Shadowing Practice: First day at work |listening Test Real listening with answers #listeningtest - Learn English Speaking with Video

Cambridge 19 Listening Test 4.

You will hear a number of different recordings.

All the recordings will be played once only.

The test is in four parts.

You will have 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

Now turn to Section 1.

First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

show you what you're going to do today.

The email I received said to go to the front desk to show my letter of appointment and pick up my badge.

You'll need that for the staff room and other areas of the supermarket where shoppers aren't allowed.

So after you've finished at the front desk, I'll take you to the staff room.

Put your coat and rucksack in one of the lockers there.

Take whichever one is free.

Will I have a key?

Yes.

Try not to lose it.

At the end of the day, leave it in the door for the next person to use. Will do.

You also need to go to the HR department to see Tiffany.

She's really helpful.

I was told to bring my passport with me.

HR need to take a note of the number in it.

That's right.

Or you can show your ID card.

I don't have one of those.

Okay.

Tiffany will give you a uniform.

They have lots and different sizes, so you just tell her what you need.

I won't come with you to HR.

I've got to go and sort something else out.

Problem with a bread slicer.

Is the HR office near the staff room?

The staff room's on the first floor and HR are a couple of floors above that.

On the third floor.

There's a staircase outside the staff room.

Okay.

When you've finished with HR, come and find me in the bakery section of the shop.

I'm looking forward to getting started.

I'll just give you my phone number in case you can't find me.

Have you got your phone there?

Yes.

Okay, ready.

It's 0412-665-903.

Okay, done.

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.

So, Charlotte, your tasks today are in the bakery section, on the sushi counter, and on the meat and fish counters.

The first job is to check sell-by dates on the bread and cakes.

If any of the dates are today's, put a new price label on the packaging.

What if any of the labels are yesterday's dates or older?

Do I throw those items away?

Yes, but that shouldn't happen.

We check the stock every day.

When something needs a new price label, put a yellow one on the package next to the original price.

OK.

After that, you'll go to the sushi takeaway counter.

Will I be preparing boxes of food?

For today, you'll just be helping the staff.

Yes, of course.

You'll see lots of flat cardboard boxes at one end of the counter.

Beneath those is where we keep the plastic boxes.

We run out of those really quickly, so you should bring more from the storeroom.

Is that my only task on the sushi counter?

Number you also need to clean the area where they prepare the dishes.

There are cloths and bottles of spray by the sink.

Oh, and please make sure you clean that too.

Sure, that's important, isn't it?

Absolutely, but you mustn't wash up knives.

You have to do some training before you're allowed to touch sharp objects.

What should I do if there are any?

Ask someone to put them in the dishwasher.

Okay, thanks.

I don't want to get anything wrong.

Don't worry, you'll be fine.

And I'll be around to help.

Right.

Finally, the meat and fish counters.

You need to clean the area where staff serve customers, including wiping the weighing scales.

OK, anything else?

The fish is laid on ice, but when that starts to melt, you'll need to get more from the cold room.

I know the staff on the food counters wear a hat.

Will that be the same for me?

You won't be serving customers directly, so no. But make sure you put on thermal gloves when you take anything out of the cold room.

The temperature's low enough in there to get frostbite from touching things.

Understood.

That is the end of part one.

You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Now turn to part two.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.

Now listen and answer questions 11 to 14.

My name's Liz Fuller and I'm a running coach with Compton Park Runners Club.

Welcome to my podcast.

If you're thinking about taking up running, I'm here to help.

There are many training programs available online which aim to help people build up to running 5 kilometers.

Some of them are great, and thousands of people of all ages are taking part in 5-kilometer races across the country as a result.

People like them because they're easy to follow and don't push them too hard.

However, they don't work for everyone, especially if you suffer from something like a heart condition

or asthma because they're aimed at people with average fitness and running ability.

Another thing is that everyone is different and if you have any specific questions related to your needs,

100

there's no one to provide any answers.

