Audioscripts IELTS Practice 10 Listening Test 02

Part 1

You will hear a woman interviewing a man in a shopping centre about his shopping habits. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

Interviewer: Good morning.

Man: Hello.

Interviewer: Do you have a moment to participate in a quick survey about shopping? It won't take long.

Man: Yes, that's okay.

Interviewer: Excellent. The survey is for the centre management. They want to understand how you shop and any ideas for better services. Can I begin by asking how you got to the centre today?

Man: Sure. I drove my car.

Interviewer: Great. Now, can I take a few details about yourself?

Man: OK.

Interviewer: What's your name?

Man: It's Thomas.

Interviewer: Yes.

Man: Milsom.

Interviewer: Can you spell that, please?

Man: Yes. It's M-I-L-S-O-M.

Interviewer: Great. Thanks. And can I have your postcode?

Man: It's PE14 7DJ.

Interviewer: Oh, right. I know that area. It's Northville, isn't it?

Man: That's right.

Interviewer: Great. And could I ask what your occupation is? Are you employed?

Man: I've actually just retired. I was a teacher.

Interviewer: Oh, right. And one more question in this section. What is the main purpose of your visit today?

Man: Actually, it's not for groceries today, which would be my usual trip, but to buy a gift.

Interviewer: Right. Thanks. Now, I'd like you to give us some feedback about the amenities and layout of the centre. Any suggestions you have for upgrades?

Man: Well, something I've noticed for a while is that when I do shop late and I'm parking underground, I think the signage should be clearer.

Interviewer: Yes, valid point.

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

[Pause]

Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

Man: And of course I think it's a real pity they've been reducing the number of seats. They should have more of those. Then older people would stay longer.

Interviewer: Yes, true.

Man: And I don't think there are enough toilets. That's why I don't drink coffee here. You have to queue so long.

Interviewer: Thanks. And finally, I'd like to ask your view on the food court. As you may know, there's a plan to expand the dining area.

Man: Right.

Interviewer: But we realise that there are things which the management, but also the restaurants, might do to improve the experience.

Man: Yeah. Well, I have considered it, and where I eat, there are no quiet places to have a conversation.

Interviewer: OK.

Man: And also, the air conditioning is very strong and on a cold day I freeze, so I think I'd need the heating turned up a bit.

Interviewer: Right.

Man: And I suppose the last thing is that I wouldn't be all that keen on eating fast food. I think I'd like to see you offering more healthy options. You know, I'd feel a lot better about eating here if that was available.

Interviewer: Well, that's very constructive. Thank you very much for your time.

Man: You're welcome. Bye.

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

Part 2

You will hear a director of a local museum giving information about two new exhibitions which are launching soon in the gallery.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

Director: Good afternoon. I'm delighted to have this chance to share details about two fascinating new displays in the museum, the 'Industrial Heritage' wing and the 'Future Cities' installation in the Main Hall.

As many of you are aware, the concept for these galleries came from you, the residents, in the large-scale feedback survey which the Museum Trust carried out last year. And they have been funded using grants from the NLF, the National Lottery Fund.

First of all, 'Industrial Heritage'. As many of the long-term residents of the town will recall, there used to be a thriving textile mill on the riverbank 50 years ago, but it had to shut when it was deemed to be unprofitable.

For the curation of this new interactive space, we were thrilled to enlist the skills of nationally famous designer Mark Stevens, who has succeeded in blending a classic Victorian aesthetic, which harmonises so well with many of the original artifacts in the collection, with cutting-edge technology such as a holographic projection, the first of its type in the country, which allows visitors to see the machinery in motion.

Now, there's been some speculation in the community newsletters about whether there would be sufficient light for the delicate fabrics we're planning to show, but the lighting is advanced, and there have been strict tests regarding UV levels. Also, just in case you were concerned, we're on track for the July 1st launch date, and slightly under budget, a credit to the superb management of our project team, Logans.

We hope that as many families as possible will attend on July 1st. We have invited local celebrity chef James Oliver to cut the ribbon, and there'll be tea and cake served in the foyer. There'll also be a vote for the visitors to choose the name of the mascot we plan to use for the children's guide. You will select which local animal from the riverbank we should adopt.

