Celebrating 20 Years IELTS Listening Practice Test with Answers

Transcript for Celebrating 20 Years

Marcus: Okay Ella, as you know, you and I have to make the big decision about in which restaurant we are going to hold our office celebration.

Ella: Well, we're celebrating twenty years of operation, so I think it has to be a good restaurant, something which will really impress people and make them think better of the company.

Marcus: We do have a budget though, it's how much?

Ella: Two thousand dollars, and that should be enough for a good meal.

Marcus: Actually, it's three thousand dollars, not two thousand dollars, I confirmed that today.

Ella: That should be enough for a great meal then.

Marcus: Well, this is a significant milestone, so should we go for a buffet meal at a local hotel? Or you can eat, something like that?

Ella: The chest field hotel has good food. I've eaten there before, very impressive.

Marcus: Yes, I've got the brochure here. Do you know how much it costs? The full buffet banquet is beyond us, I'm afraid.

Ella: Yes, but we don't have to get the banquet; they have set meals for cheaper prices. Show me the brochure? What about this? Let meal see is fifty dollars ahead, and that's just within our price range. It includes a main meal with prawns, and there's other seafood as well. Look, there's even a seafood platter with crabs, oysters, everything you like.

Marcus: But not everyone likes seafood. Let me see the brochure. Actually, set meal D looks better to me, more meat-based.

Ella: How much is it?

Marcus: Meal A is seventy dollars, B is sixty dollars, and so on, so D is even cheaper at forty-five dollars.

Ella: Okay, and we could spend the money we save on other things, such as a lottery present or something.

Marcus: The main meal is lamb, and everyone likes that, right. It comes with soup, dessert, coffee, all the frills that you'd expect.

Ella: What's the soup?

Marcus: Actually, all the meals come with soup. Meal A. is lobster soup, B is prawn, C is clam, but ours is chicken.

Ella: Ah, I like that. Chicken is simple but tasty, although seafood soups are not nearly as nice.

Marcus: So, why don't we take meal D then?

Marcus: All right, we've picked the restaurant and meal for this celebration, so that just leaves the time and date to be decided.

Ella: We need to do it soon. This month is the 20th anniversary, so what about the 14th?

Marcus: 14th, hmm, but wouldn't it be better to do it after the end of quarter reports are handed in? That way everyone will feel more relaxed. That's the 18th, after the middle of the month.

Ella: Good thinking, that's why you're the office manager and I'm not.

Marcus: And that leaves the starting time. After work, but not too late, right?

Ella: Well, any time is fine, I should think, 7 pm, 7.30 pm, 8 pm, does it really matter?

Marcus: Not too late though, 8 pm is too late, 7 pm might be too early for those submitting the end-of-day accounts.

Ella: Split the difference then take the middle time, that will please everyone.

Marcus: Sounds fine by me, let's do that then. Now, that leaves the minor details, you know, about clothes and what to bring and...

Ella: Clothes? Isn't this an informal event?

Marcus: Yes, but it is an anniversary and we don't want people in jeans and jogging shoes. We don't necessarily want formal dress either.

Ella: I agree, formal is too, well, formal. Smart casual is better. Let's just say smart casual, okay?

Marcus: Okay, and should we allow smoking?

Ella: Isn't that the hotel's decision? Do they allow smoking?

Marcus: They do, in designated areas, well away from the eating tables.

Ella: Personally, I hate smoking and would like to ban it completely from this function, but to be reasonable, I think we can just follow the hotel's policy, if they allow it so can we.

Marcus: Okay, that sounds fine. That just leaves...

Ella: Whether the guests should bring anything with them, I think it would be a nice idea for everyone brought to them, no, a present, a small present of course, to be put into a large box and then everyone can reach inside and pull out something, a lucky dip. That should be a good laugh, don't you think?

Marcus: Great idea. 

Questions for Celebrating 20 Years Listening Test

Questions 1-5

• Complete the notes.
• Write one word or a number for each answer.

Celebrating 20 years! (example)Budget for meal($): 1_____

Meal C:

• Cost $ 50/head
• Consists of prawns and a seafood platter with 2_________ and oysters.

Meal D:

• Cost $: 3________/ head
• Consists of 4________ with 5_______ soup, dessert, and coffee.

Questions 6-10

Choose the correct letters A, B, or C

6. The function will take place on the

A. 14th

B. 18th

C. 20th

7. It will start at

A. 7 pm

B. 7.30 pm

C. 8 pm

8. The dress code will be

A. Smart casual

B. Formal

C. casual

9. Guests can

A. Smoke freely

B. Not smoke

C. Smoke in special places.

10. Guests should bring a

A. Card

B. Gift 

C. Large box