This is the full Listening Practice Test 9 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?
- The effectiveness of different vaccines
- A recent outbreak of illness in the office
- The cost of healthcare benefits at work
- A new policy requiring employee vaccinations with on-site clinics
Why: The speakers discuss the new vaccination policy and the on-site vaccination clinic.
2. What will the woman probably do next?
- Plant tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers in her new garden
- Grow only indoor herbs instead of an outdoor garden
- Wait until next year to start her vegetable garden
- Plant flowers instead of vegetables in the garden
Why: The woman plans to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers, and the man says they need at least six hours of sunlight daily.
3. Why does the woman want to go to the electronics store?
- To buy a laptop
- To get a new mouse to replace her faulty one
- To look at computer speakers
- To return a defective monitor
Why: The woman says her mouse keeps double-clicking and she needs a new one.
4. Why does the man mention this information?
- Because the woman's praise makes him want to try the restaurant himself
- He plans to invite the woman to dinner there
- He doubts that the food is as good as she claims
- He is criticizing her for spending too much money
Why: The woman raved about the green curry with shrimp at the new Thai restaurant, and the man says he has wanted to try it and will go this weekend.
5. What will the speakers probably do next?
- Donate his unworn clothes and sell the nicer items at a consignment shop
- Throw the unwanted clothes directly into the trash
- Keep the unworn clothes in case he needs them later
- Give the clothes to a friend instead of donating them
Why: The man has too many clothes he never wears, and the woman suggests donating them to charity or selling the nicer items at a consignment shop.
6. How does the woman feel about her meditation retreat?
- She found it boring and unhelpful
- She regretted going
- She thought it was too short
- She found it life-changing and enlightening
Why: The woman describes the retreat as life-changing and says it taught her more than years of therapy.
7. What does the woman advise the man to do?
- Quit before the merger happens
- Update his resume while waiting for official news
- Talk to his boss about job security
- Start looking for a new job immediately
Why: The woman suggests updating his resume just in case, but advises not panicking until there's official news.
8. What will the woman probably do next?
- Drop her suit off at the Oak Street dry cleaner tomorrow morning
- Wear the suit to the wedding without getting it cleaned
- Clean the suit at home in the washing machine
- Try a different dry cleaner that charges less
Why: The woman needs her suit dry-cleaned before the wedding, and the man recommends the Oak Street shop's same-day service for morning drop-offs.
9. How does the woman suggest troubleshooting the battery issue?
- Check the battery settings to see which apps use the most power
- Turn off the phone and restart it
- Buy a new phone charger
- Take the phone back to the store
Why: The woman suggests checking the battery settings to see which apps are consuming the most power.
10. What is the woman's article about?
- The differences between rural and urban farming
- The decline of bee populations worldwide
- How to start a honey business
- Urban beekeeping on rooftops and its benefits
Why: The woman is writing about urban beekeeping and how rooftop hives help pollinate community gardens.
11. What is the woman's reaction to the delay?
- She is outraged on the man's behalf
- She suggests the man ask for compensation
- She tries to put a positive spin by noting it could have been cancelled
- She thinks the man should take a different flight
Why: The woman says 'at least you'll still get there tonight' to find a silver lining.
12. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
- The woman's plan to try a new coffee shop and what to expect there
- The best coffee beans for making espresso at home
- The prices of coffee at downtown cafes
- How the man makes pour-over coffee at home
Why: The woman is going to try the new downtown coffee shop for pour-over coffee, and the man warns the line is long at peak hours with few seats.
13. What will the speakers probably do next?
- The man will try an activity he enjoys like cycling or swimming
- The man will join a gym despite hating it
- They will both sign up for a fitness class together
- The man will give up on getting in shape for now
Why: The man wants to get in shape but hates the gym, and the woman suggests cycling, swimming, or brisk walking, stressing an activity he enjoys.
14. What is being added in the library expansion?
- A coffee shop and a bookstore
- A children's section, more computers, and study rooms
- An auditorium and a gallery
- A parking garage and a garden
Why: The woman lists a children's section, more computers, and study rooms as additions.
15. How does the woman reassure the man about his study habits?
- She tells him to study even more
- She says studying a little each day is the best approach
- She suggests he take a break and relax
- She recommends joining a study group
Why: The woman reassures him that consistent daily study is better than cramming.
16. Why did the woman's electricity bill increase?
- She used her air conditioner constantly during a heatwave
- She bought new appliances
- The utility company raised their rates
- The meter was read incorrectly
Why: The woman ran her air conditioner almost constantly during the hot weather.
17. What kind of book does the man want?
- An advanced woodworking book on furniture making
- A beginner's guide to woodworking
- A history of woodworking
- A book about power tools
Why: The man wants an advanced woodworking book for his experienced father.
