60 Listening Part A Practice Questions with Answers | OET

(1) six weeks

(2) three times

(3) five minutes

(4) twenty-five minutes

(5) left nostril

(6) dry

(7) central heating

(8) aspirin

(9) high blood pressure

(10) soft part

(11) ten minutes

(12) saline spray

Clinician: Good morning, Ms Mercer. I'm Owen Price. I understand you've been having nosebleeds. When did they begin?

Patient: About six weeks ago. The first one happened at my desk, and I thought it was just a one-off, but they have kept coming back.

Clinician: How frequently are they happening now?

Patient: Usually three times most weeks. Most have happened at work, although the worst one woke me during the night on Saturday.

Clinician: Let's separate the usual episodes from Saturday's. How long do the brief ones generally last?

Patient: Around five minutes. They stop fairly quickly, so I can usually return to work without much fuss.

Clinician: And how long did the overnight episode continue?

Patient: I checked the clock. It lasted twenty-five minutes, which frightened me. I almost called for help, but then it finally stopped.

Clinician: Is the bleeding generally from one side or both sides?

Patient: It always seems to come from the left nostril. I haven't noticed any blood from the right side.

Clinician: Have you had an injury to your face or nose, or do you tend to pick or blow your nose forcefully?

Patient: No injury, and I don't pick it. My nose has felt dry lately, though, especially when I'm in the office.

Clinician: Has anything changed in your environment that might explain the dryness?

Patient: The central heating has been running constantly since the weather turned cold. My desk is directly beside a heater, so the air feels very warm.

Clinician: That could be contributing. Are you taking any regular medicines, including anything bought without a prescription?

Patient: I take aspirin every morning. My previous doctor recommended it two years ago after some tests. I also take a tablet for high blood pressure, but I can't remember its name.

Clinician: Don't stop either medicine yourself, but I'll check why the aspirin was prescribed and review your records. Have you noticed unusual bruising, bleeding gums, dizziness or shortness of breath?

Patient: No, none of those. Apart from worrying about the nosebleeds, I feel well.

Clinician: Tell me exactly what you do when the bleeding starts.

Patient: I sit upright and pinched the soft part of my nose. At first I used to tilt my head backwards, but our workplace first aider told me to lean forward instead.

Clinician: Leaning forward is correct. Keep breathing through your mouth and maintain pressure continuously. How long do you usually hold it?

Patient: For ten minutes without checking. On Saturday, I released it too soon the first time, so I had to start again.

Clinician: Good. To reduce dryness, use a saline spray several times during the day and avoid forceful nose blowing. I'll examine your nose and check your blood pressure today. If bleeding is heavy, affects your breathing, follows an injury, or continues despite twenty minutes of firm pressure, seek urgent medical help.

Patient: All right. I'll get the spray and keep a record of any further episodes.

(1) eight months

(2) right side

(3) dull ache

(4) crunchy foods

(5) wide

(6) morning

(7) clenching

(8) paracetamol

(9) warm flannel

(10) headaches

(11) soft diet

(12) dentist

Clinician: Good morning, Mr Lane. I understand you have been having trouble with your jaw. Could you tell me when you first noticed anything unusual?

Patient: The clicking started about eight months ago. At first it was only occasional and did not hurt, so I ignored it. Over the last three weeks, though, it has become uncomfortable when I eat.

Clinician: Is the discomfort affecting both sides of your jaw, or is it mainly in one place?

Patient: It is mostly on the right side, just in front of my ear. The left side clicks sometimes, but there is no pain there.

Clinician: How would you describe the discomfort, and are there particular things that bring it on?

Patient: Usually it is a dull ache. Crunchy foods make it worse, especially apples and crusty bread. It can feel quite sharp for a few seconds if I bite down hard.

Clinician: Do you have any difficulty moving your jaw or opening your mouth?

Patient: I can open it, but it hurts if I open wide. Twice this week it seemed to catch briefly, although it has never become completely stuck.

Clinician: Does it bother you throughout the day, or are there times when it feels better?

Patient: It is generally best in the morning. By the evening, after talking at work and eating several meals, the ache is more noticeable.

Clinician: Some jaw problems are affected by habits such as chewing gum, biting pens or tightening the teeth. Does any of that sound familiar?

Patient: I stopped chewing gum when the pain began. My partner says I make grinding noises at night, and I have caught myself clenching my teeth when I am concentrating. Work has been stressful recently.

Clinician: Have you tried anything to relieve the discomfort, such as pain relief or changing what you eat?

Patient: I took paracetamol on two evenings. It helped for a few hours, but I did not want to keep taking it without getting advice.

Clinician: Have you used heat or cold on the area?

Patient: A warm flannel against my cheek is soothing. I tried an ice pack once, but that made the area feel more tense.

Clinician: Have you noticed earache, changes in hearing, swelling, fever or any other symptoms?

