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KPG English practice questions

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Question 1Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The lecture starts at a quarter past nine." What time does the lecture begin?

  1. 9:15 Correct answer.
  2. 9:30
  3. 9:45
  4. 8:45

Explanation

In English time expressions, "a quarter past" means fifteen minutes after the stated hour, so a quarter past nine is 9:15. "A quarter to" would mean fifteen minutes before the hour, which is the common distractor here.

Question 2Listening Comprehension

In a recorded message a caller says: "I'd like to book a table for eight, not for six as originally planned." How many people will the reservation be for?

  1. Two
  2. Fourteen
  3. Eight Correct answer.
  4. Six

Explanation

The speaker corrects an earlier plan by saying "not for six as originally planned", so the final number is eight. Listeners must track the self-correction and keep the latest figure rather than the first one mentioned.

Question 3Listening Comprehension

A tour guide says: "The museum is closed on Mondays, but the garden behind it stays open every day." What is open every day?

  1. Neither building
  2. The museum
  3. The garden Correct answer.
  4. Both buildings

Explanation

The contrast word "but" signals that the second clause reverses the first: the museum closes on Mondays while the garden remains open daily. The pronoun "it" refers back to the museum, so the garden is the place open every day.

Question 4Listening Comprehension

A colleague says: "I'll send the report by Friday at the latest." What does the speaker promise?

  1. To send the report on Friday and again later
  2. To send the report no later than Friday Correct answer.
  3. To send the report after Friday
  4. To send the report before Friday only

Explanation

The phrase "at the latest" sets a deadline, meaning the action will happen on or before the stated day. It does not exclude earlier days, so the promise covers any time up to and including Friday.

Question 5Listening Comprehension

A receptionist says: "The manager is tied up until two, but I can put you through to her assistant now." What does "tied up" mean here?

  1. Physically restrained
  2. Confused about the schedule
  3. Connected by telephone
  4. Occupied and unavailable Correct answer.

Explanation

In workplace English, "tied up" is an idiom meaning busy or occupied with something else. The contrast with "but I can put you through ... now" confirms the manager cannot take the call because she is busy.

Question 6Listening Comprehension

A weather announcement says: "Tomorrow will be milder than today, with rain arriving in the afternoon." What does the announcement predict?

  1. Colder weather with morning rain
  2. Warmer weather with afternoon rain Correct answer.
  3. The same temperature with no rain
  4. Warmer weather with morning rain

Explanation

"Milder" describes weather that is less cold, so tomorrow will be warmer than today. The rain is said to arrive "in the afternoon", which fixes the timing.

Question 7Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "Could you speak up a little? The line is bad." What does the speaker want the other person to do?

  1. Call back later
  2. Speak more slowly
  3. Repeat the whole message
  4. Talk more loudly Correct answer.

Explanation

"Speak up" is a phrasal verb meaning to raise one's voice or speak more loudly. The reason given, a bad line, supports the request for volume rather than for repetition or a new call.

Question 8Listening Comprehension

A shop assistant says: "We're out of the blue model, but I can order it for Tuesday." What is the assistant offering?

  1. To repair the blue model
  2. A discount on Tuesday
  3. To order the item for Tuesday Correct answer.
  4. A different colour in stock

Explanation

The assistant states the item is unavailable and then offers an alternative action: ordering it for Tuesday. The contrast marker "but" introduces the solution to the stock problem.

Question 9Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "I didn't catch the last part of your address. Was that Beech Road or Beechwood Road?" What is the speaker doing?

  1. Asking for directions to a road
  2. Complaining about a slow connection
  3. Correcting their own address
  4. Confirming a detail they may have misheard Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "I didn't catch" signals that part of the message was not heard clearly, and the either/or question asks the other person to confirm which option is right. This is a clarification check, not a request for directions.

Question 10Listening Comprehension

A manager says: "Provided the figures are checked by Thursday, we can still file on time." What does the manager mean?

