Section 1

You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work. All the recordings will be played once only.

The test is in 4 sections. At the end of the test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Now turn to section 1.

Section 1: you will hear a man telephoning a friend to find out about their local Public Library. First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.

You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only, a conversation relating to this will be played first.

Hello.

Hi, Susie. It’s Paul here, how are you? Enjoying your new job? You’re working at the library, aren’t you?

Yes, I started when the library reopened a month ago, it’s great.

The woman says that the library reopened a month ago. So, month has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.

Hello.

Hi, Susie. It’s Paul here, how are you? Enjoying your new job? You’re working at the library, aren’t you?

Yes, I started when the library reopened a month ago, it’s great.

Actually, Carol and I have been meaning to join for a while.

Oh, you should. It doesn’t cost anything and the new library has all sorts of facilities; it’s not just a place where you borrow books. For instance, there’s an area with comfortable seats where you can sit and read the magazines they have there. Some people spend the whole morning there.

Wish I had that amount of time to spend.

Yes, you must be pretty busy at present, with the children and everything.

We are yes; but we’re hoping to get away this summer. We’re thinking of going to Greece.

Well, we’ve got a much larger section of the library devoted to travel books now; so, you should come and have a look. I can’t remember if there’s anything specifically on Greece, but I should think so.

Okay. Now Carol’s organizing a project for the history class she teaches at school. It’s about life in the town a hundred years ago. Do you have anything that might be useful?

Yes! Actually, we’ve now got a new section with materials on the history of the town and surrounding region.

Right, I’ll tell her. You can’t always find that sort of thing on the Internet. Now in the old library there used to be a separate room with reference books, it was a really nice quiet room.

Yes! We’ve put those books in the main part of the library now. But we do have a room called the community room. It can be hired out for meetings, but at other times people can use it to study.

I might use that. It’s hard to find anywhere quiet at home sometimes.

I can’t remember how old your son and daughter are. We’ve introduced a special section of fiction written specially for teenagers, but they might be a bit young for that.

Yes, they would be.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.

Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.

Well, we do have lots of activities for younger children… Yes.

For example, we have a science club at the next meeting they’re going to be doing experiments with stuff that everyone has in the kitchen; sugar and flour and so on.

They might be interested, yes.

And we have a competition for children called Reading Challenge. That doesn’t begin until after the end of term. They have to read six books and they get a certificate if they manage it.

So that gives them something to do while they’re on holiday; instead of getting bored.

That’s the idea! And their special activities for adults too. On Friday we have a local author called Tanya Streep, who’s going to be talking about her new novel. It’s called catch the mouse, and she based the story on a crime that actually took place here years ago.

Right, we’re not free on Friday but I’ll look out for the book.

Now this probably isn’t for you, but we do have IT support available for members. We get quite a few older people coming along who are wanting to get up to speed with computer technology. It’s on Tuesday mornings, they don’t need to make an appointment or anything, they just turn up.

Well my mother might be interested. I’ll let her know.

Okay; and there’s another service which you wouldn’t expect from a library, which is a free medical check-up. The hospital arranges for someone to come along and measure the level of sugar in your blood and they check cholesterol levels at the same time.

Really?

Yes, but that’s only for the over sixties, so you wouldn’t qualify.

Okay well, I’ll tell my mother she might be interested.

What other information… well, we do have a little shop with things like wall charts and greetings cards and also stamps so you can post the cards straight away, which is really useful.

Yeah! Well, I’ll bring the children round at the weekend and will join. Oh, one more thing I’ll be bringing the car is there parking available?

Yes, and it’s free in the evening and at weekends.

Perfect well thanks Susie….

That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.