Audioscripts IELTS Practice 6 Listening Test 01

Part 1

You will hear a woman telephoning a local community centre to ask about memberships and classes.

First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.

Staff: Good morning. Oh, wait, it's past midday. Good afternoon. The Oakwood Centre. How can I assist you?

Caller: Oh, good afternoon. I was wondering if you could provide me with some details about joining and the facilities available?

Staff: Certainly. What specifically are you interested in?

Caller: Do you have a pottery studio, for instance?

Staff: No, I'm afraid we don't. We are primarily a performing arts venue.

Caller: What about a choir? I was told you had a singing group.

Staff: No, apologies. Maybe you're confusing us with the Highfield Arts Hub.

Caller: Oh, I see. I know them. I've taken a painting course there.

Staff: Have you? They offer several things we don't have, and the reverse is true. We do have a large rehearsal studio, which gets booked up quickly, and then besides that there's a recording booth, naturally.

Caller: That sounds useful. I like to practice my instrument regularly.

Staff: We host a variety of workshops, too.

Caller: Do you run creative writing workshops? I'm eager to try.

Staff: Well, presently, we only have poetry reading. We're also hosting a regular series of photography sessions. And we are hoping to introduce creative writing and scriptwriting soon.

Caller: What about getting a drink after a workshop? I presume you have a cafe or something similar?

Staff: At present, we run a small coffee cart, which is very busy. We will also be opening a proper indoor tearoom by the end of the month.

Caller: Sounds ideal.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.

Staff: What type of membership are you thinking about?

Caller: Um, not completely sure. What are the choices?

Staff: Well, we run three separate membership levels.

Caller: Right. What's the difference?

Staff: Well, the top tier is called Platinum, and you have access to all the rooms at any hour we are open. You can also attend as many workshops as you wish at no extra charge.

Caller: That sounds appealing. Is it quite pricey?

Staff: Well, you pay a £150 admin fee and then it's £350... Oh, wait, my mistake. It's just been reduced by £20. Good news for you. It's now £330 for the annual access fee.

Caller: OK, noted. And what's the middle option?

Staff: Well, that's Standard. It's similar to Platinum, except you are required to pay a minor charge of two pounds per session for any you attend, and you can only use the hub during specific windows.

Caller: I understand. So which hours exactly?

Staff: You can only book the rooms between 9 am and 3.30 pm.

Caller: So I couldn't use the recording booth at 7 in the evening or early morning, then?

Staff: Exactly right.

Caller: Fine. And the cost for that? Is the admin fee identical to Platinum?

Staff: Actually, it's a bit cheaper than the £150. It's £120, but the annual fee is only £200. Does that fit better with what you need?

Caller: Well, it's still a bit steeper than I anticipated. I'm doing a short internship here in the city, and I'm only staying for four months.

Staff: Ah, in that case the Basic package would likely be your best bet.

Caller: How does that one work?

Staff: Well... Certain rooms have limited access.

Caller: And do I have to pay for the workshops?

Staff: Yes, there's a five pound charge for every workshop you enter.

Caller: I see. And what are the permitted hours then?

Staff: Between 11.30 and 2.30 on weekends only. And you pay a 30 pounds admin fee. The annual fee is 120 pounds. It works out at 10 pounds a month, so that would save you quite a bit of money.

Caller: Oh, that should be manageable. I could visit on my days off. What are the next steps if I want to register?

Staff: Well, we schedule you in for an orientation with a technician who will demonstrate how to operate the sound equipment. If you wish to set up a taster session and view the rooms, you'll have to ring Marcus Tindall.

Caller: Could you spell the surname, please?

Staff: Yes. Marcus T-I-N-D-A-L-L. I'll supply you with his office extension. It's 01632 84599.

Caller: Brilliant.

Staff: Thank you for getting in touch with the Oakwood Centre.

That is the end of Part 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Part 2

You will hear a local radio broadcast about the Kingswood City Cinema.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

Mark: Hello, listeners of Radio Kingswood. I'm Mark Dobson, the Public Relations Officer for Kingswood City Cinema, and I'm thrilled to announce that we are reopening soon after our two-year modernization programme.

There are a lot of upgrades. The first thing people will see when they go in is that the main lobby has been restored to its original art deco style. We haven't painted the walls in bright new colours as some residents suggested, and the main entrance is exactly where it used to be. But the ticket kiosk has been relocated with its own access from the front of the building instead of inside the lobby. This doesn't make it cheaper to operate or allow us to sell a wider variety of tickets, but it means it avoids indoor queues and has more space, too.

