Listening: B2

A business interview
Listen to the business interview to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the vocabulary (1–6).

Vocabulary Definition

1. …… a remote area a. someone who starts a business

2. …… pre-approved b. many
3. …… the founder c. already officially recognized and accepted
4. …… a predicament d. far away from towns or other populated places
5. …… numerous e. a difficult or challenging situation
6. …… obvious f. easy to understand or notice

Tasks

Task 1
Choose the correct answer.

1. Anna …
a. didn’t start the company but manages it now.
b. started the company and manages it now.
c. started the company but doesn’t manage it any more.

2. The app …
a. is for parents to learn from.
b. is for students to learn from.
c. is for students who want to find a tutor.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

3. Many parents …
a. don’t have the time or knowledge to help with their children’s homework.
b. think that schools should help with their children’s homework.
c. don’t want to help with their children’s homework.
4. The app …
a. has student exercises on it.
b. is only for people in remote areas.
c. offers live online support from tutors.

5. On the app, tutors who live in remote areas …

a. often charge lower rates.
b. often charge higher rates.
c. don’t like to work too much.

6. The app …
a. is new and not many people know about it.
b. is already popular.
c. is not very successful.
d.
Task 2
Match the verbs (1–6) and nouns (a–f) from the interview.
Verbs Nouns

1. …… to solve a. funding
2. …… to come up with b. a need
3. …… to meet c. a problem
4. …… to speak for d. itself

5. …… to secure e. the range of services

6. …… to expand f. an idea

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 Listening: B2

A design presentation
Listen to the presentation about a new product design to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).
Vocabulary Definition

1. …… to unveil a. interesting or attractive

2. …… appealing b. a small and useful machine or tool that does something specific
3. …… a phase c. to show people something or tell them about it for the first time
4. …… target market d. something that is designed to look like something else

5. …… a Gantt chart e. to bring a new product or service to the market

6. …… to launch f. a stage within a process or project

7. …… an imitation g. a table which shows the different stages of a project

8. …… a gadget h.the group of consumers that a product is aimed at

Tasks

Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?

Answer
1. They have redesigned an old product. True False
2. The product is aimed at men and women aged 18–40. True False
3. The new design means you don’t need two hands to use it. True False
4. There’s only one size now. Another one will follow in a few months. True False
5. They will make a Gantt chart for the project next month. True False
6. He finished the presentation with enough time to take some questions. True False

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Task 2
Write the useful phrases next to the tips.

I’d like to talk you through the following (three) points Finally, I’m going to talk to you about …

Firstly, … / Next, …
As you can see …, / You’ll notice that … I’d now like to tell you about …

As you know, … Do you have any questions? In summary, …

As you know, …
1. Refer to the audience’s knowledge ………………………………………………………………………………
As you can see …, / You’ll notice that …
2. Refer to what images you are showing ………………………………………………………………………………
I’d like to talk you through the following (three) points
3. Tell them the structure of your presentation ………………………………………………………………………………
Firstly, … / Next,
4. Use signal words to help them follow you ………………………………………………………………………………
…
I’d now like to tell you about …
5. Tell them when you’re moving on ………………………………………………………………………………
Finally, I’m going to talk to you about…
6. Show them when you’re near the end ………………………………………………………………………………
In summary, …
7. Tell them the main points one last time ………………………………………………………………………………
Do you have any questions?
8. Open up the discussion ………………………………………………………………………………

Listening: B2

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 A digital detox podcast
Listen to the podcast about doing a digital detox to practice and improve your listening skills.

Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Write the words in the correct group.

screen show an alert laptop browse websites

display smartphone access the internet buzz

interact on social
satnav monitor show a notification
media

devices things a device does to get your attention

laptop
show an alert
smartphone
buzz
satnav show a notification

things you do with a device parts of a device

browse websites
screen
access the internet
display
interact on social media monitor

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Tasks

Task 1
Circle the best answer.

1. The radio host says that a digital detox …

a. means we are in front of screens all the time.
b. is something younger people are trying more.
c. is important for our health.

2. Which sentence is not true about Amanda Vince’s job?

a. She is online a lot of the time.
b. She follows fashion on social media.
c. She uploads her own videos to social media.

3. What is the name of the book that influenced Amanda?

a. Log Off: How to Stay Connected after Disconnecting
b. Log Off: How to Disconnect and Stay Disconnected
c. Log Off: Advice for the Digital Detox

4. The first step in a digital detox is to get rid of distractions, such as …

a. noises the phone makes.
b. screens in your home and workplace.
c. the bright colours on your phone.

5. Amanda removed notifications from …

a. her close family and friends.
b. everything except important people in her life.
c. everything except very important work-related things.

6. The book also suggested that …

a. we replace digital distractions with real-world ones.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 b. we think about the reason we are looking at our phones so much.
c. we try to be more polite with our phones around people.

7. Amanda and her partner …

a. tried a two-day digital detox first.
b. found it impossible to completely disconnect.
c. found it very easy to do a digital detox for a weekend.

8. Amanda believes that a digital detox …

a. is not a good idea if you have a lot of work.
b. is better if it’s for a week, not just a weekend.
c. is something everyone will enjoy.

Task 2
Put the words and phrases in order to make sentences.

1. ever Have you would be wondered what like? it

✓ Have you ever wondered what it would be like?
2. that? by mean do What you
✓ What do you mean by that?
3. confess, I too. have to that to me happens
✓ I have to confess, that happens to me too.
4. to the I’m that. first admit
✓ I’m the first to admit
that.
5. drastic. sound doesn’t This too
✓ This doesn’t sound too drastic.
6. the next to ready You’re step. take
✓ You’re ready to take the next step.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish