Charlotte's First Day at the Supermarket

ANNOUNCER: Part 1. You will hear a supervisor in a supermarket talking to a new worker on her first day. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6. Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

KAEDEN: Hello, Charlotte. I'm Kaeden, one of the supervisors. Welcome to the team.

CHARLOTTE: Hi, Aiden.

KAEDEN: Uh. It's Kaeden.

CHARLOTTE: I'm so sorry.

KAEDEN: Oh, don't worry. People often get my name wrong. They never know how to spell it. It's K A E D E N, in case you ever need to write it.

CHARLOTTE: I'll try and remember.

KAEDEN: So, there are a few practical things you need to sort out this morning. Then I'll show you what you're going to do today.

CHARLOTTE: The email I received said to go to the front desk to show my letter of appointment and pick up my badge.

KAEDEN: You'll need that for the staffroom and other areas of the supermarket where shoppers aren't allowed.

After you've finished at the front desk, I'll take you to the staffroom. Put your coat and rucksack in one of the lockers there. Take whichever one is free.

CHARLOTTE: Will I have a key?

KAEDEN: Yes, try not to lose it. At the end of the day, leave it in the door for the next person to use.

CHARLOTTE: Will do.

KAEDEN: You also need to go to the HR department to see Tiffany. She's really helpful.

CHARLOTTE: I was told to bring my passport with me. HR need to take a note of the number.

KAEDEN: That's right. Or you can show your ID card.

CHARLOTTE: I don't have one.

KAEDEN: That's fine. Tiffany will give you a uniform. They have lots in different sizes.

I won't come with you because I've got to sort out a problem with a bread slicer.

CHARLOTTE: Is the HR office near the staffroom?

KAEDEN: The staffroom is on the first floor and HR is on the third floor. There's a staircase outside the staffroom.

When you're finished, come and find me in the bakery section.

KAEDEN: I'll give you my phone number in case you can't find me.

0412665903

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

KAEDEN: Your tasks today are in the bakery, the sushi counter, and the meat and fish counters.

First check the sell-by dates on bread and cakes. If the date is today, add a yellow price label.

If the label is older than yesterday, throw the item away.

At the sushi counter you will bring more plastic boxes from the storeroom and clean the preparation area.

But you must not wash knives. Ask someone to put them in the dishwasher.

Finally at the meat and fish counters, clean the serving area and wipe the weighing scales.

If the ice under the fish melts, bring more from the cold-room.

Remember to wear thermal gloves when you go inside.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Part 1. You now have one minute to check your answers.

Running Tips and Inspiring Stories from Compton Park Runners Club

ANNOUNCER: Part 2. You will hear a podcast by a running coach giving advice about taking up running and giving information about her club. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

LIZ FULLER: My name's Liz Fuller, and I'm a running coach with Compton Park Runners Club. Welcome to my podcast.

If you're thinking about taking up running, I'm here to help. There are many training programs available online which aim to help people build up to running 5 kilometres.

Some of them are great, and thousands of people of all ages are taking part in 5-kilometre races across the country as a result.

People like them because they're easy to follow and don't push them too hard. However, they don't work for everyone.

This is especially true if you suffer from something like a heart condition or asthma, because they are aimed at people with average fitness and running ability.

Another problem is that everyone is different, and if you have specific questions about your own situation, there is no one available to answer them.

I have a couple of simple tips I always give to new runners.

You may have been told to run very slowly until your fitness improves. But I find that this can sometimes prevent progress.

You should run at a speed that feels comfortable, but time yourself and try to run slightly faster each time.

Listening to music can also be helpful. It takes your mind off things and helps your body get into a rhythm.

In fact, I think this can be better than running with a friend, because people often become competitive, which isn't helpful when you're just starting.

I don't think the time of day matters very much. Some people prefer the morning and others prefer the evening.

The important thing is to be consistent. Try to train regularly.

For beginners, running twice a week is usually enough.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the podcast, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

LIZ FULLER: New members often say they've been put off running because they lack confidence, they don't have enough time, or they think they simply dislike running.

Ceri, for example, joined the club two years ago at the age of 40. She had always enjoyed running at school but wasn't sure she would be able to do it again.

