Audioscripts IELTS Practice 12 Listening Test 04

Part 1

You will hear a telephone conversation between a man who is looking for a job and a woman from a company that organises walking holidays. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

[Pause]

Now Listen carefully and answer questions one to six.

Woman: Good morning, High Peaks Holidays. Sarah speaking.

Man: Oh, hello. I'm calling regarding your advertisement for people to lead hiking trips.

Woman: Yes, we are currently recruiting. I can take your details now if you have a moment?

Man: Yes, that would be great.

Woman: OK. Can I start with your name, please?

Man: It's David Brown.

Woman: Thanks, David. Now, are you looking for a permanent job with us?

Man: No, actually, I'm just looking for temporary work. You see, I've got a permanent job starting in a few months' time and I want to do something else until then.

Woman: I see. And what is your normal line of work?

Man: Well, this will probably sound unusual. I used to be an engineer, but then I made a complete career change and I'm going to be a teacher. I've just finished my training.

Woman: That's quite a change! And have you had any experience of leading walking trips?

Man: Yes, I've led several treks in Nepal. I had also arranged to lead a trip to Peru next month, but unfortunately, that has been postponed. So when I saw you were advertising for tour leaders, I decided to apply.

Woman: OK. Now, we normally have two or three leaders on a trip, depending on the difficulty of the terrain. Some tours are for very fit hikers, but we've got a tour coming up soon in France, which is proving so popular we need an additional leader. It's a walking holiday for seniors. Would that suit you?

Man: It certainly would. I enjoy working with older people and I probably need a break before I go on a really strenuous trip.

Woman: That tour includes several retirees. Have you worked with that age group before?

Man: Yes, I'm a volunteer worker in a community centre where I help people to improve their computer skills. And before that, I helped out in a gardening club where I taught novices.

Woman: Well, that's great background experience. Now, the trip I mentioned is just for a week, but there might be the possibility of leading other tours after that. Would that fit in with your plans?

Man: That'd be fine. I'll be free for three months. My job is due to start on September 1st, so I'm available from June 1st until late August.

Woman: Good. Now, is there anything I need to know about your medical history? We usually have one or two people in the group who have health issues, so we're always very careful about that.

Man: Yes, I'm allergic to nuts. Would that be a problem?

Woman: No. As long as we have enough warning, we can deal with that. That's great.

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.

Man: It sounds really interesting. Would you like me to send you my CV?

Woman: Yes, please.

Man: Where should I email it to?

Woman: Could you send it to recruitment at Highpeaks dot com? I'll spell the company name for you. That's H-I-G-H-P-E-A-K-S. All one word.

Man: Great, I've got that. And do I need a reference?

Woman: Yes, please.

Man: Who should I ask? A personal friend?

Woman: No, ideally we need one from a former employer.

Man: Got that.

Woman: If you could return the CV by Wednesday this week, we can interview you on Friday next week. Can you come in at quarter past ten?

Man: Let me check... Yes, that time is fine. You're quite a long way from where I live, so I'll take the train over on Thursday. Should I bring anything to the interview?

Woman: We'll have your CV, of course, but we'll need to see any licences you've got that are relevant in navigation, safety or whatever.

Man: OK.

Woman: And at the interview, we'd like to find out about your experience of dealing with emergencies. So, could you prepare a five-minute presentation about that, please? You don't need slides or any complicated equipment, just some bullet points.

Man: Right. Dealing with emergencies. I'll start thinking about that straight away.

Woman: Good. Well, we'll look forward to receiving your CV.

Man: Thanks very much. Goodbye.

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

Part 2

You will hear a radio segment about a district called the Old Port in a Canadian city.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

Host: Welcome to this week's broadcast. Today, we're spotlighting the Old Port, which is arguably the most historic quarter of the town. As its name implies, there was originally a busy harbour here where ships unloaded their cargo, but in recent decades, it's been transformed into a dynamic hub, which is also home to one of the region's most creative populations.

The nearby college ensures the area is frequented by students who flock to the affordable cafes. But the residential landscape has changed. Now, young professionals starting out in industries like software and media are renting the loft apartments. These modern living spaces have been created from the old warehouses where dock workers used to store goods.

The cobbled laneways are perfect spots for discovering unique crafts, antiques and glassware which are reasonably priced. But for me, the highlight is the locally produced artisan food, particularly the handmade bread and cheese. There are also plenty of outdoor terraces where you can have a meal and watch visitors from around the globe pass by.

