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CELPIP-General practice questions

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Question 1Listening

A caller leaves this voicemail: "Hi, this is Dana from Dr. Patel's office. I'm calling to confirm your appointment on Thursday at 3:15 and to remind you to bring your insurance card. Please call back if that time no longer works." What is the caller's main purpose?

  1. To sell a health insurance plan
  2. To cancel a scheduled visit
  3. To confirm an appointment Correct answer.
  4. To announce a change of clinic address

Explanation

The caller states her reason in the opening sentence - confirming Thursday's appointment - and then adds a reminder about the insurance card. Every detail in the message supports that single purpose. No cancellation, sales pitch or location change appears anywhere in the message.

Question 2Listening

A man says to a friend: "I'll meet you outside the library at ten to six, and we can walk over to the restaurant together." What time will they meet?

  1. 6:50
  2. 6:10
  3. 5:40
  4. 5:50 Correct answer.

Explanation

In clock times, "to" counts backwards from the coming hour, so "ten to six" means ten minutes before six o'clock, which is 5:50. Expressions using "past" count forward from the hour instead.

Question 3Listening

A woman tells a colleague: "I've already booked the meeting room, so all you need to do is send out the invitations." What does the woman want her colleague to do?

  1. Send out the invitations Correct answer.
  2. Book a larger meeting room
  3. Print copies of the agenda
  4. Confirm the room booking

Explanation

The phrase "all you need to do is..." marks the single task being assigned to the colleague. Because the speaker says the room is already booked, the only remaining action is sending the invitations.

Question 4Listening

A store clerk says: "The jackets are on the second floor, right next to the escalator. The fitting rooms are just behind them." Where are the jackets?

  1. On the ground floor beside the entrance
  2. On the third floor near the stairs
  3. In the fitting rooms at the back
  4. On the second floor by the escalator Correct answer.

Explanation

The clerk gives a floor first and then a landmark to help the listener locate the item. Combining the two pieces of information gives the full location. The fitting rooms are mentioned only as a reference point behind the jackets.

Question 5Listening

A woman says: "Oh great - the bus is late again, and I've got an interview in twenty minutes." How does the woman sound?

  1. Annoyed Correct answer.
  2. Confused
  3. Grateful
  4. Excited

Explanation

Words like "oh great" can express the opposite of pleasure when the situation is clearly bad. The late bus, the word "again" and the urgent interview together signal irritation.

Question 6Listening

A recorded announcement at a pool says: "The pool will close at 4 p.m. today for maintenance. Swimmers should leave the deck by 3:45." What should swimmers do?

  1. Use the showers instead
  2. Wait until 4 p.m. to swim
  3. Call the front desk to rebook
  4. Leave the deck by 3:45 Correct answer.

Explanation

Public announcements usually pair a fact with an instruction. The question asks what swimmers should do, so the instruction clause - be off the deck by 3:45 - is the relevant part.

Question 7Listening

An instructor says: "The workshop runs from 9:00 to 11:30, with a fifteen-minute break halfway through." How long is the workshop?

  1. Three and a half hours
  2. Three hours
  3. Two and a half hours Correct answer.
  4. Two hours

Explanation

From 9:00 to 11:30 is two and a half hours. The fifteen-minute break happens inside that span, so it is already included rather than added on top.

Question 8Listening

Two coworkers talk: "Did you see the email about the new parking rules?" "I did. I'm just glad we don't have to pay for the lot anymore." What are the speakers mainly discussing?

  1. A change in office hours
  2. New rules for parking Correct answer.
  3. A rise in bus fares
  4. A new email system

Explanation

Both speakers refer to the same email about parking rules and to the cost of the lot. The shared subject that ties their comments together is parking.

Question 9Listening

A tenant tells the landlord: "I've been waiting three weeks for the heating to be fixed, and it's supposed to drop below freezing this weekend." What is the tenant's main concern?

  1. The size of the apartment
  2. The noise from the upstairs neighbours
  3. The cost of the monthly rent
  4. The delay in fixing the heating Correct answer.

