upper intermediate listening level 6
DESCRIPTION
This is part six in the series. It is good for you to practice listening skills. It is also good for use in the classroom of upper intermediate students.TRANSCRIPT
AmerEnglishLive Free / Speak Free
PRESENTS
Upper Intermediate Listening Level 6
Vocabulary10 words
with exercise
Short Dialogues
10 Dialogues
DialogueCompletion11 dialogues
Long Talks
10 Talks
Short Talks
10 talks
Vocabulary
In this section you will hear a word and a sentence using the word. After which there are two exercises here. The first is a multiple choice and the second is fill in the blank. From this decide which of the answers is the correct meaning for that word.
After you have made your choice click on “Check Answer” button. Use the arrows to back and forth between the exercises and the words and meanings.
When you are ready click the “Continue” button.
Continue
arrogant (adjective) showing too much self-importance or self-worth; overbearing prideMany political and business leaders are very arrogant.
aspire (verb) to hope or dream; especially to hope or work towards a profession or occupationPinocchio aspired to become a real boy.
Vocabulary
compel (verb) force, constrain or coerce; swayThe soldiers were compelled to fight in the war.
concise (adjective) short, brief, not verbose; clear and succinctPlease write a concise essay on the meaning of life.
illusion (noun) a false impression, something that seems to be something that it is notThe magician seems to saw his assistant in half, but it is just an illusion.
impose (verb) establish or apply by authority; force something on someone; selfishly botherThe government imposes taxes on the poor to pay for social programs for the rich.
lenient (adjective)easygoing, lax, tolerant of deviation, permissive, not strictThe teacher accused Bobby's parents of being too lenient with Bobby.
menace (noun) a possible threat or dangerLeaders with too much power can become a menace to the world.
novice (noun) a person new to an activity, a beginnerYou are pretty good for a novice.
overt (adjective) open and observable; not secret or concealedThe politician's disregard for the law was quite overt.
Go to Exercise 1
Exercise 1Fill in the blanks with the best choice for the words in the box.
arrogant aspired compelled concise illusionimpose lenient menace novice overt
1. Richard’s violation of the law was . He didn’t try to hide a thing.
2. The prisoners were to do hard labor 12 hours per day.
3. The judge was rather this time. He gave Richard a suspended sentence.
4. The religious leaders their religion on all of the country’s citizens by instituting a law that required every citizen to pray 20 times per day.
overt
compelled
lenient
imposed
Check Answers
5. The President’s over-confidence and self-importance have led many critics to accuse him of being very .
6. The most common type of mirage is the of water in the desert.
7. Even though Max has been skiing for 10 years, he still considers himself to be a . Perhaps in another 10 years he’ll become an expert.
Check Answers
arrogant aspired compelled concise illusionimpose lenient menace novice overt
arrogant
illusion
novice
Check Answers
8. It’s a good idea to keep your emails . Most people do not have the time or patience to read long emails.
9. Max to become a millionaire. Unfortunately, he barely made enough money to live on.
10. That vicious dog is a to this neighborhood.
arrogant aspired compelled concise illusionimpose lenient menace novice overt
concise
aspired
menace
Go to Exercise 2
Select the word or phrase that is closest in meaning.
1. illusiona sicknessa bad ideaa false impressiona verbal mistake
Check Answer
2. leniant
Check Answer
to owe moneyhonestsafeeasygoingunimportant
3. arrogant
Check Answer
4. compel
Check Answer
politehonestshowing too much self importanceblissful
to forgeto forbidto proveto strengthento rain a lot
5. menace
Check Answer
6. novice
Check Answer
A facial expression of paina young boya mental problema danger
an early snowa frienda child a beginner
7. aspire
Check Answer
8. overt
Check Answer
illegally contrivedengage in warpast duedesire to become
uglyobviousgeneroussober
9. concise
Check Answer
10. impose
Check Answer
wordyclear and briefcorrectinfluential
to selfishly botherto ask to marryto act like someone elseto become important
Dialogue Completion
In this section, you will hear part of a conversation. You will have to choose the best sentence to complete it. Looking at the picture will help you also, but if you need to just click on “Text” to read along.
When you have made your choice click on “Check Answer” to see if you are correct.
When you are ready, just click the “Continue” button.
Continue
1. a. Hi, my name is Yuta.
b. Hi, I’m Kate.
a. Do you live near here?
b. __________________
I’ll be there.
That’s it.