She worried about being the slowest runner, but she said the club made her feel so welcome that she quickly forgot about that.

James had always hated the idea of running, but a friend persuaded him to come along to a taster session.

Since then he hasn't looked back. He never misses a training session, even though he has a very demanding job.

Leo was worried about having to commit to training sessions every week because he has a busy schedule.

But after experiencing a lot of stress at work, he decided to give running a try.

Now he says he feels much more relaxed and looks forward to his weekly run.

Mark is typical of many new members. He never thought of himself as a sporty person.

It was only when he retired that he decided to challenge himself to run 5 kilometres.

It took him months to find the courage to contact the club, but he felt reassured when he saw other people his age who were also beginners.

My own journey hasn't been easy either. I ran my first marathon at the age of 37, after having two children.

My husband had been running marathons for years, but I never imagined I would run one myself.

I finished it in about four hours, although halfway through I felt like giving up.

It was the support of the spectators that kept me going.

I believe that signing up for a race, whether it's 5K or 25K, can be very motivating.

It gives you something to work towards and provides a real sense of achievement.

I ran my first 10K after six months of training, which was very challenging.

But after you've been training for a few weeks, it can be a good idea to register for a 5K race.

Some people only need a few practice runs before racing, but I recommend giving yourself at least a couple of months to prepare.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Part 2. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Part 2.

Jane and Kieran's Conversation about Books and Bookshop

ANNOUNCER: Part 3. You will hear two students called Jane and Kieran talking about books. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.

KIERAN: So, Jane, you'll be off to Denmark soon to do your work placement.

JANE: Yes, I'm really looking forward to it. And I've just started packing up all my books to put in storage.

KIERAN: Well, I hope they don't get spoiled.

JANE: It's OK. My grandfather works in a bookshop, and he told me how to pack them.

KIERAN: Oh, that's helpful.

JANE: He says you have to support the spine, otherwise the paper can come away from the cover.

KIERAN: Yeah, that seems obvious.

JANE: He also told me to pack them flat in the box, not on their side, because they can bend. If you leave them like that for a long time, it becomes hard to get them back to their original shape.

KIERAN: That definitely ruins them. But many people just can't be bothered to protect their books.

JANE: My grandfather always says it's a shame publishers don't use better quality paper.

KIERAN: It's the acid in the paper that causes the problem, isn't it?

JANE: Yes, that's why old books turn yellow. Some of the books my grandfather gave me are already like that.

I suppose I should throw them away if they're going to deteriorate further, but I'd feel bad. They'll always remind me of him.

KIERAN: Well, if they're important to you.

JANE: Exactly. I'd regret throwing them away.

KIERAN: Maybe it's because I was taught to value books, but I hate seeing students force open paperbacks. They press so hard they end up breaking the spine.

JANE: Unfortunately paperbacks aren't designed to last very long. Hardbacks are stronger.

KIERAN: Yes, but I still think people don't value hardbacks like they used to.

JANE: Maybe because they aren't very decorative, like other objects. And people don't display them on shelves as much nowadays.

KIERAN: That's a pity. When I visit someone's house and see a colourful book on the table, it's the first thing I notice.

JANE: I agree. Book covers can be works of art. Some designs are really eye-catching.

KIERAN: I've always been told to handle books carefully. Most people take books off a shelf the wrong way.

JANE: My grandfather says you should put your hand over the top of the book, or move other books aside so you can hold the whole cover.

KIERAN: When did you learn all this?

JANE: When I was small I pulled a heavy book off a shelf the wrong way. It fell on the floor and broke apart.

KIERAN: Oh dear.

JANE: I still remember it.

KIERAN: You know what I really like?

JANE: What?

KIERAN: The smell of new books.

JANE: Me too.

KIERAN: My parents used to laugh at me when I was a kid because I loved smelling books almost as much as reading them.

JANE: New books aren't cheap though.

KIERAN: That's true. We're lucky we can buy them.

JANE: My grandfather sells second-hand books as well as new ones, though they don't smell quite as good.

ANNOUNCER: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30. Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

KIERAN: I'd love to have a bookshop like your grandfather's. What's it like?

JANE: It's quite big. It has two floors and an attic, and he stocks all kinds of books.