101

I have a couple of simple tips I always give to new runners.

102

I expect you've been told to run very slowly until your fitness increases.

103

Well, I find that can prevent progress.

104

You should run at a speed that feels comfortable, but time yourself and try to run a bit faster each time.

105

Listening to music can be very helpful.

106

It takes your mind off things and helps your body get into a rhythm.

107

I'd say that is better than running with a friend,

108

especially as most people are competitive and that's not what you want when you're just starting.

109

I don't think the time of day is especially important.

110

Some people are better in the evening while others are morning people.

111

but you need to be consistent.

112

So aim to train regularly.

113

Twice a week is enough to begin with.

114

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.

115

Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

116

New members often say to me that they've been put off running either

117

because they lack confidence or they don't have time or they think they dislike running.

118

Sari, for example, joined the club two years ago at the age of 40.

119

She'd always enjoyed running at school, but wasn't sure if she'd be able to do it.

120

She was worried about being left behind and being the slowest runner.

121

But she says she was made to feel so welcome, she soon forgot all about that.

122

James had always hated the idea of running, but a friend encouraged him to come along for a taster session, and he hasn't looked back.

123

He never misses a training session, despite having a really demanding job.

124

Leo was worried about having to commit himself to training sessions every week

125

and wasn't sure he'd be able to fit training into his busy schedule.

126

But after experiencing a lot of stress at work, he came along to us and gave it a go.

127

Now, he says he feels much more relaxed and he looks forward to his weekly run.

128

Mark is quite typical of our new members.

129

He's never considered himself to be a sporty person,

130

and it was only when he retired that he decided to take up the challenge of trying to run five kilometers.

131

It took him months to find the courage to contact us,

132

but felt reassured immediately as there were other people his age who were only just taking up running for the first time.

133

My own journey hasn't been easy.

134

I did my first marathon when I was 37 after having had two kids.

135

My husband had been running marathons for years, but I never dreamed I'd be doing one with him.

136

I managed to complete it in four hours, but I felt like giving up halfway through.

137

It was only the support of the spectators that kept me going.

138

I do think signing up for a race of whatever length is motivating, whether it's 5K or 25K,

139

because it's good to have something to work towards, and it gives you a sense of achievement.

140

I did my first 10K after only six months,

141

which was certainly very challenging and not something I'd necessarily recommend.

142

But after you've been training for a few weeks, it's worth putting your name down for a 5K.

143

Some people find they only need a few practice runs before taking part in a race.

144

But I'd give yourself a couple of months at least.

145

Well, I hope that's given.

146

That is the end of part two.

147

You now have half a minute to check your answers.

148

Now turn to part three.

149

First, take some time to read questions 21 to 25.

150

Now listen and answer questions 21 to 25.

151

So, Jane, you'll be off to Denmark soon to do your work placement.

152

Yes, I'm really looking forward to it, and I've just started packing up all my books to put in storage.

153

Well, I hope they don't get spoiled.

154

It's OK.

155

My grandfather works in a bookshop and he told me how to pack them.

156

Oh, that's helpful.

157

He says you have to support the spine, otherwise the paper can come away from the cover.

158

Yeah, that's obvious.

159

He also told me to pack them flat in the box, not on their side.

160

Again, because they can bend.

161

And if you leave them like that for, say, a year, it's quite hard to get them back to their normal shape.

162

Well, it's pretty clear that ruins them, but a lot of people just can't be bothered to protect their books.

163

He always says it's such a shame that publishers don't use better quality paper.

164

It's the acid in the paper that causes the problem, isn't it?

165

Yeah, that's why old books go yellow.

166

You know, some of the books my grandfather's given me are like that already.

167

Oh.

168

I should dump them really if they're going to deteriorate further, but I'd feel bad.

169

They'll always remind me of him.

170

He's quite a collector, you know.

171

Well, if they're important to you?

172

Yeah, I'd regret just throwing them away.

173

You know, maybe it's because I was taught to treasure books.

