LISTENING SKILLS: SOME PRACTICE...

 Here's the Listening Part of the Test

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Script:

Interviewer I’m in rural Scotland at the end of the UK’s first Starman triathlon. Evie, it’s 2.30 a.m. How did you find swimming, cycling and running at night? 

Evie Scary! I’ve done five triathlons before and I was looking for my next challenge. Scotland is hours from where I live. But the idea of a race that started at midnight was very exciting. 

Interviewer How did you prepare? 

Evie Well, I’m from a flat part of England and I don’t usually run in hills or mountains. So I did some hill training. To be honest, when I was preparing for the race my biggest concern was getting lost. But I should have thought more about the mental preparation needed to race in the dark. There were moments, especially during the swim and the run, when I felt quite scared. Can I just say a huge thank you to all the marshals? 

Interviewer Ah yes, there were over a hundred volunteers working as marshals. 

Evie Yes, their main job was to keep us on the course. The running section was out in the countryside, so it was very easy to get lost. All of the racers and marshals were wearing head torches — you know, little lights around our heads to help us see the way. But the marshals also had first-aid equipment. I saw one racer who had tripped and injured his knee. The nearest marshal helped him straight away and called for a race car to collect him.

Interviewer And how did your race go? Did you manage to finish in a good time? 

Evie Well, I was hoping for around one and a half hours. But swimming in the dark was so frightening and exciting that I completed the swim in 25 minutes! That’s my personal best. But of course, that was way too fast and then my run was dreadful. My final time was one hour forty-two minutes. 

Interviewer Are you disappointed? 

Evie Not at all! The atmosphere here has been amazing. Lots of the competitors were actually teams, with three racers in each team, and they’ve all been having so much fun. Some of the team times were great because they could use all of their energy on just the swim, or the cycle, or the run. Maybe I’ll join a team next year and concentrate on improving my run time. 

Interviewer Well done, Evie! Go and get some rest. Evie Thanks. 

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Chip Hi Mark. Can you give me Rosie’s phone number? 

Mark Rosie Shah? Well, I do have a number but it’s quite old. I haven’t spoken to her for over a year. 

Chip I thought she was your flatmate? 

Mark No, she was going out with Damon, from the flat, for a while. But they broke up and I haven’t seen her since then. She started going out with someone from her work, I think. 

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Miles Wow, that was a really fast finish.

Jessica Oh, thanks. I’m Jessica. Nice to meet you. 

Miles Hi, I’m Miles. Are you training for the 10 kilometre run next month? 

Jessica Um … I didn’t know about that. Actually, I’ve just moved here from York. I heard about this running group, and it sounded like a good way to get to know new people. 

Miles Oh, it’s a really nice group. We usually go to the café now or just sit and talk for a while. Come on, I can introduce you to some people. 

Jessica Great! Tell me more about the race next month. 

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Woman How well do Hayley and Roman know each other? They look close. 

Man It’s a funny story. They’ve worked in the same company for 3 years but they didn’t know each other well until quite recently. Then one day, they got stuck in the office lift together for an hour. When they finally reached the ground floor, Hayley asked Roman to go out with her. And now they’re engaged! 

Woman That’s brilliant! 

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Lewis Hi, Mum. Happy birthday! 

Mum Thanks Lewis. I’ve just spoken to your brother too. Do you remember when you used to bring me breakfast in bed for my birthday when you were little boys? 

Lewis Of course. We used to argue about who would carry your present. In fact, we fought and argued all the time. 

Mum I remember. Sometimes I used to feel like a referee not a mother! I’m so glad you both get on now. 

Lewis Me too. But we’re 22 and 24 now, not little boys. And we do have a lot in common. You, for example! 

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Leo Hi guys. Where are you watching the match later? 

Tomas We’re not watching the match. 

Albert No. Definitely not. 

Leo What’s going on? No, football? Is this a superstition that you guys have? 

Tomas No, we’ve made a decision. Football on TV is too dangerous. 

Albert We shout at the TV. We shout at each other. It isn’t fun at all. 

Tomas When our team played last month, we had an argument about a referee’s decision and didn’t speak to each other for two days. 

Albert This is the right thing to do, for our friendship. 

Leo OK … Do you want me to text you when anyone scores? 

Albert and Tomas Yes, Yes please.