IELTS Listening Practice Test | 2026-02-28

**Environmental Health Department. Paul speaking.**
Oh, hello. Um, I wanted to report a vehicle that's been left parked near where I live. I think it's been abandoned. I wondered if the council could arrange to get it towed away. Have I got through to the right department?
**Yes, you have. If I could just take a few details. Your name, please.**
Mrs. Sheffford.
**Thank you.**
It's not my vehicle, though. I just thought someone ought to report it.
**No, that's fine. What I need to do is take some details first, then we can decide what to do about the problem.**
Oh, I see.
**So, the next thing I need to know is your address.**
Right. It's 41 Lower Green Street.
**Yes. Barrowdale and the postcodes WH45 JP.**
Fine. And if I could just ask for a telephone number.
It's 01778552387. I'm out quite a lot, but you can just leave a message on the answer phone if you need to, or I could give you my mobile number.
**That's all right. Don't worry. Now, could you tell me a little more about this vehicle? You say it's been abandoned.**
Well, it certainly looks like it.
**Can you give me an idea of where it is?**
Yes. It's near the main road that goes through Barale.
**Is that the A69?**
Yes, that's right. Now, there's a primary school just towards the end of the village. And then next to that, next to the children's playground, there's a field. And it's in there. Oh, I wonder how he got in there. Well, there's a gate to allow farm machinery in and out. I thought something ought to be done about it. The children from the school might start playing in the vehicle and lock themselves in or something.
**Yes, you are quite right to report it. And what type of vehicle are we talking about here?**
It's a van, actually. You know, the sort with just a couple of little windows at the back.
**Right. You don't happen to know the make and model, do you?**
Oh, yes. I went and had a look and got all the details. I thought you might need them. I'm surprised the school hasn't contacted you about it. Anyway, I wrote the details down. Uh, right. It's a Catala and the models are flyer 2000.
**Is that F L Y E R?**
That's right.
**Very good. And the color?**
Well, it's not all that easy to see because it's absolutely filthy. And actually, it looks as if it's had a paint job at some stage. It's blue, but you can just see white underneath where it's been scratched.
**Right. Well, I'll just make a note of the present color. And if you could just tell me the vehicle number. Did you make a note of that?**
Oh, yes. It's S 322 G E C.
**Okay.**
[Break]
**And it sounds as if the general condition of the vehicle isn't too good from what you say.**
No, it's pretty poor. It wouldn't be drivable. It's got a flat tire and there's a crack in the windscreen. I reckon someone just wanted to get rid of it.
**That's usually the way. It's been there for nearly a week. No, it must be 8 days. I remember it was a Sunday morning when I noticed it. It wasn't there the day before. I walked past it most days on the way to the shops. I'd have thought the school would have reported it. Does the field actually belong to the school?**
No, it's part of Hill Farm Estate.
**Right. I'll just make a note of that. And I don't suppose you have any information about who might own the vehicle?**
No, I have no idea.
**So, what will you do now?**
Well, we'll come and have a look and see if we can trace the owner. And if we can't, the vehicle will be removed as rapidly as the law permits. It could be anything up to 20 days.
**One thing I should say, I'm quite sure this doesn't belong to anyone around here. I definitely recognize it if it was from someone who lived here. So, you don't think it was anyone local, right? I'd say at a guess we're looking at a stolen vehicle here.**
I did wonder if it might have been. You hear such a lot about car thieves nowadays.
**Well, we certainly will be looking into that possibility. Anyway, thank you for contacting us, Mrs. Sheffield, and we'll keep you informed of what happens.**
Right. Thank you very much.
**Goodbye.**
Goodbye.
---

I'm interested in entering your business administration program and I'd like some information on how to apply. I'm a little concerned because I've been out of school for a number of years.
**That could actually work to your advantage. It's possible to get academic credit for work experience if that experience is related to courses in our program.**
I've been working in business for several years. How would I get academic credit for that?
