CELPIP Listening Practice Test 2

Sofia: Hey, Raj, I want to host a virtual family reunion next month. Any suggestions?

Raj: That’s a great idea! You could use Zoom for simplicity, or maybe Skype for fewer glitches. Another option is a platform like Google Meet, but it’s less interactive.

Sofia: Zoom’s familiar, but I worry about time limits on the free version. Skype’s reliable, but not everyone has it. Google Meet feels impersonal. I want everyone engaged.

Raj: Zoom’s probably best if you upgrade to a paid plan for unlimited time. What’s your budget like?

Sofia: I can spend a bit. Zoom might work.

Sofia: I’m leaning toward Zoom, Raj, but should we make it a short call or a longer event with activities?

Raj: A longer event with games like trivia or a slideshow of family photos would keep everyone engaged. A short call might feel rushed.

Sofia: True, I want it memorable. Let’s do a two-hour event with trivia. I’ll need to plan the games. Any tips?

Raj: Keep questions simple and family-focused.

Sofia: I’m set on a two-hour Zoom reunion with trivia, Raj. I’ll buy the paid plan for unlimited time. I’m thinking family-themed trivia and a photo slideshow.

Raj: Perfect! Why’d you go with that plan?

Sofia: It’s engaging, and everyone loves nostalgia. The paid Zoom ensures no interruptions. I’ll email everyone the date—next Sunday—and ask for photo submissions.

Raj: Nice! Need help with the trivia?

Sofia: I’ll write the questions, but you can test them. I’ll send the invite by tomorrow.

Sarah: Hey, Mike, have you finalized the plans for Lisa’s farewell party tomorrow?

Mike: Almost, Sarah. I booked the break room for 5 p.m. after work. Everyone’s pitching in for pizza and drinks.

Sarah: Nice! Did you order enough food? Lisa’s got a big team.

Mike: Yeah, I ordered five large pizzas and some soda. I also got a cake from the bakery on Main Street. It’s chocolate, her favorite.

Sarah: Perfect. What about decorations? We need to make it festive.

Mike: I bought balloons and a banner yesterday. Can you help set them up tomorrow before she arrives?

Sarah: Sure, I’ll come in early, around 4:30 p.m. Should we get a card for everyone to sign?

Mike: Good idea. I’ll grab one at lunch today. Oh, and we need someone to distract Lisa so she doesn’t suspect anything.

Sarah: I’ll ask Tom to take her for a quick coffee run at 4:45 p.m. That’ll give us time to set up.

Mike: Great plan. I also asked Emma to give a short speech since she’s worked with Lisa the longest.

Sarah: That’s sweet. Okay, so I’ll handle decorations and Tom will keep Lisa busy. Anything else?

Mike: Just make sure everyone’s quiet when she walks in. We want the surprise to be perfect.

Sarah: Got it. I’ll remind the team. This is going to be awesome!

Mike: Totally. Lisa’s going to love it. Thanks for helping out, Sarah.

Sarah: No problem. Let’s make it a great send-off!

Person 1: Hi, I’m going away next weekend and need someone to look after my dog. Do you offer short-term boarding?

Person 2: We do! We offer both overnight stays and full weekend packages.

Person 1: Great. What’s included in the weekend package?

Person 2: Feeding, two walks per day, and playtime with other dogs.

Person 1: And how much does that cost?

Person 2: $65 per night, or $120 for the full weekend.

Person 1: Perfect. I’ll book the weekend package.

Person 1: Hi, I heard the city offers a composting program. How do I sign up?

Person 2: You can register online, and we’ll deliver a free compost bin to your address.

Person 1: That’s great. What materials can I put in the bin?

Person 2: Mostly food waste like fruit peels, eggshells, coffee grounds, and even paper towels.

Person 1: Can I put meat or bones in there?

Person 2: No—those go in regular garbage. The compost gets picked up every Wednesday.

Person 1: Perfect, thanks!

News Anchor: Last night’s unexpected thunderstorm left more than 30,000 homes without power across the Greater Langdon Area. The storm brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and lightning that struck multiple power lines. According to Langdon Hydro, repair crews have been working since early morning, and electricity is expected to be fully restored by tomorrow evening. Some rural areas, however, may experience delays of up to 48 hours. Several traffic lights in central Langdon are still out, and local authorities are urging drivers to treat intersections as four-way stops until power is restored. The mayor’s office confirmed that no serious injuries have been reported, though emergency services received more than 200 calls related to flooding and fallen trees.

Sophie: Alright, neighbors, we need to organize a clean-up event for our community park. It’s getting messy, and we want to keep it welcoming. Any ideas for how to approach this?

Michael: I think a one-day clean-up blitz would work. We could gather volunteers, split into teams, and tackle the whole park in a few hours. It’s straightforward and impactful.

Tom: That’s a good start, Michael, but one day might not be enough for the whole park. What about a weekend-long event? We could cover more ground and maybe add some fun activities to attract more volunteers.

Sophie: A weekend sounds thorough, but it might be hard to get people to commit for two days. What if we do a single day but make it a family-friendly event? We could include music and snacks to draw a bigger crowd.

Michael: I like the family-friendly angle. It could encourage more participation, especially from parents with kids. My concern is that music and snacks might distract from the clean-up focus.

Tom: Fair point. Maybe we keep the extras simple—like a food truck and a playlist instead of a live band. That way, we stay focused but still make it fun. Another idea: we could partner with a local school to get students involved for community service credits.

