CELPIP Listening Practice Test 12

Zoe: I had a disagreement with a coworker, Lucas. How do I resolve it professionally?

Lucas: You could address it privately with them to clear the air. Or involve a manager for mediation. Another option is writing a formal email, but that’s cold.

Zoe: An email feels distant. A manager might escalate things. Talking privately sounds best—I want to keep it friendly. How should I approach it?

Lucas: Stay calm, listen to their side, and suggest a solution. Meet over coffee for a relaxed vibe.

Zoe: I’ll try that. It feels constructive.

Zoe: I’m meeting my coworker privately, Lucas, but should I do it during work or after?

Lucas: After work’s better—less pressure. Suggest a neutral spot, like a café, and focus on listening.

Zoe: A café sounds good. I’ll ask them to meet tomorrow evening and propose a teamwork solution. Should I prepare notes?

Lucas: Just jot down key points to stay focused. Keep it casual.

Zoe: I’ll prepare tonight and set the meeting.

Zoe: I’m meeting my coworker tomorrow evening at a café, Lucas. I’ll listen and suggest better teamwork. I’ve jotted down points to stay on track.

Lucas: That’s a great approach! Why the café meeting?

Zoe: It’s relaxed and neutral, so we can talk openly. I’ll schedule it tonight and confirm with them tomorrow morning.

Lucas: Nice! Want me to review your points?

Zoe: I’m set, thanks. I’ll update you tomorrow night after we talk.

Student: Hello, Ms. Carter, I’m eager to start those guitar lessons we discussed.

Teacher: Fantastic, Alex! Are you a complete beginner, or do you know a few chords?

Student: Total novice. I’ve never even held a guitar properly.

Teacher: No worries. We’ll start with basics like strumming and simple tunes. Do you have a guitar?

Student: Not yet. Can I rent one for the lessons?

Teacher: Absolutely. We have acoustic guitars for $5 per session. Lessons are Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Work for you?

Student: Tuesdays are perfect. How long is each class?

Teacher: An hour. We keep groups small, about four students, so you’ll get plenty of attention.

Student: Sounds ideal. What should I bring besides enthusiasm?

Teacher: Just a notebook for jotting down chords and tips. I’ll provide sheet music.

Student: Great. Is there a signup fee or just the rental cost?

Teacher: There’s a $20 registration fee for the eight-week course, plus the guitar rental if needed.

Student: Fair enough. Can I pay online before Tuesday?

Teacher: Yep, I’ll email you the link. Oh, and wear comfy clothes—makes strumming easier.

Student: Will do. I’m so excited to finally learn guitar! Thanks, Ms. Carter.

Teacher: My pleasure, Alex. You’ll be playing in no time!

Person 1: Hi, I’m calling about the autumn photography workshop in the park this weekend. Can you tell me more about it?

Person 2: Sure thing! Our workshop takes place in Maple Grove Park, where the fall foliage is breathtaking. It’s a three-hour session on Saturday, led by a professional photographer, focusing on capturing the vibrant leaves and park scenery.

Person 1: That sounds wonderful. Who can join, and do I need any specific equipment?

Person 2: It’s open to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced photographers. You’ll need a camera—DSLR, mirrorless, or even a high-quality smartphone works. We provide tripods to borrow, but bring your own memory cards and batteries. Comfortable shoes are a must since we’ll walk through the park.

Person 1: Great. What’s the cost, and how do I sign up?

Person 2: The workshop is $60 per person, which includes the session and a digital guide on autumn photography. You can register online via our website or call us to reserve a spot. We cap the group at 15, so it’s best to sign up soon—only a few spots remain!

Person 1: Good to know. What time does it start, and where do we meet?

Person 2: It starts at 9 a.m. at the park’s main entrance near the fountain. We’ll wrap up around noon. If it rains, we have a backup indoor session at the park’s visitor center, focusing on editing fall photos.

Person 1: Nice! Are there any extra perks or discounts?

Person 2: Participants get a 10% discount on prints at our partner photo lab. Also, if you sign up for our winter workshop now, you’ll save $10 on that session.

Person 1: I’ll stick with this one for now. Thanks for the info—I’ll register today!

Person 2: Awesome! Can’t wait to see you in the park!

News Anchor: A fast-moving wildfire in northern Alberta has forced the evacuation of more than 1,200 residents from the town of Pine Valley. The fire, which began on Monday due to lightning strikes, has already consumed over 4,000 hectares of forest and is still not under control. Provincial wildfire crews are working around the clock, and air tankers have been deployed to slow the spread. Winds and dry conditions are making the fire difficult to contain. Evacuees are being directed to emergency shelters set up in nearby Coldridge and Mapleview. No injuries have been reported so far, and firefighters say homes have been successfully protected in the town’s southern neighbourhoods. Authorities are urging people to follow official updates and stay off restricted roads.

Lucas: Alright, team, we need to create a mentorship program for local youth to support their career goals. It should be engaging and impactful. Any ideas?

Maya: I think a one-on-one mentorship model would be effective. We could pair teens with professionals in their fields of interest for personalized guidance.

Jacob: One-on-one is great, Maya, but it might be hard to recruit enough mentors for all the teens. What about group workshops? Professionals could lead sessions on skills like resume writing or interviewing.

Lucas: Workshops are scalable, but they might feel less personal. What if we combine both? Monthly group workshops for broad skills and quarterly one-on-one check-ins for tailored advice.

