Barron's IELTS 1 Listening Test 2
4 parts · 40 questions · 30 minutes
Plainfield Community Center enquiry
Questions 1–5
Complete the chart below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
| Days | Class/Activity | Age Group |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, Saturday | (1) ………………………… | children, teens |
| _____ | Tennis | (3) ………………………… |
| Tuesday, Thursday | (4) ………………………… | children, teens, adults |
| Friday | Book club | (5) ………………………… |
Questions 6–10
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Membership fees $ (6) ………………………… (individual)
$ (7) ………………………… (family)
Located at 107 (8) ………………………… Street
Parking is located (9) …………………………
The Center is closed on (10) …………………………
Briefing for the annual hiking trip
Questions 11–15
Choose FIVE letters, A–J.
11. Which FIVE things should hikers take on the hiking trip?
A sleeping bag
B tent
C food
D dishes
E hiking boots
F backpack
G walking poles
H maps
I jacket
J first-aid kit
12. Which FIVE things should hikers take on the hiking trip?
A sleeping bag
B tent
C food
D dishes
E hiking boots
F backpack
G walking poles
H maps
I jacket
J first-aid kit
13. Which FIVE things should hikers take on the hiking trip?
A sleeping bag
B tent
C food
D dishes
E hiking boots
F backpack
G walking poles
H maps
I jacket
J first-aid kit
14. Which FIVE things should hikers take on the hiking trip?
A sleeping bag
B tent
C food
D dishes
E hiking boots
F backpack
G walking poles
H maps
I jacket
J first-aid kit
15. Which FIVE things should hikers take on the hiking trip?
A sleeping bag
B tent
C food
D dishes
E hiking boots
F backpack
G walking poles
H maps
I jacket
J first-aid kit
Questions 16–20
Complete the sentences below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
16. • Always stay ahead of the ………………………… .
17. • Stop and wait at any ………………………… .
18. • Don't try to climb ………………………… .
19. • Don't ………………………… wild animals.
20. • Always carry ………………………… with you.
Student teaching requirements
Questions 21–24
Choose FOUR letters, A–G.
21. Which FOUR of the following are required of student teachers?
A weekly journal
B sample lesson plans
C meetings with other student teachers
D observing other teachers
E evaluation from supervising teacher
F portfolio
G final exam
22. Which FOUR of the following are required of student teachers?
A weekly journal
B sample lesson plans
C meetings with other student teachers
D observing other teachers
E evaluation from supervising teacher
F portfolio
G final exam
23. Which FOUR of the following are required of student teachers?
A weekly journal
B sample lesson plans
C meetings with other student teachers
D observing other teachers
E evaluation from supervising teacher
F portfolio
G final exam
24. Which FOUR of the following are required of student teachers?
A weekly journal
B sample lesson plans
C meetings with other student teachers
D observing other teachers
E evaluation from supervising teacher
F portfolio
G final exam
Question 25
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
25. Who has to sign the agreement form?
A the student teacher
B the supervising teacher
C the advisor
Questions 26–30
Complete the schedule below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
| First week | (26) ………………………… due |
|---|---|
| Fourth week | (27) ………………………… meeting |
| Seventh week | (28) ………………………… |
| Fourteenth week | (29) ………………………… due |
| Fifteenth week | (30) ………………………… |
Customer psychology in retail stores
Questions 31–35
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
31. Retailers place popular items
A in the back of the store.
B near the front entrance.
C at the end of the aisle.
32. Carpet patterns are used to
A help shoppers feel comfortable.
B appeal to shoppers' decorative sense.
C encourage shoppers to walk in certain directions.
33. Retailers can keep customers in the store longer by
A providing places to sit.
B keeping the doors closed.
C lowering the prices.
34. Music is used in stores to
A entertain customers.
B slow customers down.
C make customers shop faster.
35. The scent of vanilla has been used in
A ice cream shops.
B bakeries.
C clothing stores.