Yes, I do.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer Text
2.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. Are you hungry?
b. Yes, I am.
a. Have some chocolates.
b. _____________________
On Monday.
Thank you.
See you there.
Text
3.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. What did you do this summer?
b. I went to Europe.
a. How was your trip?
b. _____________________
It was wonderful.
With my family.
For 10 days.
Text
4.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. I need a jacket. Can you help me?
b. Sure.
a. Do you like this one?
b. ____________________
It’s cold today.
I don’t have any.
Yeah, it’s great.
Text
5.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. One ticket to Roseville, please.
b. OK. For the next train?
a. Yes. When does it leave?
b. _____________________
To the station.
It took two hours.
At 6:20.
Text
6.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. Where are you going?
b. To the lake.
a. What will you do there?
b. _____________________
It’s sunny today.
I’ll go swimming.
I went this morning.
Text
7.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. Tomorrow’s test will be hard.
b. Let’s study together.
a. OK. Where do you want to study?
b. _____________________
At the library.
I don’t like math.
Pages three and four.
Text
8.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. Dad, I finished my homework.
b. Good.
a. Can I watch TV?
b. _____________________
Yes, I did.
You, too.
Sure.
Text
9.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. Sally and I will go to Joe’s Pizza tonight. Can you come?
b. OK. What time?
a. About six.
b. _____________________
See you then.
From the restaurant.
A little, please.
Text
10.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. What’s your favorite sport, Dean?
b. Basketball.
a. How often do you play?
b. _____________________
Every day.
At school.
With my brother.
Text
11.
1.
2.
3.
Check Answer
a. I left Pete’s birthday present at home.
B. What will you do?
a. I’ll have to go back home and get it.
b. _____________________
At the store.
Near here.
Good idea.
Text
Dialogues
In this part you will hear 10 dialogues followed by 1 question. Listen to the dialogue and the question then chose the correct answer. Remember there is only one correct answer.
If you need to, click on the “Text” button to read as you listen. When you have made you choice click on the “Show Answer” button.
When you are ready just click the “Continue” button.
Continue
1.
Check Answer Text
a. Did you buy a bike, Tom?
b. No. my sister gave me her bike last week.
a. It looks new.
b. Yeah. She bought it two years ago.
1. Last week.
2. Two weeks ago.
3. Last year.
4. Two years ago.
Question: When did Tom’s sister buy the bike?
2.
Check Answer Text
a. I’m home, Mom!
b. Be quiet, David. Your sister is sleeping.
a. Why? It’s four o’clock.
b. She’s sick.
1. David.
2. David’s sister.
3. David’s mother.
4. David’s father.
Question: Who is sick?
3.
Check Answer Text
a. Dad, are you busy?
b. No, Beth. Why?
a. I need a dictionary. Can we go to the bookstore?
b. OK. Get your jacket.
1. Buy a jacket.
2. Go to the library.
3. Get a dictionary.
4. Buy a present.
Question: What does Beth want to do?
4.
Check Answer Text
a. What are your plans for the weekend, Joe?
b. My cousin will visit me.
a. That’s nice. What will you do?
b. We’ll go hiking with my friends.
1. His uncle
2. His aunt
3. His cousin
4. His friends
Question: Who will visit Joe?
5.
Check Answer Text
a. You look sleepy, Billy.
b. I am, Mom. I had to finish a lot of homework last night.
a. Go to bed early tonight.
b. OK.
1. He did his homework.
2. He went to bed early.
3. He helped his mother.
4. He called his teacher.
Question: What did Billy do last night?
6.
Check Answer Text
a. Mr. Turner, is the history test on Friday?
b. No, Alice. It’s on Wednesday.
a. OK. I’ll start studying tonight.
b. Good luck.
1. On Tuesday.
2. On Wednesday.
3. On Thursday.
4. On Friday.
Question: When is the history test?
7.
Check Answer Text
a. Oh no!
b. What’s wrong, Mary?
a. It’s raining, and I don’t have an umbrella.
b. I’ll take you to the train station.
1. She lost her train ticket.
2. She doesn’t have an umbrella.
3. She is late for a meeting.
4. She can’t find the station.
Question: What’s Mary’s problem?
8.
Check Answer Text
a. Is that a new pencil case, Susan?
b. Yes. My friend gave it to me.
a. It’s cute.
b. Thanks.
1. Her friend.
2. Her sister.
3. Her mother.
4. Her father.
Question: Who gave Susan the pencil case?
