Listening: talk and discussion notes

You will hear a talk about the history of chocolate. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree, which grows only in hot, wet regions near the equator. The seeds, often called beans, grow inside large pods that sprout directly from the tree's trunk.Some of the earliest people to use cacao lived in Central America thousands of years ago. The Maya and later the Aztecs made a drink from ground cacao beans mixed with water and chilli. It was bitter, not sweet, and was usually drunk by rulers and warriors. Cacao beans were so valuable that the Aztecs used them as money.Spanish explorers brought cacao to Europe in the sixteenth century. Europeans added sugar and later milk, and drinking chocolate became fashionable among the rich. Solid chocolate bars only appeared in the nineteenth century, when new machines made it possible to press cacao into a smooth, solid form.Today, most of the world's cacao is grown not in the Americas but in West Africa, especially Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Many cacao farmers earn very little, and some people choose to buy chocolate with a Fairtrade label, which aims to guarantee farmers a fairer price.

1. (a) Cacao grows in hot, wet regions near the ______ [1]
2. (b) Pods grow directly from the tree's ______ [1]
3. (c) Aztec drink: cacao mixed with water and ______ [1]
4. (d) Aztecs also used cacao beans as ______ [1]
5. (e) Europeans added sugar and later ______ [1]
6. (f) Solid bars made possible by new ______ [1]
7. (g) Main growing region today: ______ [1]
8. (h) Fairtrade aims to give farmers a fairer ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the life of camels. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Camels are perfectly designed for life in the desert. Many people think a camel's hump is full of water, but in fact it stores fat. When food is scarce, the camel's body uses this fat for energy, and the hump becomes smaller and floppy.Camels can go for many days without drinking, partly because they lose very little water. They hardly sweat, even in great heat, and they produce dry droppings. When they do find water, they can drink an enormous amount very quickly.Their bodies are protected from sand in clever ways. They have two rows of long eyelashes, and they can close their nostrils during sandstorms. Their wide, soft feet spread out on the sand, so they don't sink.There are two main kinds of camel. The dromedary, found in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, has one hump. The Bactrian camel, from the cold deserts of Central Asia, has two humps and grows a thick coat in winter.In Thar and Cholistan, camels are still used to carry goods and water, and their milk is an important food for desert families. In recent years, camel milk has also become popular in cities because it contains about three times as much vitamin C as cow's milk.

1. (a) The hump stores ______ [1]
2. (b) Camels lose little water because they hardly ______ [1]
3. (c) Protection from sand: two rows of ______ [1]
4. (d) During sandstorms, camels can close their ______ [1]
5. (e) Wide, soft feet stop camels from ______ [1]
6. (f) Dromedaries are found in South Asia, the Middle East and ______ [1]
7. (g) Bactrian camels grow a thick ______ in winter [1]
8. (h) Camel milk is popular in cities because it is rich in ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the history of the Olympic Games. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)The first Olympic Games were held in ancient Greece, at a place called Olympia, almost three thousand years ago. They were part of a religious festival in honour of the god Zeus. At first there was only one event, a short running race. Later, wrestling, boxing and chariot racing were added.Only free Greek men could compete. Women were not allowed to compete, and married women could not even watch, although they held their own separate games in honour of the goddess Hera. Winners did not receive medals; instead they were given a crown made of olive leaves.The ancient Games ended in the fourth century AD. They were revived in 1896, when the first modern Olympics took place in Athens, thanks largely to a French educator, Pierre de Coubertin, who believed sport could promote peace between nations.The famous Olympic symbol of five rings was designed by Coubertin. The rings represent the five inhabited continents joined together. The Olympic flame is lit in Olympia using the sun's rays and then carried by runners to the host city.Pakistan has had its greatest Olympic success in field hockey, winning gold medals three times.

1. (a) Ancient Games held in honour of the god ______ [1]
2. (b) The first and only early event: a ______ [1]
3. (c) Women held separate games for the goddess ______ [1]
4. (d) Prize for winners: crown of ______ leaves [1]
5. (e) Modern Games revived by a French ______ [1]
6. (f) Coubertin believed sport could promote ______ [1]
7. (g) Rings represent the five ______ [1]
8. (h) Flame lit using the ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about how to look after houseplants. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Houseplants make rooms more attractive and can improve your mood, but many people kill them by mistake. The most common cause of death is not forgetting to water them, but watering too much. When soil stays wet all the time, the roots can't breathe and they begin to rot. A simple test is to push your finger into the soil: if the top two centimetres feel dry, it's time to water.Always use pots with holes in the bottom, so that extra water can drain away. Put a saucer underneath to protect your furniture.Light is the next thing to consider. Most houseplants come from tropical forests, where they grow in the shade of taller trees, so they prefer bright but indirect light. Strong afternoon sun through a window can burn their leaves.In winter, plants grow more slowly and need less water. Keep them away from heaters, which dry the air.If you're a beginner, start with an easy plant. The snake plant and the money plant are both very forgiving. They can survive in low light, and they won't die if you forget them for a couple of weeks.Finally, wipe dusty leaves with a damp cloth now and then. Dust blocks light and stops the plant from making food.