Questions 36–40
Complete the chart about the effects of color. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
| Color | Effect |
|---|---|
| Purple | encourages people to (36) ………………………… |
| Orange | makes restaurant customers (37) ………………………… |
| Blue | conveys a sense of (38) ………………………… |
| Bright colors | appeal to (39) ………………………… |
| Soft colors | appeal to (40) ………………………… |
Answers
1. tutoring sessions
2. Sunday
3. teens, adults
4. Yoga
5. adults
6. 75
7. 225
8. Eliot
9. across the street
10. Monday
11. sleeping bag
12. dishes
13. hiking boots
14. backpack
15. jacket
16. sweep
17. intersection
18. rocks
19. feed
20. water
21. weekly journal
22. sample lesson plans
23. observing other teachers
24. portfolio
25. the supervising teacher
26. term paper topic
27. first evaluation
28. student teacher conference
29. term paper
30. semester review
31. in the back of the store.
32. encourage shoppers to walk in certain directions.
33. providing places to sit.
34. slow customers down.
35. clothing stores.
36. spend money
37. leave faster
38. security
39. younger people
40. older people
Explanations
- 1. tutoring sessions
- The officer says the Center runs tutoring sessions on Wednesdays and Saturdays: 'Right now, during the school year, we have tutoring sessions for children and teens, in all subjects. That would be good. He needs help with algebra. We can certainly help with that. Just have him come by any Wednesday or Saturday afternoon. That's when the tutoring sessions are scheduled.'Common trap: Detail trap – 'algebra' is the subject the son needs help with, not the name of the class; the chart wants the activity ('tutoring sessions'), and 'in all subjects' rules out any single subject.
- 2. Sunday
- 'We have tennis lessons on Sunday mornings for teens and Sunday afternoons for adults.' Both tennis lessons are on the same day, so the Days column is simply 'Sunday'.Common trap: Two-mentions trap – 'Sunday mornings' and 'Sunday afternoons' are two sessions on one day; writing 'Sunday mornings' or 'Sunday, Sunday' misses that the column asks for the day only.
- 3. teens, adults
- 'We have tennis lessons on Sunday mornings for teens and Sunday afternoons for adults.' The two tennis sessions cover teens and adults, so those are the age groups.Common trap: Distractor trap – the woman's comment about her son and husband tempts 'children' into the list; only teens and adults are named as tennis age groups.
- 4. Yoga
- 'Our yoga classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We divide it up into several groups, so there's one class for younger children, one for teens, and one for adults.' Tuesday and Thursday is the yoga slot, for all three age groups.Common trap: Sequencing trap – the day pair comes after the class name here, the reverse of the Q1 row, so a student tracking the chart top-to-bottom can attach 'Tuesday and Thursday' to the wrong line.
- 5. adults
- 'Well, actually, that book club is for adults only.' The Friday book club is restricted to adults – the teens' club does not yet exist.Common trap: Future-plan trap – a teens' book club 'may start next summer', and the mother thinks her son would enjoy it, tempting 'teens'; the speaker corrects her explicitly.
- 6. 75
- 'The yearly fee is $75 for individuals and $225 for families.'Common trap: Paired-figure trap – two prices are read out in one breath; the individual figure comes first and the family figure second, so a student who hears only the last number writes 225 here.
- 7. 225
- 'The yearly fee is $75 for individuals and $225 for families.'Common trap: Paired-figure trap – the same sentence supplies both answers, so the two must be split correctly between Q6 and Q7.
- 8. Eliot
- 'It's at 107 Eliot Street.' The spelling is then confirmed: 'One L. E-L-I-O-T.'Common trap: Spelling trap – the caller offers the two-L spelling ('Elliot') before it is corrected to one L; the spelt-out letters are the answer, not the first guess.
- 9. across the street
- 'Yes. You can park just across the street. There's a garage there.' Either the location or the facility is accepted by the key.Common trap: Two-part answer – the information is split over two short sentences, so either 'across the street' or 'in a garage' is credited; combining them exceeds the word limit.
