ELSA
Listening and Reading

Practice Test 1
Contents : Answer Sheet
Practice Listening Test 1
Practice Reading Test 1
Listening Tapescript
Answer Key: Listening Test
Answer Key: Reading Test

1

(b) This is a multiple–choice test. The test has 4 parts with a total of 60 questions, and takes about
30 minutes.

(c) You will listen to a series of short recordings. You will only hear each listening passage once, so
you must listen carefully. After hearing each recording, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D)
to each question and mark your choice in pencil on your answer sheet.

(d) Do not mark your answers in this test book – only answers marked on the answer sheet can be
scored. There is no time allowed at the end of the test to go back and check your answers or
make any changes.

(e) During the test use a rubber eraser to erase any mistakes on the answer sheet.

(f) Do not cross out answers, as this means the question will automatically be scored as wrong.

(g) Mark only one answer per question – if you mark more than one answer for a question (for
example, both A and C) it will automatically be scored as wrong.

(h) Do not make any other marks on the answer sheet as this could accidentally affect your score.

(i) You are not allowed to use a dictionary during the test. NOW WAIT UNTIL THE SUPERVISOR TELLS YOU TO OPEN YOUR BOOK. __________ 5
(NO PRINTED QUESTIONS FOR PART 1)

6

Part 2

Instructions

In Part 2, you will hear a series of short conversations between 2 people. You will also read a
question about each conversation, with 4 alternative answers, A, B, C and D. Choose the correct
answer, and mark your choice on your answer sheet.

Now listen to an example conversation, and read the question about the conversation:

Q: What should Bill do?

(A) Call a client
(B) Contact the man
(C) Leave work early
(D) Go to the meeting

Option (B) is the correct answer, so you would fill in 'B' on the answer sheet.

Now look at the answer sheet and find where you should start filling in the answers for Part 2. There
are 12 questions in this part, numbers 21 − 32.

Now listen for the first conversation and choose the correct answer.

7

25 What is learned about the man?

(A) His figures are not correct.
(B) His office is on the 14th floor.
(C) He will introduce a new product.
(D) He has not met Peter Okondo.

26 Why has Tom called the IT department?

(A) He is unable to print.
(B) His computer keeps crashing.
(C) His computer will not turn on.
(D) His accounting software is not working.

27 What does the woman suggest that the man should do?

(A) Contact a client
(B) Attend a conference
(C) Summarise what he learned
(D) Give a presentation on quality control

28 What have the speakers discovered?

(A) Each training session lasts 50 minutes.
(B) Attendance at the training will be higher than expected.
(C) Very few replies have been received to the questionnaire.

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Part 3

Instructions

In Part 3 you will hear a series of longer conversations between 2 people. There are then 2 questions
about each conversation.

There are 9 conversations, giving a total of 18 questions, numbers 33 − 50.

Now listen for the first conversation.

33 What has happened to the men?
(A) They have run out of petrol.
(B) They have a flat tyre.
(C) They have got lost.
(D) They have missed their bus.

34 What have the men decided to do?
(A) Take a taxi
(B) Return to the office
(C) Cancel their meeting
(D) Make a telephone call

35 What is the problem with the jacket?
(A) It has a hole.
(B) It is the wrong style.
(C) It is not the correct size.
(D) It was not labelled correctly.



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41 What is said about the flat?
(A) It is very cheap.
(B) It has a nice view.
(C) It has three bedrooms.
(D) It is in an older building.

42 What is said about the location of the flat?
(A) It is across from a park.
(B) It is on the first floor.
(C) It is near the train station.
(D) It is close to a school.

43 What has the man done?
(A) Taken the wrong report
(B) Deleted an important file
(C) Got lost on his way to a meeting
(D) Forgotten to charge the battery in his laptop computer

44 What does the man say he will do?
(A) Print a document
(B) Go back to the office
(C) Use the woman’s computer
(D) Make a copy of the woman’s report

45 What does the woman find out about Trident Industries?
(A) They are building a new manufacturing plant.
(B) They plan to lay off 1700 workers.
(C) They have had a profitable year.

(D) It is held only in the main dining room. 10

Part 4

Instructions

In Part 4 of the test you will hear a series of recordings. In your test book there are 2 questions for
each recording.

There are 5 recordings, giving a total of 10 questions (numbers 51 − 60).

Now listen for the first recording. 51 What number should a person press to discuss a bill?

(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5

52 What type of business has been contacted?

(A) A hotel
(B) A moving company
(C) An express mail service
(D) A mail–order clothing company

11

57 What does the Department of Agriculture predict?

(A) There will be an above average cotton harvest for most areas.
(B) The cotton harvest will be much smaller than last year.
(C) Farmers will plant less cotton next year due to falling prices.
(D) Rising prices will encourage farmers to increase cotton production.