1. (a) Most common cause of death: too much ______ [1]
2. (b) Wet soil causes roots to ______ [1]
3. (c) Test: push your ______ into the soil [1]
4. (d) Pots must have ______ in the bottom [1]
5. (e) Preferred light: bright but ______ [1]
6. (f) In winter, keep plants away from ______ [1]
7. (g) Easy plants for beginners: snake plant and ______ [1]
8. (h) Clean leaves with a damp ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the Indus River dolphin. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)The Indus River dolphin is one of the rarest freshwater dolphins in the world, and it's found almost entirely in Pakistan, in the Indus River; only a tiny group survives across the border in India. Locally it's called 'bhulan'.This dolphin has a very unusual feature: it is almost completely blind. The muddy water of the Indus makes eyesight almost useless, so the dolphin finds its way and catches fish using echolocation. It sends out clicking sounds and listens for the echoes that bounce back.Another strange habit is that it often swims on its side, with one flipper touching the river bed, which helps it search for food.The biggest threat to the dolphin has been the building of barrages across the river. These divided the population into separate groups that can't meet. Dolphins also get trapped in irrigation canals when the water level drops, and they can be caught accidentally in fishing nets.The good news is that numbers have increased in recent decades, thanks to protection laws and rescue teams who return stranded dolphins to the main river. A protected area called the Indus Dolphin Reserve has been created between the Sukkur and Guddu barrages, where most of the dolphins live.

1. (a) Local name: ______ [1]
2. (b) The dolphin is almost completely ______ [1]
3. (c) It finds food using ______ [1]
4. (d) It often swims on its ______ [1]
5. (e) Barrages divided the population into separate ______ [1]
6. (f) Dolphins get trapped in irrigation ______ [1]
7. (g) Numbers have grown thanks to protection laws and ______ [1]
8. (h) Reserve lies between the Sukkur and ______ barrages [1]

You will hear a talk about volcanoes. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)A volcano is an opening in the Earth's crust through which molten rock, gases and ash escape. Molten rock underground is called magma; once it reaches the surface, it's called lava.Most volcanoes are found where the Earth's tectonic plates meet. Around the Pacific Ocean there is a huge chain of volcanoes known as the Ring of Fire, where around three-quarters of the world's active volcanoes are located.Not all eruptions are the same. Some volcanoes, such as those in Hawaii, produce runny lava that flows gently, and people can often watch from a safe distance. Others are much more explosive. When magma is thick and full of gas, pressure builds up until the volcano blows apart, throwing ash high into the atmosphere.Ash is often more dangerous than lava. It can travel hundreds of kilometres, damage aircraft engines and collapse roofs under its weight. Fast-moving clouds of hot gas and ash, called pyroclastic flows, are the deadliest of all.Despite the dangers, millions of people live near volcanoes, because volcanic soil is extremely fertile. Volcanoes also provide geothermal energy: in countries like Iceland, heat from underground is used to produce electricity and warm homes.

1. (a) Molten rock underground is called ______ [1]
2. (b) Most volcanoes are where tectonic ______ meet [1]
3. (c) Chain of volcanoes round the Pacific: the ______ [1]
4. (d) Gentle eruptions produce ______ lava [1]
5. (e) Explosive eruptions: magma is thick and full of ______ [1]
6. (f) Ash can damage aircraft ______ [1]
7. (g) The deadliest danger: ______ [1]
8. (h) People live near volcanoes because the soil is ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the work of a sound engineer in films. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)When we watch a film, we rarely think about the sound. Yet much of what we hear wasn't recorded at the same time as the pictures. The dialogue is usually recorded on set, but noisy locations often make it unclear, so actors later go into a studio and repeat their lines while watching the film. This process is called dubbing, or ADR.Then there are sound effects. Many everyday noises, like footsteps, doors closing or clothes rustling, are created by specialists called Foley artists, named after a sound pioneer, Jack Foley. They work in a studio full of strange objects. For example, the sound of someone walking through snow is often made by squeezing a bag of cornflour. Breaking celery can sound like bones breaking — useful for action films!Background sound, known as 'ambience', is also important. A scene in a busy market needs distant voices, traffic and birds to feel real, even if the street was empty during filming.Finally, all these layers are combined in a process called mixing. The engineer decides how loud each sound should be, so that the dialogue remains clear and the music supports the emotion of the scene without drowning it out.

1. (a) Dialogue recorded on set may be unclear because of ______ locations [1]
2. (b) Actors repeat lines in a studio: called ______ or ADR [1]
3. (c) Everyday sounds are made by ______ artists [1]
4. (d) Snow footsteps: squeeze a bag of ______ [1]
5. (e) Breaking bones: break ______ [1]
6. (f) Background sound is known as ______ [1]
7. (g) Combining all layers is called ______ [1]
8. (h) Music should support the ______ of the scene [1]

You will hear a talk about the science of laughter. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)We usually think of laughter as a response to jokes, but researchers have found that most laughter has nothing to do with humour. In one study, scientists listened to people's everyday conversations and found that most laughs followed ordinary comments like 'See you later' rather than anything funny. Laughter, it seems, is mainly a social signal: it shows that we like someone and feel relaxed with them.In fact, we're about thirty times more likely to laugh when we're with other people than when we're alone. Laughter is also contagious; hearing someone laugh activates areas of our brain that prepare us to join in. That's why some TV comedies use recorded laughter.Laughter isn't only human. Chimpanzees and gorillas make a panting sound when they play and tickle each other, and researchers have even recorded rats making high-pitched chirps when tickled.There are health benefits, too. A good laugh relaxes the muscles and may reduce stress hormones. Some hospitals now invite clowns to visit children's wards, and studies suggest this can reduce children's anxiety before operations.However, laughter can also exclude people. Laughing at someone, rather than with them, can be a powerful way of showing who belongs to a group and who doesn't.

