Shadowing Practice: CAMBRIDGE 1 LISTENING TEST 1 WITH ANSWERS - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS 1 by Vanessa Jakeman and Claire McDowell.
2
Published by Cambridge University Press, 1996.
3
This recording is copyright.
4
Tasset 1, side 1.
5
Practice Test 1.
6
You will hear a number of different recordings, and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.
7
There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions, and you will have a chance to check your work.
8
All the recordings will be played once only.
9
The test is in four sections.
10
Write all your answers in the listening question booklet.
11
At the end of the test, you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.
12
Now turn to section one of your question booklet.
13
Section one.
14
You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman and a police officer.
15
First, look at questions 1 to 5.
16
For each of the questions, four alternatives are given.
17
Decide which of the alternatives, A, B, C or D, best fits what you hear on the tape and circle the appropriate letter.
18
You will see that there is an example which has been done for you.
19
On this occasion only, the conversation relating to the example will be played first.
20
Good evening, City Blue Station.
21
Can I help you?
22
Oh, hello.
23
I'd like to report a stolen briefcase, please.
24
Just a minute and I'll put you through.
25
The woman says she wants to report a stolen briefcase.
26
So A has been circled.
27
Now we shall begin.
28
You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.
29
Now listen carefully to the first part of the conversation and answer questions 1 to 5 Good evening,
30
City Blue Station.
31
Can I help you?
32
Oh, hello.
33
I'd like to report a stolen briefcase, please.
34
Just a minute and I'll put you through.
35
Lost property, can I help you?
36
Oh, yes I've had my briefcase stolen Okay, I'll take some details Tell me what it looks like,
37
first of all Well, it's a soft leather one You know,
38
not a heavy box type like a man's And how does it close?
39
It's got buckles at the front Two of them They're gold-plated ones Fine Was it locked?
40
No, I'm afraid not Never mind Any distinguishing features?
41
Pardon?
42
Any marks or badges on it that make it stand out?
43
Only the brand name And where's that?
44
It's on the back At the bottom in the left hand corner It's saggy Oh, and there's a scratch It's quite bad,
45
but small Directly above the brand name I did it recently putting it on my bike I've got that.
46
So, what did you have inside the briefcase?
47
Well, all my papers from college.
48
It's so frustrating, but thank goodness for computers.
49
I haven't lost them completely.
50
Yes, you're lucky.
51
I had my wallet in my pocket, so I didn't lose that.
52
But there were also my pens, which I got for my birthday, and a novel I was planning to read on the train.
53
Right.
54
Where exactly did you lose the briefcase?
55
Well, I couldn't believe it.
56
I was standing on the platform.
57
It was right next to me.
58
You were holding it?
59
I'd just put it down on the floor, but I could almost feel it beside me.
60
I was watching for my train because sometimes it comes early, and then next time I looked, my briefcase wasn't there.
61
And what time was this?
62
Er, it was...
63
It must have been about 5.20.
64
No, a bit later.
65
I'd say 5.30 because it was just getting crowded and the train normally comes at about 25 to 6.
66
Before they continue their conversation, look at questions 6 to 10.
67
As you listen to the rest of the conversation, complete the form by filling in the numbered spaces 6 to 10.
68
Right, if you'll just give me some personal details.
69
Yes?
70
What name is it?
71
I'm Mary Prescott.
72
Can you spell that?
73
Yes, it's P-R-E-S-C-O-T.
74
And your address?
75
Flat 2, 41 Fountain Road, Canterbury.
76
Fountain Road?
77
Yes, number 41.
78
And have you got a contact telephone number?
79
Yes, it's 752239.
80
752239. Fine.
81
One last question.
82
What would you say the value of your briefcase is?
83
Including the contents?
84
Yes.
85
Just a rough estimate is fine.
86
I'm not sure.
87
Well, the briefcase itself is quite new.
88
I bought it last month for £40.
89
I suppose about £65.
90
The contents are worth about £20 or £25 at least.
91
That's fine.
92
Well, if you could come down to the station tomorrow, you can sign this form and have a look at what we've got here.
93
Okay, thanks.
94
Bye.
95
Goodbye.
96
That is the end of Section 1.
97
You now have half a minute to check your answers.
98
Now turn to section 2 Section 2 You are going to hear a news report from an Australian radio programme
99
First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 13 So,
100
I'll listen to the news headlines and tick the three other items which I mentioned.
101
This is the 6 o'clock news for Tuesday the 25th of November.
102
And first the headlines.
103
The Prime Minister has promised to help the drought-stricken farmers in
104
the northern part of the country who haven't seen rain for nearly two years.
