Practice English Listening A1 Exercises – Great talents

A

Superman can fly.

Batman and Spiderman can’t fly.

Wonder Woman can run very fast.

Superman can speak every language.

Spiderman can climb buildings.

Superman and Spiderman can jump very high.

Spiderman can read people’s minds.

Wonder Woman can talk to animals.

C

Dexter is their nephew – he can speak Spanish fluently, play the guitar, and sing.

Audioscript

A

Superheroes

Superman: Fantastic Superman! – he comes from the Planet Krypton. He can fly at the speed of light, he can jump very high, up to 250 metres, he can speak every language in the world. There’s nothing Superman can’t do!

Batman: Brilliant Batman! He’s a scientist. He’s rich and very clever, he’s a brilliant detective. He can solve crimes easily. He’s a superhero, but he doesn’t have any super powers. He has wings, but he can’t fly! He’s called Batman, but he can’t fly!

Spiderman: Powerful Spiderman! He has spider powers. He can’t fly, but he’s very strong – he can climb buildings and he can jump very high. He can also read people’s minds.

Wonder Woman: Wonderful Wonder Woman! Daughter of Zeus. She’s a princess. She’s very strong – she can fight very well, she can run very fast, and she can fly. She can also talk to animals and understand them.

 

B

Ben’s birthday present

K = Kate B = Ben

K   Happy Birthday, Ben!!

B   Wow! Thanks! My two favourite superheroes!

K   Hmm! So, what can they do, these superheroes?

B   Well, Superman can do everything! He can speak every language in the world and he can fly at the speed of light.

K   Surely all superheroes can fly?

B   Batman can’t. He’s ‘Batman’, but he can’t fly.

K   Really? Well, I’m pleased you like the present. 32 years old today … and still a boy at heart! You can play with my six-year-old nephew!

 

C

K = Kate B = Ben

K   32 years old today and still a boy at heart! You can play Superheroes with my six-year-old nephew!

B   Yeah, Dexter and I have great times together!

K   I know! And Dex can do a lot of things you can’t do.

B   Huh? Like what?

K   He can speak Spanish fluently for a start.

B   His mother’s Spanish, so of course he can.

K   But you can’t speak any foreign languages at all.

B   I can speak French a little bit. I can say bonjour and merci.

K   And Dex is very musical – he can play the guitar, he can sing brilliantly, and he can …

B   OK, OK … there’s nothing young Dexter can’t do! He’s ‘Super Boy’!

K   Well, you’re a super-enough man for me! Happy birthday!

A

Can…?	Ben	Dexter
speak Spanish	✗	✓
run fast	✓	✗
ski	✗	✓
play a musical instrument	✗	✓
sing	✗	✓
ride a bike	✓	✗
cook	✓	✗

B

1 a little bit   2 fluently   3 really well   4 at all

5 quite well   6 brilliantly   7 at all   8 really well

Audioscript

Ben can’t speak Spanish. Can you?

D = Dexter B = Ben

D   Happy birthday, Uncle Ben! Wow – Superheroes! Can I play with them?

B   Yeah, of course you can. Which is your favourite?

D   Superman of course. He’s amazing! There’s nothing Superman can’t do – he can fly and he can speak every language in the world.

B   I know … but you can speak Spanish fluently. I can only speak French a bit, a very little bit.

D   Yeah – but I can’t fly. But look! I can run really fast.

B   Yes, so you can. I like running, too. I go running every morning, but I can’t run fast.

D   But you can ski really well.

B   Yes, I can. I love skiing.

D   I can’t ski at all … but I want to learn. Can you teach me?

B   Yes, I’d love to. But what can you teach me? Spanish?

D   Er no, not Spanish … but I can play the guitar quite well. I can teach you that!

B   Great! I can’t play any musical instrument. Hey – and I hear you can sing brilliantly, too. I can’t sing at all.

D   Everyone can sing.

B   Well, I can’t.

D   I can’t ride a bike yet.

B   Ah … now, it’s important to learn that. I could ride a bike when I was six. And now, I can ride a motorbike.

D   There’s Mum. Dinner’s ready. Mmm … Mum’s a great cook! I can’t cook. Can you cook, Uncle Ben?

B   Yeah, I can … I’m quite good in fact.

A

1   Pablo Picasso was an artist. He was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He could draw when he was just two.

