Audioscripts IELTS Practice 18 Listening Test 01

Part 1

You will hear a man phoning a local cycling club to ask about becoming a member.

First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

Secretary: Hello, City Cycling Club. How can I help you?

Man: Hello. I’m calling because I’ve just moved to the area and I’m interested in joining your club.

Secretary: Oh, that’s great. We are always happy to welcome new members. I just need to take a few details from you first, if that’s okay?

Man: Yes, of course.

Secretary: Right, can I start with your full name, please?

Man: Yes, it’s James Hallam.

Secretary: Is that H-A-L-E-M?

Man: Not quite. It’s H-A-double L-A-M.

Secretary: H-A-double L-A-M. Got it. Thanks, James. And roughly how old are you? I only ask because we have different groups for juniors and seniors.

Man: No problem. I was born in 1996, so I’m 27 years old.

Secretary: Perfect. And could I have your current address?

Man: Yes. I’m living at 42, West Lane.

Secretary: Is that in the city centre?

Man: It’s just on the edge. The postcode is CF2 4XY.

Secretary: CF2 4XY. Lovely. Now, do you work locally? We sometimes have lunchtime rides for people working in town.

Man: Ah, unfortunately, I’m quite busy during the day. I work as an accountant, so I’m usually stuck in the office from nine to five.

Secretary: I see. Well, the evening rides will suit you better then. And one last question for the registration form: What kind of bicycle do you currently ride?

Man: Well, I used to have a mountain bike, but I sold it when I moved here. Now I’ve got a road bike. It’s much faster on the tarmac.

Secretary: Definitely. Most of our members ride road bikes too.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.

(pause)

Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

Secretary: So, James, how much cycling experience do you have?

Man: I’ve been riding seriously for about 5 years. I used to go out every weekend with a group in my old town.

Secretary: That’s good. So you’re used to riding in a pack. What is your main reason for wanting to join us? Is it for training?

Man: To be honest, I’m fit enough. The main thing is that I don’t know anyone in this city yet, so I’m really joining for the social side of things. I want to meet new people.

Secretary: That’s the best reason! We are a very friendly bunch. Now, regarding equipment. Obviously, you need a helmet.

Man: Yes, I have a new one. Do I need to wear high-visibility clothing?

Secretary: It’s not mandatory, but we recommend it in winter. However, we do insist that everyone brings a pair of gloves. It’s for safety if you fall off.

Man: Okay, I’ll make sure I buy some. And how long are the weekend rides usually?

Secretary: We have two groups. The Coffee Group does about 25 kilometres. But given your experience, you’d probably fit the Sport Group. They usually cover about 40 kilometres.

Man: Forty kilometres sounds fine. I can manage that.

Secretary: Great. Finally, there is an annual membership fee.

Man: Sure. How much is it?

Secretary: It’s usually £45 for the year, but if you join this month, there is a discount, so it’s only £35.

Man: Oh, that’s a bargain. Can I pay by card?

Secretary: Yes, you can pay when you come to your first ride.

Man: Brilliant. Thanks for your help, Sarah.

Secretary: Bye, James. See you soon.

That is the end of part one. You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.

Part 2

You will hear a coordinator talking to a group of residents about a new community garden project called The Green Hub.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15.

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.

Coordinator: Hello, good evening everyone. Thank you all for coming out on such a rainy Tuesday night.

I know there was a mix-up with the lack of seats at our last meeting, but thankfully we have plenty of chairs today. I do need to apologize, however, because the heating system broke down this morning, so please keep your coats on if you’re feeling chilly. At least the sound system is working perfectly this time, so you should all be able to hear me clearly. We’ve also arranged for some hot tea and coffee at the back to help keep you warm.

So, let me give you a brief background. The Green Hub isn't just about planting flowers; it's about reclaiming urban space.

Now, regarding who can join. We want to be as inclusive as possible. Initially, we considered only accepting people living in the immediate neighbourhood, but we realized that goes against our community spirit. So, whether you live right next door or you take the bus from the other side of the town, you are welcome to sign up as a member. Children are definitely encouraged to visit and help out, but actual membership is restricted to adults for insurance purposes.

Another practical point is funding. People often ask if we are sponsored by the railway company since we use their land, but they only provide the space, not the cash. We also applied for a government grant last year, but unfortunately, we weren't successful. So currently, we are relying entirely on the small monthly contributions from our members to keep things running.

