t need to answer any phones?

WOMAN: No, your task is simple—I’m sure you’ll be quite sick of it shortly. I apologize in
advance for that.

Now answer questions 1-2.

1. Which word best describes the man’s task?

2. What is at the man’s workstation?

Section 2:

WOMAN: How are you doing, Matthew? Are you ready for a break? I’ll show you where our
break room is.
MAN: Thanks! I am ready for a break! You were quite right about the nature of the job!
That’s exactly why I hope to obtain regular employment soon. May I ask—do you
know if there are any full-time jobs here?

WOMAN: I’m afraid I don’t know. At lunch you could go to the Human Resources department
and ask. If there isn’t anything at the moment for you, be sure to ask if you can fill
out an application anyway.

MAN: Thank you. May I list you as a reference?

WOMAN: Ask me at the end of the day. If you finish stuffing all of the envelopes, and none of
the letters are in backwards, I’d be happy to let you use my name as a reference.

Now answer questions 3-5.

3. What is the man’s role in the company?

4. What does the man intend to do at lunchtime?
5. What can we tell from this conversation?

Section 3:

WOMAN: Hi Matthew, it’s lunch time now!

MAN: Oh, good! My hands are a bit sore, but I think I’m about halfway through.

WOMAN: Yes, it looks like it. That’s good! Do make sure you come find me at the end of
the day! Would you like me to show you where Human Resources is?

MAN: Yes, thank you. And, if I may ask, I have music on my phone, and ear buds—
would it be against the rules to listen to music while I work this afternoon? I think
it would help a bit.

WOMAN: Yes, that would be okay, as long as you keep the volume low enough that no one
else hears it.

MAN: Thank you!

Now answer questions 6-8.

6. What is the man’s response to the woman’s announcement?

7. What does this part of the conversation imply?
8. Why does the woman tell him to find her later?

Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation

You are about to hear a conversation between two colleagues, a man and a woman. They are
in the break room at work.

MAN: Hi, Naomi. How are you adjusting to the night shift?

WOMAN: I’m not! I can’t fall asleep during the day—even though I put something over my
eyes to block out the light and wear earplugs to block out the noise. So I’m really,
really tired.

MAN: I read an article the other day about how the night shift doesn’t fit our natural
body rhythms. Most of us are built to rest at night. The article also mentioned that
people who work the night shift often have concentration problems and even
coordination problems.

WOMAN: Well, then I’m glad we’re cleaners. Imagine operating heavy machinery or
piloting a plane at night . . .

MAN: Yes, there are more accidents on the night shift! The article even said that police
officers who work the night shift are angrier than those who work the day shift.

WOMAN: I believe that! My daughter asked me yesterday why I was so cranky! By the
way, how do you deal with never seeing your family because you work the night
shift?

MAN: My parents and siblings are overseas, so it actually works well for me to call
them during the day when I’m at home. But I do miss the after-work things I used
to do with my friends.

WOMAN: Yes, I guess it’s hard to maintain a social life when you work the night shift. But
on the bright side, there are no line-ups in the grocery store!
MAN: True enough! Listen, we’ve got ten minutes left on our break. I’ll make you a cup
of coffee to get you through the next couple hours. Do you drive or take the bus
home?

WOMAN: Thanks, a coffee would be great. I take the bus.

MAN: Good. Tell the driver what stop you want to get off at and ask him to wake you.
That’s what I do. Then you can try to get some sleep on the way home.

WOMAN: I don’t know if I can, but it’s certainly worth a try! Maybe the movement of the
bus will rock me to sleep!

Now answer questions 1-5.

1. What are the man and woman talking about?

2. Which statement is most likely true?
3. What does the man miss?
4. Why does the man ask if the woman drives or takes the bus?
5. What does the man do at the end to help the woman?

Part 3: Listening for Information

You will hear a conversation between a customer and a worker at a mattress and bedding
store.

MAN: Hi. Thanks for coming to Mattress and Bedding World. How may I help you?

WOMAN: Hi! I’d like to buy a set of pillows.

MAN: OK! Well, we have a promotion for the holiday season. If you buy two pairs of
our new feather pillows, you get one free!

WOMAN: That sounds great, but my husband is allergic to feathers. That’s the reason why
we have to get new bedding. He keeps getting itchy eyes. I’m interested in getting
some synthetic pillows.

MAN: Ah, I see. Well, we do have the synthetic filling, but there are actually a lot of
alternatives you might want to consider instead of feather. Are you looking for a
firmer pillow, or a softer one?
WOMAN: Hmmm . . . I’m not sure. These are meant to be a Christmas gift for my husband.
What are the different types?

MAN: Besides the synthetic, we have the memory foam and the latex, which are both
really comfortable. If you want something good for neck pain, you might
consider a micro bead or buckwheat pillow.

WOMAN: Buckwheat? Really? I remember getting a little buckwheat pillow from my

physical therapist that I could put in the microwave and put on my shoulder when
it was sore. It was really nice, but I don’t know if my husband would like
sleeping on it.

MAN: Yeah, you know, I’d only recommend the buckwheat if he really needs it for pain
relief. I think your best bet for a nice gift would actually be the memory foam.
It’s a little more expensive, but it’s our most popular pillow right now.

WOMAN: I’ve heard a lot about memory foam, but I’ve never actually slept on it. What is
memory foam, exactly?