Maya: I like the hybrid idea, Lucas, but scheduling could be tricky. Mentors have busy lives, and coordinating both workshops and check-ins might overwhelm them.

Jacob: That’s true. We could keep it flexible—offer virtual check-ins to save time and host workshops at the community center for easy access.

Lucas: Good call, Jacob. Virtual check-ins would make it easier for mentors. My concern is funding—workshops and materials could add up.

Maya: We could apply for a community grant. I know a few foundations that fund youth programs. We’d just need a strong proposal to show the program’s impact.

Jacob: I’m sold on the hybrid model with virtual check-ins. Let’s also create a website to share resources and match teens with mentors based on interests.

Lucas: Perfect. Let’s go with the hybrid mentorship program. Maya, can you research grant opportunities?

Maya: Sure, I’ll start looking tomorrow.

Jacob: I’ll contact the community center about booking workshop space.

Lucas: Great. I’ll draft the website outline and mentor recruitment plan. This program is going to inspire our youth!

Speaker: Let’s discuss vertical farming, a method of growing crops in stacked layers, often indoors. This innovation prompts varied opinions from agricultural experts, economists, and environmentalists about its potential to revolutionize food production. Dr. Marcus Lee, an agricultural scientist, champions vertical farming’s efficiency. He argues it maximizes space, producing up to 10 times more crops per acre than traditional farming. Lee cites Singapore’s vertical farms, which supply 10% of the city’s vegetables, reducing import reliance. He believes it conserves water through hydroponics, addressing global scarcity. In contrast, Sarah Gordon, an agricultural economist, highlights financial barriers. Gordon acknowledges the yield benefits but argues that high setup costs, like lighting and climate control systems, make vertical farming expensive. She notes that small farmers struggle to compete with large corporations dominating the sector. Gordon suggests subsidies to democratize access. Offering a balanced view, Dr. Aisha Omar, a sustainability expert, advocates for hybrid farming models. Omar proposes combining vertical farms with traditional methods to balance efficiency and affordability. She points to Japan, where hybrid systems have increased local food security. Omar emphasizes the need for renewable energy to reduce the carbon footprint of indoor farms. However, Professor David Kim, an environmentalist, raises concerns about ecological impacts. Kim supports vertical farming but warns that energy-intensive systems can increase emissions if powered by fossil fuels. He cites data showing some farms emit more carbon than field agriculture. Kim recommends prioritizing solar or wind energy for sustainability. In conclusion, vertical farming divides opinions. Dr. Lee sees it as a space-saving solution, while Sarah Gordon focuses on costs. Dr. Omar favors hybrid models, and Professor Kim warns of energy impacts. I believe vertical farming can enhance food security if paired with affordable access and green energy, balancing innovation with sustainability.

1. What is Zoe trying to resolve? B. A workplace conflict
2. Why does Zoe reject writing an email? B. It feels too distant
3. What approach does Zoe prefer? B. Talking privately
4. What concern does Zoe have about the private meeting? C. Deciding when to meet
5. What does Lucas suggest? D. Meet after work in a café
6. Why is a café meeting the best choice? C. It’s relaxed and neutral
7. What are Zoe’s next steps? A. Schedule and confirm the meeting
8. When will Zoe update Lucas? D. Tomorrow night
9. What is Alex primarily discussing with Ms. Carter? C. Arranging guitar lessons
10. What is Alex’s experience with the guitar? C. He’s a complete beginner
11. What does Ms. Carter offer to provide? B. Sheet music
12. What does Alex need to pay for the course? D. $20 registration fee plus rentals
13. When are the guitar lessons scheduled? A. Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
14. What is the main purpose of Person 1’s inquiry? A. Autumn photography workshop
15. What equipment is required for the workshop? D. A camera and memory cards
16. How much does the workshop cost? B. $60
17. Where does the workshop start? C. Main entrance near the fountain
18. What happens if it rains? D. An indoor editing session is held
19. What discount is offered to participants? A. 10% off photo prints
20. What caused the wildfire to begin? A. A lightning strike
21. Approximately how many people have been evacuated? C. 1,200
22. What condition is making it harder to contain the fire? C. Winds and dry weather
23. Where are evacuees being sheltered? D. Coldridge and Mapleview
24. What advice are authorities giving to the public? D. Follow official updates and avoid restricted roads
25. What are the speakers planning? D. A youth mentorship program
26. What is Maya’s initial suggestion for the program? D. One-on-one mentorship
27. What concern does Jacob raise about Maya’s suggestion? D. It’s hard to recruit enough mentors
28. What alternative does Lucas propose? C. A hybrid model
29. What concern does Maya raise about Lucas’s suggestion? A. Scheduling could be tricky
30. What is the main advantage of virtual check-ins, according to Jacob? C. They save time for mentors
31. How do the speakers plan to fund the program? B. By applying for a community grant
32. What is the final decision made by the speakers? A. To plan a hybrid mentorship program
33. Dr. Marcus Lee argues that vertical farming primarily improves: B. space efficiency
34. Sarah Gordon’s main concern about vertical farming is: B. high setup costs
35. Dr. Aisha Omar supports: A. hybrid farming models
36. Professor David Kim is concerned about vertical farming’s: D. energy-related emissions
37. The speaker mentions Singapore as an example of: C. successful vegetable production
38. The speaker concludes that vertical farming should: D. use affordable and green solutions