How to practice this piece
1. Listen without reading
Press play and do not look at the text. You can repeat the audio as many times as you want or slow it down.
2. Do the exercises
Comprehension, true or false, ordering, real speech and a dictation. Each one is checked at the end.
3. Read and listen again
When you finish every exercise the text unlocks, with each word highlighted while it plays.
Comprehension
Choose your answers. They are not graded automatically: when you have answered them all, press “Check answers” at the bottom to see which ones you got right.
Question 1
What is Dana doing?
Question 2
What is the main question of the interview?
Question 3
Why does Jess like the city?
Question 4
How long has Graham lived in the city?
Question 5
How much time does Graham spend on the bus every day, in total?
Question 6
How much of her salary does Jess pay for rent?
Question 7 · Listen and choose who said it.
“I kinda like it, actually.”
0 of 7 answered
About this piece
A radio reporter asks two people on a noisy street where they would rather live. Practice following a conversation with three voices and background noise, and catch everyday spoken English.
What you will practice
- Comprehension: the main idea and the details you hear (numbers, prices, times, names).
- True, false or not given: precise attention to what was really said.
- Ordering: following the sequence of what happened.
- Real speech: forms and expressions that do not sound the way they are written.
- Dictation: writing the missing words in a sentence from the audio.
Vocabulary from this piece
bother verb
to interrupt someone when they are busy
shout verb
to speak in a very loud voice
definitely adverb
without any doubt
get used to phrasal verb
to become comfortable with something new
commute noun
the trip you make from home to work every day
peace and quiet phrase
a calm place without noise
countryside noun
land outside cities, with fields and small villages
rent noun
the money you pay every month to live in a home
salary noun
the money you get from your job every month
vote noun
a choice that you give when a group decides something
Dana: Excuse me, sorry to bother you. I'm doing a quick street interview for Radio Eight. Do you have a minute?
Jess: Sure, but it's pretty loud here. I might have to shout.
Dana: No problem. My question is simple: would you rather live in the city or in a small town?
Jess: Oh, the city, definitely. I grew up in a village, and honestly, I was bored out of my mind. Here there's always something going on, y'know? Concerts, markets, new restaurants.
Dana: And what about the noise?
Jess: You get used to it. I kinda like it, actually. It's better than silence.
Dana: Thanks, Jess. And you, sir? What do you think?
Graham: Well, I've lived in the city for thirty years, and I'm moving to the countryside next month.
Dana: Really? Why's that?
Graham: My commute takes an hour and a half each way. That's three hours on the bus every day!
Graham: I'd rather spend that time in my garden.
Jess: Three hours? I couldn't do that.
Graham: I dunno, I think I'm just ready for some peace and quiet. Mind you, I'll miss the theatre.
Dana: What about the cost of living? Is the city expensive?
Jess: Oh, it's really expensive. My rent is almost half of my salary. But I share an apartment with two friends, so it's okay.
Graham: The countryside will be cheaper, I think. But you can't live without a car there, so I'll have to buy one.
Dana: So, one vote for the city and one for the countryside. Thank you both, and enjoy the rest of your day.
Graham: Cheers!