EXTRA INFORMATION = His most famous painting is Guernica, painted in 1937.

2   Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She could read when she was just four.

EXTRA INFORMATION = she could remember being just three months old; she is famous for her work on radioactivity.

3   John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He could play the banjo and guitar when he was eleven.

EXTRA INFORMATION = He was a member of The Beatles – perhaps one of the world’s most famous pop groups. One of his famous songs is Imagine.

4   Serena Williams was born on September 26, 1981 in Michigan, America. She could play tennis when she was just three.

EXTRA INFORMATION = She often plays tennis with her sister, Venus. Venus is also a talented player.

B

1 Were   2 was   3 weren’t   4 couldn’t   5 wasn’t   6 was

7 was   8 was   9 Were   10 was   11 couldn’t

Audioscript

A

Great talents

1   Pablo Picasso was an artist. He was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. He was a very clever child. He could draw before he could walk, when he was just 2 years old. His most famous painting is ‘Guernica’, painted in 1937.

2   Marie Curie was a scientist. She was born on November 7th, 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She was a very clever child. She could read when she was four and she could remember being just three months old! She’s most famous for her work on radioactivity.

3   John Lennon was a singer/songwriter. He was born on October 9th, 1940 in Liverpool, England. He could play the banjo and the guitar when he was eleven. He was a member of The Beatles – perhaps the world’s most famous pop group. One of his most famous songs is ‘Imagine’.

4   Serena Williams is a tennis player. She was born on September 26th, 1981 in Michigan, America. She could play tennis when she was just three. She often plays tennis with her sister Venus. Venus is also a talented tennis player.

 

B

Ben’s birthday party

E = Eva   M = Marcus

E   Were you at Ben’s birthday party?

M   Yes, I was. But why weren’t you there?

E   Oh, I couldn’t come.

M   Why?

E   Well, I wasn’t very well. I was in bed with flu.

M   Oh, you poor thing! It was a fantastic party – nice people, good food, and great music.

E   Hmm – I’m sure it was amazing. Ben and Kate always have good parties. Were there many people there?

M   Yeah, everyone was there, all the gang. It’s such a shame that you couldn’t be with us. Are you better now?

E   Mmm … I’m OK. I’m back at work, but I’m still not great.

1   It wasn’t 2018. It was 2016.

2   Sheku could play the cello when he was six.

3   The younger sisters can all play musical instruments.

4   Isata can play the piano, the violin and viola. Braimah plays the violin.

5   Sheku and his sisters get up at 4.30 a.m. every Saturday to go to school.

6   Their parents, Stuart and Kadie, weren’t born in England. Stuart was born in Antigua, and Kadie was born in Sierra Leone.

7   Kadie plays the clarinet and Stuart plays the cello.

8   The children sometimes practise more than two hours a day.

9   The family don’t often go shopping for new clothes.

10   Stuart is glad that his children aren’t worried that it might not be ‘cool’ to play an instrument.

Audioscript

Is this the most talented family in Britain?

This was the question asked by the TV and music producer, Simon Cowell, when six of the seven brothers and sisters were on the TV show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ in 2015.

The children are often called ‘prodigies’, but their mother doesn’t like this. She knows they are talented musicians, but says that they are successful because they work very hard.

In 2016, Sheku, one of the two brothers and a brilliant cellist, was the BBC Young Musician of the Year. He was just 17 years old. His sister Isata, 19, was also a finalist in the BBC competition in 2014. She is a pianist and a violinist. But, amazingly, they are not the only talented musicians in the family. Their brother Braimah, 18, and sisters, Konya, 15, Jeneba, 13, Aminata, 10, and little Mariatu, 6, can all play musical instruments really well.

Isata and Braimah are full-time students at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Isata has a scholarship from the singer/songwriter Elton John. She plays the piano, violin and viola. Braimah plays the violin. Next is Sheku. He could play the cello when he was six and now attends the junior school of the Royal Academy. He gets up at 4.30 a.m. every Saturday and goes by train to London. His sisters go with him.

The family live in Nottingham, England. Mother, Kadie, is from Sierra Leone, West Africa, and the father, Stuart, comes from Antigua, in the Caribbean. They are both very musical – Stuart plays the cello and Kadie the clarinet, so you could always hear some music in their home. But they say that their children’s amazing musical talent is still a shock to them and they now have an orchestra in their house. Isata, the eldest, was the first to start playing (the piano), and so when the others were born it was normal to hear music in their house. Their home has four pianos, three cellos, four violins, and a viola, and the children practise for two hours a day, sometimes more.

