Cambridge IELTS 13 · Listening · Test 3 · Part 1

Listening Test 3, 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 Average rent: £______ a month
2 Linda travels to work by ______
3 Limited ______ in city centre
4 Trains to London every ______ minutes
5 Poor train service at ______
6 New ______ opened recently
7 ______ has excellent reputation
8 Good ______ on Bridge Street
9 Meet Linda on ______ after 5.30 pm
10 In the ______ opposite the station

Answers explained

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

Question 1

850

What you hear

850 pounds per month

Why

Linda says people typically pay 850 pounds a month for a two-bedroom flat in Dalton. She then adds that you wouldn't want to pay more than 900, which is the figure to avoid. The note asks for the average rent, so 850 is correct, and bills are excluded.
Question 2

bike / bicycle

What you hear

I go by bike

Why

Matt asks about transport, and Linda says she doesn't use public transport because she works in the city centre and goes by bike. Bike or bicycle is accepted. Don't write train, which is the topic of a later question about trips to London.
Question 3

parking

What you hear

there’s hardly any parking

Why

Driving into the centre would be a nightmare, Linda explains, because there is hardly any parking. That gives the limited thing in the note. Traffic during rush hour is mentioned straight afterwards as a further complaint, but the note says limited, which suits parking, not traffic.
Question 4

30 / thirty

What you hear

a fast train every 30 minutes

Why

Matt will need London once or twice a week, and Linda says there is a fast train every 30 minutes, taking 45 minutes. The two numbers sit side by side, so tie each to its word: ‘every’ goes with 30, while 45 is the journey time and would suit a different note.
Question 5

weekend(s)

What you hear

It’s weekends that are a problem

Why

Linda praises the weekday service, even late at night, then says it’s weekends that are a problem because of engineering work and a slow bus to Hadham. Weekend or weekends fills the gap. Hadham is just a place where passengers change, so it cannot answer a note about when the service is poor.
Question 6

cinema

What you hear

a brand new cinema which has only been open a couple of months

Why

Linda lists restaurants and an arts centre, but only one thing is described as brand new and open for just a couple of months: the cinema. The note says "New ______ opened recently", which is the clue to pick the cinema over the older attractions.
Question 7

hospital

What you hear

the hospital here is one of the best in the country

Why

The hospital is one of the best in the country and everyone Linda knows has had a positive experience there, matching "excellent reputation". Schools are called good rather than excellent, so they are the second-best option but not the key.
Question 8

dentist

What you hear

the name of my dentist too in Bridge Street

Why

Linda offers the name of her dentist in Bridge Street, whom she has used for years without problems. The word in the note is dentist, a person's job rather than a place. Hospital is the previous answer and doesn't suit "on Bridge Street".
Question 9

Thursday

What you hear

Thursday’s preferable

Why

Linda offers Tuesday or Thursday after 5.30, and Matt chooses. Thursday is his preference, since on Tuesday he has to be home before 6 pm. The first day named is Tuesday, so a quick writer would use it by mistake; only the second half tells you which day is chosen.
Question 10

café

What you hear

meet you in the cafe outside

Why

Linda tells Matt to meet her in the café, which she calls opposite the station and next to the museum. The note already prints ‘opposite the station’, so the gap is the café itself. Write café or cafe, and treat the museum as a landmark, not the meeting place.

Part 1 audioscript

Part 1 · audioscript

LINDA

Hello, Linda speaking.

MATT

Oh hi, Linda. This is Matt Brooks. Alex White gave me your number. He said you’d be able to give me some advice about moving to Banford.

LINDA

Yes, Alex did mention you. How can I help?

MATT

Well, first of all - which area to live in?

LINDA

Well, I live in Dalton, which is a really nice suburb - not too expensive, and there’s a nice park.

MATT

Sounds good. Do you know how much it would be to rent a two bedroom flat there?

LINDA

Yeah, you should be able to get something reasonable for 850 pounds per month. That’s what people typically pay. You certainly wouldn’t want to pay more than 900 pounds. That doesn’t include bills or anything.

MATT

No. That sound alright. I’ll definitely have a look there. Are the transport links easy from where you live?

LINDA

Well, I’m very lucky. I work in the city centre so I don’t have to use public transport. I go by bike.

MATT

Oh, I wish I could do that. Is it safe to cycle around the city?

LINDA

Yes, it’s fine. And it keeps me fit. Anyway, driving to work in the city centre would be a nightmare because there’s hardly any parking. And the traffic during the rush hour can be bad.

MATT

I’d be working from home but I’d have to go to London one or two days a week.

LINDA

Oh, that’s perfect. Getting to London is no problem. There’s a fast train every 30 minutes which only takes 45 minutes.

MATT

That’s good.

LINDA

Yeah, the train service isn’t bad during the week. And they run quite late at night. It’s weekends that are a problem. They’re always doing engineering work and you have to take a bus to Hadham and pick up the train there, which is really slow. But other than that, Banford’s a great place to live. I’ve never been happier.

LINDA

There are some nice restaurants in the city centre and a brand new cinema which has only been open a couple of months. There’s a good arts centre too.

MATT

Sounds like Banford’s got it all.

LINDA

Yes! We’re really lucky. There are lots of really good aspects to living here. The schools are good and the hospital here is one of the best in the country. Everyone I know who’s been there’s had a positive experience. Oh, I can give you the name of my dentist too in Bridge Street, if you’re interested. I’ve been going to him for years and I’ve never had any problems.

MATT

Oh, OK. Thanks!

LINDA

I’ll find his number and send it to you.

MATT

Thanks, that would be really helpful.

LINDA

Are you planning to visit Banford soon?

MATT

Yes. My wife and I are both coming next week. We want to make some appointments with estate agents.

LINDA

I could meet you if you like and show you around.

MATT

Are you sure? We’d really appreciate that.

LINDA

Either a Tuesday or Thursday is good for me, after 5.30.

MATT

Thursday’s preferable - Tuesday I need to get home before 6 pm.

LINDA

Okay great. Let me know which train your catching and I’ll meet you in the cafe outside. You can’t miss it. It’s opposite the station and next to the museum.

MATT

Brilliant. I’ll text you next week then. Thanks so much for all the advice.

LINDA

No problem. I’ll see you next week.

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