This is the full Listening Practice Test 3 in the official MET format: Part 1 short conversations (19 questions), Part 2 long conversations (4 sets, 14 questions) and Part 3 short talks (4 sets, 17 questions) — 50 questions in 35 minutes.
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Part 1 — Short conversations (19 questions)
1. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
- Volunteer opportunities at the community center
- The cost of organizing community events
- A previous year's successful fundraiser
- A charity run event and its expected participation
Why: The speakers discuss the charity run the man is organizing and expected participant numbers.
2. Why is the woman taking the bus?
- She doesn't have a driver's license
- She is saving money on gas
- The bus is faster than driving
- Her car is in the shop for transmission repairs
Why: The woman says her car is in the shop because the transmission needs replacement.
3. What is the man's criticism of the documentary?
- The historical facts were inaccurate
- The narrator's voice was monotonous
- It was too long
- It focused too much on New Orleans
Why: The man says he found the narrator's voice a bit monotonous.
4. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
- The woman's college applications and her top choice, State University
- The man's plans to apply to medical school
- The rising cost of tuition at local colleges
- The woman's decision to take a year off before college
Why: The woman says she has narrowed her choices to three schools and that State University is her top pick because of its engineering program.
5. Why is the woman upset?
- The restaurant is too crowded
- The table is too close to the kitchen
- The prices are too high
- Her steak was cooked incorrectly and drinks are late
Why: The woman's steak was well-done instead of medium-rare, and they've been waiting twenty minutes for drinks.
6. How does the woman feel about the man's news?
- Happy and congratulatory
- Jealous of his success
- Indifferent
- Surprised and skeptical
Why: The woman expresses excitement and congratulations for the man's publication acceptance.
7. Why does the woman think the meeting is important?
- The mayor will be speaking
- They are electing new officers
- They are discussing recent break-ins on Maple Street
- They are planning a community event
Why: The woman says the meeting will discuss recent break-ins on Maple Street.
8. What will the man probably do next?
- Retrace his steps to the bus station
- Call the restaurant where he last used his wallet
- Report the wallet stolen to the police
- Cancel his credit cards together with the woman
Why: The woman suggests the man call the restaurant where he last saw the wallet, so he will likely contact them to check whether it was left there.
9. What is the woman's opinion about the four-day workweek?
- She thinks it will hurt productivity
- She thinks it's just a marketing gimmick
- She is worried about having less time for work
- She believes it could improve both morale and productivity
Why: The woman thinks the four-day workweek could improve morale and productivity.
10. Why does the woman suggest a camera lens or backpack?
- Those items are currently on sale
- They are the most popular gifts this year
- She knows the brother specifically asked for those items
- They relate to the brother's hobbies of photography and hiking
Why: The woman suggests gifts that align with the brother's hobbies of photography and hiking.
11. What will the woman probably do next?
- Accept the increase and pay without arguing
- Complain to the man's landlord about his own increase
- Try negotiating with her landlord about the rent
- Move to a cheaper neighborhood with the man
Why: The man advises the woman to negotiate with her landlord and mention that other units in the area are cheaper, so she will likely try that.
12. What will the man probably do next?
- Quit his job
- Talk to HR about work-life balance policies
- Work on Saturday as requested
- Ask his colleagues to cover for him
Why: The man seems resigned to working, but the woman suggests HR. Given he said he technically can refuse, he'll likely follow her advice eventually.
13. How does the man feel about his interview?
- Nervous and uncertain
- Angry about the technical questions
- Confident and optimistic
- Disappointed with his performance
Why: The man says he thinks it went well and felt prepared, and the hiring manager seemed impressed.
14. What is the conversation mainly about?
- The cost of feeding a large pet reptile
- The woman's fear of snakes from childhood
- The best places to adopt a dog locally
- The man's idea of getting a pet snake and its care requirements
Why: The man says a snake only eats once a week and does not need walks, while the woman notes that snakes require specific temperature and humidity conditions.
15. What is the man's attitude toward the plastic bag ban?
- He opposes it because it's inconvenient
- He supports it and thinks it's overdue
- He is indifferent because he doesn't shop in the city
- He thinks it doesn't go far enough
Why: The man says 'Finally. It's about time we caught up with other cities,' showing approval.
16. Why does the woman recommend the Khan Academy video?
- Because the man has an exam tomorrow
- Because it covers advanced topics in physics
- Because it helped her understand quantum entanglement
- Because it is required viewing for the class
Why: The woman says the video helped the concept click for her after she watched it.
17. What approach is the woman taking to learn guitar?
- Taking in-person lessons from a teacher
- Starting with online tutorials and considering a teacher later
- Joining a band to learn through practice
- Asking a friend to teach her
Why: The woman says she'll try online tutorials first and consider a teacher if she makes progress.