58 What problem are Chinese cotton producers facing?

(A) The weather has been too wet.
(B) Over–production has reduced prices.
(C) Cheap imports have flooded the market.
(D) The harvest has been affected by disease.

59 What does the speaker say the company has decided to do?

(A) Introduce a new line of products
(B) Combine two existing divisions
(C) Expand its manufacturing capability
(D) Reduce costs by closing one of its plants

60 What promise does the speaker make?

(A) Salaries will not be cut.
(B) Workers will not lose their jobs.
(C) Planned expansion will go ahead.
(D) Employees will receive more training.


Time allowed: 45 minutes

__________ Instructions to Candidates

(a) DO NOT OPEN THIS TEST BOOK UNTIL THE SUPERVISOR TELLS YOU TO START.

(b) This is a multiple-choice test. The test has 4 parts with a total of 60 questions. You will have
45 minutes to complete the test.

(c) Each question has 4 answer choices, A, B, C or D. You must mark your choice in pencil on your
answer sheet. Although you may make notes on this test book, only answers marked on the
answer sheet can be scored.

(d) During the test use a rubber eraser to erase any mistakes on the answer sheet. Do not cross out
answers, as this means the question will automatically be scored as wrong.

(e) Mark only one answer per question – if you mark more than one answer for a question (for
example both A and C) it will automatically be scored as wrong.

(f) Do not make any other marks on the answer sheet, as this could accidentally affect your score.

(g) You are not allowed to use a dictionary during the test.
NOW WAIT UNTIL THE SUPERVISOR TELLS YOU TO OPEN YOUR BOOK.

3 Orders received by 4pm Friday will be ______ on Monday.

(A) sailed
(B) flown
(C) organised
(D) dispatched 4 Patients who ______ appointments less than 24 hours in advance will be charged a £25.00
rescheduling fee.

(A) cancel
(B) refuse
(C) delay
(D) meet 5 Under the new rules, millions of taxpayers can ______ to be paying more than £100 a
month extra by next year.

(A) expect
(B) charge
(C) result
(D) demand 6 Your home is at ______ if you do not keep up loan repayments.


(C) stimulate
(D) complete 10 On-line sales have had a dramatic ______ on the bottom line of several publishing
companies this year.

(A) rise
(B) result
(C) impact
(D) increase 11 The financial director of communications company Globalcom is being questioned by
fraud investigators because of suspected business ______.

(A) details
(B) issues
(C) dealings
(D) irregularities 12 Friday’s Jenifer Merino benefit concert at Central Arena ______ an estimated 24,000 fans
and raised over £300,000 for the National Cancer Fund.

(A) drew
(B) played
(C) enjoyed
(D) attended

14 (A) sit 17 (A) plans
(B) stand (B) sports
(C) think (C) activities
(D) spend (D) freedoms 15 (A) then
(B) even
(C) which
(D) because
16

Questions 18 to 22 refer to the following passage: The Brazilian beverage giant Cola de las Americas, or CoAm, increased its profits more
___ (18) ___ 1,000 per cent last year. The massive increase was ___ (19) ___ strong beverage sales
supplemented by cost savings from the merger of the country’s two largest soft drinks makers. Only a
year ___ (20) ___ a merger between Bravo and Hola Cola ___ (21) ___ CoAm, now the world’s eighth
largest beverage maker, this year the company announced a net profit of $88.2 million, compared with
last year’s $4,36 million. Among plans for the future is an aggressive attempt to ___ (22) ___ a share of
the lucrative North American market. 18 (A) to 21 (A) created

(C) eating (C) to learn
(D) restaurants (D) were learning 24 (A) made 27 (A) idea
(B) served (B) food
(C) cooked (C) result
(D) offered (D) meaning 25 (A) so
(B) such
(C) that
(D) those

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Part 3

(Suggested maximum time: 10 minutes)

Instructions

In Part 3 there are 15 sentences. Each sentence has 4 words or phrases printed like this
and marked
as (A), (B), (C), and (D). One of these 4 words or phrases contains an error, a mistake in either the
grammar or the vocabulary.

Decide where the error is, and mark your choice on the answer sheet.


(D) 32 To provide
high quality services, we need high motivated professional staff and we
(A) (B)
are seeking a first-class individual to lead the development of a strong, proactive and
(C) (D)
coherent Human Resources strategy. 33 Please read
the section of the contract dealing about rent payments, and note that these are
(A) (B)
to be made
by credit transfer on a monthly basis.
(C) (D) 34 Many researchers question whether
the health benefits of drinking black tea outweigh the
(A) (B)
dangers of consuming caffeine, tannin, and other compounds find abundantly in the popular
(C) (D)
drink.