The cafe that used to be in the basement, which served coffee and cakes, is the one part of the renovation which isn't yet complete. We aren't waiting for building materials, and we've already agreed on a suitable menu. The delay is simply because we want to find a new catering partner for it from the local area, and we've had difficulty finding the right business. We hope to reopen the cafe in the next few months.

You're probably wondering if you'll find any difference in the screening rooms. Well, yes. We couldn't add more legroom between the rows, but we've increased the width of all the seats. This actually means that there is now a reduced overall capacity, rather than an increased one, but we're sure audiences will be much more comfortable. And we've installed climate control so it won't get so freezing in the winter. We already had a few bays which were suitable for wheelchair users, and now there are three times as many, which we hope will meet demand. Something else that will benefit all our audiences is the new escalators. The old ones we used to have were very noisy and prone to breaking down. They've now gone, and we've got much more reliable ones.

We've also made a number of improvements behind the scenes for our staff. They didn't want individual lockers, and we didn't need to build a new training room for projectionists. Instead, the cramped break rooms we used to have have been merged into one large open-plan lounge, so they're much more relaxing now. And the state-of-the-art laser projection and surround sound systems have been installed.

Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

Mark: So what's the first event that audiences can see when the cinema reopens? We've got a very exciting schedule for the Classic Film Festival, which is currently touring the region. That starts on November the 5th and runs till the 12th.

We're experimenting a bit with the time the evening films start. We used to begin all our late performances at 8.00, but that made it difficult for people to catch the train home. So instead we're beginning at 7.30, because at 10.00, when it finishes, there are still regular rail services running.

Tickets are already selling fast. The Saturday and Sunday screenings sold out almost immediately, and in fact now there are only tickets left for Tuesday and Wednesday.

We've also introduced a simpler price structure. Ticket prices used to range from £5 to £15, but now they're all £10. They're available from the ticket kiosk, in person, by phone, through the app, or online. We look forward to welcoming you back to the cinema very soon!

That is the end of Part 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Part 3

You will hear a woman inquiring about university open days.

First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.

Staff: Hello, can I help you?

Visitor: I was told to come to this desk because I'd like to ask someone about attending an open day.

Staff: Right. I'm one of the event coordinators, so I should be able to assist you.

Visitor: Oh, great. My name's Sarah Jones. I've decided to apply for a post-graduate degree. My sister did one last year and suggested I look into it.

Staff: Right.

Visitor: Is there anything I should do before the open day, like reading or anything?

Staff: We prefer to hand out information packs on the day, so we don't mail out a prospectus in advance. But we like attendees to submit a personal statement outlining their academic interests prior to arriving.

Visitor: I've already done that, as my sister told me you required one. But would it be feasible to join a sample lecture to see what it's like? I haven't been in a university for quite some time.

Staff: Fine. Just let me know which subject and I'll book it with the faculty.

Visitor: Now, could I ask you about the campus amenities, please?

Staff: Anything specific?

Visitor: Well, the open day is from 10am to 4pm, isn't it? So presumably it's possible to get a meal?

Staff: Yes, the student union building is open all day.

Visitor: Does it accommodate specific dietary requirements? I have some food intolerances.

Staff: Provided you notify the catering manager beforehand, it shouldn't be an issue.

Visitor: Good. What about facilities for visitors with disabilities? I'd like to bring my father with me while I'm touring the campus.

Staff: What are his needs?

Visitor: He uses a wheelchair.

Staff: Then he's welcome to use the accessible minibus, which is driven by a qualified support worker. The waiting list for a space is quite short, but you ought to book now.

Visitor: OK. I'm not sure if your student support service would be of any relevance to me?

Staff: Yes, it might help you decide how to manage your finances during the degree. The service has a lot of printed guides and staff trained to give advice in confidential appointments.

Visitor: I noticed a sports centre next to the campus. Is that for students?

Staff: It's open to the public, but students get a discount on the monthly fee that's much lower than the general public rate.

Visitor: And presumably the university bookshop sells merchandise and stationery as well as books.

Staff: Yes, and there's also a digital media suite for editing and producing videos, podcasts and so on.

Visitor: Is there also access to the library?

Staff: Yes. Your registration pack will include a temporary pass for you to get through the barriers, so ask your guide about it when you begin the tour.

Visitor: OK.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

Staff: By the way, do you know about our skills centre?

Visitor: No, what's that?

