MET Listening Practice Test 5 — 50 Questions With Transcripts & Answers

Free MET Listening practice test 5: 50 multiple-choice questions across short conversations, long conversations and short talks, with the full transcripts and answer explanations.

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This is the full Listening Practice Test 5 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)

Conversation 1 Man: Have you used the new ride-sharing app that launched last week? Woman: I tried it once. The prices were lower than the competitors, but the wait time was longer. Man: That's been my experience too. I think they're still building their driver network. Woman: Once they have more drivers, it could be a strong competitor.

1. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

  1. The best routes for commuting
  2. A new ride-sharing app and their experiences with it
  3. The cost of car ownership
  4. Public transportation options in the city
Answer: B

Why: The speakers discuss their experiences with a new ride-sharing app, comparing prices and wait times.

Conversation 2 Woman: I'm baking a cake for my friend's birthday, but I'm not sure I have all the ingredients. Man: What do you need? Woman: Flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. I have everything except vanilla. Man: I have some you can borrow.

2. What is the main topic of this conversation?

  1. Sharing personal opinions
  2. Discussing a recent experience or news
  3. Solving a practical problem
  4. Planning a future activity together
Answer: D

Why: The woman says she has everything except vanilla extract.

Conversation 3 Man: I've been asked to lead the team-building retreat this year. Woman: That's a big responsibility. Are you planning any interesting activities? Man: I'm thinking of a ropes course and a problem-solving challenge. Woman: Those sound great. Just make sure there's something for everyone, including people who aren't very athletic.

3. What will the woman probably do next?

  1. Ignore the advice and do her own research
  2. Follow the suggestion given in the conversation
  3. Ask someone else for help
  4. Postpone the decision
Answer: B

Why: The woman suggests making sure the activities work for everyone, including non-athletic people.

Conversation 4 Woman: I think I left my phone in the taxi. I need to call it. Man: Use my phone to call yours. Hopefully the driver will answer. Woman: Good idea. It's ringing... nobody's picking up. Man: Try sending a text message too. Sometimes drivers check texts later.

4. Why does the man mention this information?

  1. To give advice or make a suggestion
  2. To express agreement with the woman
  3. To change the topic of conversation
  4. To criticize the woman's decision
Answer: A

Why: The man suggests sending a text message in case the driver checks texts later.

Conversation 5 Man: You seem stressed lately. Is everything okay? Woman: It's just work. My boss gave me three major projects with the same deadline. Man: That's unreasonable. Have you talked to him about prioritizing? Woman: I tried, but he said they're all equally important. I don't know how I'll finish them all.

5. What is the woman's problem?

  1. She doesn't like her job
  2. She has three projects with the same deadline
  3. She missed an important deadline
  4. She is having conflict with a coworker
Answer: B

Why: The woman says her boss gave her three major projects all due at the same time.

Conversation 6 Woman: I'm considering getting a second job to pay off my student loans faster. Man: That's admirable, but make sure you don't burn yourself out. Woman: I know. I'm looking for something flexible, like tutoring or freelancing. Man: Those are good options. They'll give you income without the commitment of a fixed schedule.

6. What kind of second job is the woman looking for?

  1. Something flexible like tutoring or freelancing
  2. A full-time remote position
  3. A retail position with set hours
  4. A job at the same company as her current role
Answer: A

Why: The woman is looking for flexible work like tutoring or freelancing.

Conversation 7 Man: I heard you adopted a dog from the rescue center. How's it going? Woman: It's been an adjustment. She was abandoned, so she's anxious around strangers. Man: That must be challenging. Are you working with a trainer? Woman: Yes, we've had three sessions so far, and she's already improving.

7. What challenge is the woman facing with her adopted dog?

  1. The dog is aggressive with other animals
  2. The dog is anxious around strangers due to past abandonment
  3. The dog refuses to eat
  4. The dog has health problems
Answer: B

Why: The woman says the dog was abandoned and is anxious around strangers.