MAN: Well, it was originally developed by NASA. You know, the organization that
sends people into space. It’s basically a foam with a cell structure that allows it to
form around whatever touches it, and then spring back into shape—so it never
loses its shape, unlike some other kinds of pillows. It really is comfortable. I use
one myself.

WOMAN: Well, it sounds nice. I think I’ll get these two—one for my husband and one for
me!

MAN: Sounds good. Follow me and I’ll ring these up for you. Would you like to take a
look at our pillowcases, as well . . .

Now answer questions 1-6.

1. Why does the woman want to buy new pillows?

2. Why did the woman have a buckwheat pillow in the past?
3. According to the man, which of these is true of buckwheat?
4. According to the man, which of these is true of memory foam?
5. Which of these options best describes the man’s opinion?
6. What will likely happen next?
Part 4: Listening to a News Item

You will hear a news item about a community power issue.

Due to the high winds over the weekend, many trees came down in our community, several
into power lines. Consequently, 100 residents were without electricity for several hours. This
is nothing new for most of us, but for Inesh Chandra, the experience was anything but routine.
A fallen tree caused a live power line to land in her backyard. Fortunately, when she opened
her door to let her dog out before retiring for the evening, it refused to move. Puzzled, she
shone her flashlight into the yard to investigate and saw the downed power line, only then
hearing the buzzing sound.
Later the next day, Mayor Pine announced that this problem was actually getting worse. He
suggested burying all the power lines or cutting down all the trees within 30 feet of a power
line. He admitted, however, that both solutions are too expensive to consider, and that the
latter would be a shame.
Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution during a power outage. Any wire on the
ground or hanging from a pole should be considered live and be avoided. Fires should be
reported immediately.
Part 5: Listening to a Discussion

You will watch a discussion among three people. One woman, Anna, and two men, Paul and
George, are on break at work.

Anna: Can you believe that announcement today? I mean, I’m still reeling!

Paul: I think everyone in the office is in shock. I mean, three weeks is not enough notice
that we’re moving the whole office all the way across town!

Anna: That’s an extra hour of commuting for me each day. I can’t believe they didn’t
consult with us beforehand. Do they think that they can just do whatever they want
and we’ll just go along with it?

George: I don’t know. I’ve always found management here to be really respectful. I’m sure
they wouldn’t do anything like this unless it was absolutely necessary. It makes me
wonder if they’re running into some kind of financial problem or something. I mean,
I know that the rents in that part of town are a lot cheaper.

Paul: You know, the sales force has been having some real problems. But still, you can’t
spring a move like this with only three weeks’ notice. I just moved to a new
apartment to be closer to work. I should’ve stayed where I was! Now I have to buy a
car.

Anna: What I’m most concerned about is how, during rush hour, am I supposed to make it
all the way across town in time pick up my kids at daycare? If I’m one minute past
5:00 pm, I get charged extra.
George: Couldn’t your husband pick them up instead? Or, if that’s not possible, I’m sure that
there are other daycares in that neighbourhood.

Anna: No, my husband works later than I do, and it’s taken six months for my youngest,
Tara, to get used to the daycare she’s in. The more I think about this, the more I
realize I think I’m going to have to get a new job. I just . . . I can’t handle this
commute.

Paul: That’s pretty drastic. I mean, up to this latest stunt, this has always been a very good
place to work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m upset about the move too, but maybe you
should ride it out for a bit before jumping ship?

George: I agree. I’m sure that something can be worked out. Maybe you could change your
hours so you don’t have to travel during rush hour. Or maybe you could even work
an hour less each day to make up for the commute time. You know, getting paid for
an hour less per day is a lot better than not having a job at all!

Anna: You know, maybe you’re right. I think I’ll talk to management first thing tomorrow
morning.

Part 6: Listening for Viewpoints

You will hear a presentation about advertising and children.

The increased amount of television advertising aimed at young consumers has led some parents
to question whether such targeting has negative consequences. Kathy Chen is a concerned
mother of three young children. She recently started a parents’ network that is advocating for
constraints on advertisements aimed at children. Chen's personal concern is that advertising to
children is unethical because it causes children to nag their parents for products, harming
parent-child relations. Kathy Chen also believes that these ads make children feel that they
are not socially acceptable if they don’t have a certain product. Children then pester their
parents to buy the product for them.

On another level, Chen argues that we should not simply accept that all children are
necessarily little consumers. While it benefits major corporations when everyone has been
trained from the cradle to consume commercial products, we end up with a society driven by
short term desire and greed.

Ralph Greenman, CEO of a large advertising company, disagrees. According to Greenman,

children who nag are simply a result of poor parenting. Greenman believes that it is the
responsibility of the parent to decide what products to purchase. Furthermore, Greenman
argues that advertisements don't make kids feel inferior, but instead help children to fit in
with their peers and have good social relations by sharing common styles and products.

Does advertising create a greedy society? Greenman is adamant that it does not. Advertising is
about informing and providing people and, yes, children, with choices. With choice comes
freedom and our society is a free society.

Greenman also points out that it is not in the public interest to ban children’s ads, because
this would reduce the diversity of children’s programs on TV. Advertisements are how most TV
stations receive funding. If ads to children were to be banned, then children's programs would
be greatly reduced in quality and quantity. Greenman says that state broadcasters who are not
dependent on advertising revenue would benefit from such a ban, but this would result in a
more limited selection of choice from other channels.

Kathy Chen disagrees. Reducing advertising, she argues, would reduce the quantity of
children’s programs but it would increase the quality. If private corporations weren’t
producing such programs, high quality, publicly funded educational programs would become
more popular.