CELPIP Listening Part 1 Practice Test: Ski Rental

MAN: These are done up as tight as they'll go, and my heel still lifts off the bottom whenever I bend forward.

WOMAN: Flex for me again... yeah, that's a lot more travel than you want. What time's your lesson?

MAN: Ten thirty, and it's already ten-fifteen.

WOMAN: Then moulding these liners is off the table. The oven's free, nobody's booked it, but a pair sits in there forty-five minutes and you can't rush it.

MAN: Then bump me up a size.

WOMAN: That's everyone's first instinct, and it usually backfires. Your length is right — this shell's cut wide, so extra room just gives your heel somewhere else to travel. You want narrower, not longer.

MAN: Is there a charge?

WOMAN: Swaps are free. I do need your rental slip for the narrow range, though — it's on a separate code.

MAN: Slip's in my pocket. It's my helmet that's the problem — still down in the locker.

WOMAN: You won't get on the hill without it. Go grab it now. Leave your poles here against the desk, keep those boots on your feet, and I'll have a narrow pair up on the counter.

MAN: Two minutes.

MAN: Helmet. The locker jammed, sorry.

WOMAN: No harm. Your code went through while you were down there. Right, the narrow pair... ah.

MAN: That's not a promising noise.

WOMAN: They're in your size, same rate — and they're on somebody else's feet. One of the instructors took them out for a demo. Back around eleven.

MAN: My lesson's in six minutes.

WOMAN: I know. There's a beginners' group at one.

MAN: My friends are all on the ten thirty.

WOMAN: Then we make the pair you're standing in work. The length's right, your buckles are already on the last notch, and those liners are brand new, so nothing's packed out. How many socks have you got on?

MAN: Two pairs — thick ones.

WOMAN: There's your heel lift. Thick socks squash flat once you move, so you're a size up.

MAN: I put them on for the cold.

WOMAN: One thin pair will be warmer — feet get cold when they're squeezed. I'll slide a wedge in under the liner too.

MAN: Proper fix, or a patch?

WOMAN: For one lesson, proper. For a week, I'd want the narrow shell. Sit down, strip a pair off, buckle from the toes up.

MAN: Night and day. I've been flexing by the bench and my heel stays put.

WOMAN: That's the wedge earning its keep. Fair warning, it can slide out of position.

MAN: So I leave them on at lunch?

WOMAN: Taking them off is fine. It's shoving your foot back in that moves it. Walk them over to me instead — ten seconds and it's seated again.

MAN: Noted. Where did my poles end up?

WOMAN: Behind the desk. They can stay there until you head out.

MAN: And the narrow pair — eleven, you said? Can you set it aside?

WOMAN: I could. Though if these are still behaving at lunch, I'd stay put — changing shells midday means doing the whole fitting over.

MAN: What do I owe for the wedge?

WOMAN: Nothing, it's part of the fit. Where does the group meet?

MAN: No idea. First time up here.

WOMAN: Far door, past the racks, then the orange fencing by the magic carpet. Helmet on before you go through — and don't leave empty-handed. Behind the desk, remember.

MAN: Nearly forgot. Thanks — I thought I'd be missing this.

WOMAN: You'll catch the end of the warm-up. Go on.