1. (a) Most laughter is not connected to ______ [1]
2. (b) Laughter is mainly a ______ signal [1]
3. (c) Laughter spreads because it is ______ [1]
4. (d) Some TV comedies use ______ laughter [1]
5. (e) Apes make a ______ sound when playing [1]
6. (f) Rats make high-pitched ______ [1]
7. (g) Laughter may reduce stress ______ [1]
8. (h) Hospital clowns can reduce children's ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the Karakoram Highway. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)The Karakoram Highway is one of the highest paved international roads in the world. It connects Pakistan with China, crossing the border at the Khunjerab Pass, at a height of almost four thousand seven hundred metres.The road was built jointly by Pakistan and China and was completed in the late 1970s after about twenty years of work. Building it was extremely dangerous. Workers had to cut through solid rock, often hanging from ropes on steep cliffs, and many lost their lives in landslides and accidents.The highway follows ancient routes once used by traders on the Silk Road. Near the town of Chilas, you can still see thousands of rock carvings left by travellers and pilgrims over many centuries, showing animals, people and Buddhist symbols.The road passes through some of the most dramatic scenery on Earth. It runs alongside the Indus and Hunza rivers and gives views of mountains such as Rakaposhi.The highway has brought big changes to the region. Fruit such as apricots and cherries can now reach markets in the cities quickly, and tourism has grown. However, landslides still block the road regularly, especially after heavy rain, and in 2010 a huge landslide created a lake, Attabad Lake, which flooded part of the road.

1. (a) Border crossing: the ______ Pass [1]
2. (b) Road built jointly by Pakistan and ______ [1]
3. (c) Workers often hung from ______ on cliffs [1]
4. (d) Follows ancient routes of the ______ [1]
5. (e) Rock carvings near the town of ______ [1]
6. (f) Carvings show animals, people and ______ symbols [1]
7. (g) Fruits now reach city markets quickly, e.g. ______ [1]
8. (h) 2010 landslide created ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about sleep in animals. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)All animals that have been carefully studied seem to need some form of sleep, but the ways they do it vary enormously.Dolphins face a special problem: they need to breathe air, so they can't become completely unconscious underwater. Their solution is to sleep with only half of their brain at a time, while the other half stays alert. They even keep one eye open, on the opposite side to the sleeping half of the brain.Some birds use the same trick. Ducks sleeping in a row put the birds at each end on guard, with their outer eye open, watching for predators. Frigatebirds, which spend weeks flying over the ocean, can sleep in short bursts while gliding.The amount of sleep also varies. Large plant-eaters such as elephants and giraffes sleep only a few hours a day, partly because they need so much time to find food and partly because lying down makes them vulnerable to predators. By contrast, the brown bat may sleep for around twenty hours a day.Scientists are still not completely sure why sleep is necessary. One leading idea is that sleep allows the brain to clear away waste products that build up during the day. Another is that it helps to strengthen memories.

1. (a) Dolphins must stay partly awake because they need to breathe ______ [1]
2. (b) Dolphins sleep with ______ of their brain at a time [1]
3. (c) Ducks at the end of a row watch for ______ [1]
4. (d) Frigatebirds can sleep while ______ [1]
5. (e) Elephants and giraffes need a lot of time to find ______ [1]
6. (f) Lying down makes large animals ______ [1]
7. (g) Theory 1: sleep clears away ______ products [1]
8. (h) Theory 2: sleep strengthens ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about how vaccines work. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)To understand vaccines, we first need to understand the immune system. When a harmful microorganism, such as a virus or bacterium, enters the body, the immune system recognises molecules on its surface called antigens. It then produces antibodies, proteins that attach to the antigens and help destroy the invader.The first time this happens, the response is slow, which is why we become ill. But the body keeps special cells called memory cells. If the same microorganism returns, these cells recognise it and produce antibodies so quickly that we often don't become ill at all. This is called immunity.A vaccine allows the body to gain this immunity without having to suffer the disease. It contains antigens from a weakened or dead form of the microorganism, or, in some newer vaccines, instructions that tell our cells to make a harmless piece of it. The immune system responds as if it were a real infection and creates memory cells.Some vaccines need booster doses, because the memory gradually fades.Vaccines also protect people who can't be vaccinated themselves, such as newborn babies or people with weak immune systems. When enough people in a community are immune, the disease can't spread easily. This is called herd immunity. Thanks to vaccination, smallpox was completely eradicated, and polio has now disappeared from almost every country in the world.

1. (a) Immune system recognises molecules called ______ [1]
2. (b) Proteins that attach to invaders: ______ [1]
3. (c) Cells that remember the microorganism: ______ cells [1]
4. (d) Vaccines contain a weakened or ______ form of the microorganism [1]
5. (e) Some vaccines need ______ doses [1]
6. (f) Reason: memory gradually ______ [1]
7. (g) Protection for a community: ______ immunity [1]
8. (h) Disease completely eradicated: ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about the history and science of glass. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Glass is one of the oldest materials made by humans, and one of the most surprising. It's made mainly from sand, or more precisely silica, heated to extremely high temperatures until it melts. Other substances, such as soda and lime, are added to lower the melting point and make the glass more durable.Unlike most solids, glass has no regular crystal structure. Its atoms are arranged randomly, like a liquid, but they're frozen in place. This is why glass is transparent: light can pass through without being scattered.You may have heard that old church windows are thicker at the bottom because glass slowly flows over centuries. This is a myth. Old windows were made by spinning molten glass into a disc, which produced uneven sheets, and builders usually placed the thicker edge at the bottom for stability.The earliest glass objects were beads, made in Mesopotamia about four thousand five hundred years ago. A major breakthrough came around two thousand years ago with glassblowing, which allowed people to make cheap containers quickly. Hyderabad in Sindh is still known for its traditional glass bangles.Today, glass is used in ways the ancient glassmakers could never have imagined, most importantly in optical fibres. These thin strands carry internet data as pulses of light over huge distances under the sea.

