Audioscripts IELTS Practice 16 Listening Test 04

Part 1

You will hear a woman phoning a community centre to book a room for a family party.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

Manager: Hello, Westwood Community Centre, Robert speaking.

Woman: Oh hello. I’m calling to enquire about hiring a room for a family gathering.

Manager: Certainly. What kind of event is it?

Woman: It’s a golden wedding anniversary for my parents. We need somewhere for about 40 people.

Manager: Lovely. And when were you thinking of holding it?

Woman: Ideally, we wanted Saturday the 14th of September.

Manager: Let me just check the diary. Ah, I’m afraid the main hall is fully booked that weekend for a drama festival. We do have Sunday the 15th free?

Woman: No, it has to be the Saturday because family members are travelling down. Is there any availability the following weekend?

Manager: Let’s see... Saturday the 21st? Yes, we have a room free then.

Woman: That should work. We can shift the date. Which room is it?

Manager: It’s not the main hall; it’s the Mitchell Suite.

Woman: Sorry, could you spell that?

Manager: M-I-T-C-H-E-L-L. It’s a lovely room at the back of the building.

Woman: And does that have enough space?

Manager: Yes, it holds up to 50 people standing, or 40 seated, so it fits your numbers perfectly.

Woman: That sounds good. How much does it cost to hire?

Manager: For a Saturday evening, the standard rate is £85.

Woman: Oh, that’s very reasonable. We had a budget of £100.

Manager: However, there is a small surcharge if you want to use the kitchen facilities. That brings the total to £95.

Woman: That’s still within budget. Yes, we’ll need the kitchen. Does the room have outdoor access?

Manager: Yes, there are double doors that lead out to a small terrace. It’s very nice in the evening.

Woman: Perfect. And what about parking? Some of our guests are elderly.

Manager: We have a small car park at the front, but that tends to fill up quickly. However, we have an agreement with the doctor's surgery next door. You can use their car park on weekends.

Woman: That’s good to know.

Woman: I just wanted to check about the facilities in the kitchen. We are planning to bring our own food.

Manager: That’s fine. The kitchen is fully equipped. It has a large fridge and a freezer.

Woman: Does it have an oven? We want to warm up some pies.

Manager: Yes, there is a microwave and a commercial gas oven.

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.

Woman: Excellent. And what about music? We were thinking of bringing a portable speaker.

Manager: That’s fine, but because we are in a residential area, the music must be turned off by 10.30.

Woman: That’s fine. It’s not going to be a wild party.

Manager: And regarding decorations. You can put up balloons and banners, but we ask that you don’t use tape on the walls as it pulls the paint off. Please use Blue Tack instead.

Woman: Understood.

Manager: Also, you will need to make sure the room is left tidy. We provide bin bags, but you must take all your rubbish away with you. We simply don't have the capacity to dispose of it here.

Woman: That’s fair enough. So, how do I secure the booking?

Manager: We require a deposit to hold the date.

Woman: How much is that?

Manager: It’s normally £30 for daytime events, but for evening bookings it is £50. You get that back after the event assuming there is no damage.

Woman: Fine. Can I pay that over the phone now?

Manager: Yes, if you have your card ready...

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

Part 2

You will hear a project manager giving an update to a community group about improvements to a local park and leisure complex.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

Project Manager: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for attending this monthly meeting. As you know, we are now six months into the renovation project for the Oakley Park and Leisure Complex, and I’m here to share the latest progress and address some of the feedback we’ve received from the resident survey.

First, let's talk about the general park facilities. The survey results we received last week were largely positive regarding the new planting scheme. However, a significant number of you mentioned that the perimeter path feels quite intimidating after dark. Therefore, to improve security for dog walkers, we are going to keep the lighting switched on until 10 pm starting next week, rather than turning it off at 8 pm.

Regarding the old decorative fountain near the west gate, there has been a lot of debate. Originally, the plan was to remove it entirely because the plumbing was broken and it was far too expensive to fix. However, the local history society provided evidence that it is a heritage structure. So, instead of knocking it down, we have decided to pack the base with soil and put some colourful bushes in there. This preserves the historical stone structure while completely solving the maintenance issue.

Moving on to the issue of cycling. We’ve had several reports of near-misses between cyclists and pedestrians on the main path. It’s currently a shared space, and it’s just getting too crowded. We looked into banning bikes, but we want to encourage active travel. So, the decision has been made to increase the width of the existing tarmac by an extra metre. This will allow us to paint a dividing line to separate walkers from cyclists, which should stop any further accidents.

Finally, the noise complaints regarding the basketball court. We know that the sound of the ball bouncing late at night has been disturbing residents on Elm Street. We have looked into installing sound barriers, but they are aesthetically unpleasing. Instead of erecting an ugly fence to block the sound, we are going to put in a thick line of trees along the edge of the property. It will take a few years for them to fully mature, but they will eventually act as a fantastic natural sound buffer and visual screen.

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.

Project Manager: Right, now I’d like to walk you through the new layout of the Leisure Complex area. If you look at the plan on the screen, you can see the Main Entrance at the bottom, coming off the High Street.