- 10. Monday
- 'That would be fine, but don't come on Monday because we're closed that day.'Common trap: Negative-information trap – the opening days ('Tuesday through Sunday') and the caller's plan to visit on Tuesday are both mentioned; the note asks for the closing day, which is stated only as a warning.
- 11. sleeping bag
- The five items hikers must pack themselves are a sleeping bag, dishes, hiking boots, a backpack and a jacket; the tent, food, first-aid kit are provided, and walking poles and maps are not recommended.Common trap: Mentioned-but-excluded trap – all ten items are named in the talk; five are explicitly ruled out (tent, food, walking poles, maps and first-aid kit are all supplied or discouraged), so hearing an item is not enough – the instruction attached to it decides.
- 12. dishes
- The five items hikers must pack themselves are a sleeping bag, dishes, hiking boots, a backpack and a jacket; the tent, food, first-aid kit are provided, and walking poles and maps are not recommended.Common trap: Mentioned-but-excluded trap – all ten items are named in the talk; five are explicitly ruled out (tent, food, walking poles, maps and first-aid kit are all supplied or discouraged), so hearing an item is not enough – the instruction attached to it decides.
- 13. hiking boots
- The five items hikers must pack themselves are a sleeping bag, dishes, hiking boots, a backpack and a jacket; the tent, food, first-aid kit are provided, and walking poles and maps are not recommended.Common trap: Mentioned-but-excluded trap – all ten items are named in the talk; five are explicitly ruled out (tent, food, walking poles, maps and first-aid kit are all supplied or discouraged), so hearing an item is not enough – the instruction attached to it decides.
- 14. backpack
- The five items hikers must pack themselves are a sleeping bag, dishes, hiking boots, a backpack and a jacket; the tent, food, first-aid kit are provided, and walking poles and maps are not recommended.Common trap: Mentioned-but-excluded trap – all ten items are named in the talk; five are explicitly ruled out (tent, food, walking poles, maps and first-aid kit are all supplied or discouraged), so hearing an item is not enough – the instruction attached to it decides.
- 15. jacket
- The five items hikers must pack themselves are a sleeping bag, dishes, hiking boots, a backpack and a jacket; the tent, food, first-aid kit are provided, and walking poles and maps are not recommended.Common trap: Mentioned-but-excluded trap – all ten items are named in the talk; five are explicitly ruled out (tent, food, walking poles, maps and first-aid kit are all supplied or discouraged), so hearing an item is not enough – the instruction attached to it decides.
- 16. sweep
- 'At the end of the line will be the rear leader, or sweep. It's important to always stay ahead of this person while we're on the trail.' Either name for the same person is accepted.Common trap: Two-role trap – the hike leader at the head of the line is described first; the rule is about the person at the back, so 'hike leader' is wrong.
- 17. intersection
- 'When you come to any intersection of trails, stop and wait for the rest of the group to catch up.'Common trap: Word-limit trap – 'intersection of trails' is the full phrase, but only the head noun fits the sentence, which already supplies the trail context.
- 18. rocks
- 'Don't be tempted to go off on your own and try to climb some rocks. That can be quite dangerous.'Common trap: Near-repetition trap – 'steep and rocky areas' is what the group will climb through together; the prohibition is on climbing rocks alone.
- 19. feed
- 'The last thing you want to do is try to feed any of them.' 'Them' refers to the large wild animals just mentioned.Common trap: Pronoun-reference trap – the animals are named a sentence earlier and referred to only as 'them' in the answer sentence, so the link must be carried across.
- 20. water
- 'Dehydration can be a serious problem when you're out in the wilderness, so you must always be sure to carry an adequate supply of water with you.'Common trap: Word-limit trap – 'water bottle' appears just before and 'an adequate supply of water' is too long; the sentence needs the substance itself.
