Practice English Listening Comprehension - Test 56 with Answers & Transcript

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: Lily, what made you decide to walk through the Andes mountains to Machu Picchu? Lily: I’ve always enjoyed the outdoor life, particularly quite energetic things like skiing and hill walking. But it wasn’t so much that as the feeling (24) I just had to see a place that tells us so much about an ancient civilisation. I knew the views along the way would be wonderful, of course, but it was just being there that was mv real goal. And I started making preparations for that quite some time before I left for South America. Interviewer: What did you do? Was there anywhere you could get accustomed to being so high up? Lily: Well, the trail takes you to above 4,000 metres, but of course there’s nothing like that in this country, so I couldn’t. I thought of spending some nights out in the tent during some particularly bad winter weather here, but decided that might put me off going at all. So (25) I got into the habit of doing around fifteen kilometres on foot through the hills near here each evening, even when it was raining heavily, or snowing. By the time I was ready to go I was feeling able to handle fairly bad conditions, though of course they would be rather more extreme in the Andes in July. Interviewer: Was there any particular reason you chose to go then? Or was that the only time you could have off work? Lily: Actually I can take my holidays any time, as long as my colleagues agree, so really it was a matter of choosing the time of year when the trail was least likely to be wet and slippery. And (26) as it tends to be driest in July, that’s when I went. Despite the fact that that’s often the busiest month for tourists. Interviewer: So how did the walking go? Lily: It was wonderful; a fantastic experience. Even though sometimes it was very hard going and naturally there were a few problems along the way. Interviewer: What in particular? Lily: I suppose at the highest point, nearly 4,500 metres, where the air was really thin. There just wasn’t enough oxygen, and (27) you ended up moving along like an old person, one tiny step at a time. It took hours to get up the smallest slope. I was just glad that the porters were carrying our tents - they were so heavy - otherwise I’d never have made it. And up there, even in summer, the temperatures could’ve fallen well below freezing, but luckily they didn’t. Maybe because at night the skies weren’t clear. Interviewer: So what about all those stars the Andes’ night skies are so famous for? Lily: They look amazing in photos, don’t they? But it was too cloudy while we were there. And those birds with the huge wings, the condors, they weren’t around either, but there were still (28) unexpected things, like the hot springs. And, above all, being able to chat with the kids from local villages. I mean, my Spanish is pretty bad, but somehow we managed to communicate perfectly. That was great! Interviewer: And what, looking back over the whole journey, would you say was the most exciting moment? Lily: Hmm, it’s hard to say. There were several magical experiences, such as when we walked through the Sun Gate at the entrance to Machu Picchu itself, seeing all the ruined buildings and narrow streets. Then, in the evening, after most of the tourists had gone, we saw the most wonderful sunset. But (29) I think for me it was earlier on. when we came over the pass and first caught sight of that tooth-shaped mountain that stands just beyond the city. That really did take my breath away. Interviewer: Yes, that must have been marvellous. So tell me, what’s your next challenge? Another high-altitude walk? Lily: Well, I found being up there among the snowy peaks quite exciting, so maybe one day I’ll do something similar in the Himalayas. But during next year’s summer holidays I’d either like to do some underwater diving in the Pacific off northern Australia, or else go on an expedition across the icecap of Greenland. Though (30) I think it’s likely to be the diving as the skiing trip looks too expensive for me. ======= CORRECT ANSWERS 24A - 25A - 26C - 27C - 28B - 29A - 30C