The most historic structures in the district are on the waterfront. You can see the original lighthouse, and next to it, the city's first customs house, constructed in the 1850s, which surprisingly is still in use today.

The Old Port is also a hub for innovation, and there's a strategy of supporting new tech startups. The Digital Innovation Award is open to local entrepreneurs who are enthusiastic about technology. This year, they've been challenged to design an app based on local heritage, using both augmented and virtual reality. The winning concepts will be demonstrated at a special launch party next month.

Before you hear the rest of the broadcast, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

Host: Now, if you're planning a visit, let me guide you around some key locations on the map. We're starting at the main entrance on Harbour Street, at the bottom of the map.

First, if you head north up Harbour Street, you'll see a narrow alleyway on your left. Just past that alleyway, on the corner, is The Captain's House. It's one of the best-preserved homes in the district and offers daily tours.

Continuing up Harbour Street, if you turn right into Dock Road, you'll see the post office. Directly opposite that, on the other side of the road, is a huge iron sculpture called The Anchor. It stands about 5 metres tall, so you can't miss it.

Now, for art lovers, The Gallery is a must-see. To get there from the entrance, go all the way up Harbour Street to the very top, where it meets River Avenue. Turn right, and it's the second building on your left, facing the river.

If you're interested in contemporary style, The Modern Design Centre is tucked away. From the main entrance, go straight up to the central roundabout, Market Square. Take the first exit on the left. You'll see a dead-end lane. The Centre is right at the end of that lane.

For history buffs, The Seafarers' Museum focuses on naval history. It's located on River Avenue, but on the eastern side. So, from Market Square, go right along Dock Road, turn left at the end, and walk up towards the river. It's on the corner of River Avenue.

Finally, if you're looking to buy nautical souvenirs, the best shop is The Compass. This one is a bit tricky to find. From Market Square, take the path that goes west, towards the Marina. Before you reach the water, you'll see a row of shops on your left. The Compass is the one in the middle of that row.

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

Part 3

You will hear two students, Ben and Amy, discussing a seminar they are planning for their literature degree.

First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24.

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

Ben: You remember I'm leading a seminar in our modern literature module next month?

Amy: Yes.

Ben: Well, could we brainstorm a bit? I could really use a sounding board.

Amy: Sure, Ben. What's the main theme?

Ben: It's about novel adaptations of classic myths and older literary stories. I've become really fascinated by how contemporary authors reimagine ancient or canonical stories.

Amy: Uh-huh.

Ben: So I thought I'd begin with Frye, who's a scholar of myth and archetype. And in one of his essays, he proposed a clear framework of literary modes based on the hero's power of action compared to ours.

Amy: Right.

Ben: I've already drafted some slides on that, so I just need to polish them before the seminar.

Amy: Okay.

Ben: After that theoretical intro, I want to get the students involved. I thought I'd ask the group to suggest the most controversial examples of myth retellings that they've read and to explain why they chose them. That should be more engaging than just listing their preferred books.

Amy: Yes, I can definitely think of a few.

Ben: Right, next I want to discuss Margaret Atwood. I found a great lecture online about her rewriting of the Odyssey and I was planning to play some audio clips to highlight her points.

Amy: Hmm. That sounds interesting, but practically speaking, will you be able to?

Ben: What do you mean?

Amy: Well, editing the clips will take time, but the main issue is legality. I suspect you won't be able to get the copyright clearance to play them in a public seminar easily.

Ben: Ah, I hadn't thought of that. You're probably right. OK, well, I'd better create a handout instead.

Amy: Good idea.

Ben: Next, I want to explore the selection process. Why do authors pick specific myths? I think they are often selected because they resonate with the social movements of the era when the novel is written.

Amy: You mean themes like feminism or environmentalism?

Ben: Precisely. It's not just random; it reflects the current political climate. It's quite complex, but I've got a couple of theories I'd like to explore.

Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30.

(pause)

Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30.

Ben: For the last section, I want to review a few novels that I think demonstrate a variety of strategies and offer some critique on them. Do you know the book The Song of Achilles?

Amy: I haven't read it. It was based on Homer's Iliad, wasn't it?

Ben: That's right. It uses the same war and tragedy, but it shifts the focus entirely. Instead of just the glory of battle, it zooms in on the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus.

