CELPIP Listening Practice Test 3

Tom: My dog, Max, has a vet visit soon, Emma. He gets so anxious. Any tips?

Emma: Poor Max! You could take him for a short car ride to get him used to travel. Or try calming treats before the visit. Another idea is a practice visit to the vet’s office.

Tom: Car rides stress him out, and I don’t have time for practice visits. Treats might work, though. Are they safe?

Emma: Totally safe—vet-approved. They’ll calm him without sedation.

Tom: I’ll try that. Where do I get them?

Tom: I’m sold on calming treats, Emma, but should I give them the day before or right before the visit?

Emma: Right before—about 30 minutes. It’ll kick in during the drive. Also, bring his favorite toy for comfort.

Tom: Good call. I’ll give the treats before we leave and bring his squeaky ball. Should I get a specific brand?

Emma: Ask the vet for a recommendation when you’re there. Most pet stores have good options.

Tom: I’m ready for Max’s vet visit, Emma. I’ll get calming treats from the pet store and give them 30 minutes before we leave. I’ll also bring his squeaky ball.

Emma: That’s a solid plan! Why’d you choose the treats?

Tom: They’re easy and effective. Max loves treats, so he won’t resist. I’ll call the vet tomorrow to confirm the appointment and ask about brands.

Emma: Great idea. Want me to come along?

Tom: Thanks, but I’ve got it. I’ll update you after the visit.

Emma: Hey, Liam, how was that Thai cooking class you took last weekend?

Liam: Oh, Emma, it was amazing! We learned to make green curry from scratch.

Emma: Nice! Was it hard to follow? I’ve never cooked Thai food before.

Liam: It was tricky at first. The instructor gave us a list of ingredients, like lemongrass and fish sauce, which I’d never used. But she walked us through each step.

Emma: Sounds fun. Did you get to eat what you made?

Liam: Yeah, we cooked in pairs and shared the dishes. My curry was a bit too spicy, though!

Emma: Haha, did you mess it up?

Liam: Not really, just added too many chilies. The instructor suggested I balance it with more coconut milk next time.

Emma: Good tip. Are you going to try it at home now?

Liam: Definitely. I bought the ingredients yesterday. Want to come over this weekend? I’ll cook for us.

Emma: I’m in! What do you need me to bring?

Liam: Maybe some rice? I’ve got everything else. Oh, and the instructor said to use fresh herbs for better flavor, so I got those too.

Emma: Sounds like a plan. What time should I come by?

Liam: How about 6 p.m. Saturday? We can eat and watch a movie after.

Emma: Perfect. I can’t wait to try your curry!

Liam: Hope I don’t burn the kitchen down! Thanks for joining, Emma.

Person 1: Hi, I need to print a few pages for my assignment. Can I do that here?

Person 2: Yes, we have self-serve printers near the front desk.

Person 1: Do I need a library card?

Person 2: You can log in using a guest code from the front desk. Printing costs 10 cents per black-and-white page.

Person 1: What about colour?

Person 2: That’s 25 cents per page. Double-sided printing is available too.

Person 1: Great, I’ll head over there now.

Person 1: Hi! I just moved here and saw your hiking club poster. Is it open to new members?

Person 2: Definitely! We welcome hikers of all levels.

Person 1: When do you usually go out?

Person 2: Every Sunday morning at 9. The hikes vary in difficulty each week.

Person 1: Do I need to sign up or just show up?

Person 2: You’ll need to register online. There’s no fee, but we do require a waiver.

Person 1: Great! I’ll check the website.

News Anchor: A major local grocery chain, FreshMart, has officially launched a no-plastic policy across all of its 42 stores in British Columbia. Starting today, customers will no longer receive plastic bags at checkout and will be encouraged to bring reusable bags or purchase paper ones for 15 cents each. The company’s CEO, Diane Kwan, stated that the move is part of FreshMart’s goal to reduce single-use plastics by 80% within the next year. In addition to banning plastic bags, the store will also replace plastic produce packaging with compostable alternatives by June. While many shoppers support the change, some customers have expressed frustration, particularly with the additional charge for bags. The city has praised the policy and is considering similar rules for other retailers.

Rachel: Alright, team, we need to pick a venue for the charity gala next month. It’s our biggest fundraiser, so the place needs to impress. Any suggestions?

Ethan: How about the Grand Hotel ballroom? It’s elegant, centrally located, and has great catering options. It’s perfect for a high-end event like this.

Noah: The Grand Hotel is nice, but it’s pretty expensive. We’re raising money for charity, so we should keep costs low. What about the community center? It’s affordable and spacious.

Rachel: The community center is practical, Noah, but it lacks the wow factor. We need a venue that feels special to attract big donors. What if we look at the Lakeside Pavilion? It’s scenic, and the outdoor setting could be a draw.

Ethan: I like the Lakeside Pavilion, but we’d need a backup plan for bad weather. An outdoor event is risky this time of year. Plus, catering might be trickier.

Noah: Good point, Ethan. Maybe we could compromise with the City Art Gallery? It’s indoors, has a unique vibe with the artwork, and it’s not as pricey as the Grand Hotel.

Rachel: The Art Gallery’s a great idea! It’s sophisticated but not over-the-top. My only concern is parking—downtown can be a hassle for guests.

