Keep the contrast
Listen for words such as but and although. Check how the words that follow change the message.
Focused listening library
Browse upper-intermediate lessons by topic, accent, and length. Practise connected speech, phrasal verbs, and implied meaning.
Get in touch means start communicating with someone. Get rid of means remove or throw away something unwanted. Get used to means become familiar and comfortable with a new situation.
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Two team members have different working styles, but both want to delay the launch until the product is safer. How can you describe the opinion they share?
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Your office is being repaired, so you are working from a library until another arrangement is ready. The plan is temporary, but there is no exact end date. What phrase fits?
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A damaged spreadsheet cannot be repaired, and there is no clean copy. You open a blank file and recreate every part. How did you start?
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A company does not make a few changes to its service. It redesigns the basic rules, the technology, and every customer step. How can you emphasise the complete rebuild?
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You keep thinking about an unfair decision. After telling a friend exactly how you feel, the frustration becomes easier to leave behind. What have you done?
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Your friends invite you to a late film, but you are tired and have an early start. How can you casually say that you will not go this time?
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You are not sure you can answer every interview question, but you have prepared carefully and intend to do your best. How can you describe that effort?
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A growing shop receives more orders, but it also needs more customer support. The two changes repeatedly appear together. How can you describe their connection?
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A previously reliable manager starts hiding expenses, ignoring every warning, and breaking company rules. How can you describe this serious change in behaviour?
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A colleague wins one award and immediately starts acting as if nobody else's advice matters. What can you say about the effect of that success?
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Your friends change the plan several times, but none of the options matters much to you. You decide to accept their choice and enjoy the day. What are you doing?
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A company policy explains business travel but says nothing about combining a work trip with one personal day. The rule is not clearly allowed or forbidden. What is this situation?
Start listeningWhat you will find here
Follow the main message and the details that change it: a contrast, a reason, or an expression that is not literal.
Use the examples to check meaning, then listen again for the exact wording.
Your level route
Listen for words such as but and although. Check how the words that follow change the message.
A missed word may change the grammar or only the detail. Compare your answer with the transcript to see which happened.
Once the wording is familiar, choose another voice offered for that clip. Listen for what becomes harder or easier.