9.
Check Answer Text
a. Jill, do you want to play soccer after school today?
b. Sorry, I have a dance lesson.
a. How about tomorrow?
b. Sounds good.
1. Going to the park.
2. Study for a test.
3. Play soccer.
4. Have a dance lesson.
Question: What will Jill do after school today?
10.
Check Answer Text
a. When will we meet dad at the airport, Mom?
b. At five.
a. OK.
b. We’ll go out for dinner after that.
1. To the mother’s office.
2. To the boy’s school.
3. To the airport.
4. To a restaurant.
Question: Where will they go first?
Short Talks
In this part you will hear 10 short talks followed by 1 question each. Listen to the talk and the question, then chose the correct answer. Remember there is only one correct answer.
If you need to, click on the “Text” button to read as you listen. When you have made you choice click on the “Show Answer” button.
When you are ready just click the “Continue” button.
Continue
1.
Check Answer Text
Karen and her friend will visit Paris next year. They can’t speak French, but Karen’s brother can. He will teach them some French.
Question: Who can speak French?
1. Karen.
2. Karen’s brother
3. Karen’s mother
4. Karen’s friend
2.
Check Answer Text
Linda’s brother’s birthday is next week. She went to get him a present. He has many CDs and T-shirts, so Linda bought him a book.
Question: What did Linda buy for her brother?
1. A CD.
2. A T-shirt.
3. A bag.
4. A book.
3.
Check Answer Text
I wanted to go shopping with my mother yesterday. She had a cold, so we couldn’t go. We watched TV at home.
Question: Why couldn’t the girl go shopping?
1. She was too busy.
2. Her mother had a cold.
3. The store was closed.
4. It was too late.
4.
Check Answer Text
My class had a party, so I made cookies. There are 15 students in my class. I mad 30 cookies and gave two cookies to everyone.
Question: How many cookies did the boy make?
1. 2
2. 13
3. 15
4. 30
5.
Check Answer Text
My brother works every day from nine to five. He plays tennis on Saturdays. Once a month, we go to a movie.
Question: How often does the girl go to the movie with her brother?
1. Every day.
2. Every Saturday.
3. Once a month.
4. Twice a month.
6.
Check Answer Text
Ken went to China with his parents last month. He enjoyed the food. He couldn’t speak Chinese, so he wants to study it.
Question: What did Ken enjoy in China?
1. The weather.
2. Speaking Chinese.
3. The food.
4. Studying cooking.
7.
Check Answer Text
I have a piano lesson at two today. At three, I’ll meet my friend. Then, at six, I’ll go home and have dinner.
Question: When will the girl meet her friend?
1. At two.
2. At three.
3. At six.
4. At seven.
8.
Check Answer Text
I had a birthday party yesterday, so my friends came to my house. We had cake and played games. I got some presents, too.
Question: What is the boy talking about?
1. His birthday party.
2. His house.
3. Buying presents.
4. Making a cake.
9.
Check Answer Text
Last July, I went to Rome. I went shopping, and I also went to some museums. Next year, I want to visit London.
Question: What does the woman want to do next year?
1. Work at a department store.
2. Work at a museum.
3. Go to Rome.
4. Go to London.
10.
Check Answer Text
My family has three cats. The white one is quiet. The grey one is cute. But my favorite is the black one.
Question: Which cat is quiet?
1. The black one.
2. The white one.
3. The brown one.
4. The gray one.
Long Talks
In this part you will hear 4 long talks followed a series of questions . Listen to the talk and then go to the questions, then chose the correct answer. Remember there is only one correct answer. You can go back and forth between the questions and the talk by using the “up” and “down” arrows.
If you need to, click on the “Text” button to read as you listen. When you have made you choice click on the “Show Answer” button.
When you are ready just click the “Continue” button.
Continue
Earliest recordings of family Christmas found (21st December, 2012)
The National Museum of London has uncovered what it says is the first ever recording of a family Christmas, dating back 110 years. It is of the 1902 family get-together of the Wall family from North London. It is part of 24 recordings made by the family between 1899 and 1917. The recordings are from various family gatherings, including comments made during World War I on sons who were sent to fight. The Wall family used a phonograph machine to put the audio of their special occasions on wax cylinders. Historians at the museum say it is amazing the cylinders have survived as they are very fragile and usually disintegrate over time. They also say the sound quality of the century-old recordings is amazing.The phonograph machine was discovered in the year 2000 by David Brown, 71, in his house near Cambridge. Mr Brown is the great-grandson of Mr Cromwell Wall, who made the recordings. Brown saw no use for the machine and donated it to his local museum, which passed it on to the Museum of London in 2008. It discovered the significance of the wax cylinders and has spent the past four years painstakingly restoring them. The museum said: "We tried to reduce any noise by cleaning the cylinder first with a fine brush that can get in between the groove and once we had the best playback from the cylinder we then digitally cleaned them up". Mr Brown said: "It's incredible how clear the recordings are."