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.

Director: And now, turning to the 'Future Cities' installation, which we're proud to say has just received the Green Design Prize for Innovation. The notification arrived only yesterday.

The distinctive layout is based on the idea of the sustainable metropolis, with the exhibition being split into six zones depicting different aspects of urban life, each with a key innovation.

For instance, there is a zone on Transport, and this is illustrated by models and simulations in the form of drones, maglev trains, electric scooters and so forth, vehicles suited to the congestion of the modern city.

Moving on to Energy, we couldn't build a nuclear reactor, unfortunately, but chose instead for interactive screens in the shape of solar panels. I thought they could have had wind turbines for the renewable sector, but the curators did wish to keep the noise levels down.

Then on to Housing, and here the focus is vertical living, structures mimicking the growth of trees with hanging gardens.

And then, looking at Communication, here there was much discussion. I know the impact of smartphones and social media was debated, but the team finally selected satellites and the global internet network.

Next to Education then, and perhaps the most futuristic vision of all the zones, virtual classrooms and AI tutors.

Then finally, moving to Water, there is a complete series of beautiful pipes and filters to symbolize the purification systems of this essential and scarce resource.

Now, the opening date for our future exhibition is the 20th of August, and again, we'd be thrilled to welcome you. So, mark your calendars and visit this inspiring, creative new display right in the centre of the town.

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

Part 3

You will hear two history students called James and Sarah discussing their joint presentation about a famous aviator called Amelia Earhart.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

Sarah: Right, well... For our presentation, shall I start with the early life of Amelia Earhart?

James: Sure. Why don't you begin with describing the type of girl she was, especially her passion for challenging norms?

Sarah: That's right. She kept a scrapbook of women who succeeded in male-dominated fields. And I think it's notable for children to develop their own heroes and not just follow their parents' expectations. I'm thinking of how Earhart wouldn't play with dolls like other girls, for example.

James: Yeah, she preferred to learn about mechanics by watching her father fix things. And quite early on, she knew she wanted to become a pilot when she grew up. That came from visiting an airfield she went to in Canada, I think.

Sarah: No, it was a stunt show that she saw at a fair as a young woman.

James: Oh, right. After school, she worked as a nurse and then she decided to experience flying as a passenger, to find out how the sensation of height affected her.

Sarah: As part of her training, before she bought her own plane, she learnt basic maintenance skills, like repairing an engine. I guess she needed that knowledge in order to fly solo in a fragile machine with few instruments, cut off by the clouds, which is what she was aiming to do.

James: An important part of your talk should be the record-breaking flight she completed across the Atlantic that she happened to be a passenger on initially. I think you should finish with that.

Sarah: OK.

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.

James: All right, Sarah. So after your part, I'll talk about Amelia Earhart's solo career, continuing from the theory she had about commercial aviation. Up until that time, of course, the public had believed that flying was just a dangerous hobby for daredevils.

Sarah: Yes, but Earhart spent ages promoting the safety records, flight schedules and new routes to prove if it was actually viable. And another argument was that there was no market for passenger travel in the communities lying to the west of the Mississippi. But Earhart knew they made lots of long train journeys that could be replaced by planes.

James: Yes, or flying on scheduled services, as was shown by the long tour that Earhart did next. It was an incredibly exhausting journey to undertake. Sometimes I wonder if she did that trip for financial reasons, you know, to show sponsors that she could attract publicity. What do you think, Sarah?

Sarah: Well, I think it was more a matter of simply proving her point, to see if reliable travel was possible.

James: Yes, that's probably it. And the poor woman suffered a bit at that time because the weather forced her to land in fields several times.

Sarah: Yes. When she got started again and planned her world flight, do you think it was important to her that she circumnavigate the globe at the equator?

James: Um, I haven't read anywhere that that was her motivation. The most important factor seems to have been that she used the latest technology and radio equipment to navigate her route.

Sarah: Yes. I wonder how far she got.

James: Well, she made it most of the way from Miami to the Pacific. And after that, Earhart went missing near Howland Island, didn't she? We should mention the purpose of that stop. I think she was aiming to refuel there.

