Audioscripts IELTS Practice 18 Listening Test 03

Part 1

You will hear a man telephoning an art society to ask about membership.

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

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.

Coordinator: Good morning, North-West Art Society. This is Helen speaking.

Applicant: Oh, hello. My name is Mark and I’m interested in joining your society.

Coordinator: That’s wonderful, Mark. We are always looking for new artists. I can fill out the membership form with you now over the phone if you have a moment?

Applicant: Yes, that would be great.

Coordinator: Right. I’ll start with your surname.

Applicant: It’s Denton.

Coordinator: Is that D-E-N-T-O-N?

Applicant: Yes, that’s correct.

Coordinator: And I’ll need your email address to send you our newsletter.

Applicant: Sure. It’s [email protected].

Coordinator: Got it. Now, could I take your home address?

Applicant: Yes. I live in the village of Oakhaven. It’s about twenty minutes drive from your studio.

Coordinator: Lovely area. And the house number and street?

Applicant: It’s Number 14, Byfield Road.

Coordinator: Can you spell the street name for me?

Applicant: Yes. It’s B-Y-F-I-E-L-D. Byfield Road.

Coordinator: Thank you. Now, we like to know how people find out about us. Did you see our poster in the library?

Applicant: I actually looked for art clubs online first, but I couldn't find much. Then I was chatting to a colleague at work, and she recommended you highly.

Coordinator: Oh, that’s nice to hear. Personal recommendations are always the best.

Applicant: Definitely.

Coordinator: So, what are you hoping to get out of the club?

Applicant: Well, I really want to improve my technique, but mainly I’m interested in the exhibitions you hold. I’d love to show my work to the public.

Coordinator: We do two big exhibitions a year, so that’s perfect. Now, regarding membership. There are two tiers.

Applicant: What’s the difference?

Coordinator: Well, Standard Membership is £40 a year. But if you want Gold Membership, it’s £60 a year.

Applicant: And what does the Gold one include?

Coordinator: It gives you 24-hour access to the studio space. Standard members can only come when we have classes.

Applicant: Oh, I definitely need the studio space because my house is too small. I’ll go for the Gold one.

Coordinator: Excellent choice.

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.

Coordinator: So Mark, I’d love to hear a bit about your painting experience. Have you entered any competitions before?

Applicant: Yes, a few local ones. I haven’t won anything yet, but it’s good practice.

Coordinator: Absolutely. Can you tell me about the pieces you submitted?

Applicant: Well, the first competition I entered had the theme of Modern Industry.

Coordinator: Sounds gritty. What did you paint?

Applicant: I did a painting of an old factory with smoke coming out of the chimneys.

Coordinator: Did the judges like it?

Applicant: They liked the detail, but they said the perspective was wrong. The building looked a bit crooked.

Coordinator: Ah, perspective is very tricky to get right. We have a workshop on that next month actually.

Applicant: I should definitely attend that.

Coordinator: And what about the second competition?

Applicant: The theme for that one was Winter.

Coordinator: A classic subject.

Applicant: Yes. I tried to paint a snow scene in the local park. I thought it was quite atmospheric.

Coordinator: And the feedback?

Applicant: They said it was a bit dull. Apparently, the light wasn't strong enough. It looked too grey.

Coordinator: Snow is surprisingly hard to paint because it reflects so many colours. It’s rarely just white or grey.

Applicant: Exactly. I learned that the hard way!

Coordinator: And did you enter a third one?

Applicant: Yes, just last month. The theme was Portraits.

Coordinator: Oh, drawing people. That’s brave.

Applicant: I painted my sister. I spent hours getting her face right.

Coordinator: And?

Applicant: Well, the judges said the face was excellent, but they criticized the background.

Coordinator: Why?

Applicant: I made it too bright and colourful, so it distracted attention away from her face.

Coordinator: That’s a common mistake. You want the subject to stand out.

Applicant: Yes. Next time I’ll keep it simple.

Coordinator: Well, Mark, it sounds like you have a lot of potential. We look forward to seeing you at the next meeting.

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

Part 2

You will hear an interview with an expert beekeeper called Sarah Jenkins talking about keeping bees in urban areas.

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

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

Interviewer: Good evening. Tonight we are looking at the rising trend of bringing nature back into our cities. We are joined by Sarah Jenkins, who has been keeping bees on rooftops in London for over ten years. Sarah, welcome.

Sarah: Thanks for having me.

Interviewer: So, urban beekeeping. Is it something anyone can do?

Sarah: Well, that’s the first thing I usually have to address. People assume that to keep bees, you need a huge amount of outdoor space, like a country garden. This is a common misconception. You might also worry that it takes up too much personal time, or even that it is illegal to do it in city centres. But none of that is true. In fact, bees thrive in cities. You can easily keep a hive on a small balcony or a roof terrace.