One of the biggest changes is the location of the New Café. We wanted it to be the first thing people see. So, as you walk through the Main Entrance, the Café is the building immediately on your right. It has a nice patio area facing the path.

We have also relocated the Children's Playground. It used to be near the busy road, which understandably worried parents. We’ve moved it to a much safer spot. If you walk straight up the main path from the entrance, past the central fountain, you’ll see the Playground on your left, just before you reach the river at the very top. It’s fully fenced in now.

For those interested in fitness, the Outdoor Gym has been installed. This is situated in the quietest part of the park. To get there, go through the Main Entrance and take the path branching off to the left. Follow it all the way down to the far left corner, and the gym equipment is arranged there, surrounded by tall hedges for privacy.

We are also very proud of the new Sensory Garden. This is specifically designed for relaxation. It’s located in the very centre of the park, directly to the right of the central fountain. It’s a lovely circular area filled with scented plants and textured surfaces.

The Skate Park caused a bit of controversy regarding its location. We decided to place it as far away from the housing estate as possible to minimise noise. So, if you look at the top right of the map, just across the small bridge over the stream, that is where the Skate Park is now located.

Finally, the Ranger’s Office and First Aid point. We wanted this to be central but accessible without being in the way. It is the small square building located directly behind the New Café. So if you are at the Café, you just walk around the back, and the Office is there facing the right-hand boundary wall.

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

Part 3

You will hear two Environmental Science students, Sarah and Mike, discussing their presentation on Vertical Farming.

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

[Pause]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

Sarah: Hi Mike. I’ve been looking through the articles on vertical farming for our presentation. We need to structure this carefully.

Mike: Agreed. I think we should start with the core motivation. You know, why do we need to stack crops in skyscrapers in the first place?

Sarah: Well, the obvious answer is global land shortage. By 2050, we’ll have 9 billion people and not enough farmland to go around.

Mike: That’s true, but from what I’ve read, the land issue isn't actually the primary driver for investors right now. It’s more about reducing the miles our food travels. Putting the produce right next to the consumer to cut down on shipping logistics and carbon footprint is the real draw for financial backers.

Sarah: OK, fair enough. We’ll lead with that. Then we need to discuss the downsides.

Mike: The big one is energy consumption.

Sarah: Right. Replacing the sun with LED lights.

Mike: Exactly. I read a report detailing the astronomical electricity bills involved. For bulk crops like wheat, it’s just not viable.

Sarah: I saw that too. Although, proponents argue that solar efficiency is constantly improving.

Mike: It is, but not fast enough. We just don't have the green tech capacity to run a 20-storey facility 24/7 affordably right now. So, until that changes, this method is limited to high-value crops like herbs.

Sarah: OK, so energy is the limiting factor. What about the location of these farms?

Mike: Well, there’s a debate about whether they should be shiny new builds or renovations of old properties.

Sarah: Personally, I think the most exciting aspect is the latter. There are empty warehouses and old factories in almost every city centre. Converting them revitalises the neighbourhood and avoids pouring fresh cement.

Mike: That’s a very good point. It solves two urban problems at once.

Sarah: Finally, we need to cover public perception. Do people actually want to eat this food?

Mike: There’s definitely a bit of consumer resistance. Some people feel it’s ‘unnatural’ because it’s grown in a lab-like environment without any soil.

Sarah: Even though it uses absolutely zero pesticides?

Mike: Logic doesn't always win. I think the key to changing their minds is visibility. If shoppers can actually observe the plants growing through glass walls in supermarkets, they’ll trust it more.

Sarah: So, making the process completely transparent is key.

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.

Mike: Shall we look at some specific case studies to include in the slides?

Sarah: Yes. Let’s start with Singapore. It’s the poster child for this technology.

Mike: Definitely. It’s a tiny island with almost zero farmland, so they import 90% of their food.

Sarah: Exactly. So for them, vertical farming isn't a luxury or a fun experiment. They have to make sure the country doesn't starve if global borders close or supply chains break down.

Mike: Right. So it’s driven by necessity. What about the 'AeroFarms' project in Newark, USA?

Sarah: That’s the one in the old steel mill, right?

Mike: Yeah. I think we should highlight their use of technology. They don't just stack plants; they track everything with thousands of sensors. They can predict the exact hour of harvest based on the data.

Sarah: So, it’s a great example of applying data science to biology.

Mike: Agreed. Then there’s the 'Growing Underground' project in London.

Sarah: Oh, the one built in the old World War Two air raid tunnels?

Mike: Yeah. It’s fascinating, but because of the low ceilings, they are severely restricted in what they can grow. They can only manage micro-greens and salad leaves. They can't do taller plants like tomatoes or corn.

Sarah: Ah, so it really demonstrates the physical barriers you face when dealing with old architecture.

Mike: Okay. What about the 'Sky Greens' facility in Taiwan?

Sarah: I wasn't so impressed with that one.

Mike: Really? I thought their hydraulic water system was quite clever.