However, we do have some good news. We approached a local garden centre to ask if they could provide some expert advice and training, but they simply didn't have the staff to spare. Instead, they have generously promised to supply all the seeds and compost we need for our first season. They can't offer us any financial support, but getting those materials for free is a huge relief.

I also want to touch on the time commitment. We don’t expect you to be here every single weekend. We ask for a pledge system. Some gardening groups ask for four hours a week, which is too much for most people. We simply ask for a minimum of four hours a month. You can do that all in one Saturday afternoon, or spread it out. It’s completely flexible to fit around your life.

Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20.

(pause)

Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.

Coordinator: Right, let’s move on to the specific teams we need volunteers for. You don’t need to be an expert gardener to help out.

First up is the Vegetable Patch Team. This is the core of our project. For this role, the most important thing isn't knowledge of plant nutrition—we can teach you that. What you really need is a good level of fitness. There is a lot of digging and heavy lifting involved, especially in the first few weeks as we prepare the soil.

Next, we have the Wildlife Pond. We are creating a small ecosystem to attract frogs and insects. We need volunteers to monitor the water quality and the species that visit. You don't need a science degree for this, but you must have great attention to detail to notice small changes in the environment. It’s a quiet, slow-paced role.

Then there is the Upcycling Workshop. We plan to build all our planters and benches from recycled pallets. We are looking for people who are handy with tools. If you have any experience working with wood in the past, this would be the perfect fit for you. We need to make sure the structures are safe and sturdy.

We also have a Social and Events Team. We want to hold a summer barbecue and an autumn festival. If you join this team, you don't need artistic talent to draw posters. What we really need are strong planning abilities. You’ll be managing budgets, booking bands, and making sure the events run strictly to schedule.

Finally, there is the Digital Archive. We want to document the transformation of the garden. We need someone to run our website. You don't need to write long articles, but you absolutely must have skill with a camera, as we want to share high-quality images and videos of our progress with the public.

Okay, does anyone have any questions so far?

That is the end of part two. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two.

Part 3

You will hear two architecture students called Leo and Mia discussing a guest lecture they have just attended.

First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.

Leo: Hey Mia. That was a long session, wasn't it? What did you make of Mr. Henderson's talk?

Mia: Hi Leo. Honestly? I struggled to concentrate at the beginning.

Leo: Why? Was it the air conditioning again? It’s always freezing in that lecture hall.

Mia: No, I brought a jumper this time, so I was fine. And we had a great view of the screen. It was the microphone. It kept cutting in and out for the first ten minutes. It was really distracting.

Leo: Oh yeah, that was annoying. But once they fixed it, I thought his content was actually quite grounding. Especially the bit about the reality of being a junior architect.

Mia: You mean the part where he crushed our dreams? I thought it was a bit discouraging.

Leo: A little bit. I went in expecting him to be overwhelmingly positive, but we needed to hear the truth. We all think we’re going to graduate and immediately start designing skyscrapers. But he made it clear that we’ll spend the first five years just checking regulations. It's better to be realistic.

Mia: True. But I was surprised by his attitude towards clients. He had nothing but praise for our university professors, but he basically said that clients don't know what they want and that we should ignore their initial ideas.

Leo: I see your point. I think he meant we shouldn't just be "yes-men", but yeah, he came across a bit arrogant. He even complained about government regulations.

Mia: And what about what he said regarding our university projects?

Leo: That stung a bit. We spend so much time studying the history of architecture, and we have total creative freedom in our assignments, but he said our coursework focuses too much on aesthetics and ignores the budget.

Mia: I actually agree with him there. I mean, in my last design, I used expensive marble everywhere. I never even calculated how much it would cost. In the real world, that project would never get built.

Leo: Exactly. We definitely need more training on the financial planning side of things. So, did the talk change your plans for after graduation? We both want to work in London, right?

Mia: Yes, the location hasn't changed. But I was dead set on joining a huge international firm. Now I’m thinking a smaller boutique studio might be better. He said in big firms you just become a small cog in a machine.

Leo: That’s interesting. I’m the opposite. We both want to design public buildings, but I still want the big firm experience. I want the scale and the resources, and you can’t get that in a small studio.

Mia: Fair enough. But what about the overtime he mentioned? Working weekends without pay?

Leo: He said it’s a "rite of passage". I guess I’m resigned to it. It’s just how the industry works, maybe just acceptable for a short period at the start.

Mia: See, I refuse to accept that. Just because he suffered forty years ago doesn't mean we should be exploited today. If I’m working, I expect to be paid. It is completely unfair and we should push back against it.

Leo: You might find it hard to get hired with that attitude, Mia!

Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30.

(pause)

Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.

Leo: I did enjoy his stories about his past experiences. What about the glass pavilion he designed in his twenties?

Mia: The one where they ran out of money halfway through? Yeah. He said he was so obsessed with using imported materials that the client almost cancelled it.

Leo: Right. It really highlighted that keeping strict control of financial costs is just as important as the design itself.

Mia: Absolutely. And then there was the library renovation.

Leo: Oh, that was a disaster! I can't believe he admitted that he forgot to design a wheelchair ramp.

Mia: I know. He was so focused on making the grand staircase look dramatic that he completely forgot about wheelchair users. It was a hard lesson that function and accessibility have to come before form.

Leo: Definitely. And what did you think about his advice on working on a construction site?

Mia: You mean actually laying bricks and mixing cement? He suggested every architect should spend six months working as a labourer.

Leo: Yeah. If you’ve never held a brick, you don't know how heavy it is, or how long it takes to build a wall. If we understand the physical work, we won’t draw things that are impossible to build. It’s all about practical feasibility.

Mia: That makes sense. What about his final story about the city council meeting for the park project?

Leo: Oh, when he had to convince the local politicians to approve the design? That was fascinating. It showed me that being an architect isn't just about drawing; you have to master communication to get people on your side.

Mia: Exactly. You really need strong negotiation skills to push your vision forward. I think I’m going to sign up for a public speaking class next term!

That is the end of part three. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part three.

Part 4

You will hear a marine biology student giving a presentation on a project to restore seagrass meadows in coastal waters.

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

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

Student: Good morning. In today's presentation, I would like to discuss a significant marine conservation initiative known as Project Ocean Floor. While we often hear about the destruction of coral reefs, another vital ecosystem is disappearing at an alarming rate: seagrass meadows.

To understand why this project was necessary, we first need to look at the decline. In the coastal region of South Wales, where this study took place, over 90% of the seagrass had vanished in the last century. This was largely due to industrial pollution, but also physical damage caused by boat anchors dragging along the seabed. This is a critical loss because seagrass is an incredibly efficient carbon sink. In fact, it can absorb carbon up to 35 times faster than a tropical rainforest. Without it, our fight against climate change is much harder.

So, how do you restore a meadow under the sea? It is a complex process. The team couldn't just transplant fully grown plants because the root systems are too delicate. Instead, they had to collect seeds. This was done by a team of volunteer divers. They had to swim through existing healthy meadows and hand-pick the fruit of the seagrass plant. It’s a labor-intensive job, as the fruit is small and green, making it hard to spot.

Once the fruit was collected, it wasn't planted immediately. It had to be transported to a laboratory. There, the material was placed in large holding tanks full of seawater. The team then had to wait for the fruit to rot naturally. This sounds unpleasant, but it is necessary to release the seeds from inside the fruit pulp. Once the seeds were separated, they were sorted and prepared for the next stage.

Replanting the seeds in the ocean presented a new engineering challenge. If you just throw seeds into the water, they float away or get washed up on the beach. To solve this, the team developed a special method using biodegradable bags. These small bags were made of hessian, a natural fabric that eventually breaks down in the water.

Inside each bag, they placed a mixture of seeds and mud. Crucially, they also added sand to the mixture. This was not for nutrition, but simply to act as a weight. This ensured that when the bags were thrown off the boats, they would sink straight to the bottom and stay in one place long enough for the roots to establish.

However, the project faced several biological and environmental difficulties. The first was the water conditions. Seagrass requires sunlight to grow, just like plants on land. Therefore, the water clarity had to be monitored constantly. If a storm stirred up too much sediment, the water became cloudy, blocking the light and killing the young plants.

Another unexpected problem came from local wildlife. The team discovered that the newly planted bags were a delicious snack for local creatures. In particular, small crabs were found tearing open the bags and eating the seeds before they could germinate. The team had to adjust the planting season to avoid the time of year when these predators were most active.

Despite these challenges, the outcomes of Project Ocean Floor have been overwhelmingly positive. From an economic perspective, the restoration has been a boon for the local fishing industry. The new meadows provide a nursery ground for juvenile fish, leading to larger stocks of commercially valuable species like cod and flatfish.

Finally, there is a physical benefit to the coastline itself. The dense leaves of the seagrass slow down the movement of the waves. This reduction in wave energy helps to prevent erosion of the nearby beaches, saving the local council millions in coastal defense repairs. It serves as a perfect model of how ecological restoration can support both the economy and the environment.

That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers to part four.