1. Listen to sentences 1-5 and underline the emphasised word(s).
1) Do you want tea or coffee?
2) ‘Is your number 07765?’ ‘No, it’s 07756.’
3) That one’s jacket. The leather one.
4) ‘Is your name Mike?’ ‘No, it’s Mark.’
5) Is that yours or mine?
Show answers
1) Do you want tea or coffee?
2) ‘Is your number 07765?’ ‘No, it’s 07756.’
3) That one’s jacket. The leather one.
4) ‘Is your name Mike?’ ‘No, it’s Mark.’
5) Is that yours or mine?
Listening Strategy
When you listen, pay attention to the words that the speaker emphasises. Usually, a speaker uses emphasis:
a to highlight new or important information, for example:
I’ve lost bag. It’s a cotton bag, with stripes.
b to put contrast two alternatives, for example:
Was it black or brown?
c to contradict what someone else has said, for example:
Well, that’s not bag.
2. Read the Listening Strategy. Listen to six dialogues. Underline which words are emphasised in each one. Match each one with a reason from the Strategy (a, b or c).
1) __ .
a Which are your shoes?
b The ones with the laces.
2) __ .
a I think I need a new phone.
b What? You’ve got a new phone?
a No, I said I need a new phone!
3) __ .
a Can you give me a description of the thief, please?
b Yes, he was tall and he had blonde hair.
4) __ .
a Shall we go shopping tomorrow or on Wednesday?
b Let’s go tomorrow.
5) __ .
a Don’t forget your keys.
b But they’re not keys. They must be Edward’s.
6) __ .
a I’ll get your suitcase. Is it the black one or the brown one?
b The brown one.
Show answers
1) laces a 2) need c 3) tall, blonde hair a
4) tomorrow, Wednesday b 5) , Edward’s c
6) black, brown, brown b
Transcript
1)
a Which are your shoes?
b The ones with the laces.
2)
a I think I need a new phone.
b What? You’ve got a new phone?
a No, I said I need a new phone!
3)
a Can you give me a description of the thief, please?
b Yes, he was tall and he had blonde hair.
4)
a Shall we go shopping tomorrow or on Wednesday?
b Let’s go tomorrow.
5)
a Don’t forget your keys.
b But they’re not keys. They must be Edward’s.
6)
a I’ll get your suitcase. Is it the black one or the brown one?
b The brown one.
3. Look at the lines of dialogue. Underline where the emphasis should go and say which reason from the listening Strategy it matches with.
1) Do you want a sandwich or a burger?
________
2) a Is your locker number 14?
b No, number 40.
________
3) Is this your drink or mine?
________
4) Have you seen scarf? It’s green. Light green.
________
5) a Are you going to the leisure centre this afternoon?
b No, this morning.
________
6) house has a red door and it’s number 5.
________
Show answers
1) Do you want a sandwich or a burger? b
2) A Is your locker number 14? B No, number 40. c
3) Is this your drink or mine? b
4) Have you seen scarf? It’s green. Light green. a
5) a Are you going to the leisure centre this afternoon?
b No, this morning. c
6) house has a red door and it’s number 5. a
4. Listen and check your answers to exercise 3.
Show answers
Transcript
1) Do you want a sandwich or a burger?
2) a Is your locker number 14?
b No, number 40.
3) Is this your drink or mine?
4) Have you seen scarf? It’s green. Light green.
5) a Are you going to the leisure centre this afternoon?
b No, this morning.
6) house has a red door and it’s number 5.
5. Listen to the dialogue between two friends, Josh and Max. Choose the correct answers (a-d).
1) At the beginning of the conversation, Josh
a ignore Max.
b feels ill.
c pretends that everything is OK.
d wants to go to chemistry class.
2) Josh tells Max
a that he’s sorting out a problem.
b that he’s made some new friends.
c that he’s done something he regrets.
d not to tell his father.
3) Max’s view is that
a Josh’s dad will be angry with him.
b Josh’s new friends are cool.
c Josh should confess to his father.
d Josh should challenge the boys.
4) Josh feels
a his father doesn’t like Max.
b grateful for Max’s support.
c he can’t do anything about the situation.
d Max’s advice isn’t helpful.
Show answers
1) c 2) c 3) c 4) b
Transcript
Max Are you OK, Josh? You don’t look great.
Josh Yeah ___ I’m fine ___
Max Are you sure? Come on, we’ve got chemistry next.
Josh Erm ___ I think I’ll go home. I must be getting a cold.
