Student Name

AMERICAN EMPOWER

B1 LISTENING COMPETENCY TEST

Mid-Course Test

Time Approximately 25 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
Do not open this test paper until you are told to do so.
Write your name on this test paper.
Listen to the instructions for each part of the paper carefully.
Answer all the questions.
While you are listening, write your answers on the test paper.

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

There are four parts to this test.
You will hear each part twice.
Each question is worth one point.
For each part of the test there will be time for you to look through the questions.

© UCLES 2022
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Part 1
Questions 1 – 5

You will hear five short recordings. For each question, choose the correct picture (A, B, or C)

You will hear each recording twice.

1 What did Chris take with him on vacation?

A B C

2 Which accessories were most popular last week?

A B C

3 What job does John hope to do when he finishes studying?

A B C
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4 What travel problem particularly annoyed the movie director?

A B C

5 What does Ellie decide to do?

A B C

Turn over ►
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Part 2

Questions 6 – 10

You will hear a man on the radio talking about his amazing daily trip to work.

For each question, write the correct answer in the space.

You will hear the recording twice.

Peter’s Daily Trip to Work

Peter lives in (6) ......................... and travels to San Francisco.

Peter works as a (7) ......................... .

Peter’s day starts at (8) ......................... .

Disadvantages:

• Travel costs: $20,000 per year

• Getting tired and (9) ......................... problems

Advantages:

• Time to (10) ......................... for the next day

• The relaxing life at home

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Part 3

Questions 11 – 15

You will hear a radio interview with Natalia Baker, an author.

For each question, choose the correct answer (A, B, or C).

You will hear the interview twice.

11 Natalia became an author because A she wanted to as a child.

B her parents suggested she do it.
C she disliked her teaching career.

12 Natalia felt most Russian when A she read Russian books.

B she ate her mother’s food.
C she heard her uncle’s stories.

13 Natalia likes to work in a room next to her A she enjoys being close to nature.
garden because B it reminds her of Russia.
C she can be on her own there.

14 Natalia says the best time of the year for A when it’s cold outside.
writing is B when the days are longer.
C when the weather changes.

15 Natalia thinks the best way to write a A to start small instead of big.
book is B to work backwards from the end.
C to plan the whole story first.

Turn over ►
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Part 4

Questions 16 – 20

You will hear a conversation between Jane and Phil discussing a project they’re doing on whether

teens should work part-time as well as study.

Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.

If it is correct, choose YES (). If it is incorrect, choose NO ().

You will hear the conversation twice.

YES NO

16 Jane thinks some teens may need a car.

17 Phil and Jane agree that when teens work, their schoolwork always suffers.

18 Phil believes that free-time activities are important for teens’ futures.

19 Phil thinks that most teens should avoid getting a part-time job.

20 Jane advises teens to get a summer job.

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