STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE
LISTENING SESSION 2
A. Question type: Table completion
Strategy for table completion questions
Step 1: Read the instruction carefully, paying particular attention to how many
words you are allowed to write for the answer.
Step 2: Look at column headings. The columns in the table will have headings
that tell you what type of information each column contains.
Step 3: Predict the type of information that you’ll be able to determine. The
answers to table completion questions will usually be factual information such
as names, places, dates, times and prices.
Step 4: Listen out for synonyms and paraphrasing.
Step 5: Watch out for distractors. A distractor is a word or a phrase that changes
or corrects the original piece of information given.
Step 6: Guess if necessary.
Exercise 1:
Question 1-3
Exercise 2:
B. Multiple choice questions
Strategy for multiple choice questions
Step 1: Read the question very carefully to ensure that you know exactly what you
have to do.
Step 2: Underline or highlight the keyword in the question.
Step 3: Look at the list of answers and predict which ones are correct or at least one
or two of them, and a couple that are probably wrong.
Step 4: See if you can quickly think of any synonyms or related words.
Step 4: Expect to hear all the answer options in the recording, not just the correct
answers.
Step 5: Listen out for distractors as the examiners love to try and trick you into
picking the wrong answers.
Step 6: Guess if necessary
Exercise 3:
8 You will hear two friends talking about a film they’ve just seen.
Why didn’t the boy enjoy the film?
A It was very frightening.
B It lasted too long.
C It had terrible acting.
9 You will hear two friends talking about some biology homework.
The girl suggests that the boy should
A ask his teacher for help.
B get information from the internet.
C look in the biology textbook.
10 You will hear two friends talking about an interview with a singer they’ve seen on TV.
They agree that
A the singer’s answers were interesting.
B the interviewer was quite rude.
C the questions were confusing.
11 You will hear a girl telling her friend about a diving trip.
How did the girl feel about it?
A sure she will go again
B glad she went with a relative
C pleased with her diving skills
12 You will hear a girl talking to a friend about basketball.
The girl is trying to
A explain the rules of the game.
B describe a game she took part in.
C encourage the boy to start playing.
13 You will hear a boy talking about a trip to a city with his family.
Why did the boy’s family get lost?
A They couldn’t understand their map.
B Someone gave them the wrong directions.
C The guidebook contained incorrect information.
Exercise 4:
You will hear an interview with a 15-year-old boy called Callum, who runs a successful book review website for
teenagers.
20 How did Callum learn about setting up a website?
A through lessons at school
B by using information online
C a family member taught him
21 Why did Callum decide to set up a book review website?
A to develop teenagers’ writing skills
B to encourage teenagers to read more
C to create an online discussion among teenagers
22 How did Callum feel when his site first went online?
A pleased with its quality
B certain it would be popular
C positive it would achieve its aims
23 What does Callum say about a typical day?
A It’s usually full of variety.
B It’s always extremely busy.
C It’s impossible to predict what will happen.
24 When Callum is eighteen he’d like to
A work for a big company.
B study for a degree.
C run a business.
25 What is Callum’s new website for?
A using music to help people
B presenting new music
C learning how to play music
Exercise 5:
4. Sharon and Xiao Li were surprised when the class said
A. they spoke too quickly.
B. they included too much information.
C. their talk was not well organised.
5. The class gave Sharon and Xiao Li conflicting feedback on their
A. timing.
B. use of visuals.
C. use of eye contact.
6. The class thought that the presentation was different from the others because
A. the analysis was more detailed.
B. the data collection was more wide-ranging.
C. the background reading was more extensive.
7. Which bar chart represents the marks given by the author?
A. Chart A
B. Chart B
C. Chart C
Complete the sentences below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
The tutor says that the 8______________ of the presentation seemed rather sudden.
The tutor praises the students’ discussion of the 9__________________
The tutor suggests that they could extend the 10________________ review in their report.
