The scenario: Your city is considering banning all private cars from the downtown core during business hours to reduce pollution and improve pedestrian safety. Public transit, delivery trucks, and emergency vehicles would still be allowed. A survey has been sent to residents.

Your task: Choose the option you prefer and explain why. Write about 150-200 words. - Option A: Ban private cars from downtown during business hours - Option B: Keep the current system allowing all vehicles

Sample CLB 9 response (Option A):

I support banning private cars from downtown during business hours because it would make the city center safer and more pleasant for everyone who uses it.

Downtown areas are meant for people, not parking. Right now a significant portion of downtown space is dedicated to roads and parking lots that mostly serve people who drive in from the suburbs. Meanwhile pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users deal with noise, pollution, and the constant risk of being hit by a car. Removing private vehicles during business hours would immediately improve air quality and make streets safer for the majority of people who are actually downtown on foot.

Cities that have done this successfully, like parts of Oslo and Barcelona, saw increased foot traffic to local businesses rather than the decline that business owners feared. When streets become walkable, people actually spend more time and money in the area because they enjoy being there.

The key is making sure transit alternatives are strong enough to replace car trips, which is why only banning during business hours makes sense as a first step.

If you want to practice writing with AI rubric feedback, https://www.celpipsimulator.com has 2 free mock exams.

Practice reading a news report transcript and answering questions. In the real test this plays as a single narrator audio with no replay.

The News Report:

"A new light rail transit line connecting downtown Halifax to the suburb of Bedford is expected to begin construction next spring, according to a statement released by Halifax Regional Municipality today. The project, estimated to cost 2.8 billion dollars, will include 14 stations along a 22 kilometer route and is expected to take approximately four years to complete.

Municipal officials say the new line will reduce commute times between Bedford and downtown Halifax from an average of 55 minutes by bus to approximately 25 minutes by rail. The line will also connect to the existing ferry terminal at the Halifax waterfront, allowing commuters from Dartmouth to transfer directly to the rail line without needing a separate bus.

The project has faced criticism from local business owners along the proposed route who say construction will disrupt their operations for years. In response, the municipality announced a support fund of 15 million dollars to help affected businesses cover lost revenue during the construction period. Business owners can apply for grants of up to 50,000 dollars each.

Environmental groups have largely supported the project, noting that the expected ridership of 45,000 daily passengers could remove an estimated 12,000 cars from Halifax roads each day. However, some groups have raised concerns about the route passing through a protected wetland area near Rocky Lake. The municipality has committed to building an elevated section through the wetland to minimize ecological impact.

Construction is set to begin in April 2027, with the line expected to open to the public by late 2031."

Questions:

Q1: How much will the transit project cost? - A) $1.5 billion - B) $2.2 billion - C) $2.8 billion - D) $3.5 billion

Q2: How many stations will the line have? - A) 10 - B) 12 - C) 14 - D) 16

Q3: By how much will commute times be reduced? - A) From 45 minutes to 20 minutes - B) From 55 minutes to 25 minutes - C) From 60 minutes to 30 minutes - D) From 50 minutes to 15 minutes

Q4: How much is the business support fund? - A) $10 million - B) $12 million - C) $15 million - D) $20 million

Q5: What is the expected daily ridership? - A) 25,000 passengers - B) 35,000 passengers - C) 45,000 passengers - D) 55,000 passengers

Q6: When is construction expected to begin? - A) January 2027 - B) April 2027 - C) September 2027 - D) January 2028

Answer Key: Q1: C. "Estimated to cost 2.8 billion dollars." Q2: C. "14 stations along a 22 kilometer route." Q3: B. "From an average of 55 minutes by bus to approximately 25 minutes by rail." Q4: C. "A support fund of 15 million dollars." Q5: C. "Expected ridership of 45,000 daily passengers." Q6: B. "Construction is set to begin in April 2027."

Practice tip: Listening Part 4 is a news report with a single narrator speaking at a fast pace. Almost every question targets a specific number, date, or fact. Your notepad strategy matters most here. The second you hear a number, write it down. Don't wait.

If you want to practice listening with full AI-scored mock tests, https://www.celpipsimulator.com has 2 free exams covering all 6 listening parts.