**First, you'll need to read the university catalog to see if any of the course descriptions match your specific job experience. For example, if you've worked in accounting, you may be able to get credit for an accounting course.**
So then what would I do?
**You would write a summary of your work experience relating it to specific courses we offer. Submit that to the admissions office with a letter from your work supervisor confirming your experience.**
[Break]
Would I submit those things at the same time that I apply for admission?
**That would be the best idea. Have you seen a copy of our university catalog?**
Not the most recent one. I have a copy from last year.
**You'll need to look at the latest one. Unfortunately, I've run out of copies, but you can get one from the library for now, and I'll send you your own copy as soon as I have more available.**
Thank you. How does the admissions process work?
**Well, first, you'll need to get an application for admission. Those are available in the admissions office. The application form contains all the instructions you'll need.**
That sounds simple enough.
**Of course, you'll need to make sure you meet all the admissions requirements.**
How can I know what those are?
**We have copies of the requirements lists for all university programs here in the counseling center. I'll give you one before you leave today.**
Will I need to get recommendations from my employer or former teachers?
**Oh, yes, you will. The recommendation forms are available in the admissions office. Now, I don't know if you'll also be applying for a part-time job through the university work study program.**
I'm considering that. How can I find out what kinds of jobs are offered?
**You can access the job listings from the computers in the library. Are you planning to study full-time or part-time?**
I want to be a full-time student.
**Good. Then you'll qualify for the work study program. Part-time students aren't eligible.**
As a full-time student, would I be eligible for a free bus pass?
**No, unfortunately we don't have those available for any of our students. However, you can apply for financial assistance to help pay for your books or for your tuition.**
I'd like to look into that. Do I apply for that at the admissions office?
**No, that's through us. You'll need to make an appointment with a counselor.**
---

**With us in the studio today are Dr. Peter Collins, a senior lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Chicago, and Helen Gardner, the author of the book Deep Sleep. They've come to our studio to discuss the effects of sleep deprivation and also give some tips to the sleep-deprived on how to deal with the problem. Welcome to the studio Helen and Peter. Now Peter, what are the reasons for sleep deprivation and how can it affect our lives?**
Well, the research into sleep deprivation started in the late 50s and has been going on ever since. Many researchers link sleep deprivation with electricity, television, and computers, which have enabled humans to work 24/7. Before electricity was invented, people's body clocks were synchronized with the sun's schedule, and the average time they spent sleeping was 8 to 9 hours a night. By 1975, that average was down to 7 hours. And today one-third of us sleep less than 6 hours a day. This leads to a condition called chronic sleep deprivation which basically means going for extended periods of time with less sleep than your body needs.
Chronic sleep deprivation can cause a variety of physical and psychological problems. At its most basic level, loss of sleep can make us more irritable or less efficient and can affect long-term memory and concentration, which can result in more accidents. According to the latest research into sleep deprivation, sleep deprivation is the main reason for 3% of plane crashes, 10% of domestic accidents, 20% of accidents at work, and 45% of all traffic accidents.
Research into the physical effects of chronic sleep deprivation suggests more serious and significant long-term complications. Research from my university, the University of Chicago, has shown that sleep deprivation interferes with how the human body regulates insulin and sugar metabolism, which can increase the risk of diabetes. People who are sleep-deprived have weakened immune systems and are more prone to viruses and other kinds of infections. People who don't get enough sleep have cognitive problems or difficulties processing and assimilating new information. Lack of sleep affects long-term memory and slows down such abilities as judgment and reaction times. Some researchers link sleep deprivation with obesity, indicating that sleep disorders and eating disorders are often linked.