  1. Filing will be late regardless of the figures
  2. The figures must be checked after filing
  3. The figures have already been checked
  4. Filing on time depends on the figures being checked by Thursday Correct answer.

Explanation

"Provided" introduces a condition, so the on-time filing is conditional on the figures being checked by Thursday. The modal "can still" shows the deadline is achievable only if that condition is met.

Question 11Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The flight was supposed to leave at six, but it's already half past seven and there's still no boarding call." What is the speaker implying?

  1. The speaker has missed the flight
  2. The flight is significantly delayed Correct answer.
  3. The flight has been cancelled
  4. The flight has departed early

Explanation

The scheduled departure time is contrasted with the current time, and the absence of a boarding call shows the flight has not left. Together these details imply a substantial delay rather than a cancellation or a missed flight.

Question 12Listening Comprehension

A doctor says: "Take one tablet twice a day, and avoid taking it on an empty stomach." When should the patient take the tablet?

  1. Once a day before sleeping
  2. Twice a day with food Correct answer.
  3. Once a day after a meal
  4. Twice a day before eating

Explanation

"Twice a day" sets the frequency, and "avoid ... on an empty stomach" means the tablet should be taken with or after food. Combining both instructions gives twice daily with food.

Question 13Listening Comprehension

A student says: "I would have finished the assignment if the library had stayed open later." What does the student mean?

  1. The library stayed open and the student finished
  2. The student never started the assignment
  3. The library closed early and the assignment is unfinished Correct answer.
  4. The assignment is finished

Explanation

This is a third conditional describing an unreal past: the condition (the library staying open later) did not happen, so the result (finishing the assignment) did not happen either. The implied fact is that the library closed early and the work remains incomplete.

Question 14Listening Comprehension

A radio host says: "Traffic is building on the ring road, so if you're heading north, you might want to leave now rather than wait." What advice is given to northbound drivers?

  1. Delay the journey until traffic clears
  2. Avoid travelling north today
  3. Take the ring road instead
  4. Set off immediately Correct answer.

Explanation

The host notes growing congestion and advises leaving "now rather than wait", which is a recommendation to depart immediately. The suggestion is about timing, not about changing route or cancelling the trip.

Question 15Listening Comprehension

A colleague says: "I'm afraid the deadline has been brought forward to Monday." What has happened to the deadline?

  1. It has been confirmed as unchanged
  2. It has been moved to a later date
  3. It has been moved to an earlier date Correct answer.
  4. It has been cancelled

Explanation

The phrasal verb "bring forward" means to move an event to an earlier time or date. Its opposite, "put back" or "postpone", would mean a later date, so the deadline now falls sooner than originally planned.

Question 16Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "Not only did she miss the opening remarks, she also left before the questions." What does the speaker emphasise?

  1. That she asked most of the questions
  2. That she was absent for both the start and the end Correct answer.
  3. That she attended the whole session
  4. That she arrived late but stayed to the end

Explanation

The correlative construction "not only ... but also" adds two parallel facts with emphasis. Here both facts describe absence: missing the opening and leaving before the question session.

Question 17Listening Comprehension

A hotel guest says: "The room is fine, though the air conditioning could be quieter." What is the guest's overall message?

  1. The room is too quiet
  2. The air conditioning is the best feature of the room
  3. The room is acceptable but the air conditioning is noisy Correct answer.
  4. The room is unacceptable and they want to move

Explanation

"Fine, though ..." concedes that the room is satisfactory while raising one specific criticism. The comparative "could be quieter" is a polite way of saying the air conditioning is too noisy.

Question 18Listening Comprehension

A voicemail says: "Hi, it's Dana. I'm returning your call about the invoice, but I'll be in meetings until four, so email is best today." What does Dana want the listener to do?

  1. Visit her office during a meeting
  2. Send an email today Correct answer.
  3. Ignore the invoice until tomorrow
  4. Call her back before four

Explanation

Dana explains she is unavailable by phone until four and states that email is the best option today, which is an implicit request to use email. The phrase "returning your call" explains why she is contacting the listener, not an instruction to call again.