Ethan: True, but we could arrange a shuttle service from a nearby lot. That would solve the parking issue and make it more convenient for attendees.

Noah: I’m on board with that. The gallery’s rental fee is reasonable, and the shuttle idea makes it accessible. We could also highlight the venue in our promotions to draw art lovers.

Rachel: Perfect. The City Art Gallery feels like the right balance of elegance and affordability. Let’s book it. Ethan, can you contact the gallery to check availability?

Ethan: Yep, I’ll call them tomorrow.

Noah: And I’ll look into shuttle services and get some quotes.

Rachel: Great. I’ll update the planning committee and start working on the promotional materials. This gala is going to be amazing!

Speaker: Today, we’ll explore universal basic income (UBI), a policy proposing regular, unconditional payments to all citizens. This idea sparks heated debate among economists and social advocates about its feasibility and societal impact. Dr. Rachel Kim, an economist, strongly supports UBI. She argues it reduces poverty by providing a financial safety net, enabling people to pursue education or entrepreneurship. Kim cites pilot programs in Finland, where UBI recipients reported lower stress and higher employment rates. She believes UBI simplifies welfare systems, reducing administrative costs and ensuring equitable support. In contrast, Thomas Bradley, a fiscal policy expert, warns of UBI’s economic risks. Bradley acknowledges its poverty alleviation potential but argues it could strain government budgets, requiring significant tax increases. He points to calculations suggesting UBI in the U.S. could cost $3 trillion annually, potentially destabilizing economies. Bradley suggests targeted welfare programs as a more sustainable alternative. Offering a balanced perspective, Ayesha Malik, a social policy researcher, advocates for partial UBI. Malik proposes a scaled-down version, providing smaller payments to supplement existing welfare systems. She highlights Alaska’s Permanent Fund, which distributes oil revenue to residents, as a successful model. Malik believes partial UBI can reduce inequality without overwhelming public finances. However, Dr. Victor Nguyen, a labor market analyst, raises concerns about work incentives. Nguyen supports UBI’s intent but warns it might discourage employment, particularly in low-wage sectors. He cites studies showing some UBI recipients reduced working hours, potentially impacting productivity. Nguyen recommends tying UBI to community service or training programs to maintain workforce engagement. In conclusion, UBI divides opinions sharply. Dr. Kim sees it as a poverty solution, while Thomas Bradley fears fiscal instability. Ayesha Malik favors a partial approach, and Dr. Nguyen worries about work disincentives. I believe a cautious, evidence-based approach, testing smaller UBI models, can balance economic stability with social equity, ensuring support without undermining productivity.

1. What problem are Tom and Emma discussing? A. Reducing Max’s anxiety for a vet visit
2. Why does Tom reject the practice visit? D. He lacks time
3. What option does Tom favor? C. Using calming treats
4. What concern does Tom raise about the calming treats? B. When to administer them
5. What does Emma suggest Tom do? C. Give treats 30 minutes before the visit
6. Why are calming treats the best choice for Max? A. They are easy and effective
7. What are Tom’s next steps? D. Call the vet to confirm and ask about treats
8. When will Tom contact the vet? B. Tomorrow
9. What is the main topic of Emma and Liam’s conversation? A. Discussing a Thai cooking class
10. Which dish did Liam learn to make in the class? B. Green curry
11. Why was Liam’s curry not perfect? D. It was too spicy
12. What does Liam plan to do this weekend? D. Cook curry for Emma
13. What does Liam ask Emma to bring? C. Rice
14. What does the student want to do? C. Print documents
15. How much does black-and-white printing cost per page? B. 10 cents
16. What is required to access the printer? B. A guest login code
17. Why is the woman asking for information? A. She wants to join a hiking club
18. When do the club’s hikes usually take place? A. Sundays at 9 a.m.
19. What is required to join the group? D. Online registration and waiver
20. What major change did FreshMart implement? B. Eliminated plastic bags at checkout
21. What are customers encouraged to do? B. Bring their own reusable bags
22. When will plastic produce packaging be replaced? A. By June
23. What concern did some customers raise? B. The cost of paper bags
24. How did the city respond to the policy? C. It supported the move
25. What are the speakers discussing? D. Choosing a venue for a charity gala
26. What is Ethan’s initial suggestion for the venue? C. The Grand Hotel ballroom
27. What concern does Noah raise about Ethan’s suggestion? B. It’s too expensive
28. What alternative does Rachel propose? C. The Lakeside Pavilion
29. What concern does Ethan raise about the Lakeside Pavilion? C. Weather could be an issue
30. What is the main advantage of the City Art Gallery, according to Noah? B. It’s sophisticated and affordable
31. How do the speakers plan to address the parking issue at the gallery? A. By arranging a shuttle service
32. What is the final decision made by the speakers? A. To use the City Art Gallery
33. Dr. Rachel Kim believes UBI primarily helps: C. reduce poverty
34. Thomas Bradley’s main concern about UBI is its: B. high financial cost
35. Ayesha Malik supports: D. a partial UBI model
36. Dr. Victor Nguyen is concerned that UBI may: B. discourage employment
37. The speaker mentions Finland as an example of: A. successful UBI trials
38. The speaker concludes that UBI should be: A. tested cautiously in smaller models