The family aren’t rich. Money is always a worry. Instruments are very expensive – one cello string costs £80! Their car is very old and they never buy new clothes or go on holiday. But the parents are very proud of their children. Their father, Stuart, says, ‘A lot of teenage boys, especially, feel it isn’t ‘cool’ to play an instrument.’ He’s really pleased that his children don’t think that.

A

motorbike, motorway, bus stop, bus station, businesswoman, sunglasses, coffee shop, living room, handbag, railway station, car park, traffic lights

B

go on holiday

go by train

speak a foreign language

ride a motorbike

play the violin

earn a lot of money

live on the third floor

send a lot of text messages

wear a shirt and tie

look after your health

watch films online

Audioscript

A

Words that go together

1

A   Excuse me! Is there a coffee shop near here?

B   Yes. Can you see the traffic lights?

A   Yes, I can.

B   Well, it’s near the traffic lights. Next to the bus stop.

A   Thanks.

2

A   I can’t find my sunglasses.

B   Not again! Look in your handbag!

A   Where’s my handbag?

B   It’s in the living room.

A   Oh yes! There it is and there they are!

3

A   Oh no! We’ll be late. Look at all the traffic on the motorway!

B   Don’t worry. We can pass all the cars on my motorbike.

A   Oh dear! Don’t go too fast. You know I don’t like going fast on this thing.

B   Hang on! I’m a good driver. Off we go!

A   Help! Can we stop at a railway station? I want to go by train!

 

B

Words that go together

1

A   Your son plays the piano brilliantly!

B   I know. He can play the violin and cello as well. He’s amazing.

2

A   Do you earn a lot of money?

B   What a question! Mind your own business!

3

A   Do you live on the second floor?

B   No, I live on the third. I have a great view. I can see right over the town.

4

A   You send a lot of text messages!

B   I know. My phone is my best friend!

5

A   Do you wear a shirt and tie when you go to work?

B   No, no. Where I work is very casual. I wear jeans and a T-shirt.

6

A   Can you ride a motorbike?

B   I certainly can. Do you want to come for a ride? You can sit on the back.

 

C

1

A   What do you want for your birthday?

B   Can I have the new iPhone? Or is that too expensive?

2

A   Where’s your girlfriend from? Is she Mexican?

B   No, she isn’t. She’s from Brazil. She speaks Portuguese.

3

A   What sort of music do you like?

B   All sorts, but especially jazz.

4

A   What are you worried about?

B   Oh, it’s work as usual. I have so much to do and no time to do it.

5

A   Is Paula married to Mike?

B   That’s right. Do you know him?

6

A   Do you want to come shopping with me?

B   Oh, yes. Can you wait a minute? I’ll get my coat.

7

A   Were you on holiday last week? I couldn’t contact you.

B   Yes, I was. We were in Morocco. It was brilliant. I feel really relaxed now.

8

A   Can I speak to Dave? Is he at work today?

B   Sorry, he’s at home. He’s not very well.

A

1   (café)

A   Can I have an espresso and a medium latte, please?

B   Yes, of course. To go or have here?

A   To go. Thanks.

2   (hospital)

A   Could you open the door for me, please?

C   Sure. No problem.

A   Thanks. That’s very kind.

3   (restaurant)

A   Can we have the bill, please?

D   Certainly, sir.

A   Is service included?

D   Yes, it is, sir. Many thanks.

4   (chemist’s)

A   Could you give me some advice?

E   Of course. What’s the problem?

A   I need some allergy pills, but I don’t know what sort.

E   Well, what exactly …

 

B

1   A   Can I have a cheese sandwich, please?

      B   In white or brown bread?

2   A   Could you post this letter for me, please?

      B   Yes, of course. No problem.

3   A   Can you give me your email address?

      B   I think you have it already.

4   A   Can I speak to you for a moment?

      B   Can it wait? I’m a bit busy.

5   A   Could you lend me £20 till tomorrow?

      B   I can lend you ten, but not twenty.

6   A   Can you give me a hand with this box?

      B   Of course. Do you want to carry it upstairs?