Question 19Listening Comprehension

A lecturer says: "The data are suggestive rather than conclusive, so we should treat the findings with caution." What is the lecturer's view of the findings?

  1. They are entirely worthless
  2. They are promising but not yet proven Correct answer.
  3. They have already been replicated
  4. They are definitive and can be applied immediately

Explanation

The contrast "suggestive rather than conclusive" means the data hint at a pattern without proving it. Advising caution reinforces that the findings are tentative rather than established.

Question 20Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "Had I known the venue had changed, I would have left earlier." What do we learn?

  1. The speaker changed the venue themselves
  2. The speaker knew about the change and left early
  3. The speaker arrived earlier than expected
  4. The speaker did not know about the change and left later than needed Correct answer.

Explanation

The inverted form "Had I known" replaces "If I had known" and describes a past condition that was not true. Since the speaker did not know about the venue change, they did not leave early enough.

Question 21Listening Comprehension

A news report says: "The council stopped short of banning cars outright, opting instead for a congestion charge." What did the council do?

  1. It banned all cars from the centre
  2. It rejected every traffic measure
  3. It introduced a charge rather than a full ban Correct answer.
  4. It postponed its decision indefinitely

Explanation

"Stopped short of" means the council did not go as far as a complete ban, and "opting instead for" names the alternative it chose: a congestion charge. The sentence contrasts a rejected extreme with an adopted moderate measure.

Question 22Listening Comprehension

A manager says: "Far from resolving the dispute, the new rota has made things worse." What is the manager saying about the rota?

  1. It failed to settle the dispute and aggravated it Correct answer.
  2. It has not yet been introduced
  3. It settled the dispute as intended
  4. It had no effect on the dispute

Explanation

"Far from" introduces a result that is the opposite of what was expected, so the rota did not resolve the dispute but worsened it. The comparative "worse" confirms a negative outcome rather than a neutral one.

Question 23Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "You'd think the earlier train would be quieter, wouldn't you? Well, apparently not." What does the speaker convey?

  1. The speaker missed the earlier train
  2. The speaker never uses trains
  3. The earlier train was unexpectedly crowded Correct answer.
  4. The earlier train was indeed quieter

Explanation

The rhetorical question sets up an expectation, and "apparently not" overturns it. The speaker therefore reports that the earlier train did not meet the expectation of being quieter, implying it was noisier or busier than assumed.

Question 24Listening Comprehension

A negotiator says: "We can accept the price, always assuming delivery stays within the agreed window." What is the negotiator's position?

  1. The delivery window must be renegotiated
  2. The price is accepted unconditionally
  3. Acceptance of the price depends on delivery timing Correct answer.
  4. The price must be reduced before acceptance

Explanation

The participial phrase "always assuming" attaches a condition to the main clause, so accepting the price is contingent on delivery staying within the agreed window. The price itself is not being challenged.

Question 25Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "She's not so much unwilling to help as unable to, given her workload." What is meant?

  1. She has plenty of time but lacks the skills
  2. She refuses to help despite having time
  3. She cannot help because of her workload Correct answer.
  4. She has already agreed to help

Explanation

The construction "not so much X as Y" corrects an interpretation: the real obstacle is ability, not willingness. "Given her workload" supplies the reason she is unable to help.

Question 26Listening Comprehension

A tour guide says: "We'll set off at nine sharp, weather permitting." What does the guide mean?

  1. The group will leave earlier if the weather improves.
  2. The group will leave at nine if the weather is suitable. Correct answer.
  3. The group will leave at nine regardless of the weather.
  4. The group will leave at nine only if it is not raining.

Explanation

The phrase 'weather permitting' is a conditional expression meaning 'if the weather allows it'. It does not specify rain; any unsuitable weather could cause a change. The departure time remains nine unless conditions interfere.

Question 27Listening Comprehension

A receptionist says: "I'll put you through to the accounts department now." What is the receptionist doing?