Explanation

The tenant describes a repair that has taken three weeks, made urgent by an approaching cold snap. Rent, noise and apartment size are never raised, so they cannot be the concern.

Question 10Listening

A woman says: "I've been cramming all week for this exam, but I still don't understand chapter four." What will she most likely do?

  1. Buy a different textbook for the course
  2. Ask the instructor to cancel class
  3. Spend more time on chapter four Correct answer.
  4. Skip the exam entirely

Explanation

When a speaker names a specific weak area just before a test, the natural next step is to work on that area. Nothing in the statement suggests giving up on the exam or replacing her materials.

Question 11Listening

A man says to a coworker: "The client moved the deadline up to Friday, so we'll need to finish the draft by Thursday night." What must they do by Thursday night?

  1. Send the final invoice to the client
  2. Finish the draft of the document Correct answer.
  3. Book a meeting room for Friday
  4. Call the client about the deadline

Explanation

The client's Friday deadline creates an earlier internal deadline for the team. The clause after "so" states the team's own task, which is completing the draft the night before.

Question 12Listening

A recorded message says: "The training session has moved from Room 204 to the basement lab, and it now starts at 1:30 instead of 1:00." Where will the training be held?

  1. In Room 204
  2. In the cafeteria
  3. In the main conference hall
  4. In the basement lab Correct answer.

Explanation

Messages about changed arrangements often replace two things at once: the place and the time. The new location is stated after the word "moved," while Room 204 is the previous venue.

Question 13Listening

Speaker A: "Did you get a chance to look over the numbers I sent?" Speaker B: "I did, and I think we should talk about the third quarter before we show anyone." What does Speaker B imply?

  1. The numbers should be sent out right away
  2. The report is ready to submit as it is
  3. The figures need discussion before sharing Correct answer.
  4. The third quarter was the strongest period

Explanation

Saying they should talk about something "before we show anyone" signals that the material is not yet ready to be shared. The hedge softens a concern rather than expressing praise.

Question 14Listening

An announcement at a train station says: "Passengers travelling to the airport should note that the express service is replaced by a bus this weekend. Allow an extra forty minutes for your journey." What is the announcement mainly telling passengers?

  1. That express trains are running more often
  2. That the airport is closed this weekend
  3. That tickets must be bought in advance
  4. That a bus replaces the train and adds time Correct answer.

Explanation

The announcement links two pieces of information: a bus is substituting for the express, and the trip will take longer. A listener who catches only one half of the message will choose the wrong summary.

Question 15Listening

A woman says: "You can borrow the car, but I need it back with a full tank, and please don't park it on the street overnight." What condition does she set?

  1. The car must be washed and vacuumed
  2. The car should be parked in a garage
  3. The car must be returned with a full tank Correct answer.
  4. The car can only be used during the day

Explanation

Conditions are the specific requirements attached to a favour. The lender names two: a full tank of gas and no overnight parking on the street. Washing the car and daytime-only use are never mentioned.

Question 16Listening

A speaker says: "Some people think cycling lanes slow down traffic, but in my experience they make the roads safer for everyone, including drivers." What is the speaker's view?

  1. Cycling lanes benefit all road users Correct answer.
  2. Drivers should pay more for road use
  3. Cycling lanes should be removed
  4. Cycling lanes cause more accidents

Explanation

The speaker first acknowledges an opposing opinion and then states a personal conclusion introduced by "in my experience." That contrast structure signals disagreement with the opposing view and support for the lanes.

Question 17Listening

Speaker A: "The printer's out of toner and I have to hand out the reports in ten minutes." Speaker B: "There's a copy shop on the corner." What does Speaker B suggest?

  1. Postponing the meeting by ten minutes
  2. Fixing the printer before the meeting
  3. Handing out the reports online
  4. Getting the reports copied elsewhere Correct answer.

