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Test 1 / 16

You hear a conversation between a father and his son.


1) In what way does the father admit to being mistaken?
2) What view does the son express towards his father?
3) What change in behaviour does the father recognise after his wife's emergency?
4) What is the biggest loss according to the father?
5) To what does the father confess?
Speaker 1

(0:04) I’ll tell you what did knock me for six was when she had that seizure. (0:08) The doctor in A&E was talking and I wasn’t fully listening really to what he said and you’re watching it and And you think everything’s okay. (0:18) Yeah, you’re gonna be fine.

(0:19) She’s coming around a bit. (0:20) When he said those three words Do not resuscitate It was just you know, like an electric shock and suddenly I was focused on him. (0:29) I think apart from My dad’s death that was probably the biggest shock I’d had But you took it you took it better than me.

(0:37) Yeah, I would have thought You’d be crying on my shoulder. (0:41) Not vice versa. (0:42) And that’s I think that is the first time I’ve ever seen you cry I’ve cried in private before But that’s that’s you all over isn’t it you I mean when they put beer up in the budget that’s at all That was so bad, but you know you get over it.

(0:58) Don’t you? (1:01) I think probably that’s a bit of a the old defense mechanism.

Speaker 2

(1:05) I don’t wanna you don’t want to dwell on it It’s a difficult. (1:08) Yeah, it’s difficult (1:10) And I realized I had to be the strong one (1:12) I had to be the one man up is such an awful phrase, but I had to kind of keep my own emotions in check (1:18) That’s the first time ever (1:21) you’ve actually needed me and (1:23) That’s when I became very very protective of you both as well (1:26) And I know before you yeah, you didn’t care what happened to me didn’t you

Speaker 1

(1:32) Yeah, I tell you when it really (1:34) When I really feel your mum’s (1:39) Problems, you know these (1:41) Reunions the college reunion she goes to seven or eight of them get together (1:44) I mean, obviously, you know old age is like the hands on them a little bit.

Speaker 2

(1:49) Yeah, but it’s a total contrast to mom Yeah, and actually sometimes as well for me.

Speaker 1

(1:54) I look at my friends and their moms, it’s not jealousy as much it’s But it’s only human to sort of just why you know The biggest thing is the communication Not to be able to communicate Two-way with somebody you’ve lived with for 46 years If you stopped and thought about it, I think it’d probably drive you mad Sometimes she says I need to go to the loo. (2:25) Mm-hmm Just to keep having to tell her you can’t stand Yeah, you know you had the stroke and and then she sort of looks far off into the distance And sometimes the tears come And I just think that I think it’s very sad These should be the golden years if you like when they ain’t the tarnished, you know And the other thing is I couldn’t do it all without you mate. (2:52) I do I can

Test 2 / 16

You hear two people speaking about their friendship.


1) One speaker felt her watershed moment was when
2) One speaker made a tongue-in-cheek comment about
3) One speaker expressed the view that a quilt of fear
4) The speakers failed to agree about
5) What conclusion did they put forward?
Speaker 1

(0:05) Pema is an artist and Louise has a business styling and photographing flowers. (0:10) As they’ve now known each other for 35 years, you might think that they’d said all there is to be said, but that didn’t prove to be the case. (0:17) Pema is married with two children, Louise is married with three kids, and they both agree that having a close friendship, one where they can rely on each other with no expectations, has helped them through the toughest of times.

Speaker 2

(0:29) I think your choice of friends when you’re a teenager is probably really, really important. (0:35) Probably more indicative of who you really want to be. (0:37) Precisely, because when you’re young, you know, you just want to play with someone who wants to, you know, like skipping or yeah, we’ve always got the great sweeties or whatever.

(0:46) But, you know, when you’re a teenager and you’re stepping out, if you like, into the wide world for the first time, you want someone who really resonates with you. (0:55) I recalled having one and a half arguments with you in our 35 years, you could only remember half. (1:00) So you had the other one on your own.

Speaker 3

(1:02) The other one was clearly in my imagination.

Speaker 2

(1:08) I think at 50, there’s this sense of, you know, now what? (1:12) It feels like I’m trying to reinvent myself again. (1:16) So it kind of feels this is like the next challenge.

Speaker 1

(1:19) So what are you preparing to do next after this one that you can tick off your list?

Speaker 2

 (1:24) There’s the singing in the choir. 

Speaker 1

(1:26) Oh, cool.

Speaker 2

(1:27) Yeah, I emailed somebody about that. 

Speaker 1

(1:29) Brilliant. 

Speaker 2

(1:29) What I really want to do, actually, the one I’m keen to do next is with Hannah.

(1:36) Building, what do you say, building a fort. (1:39) I’m trying to find it now.

Speaker 1

(1:41) Oh, building a fort in your lounge.

Speaker 2

(1:44) Yeah, build a blanket fort with Hannah and either play games under it or watch a film under it.

Speaker 1

(1:50) Yeah.

Speaker 2

(1:51) It’s the simple ones. (1:52) I mean, yeah, there’s a go on a pilgrimage or road trip somewhere, you know, and I’ve been thinking about that. (1:58) And do I go to India or do I, you know, but it’s the real simple ones that I’m really looking forward to.

(2:05) Or run an art based workshop for others on a subject of your choice. (2:10) I was going to make a quilt, you know, like when women are getting older.

Speaker 3

(2:14) They take up needlework.

Speaker 2

(2:16) Yeah, they do, because that’s compulsory. (2:19) OK, that comes just before surgical stockings and a blue rinse. (2:23) So, yeah, I wanted to make a quilt, but not stitched in the kind of traditional way.

(2:32) And I was going to draw pictures and stitch them together in this big quilt.

Speaker 1

(2:37) Yeah, that sounds amazing.

Speaker 2

(2:38) Yeah, I think I might do that. (2:39) Sounds like a really nice idea. (2:40) Do a quilt of fear to wrap yourself up in it.

(2:43) And it’s all OK because it’s just in your head. (2:45) Yeah, quilt of fear. (2:47) Now, I think something about stitching together all the bits of yourself that may be, that feel fragmented, like what am I going to be when I grow up?

(3:01) Oh, yeah, I still don’t know. (3:02) Kind of stitching all those bits together when you get to 50. (3:05) Maybe there should be 50 pieces.

(3:08) Then I’ll exhibit it and that will be number whatever, 45 done or something.

Speaker 1

(3:15) Do you think you’re going to hire a gallery or hire a space, a hall? (3:21) I can’t remember what the exact words of the challenge were.

Speaker 2

(3:24) I thought maybe the Tate would be interested.

Speaker 1

(3:27) I reckon you could be right there.