105
And in Sydney, a group of schoolchildren are successfully rescued from a plane which landed in the sea shortly after take-off.
106
Transport workers are on strike in Melbourne over a pay claim and the strike looks set to spread to other states.
107
And on a fashionable note, there's to be a new look for the staff of Qantas, Australia's national airline.
108
Now you have some time to look at questions 14 to 21.
109
As you listen to the rest of the news, complete the notes and the spaces provided.
110
The Prime Minister has pledged today
111
that he will make $250 million available to help the drought-stricken farmers
112
who have not seen rain for years get through the next five years.
113
Money
114
that was to have been spent on the restructuring of Sydney's
115
road system has been reallocated to what the Prime Minister described as a more worthy cause.
116
Farmers are to receive financial assistance to help see them through the worst drought in over 50 years.
117
Many farmers feel that while the money is welcome, it has come too late to save them and their farms from financial ruin, and are angry that the government did not act sooner.
118
A group of school children, who were travelling in a privately chartered aeroplane from Sydney to Queensland to take part in a musical concert,
119
found themselves swimming for the shore
120
when their aeroplane had to land in the sea just three minutes after taking off from Sydney Airport.
121
The pilot managed to bring the aircraft and its 50 passengers down safely in the calm waters of Botany Bay, where boats and pleasure craft were able to come to the rescue of the boys.
122
The fact that it was a weekend meant that there were hundreds of boats in the bay enjoying the good weather, and this undoubtedly helped the rescue operation.
123
We owe our lives to the skill of the pilot, said one of the boys, but the pilot replied modestly that it was all part of a day's work.
124
However, all their musical instruments were lost, and they never got to play at the concert.
125
That is the end of Section 2.
126
You now have half a minute to check your answers.
127
Now turn to section 3.
128
Section 3.
129
In this section, you will hear a conversation between a university student and a university lecturer.
130
Look at questions 22 to 25.
131
For each of the questions, four alternatives are given.
132
Decide which of the alternatives best fits what you hear on the tape, and circle the appropriate letter.
133
Hello.
134
Can I come in?
135
Oh, yes, come in.
136
How can I help you?
137
I was looking for the economics office.
138
I've been all over the arts faculty building looking for it, but I could only find the School of Accounting and Economic History.
139
Is this the right place?
140
Yes, this is the School of Economics.
141
Oh, good.
142
Um, I'm a new student, and I was wondering if someone could give me some information.
143
Well, I might be able to help.
144
I lecture on that programme.
145
What do you need to know?
146
Quite a few things, actually.
147
Firstly, how many lectures a week do I have to attend?
148
Oh, well, the Economics 1 course is a double unit.
149
So there are two lectures a week and one tutorial.
150
The lectures are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.
151
What time?
152
Oh, let me see.
153
Um, you know, this information is all in the handout, which you should have received yesterday at the orientation meeting.
154
Uh, oh, was there a meeting yesterday?
155
I didn't know about that.
156
No one mentioned...
157
Yes, there was.
158
But never mind.
159
Now, lectures are at four in the afternoon.
160
Oh, four's a bit late.
161
I've got a part-time job that starts at 4.30.
162
Well, you can't go in two places at once, can you?
163
And attendance at lectures is necessary.
164
We expect at least 90% attendance at this university, you know?
165
90%?
166
That's high.
167
Do they enforce that rule?
168
Yes, we do.
169
We're pretty strict about it, actually.
170
And what times have been set down for the tutorials?
171
Do you have that information?
172
That's a very well-attended course, so there's a number of tutorial times.
173
Um, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, all at nine o'clock.
174
Yours will be allocated at the first lecture.
175
Can't I choose the time?
176
Maybe, maybe not.
177
You'll have to talk to the lecturer on the course.
178
Dr. Roberts is his name.
179
Oh, okay.
180
Now look at questions 26 to 31.
181
Thank you.
182
provided.
183
Anything else I can help you with while you're here?
184
Well, yes, actually.
185
Do you know what the course requirements are?
186
I mean, how much work is expected for this course?
187
Well, you have to complete a tutorial paper.
188
What does that involve?
189
Well, it's a piece of work on a given topic based on some set reading tests.
190
You'll have to give a small talk to your tutorial group.
191
Oh, how long does that have to be?
192
Oh, about 25 minutes, usually.
193
I have to talk for 25 minutes?
194
Yes, that's fine.
195
And then you have to write up your piece of work and give it to the lecturer to be marked.
196
Right.
197
And is that all?
