Listening 2025-12 Test 1

You will hear a woman telephoning a farm to enquire about a part-time job. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6. You will hear a woman telephoning a farm to enquire about a part-time job. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6. Nature Farm speaking. How can I help you? Hi, morning. I'd like to get some information about the part-time job of fruit picking in the advertisement. I was wondering if you still need some extra hands? Yes, I do. May I take some of your information first? What's your name? Sophie Harris. That's H-A-R-R-I-E-S. Nice to talk with you, Sophie. And where are you currently staying? Well, I'm from London, but now I'm staying at Central Hostel, Sydney. OK. May I have your contact number? I can see from the website your number is 0452832727, right? Oh, sorry. The last digit should be 1, not 7. Got that. And now, you know we only recruit part-time employees over 18, so could I have your age, please? I am 18, but I will have my 19th birthday at the end of this month, so you can put 19. Cool. Happy birthday, Sophie. Well, let's move on to the real business. We now have two working sites. One is a fruit farm in North Queensland, and the other one is near the coast. Which do you prefer? Er, hmm, I think it would be better if I can spend some time on the beach after work, so I guess the second place sounds best to me. No problem, Sophie. When do you think you could be ready to join us? It's July now, and I'd like to do some travelling around here. What about August? Yes, August is the busiest month for us. We're always short of hands. And could you please tell me how I will get paid? We pay you by every basket of fruits, or by the hour. It's up to you. You know, I haven't done fruit picking before, so I guess pay by the hour suits me better. Okay, I've got that. And there are now three types of fruits. Bananas, mangoes and avocados. Which fruit would you like to pick? I prefer mangoes. I think it will be easier for me. Cool. I'm sure you'll enjoy that. Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10. Now listen, and answer questions 7 to 10. Okay, now I'd like to ask you a few more questions about yourself. Do you have any medical problems, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or anything like that? Actually, I just had a medical check-up recently, and everything seemed fine. Well, I hurt my back. Aha, great. And all of our workers are required to have medical insurance in case people hurt themselves while working, like falling down a ladder. Have you got one now? Yes, and I definitely hope it won't happen during working. Aha, yet you still need to take much care. By the way, do you have a driver's license? No, I don't. Okay. Do you have a driver's license? No, I don't. Aha, yet you still need to take much care. By the way, do you have a driver's license? You know, the fruit farm is huge. Sometimes you will need to drive a car. Yes, I got my driver's license last year, but I'm afraid I don't have a license for driving large trucks. No worries, you are not responsible for delivering the picked fruit to the supermarkets. There are some drivers doing that work. And lastly, one more question. Where would you like to live? Any options for me? Well, two choices. You can either stay in a cottage on the farm, or we can arrange accommodation in a town nearby. I don't think I'd like to stay at the workplace all day long. I think the second one is better for me. Okay, let's do that. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Many thanks. See you then. That is the end of part one. You now have one minute to check your answers to part one. Thank you. Part two. You will hear an introduction from a tour guide about suggestions for an island. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14. Now, listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14. Hello everyone. I'm Hazel, the guide from Travel Light Agency. Since we mentioned the trip to Moona Island in the last programme, we've received several online messages from those who have been there. As a result, we've collected some helpful do's and don'ts for new visitors, which will hopefully help you to know the island better and enjoy your stay to the fullest. The first suggestion is about tips. Although tipping is required in most circumstances in Moona Island, the amount you should give differs significantly. If you take a taxi, there is no set rate on how much you should leave to the driver. Someone may give a generous tip if he thinks the service is fantastic. It's up to you entirely. However, if you go to the hairdressers or enjoy a meal in the restaurant and the bill comes with no service charge, a 10% tip is advisable. Moona Island has got relatively good medical service. If you get sick, the quickest way is to ask the hotel to arrange an English-speaking doctor for you. But remember, it's not a complimentary service. The other alternative is to visit the local clinic, and you have to prepare for the charge as well. I should remind you that the medical service on the island can be pricey, so it's better to buy your insurance before you leave. When you visit Moona Island, you'll see the notice nearly everywhere. Tap water is safe to drink, but you might not get used to its weird taste because it contains minerals. In this case, you can buy bottled water sold in every shop, but you'd better make sure the sealed lid is untouched, as the locals often put tap water into the bottle. Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20. Now, listen and answer questions 15 to 20. Then, I'll focus on transportation in Moona Island. The bus is the most commonly used means of transportation for local residents. Although there aren't many bus lines, there are always a few buses. However, some people complained that the road was so bumpy that they even got nausea and dizziness. As a result, it's not a good choice if you want to sit peacefully and relax on the way. And another thing is, before you jump on the bus, inquire of the driver about where the bus will go. Unlike most cities, here in Moona Island, you cannot find the destination shown in front of the bus or at the bus stop. Maybe you found the bus service is not so enjoyable. In that case, you can always rent a car. If you choose this way, I advise you to prepare well beforehand. If you choose this way, I advise you to prepare well beforehand. Although some taxi companies provide car rental services, many visitors sometimes find nobody answering the phone. So leave this way when you are in a hurry. It's wise to compare several car rental companies online beforehand, as the price may vary a lot. Booking via hotel may be overcharged, as it contains a 10% commission, so it's also not advisable. More importantly, don't forget to check with the company what the price covers in detail, like daily rental expenses, car insurance, commission, etc. It usually includes unlimited mileage too, but fuel is excluded. If you don't want to drive, a taxi is the quickest and most comfortable way, although few are available on Moona Island. If you want to find a taxi quickly, it's not a good idea to reserve through the taxi company, as sometimes you'll have quite a wait, especially in the rush hour. The easiest way is just waving your hands on the street to stop the taxi. Otherwise, the driver will drive away directly after he drops off the guests. Oh, another thing is, I have to remind you that there is no meter for taxis in Moona Island, so before you jump in the taxi, you'd better negotiate with the driver about how much you're going to pay. For example, if you take a taxi from the airport at night, it may cost you, so confirm the price before you get in. OK, that's all about the tips for Moona Island that I want to share today, and are there any questions? That is the end of part 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers to part 2. Thank you for watching. Section 3 You'll hear a student called Paul talking to a tutor about a course he is thinking of doing. First you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25 on page 5. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25. Good morning. Come in. You're Paul, are you? Yes, I spoke to you on the phone. Yes, have a seat. You wanted to talk to me about the archaeology course? Yes, I've read the handbook, but I'd like to find out a few more details before I decide whether to do it. Right, yes. What would you like to know? Well, first of all, can I combine the archaeology course with one in anthropology? Yes, you can combine it with any other subject apart from classical history. That's simply because there's some overlap in the lecture times for those two courses. We weren't able to coordinate them. OK, fine. And could you tell me about the modules? Well, in the first semester there are three. All of them are compulsory. We don't offer optional modules till next year. Right. The first one focuses on what can be learned from specific artefacts, such as pottery and stone tools. It's called Object Matters, and it's taught by Dr Morris. Is that... how is the module presented? I mean, is it lectures? We refer to the means of presentation as the learning method, and in this case it's lectures integrated with practical sessions, so it's a mixture. What about the content? I suppose we'll be looking at different kinds of archaeological remains and how to date them and so on. To some extent, but the module is basically about processes. First of all, recording material, then classification, then interpretation of the data. That's how archaeologists draw conclusions about their findings. And finally, display. Is that OK? I think so. Yes, thanks. One other thing. How is the module assessed? Is there an exam? No, it's all based on coursework. Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30 on page 6. Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30. OK. And the second module, that's the one called Towns and Cities, is taught by our department head, Professor Elliott. And as the name suggests, the module's about the origins of built environments and how they developed. That's mainly factual then, I suppose. It is really. And for that reason, the assessment's by examination. But you may be pleased to know it's an oral rather than a written exam. It sounds a bit scary. Most of our students find they actually enjoy it, so don't worry too much. OK. And then the title of the third module is Method and Science. And in that, Dr Thompson will be introducing you to the standard techniques used in archaeological fieldwork and analysis. Things like excavating and dating. What about the learning method for this module? Are there any lectures or is this all laboratory work? Oh, it's half lab work and half seminars. There aren't any lectures. Then right at the end of the module, you'll take part in a site survey. The date for that is week beginning the 10th of March. But I can't tell you the location yet. That'll be announced later. But I think you'll find it very useful. Yes, I know someone who went on that one. That is the end of Section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Now turn to Section 4, on page 7. Thank you. Thank you. Section 4. You will hear a talk about scientific research in the continent of Antarctica. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40. Tonight I'm going to talk to you about that remarkable continent, Antarctica. Remote, hostile, and at present uninhabited on a permanent basis. For early explorers, it was the ultimate survival contest. For researchers like me, it remains a place of great intellectual challenge. While for the modern tourist, it's simply a wilderness of great beauty. First, some facts and figures. Antarctica is a place of extremes. The highest, coldest, and windiest continent, and over fifty-eight times the size of the U.K. The ice cap contains almost seventy percent of the world's fresh water and ninety percent of its ice. But with very low snowfall, most of the continent technically falls unbelievably into the category of desert. Huge icebergs break off the continent each year, while in winter half the ocean freezes over, which means its size almost doubles. Research and exploration has been going on in Antarctica for more than two hundred years and has involved scientists from many different countries who work together on research stations. Here, science and technical support have been integrated in a very cost-effective way. Our Antarctic research program has several summers-only stations and two all-year-round ones. I was based on one of the all-year-round ones. The research stations are really self-contained communities of about twenty people. There's living and working space, a kitchen with a huge food store, a small hospital, and a well-equipped gym to ensure everyone keeps fit in their spare time. The station generates its own electricity and communicates with the outside world using a satellite link. Our station, Zero-One, had some special features. It wasn't built on land, but on an ice shelf hundreds of meters thick. Supplies were brought to us on large sledges from a ship fifteen kilometers away at the ice edge. Living in the Antarctic hasn't always been so comfortable. Snow buildups caused enormous problems for four previous stations on the same site, which were buried and finally crushed by the weight. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but these buildings became a huge challenge to architects, who finally came up with a remarkable solution. The buildings are placed on platforms, which can be raised above the changing snow level, on legs which are extendable. Food is one of the most important aspects of survival in a polar climate. People living there need to obtain a lot more energy from their food, both to keep warm and to undertake heavy physical work. Maybe you know that an adult in the U.K. will probably need about 1,700 kilocalories a day on average. Someone in Antarctica will need about 3,500, just over double. This energy is provided by foods which are high in carbohydrate and fat. Rations for field work present an additional problem. They need to provide maximum energy, but they must also be compact and light for easy transport. Special boxes are prepared, each containing enough food for one person for twenty days. You may be familiar with coffee processed by freeze-drying, which preserves the quality of the food product while making a large saving in weight. Well, this type of presentation is ideal in our situation. It wasn't available to earlier polar explorers, whose diet was commonly insufficient for their health. I think that being at the cutting edge of science has a special appeal for everyone working in Antarctica, in whatever capacity. As a marine biologist, my own research was fascinating, but it's perhaps climate change research that is the most crucial field of study. Within this general field, surveying changes in the volume and stability of the ice cap is vital, since these may have profound effects on world sea levels and on ocean currents. A second important area is monitoring the size of the hole in the ozone layer in Antarctica, since this is an indicator of global ultraviolet radiation levels. Thirdly, bubbles in the ice sheet itself provide an index of pollution, because frozen inside them are samples of previous atmospheres over the past 500,000 years, and these provide us with evidence for the effects of such human activities as agriculture and industry. There are an increasing number of opportunities for young people to work for a period in Antarctica, not only as research assistants in projects like mine, but also in a wide range of junior administrative and technical positions, including vacancies for mapmakers. I hope that the insights I've provided will encourage you to take up these opportunities in this fascinating continent. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology