CELPIP Listening Part 2 Practice Test: Planning Retirement Lunch

WOMAN: Hi Owen, have you counted the replies for our supervisor's retirement lunch? I was about to book the little cafe where our team usually goes.

MAN: Hey Leena. We already have eighteen, and the warehouse group hasn't answered.

WOMAN: The cafe's back room seats sixteen. We could invite only our department, but she specifically asked whether the warehouse staff would be coming to say goodbye.

MAN: Then a smaller invitation list wouldn't really solve it. What about the busy place across the road? They can push several tables together near the entrance.

WOMAN: I called there yesterday. They have space, but people queue beside those tables. She finds conversation difficult when everyone has to compete with background noise.

MAN: The hotel buffet has a separate room. I ate there with my family recently; people could leave their seats without the whole table having to move.

WOMAN: Isn't that considerably more expensive? Some colleagues are contributing to her gift as well. I'd rather not discover that the lunch quietly excludes people on price.

MAN: The weekday group price is close to the cafe's. The room is included if twenty attend, but we'd pay an extra charge below that number.

WOMAN: Let's ask the warehouse group before promising anything. We can hold the room until Friday morning, and the final number isn't due until the following Tuesday.

MAN: I'll get their replies today. We should keep a little time after eating for the card, but no long speeches that make everyone miss their afternoon work.

WOMAN: Agreed. She wanted a chance to talk, not another meeting about her career. I'll ask the hotel whether we can stay at the table after the buffet closes.

MAN: And if we end up below twenty, tell everyone the revised cost before paying a deposit. A quiet room is useful, but people need the real price.

WOMAN: I'll make the temporary hold now. Once your replies arrive, we can send one invitation with the location, cost, and time we expect to finish.

MAN: Good. I'll include the warehouse staff in that message too. They shouldn't have to hear about the arrangements through somebody else's forwarded email again.