Instructions for a Saturday Bookshop Shift

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the questions, then listen before opening the transcript. Notice names, numbers and any corrections the speaker makes.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What time should staff arrive on Saturday?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Eight thirty
   2. Ten o'clock
   3. Nine o'clock
   4. Nine thirty
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Eight thirty

   Half past eight means eight thirty. Nine is the usual start time, which has changed for this shift.

   Please arrive at half past eight, not nine as usual.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Why does Lucy want staff to arrive earlier?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. A large book delivery is coming.
   2. The cafe needs some help.
   3. A customer meeting starts early.
   4. The shop opens at eight.
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   A large book delivery is coming.

   A large delivery is arriving before the shop opens, so staff need extra preparation time.

   A large delivery of books is coming before we open, so we need a little more time to get ready.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Which entrance should staff use?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. The entrance through the car park
   2. The side entrance by the bike stand
   3. The front entrance to the shop
   4. The cafe entrance next door
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   The side entrance by the bike stand

   The front door will be locked. Lucy tells staff to use the side entrance beside the bike stand.

   Use the side entrance beside the bike stand, and I will let you in.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   What should staff do first?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. Prepare the staff room for lunch
   2. Put books on the shelves
   3. Take boxes into the back room
   4. Open the shop to customers
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   Take boxes into the back room

   Moving the boxes into the back room is the first job. Putting the books on shelves comes afterwards.

   First, please help me take the boxes into the back room. We will put the books on the shelves after that.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Where can staff eat their own lunch?

   Return to the passage, recording or visual
   1. In the downstairs back room
   2. In the cafe next door
   3. At the table beside the entrance
   4. In the upstairs staff room
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   In the upstairs staff room

   Staff should bring lunch because the cafe is closed. They can eat it in the upstairs staff room.

   You can eat in the upstairs staff room, where there is a fridge and a table.

What to review next

Listen again to difficult sections, then open the transcript to check what you heard. Repeat a useful phrase aloud and try the recording once more without the text.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Listen for the final information, especially when a speaker corrects or changes an earlier statement.

Example transcript: “Let’s meet at five — actually, half past five would be better.” What is the final suggested time?

The final suggested time is 5:30. Actually signals a correction; the first time is replaced by the later suggestion.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.