Conversation 8 Woman: Did you see the meteor shower last night? Man: I stayed up to watch, but it was too cloudy. I couldn't see a thing. Woman: That's too bad. It was spectacular from my side of town. I saw at least twenty shooting stars. Man: I'm jealous. Maybe next year I'll drive out to the countryside where there's less light pollution.

8. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

  1. Sharing personal opinions
  2. Discussing a recent experience or news
  3. Solving a practical problem
  4. Planning a future activity together
Answer: D

Why: The man says it was too cloudy and he couldn't see a thing.

Conversation 9 Man: I'm trying to eat healthier, but I don't know where to start. Woman: Start by cutting out processed foods and sugary drinks. That alone makes a big difference. Man: That's manageable. I drink a lot of soda, so that will be the hardest part. Woman: Try sparkling water with lemon. It gives you the fizz without the sugar.

9. What does the woman recommend as a substitute for soda?

  1. Diet soda
  2. Fruit juice
  3. Sparkling water with lemon
  4. Green tea
Answer: C

Why: The woman recommends sparkling water with lemon as a substitute for soda.

Conversation 10 Woman: The company is rolling out a new performance review system next quarter. Man: I hope it's better than the current one. The current system is too subjective. Woman: The new system uses measurable goals and peer feedback. Man: That sounds more objective. I'm curious to see how it works in practice.

10. Why does the man think the new system might be better?

  1. It uses measurable goals and peer feedback instead of subjective ratings
  2. It offers bonuses based on performance
  3. It allows employees to evaluate their own work
  4. It reduces the number of reviews per year
Answer: A

Why: The man criticizes the current system as subjective and seems hopeful about the new measurable approach.

Conversation 11 Man: I'm going to the post office to mail these packages. Do you need anything? Woman: Could you pick up some stamps for me? I need to mail my rent check. Man: Sure. How many do you need? Woman: Just five regular stamps should be enough.

11. What does the woman ask the man to do?

  1. Mail her rent check for her
  2. Send a letter for her
  3. Bring her a package
  4. Pick up stamps from the post office
Answer: D

Why: The woman asks the man to pick up five regular stamps for her.

Conversation 12 Woman: I can't believe I forgot my mother's birthday again. Man: Oh no. Did you call her yet? Woman: I did. She said it was fine, but I could tell she was disappointed. Man: You should send her flowers and maybe plan a visit soon to make it up.

12. What will the speakers probably do next?

  1. Change the subject
  2. Continue their current activity
  3. I can't believe I forgot my mother's birthday again. Oh no. Did you call her yet? I did. She said it was fine, but I could tell she was disappointed. You should send her flowers and maybe plan a visit soon to make it up.
  4. End the conversation
Answer: C

Why: The man suggests sending flowers and planning a visit to make up for forgetting.

Conversation 13 Man: I've been getting a lot of spam emails lately. It's really annoying. Woman: Are they coming to your personal or work email? Man: Both. I get about twenty spam messages a day. Woman: Your email might have been compromised. Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

13. What does the woman suspect happened to the man?

  1. He signed up for too many newsletters
  2. His work email is publicly listed
  3. His email might have been compromised
  4. He accidentally gave out his email address
Answer: C

Why: The woman suspects the man's email was compromised and recommends changing passwords.

Conversation 14 Woman: I just signed up for a pottery class. I've always wanted to try it. Man: That sounds fun. I took a class years ago and loved working with the clay. Woman: The first session is next Tuesday. I'm a bit nervous because I'm not very artistic. Man: Don't worry. Pottery is more about technique than natural talent.

14. How does the man reassure the woman?

  1. He says pottery is more about technique than natural talent
  2. He says pottery is easy to learn
  3. He offers to take the class with her
  4. He tells her the instructor is very patient
Answer: A

Why: The man reassures her that pottery depends more on technique than artistic talent.

Conversation 15 Man: Our flight has been delayed by two hours due to mechanical issues. Woman: Again? This is the third time this month this airline has delayed us. Man: I know. They offered us meal vouchers, but I'd rather just get home on time. Woman: Let's check if we can get on an earlier flight with another airline.

