This is the new Cambridge First Certificate in English Listening test, 2016.
Practicing on these Cambridge FCE Listening tests helps raise your score in the Cambridge English First exams. These tests are also very good to exercise English listening skills.
Correct answers & audio transcript are posted below.
This video is in the series of NEW Cambridge First Certificate in English exam preparation:
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TRANSCRIPTS
Question 1.
- So what happened, madam?
- Well, I saw this old man, he was kind of holding this briefcase under his arm, like this. He’d just left the bank and I was still queuing up to collect my pension, but I was near that door. Now, this young man came running past him and grabbed him by the arm.
- And they both fell down?
- Yeah, and the young man ran away and the poor old man sat on the pavement, still clutching his briefcase, and we managed to help him up. Now, can I go back in to collect my money?
- Would you mind coming with us, madam? We need a few more details.
Question 2.
It’s important that you really listen to what people are telling you. For example, I had a trumpet player who came to see me with back pain and breathing difficulties. He couldn’t take his final exams because of the muscular tension in his jaw, but when I quizzed him about it, it turned out
that the actual problem was in his teeth - far away from where the pain actually was. The same applies to sports people who often have injuries as a result of their job ...
Question 3.
- It all looks so different. Where’s the canteen?
- It’s in the basement. You get there by going down the main staircase from the entrance hall.
- Right. I’ll get there in the end. Everything seems to have moved around.
- Yes, there was a rebuilding programme last year, which wasn’t much fun for those of us trying to study. The main building was altered a lot. And they’re building a new sports centre. It should be open for the new students in September.
- Well, I’m envious. Everything looks a lot better.
Question 4.
I used to watch Granny cooking, and right from when I was five years old I was allowed to season the soups, test the potatoes, and so on. One year for
my birthday, she bought me a cookbook. It was just like Granny talking; all the recipes were simple, economical and linked with little stories, useful advice and amusing sketches. I treasured it, but gradually it fell to bits from overuse, my tastes changed and, finally, I threw it out. Now, of course, I wish I’d hung on to it despite its sad state and despite the fact that all the advice would be out of date.
Question 5.
I went to a party with a friend and she knows that I’m a big fan of Chris Turner, the footballer. I just think he’s a genius and, anyway, he was going to be there. Now, I knew that I would be really shy, which is stupid because he’s exactly the same age as me and, you know, he’s just a regular bloke, I’m sure. But when my friend introduced us and he shook my hand, my mouth just went, you know, really dry and I didn’t know what to say, honestly, which was awful. I felt so bad about it afterwards, my friend just couldn’t understand it.
Question 6.
Hi, can I just talk to you about our plans for the summer conference? I think I said that I was going to be away for the opening meeting and couldn’t give you a hand, but it seems I got my diary muddled up and I will actually be around, so what would you like me to do?
Question 7.
- So, Sophie, tell me all about it.
- I’m sorry, but I’ve just been feeling terrible for the last week or so and last night I just couldn’t do my homework, I felt so bad. I was aching all over. So my dad said I had better make an appointment and come and see you. Perhaps you can tell me what’s wrong.
Question 8.
My wife Margaret and I were sitting behind a rock on the top of a mountain in the Highlands one day, nobody else around, perfectly silent, and Margaret said, ‘I just heard a telephone bell ringing.’ ‘Oh,’ I said, ‘Margaret, there are no telephone kiosks up here.’ But in the silence of the hills, you can imagine
anything. I said, ‘I often imagine things. I’ve heard babies crying in this silence. I’ve thought I heard a symphony orchestra,’ and Margaret said, ‘I’m sure I heard a telephone ringing.’ She got up and went round the back of the rock and there was a cow with a bell around its neck.
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CORRECT ANSWERS
1A - 2A - 3C - 4B - 5C - 6B - 7C - 8A