1. (a) Main raw material: sand, or more precisely ______ [1]
2. (b) Soda and lime lower the ______ [1]
3. (c) Atoms in glass are arranged ______ [1]
4. (d) Glass is transparent because light is not ______ [1]
5. (e) Old windows made by ______ molten glass into a disc [1]
6. (f) Earliest glass objects: ______ [1]
7. (g) Breakthrough 2,000 years ago: ______ [1]
8. (h) Optical fibres carry data as ______ of light [1]

You will hear a talk about the psychology of habits. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Psychologists estimate that a large part of what we do every day is driven by habit rather than conscious decisions. A habit, they say, has three parts. First there's a cue, a trigger that tells the brain to start the behaviour — for example, picking up your phone the moment you wake up. Then there's the routine, the behaviour itself. And finally there's the reward, the pleasant feeling that makes the brain want to repeat it.Because habits are automatic, willpower alone is rarely enough to change them. A more effective strategy is to change your environment. If you want to eat fewer sweets, don't keep them in the house. If you want to read more, leave a book on your pillow.Another useful technique is called 'habit stacking': attaching a new habit to an existing one. For instance, 'After I brush my teeth, I'll do five minutes of stretching.' The old habit acts as the cue for the new one.How long does it take to form a habit? You may have heard the figure of twenty-one days, but research suggests the real time varies widely, from a few weeks to many months, depending on the person and the behaviour. Missing a single day doesn't ruin the process, so there's no need to give up after one mistake.

1. (a) First part of a habit: the ______ [1]
2. (b) Third part: the ______ [1]
3. (c) Willpower alone is rarely enough because habits are ______ [1]
4. (d) Better strategy: change your ______ [1]
5. (e) To read more: leave a book on your ______ [1]
6. (f) Habit stacking: attach a new habit to an ______ one [1]
7. (g) Time to form a habit varies with the person and the ______ [1]
8. (h) Missing one day does not ______ the process [1]

You will hear a talk about the role of fungi in nature. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)When people think of fungi, they usually picture mushrooms. But a mushroom is only the fruiting body of a much larger organism, like an apple on a tree. Most of the fungus lives hidden underground as a network of fine threads called hyphae, which together form a mycelium.Fungi are neither plants nor animals. They can't make their own food from sunlight, as plants do. Instead, they feed by releasing chemicals called enzymes that break down material around them, then absorbing the nutrients.This makes fungi essential decomposers. Without them, dead leaves and fallen trees would pile up in forests, and the nutrients locked inside them would never return to the soil.Many fungi also form partnerships with plant roots, known as mycorrhizae. The fungus helps the plant absorb water and minerals, especially phosphorus, and in return the plant supplies the fungus with sugars. It's believed that around ninety per cent of land plants depend on these relationships.Fungi have also changed human history. In 1928 Alexander Fleming noticed that a mould called Penicillium killed bacteria, which led to the first widely used antibiotic. And of course, without yeast, another fungus, we would have no bread.

1. (a) Mushroom: the ______ body of the fungus [1]
2. (b) Underground threads: called ______ [1]
3. (c) Fungi feed by releasing ______ [1]
4. (d) Role in forests: essential ______ [1]
5. (e) Partnerships with roots: ______ [1]
6. (f) Fungus helps plants absorb water and minerals, especially ______ [1]
7. (g) Plants give fungi ______ [1]
8. (h) Mould that killed bacteria: ______ [1]

You will hear a talk about how cities can reduce flooding. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)As cities grow, more and more ground is covered in concrete and asphalt. These surfaces are impermeable, which means rainwater can't soak into the soil. Instead, it rushes into drains, which quickly overflow during heavy storms. Karachi and Lahore have both suffered serious urban flooding in recent monsoons.Traditionally, engineers responded by building bigger drains and concrete channels to carry water away as fast as possible. But this often just moves the flooding further downstream.A newer approach, sometimes called the 'sponge city' idea, was developed in China. Instead of getting rid of water quickly, cities are designed to absorb, store and slowly release it. Methods include permeable pavements, which let water through tiny gaps; rain gardens, which are shallow planted areas that collect water from roofs and roads; and green roofs covered in plants.Parks can also be designed to flood safely. In some cities, sports fields are built slightly lower than the surrounding streets, so that during a storm they temporarily fill with water like a lake, protecting nearby homes.Another benefit is that the stored water can recharge underground aquifers, which many cities rely on for drinking water. However, these methods require careful planning and regular maintenance — blocked gaps in a permeable pavement, for example, make it useless.

1. (a) Concrete and asphalt surfaces are ______ [1]
2. (b) Problem with bigger drains: moves flooding ______ [1]
3. (c) 'Sponge city' idea developed in ______ [1]
4. (d) Permeable pavements let water through tiny ______ [1]
5. (e) Rain gardens are shallow ______ areas [1]
6. (f) Sports fields built ______ than surrounding streets [1]
7. (g) Stored water can recharge underground ______ [1]
8. (h) These methods need careful planning and regular ______ [1]

You will hear two students, Areeba and Danish, discussing where to go for their class trip. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Areeba: So, we need to choose between the zoo and the science museum for the class trip. What do you think, Danish?Danish: I'd go for the museum. Last time we went to the zoo, half the animals were asleep because it was so hot.Areeba: That's true, but the museum's quite far. The bus journey would take nearly two hours each way.Danish: Yes, but the museum has a new space gallery. There's a planetarium show where you lie back and watch the stars on the ceiling.Areeba: That does sound good. And it's indoors, so the weather wouldn't matter. But it's expensive — the tickets cost more than double the zoo's.Danish: Maybe the school could ask for a group discount. Museums often give one for schools.Areeba: Good idea. The zoo does have one advantage: the younger students would love the bird park, where you can feed the parrots.Danish: But this trip is just for our year, not the younger ones.Areeba: OK, fair point. Let's suggest the museum and ask Miss Nasreen to phone about the discount.Danish: And we should leave early to avoid the traffic.