Amy: So the hero becomes a lover?

Ben: Exactly. Because in modern culture, we are more interested in the psychological motivation of the characters than the action.

Amy: OK. I hope you're going to mention Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie. I think that's one of the cleverest adaptations.

Ben: Yes, I agree. Setting the story of Antigone in modern London makes you realise how timeless the conflict is.

Amy: It really highlights the relevance of the tragedy to modern politics, doesn't it? Especially regarding the state versus the individual.

Ben: Totally. Right, what's next? I thought of including Hag-Seed, the 2016 novel. It transplants the plot of The Tempest into a prison.

Amy: Yes, it worked brilliantly, I thought. Changing the magical island to a correctional facility where the inmates put on a play... even though they are dealing with the same themes of revenge and forgiveness.

Ben: It really emphasizes the theme of confinement.

Amy: You could also include a really commercial bestseller as a contrast: the Percy Jackson series.

Ben: Yes, that one. It included every major Greek god, but it felt like a superhero origin story.

Amy: I agree. It was fun, but there was no deep exploration of the original myths' darkness. It seemed to prioritize action over any serious thematic depth.

Ben: Exactly. Then there's Weight, based on the myth of Atlas. That was really experimental from a narrative perspective.

Amy: Didn't it include Laika, the Soviet space dog, as a character as well as the Titan?

Ben: Yes, it did. Using non-human characters like that was a bold move. Finally, I want to talk about The Penelopiad. Did you ever read it?

Amy: No, but I've heard of it. It was a retelling of the Odyssey from Penelope's point of view, with the maids also given a voice, wasn't it?

Ben: That's right. It's a method of questioning how history silences certain figures. It really gives a voice to those who were previously ignored.

Amy: Well, it sounds as though it'll be a great seminar.

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

Part 4

You will hear part of a lecture about air quality in cities.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

This lecture will be about the science of air pollution, the study of atmospheric particles in relation to urban environments such as metropolitan areas. As an environmental scientist myself, I think this is an area where we're likely to see significant progress.

In the past, monitoring urban air quality was basic. We measured levels of pollutants in micrograms. So I used to take my sampling device and I measured the smog somewhere, and then I might ask a group of residents to say at what level the air became irritating. With data like this, environmental scientists have been able to build up what we call pollution maps, visualisations of the air quality.

But actually, these aren't very comprehensive. What they do show is that the highest pollution levels are generally on highways. Well, that's not really very unexpected. But there's quite a lot occurring that these maps don't show, because they can't capture the intricate way that pollution disperses over time. So they ignore crucial issues such as the fumes someone might breathe from the chimneys of their neighbours. And this sort of pollution can be quite intense in winter. We don't have any archives on this sort of data.

As well as that, these records of particle levels take no account of the fact that people vary in their sensitivity to pollution. So someone like me with a history of asthma might be very different from you in that regard. But anyway, even though these pollution maps are fairly rudimentary, they've been useful in providing evidence and raising awareness that air quality matters. We need to regulate it, and so it's a legislative matter. And that's vital.

We need guidelines because pollution can cause all sorts of ailments. Those of you who are urban residents know that traffic flows 24 hours a day, so urban residents often suffer from respiratory issues. It's also established that pollution can lead to a rise in cases of allergies due to chemical changes in the body affecting the function of the lungs. And there are other impacts as well. For instance, if athletes don't have a clean place to train, their performance will decline.

Now, one problem with microgram measurement is that it doesn't differentiate between different sources of particles. Some types of aerosols that most people would probably think of as natural and harmless might well score quite highly in microgram levels. Think of the dust made by a sandstorm in a desert city, for example. That's not necessarily something that we'd want to eliminate or filter. So maybe researchers should consider these sorts of particles in urban planning.

This is going to be complex. Just measuring microgram levels isn't going to help us here. Instead, many researchers are turning to other disciplines. For example, some are using techniques from medical science to study people's physiological response to air.

But we also need to look at the design of our cities. Today's advanced technologies can help us. To show us their concepts and help us to visualise the effect their designs will have, politicians and city developers already use computer modelling, but these simulations are often static. In the future, such programmes could use dynamic data, meaning that airflow could be simulated before being constructed. So hopefully, using the best technology we can access, the city of the future will be a pleasure to the lungs as well as the eyes.

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