Explanation

Suggestions in conversation are often implied rather than stated outright. Mentioning a copy shop right after a broken printer points to having the reports duplicated there.

Question 18Listening

An agent says: "The rent is $1,200 a month, and that includes water and heat. Electricity is separate and usually runs about $60." What does the tenant pay on top of the rent?

  1. The electricity bill Correct answer.
  2. The parking fee
  3. Only the heating bill
  4. Only the water bill

Explanation

The agent separates what is covered from what is not: water and heat are included, electricity is extra. The question asks what is paid in addition to the rent, so the excluded item is the answer.

Question 19Listening

A man says: "I'd love to come to the dinner, but I'm on the early shift the next morning, so I'll have to leave by nine." Why will he leave early?

  1. He has another dinner to attend
  2. He has a long drive home afterwards
  3. He does not enjoy large gatherings
  4. He starts work early the next day Correct answer.

Explanation

Reasons in conversation are usually signalled by connectors such as "but" and "so." Here the early shift the following morning is the stated cause for leaving at nine.

Question 20Listening

Speaker A: "Do you have this in a medium?" Speaker B: "Let me check the back - if not, I can order it online for you." Where does this conversation most likely take place?

  1. At a public library desk
  2. At a clothing store Correct answer.
  3. At a post office counter
  4. At a bank branch

Explanation

Asking for an item in a particular size and being offered a stock check or an online order are typical of retail shopping. Banks, libraries and post offices do not deal in garment sizes.

Question 21Listening

Speaker A: "So you're confident the shipment will arrive by Tuesday?" Speaker B: "Well, the supplier said it left the warehouse on Friday, so barring any delays at customs, it should." What does Speaker B mean?

  1. It should arrive on time if customs is quick Correct answer.
  2. It has already cleared customs
  3. It will certainly arrive before Tuesday
  4. It has not yet left the warehouse

Explanation

Hedged language such as "barring any delays" and "it should" signals a likely but not guaranteed outcome. The speaker is confirming the plan while leaving room for a customs problem.

Question 22Listening

At a meeting, a manager says: "I appreciate the effort everyone put into the proposal. Before we send it out, though, I'd like us to double-check the budget figures." What is the manager implying?

  1. The team did not work hard enough
  2. The budget figures may contain errors Correct answer.
  3. The proposal is too long for the client
  4. The proposal should be sent immediately

Explanation

Praise followed by "before we send it out" and a request to re-check one section points to doubt about that section. Managers often soften criticism this way rather than stating it directly.

Question 23Listening

A resident says: "The city claims the new bike lane cost $200,000, but most people I've spoken to think that money would have been better spent on road repairs." Which part of the statement is an opinion rather than a reported fact?

  1. That a new bike lane was built
  2. That the bike lane cost $200,000
  3. That the city commented on the cost
  4. That the money would have been better spent on road repairs Correct answer.

Explanation

A reported fact is attributed to a source, such as the city's stated figure. An opinion is a judgement about what should have happened, marked here by "would have been better."

Question 24Listening

Speaker A: "We can offer you the position at $52,000 to start." Speaker B: "I was hoping for something closer to $58,000, given my five years of experience." Speaker A: "Let me take that to HR and get back to you tomorrow." What will most likely happen next?

  1. Speaker B will begin work tomorrow
  2. Speaker A will hire someone else instead
  3. Speaker B will decline the offer at once
  4. Speaker A will ask whether the salary can rise Correct answer.

Explanation

When a request cannot be settled on the spot, speakers often defer to another authority. Saying the matter will go to HR signals a check on the salary rather than an acceptance or a refusal.

Question 25Listening

A speaker at a community meeting says: "Every year we hear promises about a new recreation centre, and every year the funding disappears by spring. I'll believe it when I see shovels in the ground." What is the speaker's attitude toward the project?

  1. Confident that the funding is secure
  2. Unsure about where the centre will be located
  3. Pleased with the current construction timeline
  4. Doubtful the centre will actually be built Correct answer.

