Listening practice questions.

You hear: 'The trip leaves on Wednesday - sorry, no, Thursday; the coach is booked for Thursday.' Which day do you write down?

• Wednesday, because it is the first date you hear
• Thursday, because the speaker corrects the date
• Both days, so that one of them is right
• Neither, because the speaker seems unsure

Answer: Thursday, because the speaker corrects the date

Speakers in listening tasks correct themselves on purpose; the information after the correction always counts. Writing two answers makes the item wrong even though one of them is right.

A question asks for the speaker's opinion. Which phrase tells you that an opinion is coming?

• 'It was built in 1998.'
• 'The centre opens at nine.'
• 'If you ask me, ...'
• 'There are three meeting rooms.'

Answer: 'If you ask me, ...'

Opinions are announced by phrases such as 'if you ask me', 'personally' or 'I must say'. The other three sentences are checkable facts, useful for detail questions but never for an attitude question.

You hear: 'It was a good idea. However, what really convinced me was the cost.' What does 'however' signal?

• a repetition of the previous sentence
• an example of the previous idea
• the end of the whole talk
• a contrast introducing the main point

Answer: a contrast introducing the main point

'However', 'but' and 'in fact' warn you that the important information is coming next. Answers very often sit in the sentence immediately after such a marker.

You hear: 'She could've told us earlier.' What has the speaker actually said?

• She could of told us earlier.
• She could have told us earlier.
• She could be telling us earlier.
• She couldn't tell us earlier.

Answer: She could have told us earlier.

The weak form sounds exactly like 'of', but 'could of' does not exist in written English. Whenever you hear that sound after a modal, the word is 'have'.

The recording has moved on and you have missed the answer to question 3. What is the best thing to do?

• Stop and think about question 3 until you remember it.
• Write any word so that the line is not left empty.
• Move on to question 4 and come back later.
• Go back and check your answers to questions 1 and 2.

Answer: Move on to question 4 and come back later.

Staying with a missed item costs you the following answers as well. The second listening exists precisely for the gaps you left behind.

In a station announcement you hear: 'Platform thirteen - that's one three.' Why does the speaker add 'one three'?

• To make sure it is not heard as 'thirty'.
• To show that there are two platforms.
• To give the number of the train.
• To say that the platform has changed.

Answer: To make sure it is not heard as 'thirty'.

The pairs 13/30, 14/40 and 15/50 differ mainly in which syllable is stressed: 'thirTEEN' but 'THIRty'. Numbers are where careless listening loses most marks.