Barron's IELTS 1 Listening Test 4
4 parts · 40 questions · 30 minutes
Telephone company order form
Questions 1–10
Complete the form below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
ClearPoint Telephone Company Customer Order Form
Order taken by: Ms. Jones
Name: Harold (1) …………………………
Address: (2) ………………………… Fulton Avenue, apartment 12
Type of service: (3) …………………………
Occupation: (4) …………………………
Work phone: (5) …………………………
Time at current job: (6) …………………………
Employer: Wrightsville Medical Group
Special services:
• (7) …………………………
• (8) …………………………
Installation scheduled for:
• Day: (9) …………………………
• Time of day: (10) …………………………
Radio interview about the City Fair
Questions 11–14
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
11. The fair will take place at the
A fairgrounds.
B park.
C school.
12. The fair will begin on Friday
A morning.
B afternoon.
C evening.
13. The fair will begin with a
A parade.
B dance performance.
C speech by the mayor.
14. There will be free admission on
A Friday.
B Saturday.
C Sunday.
Questions 15–20
Complete the chart below. Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer.
| Day/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday afternoon | (15) ………………………… show |
| Saturday evening | (16) ………………………… by the lake |
| Sunday afternoon | (17) ………………………… contest |
| All weekend | (18) ………………………… food |
| (19) ………………………… for children | |
| (20) ………………………… for sale |
Applying for a Business Administration programme
Questions 21–23
Complete the information below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
21. First, read the …………………………. Find courses that match your work experience.
22. Then write ………………………… of your work experience.
23. Submit that together with a letter from your ………………………… to the university admissions office.
Questions 24–28
Where can the items listed below be found?
Where the items can be found
A admissions office
B counseling center
C library
24. university catalog
25. application for admission form
26. requirements list
27. recommendation forms
28. job listings
Questions 29–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
29. What are full-time students eligible for?
A Discounted books
B The work-study program
A free bus pass
30. How can a student get financial assistance?
A Speak with a counselor
B Apply to the admissions office
C Make arrangements with a bank
The black bear
Questions 31–35
Complete the chart with information about the black bear. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Range | Lives in (31) ………………………… of North America |
|---|---|
| Diet | Ninety percent of diet consists of (32) …………………………. Also eats (32) ………………………… |
| Cubs | Baby bear cubs are born in (34) ………………………… |
| Life span | Black bears live for about (35) ………………………… in the wild. |
Questions 36–40
Which characteristics fit black bears and which fit grizzly bears? Write A if it is a characteristic of black bears. Write B if it is a characteristic of grizzly bears.
Bears
A black bears
B grizzly bears
36. Has a patch of light fur on its chest
37. Weighs 225 kilos
38. Has a shoulder hump
39. Has pointed ears
40. Has shorter claws
Answers
1. Kramer
2. 58
3. residential
4. office manager
5. 6375559014
6. nine years
7. long distance
8. Internet
9. Friday
10. morning
11. park.
12. evening.
13. dance performance.
14. Friday.
15. clown
16. concert
17. singing
18. international
19. games
20. crafts
21. university catalog
22. a summary
23. work supervisor
24. C
25. A
26. B
27. A
28. C
29. The work-study program
30. Speak with a counselor
31. forested areas
32. plant foods
33. animal foods
34. winter
35. 25 years
36. A
37. B
38. B
39. A
40. A
Explanations
- 1. Kramer
- 'It's Kramer. Harold Kramer.' — and the surname is then spelled out: 'K-R-A-M-E-R.' The first name is already printed on the form.Common trap: Name-order trap — the surname is given first, before the full name, so a student writing down the first thing they hear after 'It's' can end up putting it in the wrong slot; the spelling that follows confirms it.
- 2. 58
- 'That would be number 58 Fulton Avenue, apartment 12.'Common trap: Two-numbers trap — the street number and the apartment number are said in one breath, and '12' is already printed on the form, so only the house number is missing.
- 3. residential
- 'Then the type of phone service you want is residential, not business?' — 'Yes, yes. It's for my home.'Common trap: Word-form trap — the caller says 'a residence' and 'my home'; the form needs the adjective the operator uses, and 'business' is explicitly ruled out in the same sentence.
- 4. office manager
- 'Then your occupation is doctor?' — 'No, I work for the doctors. I'm the office manager.'Common trap: Corrected-guess trap — the operator guesses 'doctor' and is corrected straight away; the answer is the correction, not the guess.
- 5. 6375559014
- 'It's 637-555-9014.' Only the last four digits are repeated back as a check.Common trap: Partial read-back trap — the operator repeats only '9014', so a student waiting for confirmation before writing catches the last four digits instead of the whole number.
- 6. nine years
- 'I've been working there for quite a while now, let me see, eight, no, nine, that's right, nine years.'Common trap: Self-correction trap — the speaker says 'eight' first and then corrects himself to 'nine'; only the corrected figure counts.
- 7. long distance
- 'Most customers opt for unlimited long-distance service... That sounds like a good idea.' — 'Then I'll put you down for long-distance service.'Common trap: Accepted-vs-declined trap — three special services are offered; voicemail is turned down ('No, I don't think so'), so only the two the caller accepts belong on the form.
- 8. Internet
- 'We also provide Internet service if you're interested in that.' — 'I am. Please put me down for Internet as well as phone service.'Common trap: Declined-service trap — voicemail is discussed at length just before this, and the answering machine is the reason it is refused; the second accepted service is the Internet.
- 9. Friday
- 'I'm afraid I won't have any technicians in your area on Wednesday. I could send someone on Friday.' — 'That would be fine.'Common trap: Three-days trap — Tuesday is refused by the caller, Wednesday is refused by the operator, and only the third day offered is agreed to.
- 10. morning
- 'What time of day works best for you? Morning or afternoon?' — 'Morning would be best.'Common trap: Either-or trap — both options are read out in the question, so the answer depends entirely on the caller's one-line reply.
- 11. park.
- 'So we've moved the fair to City Park, which I think is a wonderful location.'Common trap: Expectation trap — all three options are named in one answer, but two of them are the old venue and the construction site that forced the move.
- 12. evening.
- The interviewer says the fair begins Friday morning and is corrected: 'Actually, it won't begin until that evening, but you're right about the special event.'Common trap: Interviewer-correction trap — the wrong time is stated confidently in the question that precedes it, and only the word 'Actually' signals the correction.
- 13. dance performance.
- 'Traditionally, we've begun with a parade, but this year our opening event will be a special dance performance, and the most exciting part is that the mayor will be one of the dancers.'Common trap: This-year-vs-tradition trap — all three options appear in one sentence: the parade as the old custom, the mayor as a dancer rather than a speaker, and the dance performance as the actual opening.
- 14. Friday.
- 'The opening event on Friday, the dance performance, doesn't cost anything to attend, and we're hoping a lot of people will come watch that.'Common trap: Price-list trap — three prices are given in a row ($25, $15, free); only the last attaches to a day, and it is phrased as 'doesn't cost anything' rather than 'free'.
- 15. clown
- 'There are a number of events especially for children, including a clown show on Saturday afternoon.'Common trap: Children's-events trap — two different children's attractions are mentioned in the talk; only the clown show is tied to Saturday afternoon.
- 16. concert
- 'On Saturday evening, we've got an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family—a concert by the lake.'Common trap: Delayed-naming trap — the event is described ('enjoyed by the whole family') before it is named, and the name comes only after the dash.
- 17. singing
- 'There will be a singing contest in the afternoon.'Common trap: Word-form trap — the surrounding talk uses 'singer' and 'singing on stage'; the chart already prints 'contest', so only the modifier is needed.
- 18. international
- 'For example, at the food court, international food will be served.'Common trap: Paraphrase trap — the next sentence explains it as 'dishes from all around the world', which is over the ONE WORD limit; the chart wants the adjective actually used.
- 19. games
- 'There will also be special games for children at different locations around the fair.'Common trap: Repeated-audience trap — 'for children' appears twice in the talk, once for the Saturday clown show and once for the all-weekend games.
- 20. crafts
- 'We have a large area set aside where there will be crafts for sale.'Common trap: Question-word trap — the interviewer supplies 'souvenirs' and the follow-up says 'handmade things'; the chart needs the word Cynthia actually uses.
- 21. university catalog
- 'First, you'll need to read the university catalog to see if any of the course descriptions match your specific job experience.'Common trap: Later-mention trap — the catalog is discussed again a minute later, when the student's old copy and the library copy come up; the step here is simply reading it.