- 21. weekly journal
- The four requirements the advisor confirms are a weekly journal, sample lesson plans, observing other teachers and a portfolio. Meetings with other student teachers, an evaluation from the supervising teacher and a final exam are all explicitly ruled out.Common trap: Negated-option trap – all seven options are raised by the student, but three are answered with a refusal ('you aren't required to meet with each other', 'Actually, no. I'll do your evaluation', 'No, we don't feel that's necessary'), so the reply, not the mention, decides.
- 22. sample lesson plans
- The four requirements the advisor confirms are a weekly journal, sample lesson plans, observing other teachers and a portfolio. Meetings with other student teachers, an evaluation from the supervising teacher and a final exam are all explicitly ruled out.Common trap: Negated-option trap – all seven options are raised by the student, but three are answered with a refusal ('you aren't required to meet with each other', 'Actually, no. I'll do your evaluation', 'No, we don't feel that's necessary'), so the reply, not the mention, decides.
- 23. observing other teachers
- The four requirements the advisor confirms are a weekly journal, sample lesson plans, observing other teachers and a portfolio. Meetings with other student teachers, an evaluation from the supervising teacher and a final exam are all explicitly ruled out.Common trap: Negated-option trap – all seven options are raised by the student, but three are answered with a refusal ('you aren't required to meet with each other', 'Actually, no. I'll do your evaluation', 'No, we don't feel that's necessary'), so the reply, not the mention, decides.
- 24. portfolio
- The four requirements the advisor confirms are a weekly journal, sample lesson plans, observing other teachers and a portfolio. Meetings with other student teachers, an evaluation from the supervising teacher and a final exam are all explicitly ruled out.Common trap: Negated-option trap – all seven options are raised by the student, but three are answered with a refusal ('you aren't required to meet with each other', 'Actually, no. I'll do your evaluation', 'No, we don't feel that's necessary'), so the reply, not the mention, decides.
- 25. the supervising teacher
- 'No, that form is for your supervising teacher to sign, to document that he or she agrees to have you in the classroom as a student teacher.'Common trap: Wrong-assumption trap – the student names the advisor in her own question and is corrected immediately; the answer is in the reply, not the question.
- 26. term paper topic
- 'Regarding the term paper, the first thing is to choose a topic... You should let me know your term paper topic by the end of the first week of the semester.'Common trap: Same-noun trap – the term paper itself is due in week fourteen; what is due in week one is only the topic.
- 27. first evaluation
- 'Yes, and during the fourth week of the semester, we'll have our first evaluation meeting to discuss my observations.'Common trap: Word-limit trap – 'meeting' is already printed in the cell, so repeating it wastes the answer; only the modifier 'first evaluation' belongs in the gap.
- 28. student teacher conference
- 'One thing I'm really looking forward to is the student teacher conference that the university puts on every year... The conference takes place, let me check, yes, the seventh week of the semester.'Common trap: Split-information trap – the event is named in the student's turn and the week is given two turns later, so the name and the date must be joined across speakers.
- 29. term paper
- 'The term paper is due by the end of the fourteenth week of the semester.'Common trap: Same-noun trap – the mirror image of Q26: here the paper itself is due, not the topic.
- 30. semester review
- 'Then during the fifteenth and final week, we'll get together one last time for a semester review.'Common trap: Paraphrase trap – 'get together one last time' describes a meeting, but the schedule wants the event's name, which follows at the end of the sentence.
- 31. in the back of the store.
- 'A common practice among retailers is to place the store's best-selling merchandise near the back of the store. In order to get to these popular items from the front entrance, customers have to walk down aisles filled with merchandise that they might not see otherwise.'Common trap: Distractor-in-same-sentence trap – 'front entrance' and 'aisles' both appear in the very next sentence, but as the route to the goods, not their location.
- 32. encourage shoppers to walk in certain directions.
- 'Retailers choose carpets not only for their decorative or comfort value, but also because lines or other types of patterns in the carpets can subtly guide shoppers in certain directions.'Common trap: 'Not only... but also' trap – the two wrong options are the concession; the real reason follows 'but also'.
- 33. providing places to sit.
