Cambridge IELTS 10 · Listening · Test 4 · Part 1

Listening Test 4, Part 1: answers explained

The recording and its 10 questions (1–10). Every answer is explained with the words that give it away.

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Part 1 recording

Play it once, as in the exam, and answer the questions below as you listen.

Questions 1–10

Note completion
1 Name: Edith ______
2 ______ Park Flats
3 (Behind the ______)
4 Best time to contact customer: during the ______
5 Where to park: opposite entrance next to the ______
6 Needs full quote showing all the jobs and the ______
Table completion
7 Replace the ______ in the door
8 Paint wall above the ______
9 Strip paint and plaster approximately one ______ in advance
10 One ______ needs replacing (end of garden)

Answers explained

Answer the questions first: finding the evidence yourself teaches more than reading it. The answers stay folded until you ask.

Question 1

Pargetter

What you hear

Edith Pargetter

Why

Edith gives her full name and then, at Mr Thorndyke's request, spells the surname: P-A-R-G-E, double T, E-R. The double T is the detail to get right, giving Pargetter. Her friend May Hampton is named earlier, but she is only the person who recommended the firm.
Question 2

East

What you hear

it’s East Park, Flat 4

Why

Mr Thorndyke asks whether Edith lives in West Park Flats too, and she says no, it is East Park, Flat 4. West is the trap, because it appears in the question and in May's address. The gap before Park Flats needs East.
Question 3

library

What you hear

it’s at the back of the library

Why

Mr Thorndyke says the flats are over the road and hard to reach, and Edith explains that they are at the back of the library. Back of is paraphrased as behind in the note, so the building to write is library.
Question 4

morning / mornings

What you hear

out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings

Why

Edith says she is out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings, so Mr Thorndyke suggests ringing in the morning and she agrees. The answer is morning. Afternoons and evenings are the times she is unavailable, which makes them tempting but wrong.
Question 5

postbox

What you hear

park by the postbox on the other side of the road from the entrance

Why

For larger vehicles Edith recommends parking by the postbox on the opposite side of the road from the entrance. The note already says opposite entrance, so the landmark that completes it is postbox. The library is where the flat is, not a parking place.
Question 6

prices

What you hear

list all the jobs separately with individual prices

Why

Asked for a full itemised quote, Mr Thorndyke promises to list all the jobs separately with individual prices. That fills the gap after showing all the jobs and the. The word is prices, in the plural, and not costs or quote, which he does not say.
Question 7

glass

What you hear

the glass in the door has cracked

Why

Edith's most urgent job is in the kitchen, where weather damage has cracked the glass in the door. Mr Thorndyke checks that she means replacing it, and she confirms. Door is already in the note, so the thing to replace is glass.
Question 8

cooker

What you hear

Just the area over the cooker

Why

Mr Thorndyke asks if all the kitchen walls need painting, but Edith says she only wants the area over the cooker, which is very greasy. The answer is cooker. Walls is suggested by Mr Thorndyke and then corrected.
Question 9

week

What you hear

plaster it about a week before I paint it

Why

Mr Thorndyke says that for a proper job he would strip the old paint and plaster the surface about a week before painting it. The word one is printed before the gap, so the singular week is forced, which rules out days and weeks.
Question 10

fence

What you hear

replace a fence

Why

Edith asks for a fence to be replaced, and the exchange 'Just one?' 'Yes, at the far end' settles the singular. That fits the note's 'One ___ needs replacing', and the bracket (end of garden) simply restates her far end.

Part 1 audioscript

Part 1 · audioscript

MR THORNDYKE

Thorndyke’s

EDITH

Good morning. Is that Mr Thorndyke?

MR THORNDYKE

Speaking. How can I help?

EDITH

I’ve got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat and I wonder whether you’d be able to do the work.

MR THORNDYKE

I’m sure I’d be able to help but let me take down a few details.

EDITH

Yes, of course.

MR THORNDYKE

Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?

EDITH

It was my friend May Hampton … you did some excellent work for her a couple of years ago. Do you remember?

MR THORNDYKE

Oh, yes, that was in West Park Flats, lovely lady.

EDITH

Yes, she is.

MR THORNDYKE

And what’s your name, please?

EDITH

It’s Edith Pargetter.

MR THORNDYKE

Edith … can you spell your surname, please?

EDITH

It’s P-A-R-G-E-double T-E-R.

MR THORNDYKE

Double T, right. And do you live in West Park Flats as well?

EDITH

No, actually it’s East Park, Flat 4.

MR THORNDYKE

Oh, right, that’s over the road, I seem to remember - quite difficult to get to.

EDITH

Yes, it’s at the back of the library.

MR THORNDYKE

Right, I know. And what’s your phone number?

EDITH

875934 but I’m out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings.

MR THORNDYKE

So would the best time to ring you be in the morning?

EDITH

Yes.

MR THORNDYKE

Fine. I’ve made a note of that. Can I just ask, I’ll be in a van and I know parking’s rather difficult round your flats. Where would you recommend?

EDITH

Well, I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by the postbox on the other side of the road from the entrance.

MR THORNDYKE

Good, thanks.

EDITH

And will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?

MR THORNDYKE

Oh, yes, I’ll list all the jobs separately with individual prices.

EDITH

That’d be a great help.

MR THORNDYKE

No problem.

MR THORNDYKE

Now, what would you like me to do?

EDITH

Firstly and most urgently is in the kitchen. With all the weather damage, the glass in the door has cracked and I’d need that fixing …

MR THORNDYKE

I presume you mean replacing?

EDITH

Oh, yes. And as soon as possible …

MR THORNDYKE

What I’ll do is come round tomorrow morning and do that immediately.

EDITH

Thank you so much. The other things aren’t so urgent but …

MR THORNDYKE

Now, I’ll make a note of everything you want doing.

EDITH

Well, in the kitchen I’d like some painting doing.

MR THORNDYKE

All the kitchen walls?

EDITH

Just the area over the cooker. It’s very greasy …

MR THORNDYKE

Right … it does tend to get that way!

EDITH

Yes!

MR THORNDYKE

Well, if you want a proper job done what I’d need to do is strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it.

EDITH

Of course. Now, May tells me you also do work in the garden.

MR THORNDYKE

That’s right.

EDITH

Well, I’d like you to replace a fence.

MR THORNDYKE

Just one?

EDITH

Yes, at the far end.

MR THORNDYKE

Fine. Shouldn’t be a problem.

EDITH

And that’s the lot.

MR THORNDYKE

Fine. Yeah, as I say I can come round tomorrow morning to look over things with you.

EDITH

That’s great, thank you.

MR THORNDYKE

So, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at …

Part 1 recording

Questions 1–10

Answers explained

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Part 1 audioscript