Interviewer: But surely, keeping thousands of stinging insects in a city is risky?

Sarah: You have to be responsible, of course. But honeybees are generally very calm creatures. They haven't had their stings removed, as some people jokingly ask, but they are very safe because they are entirely focused on finding nectar. They are not interested in humans. People often confuse them with wasps, which can be much more aggressive, but bees will usually only sting if their home is directly attacked.

Interviewer: And why should people do it? Is it to produce their own food?

Sarah: The honey is a great bonus. But you certainly won't make enough to sell it, so don't do it just to save money on buying honey. Actually, the primary reason most of my students start is for conservation. They are worried about the decline in insect populations and want to do something practical to support the local environment.

Interviewer: Is it expensive to set up?

Sarah: It can be. A good quality hive will cost a bit. You might be tempted to make your own hives from wood to save cash, or buy second-hand items online, but diseases can easily hide in old wood. My main advice is simply to avoid buying the lowest-priced products. Cheap wood rots quickly and makes the bees sick.

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

(pause)

Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

Sarah: If you are thinking of starting, my biggest piece of advice is: do not try to learn it from a book or YouTube videos alone. Beekeeping is a highly practical skill. I strongly recommend joining your local association. They run beginner courses where you can actually handle bees with an expert before you buy your own.

Interviewer: Are there any rules people need to know about?

Sarah: You should always inform your neighbors before starting. Also, you must be careful not to have too many hives in one area. If there are too many bees, they will compete for food and start robbing weaker hives.

Interviewer: You mentioned disease earlier. Is that a big problem?

Sarah: It is. But currently, the biggest threat for city bees isn't disease or pollution, it's actually pesticides. People love their perfect lawns and roses, so they spray chemicals in their private gardens, which is completely fatal to bees.

Interviewer: What about the harvest? How much honey can you get?

Sarah: A healthy hive produces a lot of honey. But a word of warning: never take all of it. Ensure you leave enough honey for the bees to survive the winter. And when you store your share, always use glass jars with tight lids. Plastic isn't great, because honey absorbs moisture from the air, and if it gets wet, it will spoil.

Interviewer: Finally, Sarah, is there anyone who shouldn't keep bees?

Sarah: Well, obviously if you have severe allergies to stings, it’s not for you. But also, beekeeping is physical work. So if you have a bad back, you will definitely struggle without help, mainly because a full box of honey is surprisingly heavy to lift off the hive.

Interviewer: Sarah, thank you. It’s been fascinating.

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 marketing students, Jack and Chloe, discussing a lecture on the history and future of the retail industry.

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

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

Jack: That lecture on the evolution of retail yesterday was fascinating, wasn't it? I never really thought about how the arrival of the first department stores in the 19th century completely changed society.

Chloe: I agree. It was really interesting to hear how the small independent shopkeepers reacted at the time. I didn't realize there was such a backlash.

Jack: Yeah, they were terrified. The speed of technological change back then was actually quite slow, but they thought these huge new stores like Selfridges or Harrods would destroy their livelihoods. It’s very similar to how high street shops feel about Amazon and online giants today.

Chloe: Exactly. History repeating itself. I wondered if there was any government reaction to protect them, but the professor said the politicians just let it happen. In the end, the small shops didn't disappear completely; they just had to adapt.

Jack: True. I also found the professor’s predictions for the future surprisingly positive. He seems to think that physical shops will never die out because humans crave social interaction.

Chloe: I’m not sure I share his optimism, Jack.

Jack: Really? Did you think his argument was confusing?

Chloe: No, he explained it clearly enough. And I don't think he was being realistic either. He was definitely overly optimistic.

Jack: Why do you say that? Some experts think malls might just sell more luxury goods, or even disappear completely.

Chloe: I don't think they will vanish overnight, and they won't just be for the rich. But he argued that shopping malls will become community hubs where people go just to hang out and do social activities. If you look at the statistics, footfall in malls is dropping every year. Why would people drive to a mall to hang out when they can socialize online and get groceries delivered?

Jack: I suppose. And what about his point about personalization? That technology will make the shopping experience more personalized? Will that reduce the cost of goods?

Chloe: Not necessarily. And while some fear it will lead to higher unemployment, I don't think that's the main issue. The personalization part I do agree with. AI knowing what I want before I do is already happening.

Jack: It’s a bit scary though, isn't it? But we both agree it's the most likely outcome.

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.

Jack: The most useful part of the lecture was definitely the breakdown of how specific jobs in retail have changed over the last century.

Chloe: Yeah. Take Shop Assistants, for example. You’d think with self-checkout machines, their numbers would have crashed. Are they being paid much more than in the past?