Staff: It's a support service, essentially an extensive digital library of materials for people to log into during their studies. We don't offer one-to-one tutoring there, and it's not a physical computer lab, but rather a virtual hub.

Visitor: You mean articles and journals?

Staff: Yes, and templates for academic writing, plus a lot of interactive software so people can practice at their own pace and redo anything they're unsure about. You can also reserve scanning machines via the system, and it connects you directly to our campus printing network. Unfortunately, we don't loan out laptops at the moment.

Visitor: Does it have anything that I could use to improve my presentation skills? I don't have much experience of public speaking, and I'm sure I'll need it on the degree.

Staff: Absolutely. While many students use it for help with report writing or time management, there's actually a dedicated module for delivering speeches and addressing audiences.

Visitor: Does the centre cover all the main subject areas of the university?

Staff: Yes. Topics like law and, of course, medicine. That's a popular subject. Post-graduates seem to rush to download the videos.

Visitor: So it isn't just for undergraduates, then?

Staff: No, it's open to anyone enrolled on a course here. You don't have to be a member of staff, and both undergrads and post-graduates are welcome, provided they have their student credentials.

Visitor: How much is the subscription?

Staff: For an individual student, the annual fee is £80. A whole department can subscribe for £200 per term, and sometimes people mistakenly think it's £100 for individuals, but it's definitely 80 for the whole year. There's no reduction for post-graduates, I'm afraid.

Visitor: Well, that's very informative. I think that's everything. I'd better go home and confirm my booking. Thanks for all your assistance.

Staff: You're welcome. Goodbye.

Visitor: Goodbye.

That is the end of Part 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Part 4

You will hear a talk on the industrial history of the city of Manchester.

First you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

In the last few sessions we've been examining various elements of the urban development of Manchester. And this afternoon we're proceeding with an analysis of life in the district known as the Northern Quarter. I'll begin with a short history of the area, and then concentrate on life in the latter half of the 19th century.

Back in the 1st to the 4th centuries AD, when the Romans occupied Britain, Manchester was a small fort of a few hundred soldiers. What's now the Northern Quarter—the land by the River Irwell and along the Roman road heading north-west from Manchester to the highlands—was primarily comprised of dense woodland. This provided the timber and charcoal which helped to build that settlement.

The Romans departed in 410, at the start of the 5th century, and from that point the region experienced a series of migrations by people from present-day Ireland and Scotland, the Celts, Picts and Gaels, many of whom farmed in the Northern Quarter. The tools they developed meant that items made of wool and linen were woven there for the first time. And as the Northern Quarter was by a ford, carts could transport produce between there and the local markets.

In the 11th century, in 1086 to be precise, the Normans catalogued the area, and over the following centuries Manchester grew into one of the most dynamic and commercial towns in the north. The Northern Quarter benefited from this, and because there were more freedoms there than in the surrounding feudal manors, plenty of skilled workers moved there from overseas. They brought their knowledge as craftsmen, weavers, or dyers during the next few hundred years.

In the 18th century, the initial canal was constructed, where barges were loaded, eventually making the Northern Quarter the hub of massive national trade. And in the late 18th century, when much of the rural south was experiencing hardship, a lot of farm labourers migrated to the Northern Quarter looking for factory work.

In the 19th century, the Northern Quarter was still a collection of densely packed industrial districts. There was a crisis of housing, so open fields were concreted over and built on to accommodate the huge numbers of families now residing there.

By the late 19th century, Manchester was the busiest textile hub in the world, and this became the dominant source of income in the Northern Quarter. Those who were wealthy enough to live in cleaner environments relocated, and the district became one where the overwhelming majority of residents existed in extreme squalor and endured shocking working conditions.

That brief overview brings us to the housing situation at the end of the century. Living standards for the bulk of industrial workers in North Manchester were extremely poor indeed. Terraces were built back-to-back, and usually very poorly constructed, because there was no enforcement of building standards. But the desperate and poor were drawn by the chance of employment, and they needed accommodation. It was the supply rather than the safety of the housing that was the main priority for workers and employers alike.

Few homes had running water at this point, so other sources of power were relied upon. For instance, people depended on gas lamps, which illuminated perhaps just one room. Of course, the fumes from these contributed significantly to the smog for which Manchester used to be notorious. A small, cold, insanitary house like this might well be shared by three full families, potentially including numerous children, parents, cousins and lodgers.

Now, before I continue to the public health consequences of this lifestyle, I'll say something about diet and disease.

That is the end of Part 4. You now have half a minute to check your answers.