1. (a) Problem at the zoo last time: animals were ______ [1]
2. (b) Problem with the museum: it is far — long ______ journey [1]
3. (c) New museum attraction: the ______ gallery [1]
4. (d) Advantage of the museum: it is ______ [1]
5. (e) Disadvantage: tickets are ______ [1]
6. (f) Possible solution: ask for a group ______ [1]
7. (g) Zoo attraction for younger students: feeding ______ [1]
8. (h) Person to phone about discount: Miss ______ [1]

You will hear two friends, Hassan and Mehwish, discussing whether to get a pet. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Hassan: My parents have finally said I can have a pet. I'm thinking of getting a dog.Mehwish: A dog? They need a lot of attention. You'd have to walk it twice a day, even in the rain.Hassan: I know, but I'd enjoy that. It would make me exercise more.Mehwish: What about when your family goes to your grandparents' in the holidays? Who would look after it?Hassan: Hmm, I hadn't thought of that. Maybe my neighbour could.Mehwish: Have you thought about a cat instead? They're much more independent. You can leave them alone for a day with food and water.Hassan: But cats aren't very affectionate. They only come to you when they want food.Mehwish: That's not true! My cat sleeps on my bed every night. And they're cleaner than dogs — they wash themselves.Hassan: My little sister is allergic to cats, though. Her eyes go red and she starts sneezing.Mehwish: Oh, then that settles it. What about fish? They're quiet and don't cause allergies.Hassan: Fish are boring! I'll talk to my neighbour about the holidays, and if she agrees, I'll get a dog.

1. (a) Disadvantage of a dog: must be walked ______ a day [1]
2. (b) Advantage for Hassan: he would get more ______ [1]
3. (c) Problem: who will look after it in the ______ [1]
4. (d) Cats are more ______ [1]
5. (e) Hassan thinks cats are not very ______ [1]
6. (f) Cats are cleaner because they ______ themselves [1]
7. (g) Problem with cats: Hassan's sister is ______ [1]
8. (h) Hassan's opinion of fish: ______ [1]

You will hear three students, Ali, Sana and Umer, planning a fundraising event for their school library. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Ali: We need to raise money for new library books. Any ideas?Sana: What about a bake sale? Everyone loves cakes, and it's easy to organise.Umer: We had a bake sale last term, though. People might be bored of it.Ali: True. How about a sponsored read? Students get family members to pay a small amount for every book they read in a month.Sana: I like that, because it's connected to the library. It encourages reading too.Umer: But it takes a whole month before we get the money. The library needs the books before the exams.Ali: Good point. What about a talent show? We could charge an entry fee for the audience.Sana: That could raise a lot. But we'd need to book the hall, and the drama club usually uses it on Fridays.Umer: We could hold it on a Thursday afternoon instead.Ali: OK, so the talent show is our first choice. Sana, could you design the posters? You're the best artist.Sana: Sure. And Umer, you could ask Mr Khalid for permission.Umer: I'll do it tomorrow at break.

1. (a) Idea 1: bake sale — problem: already held last ______ [1]
2. (b) Idea 2: sponsored ______ [1]
3. (c) Advantage: it encourages ______ [1]
4. (d) Disadvantage: money takes a whole ______ to arrive [1]
5. (e) Idea 3: talent show — money from an entry ______ [1]
6. (f) Problem: the ______ club uses the hall on Fridays [1]
7. (g) Solution: hold it on a ______ afternoon [1]
8. (h) Sana's job: design the ______ [1]

You will hear two cousins, Bilal and Hina, discussing how to celebrate their grandparents' wedding anniversary. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Hina: Bilal, it's Nana and Nani's fiftieth wedding anniversary next month. We should do something special.Bilal: Definitely. How about a big party in a hall?Hina: I'm not sure. Nani doesn't like noise, and Nana gets tired quickly since his knee operation.Bilal: OK, so something smaller. What about a dinner at home with just the family?Hina: That sounds better. We could cook their favourite dishes. Nana loves fish, and Nani's favourite is kheer.Bilal: I could make a video with messages from relatives abroad, like Uncle Tariq in Canada.Hina: Lovely! They'd really enjoy that. And for a present, I thought we could make a photo album of their fifty years together.Bilal: Great idea. Aunty Rubina has lots of old photos from their wedding. I'll ask her to scan them.Hina: We'll need to keep it a secret. Let's tell them we're just coming for an ordinary Sunday lunch.Bilal: Perfect. I'll start contacting everyone for the video tonight.

1. (a) Reason against a big party: Nani doesn't like ______ [1]
2. (b) Nana gets tired since his ______ operation [1]
3. (c) Plan: dinner at ______ with family [1]
4. (d) Nana's favourite food: ______ [1]
5. (e) Nani's favourite food: ______ [1]
6. (f) Bilal will make a ______ with messages [1]
7. (g) Present: a photo ______ [1]
8. (h) Cover story: an ordinary Sunday ______ [1]

You will hear two friends, Zara and Omar, discussing which sport to take up. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Zara: I want to start a new sport this year, but I can't decide between swimming and tennis.Omar: Swimming's great because it exercises your whole body. And you can do it in hot weather without getting exhausted.Zara: That's true. But the only pool near us is always crowded in the evenings.Omar: You could go early in the morning, before school.Zara: Me? Get up at six? I don't think so!Omar: What about tennis, then? There are courts in the park, and they're free.Zara: Yes, but I'd need to buy a racket, and good ones are expensive.Omar: My brother has an old one he never uses. I'm sure he'd lend it to you.Zara: Really? That would solve the problem. The only other thing is I'd need someone to play with.Omar: I'll play with you! I've been wanting to improve my serve.Zara: Great, so tennis it is. Let's start on Saturday morning.Omar: OK, but we should go early, before it gets too hot.