Explanation

The repeated pattern of promises followed by vanished funding, plus the idiom "I'll believe it when I see shovels in the ground," expresses doubt. The complaint is about whether the project will happen at all, not about its details.

Question 26Listening

A voicemail from a clinic says: "This is Dr. Patel's office confirming your appointment on Thursday at 3:15. If you can't make it, please let us know at least 24 hours ahead." What should the patient do if Thursday no longer works?

  1. Contact the office at least 24 hours before the appointment Correct answer.
  2. Contact the office on the morning of the appointment
  3. Come at 3:15 on Thursday and explain in person
  4. Arrive 24 minutes before the appointment time

Explanation

The message attaches one condition to changing the appointment: the office must be told at least 24 hours in advance. Any contact made on the day itself falls short of that notice period. The 24-hour figure refers to notice, not to arrival time.

Question 27Listening

A bus driver announces: "This bus ends its route at King Street. Anyone continuing north should get off there and transfer to the number 12." What should a passenger travelling north do?

  1. Get off at King Street and change buses Correct answer.
  2. Leave the bus at the next stop and walk
  3. Ask the driver to extend the route north
  4. Stay on the bus until the number 12 arrives

Explanation

The announcement states that the route terminates and directs continuing passengers to a different bus at that point. A transfer means leaving one vehicle and boarding another at the named stop.

Question 28Listening

A receptionist says: "The manager is in a meeting until two, but if you leave your number, she'll call you back this afternoon." What does the receptionist offer to do?

  1. Take the caller's number for the manager Correct answer.
  2. Give the caller the manager's direct line
  3. Arrange a meeting for the caller this afternoon
  4. Ask the manager to step out of the meeting

Explanation

Because the manager is unavailable, the receptionist proposes recording the caller's phone number so the manager can return the call later. The offer is about passing on contact details, not about scheduling or interrupting.

Question 29Listening

A delivery notice says: "No one was home when we tried to deliver your parcel, so it has been left with the front desk of your building." Where is the parcel now?

  1. Outside the apartment door
  2. At the front desk of the building Correct answer.
  3. At the local post office
  4. Still with the delivery driver

Explanation

The notice states directly that the parcel was handed over to the building's front desk after the delivery attempt failed. No further delivery or collection point is mentioned.

Question 30Listening

A server says: "Just so you know, the kitchen takes its last order at 9:30, but you're welcome to stay at your table afterwards." What is the latest time a customer can place an order?

  1. 8:30
  2. 9:00
  3. 9:30 Correct answer.
  4. 10:00

Explanation

The server gives a single cutoff for placing orders, which is 9:30. Staying at the table afterwards is separate from ordering and does not extend the kitchen's deadline.

Question 31Listening

A librarian says: "Your card expired last month, so you'll need to renew it before you can borrow anything." What must the person do first?

  1. Renew the library card Correct answer.
  2. Pay a fine at the front desk
  3. Return any overdue books
  4. Fill out a new membership form

Explanation

The librarian identifies an expired card as the reason borrowing is blocked, so renewing it is the required first step. Nothing in the message refers to fines, overdue items, or starting a new application.

Question 32Listening

A forecaster says: "The rain will taper off by mid-morning, and the afternoon will be clear and mild." What will the afternoon be like?

  1. Foggy and cold
  2. Clear and mild Correct answer.
  3. Cloudy and windy
  4. Rainy and cool

Explanation

The forecast states plainly that conditions improve after the rain ends, with a clear and mild afternoon. The other descriptions contradict the words used in the report.

Question 33Listening

A gym staff member says: "Your membership includes two guest passes each month. Just sign your guests in at the front desk when you arrive." What are guests asked to do?

  1. Book their visit a day in advance
  2. Come only on weekday evenings
  3. Pay a small fee at the front desk
  4. Sign in at the front desk Correct answer.

Explanation

The only instruction given to guests is to register at the front desk on arrival. The passes are included with the membership, so no fee or advance booking is required.