18. What is the new parking regulation?
- Parking is free on weekends
- Only faculty can park on campus
- Visitors must pay for parking even on weekends
- Parking permits are no longer required
Why: The woman says visitors have to pay for parking even on weekends starting next month.
19. What do the speakers agree about the book?
- The writing style was difficult to follow
- The plot twist at the end was surprising
- The characters were not well developed
- The book was too long
Why: Both speakers say the plot twist caught them off guard and was hard to believe.
Part 2 — Long conversations (14 questions)
Museum Volunteer Application
20. What is the conversation mainly about?
- A guided tour of the museum's fossil collection
- A person applying to volunteer at the museum
- The history of the Natural History Museum
- Educational programs for school groups
Why: The conversation is about a person applying and discussing volunteer opportunities at the museum.
21. What area does the applicant want to work in?
- The art gallery
- The dinosaur fossil collection
- The museum gift shop
- The administrative office
Why: The applicant says she'd like to work with the dinosaur fossil collection.
22. What does the coordinator mean when she says: 'Weekend shifts are actually the hardest to fill'?
- She is suggesting the applicant work weekdays instead
- She is warning the applicant that weekend work is difficult
- She is expressing relief that the applicant is available on weekends
- She is complaining about the volunteer schedule
Why: The coordinator is pleased because the applicant's weekend availability matches the museum's greatest need.
23. What training is provided to volunteers?
- A two-day session on policies, tour scripts, and safety
- Online training modules only
- A one-week course on paleontology
- On-the-job training without formal sessions
Why: The coordinator says there is a two-day training session covering museum policies, tour scripts, and safety.
Restaurant Reservation Mix-up
24. What problem does the diner encounter?
- He arrived at the wrong restaurant location
- The restaurant lost his reservation despite having a confirmation
- His credit card was declined
- The restaurant is closed for a private event
Why: The diner's reservation is not in the system even though he received a confirmation email.
25. How does the host resolve the situation?
- By giving the diner a gift card for next time
- By sending the diner to another restaurant location
- By upgrading the diner to a VIP table immediately
- By finding a table at 8:30 PM and offering a complimentary dessert
Why: The host finds a cancellation at 8:30 PM and offers a complimentary dessert.
26. What does the diner mean when he says: 'I suppose that will have to do'?
- He is completely satisfied with the solution
- He plans to leave and not return
- He is demanding better compensation
- He reluctantly accepts the compromise despite not being thrilled
Why: The diner uses 'I suppose' to show reluctant acceptance of the 8:30 PM table.
Group Project Disagreement
27. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
- Finalizing a presentation topic and dividing research
- The deadline for their group project
- A class lecture about renewable energy
- The benefits of solar energy
Why: The speakers are deciding on a presentation topic and how to divide the research work.
28. What does the man mean when he says: 'That's too narrow'?
- The topic is physically small
- He wants a harder topic
- The topic lacks sufficient research material
- The woman is being too detailed
Why: The man says they won't find enough data for a twenty-minute presentation on just residential solar.
29. What compromise do they reach?
- They will each present separately
- They will change the topic to wind energy
- They will ask the professor for guidance
- They will cover both commercial and residential solar adoption
Why: The man suggests covering both commercial and residential solar adoption as a compromise.
30. What will each person probably do before Thursday?
- Prepare slides for the presentation
- Write the entire presentation independently
- Research their assigned section and combine findings
- Meet with the professor separately
Why: They agree to divide the research and meet Thursday to combine findings.
Immigration Office Appointment
31. What is the purpose of the applicant's visit?
- To apply for a new work visa
- To report a lost passport
- To inquire about citizenship requirements
- To renew his work visa
Why: The applicant is there for a work visa renewal interview.
32. Why can't the officer process the renewal today?
- The applicant's employer did not submit the right forms
- The application fee has not been paid
- The office is closing early today
- The applicant's passport does not have enough validity remaining
Why: The officer explains that the passport needs at least twelve months of validity for a visa renewal.
33. What does the applicant mean when he says: 'That's a relief'?
- He is relieved his visa will not expire before the renewal
- He is happy to leave the office
- He is glad the fee is low
- He is relieved he doesn't need a visa
Why: The officer says the current visa is valid until it expires, so the applicant won't be out of status.
Part 3 — Short talks (17 questions)
Professor - History of the Printing Press
34. What is the lecture mainly about?
- The life of Johannes Gutenberg
- The impact and significance of the printing press invention
- How books were made in medieval monasteries
- The spread of literacy in Renaissance Europe
Why: The lecture focuses on how movable type spread to over two hundred cities and made knowledge available to the middle class, stressing the invention's historical impact. Gutenberg's life and monastery bookmaking serve only as background.