1. (a) Swimming exercises the whole ______ [1]
2. (b) Problem: the pool is ______ in the evenings [1]
3. (c) Omar's suggestion: swim early in the ______, before school [1]
4. (d) Tennis courts are in the ______ [1]
5. (e) Tennis problem: rackets are ______ [1]
6. (f) Solution: borrow a racket from Omar's ______ [1]
7. (g) Omar wants to improve his ______ [1]
8. (h) They will start on ______ morning [1]

You will hear two students, Nadia and Faraz, discussing whether their school should ban mobile phones. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Nadia: Did you hear? The head teacher's thinking of banning phones completely during the school day.Faraz: I think it's a good idea, actually. People are always checking messages in lessons, and it's really distracting.Nadia: But phones can be useful in lessons too. We use them to look things up, or to use the dictionary app in English.Faraz: The school could provide tablets for that instead. Then teachers can control which apps we use.Nadia: That would be very expensive. And what about safety? My mother likes to know I can contact her on the way home.Faraz: The ban would only be during school hours. You could keep it switched off in a locker and collect it at the end of the day.Nadia: I suppose so. Another point is cyberbullying. Some students take photos of others without permission and post them online.Faraz: Exactly — that's another reason for a ban. And people would actually talk to each other at break time, instead of staring at screens.Nadia: OK, I'm half convinced. But I think the students should be asked before a decision is made.Faraz: That's fair. Maybe the student council could run a survey.

1. (a) Faraz: phones in lessons are ______ [1]
2. (b) Nadia: phones are useful for looking things up and the ______ app [1]
3. (c) Faraz's alternative: school provides ______ [1]
4. (d) Nadia's concern about this: very ______ [1]
5. (e) Nadia's mother wants contact for ______ reasons [1]
6. (f) Faraz: keep phone switched off in a ______ [1]
7. (g) Another problem: ______ [1]
8. (h) Suggestion: student council could run a ______ [1]

You will hear two friends, Saad and Laiba, discussing whether to study abroad after school. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Laiba: Have you decided about university yet, Saad? Are you still thinking of applying abroad?Saad: I'd love to. Studying in another country would make me more independent, and I'd meet people from all over the world.Laiba: That's true, but have you thought about the cost? Fees abroad are huge, and then there's accommodation and food.Saad: Some universities offer scholarships for international students. My cousin got one to study engineering in Germany, and he pays almost nothing.Laiba: Germany? Did he have to learn German?Saad: His course was taught in English, but he says learning German helped him make friends and find a part-time job.Laiba: I think I'd be too homesick. I'd miss my family and the food!Saad: That's the part that worries me too. But you can video-call every day now.Laiba: It's not the same as being there. Also, some degrees from abroad aren't recognised here, so you might have problems finding a job when you come back.Saad: That's a good point. I'll check with the careers adviser which qualifications are accepted.Laiba: Good idea. And apply to some universities here as well, just in case.

1. (a) Advantage: would make Saad more ______ [1]
2. (b) Laiba's concern: the ______ [1]
3. (c) Possible solution: ______ for international students [1]
4. (d) Saad's cousin studies ______ in Germany [1]
5. (e) Learning German helped him make friends and find a ______ [1]
6. (f) Laiba fears she would be ______ [1]
7. (g) Problem: some foreign degrees are not ______ [1]
8. (h) Saad will speak to the ______ [1]

You will hear three members of a youth club, Kamran, Rida and Josh, discussing a project to improve their local park. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Kamran: The council has given us a small grant to improve the park. What should we spend it on?Rida: The biggest problem is litter. There are only two bins, and they're always overflowing.Josh: More bins would help, but people also need to stop dropping rubbish. Maybe some signs?Kamran: Signs don't really work. People ignore them. What about a monthly clean-up day? If local families take part, they'll feel the park belongs to them.Rida: I like that. Another issue is the lighting. After sunset, the paths are completely dark, and lots of people, especially women, don't feel safe walking there.Josh: Solar lamps could be the answer. They don't need electricity cables, so they'd be cheaper to install.Kamran: Good idea. And the playground equipment is really old. The slide is broken.Rida: Repairing everything would use up the whole grant, though.Josh: Maybe we could ask a local business to sponsor new equipment, in return for a sign with their name.Kamran: So, the grant pays for bins and solar lamps, and we look for a sponsor for the playground. Agreed?Rida and Josh: Agreed.