198
No. You also have to complete a 3,000-word essay on a topic.
199
Can I choose the topic?
200
Yes.
201
Usually you can.
202
Right.
203
That shouldn't be too bad.
204
And in addition to that, there is an exam.
205
An exam?
206
What sort of exam?
207
Well, it's an open book exam.
208
Does that mean I can have the textbook with me during the exam?
209
Yes, that's right.
210
And can you give me any idea about the content of the first year of economics, so that I can get into some reading?
211
Well, you'll be getting the reading list next week when lectures start.
212
All the books are in the library.
213
Yes, but won't everyone else take them out as soon as they get the reading list, too?
214
Well, yes, they might.
215
But most of the important ones are held in closed reserves.
216
That's a part of the library where you can go to read books, but you can't take them out of the building.
217
What did you call that section of the library?
218
Closed reserve.
219
However, we do recommend that you buy the core books.
220
You'll find them useful and you'll need them for the exam.
221
Yes, I suppose I will.
222
But what is the focus of the course?
223
Well, the course at this university has a vocational focus.
224
That is, a focus on preparing its graduates for work.
225
So we're orientated very much towards employment.
226
Oh, so my chances of getting a job are good.
227
Well, provided you get good results.
228
Well, look, thanks for your time.
229
You've been really helpful.
230
That's fine.
231
See you next week, then.
232
That is the end of Section 3.
233
You now have half a minute to check your answers.
234
Now turn to section 4.
235
Section 4 You will hear a talk given by a university lecturer about the structure of the university.
236
First, look at questions 32 to 36.
237
Now listen and answer questions 32 to 36.
238
Good morning and welcome to the University of Westlands.
239
My name is Marcia Mayhew and I'm the coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Science degree.
240
This morning I'd like to tell you about the structure of the university
241
and about some of the requirements of the degree that you're about to enter.
242
The Bachelor of Social Science is in one faculty within the university.
243
That is the faculty where I work, known as Arts and Social Sciences.
244
Here on this campus we also have the faculties of Architecture, Law and Science and Technology, among others.
245
It's important to know something about the structure of the faculty because as you go through your course, you may need to call on members of the staff to help you.
246
At the top of the faculty, we have a dean, and below the dean, we have three divisions.
247
Each division has a divisional head, and your degree is located in the Division of Social Sciences.
248
Within each of the divisions, there are the departments, and each of these offers the different degrees.
249
For instance, two of the departments which offer the major subjects for your award are sociology and psychology.
250
Each has a departmental head, but for practical purposes,
251
the people you are going to see the most of are myself as coordinator of the social sciences degree,
252
and the actual lecturers who are teaching the subjects that you are taking.
253
For instance, in the first semester, you'll be doing four subjects.
254
Psychology, Sociology, History and Economics.
255
If you have any problems or difficulties, not that I'm anticipating you will, but you never know, then you should go and see your lecturers.
256
For instance, you may find that you can't meet a deadline for an essay or perhaps you're having problems with attendance.
257
These seem to be the two most common problems that students face.
258
Now look at questions 37 to 41.
259
Thank you.
260
As you listen to the rest of the talk, answer the questions 37 to 41.
261
If your lecturers are unavailable, you can always come and see me in my office.
262
I'm available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings and on Friday afternoons.
263
Outside these hours, perhaps you could ring the secretary and make an appointment.
264
Now, you'll note that all of the subjects which you undertake in the first year are composed of lectures and tutorials.
265
A lecture is about an hour long, and a tutorial usually runs for about two hours.
266
A lecture is rather like what I'm doing now, where one person will talk to all of you together on a subject.
267
Now, we do ask you to try to attend the lectures.
268
A tutorial is perhaps where most of the learning occurs at a university.
269
You will be divided into groups of between 12 and 15 students,
270
and each week one of you will have to present a piece of work to the group as a whole, and then the group will discuss what you've said.
271
It's this discussion, this exchange of ideas which really constitutes the basis of university learning in my view.
272
Listening to lectures in many ways is just giving you information that you could access for yourself in the library.
273
But the discussion at the tutorial is very important.
274
This doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to the lectures though.
275
Other factors to be particularly concerned about are the structure of essays
276
and delivery of written material and in particular I would like to mention the question of plagiarism.
277
Plagiarism is taking other people's work without acknowledging it.
278
That is, without saying where it comes from.
279
Now of course all essays are based on research done by other people
280
but you must remember to attribute the work to the original writer.
