Practise your English with this CAE Listening exam (Part 1) from Cambridge, level C1 (Advanced). With answers.
You’ll hear three different extracts. For questions 1 to 6 choose the answer (A, B or C) which fits best according to what you hear. There are two questions for each extract.
These are the questions – When you are ready, press ‘START’ and check your answers below. Use this notebook to write your provisional answers.
- You hear two people on a music programme talking about the singer Nancy Graham. What is the man’s opinion of Nancy’s second album?
- He thinks it is very experimental.
- He appreciates the continuity of style.
- He wonders if she is lacking inspiration.
2. What do the two speakers agree about?
- The freshness of the music.
- The lack of real emotion in the music.
- The calming effect of the music on the listener
¿Como son las Clases de Conversación conmigo?
Precios y más información – pincha aquí
3. You hear part of a radio interview with a woman who trained the winning horse in a top showjumping competition. Why does she compare herself with an Olympic athlete?
- To demonstrate how tough she had to be.
- To explain how she reacted to her victory.
- To emphasise how fortunate she was to win.
4. How did she feel before her horse won the competition?
- Uncertain of the rider’s ability.
- Frustrated with the worsening weather.
- Doubtful whether the horse was fit enough.
5. You hear part of an interview with a food writer called Richard Capstick. Richard decided not to become a chef because he lacked…
- adequate organisational skills.
- a talent for inventive cooking.
- the ability to make quick decisions.
6. What did Richard think about food writing before he got involved in it?
- He considered himself well suited to it.
- He regarded as a hobby rather than a career.
- He imagined a qualification was needed to do it.
CAE Listening Part 1: Answers
Click the question to see the answer
Correct Answer = C. He wonders if she is lacking inspiration.
Explanation
“More of the same…”; “She was slightly running out of steam…”
Correct Answer = B. The lack of real emotion in the music
Explanation
“When the true country stars sing of pain and anguish you really believe them, but I can’t say I do here…” ; “Maybe it’s just because she’s just not mature enough yet to have had the necessary experience to inject into her songs.”
Correct Answer = B. To explain how she reacted to her victory.
Explanation
“I was absolutely stunned…..You’re like an Olympic athlete – they say it never comes home to you until you’re on your way home”
Correct Answer = A. Uncertain of the rider’s ability
Explanation
“I hate to admit this now, but we had a replacement rider at the last minute and I did just wonder if he could hack it.”
Correct Answer = A. Adequate organisational skills
Explanation
“Basically I just wasn’t up to being in charge of a kitchen full of people.”
Correct Answer = C. He imagined a qualification was needed to do it
Explanation
“I assumed – wrongly, of course – that you couldn’t actually write for a living without some sort of recognised training or something.”