1. (a) Problem 1: litter — bins are always ______ [1]
2. (b) Kamran thinks signs don't work because people ______ them [1]
3. (c) Kamran's idea: monthly ______ day [1]
4. (d) Problem 2: paths are dark after ______ [1]
5. (e) Josh's solution: ______ lamps [1]
6. (f) Advantage: no electricity ______ needed [1]
7. (g) Problem 3: the ______ is broken [1]
8. (h) Playground to be paid for by a local business as ______ [1]

You will hear two students, Ayesha and Hamid, discussing a news report about a plan to build a new airport near their city. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Ayesha: Did you see the news about the new airport? They want to build it on the farmland east of the city.Hamid: Yes. I think it's a great idea. The old airport is far too small, and flights are always delayed.Ayesha: But what about the farmers? Hundreds of families would lose land that they've farmed for generations.Hamid: The government says it will pay them compensation.Ayesha: Money doesn't replace a way of life. And the land there is some of the most fertile in the region — it grows rice and sugar cane.Hamid: But think of the jobs. An airport would employ thousands of people, and hotels and shops would open nearby.Ayesha: Maybe, but there's also the noise. The planned runway would be just a few kilometres from two villages and a school.Hamid: Modern planes are quieter than they used to be.Ayesha: There's the environment too. More flights mean more carbon emissions.Hamid: I suppose the best answer would be to improve the old airport instead, if that's possible.Ayesha: Exactly. I think the council should hold a public meeting before deciding.

1. (a) Proposed site: farmland ______ of the city [1]
2. (b) Problem with old airport: too small; flights are ______ [1]
3. (c) Government will give farmers ______ [1]
4. (d) Crops grown on the land: rice and ______ [1]
5. (e) Hamid's main argument for: ______ [1]
6. (f) Noise: runway near two villages and a ______ [1]
7. (g) Environmental concern: more carbon ______ [1]
8. (h) Ayesha wants the council to hold a public ______ [1]

You will hear two friends, Rehan and Sobia, discussing an online course they are both taking. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Rehan: How are you finding the online photography course, Sobia?Sobia: I love it. The best thing is that I can watch the videos whenever I like. I usually study late at night when the house is quiet.Rehan: That's the opposite for me. I find it hard to motivate myself without a fixed timetable. In a classroom, the teacher keeps you on track.Sobia: Have you tried setting yourself deadlines? I write my weekly goals on a sticky note on my desk.Rehan: Maybe I should. The other problem is that I can't ask questions immediately. I posted one on the forum and waited three days for an answer.Sobia: That is annoying. But the forum is great for getting feedback on your photos from other students. Someone in Brazil gave me really useful advice about lighting.Rehan: True, I hadn't thought of that. And the course is much cheaper than the one at the college.Sobia: Exactly. And you can download the videos and watch them again whenever you need to.Rehan: OK, I'll try your sticky-note idea and see if it helps.

1. (a) Sobia: can watch the videos ______ [1]
2. (b) Sobia usually studies late at ______ [1]
3. (c) Rehan's problem: needs a fixed ______ [1]
4. (d) Sobia's tip: set ______ [1]
5. (e) She writes weekly goals on a ______ [1]
6. (f) Rehan waited three days for an answer on the ______ [1]
7. (g) Advice from a student in Brazil was about ______ [1]
8. (h) Course is cheaper than the one at the ______ [1]

You will hear a discussion between two scientists, Dr Malik and Dr Evans, about whether to bring back extinct species. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Dr Malik: There's a lot of excitement about 'de-extinction' at the moment — using genetic technology to bring back animals like the woolly mammoth. Personally, I'm sceptical.Dr Evans: I can see why, but I think there are real benefits. Some scientists argue that mammoth-like elephants could help restore the Arctic grasslands, by trampling snow and knocking down trees, which would keep the ground frozen and reduce carbon release.Dr Malik: That's a fascinating theory, but it's unproven. And it would take decades to breed enough animals to have any effect.Dr Evans: True. Still, the techniques we develop could help endangered species that are still alive, for example by increasing genetic diversity in small populations.Dr Malik: That's a fair point. My main concern is cost. Every dollar spent on de-extinction is a dollar not spent protecting habitats that are disappearing right now.Dr Evans: Some of the funding comes from private investors who wouldn't otherwise give money to conservation at all.Dr Malik: Perhaps. But there's also the welfare question. An elephant would have to carry the embryo, and the first animals would have no parents of their own kind to learn from. Mammoths were social animals.Dr Evans: I agree that's troubling. I suppose we both think protecting existing species should come first.Dr Malik: Absolutely. De-extinction shouldn't become an excuse for letting species disappear in the first place.

1. (a) Dr Malik's initial attitude: ______ [1]
2. (b) Possible benefit: restore Arctic ______ [1]
3. (c) Animals would keep the ground ______ [1]
4. (d) Dr Malik: the theory is ______ [1]
5. (e) Techniques could increase genetic ______ in small populations [1]
6. (f) Dr Malik's main concern: ______ [1]
7. (g) Some funding comes from private ______ [1]
8. (h) Welfare problem: first animals would have no ______ to learn from [1]

You will hear a discussion between a radio presenter, Imran, and a town planner, Ms Qureshi, about car-free city centres. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Imran: Ms Qureshi, several cities around the world have banned cars from their centres. Should Pakistani cities do the same?Ms Qureshi: In some areas, yes. The evidence from cities like Oslo and Madrid is that air quality improves quickly, and there are far fewer road accidents involving pedestrians.Imran: But shopkeepers often oppose these schemes. They worry that customers won't come if they can't park nearby.Ms Qureshi: That's the most common objection, but in many cases shop sales actually increased, because people on foot tend to stay longer and visit more shops.Imran: Our climate is very different from Norway's, though. Who wants to walk in forty-five degrees?Ms Qureshi: That's a serious point. Any scheme here would need shade — covered walkways and trees — and should probably start in the cooler months.Imran: And what about people with disabilities, or the elderly?Ms Qureshi: Exceptions are essential: delivery vehicles at certain times, emergency services, and accessible transport such as electric shuttles.Imran: Isn't the real problem that our public transport isn't good enough?Ms Qureshi: Exactly. A ban only works if there are good alternatives first. Otherwise, you're simply punishing people who have no choice. I'd begin with one street, as a trial, and measure the results.