- 22. a summary
- 'You would write a summary of your work experience, relating it to specific courses we offer.'Common trap: Length trap — the sentence runs on into 'relating it to specific courses we offer', but only TWO WORDS are allowed.
- 23. work supervisor
- 'Submit that to the Admissions Office with a letter from your work supervisor confirming your experience.'Common trap: Similar-role trap — 'employer' and 'former teachers' come up later in the conversation about recommendations, a different document from this letter.
- 24. C
- 'Unfortunately, I've run out of copies, but you can get one from the library for now, and I'll send you your own copy as soon as I have more available.'Common trap: Out-of-stock trap — the adviser is in the Counseling Center and would normally hand one over, but has run out; the place the student can actually get one now is the library.
- 25. A
- 'Well, first you'll need to get an application for admission. Those are available in the Admissions Office.'Common trap: Two-documents trap — the Admissions Office holds both this form and the recommendation forms, so the two have to be tracked separately.
- 26. B
- 'We have copies of the requirements lists for all university programs here in the Counseling Center.'Common trap: Pronoun trap — the adviser says 'here', and the place is named only at the end of the sentence; this is the one item the Counseling Center supplies.
- 27. A
- 'Yes, you will. The recommendation forms are available in the Admissions Office.'Common trap: Source-vs-location trap — the recommendations themselves come from an employer or former teachers, but the forms are picked up at the Admissions Office.
- 28. C
- 'You can access the job listings from the computers in the library.'Common trap: Extra-detail trap — the answer is 'the computers in the library', so the place is the last word of the sentence rather than the first thing named.
- 29. The work-study program
- 'Good. Then you'll qualify for the work-study program. Part-time students aren't eligible.'Common trap: Student-asks trap — the student himself raises the free bus pass, and books come up moments later; only the work-study programme is tied to being full time.
- 30. Speak with a counselor
- 'Do I apply for that at the Admissions Office?' — 'No, that's through us. You'll need to make an appointment with a counselor.'Common trap: Corrected-guess trap — the Admissions Office has been the answer to several earlier questions, and the student assumes it applies here too; the adviser corrects him.
- 31. forested areas
- 'The black bear, or Ursus americanus, has a wide range, inhabiting forested areas of North America, including Canada, the United States, and parts of northern Mexico.'Common trap: List trap — three countries follow in the same sentence, but the chart already prints 'of North America', so the habitat type is what is missing.
- 32. plant foods
- 'Generally speaking, plant foods make up 90 percent of the bear's diet.'Common trap: Overview-vs-figure trap — 'plants and animals' is the general description given earlier; the 90 percent figure attaches specifically to plant foods.
- 33. animal foods
- 'The rest of its meals consist of animal foods such as insects and fish.'Common trap: Category-or-example trap — the sentence gives both the category ('animal foods') and two examples ('insects and fish'); either is accepted, but 'insects and fish' must stay inside the word limit.
- 34. winter
- 'Mating takes place in the spring or early summer, but bear cubs aren't born until the following winter.'Common trap: Two-seasons trap — spring and early summer are when mating happens; the birth is a season later, signalled by 'but... not until'.
- 35. 25 years
- 'Wild black bears can live as long as 25 years.'Common trap: Wild-vs-captivity trap — 30 years is the captive figure given in the very next sentence; the chart line ends 'in the wild'.
- 36. A
- 'Many black bears, however, have a patch of fur on their chests that's lighter in color than the rest of their fur. Grizzly bears don't have this patch.'Common trap: Colour-is-not-a-guide trap — the talk opens by saying colour does NOT tell the species apart, which can make a student discount the chest patch that immediately follows.
- 37. B
- 'Size isn't always a distinguishing feature either, although grizzly bears are usually heavier, with an average weight of 225 kilos. Black bears average 140 kilos in weight.'Common trap: Paired-figures trap — the two average weights are read out back to back, so the second figure (140) is easy to attach to the wrong bear.
- 38. B
- 'The large muscles they need for this give them a distinct shoulder hump. This hump is absent in black bears, which don't do the same kind of digging.'Common trap: Negative-statement trap — black bears are named in the very sentence that says they do NOT have the hump, so the species mentioned last is the wrong answer.
- 39. A
- 'Black bears, on the other hand, have a straighter profile and longer, more pointed ears.'Common trap: Contrast-pair trap — the grizzly's 'short, round ears' are described first, and only 'on the other hand' flags the switch of species.