Max What? I don’t believe you. What’s the matter, Josh? You’ve been acting strangely for a couple of weeks now. What’s up?
Josh OK, Max ___ You mustn’t tell anyone! But I’m really worried. I’m in a bit of trouble ___
Max What kind of trouble? Tell me.
Josh Well, you know those new friends that I’ve been hanging around with after school?
Max Yes, and I don’t know why. They’re not your friends, and they’re a bit scary.
Josh I know, I know. I just thought they were cool, you know. And they started talking to me and I was flattered.
Max So, what happened?
Josh Well, the other day we went to the shops and they stole something, and then they dared me to steal something as well.
Max Oh, no. But you didn’t, did you?
Josh Well, that’s the thing ___ I did. I don’t know why. Well ___ I do. It was because they were making me, and I was a bit scared of them. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, now they’re saying that I have to steal something for them every week, or they’ll tell dad ___
Max What?
Josh ___ and he’ll be so upset and disappointed with me! I don’t know what to do.
Max Hang on a minute. First of all, you can’t do what these guys are saying. You’ll end up doing worse and worse things. You have to get out of it now. What did you steal?
Josh Some cans of drink ___
Max Look, this is what I think. First of all, I think you should tell your dad. Tell him all about it.
Josh But he’ll be furious.
Max He’ll be more upset if he finds out later on. And he can help you deal with those boys. I think he’ll understand more than you think.
Josh But I’m really scared of them.
Max I know. But there’s nothing you can do about it on your own. You need help from somewhere – school or the police, maybe.
Josh Oh no ___
Max Look, I’ll come with you and we’ll tell your dad.
Josh Would you? That would be brilliant. He likes you. That would help a great deal.
Max Yep, after school today. Come on, we’re late for chemistry ___
Extra exercises
Strategy
Remember the questions in this task may ask you to define the gist of the text, identify the intention of the speaker(s), determine the context of the text, or distinguish fact from opinion.
1. Read the Strategy and look at exercise 2. What are the questions asking you to do: define the gist, identify intention, determine context, or distinguish fact from opinion?
Show answers
1) distinguish fact from opinion 2) determine context
3) define the gist
2. You will hear three texts twice. Choose the correct option, A, B, or C.
Text 1
1) Which of the following is stated in the talk as a fact and not an opinion?
a The police will only pay a visit if more than one complaint has been made.
b People should be quiet for eight hours every night.
c Neighbours must be warned about noisy birthday parties in advance.
Text 2
2) Where does the conversation take place?
a Outside a block of flats.
b In somebody’s living room.
c Inside a lift
Text 3
3) Why have the woman’s neighbours complained about her hedge?
a It makes their houses extremely dark.
b It is two or three metres higher than it should be.
c It blocks the view from their windows.
Show answers
1) B 2) C 3) A
Transcript
1)
Can I have your attention, please? Thank you. As you know, we’re here tonight to talk about noisy neighbours, and what we can do about them. According to the UK Noise Act of 1996, a neighbourhood should be quiet at night – that is, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Now, it really isn’t worth complaining if your neighbour has a birthday party once a year. As far as I’m concerned, it’s when the noise occurs on a regular basis that you have the right to take action. The best way of dealing with the problem is having a friendly chat with the person or people involved. Personally, I wouldn’t involve the police unless the neighbour refuses to co-operate.
2)
Dave Um. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m, Dave, your new neighbour.
Megan Yes, I know. I’m Megan.
Dave Which flat are you in?
Megan I’m in 4A with husband, Alex.
Dave Right. In case, it’s just me and dog, Sam.
Megan Ah, yes. The dog.
Dave What’s wrong? Sam hasn’t been bothering you, has he?
Megan I’m afraid he has. He barks incessantly all day. He really is quite a nuisance.
Dave Well, there isn’t much I can do about that, I’m afraid. I have to go to work.
Megan Of course you do, but listen to him now! The doors haven’t opened yet, and you can hear him already. You have to do something about it.
3)
A resident of a quiet Scottish village has been ordered to cut back her thirteen-metre-high garden hedge after a dispute that has lasted for over thirty years. Catriona MacGregor of Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire, stopped cutting back the hedge around ten years after it was planted, and since then it has grown out of control. Neighbours complained that the hedge prevented sunlight from reaching their houses, with one neighbour having to keep the lights on all day. Miss MacGregor has until October to cut the hedge to a reasonable height – between two and three metres, according to the judge’s ruling. If she refuses to comply with the order, Stirling Council will go onto her property, cut back the hedge and issue Miss MacGregor with the bill.