15. What is the conversation mainly about?

  1. Sharing personal opinions
  2. Discussing a recent experience or news
  3. Solving a practical problem
  4. Planning a future activity together
Answer: D

Why: The woman suggests checking if they can get on an earlier flight with another airline.

Conversation 16 Woman: I read that the company I work for is being acquired by a larger corporation. Man: That must be unsettling. Do you know if there will be layoffs? Woman: The CEO said operations will continue as usual for now, but you never know. Man: It might be a good time to update your resume, just in case.

16. What does the man imply the woman should do?

  1. Quit her job immediately
  2. Prepare for potential changes by updating her resume
  3. Ask for a promotion before the acquisition
  4. Talk to her coworkers about unionizing
Answer: B

Why: The man suggests updating her resume just in case, implying uncertainty about job security.

Conversation 17 Man: Did you finish that report for the marketing department? Woman: Almost. I just need to add the charts and graphs. That'll take me about an hour. Man: The marketing director asked for it by 3 PM. It's 2:15 now. Woman: I'll have it done by then. I just need to format the data properly.

17. What will the woman probably do next?

  1. Ignore the advice and do her own research
  2. Follow the suggestion given in the conversation
  3. Ask someone else for help
  4. Postpone the decision
Answer: B

Why: The woman says she just needs to add the charts and graphs.

Conversation 18 Woman: I've been getting allergy symptoms every spring, and it's getting worse each year. Man: Have you considered seeing an allergist? They can run tests to identify exactly what you're allergic to. Woman: I haven't, but that's a good suggestion. My current medication isn't working well. Man: An allergist might also recommend immunotherapy, which can provide long-term relief.

18. What will the speakers probably do next?

  1. I've been getting allergy symptoms every spring, and it's getting worse each year. Have you considered seeing an allergist? They can run tests to identify exactly what you're allergic to. I haven't, but that's a good suggestion. My current medication isn't working well. An allergist might also recommend immunotherapy, which can provide long-term relief.
  2. Continue their current activity
  3. Change the subject
  4. End the conversation
Answer: A

Why: The man suggests seeing an allergist for testing and possibly immunotherapy.

Conversation 19 Man: The city is starting a composting program for residents. Woman: That's great news. I've been composting in my backyard for years. Man: The program provides a bin and weekly pickup for fifty dollars a year. Woman: That's very affordable. I hope many people sign up.

19. What is the woman's attitude toward the composting program?

  1. She supports it and hopes many people participate
  2. She prefers her own backyard composting method
  3. She thinks the fee is too expensive
  4. She is skeptical it will work
Answer: A

Why: The woman already composts and hopes many people sign up for the new program.

Part 2 — Long conversations (14 questions)

Hotel Booking Issue

Guest: Hi, I have a reservation for tonight, but I need to check in early. Receptionist: Certainly. What name is the reservation under? Guest: Patel. I booked a standard room with a king bed. Receptionist: Let me check. I see your reservation, but standard rooms aren't ready yet. Check-in isn't until 3 PM. Guest: I understand, but my flight arrived at 9 AM and I haven't slept. Is there any way to get a room now? Receptionist: We have a deluxe suite available that's already cleaned. There would be an upgrade fee of forty dollars. Guest: Forty dollars seems a bit much for a few hours. Receptionist: I understand. How about I waive the upgrade fee this time as a courtesy since you're a rewards member? Guest: That's very kind. Thank you. I'll take the deluxe suite.

20. What is the main issue in this conversation?

  1. The guest wants to check in early but standard rooms aren't ready
  2. The guest booked the wrong room type
  3. The hotel is overbooked
  4. The guest's reservation was lost
Answer: A

Why: The guest wants to check in early but standard rooms are not ready until 3 PM.