1. (a) Benefits: better air quality and fewer accidents involving ______ [1]
2. (b) Shopkeepers worry customers can't ______ nearby [1]
3. (c) In many cases, shop sales ______ [1]
4. (d) Reason: people on foot stay ______ [1]
5. (e) Local problem: the ______ [1]
6. (f) Solution: covered walkways and ______ [1]
7. (g) Exception example: electric ______ [1]
8. (h) Ms Qureshi would start with one street as a ______ [1]

You will hear a discussion between two teachers, Mrs Haider and Mr Clarke, about using artificial intelligence in schools. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Mrs Haider: A lot of my students are now using AI chatbots to help with homework. I'm worried they're not learning anything.Mr Clarke: I understand, but banning them isn't realistic. Students will use them anyway, just secretly. I'd rather teach them to use them well.Mrs Haider: What does using them well look like, though?Mr Clarke: For example, asking the chatbot to explain a difficult idea in simpler words, or to give feedback on a draft essay — not to write the essay itself.Mrs Haider: The trouble is that the answers aren't always accurate. Last week a student handed in a history essay with a quotation that didn't exist.Mr Clarke: That's actually a useful lesson. Students need to learn to check information against reliable sources. That skill matters whatever technology they use.Mrs Haider: I suppose so. I've also started setting more work in class, where I can see the students' thinking. And I ask them to explain their answers aloud.Mr Clarke: That's a good approach. Oral questioning makes it obvious whether someone really understands.Mrs Haider: My other concern is fairness. Not every student has internet access at home.Mr Clarke: Agreed. The school library could provide access for those who need it.Mrs Haider: Maybe we should write a clear policy, so students know exactly what's allowed.

1. (a) Mr Clarke: a ban is not ______ [1]
2. (b) Good use: ask for feedback on a ______ [1]
3. (c) Problem: answers are not always ______ [1]
4. (d) A student's essay included a ______ that did not exist [1]
5. (e) Skill students need: check information against reliable ______ [1]
6. (f) Mrs Haider sets more work in ______ [1]
7. (g) Mrs Haider's other concern: ______ [1]
8. (h) Suggested solution: write a clear ______ [1]

You will hear a discussion between two economics students, Shahzad and Mahnoor, about a four-day working week. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Shahzad: Have you read about the trials of a four-day working week in some countries? Employees worked thirty-two hours instead of forty, for the same pay.Mahnoor: Yes, and the results surprised me. Most companies in the trials reported that productivity stayed the same, and some even said it went up.Shahzad: How is that possible, with fewer hours?Mahnoor: Apparently people wasted less time. Meetings became shorter, and staff were more focused because they knew they had a three-day weekend to look forward to.Shahzad: I can see it working in offices. But what about hospitals or factories that need to run every day?Mahnoor: That's a real challenge. Those organisations would need to employ extra staff to cover the missing day, which raises costs.Shahzad: And the trials were mostly voluntary, weren't they? Companies that chose to take part were probably the ones most likely to succeed.Mahnoor: Good point. That's called selection bias. Still, employees reported less stress and fewer sick days, which saves companies money.Shahzad: I'd also worry that people would just use the extra day to take a second job.Mahnoor: Some might. But most in the trials spent it with family or on hobbies.Shahzad: I think it could work in some sectors, but not as a national law.Mahnoor: I agree. It should be flexible, not forced on everyone.

1. (a) Trials: same ______, fewer hours [1]
2. (b) Most companies: productivity stayed the ______ [1]
3. (c) Reason: people wasted less ______ [1]
4. (d) Example: ______ became shorter [1]
5. (e) Problem for hospitals: need to employ extra ______ [1]
6. (f) Weakness of trials: called selection ______ [1]
7. (g) Benefit to companies: fewer ______ days [1]
8. (h) Conclusion: it should be ______, not forced [1]

You will hear a discussion between a student, Iqra, and her grandfather about how farming in their village has changed. Complete the notes. Write no more than three words or a number in each gap.Transcript (read it aloud, or read it silently)Iqra: Dada jaan, for my project, can you tell me how farming has changed since you were young?Grandfather: Enormously! When I was your age, we ploughed with oxen. It took a whole week to plough our fields. Now my neighbour hires a tractor and finishes in a day.Iqra: That must have made life much easier.Grandfather: In some ways. But tractors are expensive, and many small farmers have fallen into debt paying for fuel and repairs.Iqra: What about water? Did you have tube wells?Grandfather: No, we depended on the canal and the rain. Tube wells came later. They were a blessing at first, but now the water table has dropped so much that wells have to be dug far deeper than before.Iqra: I read that farmers now use a lot of chemical fertiliser.Grandfather: Yes. At first the harvests doubled. But we used to put manure on the fields and rotate crops, growing beans or lentils to feed the soil. Now many farmers grow wheat and rice year after year, and the soil is getting tired.Iqra: Is anything better now?Grandfather: Of course! Mobile phones. Farmers can check market prices before selling, so middlemen can't cheat them so easily. And weather forecasts help us plan.Iqra: So it's a mixture of good and bad.Grandfather: That's farming — and life!

1. (a) In the past, fields were ploughed using ______ [1]
2. (b) Problem with tractors: small farmers fell into ______ [1]
3. (c) Past water sources: the canal and ______ [1]
4. (d) Problem now: the water ______ has dropped [1]
5. (e) Traditional fertiliser: ______ [1]
6. (f) Old method to feed the soil: rotate ______ [1]
7. (g) Benefit of mobile phones: checking market ______ [1]
8. (h) Group who can no longer cheat farmers so easily: ______ [1]