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: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp39kaAVtLBSDL3HMhv1aTXV4SCOc9_8s SUBSCRIBE with us for the latest tests and support ! ======= TRANSCRIPTS Interviewer: Nowadays, most people who go camping carry their things in a backpack. Vanessa, why is it so important to pack one of these properly? Vanessa: Well, if you put everything in the right places it ensures that the weight is correctly distributed, so that when you’re walking the whole thing feels like part of your body. (9) This can help you keep your balance better, and that’s important if you’re finding your way along a mountain track, for instance. Interviewer: So I imagine the first thing to do is to think about what you’re going to take with you. Vanessa: Yes, that’s very important. I’d suggest sitting down somewhere quiet and (10) drawing up a list of everything you’re likely to need, making sure you include essential items like water and a first aid kit. There will be obvious things like your tent, but perhaps also things you might forget, like a small torch, or a map. Interviewer: And you’ll have to make your mind up which clothes you’ll want with you. Vanessa: Definitely, but (11) it’s best to do that once you’ve had a look at the weather forecast for the part of the country you’re intending to go to. It’s no good taking only summer clothes if you’re heading for a mountain area where it could rain, or suddenly get cold. Interviewer: So it’s best to take things to keep you warm and dry, even in summer? Vanessa: Yes, you should always take a warm sweater with you. And (12) a waterproof jacket and trousers won’t take up much room, or weigh much. At other times of the year, of course, you’ll need things like gloves and much thicker clothes. Interviewer: And how much clothing should you take with you? For seven days, say. Vanessa: Well, I’d say one complete change of clothes, two spare sets of underwear and of course enough (13) socks: I’d say several pairs, so that you always have at least two clean, dry pairs of socks. Interviewer: And what about food? What should you take, and what’s the best way to carry it? Vanessa: You need to plan all your meals, working out how much of everything you’ll probably eat. Some people like to store food in boxes, but (14) to save space in mv backpack I prefer to use strong plastic bags. I avoid bottles or jars because of the weight, and the risk of them breaking if I fall. Interviewer: So once you know what you’re taking, can you start putting everything into your backpack? Vanessa: No, not just yet. First I like to see all the things together so I can decide what goes where, and (15) to do that I lay them out all over the floor. It always looks a lot more like that than when things are neatly on top of each other in drawers or cupboards. Then, when I’m sure I need everything there, I start packing. Interviewer: What usually goes in first? Vanessa: Well I once tried putting my changes of clothes in first, right at the bottom, but I needed them on the first day and I had to take everything else out first. So (16) as a rule it’s my sleeping bag. as I won’t need it until the tent is up on the first night. Interviewer: And is there any particular order for the other things? Vanessa: A few things that I might need in a hurry, such as maps and sunglasses, go straight into the outside pockets. But in general I pack the heavier items towards the bottom of the backpack, with (17) things that weigh less, like my hat, higher up. That helps my balance, especially on rough ground. When everything’s in, I try it out to see how it feels. Interviewer: How do you do that? Vanessa: I put it on for a while, and move around. Walking round the house and the garden isn’t really enough to get a proper idea of what it’ll be like, so (18) I go to the local park instead. People must think I’m mad, going round there with a great big pack on my back, but I’d rather do that than find out on a steep mountainside that it’s uncomfortable - or simply too heavy. ======== CORRECT ANSWERS 9. (your) balance 10. list 11. (weather) forecast 12. waterproof 13. several pairs 14. (strong) plastic bags 15. floor 16. sleeping bag 17. higher/upper/top 18. (local) park