Changes In Barford Over The Last 50 Years - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–15 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Changes in Barford over the last 50 years
Questions 16–20 Matching
What is planned for each of the following facilities?
Choose FIVE answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions
Plans
A It will move to a new location.
B It will have its opening hours extended.
C It will be refurbished.
D It will be used for a different purpose.
E It will have its opening hours reduced.
F It will have new management.
G It will be expanded.
Facilities
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | C | but not now because the bus companies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers. So parts of the town are no longer served by buses. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that fewer people use buses in certain areas of Barford because the bus companies now focus only on the routes with the most passengers, which means some parts of the town are not serviced by buses anymore. Answer Explanation: The answer indicates that fewer people use buses in Barford these days because there are not as many bus routes available as there used to be. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' (There are not so many bus routes) because the excerpt explicitly mentions that certain areas of the town are no longer served by buses due to bus companies prioritizing popular routes. This reduction in bus routes directly supports the statement that fewer people use buses in Barford. |
| Q12 | B | The new cycle paths separating bikes from cars in most main roads, are being used far more than was expected reducing traffic and improving air quality. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how new cycle paths have been built to separate bikes from cars on most main roads. It says that these paths are being used more than expected, and this has helped reduce traffic and improve air quality in the town. Answer Explanation: The answer choice 'the development of cycle paths' is correct. It means that building new paths specifically for cyclists has made a positive impact on the town. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'the development of cycle paths' because the excerpt specifically mentions that the new cycle paths are reducing traffic and improving air quality. This directly shows that the development of cycle paths has benefited the town the most out of the given options. |
| Q13 | B | many people prefer to use supermarkets and department stores in nearby large towns, as there are so few well-known chain stores here. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how many people choose to go to bigger towns to shop at supermarkets and department stores because there are very few well-known chain stores in Barford. Answer Explanation: The answer 'B' means that the problem affecting shopping in the town center is the lack of major retailers, like well-known chain stores. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because the excerpt specifically mentions that people prefer to shop in larger towns due to the absence of well-known chain stores in Barford, indicating a lack of major retailers in the town center. |
| Q14 | A | Our hospital closed 15 years ago | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the hospital in Barford closed 15 years ago. Answer Explanation: The answer choice A indicates that there is no hospital in Barford. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Shona mentions that the hospital in Barford closed 15 years ago, which aligns with the statement that there is no hospital in Barford currently. |
| Q15 | C | The number of schools and colleges has increased making that the main employment sector. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that the number of schools and colleges in Barford has increased over the last 50 years. Answer Explanation: The answer chosen ('education') means that the largest number of people are employed in the education sector. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'education' because the excerpt mentions that the increase in the number of schools and colleges has made education the main employment sector in Barford. This indicates that more people are employed in education compared to manufacturing or services. |
| Q16 | G | Instead, the company has bought some adjoining land, and this will be used to increase the number of parking spaces. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that additional land has been acquired to increase the parking spaces. Answer Explanation: The answer G means that the railway station car park will be expanded. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G (It will be expanded) because the excerpt confirms that the company plans to use the acquired land to increase the number of parking spaces, indicating an expansion of the car park facility. |
| Q17 | A | The Grand, the old cinema in the high street will close at the end of the year, and reopen on a different site. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the old cinema in the high street will close at the end of the year and reopen at a different location. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' means it will move to a new location. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer 'A' matches with the information in the excerpt that the cinema is closing at its current site and reopening at a different location, indicating a move to a new location. |
| Q18 | C | The good news is that it will close for sex weeks to be made safe and redecorated, and the improved building will open in July. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the indoor market will close for six weeks to be made safe and redecorated. This implies that the indoor market is undergoing improvements. Answer Explanation: The answer 'C' indicates that the indoor market will be refurbished. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' because the excerpt clearly states that the indoor market will undergo renovations and improvements to make it safe and redecorated, aligning with the concept of refurbishment. |
| Q19 | B | The council has managed to secure funding to keep the library open later into the evening, twice a week. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript means that the local government has gotten money to let the library stay open for longer hours, specifically in the evenings, two times a week. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the library will have its opening hours extended, allowing it to be open for a longer period of time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because the statement in the excerpt directly mentions that the library will stay open later into the evening, which implies its opening hours will be extended. |
| Q20 | F | Instead it will become the responsibility of a national body that administers most nature reserves in the country. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the responsibility for the nature reserve will be transferred to a national body that manages many nature reserves in the country. Answer Explanation: The answer 'F' indicates that the nature reserve will have new management. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'F' because the excerpt mentions that the nature reserve will no longer be managed by the current entity and will instead come under the management of a national body, implying a change in management. |
Transcript
MAN: First of all, let me thank you all for coming to this public meeting, to discuss the future of our town. Our first speaker is Shona Ferguson, from Barford town council. Shone.