- 'Besides encouraging shoppers to go to certain areas of the store, retailers also want to keep them in the store longer. One way to do this is to provide comfortable seating throughout the store, but not too close to the doors.'Common trap: Word-echo trap – 'doors' is heard in the answer sentence itself, but as a placement restriction, not as a tactic.
- 34. slow customers down.
- 'Music is commonly used, not as entertainment, but as a calming influence. It can slow the customers' pace through the store, making them spend more time shopping and, consequentially, making more purchases.'Common trap: Explicit-negation trap – 'entertainment' is named and rejected in the same sentence that gives the real answer.
- 35. clothing stores.
- 'For example, the scent of vanilla has been used to increase sales in clothing stores.'Common trap: Association trap – vanilla suggests food, and a bakery is described in the previous sentence; the vanilla example is the deliberately counter-intuitive one.
- 36. spend money
- 'People shopping in an environment where light purple is the predominating color seem to spend money more than shoppers in other environments.'Common trap: Restructuring trap – the talk says shoppers 'seem to spend money more'; the chart needs the bare verb phrase after 'encourages people to'.
- 37. leave faster
- 'Orange is a color that's often used in fast-food restaurants. It encourages customers to leave faster, making room for the next group of diners.'Common trap: Word-limit trap – 'making room for the next group of diners' explains the purpose; only the two-word effect fits the cell.
- 38. security
- 'Blue, on the other hand, is a calming color. It gives customers a sense of security, so it's a good color for any business to use.'Common trap: Adjacent-word trap – 'calming' is the first thing said about blue, but the chart's 'a sense of' points to the noun in the next sentence.
- 39. younger people
- 'Stores that cater to a younger clientele should use bold, bright colors, which tend to be attractive to younger people.'Common trap: Paraphrase trap – 'a younger clientele' says the same thing but is not the phrase the chart's 'appeal to' takes; the sentence ends with the wording needed.
- 40. older people
- 'Stores that are interested in attracting an older clientele will have more success with soft, subtle colors, as older people find these colors more appealing.'Common trap: Parallel-structure trap – the sentence mirrors Q39, so a student who writes 'older clientele' repeats the same slip twice.
Audio transcripts
Part 1 — Plainfield Community Center enquiry
Good afternoon. Plainfield Community Center.
Yes, hi. I'm new in town, and I was curious about the services the Community Center has to offer.
We offer a variety of recreational activities. What were you interested in, in particular?
Well, everything, I guess. OK, let's start with kids. I have a teenage son. What activities do you have for teens?
Right now, during the school year, we have tutoring sessions for children and teens, in all subjects.
That would be good. He needs help with algebra.
We can certainly help with that. Just have him come by any Wednesday or Saturday afternoon. That's when the tutoring sessions are scheduled.
Fantastic. What about sports? Do you have sports activities for teens?
We have tennis lessons on Sunday mornings for teens and Sunday afternoons for adults.
Hmmm, I don't think my son would like that, but my husband might. For myself, I'd be more interested in yoga. Do you offer yoga classes?
We do. Our yoga classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We divide it up into several groups, so there's one class for younger children, one for teens, and one for adults.
Really? I doubt my husband and son would be interested, but I'd like to sign up for yoga. I also like reading. Do you have any book clubs?
We have one just about to start. The first meeting will be next Friday morning. It will focus on early twentieth-century novels.
Too bad it's Friday morning. I think my son would enjoy it, but of course he's in school at that time.
Well, actually, that book club is for adults only. We may start one up for teens next summer, but we have nothing for that age group right now.
Oh, well. I suppose he has enough to keep him busy for now. Now, what about fees? Do these classes and activities cost anything?
There's a small charge for non-members for each class. However, they're all free to members. Would you be interested in becoming a member?
How much does the membership cost?
Not much at all. The yearly fee is $75 for individuals and $225 for families.
What do I get with the membership?
You get free access to all classes and activities, and you can use our facilities, like the tennis court, the exercise room, and the meeting room.