35. Why does the professor mention that a Bible took over a year to produce by hand?
- To compare different methods of bookbinding
- To explain why Bibles were the only books available
- To show why the printing press was such a revolutionary improvement
- To criticize the quality of hand-copied books
Why: The year spent copying a single Bible by hand shows how dramatically movable type sped up book production. The professor is not assessing binding methods or the quality of hand-copied books.
36. How many cities had printing presses within fifty years of Gutenberg's invention?
- Over fifty cities
- Over two hundred cities
- Over five hundred cities
- Over one thousand cities
Why: The lecture states printing presses had spread to over two hundred cities across Europe within fifty years of the invention. The fifty figure refers to years, and the other city totals are not given.
37. What historical movements did the printing press contribute to?
- The Industrial Revolution and Modernism
- The Enlightenment and Romanticism
- The Age of Discovery and Colonialism
- The Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution
Why: The mass production of books is credited with contributing directly to the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution. The Enlightenment, Romanticism, the Industrial Revolution and colonialism are not named in the lecture.
Airline Welcome Announcement
38. What is the main purpose of this announcement?
- To explain safety procedures in detail
- To promote the airline's in-flight services
- To announce a flight delay
- To welcome passengers and provide flight information
Why: The crew member welcomes passengers aboard flight 318 and gives details of altitude, flight time, weather, meals and entertainment. Safety procedures are only previewed, and no delay or cancellation is announced.
39. What is the current weather in Vancouver?
- Fifteen degrees with light rain
- Sunny and warm
- Snowy and cold
- Cloudy with strong winds
Why: Vancouver is reported as fifteen degrees Celsius with light rain, so passengers can prepare for arrival. Sunny, snowy and windy conditions are not mentioned in the welcome.
40. When will the beverage service begin?
- Immediately after takeoff
- After the dinner service
- After reaching cruising altitude
- Thirty minutes before landing
Why: Drinks are served shortly after the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, followed by dinner. The service does not begin immediately after takeoff, after dinner or shortly before landing.
41. What dinner options are available?
- Beef or fish
- Chicken or pasta
- Vegetarian or vegan
- Soup or salad
Why: The dinner service offers passengers a choice of chicken or pasta. Beef, fish, vegetarian and vegan meals, and soup or salad, are not among the options described.
Tour Guide - Old Town Walking Tour
42. What is the speaker's role?
- A tour guide leading a walking tour of the Old Town
- A shop owner at the riverfront market
- A city official giving a speech
- A historian researching old buildings
Why: Carlos introduces himself and leads a two-hour walking tour of the historic district, so he is a tour guide. A shop owner, city official or researcher would not be conducting the group through the Old Town.
43. Why does the guide mention the colors of the old merchant houses?
- To explain that colors once indicated the owner's trade
- To describe the architectural styles of the district
- To suggest the best houses to photograph
- To compare the Old Town to other historic districts
Why: The guide explains that each merchant house color once showed the owner's trade, with blue for fishermen, red for merchants and yellow for craftsmen. The colors are not advice about which houses to photograph.
44. What color were the houses of fishermen?
- Blue
- Yellow
- Red
- Green
Why: Blue houses belonged to fishermen, while red marked merchants and yellow craftsmen. Green is not part of the color scheme the guide describes on the Old Town tour.
45. Where does the tour end?
- At the City Hall
- At the clock tower square
- At the riverfront market
- At the old merchant houses
Why: The tour finishes at the riverfront market, where visitors can browse local crafts and sample regional food. City Hall is the first stop, not the final one.
46. What caution does the guide give to the group?
- Beware of pickpockets
- Watch their step on cobblestone streets
- Stay away from the river edge
- Keep their cameras ready
Why: The guide asks the group to stay together and watch their step on the cobblestone streets. There is no warning about pickpockets, the river's edge or keeping cameras ready.
Manager - New Software Training
47. What is the main purpose of this talk?
- To introduce a timeline for transitioning to a new project management system
- To announce layoffs in the IT department
- To review last month's project progress
- To discuss budget cuts for software licenses
Why: The talk walks through a week-by-week plan for moving to the new project management system, from receiving credentials to retiring the old platform. Layoffs, progress reviews and budget cuts are not discussed.
48. What will team members receive this week?
- New company laptops
- Login credentials and access to tutorial videos
- Printed user manuals
- A schedule of upcoming meetings
Why: This week team members receive login credentials for the new system and access to online tutorial videos. Laptops and printed manuals are not mentioned, and the training sessions come next week.
49. How long are the in-person training sessions?
- Two hours
- One hour
- Three hours
- Half a day
Why: The in-person sessions run on Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 4 PM, so each lasts two hours. One hour, three hours and half a day are not the scheduled duration.
50. What happens during the third week of the transition?
- Both old and new systems are used in parallel
- Employees choose which system to use
- The old system is shut down completely
- The new system is tested by IT only
Why: During the third week employees use both the old and new systems side by side to make the switch smoother. The old system is only retired at the start of next month, and IT alone is not testing the new one.