Jack: Not really, the wages are about the same. But the data showed that despite the technology, the number of workers has actually increased. They aren't behind the till anymore; they are on the floor acting as advisors.

Chloe: Right. Then there’s the Delivery Drivers. In the 19th century, that was a minor role.

Jack: It’s exploded. Thanks to online shopping, it’s seen massive growth. But I wonder if that work will soon be done mainly by robots or drones?

Chloe: Not yet. But speaking of dying professions, what about Tailors? That was a sad story.

Jack: Yeah. A hundred years ago, almost every street had a tailor. Now, with fast fashion, it’s cheaper to buy a new shirt than to fix an old one. So that profession has nearly disappeared due to cheap alternatives.

Chloe: True. I was also surprised by the data on Travel Agents. I assumed they were extinct because of booking websites.

Jack: The lecturer said they are actually making a comeback. Only for complex trips, though, like honeymoons or round-the-world cruises. People don't trust themselves to book those online. So the role has shifted to become a niche specialist service.

Chloe: Exactly. What about Butchers? Supermarkets took most of their business.

Jack: Yes, but there's been a recent revival due to a demand for quality meat. People want to know where their food comes from.

Chloe: So they are surviving. And finally, Bank Tellers.

Jack: Since ATMs and banking apps came in, the need for someone to physically count cash for you has gone. The graph showed a steep decline. I don't think that job will exist at all in ten years.

Chloe: I agree. It shows that if a job is purely repetitive, it’s in danger.

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

Part 4

You will hear an environmental science student giving a presentation about the challenges of managing electronic waste, or e-waste.

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

(pause)

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

Student: In today’s presentation, I’m going to discuss one of the fastest-growing waste streams on the planet: electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste. This includes everything from discarded smartphones and laptops to old fridges and televisions.

We often talk about plastic pollution, but e-waste is actually more problematic in many ways. The volume is increasing at an alarming rate. According to recent UN data, the world generates over 50 million tonnes of e-waste every year. So, why is this happening? You might think it's due to a lack of recycling facilities, but the primary driver is simply the cost. Electronics have become so affordable that for many people, it is much cheaper to buy a brand-new device than to repair an old one. This economic reality, combined with a culture of constantly upgrading to the latest model, means the lifespan of our devices is getting shorter and shorter.

But why is e-waste so difficult to manage? Why can't we just recycle it like paper or glass?

Well, there are several technical and logistical barriers. First, modern devices are incredibly complex. A single smartphone can contain up to 60 different elements. The problem is the way they are put together. In the past, products were screwed together with easily removable parts. But today, instead of metal screws, manufacturers often rely heavily on strong glue to hold components in place. This makes it extremely difficult, sometimes impossible, to separate the battery from the screen without completely destroying the device.

Secondly, there is the issue of safety. E-waste contains a mixture of valuable metals, like silver and copper, but it also contains highly hazardous substances. If not dismantled correctly, dangerous elements such as lead and mercury can easily leak into the soil and water supply. This makes the recycling process expensive and risky, requiring specialized facilities that many countries simply don't have.

Another significant hurdle is consumer behavior, specifically regarding privacy. Millions of people hoard old laptops and phones in their drawers at home rather than recycling them. This is because they are terrified that their personal data might be stolen if the device falls into the wrong hands. This insecurity prevents huge amounts of resources from re-entering the supply chain.

Then there is the problem of illegal movement. Because proper recycling is expensive, there is a large, unregulated trade where waste is falsely labeled as "used goods" and sent to developing nations. These countries often lack the infrastructure to handle it safely. This illegal export of waste makes it very hard to track where our discarded gadgets actually end up.

So, those are the problems. What are the solutions?

Governments and manufacturers are starting to wake up to the crisis. One of the most important shifts is the push for "Right to Repair" legislation. This is a set of laws requiring manufacturers to make spare parts and repair manuals available to the public. The ultimate aim is to extend the life of the product, so we don't throw it away so quickly.

From a design perspective, we are seeing a move towards "modular" electronics. This means if one part fails, you can just replace that specific component.

There is also a huge economic opportunity in what is called "Urban Mining". This involves recovering precious materials from waste. Believe it or not, there is a much higher concentration of gold in a tonne of mobile phones than there is in a tonne of ore from a traditional mine. Recovering this metal reduces the need to dig up the earth.

To make this work, we need better standardization. Currently, almost every brand has different power connectors. Introducing a universal charger would significantly reduce the amount of waste created by discarded cables.

Finally, we need to change the economic model. Instead of a "linear" economy—where we make, use, and dispose—we need to move towards a circular economy. In this system, the manufacturer retains ownership of the device, and the customer simply leases it. When the contract is up, the manufacturer takes it back to reuse the parts. This incentivizes them to build durable products, rather than ones designed to break after a few years.

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