Sophie: That’s brilliant, Tom! Students would boost our numbers, and it’s a great way to engage the younger crowd. We’d just need to coordinate with the school to ensure safety and supervision.

Michael: I agree, but we should also think about supplies. We’ll need gloves, bags, and tools. I know a hardware store that might donate some items if we promote their business.

Sophie: Great idea, Michael. Donations would help keep costs down. We could also ask the city council for trash collection support to handle the waste we gather.

Tom: Sounds like a plan. So, we’re going with a one-day, family-friendly clean-up with school involvement and simple perks like a food truck. Next, we need to assign tasks.

Sophie: I’ll reach out to the school and the city council. Michael, can you contact the hardware store about supplies?

Michael: Yep, I’m on it.

Tom: And I’ll create a flyer and post it on the neighborhood app to recruit volunteers.

Sophie: Perfect. Let’s make this clean-up a success and get our park sparkling again!

Speaker: Let’s discuss the shift toward renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and their impact on global sustainability. This topic elicits varied perspectives from experts and policymakers navigating economic and environmental priorities. Dr. Elena Novak, an energy scientist, strongly supports renewable energy adoption. She argues that solar and wind power drastically reduce carbon emissions, combating climate change. Novak cites data showing that countries like Germany, with heavy renewable investments, have cut emissions by 30% since 2000. She emphasizes that renewables create jobs, with the solar industry employing millions globally, boosting local economies. On the other hand, Robert Kline, an energy industry executive, highlights the economic challenges of transitioning to renewables. Kline acknowledges their environmental benefits but argues that the high initial costs of infrastructure, like wind turbines, burden taxpayers. He notes that fossil fuels remain cheaper in many regions, making full transitions difficult for developing nations. Kline advocates for gradual shifts, integrating renewables alongside traditional energy to maintain affordability. Offering a middle ground, Maria Delgado, a policy analyst, promotes hybrid energy systems. Delgado suggests combining renewables with natural gas as a transitional strategy to balance emissions reduction with economic stability. She points to Denmark’s success, where wind energy meets 50% of electricity needs while gas provides backup. Delgado stresses the importance of government subsidies to make renewables more accessible. However, Dr. Omar Farooq, an environmental economist, raises concerns about land use. Farooq supports renewables but warns that large-scale projects, like solar farms, can disrupt ecosystems and displace communities. He cites examples of indigenous groups in South America losing land to wind projects. Farooq recommends smaller, community-based renewable installations to minimize environmental and social impacts. In conclusion, the debate over renewable energy reflects complex trade-offs. Dr. Novak sees it as critical for climate goals, while Robert Kline prioritizes affordability. Maria Delgado advocates for hybrid systems, and Dr. Farooq urges caution regarding land use. I believe a balanced approach, with strategic investments and community-focused projects, can drive sustainable progress while addressing economic and ecological concerns.

1. What is the main decision Sofia and Raj are discussing? C. Selecting a platform for a virtual reunion
2. Why is Google Meet not preferred? D. It’s less interactive
3. What does Sofia seem to favor? C. Upgrading to a paid Zoom plan
4. What issue does Sofia raise about the virtual reunion? D. Deciding the event’s duration and activities
5. What decision do they make? B. Plan a two-hour event with trivia
6. Why is the two-hour Zoom event the best choice? B. It’s engaging and interruption-free
7. What are Sofia’s next steps? D. Email the date and request photos
8. When will Sofia send the invitation? B. By tomorrow
9. What is the main purpose of Sarah and Mike’s conversation? A. To plan a team meeting
10. What food has Mike ordered for the party? A. Pizza, soda, and a cake
11. Why does Sarah suggest getting a card? C. For everyone to sign for Lisa
12. What is Sarah’s role in the party preparations? C. Helping with decorations
13. How will Lisa be kept unaware of the surprise? A. Tom will take her for a coffee run
14. What service is the speaker asking about? B. Weekend dog boarding
15. What is included in the weekend package? C. Meals, walks, and playtime
16. How much does the weekend package cost? D. $120
17. What is the speaker trying to do? A. Join a composting program
18. What cannot be placed in the compost bin? D. Bones
19. When is compost collected? B. Wednesdays
20. What caused the power outages? D. A thunderstorm
21. Approximately how many homes lost power? C. 30,000
22. When is full power restoration expected in most areas? A. By tomorrow evening
23. What safety advice was given to drivers? B. Treat intersections as four-way stops
24. What types of calls did emergency services receive? C. Flooding and fallen trees
25. What is the main topic of the discussion? B. Organizing a park clean-up event
26. What is Michael’s initial suggestion for the event? A. A one-day clean-up blitz
27. What concern does Tom raise about Michael’s suggestion? C. It might not cover the whole park
28. What alternative does Sophie propose? A. A one-day family-friendly clean-up
29. What concern does Michael raise about Sophie’s suggestion? D. It could distract from the clean-up
30. What is the main advantage of involving students, according to Tom? D. It increases volunteer numbers
31. How does Michael suggest securing supplies? B. Partnering with a hardware store
32. What is the final decision made by the speakers? C. To organize a one-day family-friendly clean-up
33. Dr. Elena Novak argues that renewable energy primarily benefits: A. climate change mitigation
34. Robert Kline’s main concern about renewables is their: C. high initial costs
35. Maria Delgado supports: C. hybrid energy systems
36. Dr. Omar Farooq is concerned about renewables’ impact on: B. land use and communities
37. The speaker mentions Denmark as an example of: B. successful wind energy use
38. The speaker concludes that renewable energy adoption should be: D. community-focused and balanced