CELPIP Listening Practice Test 6

Elena: I want to organize a clothing swap event, Jamal. Any ideas to make it work?

Jamal: That sounds fun! You could host it at a community center for space. Or try your backyard for a casual vibe. Another option is a virtual swap, but it’s harder to coordinate.

Elena: The community center’s great, but renting costs money. My backyard’s too small. Virtual feels impersonal. I want it to be social.

Jamal: The community center’s worth it for space and accessibility. Check if they offer discounts.

Elena: Good idea. I’ll call them tomorrow.

Elena: I’m leaning toward the community center, Jamal, but should I make it open to everyone or just friends?

Jamal: Open to all—it’ll attract more people and clothes. Just set clear rules, like clean items only.

Elena: True, more variety sounds better. I’ll limit it to 20 people for manageability. Should I charge a small fee?

Jamal: Maybe a donation to cover costs. Keep it affordable.

Elena: Got it. I’ll draft rules tonight.

Elena: I’m set on the community center, Jamal. It’s open to all, max 20 people, with a donation fee. I’ll ask for clean clothes only.

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

Elena: It maximizes variety and keeps costs low. I’ll book the center for next Saturday and post flyers tomorrow.

Jamal: Nice! Need help with setup?

Elena: I’ll handle it but might need you on the day. I’ll confirm the booking by tomorrow evening.

Customer: Excuse me, I was here yesterday, and there was an issue with my purchase.

Clerk: I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?

Customer: I bought some pastries for a family event, but they were wrapped in red paper. In my culture, red is for celebrations, not funerals.

Clerk: Oh, I see. I’m so sorry for the mix-up. We use red wrapping for all gift items.

Customer: I understand, but it caused some confusion at the event. Can I exchange them?

Clerk: Of course. Do you have the receipt? We can swap them for pastries in neutral wrapping.

Customer: Yes, here’s the receipt. Can you use plain white paper instead?

Clerk: Absolutely. We have white or clear wrapping. I’ll get those ready now. How many pastries do you need?

Customer: Six, please. Same as before, just different wrapping.

Clerk: Got it. I’ll wrap them in white paper. Anything else you need for the event?

Customer: No, just the pastries. Thanks for fixing this.

Clerk: My apologies again. I’ll note your preference for white wrapping in our system for next time.

Customer: That’s great. Can I pick them up in an hour?

Clerk: Sure, they’ll be ready by 3 p.m. If you want, I can add a small discount for the trouble.

Customer: That’s kind, thank you. I’ll be back soon.

Clerk: See you then, and thanks for letting us know!

Customer: Hi, I’m moving to a new apartment next month. Can you tell me what your service includes?

Staff: Sure. We offer packing, loading, transport, and unloading. Packing materials are extra.

Customer: What’s the base cost for a local move?

Staff: For moves within the city, we charge $120 per hour for a two-person crew and truck.

Customer: Do I need to book in advance?

Staff: Yes, we recommend booking at least two weeks before your moving date.

Student: Hi, I saw you offer a language exchange. How does it work?

Coordinator: It’s pretty simple—you’re paired with someone who speaks the language you want to learn, and they want to learn your language.

Student: Do we meet at the centre?

Coordinator: Most pairs meet here once or twice a week, but it’s flexible.

Student: Is it free to join?

Coordinator: Yes, it’s completely free. You just need to register at the front desk or online.

Student: Awesome. I’ll sign up online tonight.

News Anchor: Drivers across Saskatchewan are feeling the pinch as average gas prices reached a record $1.94 per litre this week. Analysts point to a combination of rising global oil demand, supply chain delays, and refinery maintenance work as the main causes. The provincial transportation minister, Megan Holtz, has called for a temporary suspension of federal fuel taxes to ease the burden on consumers. However, no official decision has been made yet. In the meantime, many residents are turning to carpooling, biking, and public transit to reduce fuel expenses. The Canadian Automobile Association recommends avoiding peak driving hours and keeping tires properly inflated to improve fuel efficiency.

James: Alright, team, we need to plan a team-building retreat for our department. It should boost morale and collaboration. Any ideas for activities?

Claire: I think a wilderness camping trip would be fun. It’s a great way to bond, and being in nature is refreshing.

Ryan: Camping’s cool, Claire, but not everyone’s into the outdoors. Some might not be comfortable with tents or bugs. What about a cooking competition? It’s interactive and indoors.

James: A cooking competition sounds fun, but it could get messy, and we’d need a big kitchen. What if we try something like an escape room? It’s collaborative and exciting.

Claire: Escape rooms are great, but they’re usually for small groups. With 20 of us, we’d need multiple rooms, which could be pricey. What about a hybrid idea? We could do a team-building day at a local resort with activities like rope courses and group games.

Ryan: I like that, Claire. A resort would have variety, and everyone could find something they enjoy. My only concern is the cost—resorts aren’t cheap.

James: That’s true, but we could negotiate a group rate. I know a resort nearby that offers team-building packages. The downside is it’s a 45-minute drive, so we’d need to arrange transportation.