21. Why does the guest need to check in early?

  1. She has a meeting at the hotel
  2. Her previous hotel kicked her out
  3. Her flight arrived early and she hasn't slept
  4. She has nowhere to store her luggage
Answer: C

Why: The guest says her flight arrived at 9 AM and she hasn't slept.

22. What does the receptionist mean when she says: 'I understand. How about I waive the upgrade fee this time as a courtesy'?

  1. She is refusing to help the guest
  2. She is offering a free upgrade to solve the problem
  3. She is charging the guest extra for early check-in
  4. She is suggesting the guest wait until 3 PM
Answer: B

Why: The receptionist offers to waive the upgrade fee, providing the deluxe suite at no extra cost.

23. Why does the receptionist decide to waive the fee?

  1. The guest is a rewards member
  2. The guest complained loudly
  3. The hotel made an error
  4. The receptionist felt sorry for the guest
Answer: A

Why: The receptionist mentions waiving the fee because the guest is a rewards member.

Phone Plan Change

Customer: I'd like to review my phone plan. I think I'm paying for services I don't use. Rep: I can help with that. Let's look at your current plan. You have unlimited talk, text, and 10 gigabytes of data. Customer: I never use more than 3 gigabytes. Could I switch to a cheaper data plan? Rep: Yes, we have a 5-gigabyte plan that costs twenty dollars less per month. Customer: That sounds perfect. Can I switch today? Rep: You can, but there's a catch. Your current plan is on a two-year contract that ends in four months. Early termination would incur a fee. Customer: How much is the fee? Rep: A hundred and fifty dollars. It might be cheaper to wait until the contract ends. Customer: I suppose you're right. I'll wait. But please make a note so I can switch in four months.

24. What are the speakers mainly discussing?

  1. Buying a new phone
  2. Switching to a cheaper phone plan with less data
  3. Adding international roaming to a plan
  4. Reporting a billing error
Answer: B

Why: The customer wants to switch to a cheaper plan because she doesn't use all her data.

25. How much data does the customer typically use?

  1. 10 gigabytes
  2. 7 gigabytes
  3. 3 gigabytes
  4. 5 gigabytes
Answer: C

Why: The customer says she never uses more than 3 gigabytes.

26. Why does the representative advise waiting to switch plans?

  1. The cheaper plan is being discontinued
  2. The customer's contract has an early termination fee
  3. The customer needs to upgrade her phone first
  4. The representative cannot process the change today
Answer: B

Why: The representative explains that a hundred-and-fifty-dollar early termination fee makes waiting cheaper.

27. What does the customer mean when she says: 'I suppose you're right'?

  1. She disagrees but doesn't want to argue
  2. She reluctantly agrees with the representative's advice
  3. She is excited to save money
  4. She plans to switch carriers instead
Answer: B

Why: The customer reluctantly accepts that waiting is the better financial decision.

Lost Luggage Report

Passenger: My luggage didn't arrive on my flight from Dallas. Agent: I'm sorry about that. Can I see your baggage claim ticket? Passenger: Here it is. The flight was AC 472, and my bag is a black hard-shell suitcase with a red ribbon on the handle. Agent: Let me check the system. It looks like your bag was scanned in Dallas but not on arrival here. It may have been left behind. Passenger: When will it arrive? Agent: The next flight from Dallas arrives at 9 PM tonight. We can have it delivered to your hotel by tomorrow morning. Passenger: I'd rather pick it up myself. What time should I come back? Agent: Come back around 10 PM. We'll have it ready for you at this desk. Also, please fill out this form so we can compensate you for any essential items you need to purchase tonight.

28. What problem does the passenger have?

  1. His flight was cancelled
  2. His bag was damaged during the flight
  3. His luggage didn't arrive on his flight
  4. He lost his baggage claim ticket
Answer: C

Why: The passenger reports that his luggage didn't arrive on his flight from Dallas.

29. What does the agent mean when she says: 'It may have been left behind'?

  1. The bag was stolen
  2. The bag did not get loaded onto the arrival flight
  3. The bag was sent to a different airport
  4. The passenger forgot to check the bag
Answer: B

Why: The agent uses the baggage claim ticket and the passenger's description of the bag.

