IELTS Listening Practice Test | 2026-02-26

**Senior Librarian:** Um, I'm interested in doing some work for the library. Are you the person to speak to?
**Woman:** Yes. Right. Well, um, what sort of work are you interested in?
**Senior Librarian:** I've just come to live here in Australia. Um, I don't want a full-time job until my children have settled down, but I really need to get out of the house a bit. And I heard you need voluntary workers for various projects, right? But I don't know if I have the right skills.
**Woman:** Well, we do provide training. Oh, we always include an orientation to the library together with emergency procedures. That's fire regulations, emergency exits, first aid so you can cope with accidents or sudden illness, things like that which are necessary for anyone who's working with the public. Then we give specialist training for particular projects like using our database system.
**Senior Librarian:** I do have quite good computer skills in fact.
**Woman:** Oh, great. Is there any sort of uh dress requirement?
**Senior Librarian:** Well, all staff have to wear a name badge so they can be identified if they go outside the staff only areas. But apart from that, there aren't many regulations. We ask you to sign in and sign out for insurance purposes, but that's all. How about transport? Uh, do you live locally?
**Woman:** I'm not too far away. I'm at Porpus Beach. My husband needs a car during the day, but it's only about 20 minutes on the bus.
**Senior Librarian:** In fact, we can reimburse part of your travel expenses in that case.
**Woman:** Oh, would that be the same if I came by car?
**Senior Librarian:** No. Uh because parking is such a problem here. One thing we are looking for though is someone who can drive a mini bus.
**Woman:** No problem. So, do the projects involve going outside the library?
**Senior Librarian:** Some, yes, but not all. We've just finished one which involved working with photographs taken of the area 50 or 100 years ago. It basically involved what we call encapsulation, putting them in some sort of covers to keep them safe.
**Woman:** Exactly. It's time consuming work and we were very grateful to have help with it. Then sometime next year, we're hoping to begin working on an initiative involving the sorting and labeling of objects relating to local history. We'll be needing help with the cataloging.
**Senior Librarian:** I'd definitely be interested. How about at present?
**Woman:** Well, we have a small team who work to support those who are unable to read.
**Senior Librarian:** Working with the blind.
**Woman:** Yes. Or other groups who have reading difficulties. We provide volunteers with equipment so that they can take books home with them and read them aloud onto CDs. We're gradually building up a collection that can be lent to those who need them.
**Senior Librarian:** I can see it would be useful, but I'd really like to do some sort of work where I can get the chance to meet people. How about reading stories to children?
**Woman:** That's done by our regular staff. But we do have another project. It's a very longestablished scheme which involves helping those who are unable to have direct access to the library.
**Senior Librarian:** Oh, I noticed someone with a trolley of books when I was at the hospital last week. That sort of thing.
**Woman:** That would have been one of ours. Yes. It's one of our most popular services. Lots of people who wouldn't dream of going to the library normally or when they're at home borrow a book when the trolley comes around the ward.
**Senior Librarian:** I can imagine. Yes. I'd definitely be interested in that. Right. So, how do I enroll?
**Woman:** Well, we do ask all volunteers to commit themselves to a regular period each week.
**Senior Librarian:** I could probably do 5 or 6 hours.
**Woman:** Be careful not to take on too much, but we do need someone for a couple of afternoons from 2 to 4. So, 4 hours altogether.
**Senior Librarian:** That sounds fine.
[Break]
**Woman:** Right. So here's the application form. It asks the usual questions, name and address and telephone number. You also need to fill in details of who we should get in touch with in case of any accident or problem like that. Uh we do need to have that filled in. And there's a space for date of birth, but that's only if you're over 75. So, uh, we won't worry about that.
**Senior Librarian:** No. Oh, it asks for qualifications. Do I need to provide certificates?
**Woman:** They're not necessary. We'll need the names of two referees, not relatives or family members, obviously. What else? Signature of parent or guardian. That won't be necessary as I assume you're over 18.
**Senior Librarian:** Yes. What's this? It says civil conviction check.
**Woman:** That's a document we have to provide by law for those working on projects involving children. So, we won't need it in your case, but you will need to sign this separate document that's a copy of commitment. It's basically an agreement to work according to the library guidelines. So, if you'd like to fill this all in, you can do it here or take it home, whichever you prefer.
**Senior Librarian:** I'll take it home if that's okay.
**Woman:** Right. Well, thank you for your time.
---

**Ellen Sykes:** Hello, Top Job Employment Agency, Ellen Sykes speaking. How can I help you?
**Steve Collins:** Good morning. My name is Steve Collins and I'm calling about the call center job advertised in today's paper for an operative handling credit card inquiries.