Claire: Transportation shouldn’t be too hard. We could rent a bus to keep everyone together. It’s also a chance to chat on the way.

Ryan: I’m on board with the resort day. It’s inclusive, and the activities sound engaging. Let’s just make sure the package includes lunch to keep everyone energized.

James: Good call, Ryan. Let’s go with the team-building day at the resort. Claire, can you contact the resort about their packages and group rates?

Claire: Sure, I’ll email them today.

Ryan: I’ll look into bus rentals and get some quotes.

James: Perfect. I’ll update the department and confirm the date. This retreat is going to be awesome!

Speaker: Let’s discuss the push for electric vehicles (EVs) as a solution to reduce transportation emissions. This topic generates diverse perspectives from environmentalists, industry leaders, and economists about its feasibility and impact. Dr. Nora Evans, an environmental scientist, strongly supports EV adoption. She argues that EVs significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality. Evans cites data showing that EVs produce 50% fewer emissions than gasoline cars over their lifetime. She believes government incentives, like tax credits, can accelerate adoption, pointing to Norway’s success, where EVs dominate sales. In contrast, Paul Dempsey, an automotive executive, highlights practical challenges. Dempsey acknowledges EVs’ environmental benefits but argues that limited charging infrastructure hinders widespread adoption. He notes that rural areas often lack fast chargers, causing range anxiety for drivers. Dempsey suggests investing in hybrid vehicles as a transitional step to maintain consumer confidence. Offering a balanced perspective, Mei Ling, an energy policy analyst, advocates for integrated EV strategies. Ling proposes combining infrastructure expansion with renewable energy to power EVs sustainably. She highlights China’s approach, where solar-powered charging stations support EV growth. Ling emphasizes the need for affordable EVs to ensure access across income levels. However, Dr. Samuel Ortiz, an economist, raises concerns about economic impacts. Ortiz supports EVs but warns that rapid transitions could disrupt jobs in traditional automotive industries. He cites estimates that millions of manufacturing jobs could be lost without retraining programs. Ortiz recommends government support for worker transitions to EV-related roles. In conclusion, EV adoption sparks varied viewpoints. Dr. Evans sees it as critical for emissions reduction, while Paul Dempsey focuses on infrastructure gaps. Mei Ling supports integrated strategies, and Dr. Ortiz warns of job losses. I believe EVs can drive sustainability if paired with infrastructure growth and economic support, balancing environmental and social needs.

1. What is Elena trying to decide? A. Choosing a venue for a clothing swap
2. Why does Elena reject hosting in her backyard? C. It’s too small
3. What venue does Elena seem to favor? A. Her backyard
4. What issue does Elena raise about the clothing swap? B. Deciding who to invite
5. What decision do they make? A. Make it open to everyone
6. Why is an open event with a donation fee the best choice? B. It increases variety and affordability
7. What are Elena’s next steps? D. Book the center and post flyers
8. When will Elena confirm the booking? C. Tomorrow evening
9. What is the main issue the customer discusses with the clerk? D. A cultural misunderstanding about wrapping
10. Why was the red wrapping a problem? A. It’s associated with funerals in the customer’s culture
11. What does the customer request? C. Pastries in white wrapping
12. What does the clerk offer to do? B. Add a discount and note the preference
13. When can the customer pick up the new pastries? D. By 3 p.m.
14. What kind of service is the customer asking about? D. Moving assistance
15. What is included in the base service? A. Packing, transport, and unloading
16. How far in advance should the customer book? C. 2 weeks
17. What does the student want to know about? C. A language exchange program
18. How often do participants usually meet? B. Once or twice a week
19. What is required to join? D. Registration
20. What is the main topic of the news report? A. Rising gas prices
21. What is the current average gas price mentioned? B. $1.94
22. What are some reasons given for the price increase? B. Global demand and refinery issues
23. What has the transportation minister suggested? A. Suspending federal fuel taxes
24. What advice does the Canadian Automobile Association offer? D. Inflate tires and avoid peak hours
25. What are the speakers planning? B. A team-building retreat
26. What is Claire’s initial suggestion for the retreat? B. A wilderness camping trip
27. What concern does Ryan raise about Claire’s suggestion? B. Not everyone enjoys the outdoors
28. What alternative does James propose? C. An escape room
29. What concern does Claire raise about the escape room? B. It’s too expensive for a large group
30. What is the main advantage of the resort day, according to Claire? D. It offers variety for everyone
31. How do the speakers plan to handle transportation to the resort? A. By renting a bus
32. What is the final decision made by the speakers? D. To plan a team-building day at a resort
33. Dr. Nora Evans argues that EVs primarily benefit: B. air quality and emissions
34. Paul Dempsey’s main concern about EVs is: C. limited charging infrastructure
35. Mei Ling advocates for: B. integrated EV strategies
36. Dr. Samuel Ortiz is concerned about EVs’ impact on: A. job losses in manufacturing
37. The speaker mentions Norway as an example of B. successful EV market growth
38. The speaker concludes that EV adoption should: D. include infrastructure and economic support