  1. Asking the caller to call back later.
  2. Transferring the caller's line to another department. Correct answer.
  3. Taking a message for the accounts department.
  4. Giving the caller the accounts department's number.

Explanation

'Put you through' is a standard telephone phrasal verb meaning to connect a caller to another extension or department. The receptionist is actively transferring the call, not providing a number or taking details.

Question 28Listening Comprehension

A gym instructor says: "You should aim for three sessions a week, to begin with." What does the instructor mean?

  1. Three sessions a week is the maximum you should ever do.
  2. You should start with three sessions in total.
  3. Three sessions a week is the recommended starting frequency. Correct answer.
  4. You must do three sessions a week from now on.

Explanation

'To begin with' signals an initial stage that may change later, and 'aim for' indicates a recommended target rather than a strict rule. The instructor is suggesting a starting frequency, not a permanent maximum or a one-off total.

Question 29Listening Comprehension

A librarian says: "You can renew the book twice online, as long as no one else has reserved it." What condition applies to renewing?

  1. The borrower must renew before the first loan period ends.
  2. The book must be returned in person.
  3. The borrower must pay a renewal fee.
  4. The book must not be reserved by another borrower. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'as long as' introduces the only stated condition: that no other borrower has reserved the item. The librarian mentions online renewal, so returning in person is not required, and no fee is mentioned.

Question 30Listening Comprehension

A colleague says: "I'll be tied up until about three, so let's touch base after that." What does the colleague mean?

  1. They want to cancel the meeting at three.
  2. They will call at three to confirm the meeting.
  3. They will be busy until three and suggest talking afterwards. Correct answer.
  4. They will be away from the office until three.

Explanation

'Tied up' means busy or occupied, and 'touch base' means to make brief contact. The colleague is proposing contact after three because they are occupied until then, not cancelling or necessarily leaving the office.

Question 31Listening Comprehension

A recorded announcement at a station says: "The 14:05 service to Bristol has been cancelled. Passengers may use their tickets on the next available service." What are passengers told to do?

  1. Board a replacement bus service to Bristol.
  2. Wait for the 14:05 train to be rescheduled.
  3. Use their tickets on a later train to Bristol. Correct answer.
  4. Exchange their tickets for a refund at the counter.

Explanation

The announcement states that tickets remain valid on the next available service, meaning a later train. It does not mention refunds, rescheduling of the same train, or replacement buses.

Question 32Listening Comprehension

A customer says to a waiter: "Could we have the bill, whenever you get a chance?" What is the customer requesting?

  1. A chance to order more food.
  2. The bill, at the waiter's convenience. Correct answer.
  3. A different table.
  4. The waiter's recommendation for dessert.

Explanation

'Whenever you get a chance' is a polite way of saying 'when you are free', so the customer wants the bill but does not want to rush the waiter. The request is specifically for the bill, not for more food or a table change.

Question 33Listening Comprehension

A teacher says: "Hand in your essays by Friday at the latest; anything after that will be marked late." What does the teacher mean?

  1. Essays received after Friday will incur a late penalty. Correct answer.
  2. Late essays will not be marked at all.
  3. Friday is the only day essays can be submitted.
  4. Essays must be handed in before Friday to be accepted.

Explanation

'By Friday at the latest' sets Friday as the final acceptable deadline, and 'marked late' indicates a penalty rather than rejection. Submissions before Friday are also acceptable, and the teacher does not say late work will be unmarked.

Question 34Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The proposal is still up in the air, so don't book the venue yet." What does the speaker mean?

  1. The proposal has been rejected, so the venue is no longer needed.
  2. The proposal has been approved, but the venue is uncertain.
  3. The proposal has not been decided, so no booking should be made. Correct answer.
  4. The proposal will be decided by the end of the day.

Explanation

'Up in the air' means undecided or unresolved. The advice not to book the venue follows from that uncertainty; the proposal has neither been approved nor rejected.