30. What does the agent say about the bag's location?

  1. It was sent to a different city by mistake
  2. It was picked up by another passenger
  3. It was scanned in Dallas but not on arrival at the destination
  4. It was damaged and being repaired
Answer: C

Why: The agent reports that the bag was scanned in Dallas but not scanned at the arrival airport.

Volunteer Teaching Abroad

Coordinator: Thanks for your interest in our volunteer teaching program in Vietnam. Applicant: Thank you. I'm very excited about the opportunity. Coordinator: Tell me about your teaching experience. Applicant: I've tutored English part-time for two years, but I've never taught in a classroom. Coordinator: That's fine. We provide a one-week training orientation before placement. Applicant: What are the living arrangements? Coordinator: You'll stay with a host family, which includes meals and a private room. The cost is covered by your program fee. Applicant: And what about transportation to the school? Coordinator: The host family usually helps with that, or you can take a local bus for about fifty cents each way. Applicant: That's very affordable. One last question: what's the dress code? Coordinator: Professional but modest. Long skirts or pants and covered shoulders are expected.

31. What is the purpose of this conversation?

  1. To compare volunteer programs across countries
  2. To apply for a travel visa
  3. To book a flight to Southeast Asia
  4. To discuss a volunteer teaching position in Vietnam
Answer: D

Why: The coordinator and applicant are discussing details of a volunteer teaching program in Vietnam.

32. What teaching experience does the applicant have?

  1. She has been a full-time teacher for five years
  2. She taught at a school in Vietnam before
  3. She has no teaching experience at all
  4. She has tutored English part-time for two years
Answer: D

Why: The applicant says she has tutored English part-time for two years.

33. What does the coordinator mean when she says: 'Professional but modest'?

  1. The dress code requires conservative professional attire
  2. Volunteers should wear expensive clothes
  3. There is no dress code
  4. Only women need to follow the dress code
Answer: A

Why: The coordinator says the host family provides meals and a private room.

Part 3 — Short talks (17 questions)

Professor - Introduction to Cognitive Biases

Today I want to introduce you to a concept from behavioral economics called confirmation bias. This is the tendency to search for and interpret information in a way that confirms your existing beliefs. For example, if you believe that left-handed people are more creative, you'll notice every creative left-hander you meet and forget about the uncreative ones. This bias affects everyone, regardless of intelligence. In fact, studies show that smarter people are often better at rationalizing away evidence that contradicts their views. The key to overcoming confirmation bias is to actively seek out perspectives that challenge your assumptions. This is difficult because it feels uncomfortable, but it leads to better decision-making.

34. What is the lecture mainly about?

  1. How to become more creative
  2. Differences between left-handed and right-handed people
  3. The history of behavioral economics
  4. The concept of confirmation bias and how to overcome it
Answer: D

35. Why does the professor mention left-handed people being more creative?

  1. As a scientifically proven fact
  2. To criticize a common stereotype
  3. As an example of how confirmation bias works
  4. To encourage left-handed students
Answer: C

36. What does the professor say about intelligent people and confirmation bias?

  1. They are more likely to seek contrary views
  2. They are less affected by it
  3. They never fall for it
  4. They are often better at rationalizing away contradictory evidence
Answer: D

37. What does the professor recommend for overcoming confirmation bias?

  1. Trusting your intuition more
  2. Avoiding news and media altogether
  3. Actively seeking perspectives that challenge your assumptions
  4. Only reading information from reliable sources
Answer: C

38. What does the professor say about intelligent people and confirmation bias?

  1. They are often better at rationalizing away contradictory evidence
  2. They are immune to confirmation bias
  3. They are more likely to seek out different perspectives
  4. They are less affected by emotional reasoning
Answer: A

Zookeeper Talk

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the primate house. I'm David, one of the zookeepers, and I'll tell you a bit about our western lowland gorilla family. The silverback you see resting in the corner is Kofi. He's twenty-three years old and weighs about four hundred pounds. Despite his intimidating size, he's very gentle with his group, which includes two females and a young male. Gorillas are highly intelligent and social animals. They communicate using a complex system of vocalizations, gestures, and facial expressions. Did you know that gorillas share about ninety-eight percent of their DNA with humans? That makes them one of our closest living relatives. Our feeding time demonstration starts in fifteen minutes at the gorilla habitat, where you'll see them display their natural foraging behaviors.