**Ellen Sykes:** Yes, that's right. The wages and working conditions are all in the ad. So, what I'd like to know now is what the work actually consists of. I should explain that I'm a student looking for a summer job, not long-term employment.
**Steve Collins:** That's okay. The people at Intercard say they've always found students to be honest, which of course is essential in this line of work. and they have the basic IT skills needed there. Apparently, there have been a few who didn't find it easy to get there on time in the morning, but in most cases, their punctuality is as good as anybody else's. Anyway, about the work and I know a bit about this because, as it happens, I've worked there myself.
**Ellen Sykes:** Really?
**Steve Collins:** Yes. For about a year, you'd find that most callers would be people wanting to check the balance on their cards, query payments made, and so on. And from those who've had their card stolen.
**Ellen Sykes:** No, they ring another number for that, an emergency line. People also call that number if they lose their cards.
**Steve Collins:** And what are most callers like? I mean, what kind of people are they?
**Ellen Sykes:** All sorts really. All ages, every kind of background, though. One definite trend is the change in the number of women. Nowadays, they make up around 55% of the total. Whereas years ago, there used to be a majority of men calling. At one time, I heard as many as 3/4 of all credit cards were actually held by men, but that must have been long before I was there.
**Steve Collins:** It's certainly different now. So, to do this job, what sort of experience do I need?
**Ellen Sykes:** None really. Have you got a credit card yourself?
**Steve Collins:** Yes, I have.
**Ellen Sykes:** Then you probably know quite a bit about them already. And as a student, you're obviously intelligent, which of course you need to be for the job. So, after a day or so working with an experienced operative, I'm sure you'll have picked up enough to deal with routine inquiries, which of course most of them are.
**Steve Collins:** But they are bound to be questions I can't deal with, at least at first. What happens then?
**Ellen Sykes:** In that case, you can ask a supervisor. They're very helpful to new staff.
**Steve Collins:** I think I like the sound of this. What do I do next?
[Break]
**Ellen Sykes:** Can you get over there for 9:45 on Monday morning for an interview?
**Steve Collins:** Definitely. Yes. Whereabouts are they?
**Ellen Sykes:** In Riverside Business Park. Do you know it?
**Steve Collins:** Yes, I've been there once.
**Ellen Sykes:** How do you usually travel?
**Steve Collins:** By bus.
**Ellen Sykes:** Right. So you take either the 136 or 137 to the bus station and when you come out of there you turn right along Orchard Road. That is the road from the railway station.
**Steve Collins:** Yes, that's right. You go past the petrol station next to the car dealers, then carry on down the road.
**Ellen Sykes:** Do I take the first left at the main car park?
**Steve Collins:** Well, you could do that and walk up Newfield Avenue alongside the shopping center, but it's a long way round. I'd suggest continuing along Orchard Road with the water company and then the insurance offices on your right. They used to be local government offices, by the way.
**Ellen Sykes:** Yes, I remember those.
**Steve Collins:** And you keep going until you reach the advertising agency. Now, facing that is a small road called Cherry Lane. There's a newspaper office on the corner and opposite that is a big hotel, so you can't miss it.
**Ellen Sykes:** And how far down that road is it?
**Steve Collins:** Well, they aren't actually in Cherry Lane. You walk as far as the next junction and turn right into Armond Drive at the mail center. Intercard is in the third building on the right between the airline offices and the shipping company.
**Ellen Sykes:** Fine. I'll be there on Monday. Thanks very much. Bye.
**Steve Collins:** Good luck. Bye.
---

**Receptionist:** Lavaton Art Center. How can I help you?
**Caller:** Hello. I've been to the Art Center a few times recently and I understand you have this scheme for regular visitors.
**Receptionist:** The Friends of Latin Art Center. Yes, that's right. I wonder if you could tell me a little about it. I mean, how much it costs and what benefits it offers, things like that.
**Caller:** Certainly. Well, first of all, the good news is that we've recently changed the scheme. It used to cost £15 a year, but now it's free. All you have to do is fill in an application form. You can either come to the art center and do that here, or you can go to our website and apply online.
**Receptionist:** And so what are the benefits of joining?
**Caller:** There are actually quite a few. As a friend of Labbertton Art Center, you'll receive a newsletter every 3 months with information on all the forthcoming events.
**Receptionist:** That sounds useful.
**Caller:** You also get priority booking for shows and concerts in the main theater.
**Receptionist:** Can you explain how that works exactly?
**Caller:** Yes. What that means is that when tickets go on sale for the first 2 days, they're only available to friends of the art center. So, as long as you book early, you can make sure you get seats.