It's not a bad deal, really. Could you tell me exactly where the center is located?
It's at 107 Eliot Street.
Is that Eliot with two Ls or one L?
One L. E-L-I-O-T. It's right downtown.
I think I know where it is. Do you have free parking?
Yes. You can park just across the street. There's a garage there.
That sounds easy enough. Maybe I'll come in one day next week and sign up for some classes.
That would be fine, but don't come on Monday because we're closed that day. We're open Tuesday through Sunday.
Oh. Thanks for telling me. Maybe I'll stop in on Tuesday then. Can I pay for the classes with a personal check?
We accept checks and credit cards.
OK. Thank you very much. You've been very helpful.
Part 2 — Briefing for the annual hiking trip
Good evening, everyone. As you know, this is our last meeting before we set off on our annual week-long hiking trip, so tonight I'll be telling you everything you'll need to know to be ready for the trip. Let's talk about equipment first. Having the right equipment is essential for your comfort and safety. First, you'll need a warm and comfortable sleeping bag. However, you won't need to worry about carrying a tent since we'll be sleeping in shelters along the way. Also, part of the fee you've paid for the trip goes toward food, so you won't need to put that on your packing list either. We've found, though, that it's more efficient for each person to bring his or her own dishes, so be sure to pack a plastic bowl, a cup, and a fork, knife, and spoon. That's all you'll need in the way of dishes.
Perhaps the most important item to put on your list is a comfortable pair of hiking boots. Nothing ruins a hike more than getting blisters and sores from ill-fitting boots. So make sure your boots fit you right. Shoes and sneakers aren't adequate for the type of hiking we'll be doing. Of course, a backpack is necessary for carrying your equipment. Make sure you have one that's lightweight and comfortable to carry. Walking poles have become popular among hikers recently, but we don't recommend them. They can get in the way when too many hikers are using them at once, and some serious injuries have been caused, so it's best to leave those at home.
Let's see...What else? Oh, yes. Some people have asked me about trail maps. They're available, but you really don't need them, as your hike leaders have scouted out the trail and will be guiding you along the way. And don't forget to bring a warm jacket. You may think you won't need one in this warm summer weather, but remember that evenings in the mountains can get quite cold. Is there anything else I need to tell you? Oh, yes, your guides will each be carrying a first-aid kit, so that's one less thing for you to pack yourself. Remember, you'll be carrying your backpack all day, so keep your load light and don't overpack.
I know you're all experienced hikers, but it's always worth repeating the rules of the trail since they're so important. These rules are in place for the safety of everyone on the trip. As you know, there'll be a hike leader walking at the head of the line, who will show the group the way. At the end of the line will be the rear leader, or sweep. It's important to always stay ahead of this person while we're on the trail.
There are several different trails on the mountain where we'll be hiking, and they cross each other at some points. When you come to any intersection of trails, stop and wait for the rest of the group to catch up. This way we can be sure that no one goes off on the wrong trail.
Let me emphasize here how important it is to stay on the trail. We'll be climbing through some steep and rocky areas. Don't be tempted to go off on your own and try to climb some rocks. That can be quite dangerous. Also, it's not likely, but it is possible that we'll encounter some large wild animals along the way. The last thing you want to do is try to feed any of them. That will just encourage them to follow us, which could lead to some dangerous situations. One last thing: Before we set off hiking each morning, be sure to fill up your water bottle. This is perhaps the most important safety rule. Dehydration can be a serious problem when you're out in the wilderness, so you must always be sure to carry an adequate supply of water with you.
I think that covers just about everything. Are there any questions?
Part 3 — Student teaching requirements
I'd like to go over with you today some of the requirements for your student teaching, which you'll be undertaking next semester.
I'm really looking forward to working in a real classroom and teaching children, but I'm nervous about it, too.
One of my roles is to provide you with whatever support you may require. One thing that helps me do that is to know what you're doing in the classroom, so I require all my students to keep a journal about their teaching experience.