Patient: No swelling, fever or hearing trouble. I have had a few headaches around my temples after long days, but no numbness or weakness in my face.

Clinician: Have you injured your jaw recently, or had any dental treatment before the pain increased?

Patient: No injury. I had a routine check-up six months ago, and nothing needed doing. One back tooth is sensitive to cold drinks, but chewing on it is not painful.

Clinician: Thank you. Your symptoms may be related to irritation of the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles, possibly made worse by tooth clenching. I will examine how the jaw moves and check for tenderness. For the next two weeks, try a soft diet, avoid very wide yawning and stop any habits that strain the joint. I would also like you to see your dentist to assess the tooth sensitivity and look for signs of night-time grinding.

Patient: That sounds sensible. The clicking worried me, especially when it became painful, but I am relieved there are practical things I can do.

(1) three days

(2) evening meal

(3) ten minutes

(4) twenty minutes

(5) lying down

(6) twice

(7) spicy curry

(8) fizzy drinks

(9) holding my breath

(10) cold water

(11) no effect

(12) blood tests

Clinician: Good morning, Mr Ross. I'm Grace Yuen, one of the clinicians here at Linton Grove Surgery. What can I help you with today?

Patient: I've had hiccups for three days, and they're becoming exhausting. They began on Saturday night, just after my evening meal. I expected them to stop, but they keep returning.

Clinician: Before Saturday, had you experienced anything like this?

Patient: Only ordinary hiccups for a few minutes. Nothing that lasted from one day to the next.

Clinician: Tell me how the problem has changed since it started.

Patient: On Saturday, each episode lasted about ten minutes. Yesterday, they became longer. Most now continue for around twenty minutes, stop for a while, and then begin again.

Clinician: Do they happen at a particular time?

Patient: They're worse after I eat, especially at dinner. They also start when I'm lying down. That's the biggest problem because they interrupt my sleep.

Clinician: How often did they wake you last night?

Patient: Twice. I sat up and walked around the bedroom until they settled. I'm tired today because I couldn't get back to sleep easily.

Clinician: Have you noticed whether particular foods or drinks bring them on?

Patient: The first episode followed a spicy curry. I had the leftovers on Sunday, and the hiccups returned almost immediately. Fizzy drinks seem to bring them on too, so I've stopped having those.

Clinician: Have you had heartburn, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing or a cough?

Patient: I had mild heartburn after the curry, but no stomach pain. I can swallow normally. I haven't had a cough, fever or vomiting either. My appetite is normal.

Clinician: What have you tried to stop the hiccups?

Patient: First, I tried holding my breath. That worked briefly, but they came back. I also drank cold water slowly, which helped for about five minutes.

Clinician: Have you taken any medicine for them?

Patient: I took an antacid yesterday because of the heartburn, but it had no effect on the hiccups. I haven't tried anything else.

Clinician: Are you taking any regular medicines, and have any changed recently?

Patient: Just a tablet for hay fever when I need it. I haven't started any new medicine. I don't smoke, and I only drink alcohol occasionally.

Clinician: Thank you. Hiccups often stop quickly, but yours have lasted over forty-eight hours, so I want to check for a cause. I'll examine your chest and abdomen and check your breathing and reflexes.

Patient: Is this likely to be something serious?

Clinician: Most cases are not serious, and irritation after a large or spicy meal may be responsible. However, because the hiccups are continuing and disturbing your sleep, I would like to arrange blood tests today. These can check your salts, kidney function and signs of infection.

Patient: All right. Is there anything I should do while I'm waiting for the results?

Clinician: Eat smaller meals, avoid spicy food and fizzy drinks, and don't lie down straight after eating. Drink water regularly. Contact us urgently if you develop chest pain, weakness, severe headache, breathing difficulty or repeated vomiting.

Patient: I understand. I'll follow that advice and come back if anything changes. Thank you.

(1) ten days, 10 days

(2) lower lid

(3) fluttering

(4) several seconds

(5) six times, 6 times

(6) vision changes

(7) seven hours, 7 hours

(8) four mugs, 4 mugs

(9) energy drink

(10) five hours, 5 hours

(11) myokymia

(12) three weeks, 3 weeks

Clinician: Good morning, Mr Hart. I'm Ada Quinn, one of the clinicians here at Northmere Practice. What has brought you in today?

Patient: My left eyelid keeps twitching. It has been happening for ten days, and I was worried it might mean something is wrong with my eye or my nerves.

Clinician: I understand why that would concern you. Is it the upper or lower lid?

Patient: The lower lid, always on the left side. It feels like a rapid fluttering under the skin, although my wife says she can hardly see it.

Clinician: How long does each episode continue?

Patient: Usually several seconds. It stops by itself, then might return later. Yesterday it happened about six times, which was more than usual.