[Break]
**Helen, you've done a fair amount of research for your recent book on helping people deal with sleeping problems. Could you give our listeners some tips on managing their sleep?**
Well, if you spend several hours a night tossing and turning in bed trying to fall asleep, you first have to find out how much sleep you need. To do so, you'll need to try and sleep 6 to 9 hours a night. Set aside 3 days for the experiment. It's best to do it on a long weekend or a holiday to ensure it doesn't get interrupted. During the experiment, you should go to bed at the same time every night and give yourself 6 7 8 or 9 hours of sleep. Then monitor the way you feel throughout the day to find out how many hours of sleep you need in order to feel your best.
Once you find out how much sleep you need, you can work on improving the quality of your sleep. The main secret here is to allow yourself one or two hours to relax before going to bed. You may want to try and have a warm shower or bath before going to bed. Doing some quiet activities such as reading or filing can help some people relax. A warm drink in bed helps to induce sleepiness. Some people take up yoga or meditation to help them relax at night. Different techniques will work for different people, so it's best to experiment and find the one that suits you best.
You should definitely avoid using technology before going to bed. Activities such as playing video games, watching TV, and others which require you to use your attention can stop you from falling asleep. Avoid eating before going to bed. A late dinner can disrupt your sleep. Not only is going to bed with a heavy stomach bad for digestion and can make you overweight, but it can also keep you awake for hours. Caffeine-rich drinks can increase your heart rate which can stop you from falling asleep. Energy drinks also have the same effect on your body. You should avoid drinking these at night. The same goes for vigorous physical exercise such as weightlifting or working out on a treadmill.
In many cases, you can reset your body clock and make it tick for you by changing your lifestyle. If your sleep deprivation is severe, it's always best to seek professional advice and get an appointment with your doctor who might prescribe you sleeping pills.
**Thank you, Helen. We'll be back after the break and we'll be answering questions we've received from our listeners.**
---

Good morning and welcome to this talk on Canada. Many people think of Canada as a land of ice and snow. They think of it as a young country with few inhabitants, a country of English-speaking white people. While some of this is true, it is also an inaccurate description of the country we call Canada.
Canada lies in the northern half of the continent of North America. The most northern parts of Canada are sometimes called the land of the midnight sun because at certain times of the year the sun never sets and is still shining faintly at midnight. This northern part of Canada is cold and mostly snow covered all year round. Most of the people who live in this northern part of Canada are called Inuit or Den. They were once called Eskimos. They are the original people of this land and are part of what are called the first nation.
As we move to the more southern parts of Canada, the land changes and so does the people. Moving from east to west in southern Canada, we travel from the Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Foundland, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. These small provinces with small populations border on the Atlantic Ocean. The land in these provinces is not very fertile. So fishing, forestry, and mining are the main industries. Although in some small areas, agriculture is also important.
If we travel west from the Atlantic provinces, we come to central Canada, composed of the large provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Both provinces are rich in natural resources, have fertile land, and are the centers of industry for Canada's largest cities. Toronto and Montreal are found in these provinces. The province of Quebec is the center of French language and culture in Canada. In fact, Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris.
Finally, in the far west of Canada, we come to the province of British Columbia. This province is separated from the prairies by the Rocky Mountains and is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean. British Columbia is often called simply the West Coast. British Columbia is an attractive place for tourists because of its mild climate, spectacular mountains, sea coast, and beautiful forests. Agriculture, forestry, shipping, and fishing are major industries in British Columbia.
The people of this land of Canada are as varied as its landscape. The original settlers, those we call the people of the first nations, came from Asia by crossing the bearing straight from Siberia to Alaska. In their new environment, they developed many new languages and cultures.
In the 16th century, the first Europeans arrived in eastern Canada. They came from Britain and France. By making treaties with the original inhabitants, they gradually established colonies in eastern and central Canada. After a war with France, Britain took over the French colonies in Quebec and eastern Canada. By the end of the 18th century, all of Canada was under British rule. From this time until the present century, most of the immigrants to Canada were British, Scottish, and Irish. In this century, however, Canada has had an influence of settlers from all over the world. There are now hundreds of thousands of people from Asia, Africa, and South America who now call Canada their home.