14.4.1

TEST 4

You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.

There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work, all the recordings will be played once only.

The test is in 4 sections, at the end of the test, you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.

Now turn to Section 1.

SECTION 1

You will hear a woman phoning a hotel about holding a party there.

First, you have some time to look at questions 1-7.

. . . . . .

You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.

On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.

Good morning, Clare House Hotel. Andrew speaking.

I’m the Events Manager.

Andrew is the Events manager.

So Events has been written in the space.

Now we shall begin.

You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.

Listen carefully and answer questions 1-7.

Good morning, Clare House Hotel. Andrew speaking.

I’m the Events Manager.

Good morning, Andrew.

My name’s Samantha.

I’m arranging a party for my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary, and I’m ringing to ask about hiring a room some time next September.

Also my parents and several of the guests will need accommodation.

OK, I’m sure we can help you with that.

Will you be having a sit-down meal or a buffet?

Probably a sit-down.

And do you know how many people there’ll be?

Around eighty, I think.

Well we have two rooms that can hold that number.

One is the Adelphi Room.

That can seat eighty-five, or hold over a hundred if people are standing for a buffet.

Right.

If you have live music, there’s room for four or five musicians in the gallery overlooking the room.

Our guests usually appreciate the fact that the music can be loud enough for dancing, but not too loud for conversation.

Yes, I really don’t like it when you can’t talk.

Exactly. Now the Adelphi Room is at the back of the hotel, and there are French windows leading out onto the terrace.

This has a beautiful display of pots of roses at that time of the year.

Which direction does it face?

Southwest, so that side of the hotel gets the sun in the afternoon and early evening.

Very nice.

From the terrace you can see the area of trees within the grounds of the hotel, or you can stroll through there to the river—that’s on the far side, so it isn’t visible from the hotel.

OK.

Then another option is the Carlton Room.

This is a bit bigger—it can hold up to a hundred and ten people—and it has the advantage of a stage, which is useful if you have any entertainment, or indeed a small band can fit onto it.

And can you go outside from the room?

No, the Carlton Room is on the first floor, but on one side the windows look out onto the lake.

Lovely. I think either of those rooms would be suitable.

Can I tell you about some of the options we offer in addition?

Please do.

As well as a meal, you can have an MC, a Master of Ceremonies, who’ll be with you throughout the party.

What exactly is the MC’s function?

I suppose they make a speech during the meal if we need one, do they?

That’s right.

All our MCs are trained as public speakers, so they can easily get people’s attention—many guests are glad to have someone who can make themselves heard above the chatter!

And they’re also your support—if anything goes wrong, the MC will deal with it, so you can relax.

Great! I’ll need to ask you about food, but something else that’s important is accommodation.

You obviously have rooms in the hotel, but do you also have any other accommodation, like cabins, for example?

Yes, there are five in the grounds, all self-contained.

They each sleep two to four people and have their own living room, bathroom and small kitchen.

That sounds perfect for what we’ll need.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 8-10.

. . . . . .

Now listen and answer questions 8-10.

Now you have various facilities, don’t you?

Are they all included in the price of hiring the room?

The pool, for instance.

Normally you’d be able to use it, but it’ll be closed throughout September for refurbishment. I’m afraid.

The gym will be available, though, at no extra charge.

That’s open all day, from six in the morning until midnight.

Right.

And the tennis courts, but there is a small additional payment for those.

We have four courts, and it’s worth booking in advance if you possibly can, as there can be quite a long waiting list for them!

Right. Now could we discuss the food?

This would be dinner, around seven o’clock. . .

That is the end of Section 1.

You now have half a minute to check your answers.

. . . . . .

Now turn to Section 2.