1. How old is the recording of the first family Christmas?a) 1,902 years oldb) 110 years oldc) scientists cannot date itd) dating back two centuries
2. What's the name of the family who is on the recordings?a) Hallb) Mallc) Balld) Wall
3. How many recordings are there in total?a) 22b) 23c) 24d) 25
Check Answer
4. Where were the family sons sent? a) to fight in WWI b) to bed c) to various family gatherings d) to the local store to get some bread
5. What usually happens to wax cylinders as they age? a) they improve in quality b) they disintegrate c) they melt d) they harden
6. Who is David Brown? a) the great-grandson of Cromwell Wall b) the grandson of Cromwell Wall c) the great-great-grandson of Mr. Cromwell Wall d) Cromwell Wall's great-great-great-grandson
Check Answer
7. What did Mr Brown do with the phonograph machine?
a) he kept itb) he auctioned it c) he gave it to a museumd) he sold it to an antique shop
8. When did the National Museum of London get the machine?
a) 2008b) 2009c) 2010d) 2011
9. Why did the museum clean the cylinder?
a) to increase the noiseb) to hear the noisec) to create noised) to reduce the noise
10. What did Mr. Brown say was incredible?
a) the skill of the restorersb) digital recording technologyc) the recordingsd) his family history
Check Answer
Woman marries a bridge (7th July, 2013)Many countries around the world are discussing same-sex marriage. No country is discussing the rights and wrongs of marrying a bridge. But that is what an Australian woman has done. Artist Jodi Rose fell in love with the 600-year-old Le Pont du Diable (the Devil's Bridge) in France and got married to it last month. However, France does not recognise marriages between people and bridges. Nevertheless, 14 guests attended the wedding ceremony to see the happy couple become not man and wife, but bridge and wife. The mayor of the nearby town also came to bless the marriage. Jodi wore a white wedding dress for the occasion. She also had a special ring (which is almost one metre high) made for the bridge. Jodi Rose travels the world visiting bridges. She records the sounds and vibrations they make. She then turns these into experimental music for her "Singing Bridges" project. She said it was love at first sight for the Devil's Bridge. She posted on her blog Bridgeland: "Although he is made of stone…I feel at peace in his strong embrace. He makes me feel connected to the earth." She added that the bridge makes her feel comfortable after travelling non-stop around the world. Ms Rose explained why she married the bridge, saying it was symbolic because she values "the spiritual vibration in everything". She also explained her love for it: "The perfect husband… strong and silent," she said.
1. How many countries are talking about same-sex marriage?a) just a fewb) 14c) manyd) between 10 and 20
2. How many countries are talking about marrying bridges?a) noneb) twoc) 14d) 23
3. How old was the bridge the woman married?a) 600 years oldb) 10 years oldc) 2,000 years oldd) the same age as her
Check Answer
4. How many people went to the wedding?a) noneb) 14c) 600d) over 2,000
5. What was almost a metre high?a) the wedding cakeb) the bridgec) the bride's hatd) a ring
6. What does Jodi do with her recordings?a) study themb) make musicc) sell them to engineersd) keep them at home
Check Answer
7. When did she fall in love with the bridge?
a) at first sightb) on her tenth visitc) 2009d) last week
8. What does the bridge make Jodi feel connected to?
a) a townb) waterc) earthd) a river
9. What kind of vibration in everything does Jodi value?
a) changingb) bigc) non-stopd) spiritual
10. Why is her husband perfect?a) he's "strong and silent"b) he's "dark and moody"c) he's "kind and generous"d) he's "stony and rocky"
Check Answer
Women talk three times more than men (23rd February, 2013)
Researchers in the USA have found that a protein in the brain might explain why women are more talkative than men - three times more chatty, in fact. The research team at the University of Maryland say a "language protein" that goes by the name of Foxp2 is a lot more prevalent in women's brains. The protein was first discovered a decade ago and was deemed to be a key neurological component of speech. The scientists say it is a lot more abundant in girls than boys. They believe the protein is the reason why girls start speaking earlier and more quickly than boys. It also supports claims that women speak about 20,000 words a day, compared to just 7,000 words for the average man.
Research team leader professor Margaret McCarthy said: "This study is one of the first to report a sex difference in the expression of a language-associated protein in humans or animals." She added: "The findings raise the possibility that sex differences in brain and behaviour are more [widespread], and established earlier than previously [thought]." Other scientists have said there is more than one protein responsible for speech and that the research is in its infancy. Readers of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper offered some interesting insights into the chattiness of women. One said women have to talk more because, "men are not good listeners and women must repeat themselves to be heard".
1. What is it in the brain that might explain women's talkativeness?a) a carbohydrateb) an area of "language cells"c) a proteind) an extra part of the brain
2. What's the name of the thing that's more common in women's brains?a) Foxp2b) Fox2pc) 2Foxpd) pFox2
3. For how long have researchers known about he "language protein"?a) 10 daysb) 10 weeksc) 10 monthsd) 10 years
Check Answer
4. What did scientists judge the protein to be an important part of?a) guessing the meaning of unknown wordsb) speechc) listeningd) grammar
5. How many more words a day do women use than men? a) 20,000b) 7,000c) 13,000d) 8,603
6. Who is Margaret McCarthy?a) the world's most talkative womanb) a scientific researcherc) someone who took part in testsd) a language expert
Check Answer
7. How many speech proteins did a different scientist say there were?
a) countless numbersb) just oncec) thousandsd) more than one
8. How old is research into the talkativeness of the sexes?
a) decades oldb) very youngc) 27 years oldd) brand new
9. Why did a newspaper reader say women talk more?
a) men are not good at listeningb) men love to listenc) men like the sound of women's voicesd) it's a competition to outtalk men
10. Why did the reader say women have to repeat themselves?
a) because they love talkingb) to double-check meaningc) because they are womend) so men finally hear what they say
Check Answer
China to build Panama Canal alternative (9th June, 2013)
A Chinese company is going to build a new shipping route through Central America. Nicaragua has given the company a $40 billion contract to construct a canal across the country. It will join the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This means there will be two waterways to connect the two oceans. The other one is the Panama Canal, which opened in 1914. The new waterway in Nicaragua will be bigger and longer than the 77-km-long Panama Canal. A spokesman said much bigger ships would pass through Nicaragua's canal – twice the size of those that currently use the Panama Canal. The name of the company that will build the canal is still a secret. However, it will have a 100-year contract to maintain the project.
The new canal will be a very important trade route. Shipping companies will save time and money because it will be farther north than the Panama Canal. It will take companies ten years to finish the project, but the first ships will use it within six years. It will be 22 metres deep and 286 km long. Not all Nicaraguans are happy about the canal. Congressman Carlos Langrand said: "This project affects all Nicaraguans, the future of Lake Nicaragua, our environmental resources, and the economy." He complained that the government was not being honest with the people. He told the "Nicaragua Dispatch" newspaper that: "We have many more questions than answers about this project."
1. What is the value of the contract to build the canal?
a) $400 billionb) $40 billionc) $44 billiond) $14 billion
2. What oceans will the canal link? a) Indian and Arcticb) Indian and Pacificc) Atlantic and Indiand) Atlantic and Pacific
3. What opened in 1914? a) The Panama Canalb) The Suez Canalc) The Great Canal of Chinad) The Venice Canals
Check Answer
4. How much bigger are ships that will use the new canal? a) 10 times biggerb) a littlec) twice the size of those using the Panama Canald) 42,000
5. What's the name of the Chinese company? a) Lenovo Canal Constructionb) no one knowsc) COSCOd) China Zhongwang
6. What two things will shipping companies save?
a) lives and livelihoodsb) coupons and vouchersc) money and timed) power and energy
Check Answer
7. How long will it take to build the canal?
a) 6 yearsb) 8 yearsc) 9 yearsd) 10 years
8. What length will the new canal be?
a) 286 kmb) 77 kmc) 22 kmd) 1,914 km
9. What/Who did a politician complain about?
a) government honestyb) his bad backc) not having a high salaryd) the boss of the company
10. How many questions does the congressman have?
a) one or twob) more than the number of answersc) 87d) none
Check Answer