Part IV. Listening

Ability tested

This section tests your ability to understand the main idea, the main points, details or specific information. Normally in this section you are offered to listen to the records about flight hazardous conditions, weather phenomena effects, incidents and accidents that happened in aviation industry.

Basic skills necessary

It is necessary to have a good “ear’ for English. You must be able to distinguish between words that sound similar and be able to comprehend entire sentences, not just single words or phrases.

How to prepare for the Listening section.

It is necessary to tune your ear to English. Speak to native English speakers as often as possible. Also you should

• watch news and films on television or listen to the radio programmes.

• listen to the audio books

• do listening exercises as much as possible

Useful tips

- Read the questions before the options and underline key words.

- If you are not sure, guess. You may have understood more than think.

- Do not listen for single words, but for the general meaning.

- Don’t worry about words that you don’t know.

 Exercise 1.

Recommendations:

1. Look through the information in the table below.

2. Try to guess what this recording is about.

3. How would you continue each statement presented in the left column?

4. Listen to the recording attentively.

5. In some tests you will hear the recording twice, so for the fist time try to catch the main idea and fill in the information you have understood. For the second time concentrate on the missing information that you couldn’t write down before.

Unruly passengers

Complete the table by noting down details about the unruly passengers in the right column. Some information has been provided.

A group of intoxicated passengers could receive requests from
A group of intoxicated passengers could receive requests to	………………………………with high spirits.
Their behaviour could become threatening without being violent if
The passengers paid	a hefty of penalty
They failed to reach their
They needed	to book and pay for return flights
Airlines are starting to ban passengers who
Many airlines specify	…………………………………on the back of the boarding pass.
Cabin crew has the authority to
The passengers deemed unruly may be
The flight may be

 Exercise 2.

Recommendations:

Before listening look through the questions below and try to guess the answers to these questions.

Effects of weather

You are going to hear about the effects of weather. Answer the questions by writing short answers.

1. What does a pilot obtain before taking off?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Who prepares a weather chart?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. What does a weather chart show?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. What does a high-pressure area usually mean?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. What does a low-pressure area involve?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. When can a pilot decide to postpone the flight?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. What may delay the arrival of flights?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Why can the tailwind be of great advantage?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

 Exercise 3