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35 We are an establish
Internet consultancy with a proven track record of developing


40 Although similar it seems on paper, your new job will be very different from your existing one;
(A) (B) (C)
there will be new people and different clients as well as
different working methods.
(D) 41 Employees are reminded that tomorrow’s meeting to discuss the move to our new offices will
(A) (B)
be held at 8.30 am sharp in conference room six, but attendance is compulsory.
(C) (D) 42 Visitors are encouraged to
join one of the guided tours, which take place from Monday to
(A) (B)
Saturday every hour
on the hour and leave from the outside of visitor’s centre.
(C) (D) 19

Part 4

(Suggested maximum time: 15 minutes)

Instructions


CABLELAND
For billing information and questions call (0412) 887-9009
43 By when does Mr Soemo have to pay the invoice?

(A) 8 February
(B) 19 February
(C) 7 March
(D) 29 March 44 What is NOT classified as part of Mr Soemo’s monthly services?

(A) Value Added Tax
(B) The Movie Channel
(C) The History Channel
(D) The equipment charge 45 How much has Mr Soemo been billed for use of equipment?

(A) £2.95
(B) £4.07
(C) £5.62
(D) £37.75

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47 Which of these times would NOT be a suitable time for a meeting?

(A) Tuesday at 9.00 am
(B) Wednesday at 10.00 am
(C) Thursday at 4.00 pm
(D) Friday at 2.30 pm 48 Who will conduct the interviews in the morning?

(A) Dante and Dave
(B) Dave and Eva
(C) Dante and Eva
(D) Dave by himself

21

Questions 49 to 51 refer to the following article: Central Library Home Page – General Reference Information

Brief Guide to Internet Search Engines
This is a list of search engines that Central Library has found particularly useful.


(A) Zappower
(B) Whatswhat
(C) Whizbang
(D) Tunein 51 Which search engine might give useful information to someone buying a new car?

(A) Zappower
(B) Whatswhat
(C) Whizbang
(D) Tunein

22

Questions 52 to 54 refer to the following article: One-Day Course in Self-Assertiveness Are you reluctant to give your opinions to senior management for fear that they might not agree with
them and then think less of you? Do you find it difficult to strike a balance between friendly relations
with staff you supervise and being firm enough to obtain their best performance?

The Institute of Management is holding a one-day course in self-assertiveness for junior and middle
management at the Royal Parks Hotel, to take place on Monday 14
th
July. The day will consist of:

54 What is stated about places on the course?

(A) Payment may be made by cheque or credit card.
(B) Companies are limited to sending two participants.
(C) Bookings must be made at least a week ahead of time.
(D) Reservations may be made between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Thursday.

23

Questions 55 to 57 refer to the following article: Farmers Relieved by Recent Rainfall

The first heavy rainfall this spring has given hope to corn and soya bean farmers in the Western
region. The extremely dry and cold winter season left farmers fearful that growing conditions this
year would be poor. Steven Lim, an agriculture expert from National University, said that the recent
rain should be enough to get a good start to the crop, but more rain will be needed. The crops are
normally planted in May, and to reach maximum growth these plants require a very deep reserve of
moisture in the ground during the hot months of July and August. Mr Lim said that 900 millimetres of
rain before summer is generally required so that crop production is not limited. Corn and soya
beans are the region's two largest crops, and speculation over a possible drought caused prices for
these commodities to rise recently. Although the rain was good news, traders are cautious and will
be keeping a close eye on the weather in the area over the next two months.
55 Why are farmers in the Western region concerned?

Japanese toy manufacturers are becoming concerned about a contracting market due to the declining
birth rate and the decreasing number of children in the country.

According to government statistics, 14.6 per cent of the population in 2000 comprised children aged
14 and younger. The age group is expected to fall to 12 per cent of the population by 2021. While
some analysts believe expenditure per child will increase with the declining number of children, many
toy manufacturers believe it will be impossible to compensate entirely for the reduced demand caused
by the falling birth rate.

Many companies are therefore now putting their efforts into creating demand for toys among adults.
One manufacturer said the increasing adult demand for toys was a consequence of the economic
slump, which had made many adults seek to escape reality by revisiting the nostalgic toys of their
childhood. This wish to return to childhood when life was full of dreams has reportedly contributed to
the phenomenon in which adults buy large amounts of snacks that include figurines of fictional
characters popular with children. According to some forward-thinking companies, the adult market for
toys holds great potential, with the elderly likely to become valued customers in the future. Having won
the hearts of children, the toy manufacturers’ next challenge appears to be to open the wallets of their
parents. 58 Why are toy manufacturers worries according to the article?

(A) Toys may be much less affordable in 20 years’ time.
(B) Today’s children are not so interested in toys.
(C) There will be fewer children in the future.
(D) Adults are buying children’s toys. 59 What does the article say about demand for toys among adults?