The short version

News items reward listeners who track the order of events and the cause of each decision. This page gives you one original news item, four questions with answers and a one-line reason for each, and a table of what each question tests. Try the questions before you open the transcript.

How the part works

The news item is the fourth of the six listening parts in CELPIP-General. Our listening tips guide describes what to listen for in this kind of part: which fact, order of events or cause was stated. The audio plays once, so the notes you take while listening matter more than anything you do afterwards. The listening part as a whole takes 46 to 55 minutes. See the test format guide for every part.

How to use this practice item

  1. Read the four questions and options below. Underline names, numbers and words such as but, first and until.
  2. Ask someone to read the transcript aloud once at a natural speed, or read it into a recorder and play it back once. Do not read it yourself before you answer.
  3. Jot short notes while you listen, for example: cracks, Sept, patch, 2nd check, supports weak, closes Mon.
  4. Answer from your notes, then check the reasons and read the transcript.

Four practice questions

The item is about a bridge closure in the fictional city of Ridgemoor.

Question 1. Why did the council decide to close the bridge now?

  1. A storm damaged the steel last month.
  2. A second inspection found the supports weaker than expected.
  3. Cyclists complained about the surface.
  4. The repair contract has been signed.
Answer and reason

Answer: B. The cause is given after "But": the second inspection showed two supports had weakened. Winter ice is only a reason not to wait.

Question 2. What did engineers first think the supports needed?

  1. A patch
  2. New supports
  3. A complete replacement
  4. Nothing at all
Answer and reason

Answer: A. "At that point they believed a patch would be enough." That was the first belief, later replaced.

Question 3. When will the free shuttle run?

  1. All day, every day
  2. During the morning and evening rush hours
  3. Only on weekends
  4. Only until the end of March
Answer and reason

Answer: B. The speaker names the rush hours. Fifteen minutes is how often it runs, not when.

Question 4. Why has the final cost not been announced?

  1. The council does not know the cost of the steel.
  2. The spokesperson is away.
  3. The contract has not been signed yet.
  4. Residents have not been asked.
Answer and reason

Answer: C. "The final figure will not be released until the contract is signed." Option A mixes up the reason for the higher cost with the reason for the delay.

Transcript

Open the transcript after you have answered

Good evening. Ridgemoor city council has confirmed that the Dunmore Street footbridge will close next Monday for repairs, and it is not expected to reopen until the end of March.

Engineers first noticed cracks in the steel supports during a routine inspection in September. At that point they believed a patch would be enough. But a second inspection last month showed that two of the supports had weakened more than expected, and the council decided to act now rather than wait for winter, when ice would make the problem worse.

While the bridge is closed, a free shuttle bus will cross the river every fifteen minutes during the morning and evening rush hours. Cyclists are asked to use the Lakeshore Road underpass, which adds about ten minutes to the trip.

A council spokesperson, Ines Duarte, said the repair will cost more than first planned because the steel has to be ordered from another province. She said the final figure will not be released until the contract is signed. Residents can sign up for text alerts on the city website.

The transcript is about 179 words.

What each question tests

QuestionSkill it testsWhy the wrong options tempt
1. Closing nowCause: why a decision was made.Weather and winter ice are mentioned, so a storm sounds possible.
2. First thoughtSequence: what came before the change of plan."Replacement" and "new supports" sound like repair language but were never said.
3. Shuttle timesDetail: a time or period."Fifteen minutes" and "end of March" are real numbers in the audio but answer other questions.
4. CostReason for a delay or a gap in information.Option A reuses the true fact about steel but gives it as the wrong cause.

Notice that each wrong option contains something you really heard. The listening tips guide calls this the trap that catches most people: check that an option answers this question, not just that it sounds familiar.

Why these answers are right

  • The word "But" marked the turning point in the story. News items often move from what was thought, to what was found, to what happens now.
  • The speaker gives a decision and a reason together: "decided to act now rather than wait for winter". The cause of the closing is the second inspection; winter explains the timing.
  • Numbers come in pairs. "Fifteen minutes" is a frequency; "ten minutes" is extra travel time for cyclists. Write each number with a one-word label.
  • The final sentence about cost uses "until", which signals a condition on when something will happen.

Common mistakes with news items

  • Writing every word of the first sentence and missing the second paragraph.
  • Picking an option because a word from it was in the audio.
  • Mixing up two numbers because neither was labelled in your notes.
  • Keeping the first idea in the story ("a patch") after the speaker corrects it.
  • Dwelling on one missed detail and losing the next sentence.
  • Only reading transcripts. Practise by ear with audio that plays once, then read to see what you missed.

Questions

Do I get the questions before the audio?

It depends on the part, so practise with the real format. This page puts the questions first so you listen for specific facts.

Is this the real CELPIP news item format?

It is an original practice item written in the same spirit: one short spoken report and questions about facts, order and cause. The exact number of questions on test day is on the CELPIP site.

How should I take notes?

Use keywords and arrows, not sentences. Label every number and mark words that signal a change, such as but, instead and until.

Sources (checked 26 October 2026)

Last reviewed 26 October 2026

Related guides

Listening tipsA routine for one-play audioListening practiceUse one-play notesListening practice setMore short items

See where you stand today

The free practice set takes about 15 minutes. No card needed.

Try the free practice set

See paid practice plans