Audioscripts IELTS Practice 10 Listening Test 01

Part 1

You will hear a telephone conversation between a travel agent and a customer enquiring about package holidays.

First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

Travel Agent: Horizon Holidays. My name is Paul. How can I help you?

Customer: Good morning. I want some information on coach tours in Canada. Could you send me a brochure?

Travel Agent: Of course. Could I have your name, please?

Customer: Sarah Green.

Travel Agent: Thank you. And your address?

Customer: 15 Fairway Street.

Travel Agent: Can you spell that?

Customer: F-A-I-R-W-A-Y Street.

Travel Agent: Postcode?

Customer: P-L-9-3-K-S.

Travel Agent: Thanks. And can I have your phone number?

Customer: Is a home line all right? It's 01273 598244.

Travel Agent: Thank you. And can I ask you where you heard about Horizon Holidays? From a website or did you see an advert somewhere?

Customer: No, I got a recommendation from a neighbour.

Travel Agent: OK, I'll get the brochures in the post to you, but can I give you some information over the phone? What kinds of things do you want to do on your holiday?

Customer: I'm interested in going to Ontario with my husband. We've got no children and we want to take a tour.

Travel Agent: OK. We have a couple of coach tours there, visiting different places of interest in Ontario. The first one begins in Toronto and there's plenty of time to visit some of the museums there.

Customer: Ah, that's something on my husband's list, so I'd want to include that.

Travel Agent: Good. Then you travel to Ottawa. From Ottawa you can travel to Algonquin Park, where you spend a couple of nights. You can choose to stay in a hotel or on a boat.

Customer: I don't like the idea of staying in a cabin on a boat. It'd be too noisy.

Travel Agent: Right. And the tour ends in Montreal.

Customer: OK. The other trip we can arrange is slightly different. It starts in Ottawa, then you travel west to Kingston. Someone told me there's a really nice fort near Kingston. Will we go near that?

Travel Agent: Fort Henry is on that route, so you could stop there.

Customer: Good. I'd like to do that. Does this trip also go into the mountains?

Travel Agent: No, it continues to Niagara, where most people like to stop and do some walking.

Customer: We do enough of that at home, so that doesn't interest us.

Travel Agent: OK. Well, you could go straight on to Hamilton.

Customer: That's good for gardens, isn't it?

Travel Agent: That's right. That's a good place to stroll and your husband might like to visit the castle before flying home.

Customer: I don't think so. We want some time for reading and relaxing.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

Customer: So, how many days are the trips and how much do they cost?

Travel Agent: The first one I told you about is a coach tour through Ontario, which lasts 10 days and covers 1,500 kilometres. The shortest journey is 150 kilometres and the longest is 400 kilometres. The cost is £650 per person. That includes accommodation, bus travel and a guide, but no lunches.

Customer: OK. And the other trip?

Travel Agent: That lasts seven days, but you spend only two days travelling. You cover about 800 kilometres altogether.

Customer: So is that cheaper then?

Travel Agent: Yes, it's almost £100 cheaper. It's £550 per person, which is a good deal.

Customer: So that covers accommodation and transport. What about entry fees?

Travel Agent: They aren't included, but these hotels offer breakfast in the price.

Customer: OK. Well, thank you very much. I'll be in touch when I've had a chance to look at the brochure.

Travel Agent: I'm pleased to help. Goodbye.

Customer: Goodbye.

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

Part 2

You will hear a manager of a health spa talking to a group of potential clients.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 and 12.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 and 12.

Manager: On behalf of Serenity Spa, I'd like to welcome you all here today. My name's Alex Taylor and I'm one of the guest service managers here. Before we commence our tour of the spa, I'll just summarise some key information about the amenities we offer here, including recent upgrades, and clarify the types of packages available.

Our finest feature is undoubtedly our thermal suite, which isn't the largest in the region, but now we've added three new steam rooms, it's much more spacious. This means there are seldom more than a few guests at a time in each cabin. Regrettably, there isn't room for a rooftop terrace here, but the panoramic windows in the relaxation lounge are fully glazed, which means you can enjoy something of the garden view on sunny days.

Our newly updated treatment zone has all the modern therapy beds, including five new massage tables and a broad selection of hydrotherapy baths. Each client is given a full consultation on how to choose their treatment and there is always a therapist on hand to offer guidance and suggestions.