Question 35Listening Comprehension

A manager says: "We're a bit thin on the ground this week, so I may need you to cover reception." Why might the employee be asked to cover reception?

  1. Because the employee has reception experience.
  2. Because there are not enough staff available this week. Correct answer.
  3. Because the receptionist has resigned permanently.
  4. Because reception is being relocated this week.

Explanation

'Thin on the ground' is an idiom meaning there are too few people available. The manager's request is a consequence of staff shortage, not of a permanent resignation, the employee's experience, or relocation.

Question 36Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "I was going to book the early flight, but on second thoughts the later one gives me more time." What does the speaker decide?

  1. To take the later flight instead of the early one. Correct answer.
  2. To book both flights to keep options open.
  3. To cancel the trip altogether.
  4. To take the early flight as originally planned.

Explanation

'On second thoughts' signals a change of mind, and the reason given is that the later flight allows more time. The speaker therefore chooses the later flight, not the early one, and does not cancel or double-book.

Question 37Listening Comprehension

A doctor says: "Your test results are back, and I'd like to see you again in a fortnight to discuss them." What does the doctor want?

  1. To discuss the results immediately over the phone.
  2. To repeat the tests in two weeks.
  3. To meet the patient in two weeks to talk about the results. Correct answer.
  4. To send the results to the patient by post.

Explanation

'In a fortnight' means in two weeks, and 'see you again' indicates a follow-up appointment. The doctor does not propose posting the results, repeating tests, or discussing them immediately by phone.

Question 38Listening Comprehension

A radio interviewer says: "We're running short of time, so let's make this the last question." What is the interviewer doing?

  1. Changing the topic of the interview.
  2. Requesting a longer interview next time.
  3. Asking the guest to leave the studio.
  4. Signalling that the interview is nearly over. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Running short of time' means there is little time left, and 'the last question' marks the end of the interview. The interviewer is not asking the guest to leave immediately, requesting more time, or changing the subject.

Question 39Listening Comprehension

A colleague says: "I've had a look at the draft, and it's not bad at all, considering the tight deadline." What is the colleague's opinion of the draft?

  1. It is poor because the deadline was too tight.
  2. It is excellent and needs no changes.
  3. It is unacceptable and must be rewritten.
  4. It is quite good given the limited time available. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Not bad at all' is a litotes expressing a positive view, and 'considering the tight deadline' explains the context. The colleague rates the draft favourably but does not claim it is perfect or demand a rewrite.

Question 40Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The venue holds two hundred, but we're expecting nearer three hundred, so we may have to rethink." What is the problem?

  1. The speaker is unsure how many people will come.
  2. The expected number of attendees exceeds the venue's capacity. Correct answer.
  3. The venue is too large for the expected audience.
  4. The venue has cancelled the booking at short notice.

Explanation

The venue's capacity is two hundred, while nearly three hundred are expected, so demand exceeds capacity. The speaker is not uncertain about numbers, and the venue is too small rather than too large.

Question 41Listening Comprehension

A customer says: "I was told the repair would be ready by Wednesday, and it's now Friday." What is the customer's complaint?

  1. The repair was done on the wrong day.
  2. The repair has not been completed by the promised date. Correct answer.
  3. The repair was completed earlier than expected.
  4. The customer was not told when to collect the repair.

Explanation

The customer contrasts the promised Wednesday deadline with the current day, Friday, implying the repair is still not ready. The complaint is about a missed deadline, not early completion or a wrong day.

Question 42Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "I'd rather you didn't mention the budget in the meeting, if you don't mind." What is the speaker asking?

  1. To increase the budget before the meeting.
  2. To avoid raising the budget in the meeting. Correct answer.
  3. To discuss the budget in more detail during the meeting.
  4. To cancel the meeting because of the budget.

Explanation

'I'd rather you didn't' is a polite request for someone not to do something, and 'if you don't mind' softens it. The speaker wants the budget left out of the meeting, not discussed further or changed beforehand.

Question 43Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The new software was supposed to save us time, but it's been more trouble than it's worth." What does the speaker mean?

