Official Certificate of English Listening Skills Test

The Obstacles In Your Path

English Listening Skills Practice Exam – Video Transcript 

In ancient times a king had his men place a huge rock on a roadway.

He then hid in the bushes and watched to see if anyone would move the rock out of the way. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers passed by and simply walked around it.

Many people blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the stone removed.

And so it happened that one day a peasant came along carrying vegetables.

Upon approaching the rock the peasant laid down his burden and tried to push the rock out of the
way.

After much pushing and straining, he finally managed.

After the peasant went back to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where
the rock had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king explain that the gold was for
the person who removed the rock from the road.

You see in life…every obstacle we come across gives us an opportunity, an opportunity to improve
our circumstances, and while the lazy complain, others will create opportunities through their kind
hearts, generosity, and willingness to get things done.

So see every problem as an opportunity and a chance to become better and to grow…

Vocabulary:

merchant – someone whose job is buying and selling goods, usually in large amounts
courtier – someone who spent a lot of time in the home of a king or queen in the past
peasant – a poor person who works on the land, usually in a poor country
burden – something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or worry about
to strain – the fact of being pulled or stretched too tightly
circumstances – facts or events that make a situation the way it is
generosity – the quality of being generous
willingness – the quality or state of being prepared to do something; readiness