Cambridge IELTS 12 · 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.

Take the whole test, timed Show the answers

Part 1 recording

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

Questions 1–10

Note completion
1 wants a ______ job
2 will soon start work as a ______
3 has led cycle trips in ______
4 is currently doing voluntary work with members of a ______ club
5 available for five months from the 1st of ______
6 can’t eat ______
7 address: 27 ______ Place, Dumfries
8 postcode: ______
9 interview at 2.30 pm on ______
10 will plan a short ______ about being a tour guide

Answers explained

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

Question 1

temporary

What you hear

No, temporary

Why

Bob asks whether Margaret wants a permanent job, and she answers briefly, 'No, temporary'. She explains that a permanent post begins in a few months, and she wants something else until then. Permanent is the word Bob supplies and she rejects, so the note's gap takes temporary.
Question 2

doctor

What you hear

I’m going to be a doctor

Why

Margaret explains that she used to be a lawyer but made a complete career change and is going to be a doctor, having just finished her training. Lawyer is the earlier job and the trap; the note asks what she will soon start work as, which is doctor.
Question 3

Africa

What you hear

I’ve led several bike tours in Africa

Why

Her cycling experience is several bike tours in Africa. India is the tempting alternative, since she mentions a trip there, but it was arranged for next month and has been cancelled, so she has not led it. The note says 'has led', which rules India out.
Question 4

youth

What you hear

a volunteer worker in a youth club

Why

Margaret currently works as a volunteer in a youth club, helping people improve their cycling. The cycling club, where she taught beginners, was before that, and the note says 'currently', so it is the wrong club. Youth is the single word before 'club'.
Question 5

May

What you hear

I’m available from May the 1st until late September

Why

Margaret is free for five months and says she is available from May the 1st until late September. October, the 2nd, is when her new job starts, so it is the tempting wrong month. The note asks for the start of her availability.
Question 6

cheese

What you hear

I’m allergic to cheese

Why

When Bob asks about food, Margaret says she is allergic to cheese, and he says it can be handled with enough notice. Bob's own examples are people who don't eat meat, which is a distractor. The note asks what she can't eat, and the allergy is cheese.
Question 7

Arbuthnot

What you hear

27 Arbuthnot Place

Why

The house number, 27, is already in the note, so the missing word is the street name, which Margaret spells letter by letter: A-R-B-U-T-H-N-O-T. Write Arbuthnot with a capital letter. The word Place is already printed after the gap, and Dumfries is the town.
Question 8

DG7 4PH

What you hear

DG7 4PH

Why

The postcode is read out as DG7 4PH, with a space in the middle. Bob checks 'P Papa or B Bravo' and Margaret confirms P Papa; the two letters sound alike over the phone, so that exchange settles it. Write the letters and digits exactly, in capitals.
Question 9

Tuesday

What you hear

we can interview you on Tuesday next week

Why

Bob proposes interviewing Margaret on Tuesday next week at half past two, and she agrees. Monday is a distractor because she says she'll drive over then, a day ahead because she lives far away. Friday is only the deadline for returning the form.
Question 10

talk / presentation

What you hear

prepare a ten-minute talk about that

Why

At the interview Bob wants to hear about her experience as a tour guide and asks her to prepare a ten-minute talk. He adds that slides and equipment are unnecessary, just notes, so presentation is also accepted. Slides are mentioned only to be rejected.

Part 1 audioscript

Part 1 · audioscript

BOB

Hello, Pembroke Cycling Holidays, Bob speaking.

MARGARET

Oh hello. I’ve seen your advert for people to lead cycle trips. Are you the right person to speak to?

BOB

Yes, I am. Could I have your name, please?

MARGARET

It’s Margaret Smith.

BOB

Are you looking for a permanent job, Margaret?

MARGARET

No, temporary. I’ve got a permanent job starting in a few months’ time, and I want to do something else until then.

BOB

What work do you do?

MARGARET

This will probably sound crazy - I used to be a lawyer, and then I made a complete career change and I’m going to be a doctor. I’ve just finished my training.

BOB

Right. And have you had any experience of leading cycle trips?

MARGARET

Yes, I’ve led several bike tours in Africa. The trip to India that I had arranged to lead next month has now been cancelled, so when I saw you were advertising for tour leaders, I decided to apply.

BOB

OK. Now we normally have two or three leaders on a trip, depending on the size of the group. Some tours are for very experienced cyclists, but we’ve got a tour coming up soon in Spain, which is proving so popular we need an additional leader. It’s a cycling holiday for families. Would that suit you?

MARGARET

It certainly would. I enjoy working with children, and I probable need some more experience before I go on a really challenging trip.

BOB

That tour includes several teenagers: have you worked with that age group before?

MARGARET

Yes, I’m a volunteer worker in a youth club, where I help people to improve their cycling skills. Before that I helped out in a cycling club where I taught beginners.

BOB

Well that’s great. Now the trip I mentioned is just for a fortnight, but there might be the possibility of leading other tours after that. Would that fit in with your plans?

MARGARET

That’s be fine. I’ll be free for five months. My job is due to start on October the 2nd, and I’m available from May the 1st until late September.

BOB

Good. Now is there anything I need to know about the food you eat? We usually have one or two people in the group who don’t eat meat, or have some sort of food allergy, so we’re always very careful about that.

MARGARET

Yes, I’m allergic to cheese. Would that be a problem?

BOB

No, as long as we have enough notice, we can deal with that.

MARGARET

That’s great.

MARGARET

It sounds really interesting - would you like me to fill in an application form?

BOB

Yes, please. Where should I post it to?

MARGARET

Could you send it to 27 Arbuthnot Place - A-R-B-U-T-H-N-O-T - Place, Dumfries.

BOB

And what’s the postcode, please?

MARGARET

DG7 4PH.

BOB

Was that P Papa or B Bravo?

MARGARET

P Papa.

BOB

Got that. If you could return the application form by Friday this week, we can interview you on Tuesday next week. Say half past two. Would that be possible for you?

MARGARET

Yes, it’s fine. You’re quite a long way from where I live, so I’ll drive over on Monday. Should I bring anything to the interview?

BOB

We’ll have your application form, of course, but we’ll need to see any certificates you’ve got that are relevant, in cycling, first aid, or whatever.

MARGARET

OK.

BOB

And at the interview we’d like to find out about your experience of being a tour guide, so could you prepare a ten-minute talk about that, please? You don’t need slides or any complicated equipment - just some notes.

MARGARET

Right. I’ll start thinking about that straightaway!

BOB

Good. Well, we’ll look forward to receiving your application form, and we’ll contact you to confirm the interview.

MARGARET

Thanks very much.

BOB

Thank you, Margaret. Goodbye.

MARGARET

Bye.

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