- 40. A
- 'Black bears have shorter claws, which are better suited for climbing trees.'Common trap: Contrast-pair trap — the grizzly's 'long, sharp claws' are the memorable image given first; the shorter claws belong to the black bear.
Audio transcripts
Part 1 — Telephone company order form
This is the ClearPoint Telephone Company customer service office. My name is Ms. Jones. How may I help you?
Yes. I'm moving, and I'd like to arrange to have a phone line installed.
Of course. Let me get some information from you first. May I have your name, please?
It's Kramer. Harold Kramer.
And would you spell your last name for me, please?
K-R-A-M-E-R.
M-E-R. Got it. OK, could I have the address where you'd like to have the telephone connected?
That would be number 58 Fulton Avenue, apartment 12.
Is that a business or a residence?
A residence. It's my new home address.
Then the type of phone service you want is residential, not business?
Yes, yes. It's for my home.
All right. Fine. Now let me get your employment information. Who is your current employer?
I work at the Wrightsville Medical Group.
Then your occupation is doctor?
No, I work for the doctors. I'm the office manager.
OK. And could I have your work phone number?
It's 637-555-9014.
9014. Great. Just one more thing, I need to know how long you've been at your current job.
I've been working there for quite a while now, let me see, eight, no, nine, that's right, nine years.
OK, good. You've been there long enough, so I don't need to ask about any other work history. Now, in addition to our basic phone service, we have several special services available.
Could you explain them to me?
Most customers opt for unlimited long-distance service. It really saves you money if you make a lot of long-distance calls.
That sounds like a good idea.
Then I'll put you down for long-distance service. Another popular service is voicemail. Voicemail takes all your messages electronically, and all it takes is one simple phone call to retrieve them.
Hmmm, voicemail. No, I don't think so. I have an answering machine to take my messages. It's old, but it still works fine.
We also provide Internet service if you're interested in that.
I am. Please put me down for Internet as well as phone service.
Right. OK, I think we're almost finished. I just need to schedule a time for the technician to go to your apartment and do the installation. Let me see... What about next Tuesday? Would that work for you?
No, not Tuesday. I'll be at a conference all day. Wednesday would work, though.
I'm afraid I won't have any technicians in your area on Wednesday. I could send someone on Friday.
That would be fine.
What time of day works best for you? Morning or afternoon?
Morning would be best.
All right then. It's on the schedule. Do you have any questions?
No, I don't think so.
Thank you for calling ClearPoint.
Part 2 — Radio interview about the City Fair
Good afternoon, and welcome to City Hour, the radio show that brings you all the latest information about events in and around our city. Today we have with us Cynthia Smith, who is heading up this year's City Fair. Cynthia, would you start by giving us some of the basic information about the fair? Where will it take place this year?
I'm glad you asked that question, because I know most people will be expecting the fair to be at the fairgrounds as usual, but we've had to change the location this year due to some construction work. You know, they're building the new high school in that neighborhood, and they've been using the fairgrounds as a place to store construction materials. So we've moved the fair to City Park, which I think is a wonderful location.
Yes, that will be a great place for the fair. I understand that the fair begins on Friday morning with a special opening event.
Actually, it won't begin until that evening, but you're right about the special event. Traditionally, we've begun with a parade, but this year our opening event will be a special dance performance, and the most exciting part is that the mayor will be one of the dancers.
The mayor is a woman of many talents. Cynthia, could you tell our listeners about the price of admission? What will it cost to attend the fair?
We're trying to keep the price down as much as possible. A three-day pass is just $25. Or you can buy a Saturday- or Sunday-only pass for $15. The opening event on Friday, the dance performance, doesn't cost anything to attend, and we're hoping a lot of people will come watch that.
Could you tell us about some of the events planned for Saturday and Sunday, the main days of the fair?
We have a lot of exciting things planned. There are a number of events especially for children, including a clown show on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday evening, we've got an event that can be enjoyed by the whole family—a concert by the lake.
I'm sure that will be a popular event. Is there anything special planned for Sunday?
Yes, a really fun event, and we hope a lot of people will participate. There will be a singing contest in the afternoon. It's open to everyone, at no charge. It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced singer or not. If you've always dreamed of singing on stage, this is your chance.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
I think it will be. I'd also like your listeners to know that besides the special events I've mentioned, there will be things taking place all weekend. For example, at the food court, international food will be served. You'll be able to sample dishes from all around the world. There will also be special games for children at different locations around the fair.
