CELPIP Listening Part 1 Practice: two friends planning a weekend trip

Practice reading a conversation transcript and answering questions — same question format as the real CELPIP test. In the actual exam you'd hear this as audio that plays once with no replay.

The Conversation:

Speaker 1 (Sarah): "So are we still thinking about going to Niagara Falls this weekend? Because I checked the weather and Saturday looks perfect but Sunday is supposed to rain."

Speaker 2 (Mark): "Yeah I saw that too. What if we drive up Saturday morning, spend the day there, and come back Sunday before the rain starts? We could leave around 7 to beat the traffic."

Speaker 1: "7 is a bit early for me honestly. Could we do 8:30? We'd still get there by 10:30 if there's no construction on the QEW."

Speaker 2: "Fine, 8:30 works. Should we book that restaurant you mentioned last time? The Italian one near Clifton Hill?"

Speaker 1: "Actually I looked it up and it closed permanently. But there's a new seafood place that opened in the same area. The reviews are really good and it's around 35 dollars per person."

Speaker 2: "That's a bit more than I wanted to spend. Is there anything cheaper nearby?"

Speaker 1: "There's a pub that does fish and chips for about 18 dollars. It's not as fancy but the food is supposed to be solid."

Speaker 2: "Let's do the pub for lunch and maybe grab something nicer for dinner if we decide to stay late. Oh and should we invite Ryan? He mentioned wanting to see the falls."

Speaker 1: "Sure, but last time he cancelled at the last minute so let's not plan around him. If he comes, great. If not, we still go."

Speaker 2: "Agreed. I'll text him tonight. Can you look into parking? Last time we spent 30 minutes driving around looking for a spot."

Speaker 1: "Already on it. There's a municipal lot on Murray Street that's 15 dollars for the day. I'll reserve a spot online."

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Questions:

Q1: What day are Sarah and Mark planning to go to Niagara Falls?

• A) Friday
• B) Saturday
• C) Sunday
• D) Both Saturday and Sunday

Q2: What time do they agree to leave?

• A) 7:00
• B) 7:30
• C) 8:00
• D) 8:30

Q3: Why did they not choose the Italian restaurant?

• A) It was too expensive
• B) It had bad reviews
• C) It closed permanently
• D) It was too far from the falls

Q4: How much does the pub charge for fish and chips?

• A) $15
• B) $18
• C) $25
• D) $35

Q5: What is Sarah's concern about inviting Ryan?

• A) He doesn't like the falls
• B) He cancelled last time at the last minute
• C) He can't afford the trip
• D) He doesn't have a car

Q6: How much does parking cost at the Murray Street lot?

• A) $10
• B) $12
• C) $15
• D) $20

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Answer Key: Q1: B — They chose Saturday because the weather is perfect (Sunday has rain). Q2: D — Sarah suggested 8:30 instead of Mark's 7:00, and Mark agreed. Q3: C — Sarah says "it closed permanently." Q4: B — The pub does fish and chips for about $18. Q5: B — Sarah says "last time he cancelled at the last minute." Q6: C — The municipal lot on Murray Street is $15 for the day.

Practice tip: In the real CELPIP test, this audio plays ONCE. The key is writing down numbers, prices, and times the moment you hear them. If you waited to write down "$18" or "8:30" until the question appeared, you'd likely have forgotten the exact number.

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