39. What is the speaker's role?

  1. A wildlife researcher
  2. A veterinarian at the zoo
  3. A tour guide for zoo visitors
  4. A zookeeper giving a talk about gorillas
Answer: D

40. Why does the speaker mention Kofi's weight of four hundred pounds?

  1. To describe the silverback gorilla's physical characteristics
  2. To explain why gorillas need large enclosures
  3. To compare gorillas to other primates
  4. To scare the visitors into staying back
Answer: A

41. What percentage of DNA do gorillas share with humans?

  1. About ninety percent
  2. About ninety-five percent
  3. About ninety-eight percent
  4. About eighty-five percent
Answer: C

42. What will happen in fifteen minutes?

  1. The gorillas will be moved indoors
  2. The zoo will close for the day
  3. A lecture about gorilla DNA
  4. A feeding time demonstration at the gorilla habitat
Answer: D

Public Health Announcement

This is a public health message from the County Health Department. We are currently seeing a significant increase in influenza cases across the region, with over twelve hundred confirmed cases in the past two weeks. The most affected groups are children under five and adults over sixty-five. We strongly recommend that everyone over six months of age receive the flu vaccine if they haven't already. It's not too late. In addition to vaccination, remember to wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if you feel unwell. Symptoms include fever, body aches, fatigue, and sore throat. If you experience difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately.

43. What is the main purpose of this announcement?

  1. To provide an update on hospital capacity
  2. To report a decrease in flu cases
  3. To announce a new vaccine research study
  4. To warn about an increase in flu cases and recommend prevention
Answer: D

44. How many flu cases have been confirmed in the past two weeks?

  1. Over twelve hundred
  2. Over eight hundred
  3. Over two thousand
  4. About five hundred
Answer: A

45. Who are the most affected groups?

  1. Pregnant women
  2. Teenagers and young adults
  3. Children under five and adults over sixty-five
  4. Healthcare workers
Answer: C

46. What should people do if they experience difficulty breathing?

  1. Take over-the-counter medication
  2. Seek medical attention immediately
  3. Drink warm fluids and rest
  4. Call the health department hotline
Answer: B

Manager - New Shift Schedule

Team, I want to address the new shift schedule that takes effect next month. After reviewing your feedback, we've made some adjustments to the original proposal. First, the rotating weekend shifts will now be voluntary rather than mandatory. Those who choose to work weekends will receive a ten percent pay premium. Second, we've added a thirty-minute paid break for shifts longer than eight hours. Third, the request deadline for time off has been moved from two weeks to ten days in advance. I understand that scheduling changes can be disruptive, and I appreciate your patience during this process. The new schedule will be posted on the employee portal by Friday. Please review it and reach out to HR if you have any conflicts.

47. What is the main purpose of this talk?

  1. To introduce new company benefits
  2. To complain about employee feedback on the schedule
  3. To announce layoffs in the department
  4. To announce adjustments to the new shift schedule based on feedback
Answer: D

48. What change was made to weekend shifts?

  1. They are voluntary with a ten percent pay premium
  2. They are limited to senior staff only
  3. They are now mandatory for all employees
  4. They have been eliminated entirely
Answer: A

49. How long are the paid breaks for shifts over eight hours?

  1. Fifteen minutes
  2. Thirty minutes
  3. Forty-five minutes
  4. One hour
Answer: B

50. When will the new schedule be posted?

  1. Next month
  2. By Monday
  3. By Friday
  4. Today
Answer: C

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