281
And while it's a good idea to work with other people, don't hand in work which is exactly the same as your friends work
282
because we will notice
283
if you don't acknowledge the source of your information then you run the risk of failing the subject
284
or in very serious cases you might be denied entry to the University last
285
but not least stay in touch with us
286
if things are getting you down don't go and hide come and talk to us about it that's what we're here for.
287
Right.
288
Thank you very much for coming along today.
289
That is the end of Section 4.
290
You now have half a minute to check your answers.
291
That is the end of the listening test.
292
You now have ten minutes to transfer your answers to the listening answer sheet.
293
Thank you.
294
Thank you.
✨ Recommend Video
B24
315 sentences
IELTS Listening Cambridge 1 Test 1 | Full Audio + Answers
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B21
279 sentences
Cambridge 20 listening test 02|Full clear audio with answer key|Comment your score...🌸
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B21
665 sentences
Complete IELTS Bands 5 6 5 Workbook Mark Harrison
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B21
309 sentences
IELTS Listening 2023 with Answers | IDP & British Council Exam
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B21
305 sentences
CAMBRIDGE BOOK 20 LISTENING TEST 4 || RECENT LISTENING TESTS WITH ANSWERS 2025 ||
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
231 sentences
IELTS CAMBRIDGE LISTENING BOOK 18 TEST 3 WITH ANSWERS
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B25
267 sentences
Transport Form Highgate Village Listening Test
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepCambridge Exam Prep
B25
302 sentences
Cambridge 10 Listening test 1 #ieltslistening #cambridge #ielts #listening
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B112
129 sentences
Cambridge IELTS 1-Test 1
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
242 sentences
Cambridge 19 IELTS Listening Test 1 with Answers | Hinchingbrooke Country Park
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
262 sentences
Cambridge IELTS 16 Listening Test 4 with answer | #ieltslistening
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
C11
307 sentences
Cambridge 16 Listening Test 1 with Answer | #english #ieltslistening
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 293 sentences and 2798 words to shadow. The speech runs for 26:53. The speaker talks slowly, about 104 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- lecture /ˈlɛk.t͡ʃə/ (noun) — A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group.
- tutorial /ˌtjuːˈtɔːɹɪəl/ (noun) — A self-paced learning exercise; a lesson prepared so that a student can learn at their own speed or convenience.
- lecturer /ˈlɛkt͡ʃəɹə/ (noun) — A person who gives lectures, especially as a profession.
- faculty /ˈfæk.əl.ti/ (noun) — The academic staff at schools, colleges, universities or not-for-profit research institutes, as opposed to the students or support staff.
- examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ (noun) — The act of examining.
- economics /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/ (noun) — The study of resource and wealth allocation, consumption, and distribution, of capital and investment, and of management of the factors of production.
- steal /stiːl/ (verb) — To take illegally, or without the owner's permission, something owned by someone else without intending to return it.
- essay /ˈɛs.eɪ/ (noun) — A written composition of moderate length, exploring a particular issue or subject.
- farmer /ˈfɑɹ.mɚ/ (noun) — A person who works the land and/or who keeps livestock; anyone engaged in agriculture on a farm.
- topic /ˈtɑpɪk/ (noun) — A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
- rescue /ˈɹɛs.kjuː/ (verb) — To save from any violence, danger or evil.
- attendance /əˈtɛn.dəns/ (noun) — The act of attending; the state of being present; presence.
- drought /ˈdɹaʊ̯t/ (noun) — A period of unusually low rainfall, longer and more severe than a dry spell.
- tape /teɪ̯p/ (noun) — Flexible material in a roll with a sticky surface on one or both sides; adhesive tape.
- telephone /ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/ (noun) — A telecommunication device which converts data or sounds (usually speech) into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to…
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- look at (verb) — To observe or watch.
- look for (verb) — To seek.
- come in /ˌkʌm ˈɪn/ (verb) — To enter.
- call on (verb) — To visit (a person); to pay a call to.
- come along (verb) — To accompany.
- come at (verb) — To get to, especially with effort or difficulty.
- come down to (verb) — To reach by moving down or reducing.
- come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 57 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you'll, I'd. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: leather /ˈlɛðɚ/, worthy /ˈwɝ.ði/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, sheet /ʃit/, shortly /ˈʃɔɹtli/, occasion /əˈkeɪ̯ʒən/, shore /ʃɔɹ/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, economics /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/, psychology /saɪˈkɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/, sociology /ˌsoʊsiˈɑləd͡ʒi/, successfully /səkˈsɛs.fə.li/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like lecture, tutorial, lecturer.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has been done · has been circled · haven't lost |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | will be played · will be given · are given |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | example which has · work which is |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.