SHONA: Thank you. First I’ll briefly give you some background information, then I’ll be asking you for your comments on developments in the town.
Well, as you don’t need me to tell you, Barford has changed a great deal in the last 50 years. These are some of the main changes.
Fifty years ago, buses linked virtually every part of the town and the neighbouring towns and villages. Most people used them frequently, but not now because the bus companies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers. So parts of the town are no longer served by buses. Even replacing old uncomfortable buses with smart new ones has had little impact on passenger numbers. It’s sometimes said that bus fares are too high, but in relation to average incomes, fares are not much higher than they were 50 years ago.
Changes in the road network are affecting the town. The centre was recently closed to traffic on a trial basis, making it much safer to pedestrians. The impact of this is being measured. The new cycle paths separating bikes from cars in most main roads, are being used far more than was expected reducing traffic and improving air quality. And although the council’s attempts to have a bypass constructed have failed, we haven’t given up hope of persuading the government to change its mind.
Shopping in the town centre has changed over the years. Many of us can remember when the town was crowded with people going shopping. Numbers have been falling for several years, despite efforts to attract shoppers, for instance by opening new car parks. some people combine shopping with visits to the town’s restaurants and cafés. Most shops are small independent stores, which is good, but many people prefer to use supermarkets and department stores in nearby large towns, as there are so few well-known chain stores here.Turning how to medical facilities, the town is served by family doctors in several medical practices – fewer than 50 years ago, but each catering for far more patients. Our hospital closed 15 years ago, which means journeys to other towns are unavoidable. On the other hand, there are more dentists than there used to be. Employment patterns have changed, along with almost everything else. The number of schools and colleges has increased making that the main employment sector. Services, such as website design and accountancy, have grown in importance, and surprisingly, perhaps, manufacturing hasn’t seen the decline that has affected it in other parts of the country.
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Now I’ll very quickly outline current plans for some of the town’s facilities, before asking for your comments.
As you’ll know if you regularly use the car park at the railway station, it’s usually full. The railway company applied for permission to replace it with a multi-storey car park, but that was refused. Instead, the company has bought some adjoining land, and this will be used to increase the number of parking spaces.
The Grand, the old cinema in the high street will close at the end of the year, and reopen on a different site. You’ve probably seen the building under construction. The plan is to have three screens with fewer seats, rather than just the one large auditorium in the old cinema.
I expect many of you shop in the indoor market. It’s become more and more shabby-looking, and because of fears about safety, it was threatened with demolition. The good news is that it will close for sex weeks to be made safe and redecorated, and the improved building will open in July.
Lots of people use the library, including school and college students who go there to study. The council has managed to secure funding to keep the library open later into the evening, twice a week. We would like to enlarge the building in the not-too-distant future, but this is by no means definite.
There’s no limit on access to the nature reserve on the edge of town, and this will continue be the case. What will change, though, is that the council will no longer be in charge of the area. Instead it will become the responsibility of a national body that administers most nature reserves in the country.
OK, now let me ask you …