Sarah: No, that was earlier in New Guinea, James.

James: Oh, yes, that's right. But what she wanted to do was contact the coast guard ship about her position and then land there to rest before the final leg.

Sarah: I see. Well, what a tragic end. Even though her final flight failed, she certainly left a lasting impression on aviation, didn't she? To my mind, she was the first person to establish what modern pilots call celebrity endorsement. I mean that they try to use their fame to sell a product, like she did with her clothing line.

James: It's unfortunate that her ideas about women in engineering have been somewhat overlooked.

Sarah: Yes. Right, well, I'll prepare a handout at the end that lists our references. I mainly used The Sound of Wings by Mary Lovell. I thought the archival sources she used were very detailed, although... I must say I found the narrative style somewhat dry. I think they need to make it more engaging.

James: Yeah, I agree. What about the technical diagrams? I found them really helpful.

Sarah: Well, it's a technical subject. I thought the book had lots of good maps. What did you think of the photos?

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 seminar by an economics student predicting how consumer behaviour might evolve in the coming decade.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

Student: Well, I've been interviewing shoppers in a variety of retail sectors and analysing reports about the future of consumption. And what I'm going to outline in this presentation is a few concepts about how this activity is likely to shift in the next 10 years. It isn't a comprehensive data study, just some projections for us to debate.

One domain I want to highlight is digital commerce, and I'm certain a truly crucial evolution will be a substantial rise in personalisation, with platforms from all over the globe attempting to curate unique experiences. Furthermore, we are seeing that buyers will have much more control over the customization of products. For instance, clothing items bought in the UK might be modified to specific tastes in Vietnam, Italy, Turkey, and scores of other nations.

Simultaneously, consolidation and monopolies imply that local authorities are actually ceding influence to massive tech giants. We can likely all name brands that wield a significant amount of power, which may be risky for privacy.

A third observation I want to raise about commerce is that in the swiftly developing nations, such as Indonesia, Nigeria, Mexico, and Vietnam, the middle class is expanding very rapidly. This is placing strain on supply chains all over the planet.

I believe retailers are becoming more responsive to ethical concerns. Specifically, brands are engaging activists more and more before finalizing their sourcing strategies. Firms are discovering what they value and delivering it, instead of manufacturing goods and then attempting to market them, which is the paradigm of the past. Another factor is that worries about the climate will compel producers to shorten delivery distances, to decrease the volume of carbon and emissions. And, in many instances, legislation will need to be tightened to ensure these standards are met.

Many communities are much more connected and vocal, and the organization of retail is adapting to mirror that. I believe we're going to witness a stronger focus within brands on collaborations formed with a specific cause in mind. And when they're achieved, the partnerships will be dissolved and fresh ones established.

Increasingly, individuals view shopping as merely one aspect of their identity, and not the defining one. And as disposable income is fluctuating in some regions, retailers are having to vie for loyalty instead of being able to rely on a captive audience. Typical incentives that will lure and keep customers are classic ones like loyalty points and, something that has been enabled by progress in logistics, same-day delivery, with goods arriving at their office, locker, or almost wherever they prefer.

Marketing strategies will almost definitely continue to transform. Brand managers will demand a lot more than the creativity that they've always required. Above all, they'll need exceptional skills in data analysis so that their campaign can predict and adapt to trends in a volatile market where they encounter loads of conflicting signals and potential backlash.

In the majority of the industry, the creative directors of major agencies are predominantly men in their 40s and 50s. The dominant tone of advertising will almost certainly become more inclusive and diverse, driven, above all, by more young people moving into decision-making roles.

Many of the shifts are impacted by trends in the broader culture. The historical focus of retail was goods, and obviously the service industry is vital. But we shouldn't ignore the rising economic value of data, that is, information assets. Some apps and platforms generate huge revenues from the sale of related insights, profiles, habits, preferences, and so forth.

Another argument I'd like to present is that although I've been discussing corporations, one movement that they have to confront is the shift away from people buying from the same chain for a lifetime. Instead, more and more consumers are becoming independent to acquire the variety and ethics in their purchases that they're unlikely to find from being loyal.

Okay, well, that's everything I wanted to cover, so let's start the Q&A.

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