Listening to a News Item is Part 4 of the CELPIP General Listening test. It has 5 questions. The audio plays once, so you need to catch the main facts the first time.
1.What the task is
In this task you listen to a news item and answer 5 questions. Every question is multiple choice. You choose the best answer from the options given.
The audio plays once. You cannot count on hearing a detail a second time.
2.How it is scored
- Each question is marked right or wrong.
- There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Always choose an answer, even if you are not sure.
- Listening has 38 scored items in total. This task adds 5 questions to that count.
- Levels 4 to 12 map one to one to CLB 4 to 12. Each correct answer helps your final level.
3.A plan that fits most tasks
- Find the main event. Ask yourself what happened, to whom, and where. News items usually give this at the start.
- Listen for the cause and the result. Why did it happen? What changes because of it?
- Note who says what. A news item may give the facts, then an official's view, then a resident's view. Keep these voices apart in your mind.
- Catch key details, but do not chase them. Names, dates and amounts matter. If you miss a detail, let it go and keep listening. The next sentence may be just as useful.
- Expect reworded answers. The options may say the same thing as the audio in different words. Choose the meaning, not the matching word.
- Answer every question. A wrong answer costs nothing, so never leave a question empty.
4.A worked example
News item (written for this guide): The city of Brookfield announced that its main library will stay open until 9 p.m. on weekdays starting next month. The mayor said a survey found that many students and shift workers could not visit before closing time. The change will cost the city about $40,000 a year. A small group of residents asked the city to spend that money on road repairs instead. The library will also add a quiet study room.
Question 1: Why is the library extending its hours?
- A. To save money
- B. To help people who could not visit earlier
- C. To pay for road repairs
- D. To build a new study room
Answer: B. The mayor gave the reason. A survey showed that students and shift workers could not come before closing time.
Why the others are wrong: A is the opposite, because the change costs money. C is what some residents wanted, not the reason for the change. D is an extra feature that will be added, not the reason for the longer hours.
Question 2: What did some residents want the city to do?
Answer: Use the money for road repairs. This is a different voice from the mayor, so it is easy to mix up. Tracking who says what protects you from this mistake.
5.Common mistakes
- Choosing an option because it repeats a word you heard. The right option may use different words.
- Mixing up speakers, for example giving a resident's opinion to the mayor.
- Getting stuck on a missed detail and losing the next sentences.
- Confusing the reason for an event with its result.
- Leaving a question empty. There is no penalty for a wrong answer.
6.Next step
Practise the plan on real questions with audio that plays once: Try a free Listening to a News Item set.