  1. The software has caused more problems than benefits. Correct answer.
  2. The software has saved time as expected.
  3. The software was too expensive to purchase.
  4. The software has not yet been installed.

Explanation

'More trouble than it's worth' is an idiom meaning the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The speaker is saying the software has not delivered the expected time savings and has created difficulties, not that it was too costly or uninstalled.

Question 44Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The museum is free on Fridays, but you still need to book a timed slot in advance." What must visitors do to enter free on Friday?

  1. Pay at the door on arrival.
  2. Become a member of the museum.
  3. Arrive without booking and queue for a slot.
  4. Reserve a timed entry slot before the visit. Correct answer.

Explanation

The speaker states that entry is free but a timed slot must be booked in advance. Payment is not required, and queuing on the day is not mentioned as an alternative; membership is not required either.

Question 45Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "She's been given the project to run, which is a bit of a poisoned chalice, given the history." What does the speaker imply about the project?

  1. It is an honour that she has earned.
  2. It has a long and successful history.
  3. It will be easy to manage because of past experience.
  4. It is likely to bring problems for whoever leads it. Correct answer.

Explanation

'A poisoned chalice' is an idiom for a responsibility that seems desirable but is likely to cause difficulties. The reference to 'the history' reinforces that the project has a problematic past, not a successful one.

Question 46Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The report stops short of recommending a merger, though it leaves the door open to one." What is the report's position?

  1. It does not recommend a merger but does not rule one out. Correct answer.
  2. It recommends against even discussing a merger.
  3. It recommends a merger without reservation.
  4. It rejects any possibility of a merger.

Explanation

'Stops short of' means it goes almost as far as a recommendation but not quite, while 'leaves the door open' means it keeps the possibility available. The report therefore neither recommends nor excludes a merger.

Question 47Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "The committee's decision was not so much a rejection as a request for more evidence." What does the speaker mean?

  1. The committee refused to consider any more evidence.
  2. The committee accepted the proposal without further evidence.
  3. The committee rejected the proposal and asked for evidence.
  4. The committee asked for more evidence rather than refusing outright. Correct answer.

Explanation

The construction 'not so much X as Y' corrects a possible misinterpretation: the decision is better described as a request for more evidence than as a rejection. It is not an outright refusal, nor an acceptance.

Question 48Listening Comprehension

A negotiator says: "We're prepared to meet you halfway on the price, provided the delivery schedule stays as agreed." What is the negotiator offering?

  1. A faster delivery schedule in exchange for a higher price.
  2. A compromise on price if the delivery schedule is unchanged. Correct answer.
  3. A refusal to discuss either price or delivery.
  4. Full acceptance of the other side's price.

Explanation

'Meet you halfway' means to compromise, and 'provided' introduces the condition that the delivery schedule remains as agreed. The negotiator is not accepting the price in full or offering faster delivery.

Question 49Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "For all his experience, he still missed the obvious flaw in the plan." What does the speaker suggest?

  1. Despite his experience, he failed to notice an obvious problem. Correct answer.
  2. His experience made him the best person to assess the plan.
  3. Because of his experience, he noticed the problem immediately.
  4. He has no experience and therefore missed the problem.

Explanation

'For all his experience' means 'despite his experience', and the sentence contrasts that experience with the failure to see the flaw. The speaker is not saying experience caused him to notice the problem or that he lacks experience.

Question 50Listening Comprehension

A speaker says: "It's not that the plan is unworkable; it's that nobody has the appetite to carry it out." What is the speaker saying?

  1. The plan is impossible and should be abandoned.
  2. The plan has not yet been assessed for feasibility.
  3. The plan is workable and everyone is eager to implement it.
  4. The plan could work, but there is no willingness to implement it. Correct answer.

Explanation

The 'not that X; it's that Y' structure redirects the objection from feasibility to motivation. The speaker accepts that the plan is potentially workable but says people lack the appetite, meaning willingness or enthusiasm.