Will there be things people can buy, souvenirs, anything like that?
We have a large area set aside where there will be crafts for sale. This will be an opportunity to buy many lovely handmade things, and to get to know some of our local artists and craftspeople, as well.
It sounds like there will be a lot of fun for everyone at this year's fair. Thank you for sharing the information with us, Cynthia.
Thank you for inviting me.
Part 3 — Applying for a Business Administration programme
I'm interested in entering your Business Administration program, and I'd like some information on how to apply. I'm a little concerned because I've been out of school for a number of years.
That could actually work to your advantage. It's possible to get academic credit for work experience, if that experience is related to courses in our program.
I've been working in business for several years. How would I get academic credit for that?
First, you'll need to read the university catalog to see if any of the course descriptions match your specific job experience. For example, if you've worked in accounting, you may be able to get credit for an accounting course.
So then what would I do?
You would write a summary of your work experience, relating it to specific courses we offer. Submit that to the Admissions Office with a letter from your work supervisor confirming your experience.
Would I submit those things at the same time that I apply for admission?
That would be the best idea. Have you seen a copy of our university catalog?
Not the most recent one. I have a copy from last year.
You'll need to look at the latest one. Unfortunately, I've run out of copies, but you can get one from the library for now, and I'll send you your own copy as soon as I have more available.
Thank you. How does the admissions process work?
Well, first you'll need to get an application for admission. Those are available in the Admissions Office. The application form contains all the instructions you'll need.
That sounds simple enough.
Of course, you'll need to make sure you meet all the admissions requirements.
How can I know what those are?
We have copies of the requirements lists for all university programs here in the Counseling Center. I'll give you one before you leave today.
Will I need to get recommendations from my employer or former teachers?
Yes, you will. The recommendation forms are available in the Admissions Office. Now, I don't know if you'll also be applying for a part-time job through the university work-study program.
I'm considering that. How can I find out what kinds of jobs are offered?
You can access the job listings from the computers in the library. Are you planning to study full time or part time?
I want to be a full-time student.
Good. Then you'll qualify for the work-study program. Part-time students aren't eligible.
As a full-time student, would I be eligible for a free bus pass?
No, unfortunately, we don't have those available for any of our students. However, you can apply for financial assistance to help pay for your books or for your tuition.
I'd like to look into that. Do I apply for that at the Admissions Office?
No, that's through us. You'll need to make an appointment with a counselor.
Part 4 — The black bear
The black bear, or Ursus americanus, has a wide range, inhabiting forested areas of North America, including Canada, the United States, and parts of northern Mexico. Black bears are omnivores, getting their nutrition from a wide variety of plants and animals. The particular foods any one bear eats depends on what's available in the area where that bear lives, as well as on the season of the year. Generally speaking, plant foods make up 90 percent of the bear's diet. The rest of its meals consist of animal foods such as insects and fish.
Bears have a relatively long gestation period. Mating takes place in the spring or early summer, but bear cubs aren't born until the following winter. Usually, two cubs are born at a time, although some litters may have as many as five cubs. Bear cubs are dependent on their mother and may stay with her for close to two years. Wild black bears can live as long as 25 years. They've lived for as long as 30 years or more in captivity.
Much of the black bear's range coincides with the range of its close cousin, the grizzly bear. Although these bears are somewhat similar in appearance and habits, it isn't difficult to tell the difference between them. Color isn't necessarily a distinguishing characteristic, as both species of bears occur in a range of colors from almost blonde to dark brown or black. Many black bears, however, have a patch of fur on their chests that's lighter in color than the rest of their fur. Grizzly bears don't have this patch. Size isn't always a distinguishing feature either, although grizzly bears are usually heavier, with an average weight of 225 kilos. Black bears average 140 kilos in weight. Grizzly bears spend time digging in the ground for roots and tubers that make up part of their diet. The large muscles they need for this give them a distinct shoulder hump. This hump is absent in black bears, which don't do the same kind of digging. The shape of the face and ears is also different in each species of bear. Grizzly bears have a depression between the eyes and nose and short, round ears. Black bears, on the other hand, have a straighter profile and longer, more pointed ears. Grizzly bears are known for their fearsome long, sharp claws. Black bears have shorter claws, which are better suited for climbing trees.
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