CELPIP Listening Part 5 · Discussion · set 10 of 10

A Book Club Changes Format

A CELPIP Listening Part 5 practice set (Discussion): the transcript, 8 questions and the answer key with an explanation for each answer. No sign-up needed. This page prints the transcript and has no audio; on the real test you hear the recording once and cannot replay it.

The task

You will watch a video of a discussion. You will hear it only once. Listen carefully, then answer the questions.

You hear the discussion only once.
Choose the best answer for each question.

Questions: 8
Time: 4 minutes
Practice set: 10 of 10

Transcript

The test plays this once, as audio. For real practice, answer the questions first, then check the transcript.

Francine: All right, let's be honest with ourselves. When I started this club three years ago, we had eighteen people around this table. Last month, seven. Something's not working. Wei: I've asked around, and the biggest thing I hear is the time. Tuesday at seven is hard. People with kids are doing bedtime, and some of the seniors don't like driving after dark, especially from November on. Patrick: For me, it's the books, to be honest. We did three six-hundred-page novels in a row this fall. I didn't finish a single one, and I felt kind of embarrassed showing up. Francine: That's fair. I picked two of those, I admit. So, two problems: the time and the length. Wei: I'd suggest we just move online. Everybody joins from home. No driving, no babysitter. Patrick: I don't know. Half the reason I come is to get out of the house. If it's another video call, I'd probably skip it. I'm on calls all day at work. Francine: I'm with Patrick. A few of our older members aren't comfortable with the technology either. Margaret told me she tried a video call once with her grandkids and gave up. Wei: Okay, but what about the people who've already stopped coming because of the drive? Francine: What if we change the time instead? Saturday mornings at ten. It's light out, the kids are usually at activities, and the library opens at nine-thirty. Patrick: Saturday at ten I could do. Wei: Some of the parents have hockey on Saturday mornings, though. How about we keep one laptop at the table and let people join by video if they can't make it in person? It's not ideal, but it's better than losing them completely. Francine: That I could live with. In person first, video as a backup. Patrick: And the books? Francine: Let's put a limit on it. Nothing over three hundred and fifty pages, and we vote from a list of three instead of me just picking. Patrick: That would definitely get me reading again. Wei: So, Saturdays at ten, starting in January, with a video link for anyone who can't come, and shorter books chosen by vote. I'll set up the link and send a test invitation. Francine: Perfect. And I'll email the people who've drifted away, tell them about the changes, and personally invite them back.

Questions and answer key

1What is the main topic of the discussion?
1. AWhich novel the club should read next
2. BHow to raise money for the library
3. CWhether to close the book club
4. ✓How to get more people to attend the book club
Answer: D
Francine notes attendance fell from eighteen to seven and says "Something's not working." The rest of the talk is about fixing that. Specific novels are not chosen.
2How many people came to last month's meeting?
1. AEighteen
2. ✓Seven
3. CThree
4. DTen
Answer: B
Francine says "Last month, seven." Eighteen was the number three years ago.
3According to Wei, why do some seniors find Tuesday evenings difficult?
1. ✓They do not like driving after dark.
2. BThey have to put children to bed.
3. CThey are on video calls at work.
4. DThe library closes early on Tuesdays.
Answer: A
Wei says some seniors "don't like driving after dark." Bedtime is the problem for parents, and work calls are Patrick's situation.
4What is Patrick's personal reason for losing interest?
1. AThe meetings were held too late at night.
2. BHe did not like the people in the group.
3. ✓The recent books were too long to finish.
4. DHe could not find the books at the library.
Answer: C
Patrick says "We did three six-hundred-page novels in a row... I didn't finish a single one." The time problem is Wei's point.
5Why does Patrick not want the club to move fully online?
1. ✓He wants to get out of the house and already uses video calls at work.
2. BHe does not own a computer.
3. CHe thinks online meetings are too expensive.
4. DHe finds the technology too difficult to use.
Answer: A
Patrick says "Half the reason I come is to get out of the house" and "I'm on calls all day at work." Difficulty with technology is Francine's point about older members.
6How does Wei's position change during the discussion?
1. AFrom meeting in person to moving fully online
2. ✓From moving fully online to meeting in person with a video option
3. CFrom changing the day to keeping Tuesdays
4. DFrom supporting shorter books to opposing them
Answer: B
Wei first says "we just move online," but later suggests keeping "one laptop at the table" so people can join by video if they cannot come in person.
7What is the new limit for book length?
1. A600 pages
2. B300 pages
3. C450 pages
4. ✓350 pages
Answer: D
Francine says "Nothing over three hundred and fifty pages." Six hundred pages was the length of the fall novels.
8What does the group decide?
1. ATo meet online every Tuesday evening
2. BTo keep meeting on Tuesdays but read shorter books
3. ✓To meet on Saturday mornings in person, with a video link available
4. DTo meet at the library at nine-thirty on Saturdays
Answer: C
Wei sums up "Saturdays at ten... with a video link for anyone who can't come." Nine-thirty is when the library opens, not the meeting time.

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