Greg Preston from an employment agency phones Julie Davison about a receptionist job at a medical centre in Fordham. He explains where it is, what the work involves, what the centre is looking for, and the contract, hours and parking.
Questions 1-10 · 10 marks · 1 question block
One ten-gap note block, strictly in order, and Greg gives every answer. The headings match the call: role and location, 'So what would the work involve?', what they 'require' and are 'looking for', then start date, hours and parking.
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
How to attack this block: A straightforward Part 1 call. Expect a spelled-out street name, a time that's said in words, and pairs where one word is already printed (calm and ..., dealing with enquiries). The sports centre from Julie's past job is a repeated distractor.
What is the job?
So this is a position for a receptionist
Question says → You hear
Why: 'A position for' tells you the role directly: receptionist. Check the spelling.
The trap: Office work is what Julie asked about last week, but that's the general area, not the role.
What kind of centre is the job at?
Well, this job's in Fordham. so not too far away for you, and it's at the medical centre there.
Question says → You hear
Why: The note reads 'Fordham ... Centre', and the job is at the medical centre. Medical is the missing word.
The trap: Julie has just said she worked in a sports centre. That's her past job, not this one.
What road is the centre on?
It's quite near the station, on Chastons Road. … Chastons Road - that's C-H-A-S-T-O-N-S.
Question says → You hear
Why: Julie says 'Sorry?' and Greg spells it. Copy the letters, with a capital C and the final S.
The trap: Station is mentioned first as a landmark. Spelling is the real risk: Chaston without the S loses the mark.
What does she make and reorganise?
you'd also be involved in making appointments, whether face to face or on the phone. And rescheduling them if necessary.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Rescheduling' matches 'reorganising', and the thing being made and rescheduled is appointments. Plural, because the note says 'them'.
The trap: Enquiries is already the first bullet. Face to face and the phone are ways of making appointments, not what's made.
What internal system must she keep updated?
And another of your duties would be keeping the centre's database up-to-date.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Keeping up-to-date' is maintaining, and 'the centre's' is internal. The gap is database.
The trap: General administrative duties come next, but that's already the fourth bullet.
What is essential for the job?
one thing they do require is someone with experience, and you did mention your work at the sports centre
Question says → You hear
Why: 'Require' matches 'essential', and what they require is experience.
The trap: Sports centre follows, but it's where Julie got her experience, not the requirement.
What manner, as well as calm, do they want?
they want someone who can cope with that and stay calm. and at the same time be confident when interacting with the public.
Question says → You hear
Why: Calm is printed, and 'at the same time' adds the second quality: confident. The gap needs an adjective.
The trap: Busy, stress and high-pressure describe the workplace, not the manner they want.
What kind of job is it?
this isn't a permanent job, it's temporary, so the contract would be just to the end of September.
Question says → You hear
Why: Greg corrects the idea of a permanent job: it's temporary, until the end of September. 'Further opportunities' in the note matches 'there could be further opportunities after that'.
The trap: Permanent is said first but with 'isn't'. Write the word that's confirmed.
What time does the working day end?
What time would I finish? … One fifteen.
Question says → You hear
Why: 'One fifteen' is 1.15. The note already has 'p.m.', so write just the time: 1.15.
The trap: A quarter to eight is the start, already in the note as 7.45. Don't write 'quarter past one' in words: digits are safer and fit the format.
What is available at the centre?
is there parking available for staff at the centre? … Yes, there is, and it's also on a bus route.
Question says → You hear
Why: Julie asks about parking and Greg says yes. 'At the centre' matches 'on site'.
The trap: The bus route is mentioned too, but a bus route isn't something available on site.
Greg says the time in words, 'One fifteen'. Write it as 1.15, which fits 'to ... p.m.'. The 7.45 start is already printed, so don't confuse the two.
Julie's old job was at a sports centre, so 'sports' is a tempting fit for 'Fordham ... Centre'. This job is at the medical centre.
Calm is printed in the note, so the gap is the second quality. It comes after 'and at the same time be': confident.
The full Cambridge 18 Test 4 listening paper with the real audio: all four parts, played once, marked the moment you finish. Already done it? Take it again and listen for the traps this page showed you.
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