KIERAN: I suppose he keeps valuable things like first editions hidden away.

JANE: Actually he displays them in the shop, but on shelves that require a ladder to reach.

KIERAN: That probably helps prevent theft.

JANE: Yes.

KIERAN: Does he sell books for children?

JANE: Yes, he encourages children to read. There's a special area on the ground floor with cushions where parents can read to their toddlers.

KIERAN: That sounds great.

JANE: There's also space for pushchairs near the entrance and a café if customers want refreshments.

KIERAN: Nice.

JANE: Behind the shop there's a storage area.

KIERAN: What does he keep there?

JANE: Books that customers or institutions have requested. They're kept boxed at the far end.

KIERAN: What about unwanted books?

JANE: He almost never throws them away. He leaves them by the front door for customers to take.

KIERAN: That's generous.

JANE: He also sells course books for colleges.

KIERAN: Did you buy your course books there?

JANE: Of course. They used to be on the first floor, but when a new university opened nearby, he moved them downstairs to attract students.

Now they are on low shelves around the coffee shop.

KIERAN: Sounds like a great place. You'll have to take me there sometime.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Part 3. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Part 3.

Reforestation: Challenges, Best Practices, and Community Involvement

ANNOUNCER: Part 4. You will hear part of an environmental studies lecture on tree planting. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

SPEAKER: Tree planting now dominates political and public agendas and is often presented as a simple solution to the climate crisis. Businesses also promote it as a way to offset carbon emissions.

However, tree planting is not as straightforward as people think. When the wrong trees are planted in the wrong place, the results can actually damage the environment.

Many countries are currently carrying out large-scale reforestation projects. Choosing the correct trees is essential.

A mix of species typical of the local ecosystem should be planted. This includes both common and rare or endangered species.

It is also important to avoid non-native species that could become invasive. Invasive species are a major cause of the global biodiversity crisis.

They often compete with native species and threaten their long-term survival.

Reforestation should aim not only to capture carbon, but also to restore biodiversity and benefit both the environment and local communities.

For example, selected trees might help wildlife conservation, provide food resources for people, and help maintain soil stability.

A successful project is one that achieves several of these goals while doing no harm to ecosystems or communities.

Another important factor is genetic diversity. Seeds used for planting must have enough genetic variation to ensure the resilience of forests.

Forests created from seeds with low diversity may become vulnerable to disease and may struggle to adapt to climate change.

Choosing the right location is just as important as choosing the right trees.

The best areas for reforestation are usually previously forested areas that have become degraded.

Natural ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas, and wetlands should generally not be converted into forests because they already play important roles in carbon storage.

Reforestation should also avoid land used for agriculture, as this could push farming activities into other forest areas.

Large-scale projects require careful planning and mapping. Accurate maps help identify priority areas that need restoration.

New technologies such as drones are now used to monitor damaged forests.

In Brazil, for example, drones help identify parts of the Amazon rainforest that have been destroyed by activities such as cattle farming and illegal logging.

A successful example of reforestation comes from Lampang province in northern Thailand.

A degraded mining site was restored through cooperation between a cement company and Chiang Mai University.

After spreading 60 cm of topsoil, they planted 14 native tree species, including several types of fig trees.

Fig trees are considered a keystone species because they play a crucial role in maintaining wildlife populations.

They attract many animals and birds that help disperse seeds, encouraging the growth of many plant species.

Unlike most fruit trees, figs produce fruit all year round, providing a continuous food supply for animals.

At the Lampang site, after only three rainy seasons, monkeys began visiting to eat the figs and naturally spread seeds.

Reforestation projects should also involve local communities in decision-making.

A successful example is the restoration of mangrove forests in Madagascar.

Previously, mangrove destruction had damaged both the ecosystem and the local fishing industry.

The restoration project hired local people to plant and maintain mangrove trees.

Millions of trees have now been planted, helping restore a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

Mangrove forests also act as a natural defense against flooding caused by climate change.

As a result, the local economy has improved, and many families can now afford to send their children to school.

ANNOUNCER: That is the end of Part 4. You now have one minute to check your answers to Part 4. That is the end of the listening test. In the IELTS test, you would now have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the listening answer sheet.