**Receptionist:** Great. Do you ever offer discounts to friends of the center?
**Caller:** Under the old system, when you had to pay to be a member, we did. Under the new system, there won't be any discounts for shows in the main theater or films at the art cinema. Having said that, we will be offering some discounts to members for performances in the small theater. There'll be information about this in each issue of the newsletter.
**Receptionist:** I suppose I can find that information online as well. Can I?
**Caller:** Absolutely. Actually, we're redoing our website at the moment. Right now, there actually isn't a special section for Friends of the Arts Center on the website. Once the site's been redesigned, there will be. You'll be able to put in your username and password and enter a special section just for you.
**Receptionist:** It sounds excellent. Are there any requirements though? I mean, as a member, do I have to do anything?
**Caller:** Yes, sorry, I forgot to mention that. There are no formal requirements at all, though obviously we have this scheme to encourage people to attend events here regularly. So, we ask that you attend at least four events a year, whatever they are, if you possibly can. Nobody's going to count though and it's totally up to you.
**Receptionist:** That sounds fair enough.
[Break]
**Caller:** While you're here, we're actually conducting a short survey of people who phone up the art center. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? It'll only take a couple of minutes.
**Receptionist:** Sure, no problem.
**Caller:** Thanks a lot. So, how many times have you visited Labbertton Art Center in the last 6 months?
**Receptionist:** Well, I've only lived in the area for the last 4 months. So, not that many times. Um, three, I suppose. Yes, that's right.
**Caller:** Fine. And how did you first find out about the art center?
**Receptionist:** Let me think. Oh, yes. A friend invited me to a concert and I came with her.
**Caller:** Have you ever seen a film at the Arts Cinema here?
**Receptionist:** No, I haven't to be honest. In fact, until you mentioned it earlier, I didn't realize you even had a cinema.
**Caller:** One more question. If we offered a free tour of the art center, including things such as going backstage to look at the dressing rooms, would you be interested in going on it?
**Receptionist:** Oh, yes, definitely. I think a tour like that would be very interesting. I'd even pay for it.
**Caller:** That's great. Thank you very much for your time.
**Receptionist:** Thank you.
---

**Lecturer:** In the past few years, a new condition has been identified and given a name, SAD, short for seasonal effective disorder. This is now recognized as a distinct kind of clinical depression where people become depressed at the onset of winter accompanied by a craving for sweet things causing weight gain. Each spring and summer would then bring on almost maniacal highs and feelings of boundless energy and happiness.
Experiments to combat this depression showed that increased exposure to bright light in humans could suppress their production of a darkness related hormone called melatonin. The light needed to induce this change was about 2,000 lux or about four times brighter than ordinary household lighting. It was then calculated that if bright light could suppress melatonin secretion, then it might have other effects on the brain, including the reversal of symptoms of depression.
While melatonin's precise role in SAD has not been pinned down, the theory led to effective treatment. Not surprisingly, SAD affects more people where winter nights are longer and days shorter. In the UK, an estimated half a million adults develop a full-blown SAD in winter and twice this number suffer the milder condition called sub syndrome SAD. About 80% of sufferers improve when given light therapy and improvement usually comes within 2 to 4 days.
Scientists are still unsure why winter depression happens, but more than a decade of research has turned up some surprising findings. Nearly 80% of SAD victims are women. Researchers are uncertain why this is so. SAD can affect people at any age, but typically it begins around the age of 20 and becomes less common between 40 and 50. SAD is comparatively rare in children and adolescence, but so far researchers have been unable to come up with a logical reason for this. As many as half of SAD sufferers have at least one family member with depressive illness, suggesting that the depression has a genetic component.
Some patients experience shifts in their body clocks when they're depressed in winter. They are morning people at one time of the year and become evening people at another. What is the underlying difference between sad sufferers and others? A clue can be found in carbohydrate craving, a common symptom. People often become obsessed with chocolate, for example. Carbohydrates alter brain chemistry by increasing the level of a soothing chemical called serotonin, a neurotransmitter that carries signals between brain cells. Sad sufferers crave carbohydrates because they may need serotonin to lift their mood. This craving can be intense, in fact, an addiction. It may be that the serotonin system of the brain has problems regulating itself during the winter. Some sad sufferers respond well to the drug Prozac, thought to influence the brain serotonin using system.
Other brain chemicals and hormones probably play a role in winter depression. Another neurotransmitter, dopamine, for example, may be inadequate in certain cases. Researchers hope to uncover clues to SAD secret by probing similarities between SAD and hibernation. Though no valid link between the two has been established, some sad patients say they feel like hibernating animals. Sad sufferers tend to put on fat in autumn and early winter, roughly the time when such hibernators as bears and squirrels do.