CELPIP Listening Part 5 · Discussion · set 9 of 10

Replacing the Company Van

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: 9 of 10

Transcript

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

Grace: Tariq, got a minute? The mechanic called about Van Three. The transmission's going, and fixing it is about six thousand. On a van with three hundred and ten thousand kilometres, I don't think it's worth it. Tariq: No, that van's done. I've been saying that since last winter. So what are we replacing it with? I assume the same model, new? Grace: That's the easy answer. A new gas van is about fifty-two thousand. But I wanted to talk about the electric one the dealer showed us. It's sixty-eight, though there's a rebate of about five thousand right now. Tariq: Sixty-three is still eleven grand more. And honestly, Grace, this is Edmonton. In January, at minus thirty, what's the range on that thing? Grace: The dealer said about two hundred and fifty kilometres in summer, maybe a hundred and sixty in deep cold. Tariq: There you go. Our guys drive out to Leduc and Spruce Grove all the time. Grace: They do, but I checked the trip logs for Van Three. In the last six months, it only went over a hundred and twenty kilometres in a day four times. Most days it's forty or fifty, all in the city. Tariq: Huh. I would've guessed a lot more than that. Grace: And fuel's the big thing. We spent almost four thousand on gas for that van last year. Charging would be maybe a quarter of that. Plus fewer oil changes, less wear on the brakes. Tariq: Okay, so over five years it might actually pay for itself. But what about charging? We don't have anything at the shop. Grace: A charger in the garage would be around three thousand installed. The guys would plug in overnight. Tariq: What about buying used instead? I saw a three-year-old gas van for thirty-one thousand. Grace: With ninety thousand kilometres on it. We'd be back here having this same conversation in four years. Tariq: Fair. Here's my condition, then. We keep Van Two for the long trips out of town until we see how the electric one does in a real winter. If it handles January, I'm sold. Grace: That's reasonable. Van Two's still running fine. Tariq: And can we look at leasing rather than buying? If the battery technology changes, I don't want to be stuck. Grace: I'll ask the dealer for both prices. But let's say electric, with the charger installed before December. Tariq: Electric, then. I'll let the crew know.

Questions and answer key

1What are the speakers mainly deciding?
1. AWhether to repair Van Three's transmission
2. ✓What kind of vehicle should replace a broken van
3. CWhich crew should drive to Leduc
4. DHow to lower the company's repair bills
Answer: B
Tariq asks "So what are we replacing it with?" and the rest compares gas, electric and used vans. Both agree early that repairing Van Three is not worth it.
2How much would it cost to repair Van Three?
1. ✓About $6,000
2. BAbout $11,000
3. CAbout $3,000
4. DAbout $5,000
Answer: A
Grace says "fixing it is about six thousand." $11,000 is the price difference, $3,000 is the charger, and $5,000 is the rebate.
3What does Tariq first assume the company will do?
1. ✓Buy a new van of the same model
2. BBuy a used van
3. CLease an electric van
4. DRepair the old van
Answer: A
Tariq says "I assume the same model, new?" He raises a used van and leasing only later.
4What is Tariq's main worry about the electric van?
1. AThe dealer's rebate might end soon.
2. BThe crew would not know how to drive it.
3. CIt is too small to carry plumbing tools.
4. ✓Cold weather would reduce how far it can travel.
Answer: D
He asks "In January, at minus thirty, what's the range on that thing?" and points to trips out of the city.
5What did Grace learn from Van Three's trip logs?
1. AIt drove to Leduc almost every day.
2. BIt usually travelled about 250 km a day.
3. ✓It rarely travelled more than 120 km in a day.
4. DIt used much more fuel in winter.
Answer: C
Grace says "it only went over a hundred and twenty kilometres in a day four times. Most days it's forty or fifty." 250 km is the electric van's summer range.
6How does Tariq react to the trip-log information?
1. AHe says the logs must be wrong.
2. BHe insists the van needs more range.
3. ✓He is surprised the distances are so short.
4. DHe loses interest in the decision.
Answer: C
Tariq says "Huh. I would've guessed a lot more than that," and then begins to see that the electric van "might actually pay for itself."
7Why does Grace reject buying a used van?
1. AIt costs more than the electric van.
2. ✓It already has high mileage and would soon need replacing.
3. CIt does not qualify for the rebate.
4. DThe dealer refused to sell it.
Answer: B
She says it has "ninety thousand kilometres on it. We'd be back here... in four years." The used van is the cheapest option at thirty-one thousand.
8What do the speakers finally agree on?
1. ABuying a new gas van of the same model
2. BBuying the three-year-old used van
3. CRepairing Van Three and waiting until next year
4. ✓Getting an electric van and keeping Van Two for long trips
Answer: D
Grace says "let's say electric," and Tariq's condition is to keep "Van Two for the long trips out of town." Whether to lease or buy is still to be checked.

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