Work Project - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 6 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–5 Table Completion
Complete the notes.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR NUMBERS for each answer.
| Basic Details of Project | |
| Example
Pre-phase |
involves selecting rooms & 1 |
| Phase 1: |
|
| Phase 2: |
|
Questions 6–10 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | equipment | Ella: The Pre-phrase is the simplest. We just need to allocate a space or a place to do our planning, and this space will need to be quite big. Marcus: Sure, and we have to decide on the equipment needed as well | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that for the first part of the project (the Pre-phase), the team needs to do two main things: find a large area to work in and choose the tools or equipment they will use. Answer Explanation: The answer is equipment, which refers to the tools, machines, or items needed to complete a task. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is equipment because Marcus mentions it while discussing the 'Pre-phase' of the project. In this stage, Ella first says they need a place to work (which matches 'selecting rooms' in the notes), and Marcus immediately adds that they must also decide on the equipment they will need to avoid past mistakes. |
| Q2 | Fred | Ella: And Marco. Marcus: Yes, but not Susan. Susan is just far too busy to participate, as much as I’d like her in the team. Ella: Let’s just take Fred instead. He’ll do | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that because Susan is too busy to work on the project, Ella chooses Fred to join the team with Jenna and Marco for Phase 1. Answer Explanation: The answer is Fred, who is one of the staff members helping with the first part of the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Fred because the speakers discuss who will work on Phase 1 after mentioning Jenna and Marco. They decide they cannot include Susan because she is too busy, so Ella suggests Fred as the third person for this specific phase. |
| Q3 | 6 days / six days | Marcus: Can we do that in five days? Ella: I think that’s optimistic, which is why I scheduled six | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Marcus asking if they can finish the task in five days. Ella replies that she gave it six days because five days is not enough time to be realistic. Answer Explanation: The answer means the second part of the project, called Phase 2, will take six days to finish. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '6/six days' because Marcus asks if Phase 2 can be done in five days. