Part 1: Festival in a town

Section 1 – Questions 1–10

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Riverdale Pre-school
Example

Children:                                20   in a class

Classes:                         First group – Mrs. Oliver

Second group – Mrs. 1 __________

Hours & Days:              Suzie will attend 3 days a week for a total of 2 __________ hours

Activities:                     Outside time

– running, playing, or something quieter

– just got a new piece of equipment

– intend to make a 3 ___________

 

Indoors

– this year, 4 __________ activities are popular

– they hear a 5 ___________ every day

Fees:                             Now cost 6$ __________ per term

Fees include:

– a trip to a 7 __________ this year

– chance to take home a 8 ___________ every week

Do not forget:              – Put a 9 __________, in Suzie’s bag

– Arrange a visit; phone number: 10 __________

 

Keys

  1. keogh
  2. 15
  3. garden
  4. music
  5. story
  6. 470
  7. farm
  8. toy
  9. pillow
  10. 0914638520

 

Transcript

Section 1: You will hear a conversation between a man who’s finding out about a preschool for his young daughter and a woman who works there.

Sally: Good morning Riverdale Preschool, Sally speaking.

Robert: Hello, my name’s Robert. I’ve got a four-year-old daughter called Susie and I’d like to get some information about your preschool please.

Sally: Sure Robert. Well Susie’s the right age. We take three and four year olds in classes of 20 students.

Sally: The number of children in a class is 20, so 20 has been written in the space.

Sally: Now we shall begin.

Sally: You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.

Sally: Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

Sally: Good morning Riverdale Preschool, Sally speaking.

Robert: Hello, my name’s Robert. I’ve got a four-year-old daughter called Susie and I’d like to get some information about your preschool please.

Sally: Sure Robert, well Susie’s the right age, we take three and four year olds in classes of 20 students.

Robert: Oh great. And how many teachers do you have?

Sally: We have two. The first group is taught by Mrs Oliver and the second group is taken by Mrs Keogh.

Robert: Just a moment, I’ll write that down. Could you spell the last name, please? It’s an unusual one, isn’t it?

Sally: Yes, it’s K-E-O-G-H.

Robert: Okay, I’ve got that. Now, I know that children attend for two or three days a week.

Sally: That’s right. The older ones, like Susie, are here for three days, which means 15 hours a week. The younger ones, the three-year-olds, attend two days a week. That’s a total of 10 hours.

Robert: And what do they do during that time?

Sally: Well, half the day is spent outside and the children can run around and play games with their friends or do a calmer activity, like painting for example. We have a great outside play area that we’re improving all the time.

Robert: Yes, we were walking past the other day and Susie noticed. You’ve recently put in a new slide, haven’t you?

Sally: Yes, we’re really pleased with it. It’s a big one and the children love it.

Robert: And are you thinking of adding anything else outdoors?

Sally: Well, we were hoping to build a playhouse but that was too expensive, so we’re now making plans for a garden where the children will be able to grow flowers and vegetables.

Robert: Lovely. And what else do the children do?

Sally: Well, the other half of the day is spent indoors. This year, the children seem to be very interested in music, so the teachers are doing a lot of activities related to that. Last year, there seemed to be more of an interest in dancing.

Robert: Well, Susie would love either of those.

Sally: The teachers may sometimes play quiet games with the children, but we always make time for a story each day. It’s a very important part of the program here.

Robert: Yes, of course.

Sally: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6-10 on page 2.

Sally: Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

Robert: Now, I’d like to ask you about the fees, if that’s okay.

Sally: Sure, we actually had to put them up this term, I’m afraid.

Robert: Yes, I heard from a friend of mine that it used to be $420 for the term, but it’s just gone up to $470. Is that right?

Sally: Yes, we had to add the extra $50 to cover costs. Things got a lot more expensive last year.

Robert: Hmm, I understand. And I think the fees are still quite reasonable. Another school I’ve spoken to charges $500 per term.

Sally: Oh, really?

Robert: My friend also told me that his daughter went on a trip to the local zoo and that the cost of that was covered in the fees, is that right?

Sally: Yes, we did that last year, but we’ll be going to a farm this year instead. We vary it, so, for example, we may go to the theatre next year.

Robert: Okay, it sounds like fun.

Sally: Also included in the price is membership of a special library. Children can borrow a toy and keep it for a week and choose a different one the following week. It’s very popular.

Robert: What a great idea. We would certainly make use of that system if we enroll. Now, is there anything else I should know?

Sally: Well, the children have a rest here during the day and we make up a little bed for them with sheets and blankets, but we advise parents to pack a pillow in the child’s bag as we don’t provide one.

Robert: Okay, I’ll make a note of that.

Robert: So, what should I do if I want to come and look around the school during the day and meet the staff?

Sally: The best thing is to call the teacher on the classroom mobile and she’ll tell you which time is best to visit.

Sally: Shall I give you the number?

Robert: Yes, please.

Sally: Okay, it’s 0914 638 520.

Robert: Thanks for all your help Sally, and we hope to see you soon.

Sally: No problem. Bye for now.

Sally: That is the end of section 1.

Sally: You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Sally: Now turn to section 2 on page 3.