TELC UK Training, Education and Language Courses in North London » FCE exam listening practice about a newspaper story answers

You are going to hear five speakers talking about a newspaper story which involves a teenage girl and a rock band.

For speakers1-5, decide which of the opinions A—F each speaker expresses. Use the letters only once. There is one extra letter which you do not need to use.

A Journalists create scandal that is only remembered in the short-term.B Journalists should check their information more carefully than they do.

C Journalists are insensitive towards the people they deal with.

D Journalists have an obligation to inform their readers of the facts.

E Journalists concentrate their efforts on people who are well-known.

F Journalists have to invent things to get a good story.

Speaker 1 ……………

Speaker 2 ……………

Speaker 3 ……………

Speaker 4 ……………

Speaker 5 ……………

ANSWERS: 1 C, 2 F, 3 E, 4 A, 5 D

Extra practice: Listen to the five speakers again and tick all the idioms you hear, noting which speaker (1-5) said them. Explain what you think the idioms mean, by referring back to the people and events in the news story.

Answers Meaning of each idiom as heard, with speaker in brackets:

have a change of tune (5) — think differently

flavour of the month (3) — the most popular (band) at the moment

get sick to the back teeth with (3) — get very fed up with

go to someone’s head (2) — make them feel flattered or self-important

be in the public eye (5) — have a high (media) profile, usually through fame

out of the blue (1) — without any warning

put a brave face on something (4) — pretend something isn’t as bad as it really is

the rest is history (2) — the rest of the story is well known

a three-day wonder (4) — only of short-term interest

Idioms not heard: break new ground, keep a low profile, turn something on its head.

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