174

But I hate seeing students force open the pages.

175

Of paperbacks, they press so hard they end up breaking the spine.

176

I know, but unfortunately, paperbacks aren't designed to last a long time and people know that.

177

Hardbacks aren't quite as weak.

178

Yeah, they're different I suppose, but I still don't think people value hardbacks like they used to.

179

Well, they aren't decorative, are they?

180

Like other objects.

181

Plus, nowadays, people don't keep them out on shelves as much as they used to.

182

That's such a pity.

183

When I visit someone, if they have, say, a colorful book on a table, it's the first thing I'm drawn to.

184

I agree.

185

And book covers can be a work of art in themselves.

186

Some are really eye-catching.

187

I've always been taught to handle books carefully.

188

If you watch someone take a book off a shelf, well, they usually do it wrong.

189

Ah, my grandfather says, you should put your hand right over the top of the book.

190

Or, if you can't do that, pull the other books on the shelf aside so that you can hold the whole cover.

191

When did you learn all this?

192

He watched me pull a heavy book off the shelf when I was small, and it fell on the floor and broke apart.

193

Oh dear, I can still remember it.

194

You know what I really like?

195

What?

196

The smell of new books.

197

Me too.

198

My parents used to laugh at me when I was a kid because I loved putting books up to my nose, almost as much as reading them.

199

New books aren't cheap though, are they?

200

I guess we're lucky we can buy them.

201

My grandfather stocks second-hand books as well as new ones and they don't smell quite as good.

202

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.

203

Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

204

I'd love to have a bookshop like your grandfather.

205

What's it like?

206

Well, it's quite big.

207

It's got two floors and an attic.

208

And he stocks all kinds of books, really.

209

I guess he treasures things like first editions and other rare books.

210

Yeah.

211

You might think he'd keep those in the attic or somewhere.

212

So they'd be hidden.

213

Yeah.

214

But he likes people to know that he has them.

215

So he puts them out in the shop, but makes sure you need a ladder to get them.

216

Right.

217

That would prevent any thefts.

218

Does he stock books for children?

219

He does.

220

He particularly likes to encourage kids to read.

221

He always says

222

that he used to sit under the stairs as a child with a pile of books and read them all.

223

Is that where he keeps them then?

224

Not exactly.

225

He's got a dedicated area on the ground floor with cushions so that parents can enter with their toddlers,

226

go there and spend some time reading to them.

227

Oh, cool.

228

And then there's a place for push chairs by the front door and a cafe if anyone needs refreshments.

229

That's good to know.

230

As I said, it's a big shop and there's a storage area out the back as well.

231

Well, what does he keep there?

232

Books he wants to throw away.

233

He hardly ever throws anything away.

234

He just leaves unwanted books by the front door for customers to take.

235

Well, that's very nice.

236

Yeah, and books people or institutions have requested, they all go at the far end.

237

Oh.

238

He thinks it's best to keep these out of the main shopping area as they're boxed and new.

239

Did you get your course books from him?

240

Naturally.

241

He stocks books for a lot of the colleges.

242

He used to keep these books on the first floor, but now there's a new university in my hometown.

243

He's moved them downstairs to attract the students.

244

They're actually part of the coffee shop on low shelves all around it.

245

Pretty central then.

246

You'll have to take me there sometime.

247

That is the end of part three.

248

You now have half a minute to check your answers.

249

Now turn to part four.

250

First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

251

Thank you.

252

31 to 40.

253

Tree planting now dominates political and popular agendas and is often presented as an easy answer to the climate crisis,

254

as well as a way for business corporations to offset their carbon emissions.

255

But unfortunately, tree planting isn't as straightforward as some people think.

256

When the wrong trees are planted in the wrong place, it can do considerably more damage than good,

257

failing to help either people or the environment.

258

Reforestation projects are currently being undertaken on a huge scale in many countries,

259

and it's crucial that the right trees are selected.