Question 34Listening

A woman says: "I sent my rental application on Monday and I still haven't heard a word. Maybe I should call and check." How does she feel about the application?

  1. Annoyed that the landlord calls too often
  2. Unsure whether it has been received Correct answer.
  3. Pleased with how quickly things moved
  4. Certain that she will be refused

Explanation

The speaker has had no response and is considering phoning to confirm the status, which shows uncertainty rather than a settled conclusion. Her concern is silence, not excessive contact.

Question 35Listening

A voicemail says: "Hi, it's Marcus. The movers come at eight on Saturday, so could you drop the boxes off Friday evening instead of Saturday morning? And don't bring tape, I have plenty." What does Marcus ask the listener to do?

  1. Change the movers' arrival time
  2. Bring extra tape for the boxes
  3. Help the movers load the truck
  4. Deliver the boxes the evening before Correct answer.

Explanation

Marcus moves the box delivery from Saturday morning to Friday evening because the movers arrive early. He also tells the listener not to bring tape, so that request is the opposite of the option suggesting extra tape.

Question 36Listening

A man says: "The airline cancelled my flight and rebooked me for tomorrow at six in the morning, but my meeting is at nine today." What is the man's main problem?

  1. He dislikes flying early in the morning
  2. He cannot afford the replacement ticket
  3. He has lost his luggage at the airport
  4. He will not reach his meeting on time Correct answer.

Explanation

The replacement flight leaves the following morning, while the meeting is this morning, so the timing makes attendance impossible. The other details are simply not part of what he reports.

Question 37Listening

A news report says: "The city will extend library hours on weekends starting next month, after a survey found most residents wanted Sunday access." Why is the change being made?

  1. Residents asked for Sunday hours Correct answer.
  2. Weekend visits have been declining
  3. A new library branch is opening
  4. Library staff requested shorter shifts

Explanation

The report links the new hours directly to survey results showing public demand for Sunday access. The cause is resident feedback, not staffing, attendance trends, or a new building.

Question 38Listening

A supervisor says: "I know you've been covering two desks this week. Once the new hire starts on Monday, we'll split the work again." What can the employee expect?

  1. A transfer to another department
  2. A permanent promotion to supervisor
  3. A month of training the new hire
  4. A lighter workload next week Correct answer.

Explanation

Covering two desks is presented as temporary, and the supervisor says the work will be divided again once the new hire arrives. That division means the employee's load will decrease.

Question 39Listening

A technician says: "Before you switch the machine on, check that the guard is locked in place. Then press the green button and wait for the light to stop flashing." What should be done first?

  1. Switch the machine off
  2. Press the green start button
  3. Confirm that the guard is locked Correct answer.
  4. Wait for the light to stop flashing

Explanation

The sequence is signalled by words such as "before" and "then," which place the guard check ahead of pressing the button. The flashing light comes last in the instructions.

Question 40Listening

A woman says: "I expected the repair to cost a couple of hundred dollars, but it came to three times that." About how much did the repair cost?

  1. $300
  2. $600 Correct answer.
  3. $200
  4. $900

Explanation

"A couple of hundred" means roughly $200, and three times that amount is roughly $600. The figure she expected is not the figure she paid.

Question 41Listening

Speaker A says: "The new scheduling software is supposed to save us hours every week." Speaker B replies: "That's what they said about the last one." What does Speaker B mean?

  1. She thinks the software costs too much
  2. She has already used the new software
  3. She doubts the software will help Correct answer.
  4. She wants to keep the old system

Explanation

By recalling a similar promise made about a previous product, Speaker B signals scepticism rather than agreement. The implied comparison is that the earlier promise did not pan out.

Question 42Listening

A hotel guest says: "I booked a room with a kitchenette for four nights, but the confirmation email says two nights and no kitchenette." What should the guest do?