Sarah: It is, but they struggled heavily when their initial government grants dried up. They had tremendous trouble turning a profit on their own.

Mike: So it illustrates the harsh financial realities of the industry.

Sarah: Yes. Now, we should mention the 'In-Store' farms in Berlin.

Mike: The little glass cabinets inside the supermarkets?

Sarah: Yeah. They don't produce much food at all—maybe just a few handfuls of herbs a day.

Mike: So is it just a marketing gimmick?

Sarah: A bit. But it serves a purpose. It connects the urban shopper to the growing process. It’s really about teaching the public rather than feeding them.

Mike: Nice point. And finally, what about the spread of these farms in Japan?

Sarah: They have fully automated factories now. Robots do all the planting and harvesting.

Mike: That’s great for disease control. No human hands means no germs whatsoever. It completely eliminates the need to wash the vegetables before eating them.

Sarah: Exactly. Great. I think we have plenty of material here for the presentation.

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

Part 4

You will hear a zoology student giving a lecture on the extinction of the Thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger.

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

[Pause 1 minute]

Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

Student: Today we are going to discuss one of the most enigmatic animals of the 20th century: the Thylacine. You might know it better by its common name, the Tasmanian Tiger, or sometimes the Tasmanian Wolf. Despite these names, it was neither a cat nor a canine. It was, in fact, a marsupial, meaning it was more closely related to kangaroos and koalas than to tigers. It carried its young in a pouch, though unlike kangaroos, the Thylacine's pouch opened to the rear to protect the joeys from brush and vegetation while the mother was running.

The history of the Thylacine is a tragic tale of misunderstanding and mismanagement. Fossil records indicate that these creatures were not just restricted to islands; they actually roamed across the entirety of the Australian mainland, as well as New Guinea. However, around 2,000 years ago, they vanished from these broader areas. The prevailing theory is that they were outcompeted by the Dingo, a species of wild dog introduced to Australia by seafarers. Consequently, by the time Europeans arrived in the 18th century, the Thylacine was found only on the island state of Tasmania, where dingoes had never established a population.

When European settlers began to colonize Tasmania in the early 1800s, they brought with them vast flocks of livestock. The Thylacine, being a carnivorous predator, was immediately viewed with suspicion. Farmers quickly pointed the finger at the animal, accusing it of slaughtering their sheep, although modern analysis suggests that feral dogs were actually responsible for the majority of the stock losses.

Nevertheless, the fear was real. In 1830, the Van Diemen's Land Company placed a reward on the animal's head. This culminated in 1888 when the Tasmanian government established a state-sponsored bounty. They handed out cash rewards of £1 for every dead adult Thylacine and 10 shillings for a pup. This legalized extermination resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 animals and is cited as the primary driver of their rapid decline.

Let’s look at the biology of the animal, as recent science has corrected many historical misconceptions. For a long time, the Thylacine was described as a bloodthirsty, powerful predator with a crushing bite. However, computer modeling of Thylacine skulls performed recently revealed a different story. The research demonstrated that their jaws, while able to open incredibly wide—up to 120 degrees—were actually quite weak. The study concluded that a Thylacine would have struggled to take down prey larger than a wallaby, making the claims that they regularly killed full-grown livestock highly unlikely.

Furthermore, early written accounts described the animal as agile and graceful. Yet, biomechanical analysis of their skeleton suggests they were actually rather stiff when they moved. They were not built for high-speed sprinting like a cheetah or a greyhound; instead, they were likely ambush predators who relied on stamina to tire out their prey rather than speed to catch them.

The end of the Thylacine came swiftly. By the 1920s, they were incredibly rare in the wild. The last known wild Thylacine was shot by a farmer in 1930. The very last individual of the species, a male named Benjamin, lived out his days locked in an enclosure at the Hobart Zoo. He died on the 7th of September, 1936. In a cruel twist of irony, the Tasmanian government officially granted the species "protected status" just 59 days before Benjamin died. It was too little, too late.

So, was human hunting the sole cause of their extinction? While the financial rewards for killing them were devastating, scientists now believe it was a "perfect storm" of factors. Genetic studies on museum specimens indicate that the Thylacine population had very low genetic diversity even before the hunting began, making them vulnerable.

Additionally, there is evidence that a devastating epidemic, likely a disease brought in by settlers' dogs, swept through the remaining population in the early 20th century. This drastically reduced their numbers just as the hunting pressure was at its peak.

Finally, we cannot ignore the destruction of their habitat. As the human population in Tasmania grew, vast areas of forest were cleared for agriculture. This pushed the Thylacines into marginal, mountainous areas which were not suitable for their hunting style, inevitably leading to starvation.

Today, the Thylacine holds a unique place in science. Because they vanished so recently, we possess incredibly well-preserved museum specimens, including intact pups suspended in alcohol. This exceptional preservation has allowed scientists to extract DNA. There is currently a controversial project underway attempting to use this genetic material to bring the Thylacine back from extinction, a process known as de-extinction. Whether or not this is ethically right is a debate for another day, but it proves that even in death, the Tasmanian Tiger continues to fascinate us.

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