That sounds like a lot of work. Will I have to write in it every day?
Yes, if you can. You'll give it to me at the end of each week. Another thing I'll want from you is a few sample lesson plans. I'll let you know ahead of time exactly how I want you to do them.
Several of us from the university will be student teaching at the same school. Are we supposed to get together regularly to discuss our work?
I'll meet with each student teacher individually, but you aren't required to meet with each other. Of course, you can talk together as much as you want. You will, however, have to observe some of the other teachers in the school, besides the teacher you'll be working with.
Then will I get an evaluation from my supervising teacher at the end of the semester?
Actually, no. I'll do your evaluation, and I'll base it on several things. One is your required portfolio, which should contain samples of your class activities and your students' work. Another important thing is your term paper.
Then there won't be a final exam?
No, we don't feel that's necessary for student teaching.
I know I have to get an agreement form signed. Since you're my advisor, are you the one to do that?
No, that form is for your supervising teacher to sign, to document that he or she agrees to have you in the classroom as a student teacher.
Oh, I see. I'm concerned about the term paper I'll have to do, and the evaluation process. I'm not sure I understand what I'm supposed to do.
Regarding the term paper, the first thing is to choose a topic. It should be related to your teaching work. You should let me know your term paper topic by the end of the first week of the semester.
Will you be observing me regularly in the classroom?
Yes, and during the fourth week of the semester, we'll have our first evaluation meeting to discuss my observations.
One thing I'm really looking forward to is the student teacher conference that the university puts on every year.
I'm glad you're looking forward to it. Of course, everyone in the program is required to attend. The conference takes place, let me check, yes, the seventh week of the semester.
When will I have to turn in my term paper?
The term paper is due by the end of the fourteenth week of the semester. Then during the fifteenth and final week, we'll get together one last time for a semester review.
Wow. It looks like I have a busy semester ahead of me.
Part 4 — Customer psychology in retail stores
An understanding of customer psychology is an invaluable aid for retailers looking for ways to increase sales. Much can be done to the store environment to encourage shoppers to linger longer and spend more money. The first aspect to consider is the physical organization of the store. Placement of merchandise has a great deal of influence on what customers buy. For example, a common practice among retailers is to place the store's best-selling merchandise near the back of the store. In order to get to these popular items from the front entrance, customers have to walk down aisles filled with merchandise that they might not see otherwise. Carpets are also used to direct customers through particular areas of the store. Retailers choose carpets not only for their decorative or comfort value, but also because lines or other types of patterns in the carpets can subtly guide shoppers in certain directions. Besides encouraging shoppers to go to certain areas of the store, retailers also want to keep them in the store longer. One way to do this is to provide comfortable seating throughout the store, but not too close to the doors. This gives customers a chance to rest and then continue shopping.
Retailers can do a number of things to create a pleasant atmosphere in the store, thereby encouraging more purchases. Music is commonly used, not as entertainment, but as a calming influence. It can slow the customers' pace through the store, making them spend more time shopping and, consequentially, making more purchases. Scents are also used in various ways. Everyone has had the experience of being drawn into a bakery by the smell of fresh bread. Experiments have been done with other types of scents, as well. For example, the scent of vanilla has been used to increase sales in clothing stores.
Use of color is another important aspect of store environment. Certain colors can affect behavior as well as mood. Light purple, for example, has been found to have an interesting effect on customer behavior. People shopping in an environment where light purple is the predominating color seem to spend money more than shoppers in other environments. Orange is a color that's often used in fast-food restaurants. It encourages customers to leave faster, making room for the next group of diners. Blue, on the other hand, is a calming color. It gives customers a sense of security, so it's a good color for any business to use. In addition to using color to create mood and affect customer behavior, color can also be used to attract certain kinds of customers to a business. Stores that cater to a younger clientele should use bold, bright colors, which tend to be attractive to younger people. Stores that are interested in attracting an older clientele will have more success with soft, subtle colors, as older people find these colors more appealing.
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