18. What level of running experience does the woman have?
- She is a complete beginner
- She has run multiple marathons before
- She has been running for two years and done several 10Ks
- She only runs occasionally
Why: The woman has been running for about two years and has completed several 10K races.
19. What is the main topic of this conversation?
- The cost of home renovations
- How to get a mortgage
- The best neighborhoods in the city
- Whether the man should rent or buy a home
Why: The speakers discuss whether renting or buying makes more sense for the man's situation.
Part 2 — Long conversations (14 questions)
Concert Ticket Refund
20. What problem does the customer have?
- He lost his concert tickets
- The concert was cancelled and he needs a refund
- He bought tickets to the wrong show
- The concert venue changed
Why: The customer bought tickets to a concert that was cancelled, and he's inquiring about refunds.
21. Why was the concert cancelled?
- The venue had a scheduling conflict
- There was a weather warning
- The band had a family emergency
- Not enough tickets were sold
Why: The agent explains that the band had a family emergency.
22. What does the customer mean when he says: 'I'd rather have a refund now'?
- He wants to wait for rescheduled dates
- He doesn't want a refund
- He wants to exchange tickets
- He prefers a definite refund over uncertain future dates
Why: The customer says he'd rather have a refund now than wait for a possible reschedule.
23. What does the agent say about the concert being rescheduled?
- The band expressed interest but no dates are confirmed yet
- It will definitely be rescheduled next month
- It will not be rescheduled due to the band's schedule
- The tickets will be valid for any future concert
Why: The agent says the band has expressed interest but no dates have been confirmed.
Home Renovation Contractor
24. What are the speakers mainly discussing?
- Getting a quote for a kitchen renovation
- Repairing damaged kitchen cabinets
- Designing a new house from scratch
- Choosing paint colors for a room
Why: The homeowner is getting a quote for a kitchen renovation including cabinets, countertops, and backsplash.
25. What is the homeowner's budget?
- Under twelve thousand dollars
- Under ten thousand dollars
- Under twenty thousand dollars
- Under fifteen thousand dollars
Why: The homeowner wants to keep it under fifteen thousand dollars.
26. How much does the contractor estimate for the tile backsplash?
- Five hundred to seven hundred dollars
- Eight hundred to twelve hundred dollars
- One thousand to fifteen hundred dollars
- Two thousand to three thousand dollars
Why: The contractor estimates the backsplash at eight hundred to twelve hundred dollars.
27. What does the homeowner mean when he says: 'That all sounds reasonable'?
- He thinks the prices are too high
- He wants to get quotes from other contractors first
- He is satisfied with the estimates and wants to proceed
- He is disappointed with the options available
Why: The homeowner expresses satisfaction with the pricing and asks when the contractor could start.
Cooking Competition Preparation
28. What is the purpose of this conversation?
- To critique a completed dish
- To explain the rules and strategy for a cooking competition
- To order ingredients for a restaurant
- To hire a new chef for a kitchen
Why: The chef explains the challenge rules and the contestant shares his plan for the two-hour competition.
29. How much time do contestants have for the challenge?
- Two hours
- One hour
- Three hours
- Ninety minutes
Why: The chef confirms contestants have two hours to prepare a three-course meal.
30. What does the contestant mean when he says: 'I'll keep the dessert simple'?
- He doesn't care about dessert
- He can't make complex desserts
- He is strategically planning to save time
- Dessert is optional
Why: The contestant plans a simple panna cotta that can set while he works on the main course.
Travel Agency - Custom Tour Planning
31. What is the purpose of this conversation?
- To plan a custom two-week family trip to Japan
- To cancel a previously booked tour
- To get travel insurance recommendations
- To book a flight to Japan
Why: The client is planning a custom two-week trip to Japan for a family of four.
32. Why does the client prefer a custom itinerary over a pre-packaged tour?
- A custom itinerary is cheaper
- Pre-packaged tours are all sold out
- They want a mix of city and nature experiences
- They have specific dietary requirements
Why: The client says they want a mix of city and nature, which a custom itinerary can provide.
33. What does the agent mean when she says: 'Absolutely'?
- She is unsure if it's possible
- She is ignoring the request
- She confirms the guided tour can be arranged
- She needs to check with a manager
Why: The agent recommends spending three days in the Japanese Alps for hiking.
Part 3 — Short talks (17 questions)
Professor - Astronomy Lecture
34. What is the lecture mainly about?
- The history of the Kepler telescope
- How stars are formed
- Exoplanets and how they are discovered
- The possibility of life on Mars
Why: The lecture defines exoplanets, notes over five thousand found since 1995, explains the transit method and describes the habitable zone. How exoplanets are detected, not star formation or life on Mars, is the topic.
35. When was the first confirmed exoplanet discovered?
- 1985
- 2005
- 1995
- 2015
Why: The professor says the first confirmed exoplanet was discovered in 1995, with thousands found since. The other dates are not mentioned anywhere in the lecture.
36. Why does the professor mention the transit method?
- It is the only way to find exoplanets
- It is the method most exoplanets have been detected with
- It was developed by the Kepler telescope team
- It is used to study the sun
Why: Right after saying most exoplanets were found by watching for a tiny dip in a star's brightness, the professor names the transit method. It is the commonest technique, not the only one or a study of the sun.
37. What makes an exoplanet's habitable zone significant?
- It is where planets are closest to their star
- All exoplanets in this zone have life
- Conditions there might be right for liquid water
- It is the only zone where telescopes can detect planets
Why: The habitable zone is the region around a star where conditions might allow liquid water, which is why it excites researchers. It is not the closest zone, does not guarantee life, and is not the only region telescopes can detect.
38. How were most exoplanets detected?
- By analyzing radio signals from space
- By direct imaging with telescopes
- By sending probes to other solar systems
- Using the transit method observing dips in star brightness
Why: Most confirmed planets were spotted by the transit method, which records the small drop in a star's brightness as a planet crosses in front of it. Radio signals, direct imaging and probes are not described.
Department Store Closing Announcement
39. What is the main purpose of this announcement?
- To announce a store-wide sale
- To remind customers the store is closing soon
- To introduce new products
- To announce a change in store hours
Why: The announcement tells shoppers the store shuts in fifteen minutes and asks them to finish purchases and head to the tills. Its single aim is the imminent closing, not a sale, new products or new opening hours.
40. When will the customer service desk close?
- Five minutes before the store closing
- It is already closed
- Fifteen minutes before the store closing
- At the same time as the store
Why: Customers are told the service desk closes five minutes before the store, so returns and exchanges should be handled now. It is not already shut, nor does it stay open until closing time with everything else.
41. What will be available at the store tomorrow?
- Free gifts for the first fifty customers
- A clearance sale on all items
- A new product launch event
- Early-bird discounts on select seasonal items
Why: Tomorrow the store opens at its usual time with special early-bird discounts on selected seasonal items. Free gifts for early customers, a store-wide clearance and a product launch are not announced.
42. What time does the store open tomorrow?
- 11 AM
- 8 AM
- 10 AM
- 9 AM
Why: The announcement says the store will open tomorrow at its regular time of 9 AM alongside the early-bird discounts. Eight, ten and eleven are not the times given.
Online Learning Platform Introduction
43. What is the main purpose of this talk?
- To advertise a new online course
- To provide technical support for students
- To explain how the online learning platform works
- To announce a partnership with a university
Why: The speaker walks new students through course structure, pacing, certificate requirements, discussion forums and the refund policy. Explaining how the online platform works, not advertising or offering support, is the aim.
44. How are the courses structured?
- Courses are divided into modules with videos, readings, and projects
- Courses are only text-based with no video content
- Each course is a single long video
- All courses are live-streamed at specific times
Why: Each course is organised into modules containing video lessons, reading materials and hands-on projects, and learners work at their own pace. Text-only, single long video and live-streamed formats are all wrong.
45. What score is needed to earn a certificate?
- Sixty percent or higher
- Seventy percent or higher
- Eighty percent or higher
- Ninety percent or higher
Why: To earn a certificate, students must pass the final assessment with a score of seventy percent or higher. Sixty, eighty and ninety percent misstate that threshold, and no lower pass mark is offered.
46. What is the refund policy?
- No refunds are offered
- A full refund is available at any time
- A fourteen-day money-back guarantee
- A thirty-day money-back guarantee
Why: The academy promises a thirty-day money-back guarantee, with a full refund from the support team if the course disappoints. A fourteen-day window and unlimited refunds at any time are both incorrect.
Manager - Performance Review Changes
47. What is the main purpose of this talk?
- To explain changes to the performance review process
- To review last quarter's sales results
- To introduce new team members
- To announce a new employee benefits package
Why: The speaker announces a shift from annual reviews to quarterly check-ins and describes how the yearly review will now work. The subject is the revamped review process, not sales results, new team members or a benefits package.
48. How often will performance check-ins occur under the new system?
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Semi-annually
- Annually
Why: Reviews are moving from annual to quarterly check-ins, giving one meeting with a manager every three months, or four a year. Monthly, semi-annual and annual frequencies contradict the new schedule.
49. How long will each quarterly check-in meeting be?
- Fifteen minutes
- Thirty minutes
- One hour
- Forty-five minutes
Why: Each quarterly check-in is a thirty-minute conversation with the manager about recent achievements, current challenges and goals for the coming period. Fifteen, forty-five and sixty minutes are not stated.
50. What will happen to the formal annual review?
- It will be eliminated entirely
- It will be a summary of the four quarterly discussions
- It will remain exactly the same
- It will become a self-assessment only
Why: The formal year-end review survives, but it becomes a summary of the four quarterly discussions rather than a stand-alone event. It is not scrapped, left unchanged, or replaced by self-assessment alone.