Although we do have couples-only slots in the evening and at specific times on Sundays, teenagers are well accommodated. Young adults continue to enjoy a vast array of workshops, anything from skincare to meditation.

Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 13 to 20.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 13 to 20.

Manager: One thing all our clients value about us is that we pay great attention to their wellbeing. This begins on arrival with your lifestyle questionnaire. You are requested to complete a form listing details of any medical conditions. One of our senior therapists will then review this with you. The therapist will then guide you through the hygiene protocols for using the facilities in the thermal suite. During your first visit, a staff member will accompany you to ensure you comprehend these. It's crucial to do this because we genuinely do want to prevent any health issues. There's a lot more to pampering yourself than merely lying in a sauna.

At the conclusion of the consultation, the therapist will design a schedule, suggesting what you should aim to experience within a four-hour session. This will then be evaluated at the end of the day.

Now, I'll just briefly outline the categories of passes we have on offer. All visitors must pay a registration fee of £50 in addition to the prices for the daily access passes.

Platinum pass entitles you to complimentary access at all Serenity branches. There are now Serenity spas in all key holiday resorts and cities, so if you vacation frequently, this will be a huge benefit. Individual platinum pass costs £120 a month, and a dual pass for you and your spouse will cost £180.

Corporate pass is for business executives whose office hours make it hard for them to visit the spa during the week. And so Serenity grants priority booking to Corporate members at weekends. This implies you'll find it simpler to reserve the treatments at times that fit your diary. Mutual agreements with other Serenity spas are open to Corporate members. Corporate pass is for individuals only, but you'll be emailed vouchers for friends every quarter. The monthly charge is £95.

You don't need to bring any specific attire or gear when you visit the spa. We supply slippers and towels in the locker rooms, but it's essential to bring your membership card because you won't be permitted to enter without it. For people who aren't visiting during the week...

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

Part 3

You will hear a student called Mark consulting his engineering tutor about an architecture contest he is participating in.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.

Mark: Hi Dr Evans. I'm Mark Stevens. I'm preparing my submission for the national infrastructure challenge. My supervisor suggested you might be willing to advise me on it.

Dr Evans: Ah, right, I received the email with your sketches. Take a seat and explain it to me. What kind of contest is it?

Mark: Well, it's a country-wide engineering challenge and we have to invent a new concept for a standard piece of urban furniture.

Dr Evans: I understand. And are there any specific constraints? Does it have to be made of recycled plastic, for instance?

Mark: Actually, that was the requirement in the previous contest. This time is different. We have to apply a sustainable principle to traditional materials, utilizing them in a manner that hasn't been explored before.

Dr Evans: I see. That sounds demanding. And what item of street furniture have you selected?

Mark: Well, I chose to redesign the bus shelter.

Dr Evans: Fascinating. What drove you to pick that?

Mark: Well, they're a common sight in every British city, but they're all quite dull and virtually indistinguishable from one another. I believe some councils will be ready to invest a bit more for something that appears unique.

Dr Evans: That's a valid point. I notice you've named your concept the 'Green Canopy'. Why is that?

Mark: Essentially because it resembles the leaves you see in a forest. The roof is constructed of transparent solar panels so that you can see the sky through it. And there's a sensor on the pole.

Dr Evans: Is that purely aesthetic?

Mark: Actually, it serves a purpose. Instead of pressing a switch for the timetable, you wave at the sensor.

Dr Evans: So it's... Basically just a contactless method of activating the display.

Mark: That's correct.

Dr Evans: It's a very elegant design, but what makes it sustainable?

Mark: Well, I decided to create a shelter that filters air pollution.

Dr Evans: Instead of just providing shade? How will you achieve that?

Mark: The plan is to coat the glass with titanium dioxide so that it reacts with sunlight. The chemical reaction then neutralises the nitrogen oxides from car fumes where it purifies the air automatically.

Dr Evans: Sounds like an ingenious solution. Your concept will effectively eliminate the need for expensive air scrubbers. So what happens when the pollutants are broken down?

Mark: Well, to prevent them from building up, the harmless nitrates and the residue all wash into a channel called the collection gutter. That's where the rainwater dissolves them and so it becomes a mild fertilizer. Then the water is filtered out and directed to the plant beds.

Dr Evans: It sounds like you've planned it all out very logically. So what happens to the water once the irrigation is finished? Not drained away, I trust.

