B2 Listening Practice Test 1

Anna: So, the dates. I'd been thinking the second week of August, but I checked, and it's apparently scorching there then, something like thirty-eight degrees by midday. Ben: Wow. I wish we'd looked at that before we got excited. Hiking the Rose Valley in that heat doesn't sound like much fun. What about the October half-term? Anna: That's exactly what I was about to suggest. The hotel is cheaper then, too, although the balloon flights do get cancelled more often when it's windy. Ben: Right, so we shouldn't rely on a single morning. If we booked the balloon for our first day and it got cancelled, we'd still have a second chance on the last day. Anna: Good thinking. Okay, so three nights, the balloon on the first morning, and the Rose Valley walk on the second day. Oh, and Dad said he'd drive us to the airport, so we don't need to book a shuttle. Ben: Brilliant. I'll email the hotel tonight and ask them to keep the room until Friday. They told me last week they'd hold it for seven days. Anna: Perfect. Although, would you mind doing it right now? I'd hate to lose that room after all this planning. Ben: Sure, give me a second. Let me find my phone.

Dr. Adams: Right, let's start with the visitor app. Isla, where are we with the design? Isla: The screens are finished and approved, so from my side we're on track. The only open question is the audio tour. The recordings were meant to be ready by the end of this month, but the narrator's schedule has slipped, so we won't have them until the fourteenth of next month. Dr. Adams: That's a fortnight later than planned. Frank, does that affect the testing? Frank: It does, I'm afraid. We can't properly test the audio features without the recordings, and I'd rather not rush that part. The last time we skipped it, we ended up with files that wouldn't play on older phones. Dr. Adams: Fair point. Could we launch without the audio and add it afterwards? Frank: Technically, yes. The app would work perfectly well with just the maps and the exhibit descriptions. Isla: I like that idea, as long as we're upfront about it. Visitors might be disappointed if they expect audio and find it missing. Dr. Adams: Agreed. We'll put a note on the opening screen saying that audio tours are coming soon. So the launch stays on the first of the month, and the audio follows as an update. The budget isn't affected, is it? Isla: No, the narrator's fee is the same. Dr. Adams: Good. Frank, please draft the announcement for Friday.

Dr. Lee: Come in, Emma. I've read your draft, and I have to say the argument is much stronger than the one you handed in last term. Emma: Thank you! I was worried that the second section was a bit long-winded. Dr. Lee: It is, slightly, but that isn't my main concern. My real worry is that paragraphs three and four make essentially the same point. You use the shopping street you mention twice, once as evidence about air quality and again as evidence about local business. Pick one. Emma: Hmm, I suppose I included both because I was short of examples. Dr. Lee: That's understandable, but one example explored in depth would serve you far better. And then there's the conclusion. You introduce a brand-new idea about parking charges just when the reader is expecting a summary. Emma: I guess I should move it into the body, then. Dr. Lee: Or cut it altogether. Now, about the deadline. I know you believed it was Monday. Emma: Yes, I've been rushing all weekend. Dr. Lee: Well, there's no need. I've moved it to Thursday for everyone, since the library was closed on Friday. If you send me the new version by Wednesday evening, I'll read it before the seminar. Emma: Oh, that's a relief. I'll aim for Wednesday, then.