All English 4U

All English 4U · Dictation B1

LESSON 04 · 100% ORIGINAL PRACTICE TEST

Long Life

B1 · 226 words · 20 questions · British English audio

Before you begin

Listen once for the main idea. Next, use the slow or paused recording to complete the gaps. Then answer the story and vocabulary questions.

Write one word in each gap. Capital letters and extra spaces do not affect your score. Show Answer lets you study an answer and does not fill the box or earn points.

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Part 1 · Listen and complete

Write ONE word in each gap (1–12).

At seventy-eight, Mrs Patel still had a week in Willow Lane. Every Tuesday, she opened the community room at nine and set out cups for the neighbours who came to plan local events. She kept a small notebook beside the , where she wrote down jobs and names.

On this Tuesday, the group was preparing a garden day. Mrs Patel suggested putting a table near the for packets, while Amir offered to paint a . When two new residents arrived, she them and showed them where to leave their coats. Then she asked what they enjoyed doing. One liked drawing, and the other knew how to mend a garden chair. Mrs Patel listened carefully and added both offers to her notebook.

At lunch, she walked to the corner shop with Amir. They chose apples and bread for the volunteers, then carried the bags back together. In the afternoon, she telephoned the to check that the hall would be open on Saturday.

Before going home, Mrs Patel the chairs and left a clear for the next group. Her routine did not depend on doing everything herself. She made time for people to share ideas, and she was pleased when they took . On Saturday, the garden day would belong to the whole neighbourhood, not just to one organiser.

Part 2 · Understanding the story

Choose A, B or C (13–16).

13. Why did the neighbours meet in the community room?

14. Which two skills did the new residents have?

15. Who did Mrs Patel contact about the hall?

16. What idea does the final paragraph emphasise?

Part 3 · Words in context

Choose A, B or C (17–20).

17. In the passage, what does 'suggested' mean?

18. What does 'caretaker' mean here?

19. What does 'stacked' mean in 'stacked the chairs'?

20. What does 'responsibility' mean in the passage?

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Transcript, vocabulary and learning review

Full transcript

At seventy-eight, Mrs Patel still had a busy week in Willow Lane. Every Tuesday, she opened the community room at nine and set out cups for the neighbours who came to plan local events. She kept a small notebook beside the kettle, where she wrote down jobs and names.

On this Tuesday, the group was preparing a spring garden day. Mrs Patel suggested putting a table near the gate for seed packets, while Amir offered to paint a sign. When two new residents arrived, she greeted them and showed them where to leave their coats. Then she asked what they enjoyed doing. One liked drawing, and the other knew how to mend a loose garden chair. Mrs Patel listened carefully and added both offers to her notebook.

At lunch, she walked to the corner shop with Amir. They chose apples and bread for the volunteers, then carried the bags back together. In the afternoon, she telephoned the caretaker to check that the hall would be open on Saturday.

Before going home, Mrs Patel stacked the chairs and left a clear note for the next group. Her routine did not depend on doing everything herself. She made time for people to share ideas, and she was pleased when they took responsibility. On Saturday, the garden day would belong to the whole neighbourhood, not just to one organiser.

Useful words

  • neighbourhood: the area where people live
    Our neighbourhood holds a street party each summer.
  • volunteer: a person who offers to help without being paid
    A volunteer welcomed visitors at the library door.
  • caretaker: someone who looks after a building or place
    The caretaker unlocked the sports hall before the match.
  • loose: not fixed or tight
    One button on my coat feels loose.
  • organiser: a person who plans an activity or event
    The organiser sent everyone a map of the picnic site.
  • responsibility: a duty or task that a person is expected to manage
    Taking responsibility for the keys means returning them after class.

Practise again

  • Listen for names, days and places because they often help you follow a story.
  • Before filling a gap, check which kind of word the sentence needs, such as a noun or adjective.
  • After listening, read the whole sentence again to see whether your answer fits its meaning and grammar.

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