260

A mix of species should always be planted, typical of the local natural forest ecosystem,

261

and including rare and endangered species in order to create a rich ecosystem.

262

It's important to avoid non-native species that could become invasive.

263

Invasive species are a significant contributor to the current global biodiversity crisis

264

and are often in competition with native species and may threaten their long-term survival.

265

Restoring biodiversity that will maximize carbon capture is key when reforesting an area.

266

But ideally, any reforestation project should have several goals.

267

These could include selecting trees that can contribute to wildlife conservation, improve the availability of food for the local community,

268

and maintain the stability of soil systems.

269

Meeting as many of these goals as possible whilst doing no harm to local communities,

270

native ecosystems and vulnerable species is the sign of a highly successful tree planting scheme.

271

To ensure the survival and resilience of a planted forest, it's vital to use tree seeds with appropriate levels of genetic diversity.

272

The amount of genetic variation found within a species essential for their survival.

273

Using seeds with low genetic diversity generally lowers the resilience of restored forests,

274

which can make them vulnerable to disease and unable to adapt to climate change.

275

Choosing the right location for reforestation projects is as important as choosing the right trees.

276

Ultimately, the best area for planting trees would be in formerly forested areas that are in poor condition.

277

It's better to avoid non-forested landscapes, such as natural grasslands, savannas,

278

or wetlands, as these ecosystems already contribute greatly to capturing carbon.

279

It would also be advantageous to choose an area where trees could provide other benefits, such as recreational spaces.

280

Reforesting areas which are currently exploited for agriculture should be avoided as this often leads to other areas being deforested.

281

Large-scale reforestation projects require careful planning.

282

Making the right decisions about where to plant trees depends on having the right information.

283

Having detailed and up-to-date maps identifying high priority areas for intervention is essential.

284

Drone technology is a useful tool in helping to prioritize and monitor areas of degraded forest for restoration.

285

In Brazil, it's being used to identify

286

and quantify how parts of the Amazon are being devastated by human activities such as rearing cattle and illegal logging.

287

A good example of where the right trees were picked to achieve a restored forest is in Lampang Province in northern Thailand.

288

A previously forested site which had been degraded through mining was reforested by a cement company together with Chiang Mai University.

289

After spreading 60 centimeters of topsoil, they planted 14 different native tree species, which included several species of fig.

290

Figs are a keystone species because of the critical role they play in maintaining wildlife populations.

291

They are central to tropical reforestation projects as they accelerate the speed of the recovery process by attracting animals

292

and birds which act as natural seed dispersers.

293

This helps to promote diversity through the healthy regrowth of a wide range of plant species.

294

Unlike the majority of fruit trees, figs bear fruit all year round, providing a reliable food source for many species.

295

At this site, for example, after only three rainy seasons, monkeys started visiting to eat the fig fruits,

296

naturally dispersing seeds through defecation.

297

Reforestation projects should always aim to make sure that local communities are consulted and involved in the decision-making process.

298

The restoration of mangrove forests in Madagascar is an example of a project

299

which has succeeded in creating real benefits for the community.

300

Destruction of the mangrove forests had a terrible impact on plant and animal life and also badly affected the fishing industry,

301

which was a major source of employment for local people living in coastal areas.

302

The reforestation project involved hiring local people to plant and care for the new mangrove trees.

303

Millions of mangrove trees have now been planted, which has resulted in the return of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

304

The mangroves also act as a defense against the increased threat of flooding caused by climate change.

305

What's more, the local economy is more stable, and thousands more Madagascans are now able to send their children to school.

306

One other important point to consider.

307

That is the end of part four.

308

You now have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

309

Thank you.

310

Thank you.

311

Thank you.

312

Thank you.

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.

Shadowing Practice: First day at work |listening Test Real listening with answers #listeningtest - Learn English Speaking with Video

First Day at Work: A Real-Life Listening & Speaking Scenario

Useful Chunks & Collocations to Boost Your Fluency

Your Shadowing Challenge: Speak Like a Native

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?