Clinician: Have you noticed any pain, redness, swelling or discharge from the eye?

Patient: No, none of those. My eye looks normal, and there hasn't been any discharge.

Clinician: What about blurred vision, double vision, facial numbness or weakness elsewhere?

Patient: No vision changes at all, and no numbness or weakness. The twitch has never spread beyond the eyelid.

Clinician: That's reassuring. Have you noticed whether it occurs at a particular time or during certain activities?

Patient: Mostly in the afternoon when I'm working at my computer. I'm an accounts officer, so I spend about seven hours a day looking at two screens. We've been preparing end-of-year reports, and I often forget to take breaks.

Clinician: Has anything else changed during this busy period, such as your caffeine intake?

Patient: Yes. I used to have two mugs of coffee a day, but lately it's been four mugs. I also have an energy drink after lunch if I'm struggling to concentrate.

Clinician: And how have you been sleeping?

Patient: Not well. I'm getting about five hours a night. Normally I sleep for seven. I've been staying up late to finish work and waking early thinking about deadlines.

Clinician: Do you wear contact lenses or use any regular eye drops?

Patient: I wear glasses, not contact lenses. I tried lubricating drops twice this week, but they didn't seem to change the twitch.

Clinician: I've examined your eyes and facial movements. Your vision, pupils and eye movements are normal, and there is no facial weakness. This appears to be eyelid myokymia, a common harmless twitch. In your case, fatigue, prolonged screen use and extra caffeine are the likely triggers.

Patient: So it isn't a sign of something serious? I was afraid it could be the start of a neurological illness.

Clinician: There are no warning signs suggesting that today. Reduce your coffee gradually to two mugs, stop the energy drink, and take a screen break every twenty minutes. Aim for seven hours of sleep. Please return in three weeks if it hasn't settled, or sooner if the eye closes involuntarily, the twitch spreads, or you develop visual changes or facial weakness.

Patient: That's reassuring. I'll make those changes and keep track of when it happens. Thank you.

(1) eight weeks

(2) within a minute

(3) first few mouthfuls

(4) dry bread

(5) crumbly biscuits

(6) leaning forward

(7) warm water

(8) throat clearing

(9) sour taste

(10) no weight loss

(11) ten-minute

(12) food diary

Clinician: Good morning, Mr Lane. I'm Eleanor Moss, one of the clinicians here at Lakeview Medical. What has brought you in today?

Patient: I've developed a cough that seems connected with eating. It started about eight weeks ago. At first it happened occasionally, but now I notice it most days.

Clinician: Tell me exactly when it happens in relation to a meal. Is it while you're eating or some time afterwards?

Patient: Usually within a minute of starting. It tends to happen during the first few mouthfuls, rather than at the end of the meal.

Clinician: Are particular foods more likely to bring it on?

Patient: Yes. Dry bread is the main one, especially toast. Crumbly biscuits can do it too. Softer foods such as yoghurt or soup don't seem to cause any trouble.

Clinician: What about drinks, and have you noticed whether your position makes a difference?

Patient: Drinks go down normally. It's worse if I'm leaning forward over my plate, which I often do at work. Sitting upright seems to help.

Clinician: What do you do when the coughing starts?

Patient: I stop eating and take a sip of warm water. It normally settles after two or three coughs, and then I can continue with the meal.

Clinician: Do you notice anything else around the same time?

Patient: There's often some throat clearing afterwards. Occasionally I get a sour taste, but that generally happens later in the evening, not with the coughing itself.

Clinician: Have you ever felt food become stuck, or had a severe choking episode?

Patient: No. Food has never become stuck, and I can breathe and speak throughout. It's more irritating than frightening.

Clinician: Have you had a persistent cough between meals, a change in your voice, fever or chest pain?

Patient: None of those. My voice is normal, and I don't cough at night. I haven't had any recent chest infections either.

Clinician: What about your appetite and weight?

Patient: My appetite is good, and there's been no weight loss. I still finish my meals, although I'm a bit more cautious now.

Clinician: You mentioned eating at work. What is your usual routine there?

Patient: I work as a delivery coordinator. We get a ten-minute lunch break when it's busy, so I tend to eat quickly at my desk. At home I take longer, and the cough happens less often.

Clinician: Do you smoke, and are you taking any regular medicines?

Patient: I've never smoked. I only take hay fever tablets in spring, and I haven't needed them recently. I don't have asthma or any known food allergies.

Clinician: Thank you. There are several possible reasons for coughing around meals, so I don't want to draw a firm conclusion today. For now, take smaller mouthfuls, chew thoroughly and remain upright while eating. Please keep a food diary for two weeks, recording what you ate, your position and when the cough occurred. We'll review it and decide whether you need further assessment.

Patient: That sounds sensible. I'll slow down at lunch and bring the diary to the review.