Cambridge IELTS 11 · Listening · Test 3 · Part 2

Listening Test 3, Part 2: answers explained

Changes in Barford over the last 50 years

The recording and its 10 questions (11–20). Every answer is explained with the words that give it away.

Take the whole test, timed Show the answers

Part 2 recording

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

Questions 11–20

Multiple choice
11 In Shona’s opinion, why do fewer people use buses in Barford these days?
12 What change in the road network is known to have benefited the town most?
13 What is the problem affecting shopping in the town centre?
14 What does Shona say about medical facilities in Barford?
15 The largest number of people are employed in
Matching
16 railway station car park
17 cinema
18 indoor market
19 library
20 nature reserve

Answers explained

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

Question 11

C

What you hear

the bus companies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers

Why

Shona’s reason is a shrinking network: bus companies now keep only the routes that attract most passengers, leaving parts of town with no bus at all. That is C. She dismisses the others: smart new buses have had little impact, and fares are not much higher than 50 years ago.
Question 12

B

What you hear

being used far more than was expected

Why

The bypass and the closed town centre are tempting, but neither is a proven benefit: the bypass attempt failed, and the effect of the trial closure is still being measured. Only the cycle paths have results. They are used far more than expected, cutting traffic and improving air quality, so B.
Question 13

B

What you hear

there are so few well-known chain stores here

Why

Look for the complaint itself. Shona says people prefer larger neighbouring towns because there are ‘so few well-known chain stores’ here, which is a lack of major retailers: B. Parking is not the problem, since new car parks have opened, and cafés and restaurants are something shoppers combine with visits.
Question 14

A

What you hear

Our hospital closed 15 years ago

Why

The hospital is the only fact Shona confirms: it closed 15 years ago, so journeys to other towns are unavoidable (A). Doctors’ practices are fewer, but nobody says new ones are planned, and there are more dentists than before, so C states the opposite of what she says.
Question 15

C

What you hear

making that the main employment sector

Why

Listen for the superlative. Once schools and colleges increased, Shona calls education ‘the main employment sector’, so C. Services such as website design have grown in importance but are not called the largest, and manufacturing has surprisingly held steady rather than led.
Question 16

G

What you hear

but that was refused

Why

A multi-storey replacement was refused, but the railway company has bought adjoining land to add parking spaces, so the car park will be expanded: G. Her word ‘replace’ belongs to the refused plan, which is the trap for anyone tempted by a rebuild or a move.
Question 17

A

What you hear

reopen on a different site

Why

The cinema’s change is one of place, not size or purpose. The Grand closes at the end of the year and reopens on a different site, so A. Three screens with fewer seats describe the new building’s layout, and nothing suggests changed opening hours or a different use.
Question 18

C

What you hear

to be made safe and redecorated

Why

Demolition was threatened, but the good news is that the market will shut for six weeks to be made safe and redecorated, then reopen improved in July. That is refurbishment, C. Nothing is said about moving it, changing its hours or handing it over.
Question 19

B

What you hear

keep the library open later into the evening

Why

Funding has been found to keep the library open later into the evening, twice a week, so its hours will be extended: B. Enlargement is also mentioned, but only as a hope that is ‘by no means definite’, so G is a trap rather than a plan.
Question 20

F

What you hear

it will become the responsibility of a national body

Why

Public access stays unrestricted, so no option about opening hours applies. What changes is who runs the reserve: the council steps back and a national body that administers most nature reserves takes over. That is new management, F.

Part 2 audioscript

Part 2 · audioscript

MAN

First of all, let me thank you all for coming to this public meeting, to discuss the future of our town. Our first speaker is Shona Ferguson, from Barford town council. Shone.

SHONA

Thank you. First I’ll briefly give you some background information, then I’ll be asking you for your comments on developments in the town.

Well, as you don’t need me to tell you, Barford has changed a great deal in the last 50 years. These are some of the main changes.

Fifty years ago, buses linked virtually every part of the town and the neighbouring towns and villages. Most people used them frequently, but not now because the bus companies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers. So parts of the town are no longer served by buses. Even replacing old uncomfortable buses with smart new ones has had little impact on passenger numbers. It’s sometimes said that bus fares are too high, but in relation to average incomes, fares are not much higher than they were 50 years ago.

Changes in the road network are affecting the town. The centre was recently closed to traffic on a trial basis, making it much safer to pedestrians. The impact of this is being measured. The new cycle paths separating bikes from cars in most main roads, are being used far more than was expected reducing traffic and improving air quality. And although the council’s attempts to have a bypass constructed have failed, we haven’t given up hope of persuading the government to change its mind.

Shopping in the town centre has changed over the years. Many of us can remember when the town was crowded with people going shopping. Numbers have been falling for several years, despite efforts to attract shoppers, for instance by opening new car parks. some people combine shopping with visits to the town’s restaurants and cafés. Most shops are small independent stores, which is good, but many people prefer to use supermarkets and department stores in nearby large towns, as there are so few well-known chain stores here.

Turning how to medical facilities, the town is served by family doctors in several medical practices - fewer than 50 years ago, but each catering for far more patients. Our hospital closed 15 years ago, which means journeys to other towns are unavoidable. On the other hand, there are more dentists than there used to be. Employment patterns have changed, along with almost everything else. The number of schools and colleges has increased making that the main employment sector. Services, such as website design and accountancy, have grown in importance, and surprisingly, perhaps, manufacturing hasn’t seen the decline that has affected it in other parts of the country.

Now I’ll very quickly outline current plans for some of the town’s facilities, before asking for your comments.

As you’ll know if you regularly use the car park at the railway station, it’s usually full. The railway company applied for permission to replace it with a multi-storey car park, but that was refused. Instead, the company has bought some adjoining land, and this will be used to increase the number of parking spaces.

The Grand, the old cinema in the high street will close at the end of the year, and reopen on a different site. You’ve probably seen the building under construction. The plan is to have three screens with fewer seats, rather than just the one large auditorium in the old cinema.

I expect many of you shop in the indoor market. It’s become more and more shabby-looking, and because of fears about safety, it was threatened with demolition. The good news is that it will close for sex weeks to be made safe and redecorated, and the improved building will open in July.

Lots of people use the library, including school and college students who go there to study. The council has managed to secure funding to keep the library open later into the evening, twice a week. We would like to enlarge the building in the not-too-distant future, but this is by no means definite.

There’s no limit on access to the nature reserve on the edge of town, and this will continue be the case. What will change, though, is that the council will no longer be in charge of the area. Instead it will become the responsibility of a national body that administers most nature reserves in the country.

OK, now let me ask you …

Part 2 recording

Questions 11–20

Answers explained

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20

Part 2 audioscript