  1. Cancel the trip and ask for a refund
  2. Contact the hotel to correct the booking Correct answer.
  3. Say nothing until arriving at check-in
  4. Accept the room and pay the lower rate

Explanation

The confirmation does not match what was booked, so the sensible first step is to raise the discrepancy with the hotel while there is still time to fix it. Cancelling or waiting until arrival would leave the problem unresolved.

Question 43Listening

A voicemail says: "I'm out of the office until Wednesday. If something is urgent, call Priya at extension 214; otherwise I'll get back to you when I return." Who should be contacted about an urgent matter?

  1. Priya, at extension 214 Correct answer.
  2. The speaker, at extension 214
  3. No one until Wednesday
  4. The reception desk

Explanation

The message routes urgent calls to Priya and gives her extension, while non-urgent matters wait for the speaker's return. The extension number belongs to Priya, not to the speaker.

Question 44Listening

A reporter says: "Starting next month, residents will need a permit to park on the street overnight. The permit is free but must be renewed every year." What will residents have to do?

  1. Get a permit and renew it each year Correct answer.
  2. Pay a yearly fee for street parking
  3. Move their cars off the street at night
  4. Apply only if they park on the street daily

Explanation

The policy introduces a permit requirement for overnight street parking and states that the permit is renewed annually. Because the permit is free, no payment is involved.

Question 45Listening

An instructor says: "Although the textbook explains the theory well, you'll find the weekly labs far more useful when it comes to the exam." What does the instructor think matters most for exam preparation?

  1. Doing the weekly labs Correct answer.
  2. Attending the lectures
  3. Reading the textbook closely
  4. Taking detailed class notes

Explanation

The contrast word "although" concedes value to the textbook while ranking the labs higher for exam purposes. The instructor's recommendation is therefore the lab work.

Question 46Listening

A speaker at a public meeting says: "I'm not against the proposal in principle, but I'd want to see the traffic study before we commit any money to it." What is the speaker's position?

  1. Open to the idea but wants evidence first Correct answer.
  2. Ready to approve the funding immediately
  3. Uninterested in the traffic study
  4. Completely opposed to the proposal

Explanation

The speaker explicitly disclaims opposition and asks only for supporting evidence before funding is approved. That combination signals conditional support rather than rejection or immediate approval.

Question 47Listening

A manager says: "If we hire a contractor now, we finish on time but lose the training budget. If we wait until spring, we keep the budget and miss the client's deadline." What is the manager describing?

  1. A way to increase the training budget
  2. A trade-off between time and funding Correct answer.
  3. A choice between two contractors
  4. A plan to extend the deadline

Explanation

Each option gains one thing and loses another, which is the structure of a trade-off. The competing values are meeting the schedule and preserving the training budget.

Question 48Listening

An agent says: "The base plan is $40 a month for 10 GB of data. Extra data costs $5 per gigabyte." If a customer on this plan uses 14 GB in a month, what will the bill be?

  1. $70
  2. $50
  3. $60 Correct answer.
  4. $40

Explanation

The plan covers the first 10 GB, leaving 4 GB of overage. Four gigabytes at $5 each adds $20 to the $40 base, giving $60.

Question 49Listening

A coworker says: "Don't get me wrong, the design is excellent. It's just that the deadline leaves no room to breathe." What concern is the coworker raising?

  1. The design budget is too low
  2. The design still needs significant revision
  3. The schedule is too tight for changes Correct answer.
  4. The client is likely to reject the design

Explanation

The phrase "no room to breathe" refers to a lack of spare time, and the speaker has already praised the design. The concern is therefore about the timetable, not the quality of the work.

Question 50Listening

A manager says: "I'd hate for you to spend the whole weekend on this report if the client is going to change the scope on Monday." What is the manager suggesting?

  1. That the client has already changed the scope
  2. Finishing the report before the weekend ends
  3. Waiting for the client's decision before doing more work Correct answer.
  4. That weekend work will be paid as overtime

Explanation

The manager raises a possible change on Monday that would make weekend effort wasted, which implies holding off for now. The gentle phrasing softens a suggestion rather than giving a direct order.