Mark: Actually, that's where the true efficiency lies. The excess water is cycled back to the tank and can be used repeatedly.

Dr Evans: What a fantastic concept. Do you reckon it will ever be manufactured?

Mark: Unlikely, but that's fine.

Dr Evans: Well, I'm confident a lot of good insights will emerge from your project.

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

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.

Dr Evans: Now you appear to have covered every angle, so what specifically do you require my assistance with?

Mark: Well, my project has reached the semi-finals of the challenge and in a couple of weeks I have to deliver a pitch and that's the element I was wishing you could guide me on.

Dr Evans: Right, well that should be straightforward. What have you accomplished so far?

Mark: Well... I've got technical blueprints to demonstrate the mechanics.

Dr Evans: I see. I'd be happy to check those over for you and correct any errors.

Mark: Thanks. And I've also drafted a 1000-word report on it.

Dr Evans: I understand. Well, if you want to have a realistic shot at the prize, you absolutely need a prototype of the structure.

Mark: Yes, I suspected I might, but I'm encountering a few hurdles.

Dr Evans: What's the primary obstacle at the moment? Hmm, let me predict, is it the funding?

Mark: Yes. I want it to look authentic, but everything that's industrial grade is also incredibly costly.

Dr Evans: Listen, initiatives like this are very significant to the faculty. They really help boost our reputation. So why don't you approach the department about a sponsorship? I can assist you in completing the request forms if you wish.

Mark: That would be brilliant.

Dr Evans: You should let me review this report you've drafted as well. For a national challenge like this, you need to ensure the scientific data you've provided is precise and comprehensive.

Mark: Oh, that would be a huge relief. Is there anything else I can prepare? Well, I'm quite anxious.

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

Part 4

You will hear a university lecture about a rare feline in the mountains of Central Asia, known as the Snow Leopard.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

Lecturer: Today, we proceed with our module on biodiversity and preservation with a focus on a critically threatened member of the big cat family. The snow leopard is often called the 'ghost of the mountains' because of its elusive nature, which is the result of its exceptional camouflage that blends with the rock. Local herdsmen have named it the mountain spirit, and according to the folklore of these regions, its grey coat carries with it a mystical protection. Because of this, it has traditionally been respected by them, so much so that they avoid hunting it despite the threat to their livestock. It is their method of honouring it when they share the mountains.

The snow leopard's territory is quite fascinating. The cat's deep connection with the high-altitude ecosystem is a vital one. The snow leopard depends on the rugged, steep terrain in the mountains in multiple ways. For instance, the rocky outcrops provide essential vantage points that help facilitate the ambush of prey along the ridges of the deep valleys. Keeping these ridges undisturbed is crucial because these valleys are the grazing grounds for blue sheep, which are the leopard's primary prey. In exchange, the leopard's hunting patterns regulate the grazers. As the cats hunt the sheep, they prevent overgrazing of the alpine meadows on the mountain slopes, which preserves rare plants. These maintain healthy pastures that support hundreds of other species, from marmots to beetles and more.

Currently, the snow leopard resides in the mountain ranges of Central Asia across twelve countries. There is significant alarm for their continuity, since it is calculated that fewer than 4,000 of these cats survive in the wild. The most effective strategy to safeguard them is to strive to maintain the fragile stability of their alpine home, in other words, their habitat.

The biggest danger to the leopard's survival is the encroachment of human activity. Over recent decades, mining corporations have degraded the landscape by excavating vast amounts of earth. Furthermore, they have constructed highways which have fragmented the corridors where the leopard typically hunts, and many breeding dens have also been destroyed. The pollution of the water sources near the mines has contaminated the areas where the leopards drink. To exacerbate the issue, the population of wild prey in those valleys is plummeting because there is illegal poaching for meat at present.

All these factors have a detrimental effect on the snow leopard's very survival, which is rendered even more precarious by the reality that the birth rate among these cats has consistently been dangerously slow.

So, what is the outlook for the future? Local villages, conservation charities, and national governments are now collaborating on the issue. The authorities are now mandating mining firms to implement a greener extraction technique, which is a constructive move. Nevertheless, these actions alone might not be adequate to guarantee a stable number of snow leopards in the coming years. Additional measures also must be implemented.

While it is vital to protect the snow leopard's current range, there also needs to be greater focus on its connectivity. The initiative is valid as it will also provide corridors for other animals that are migrating due to climate change.

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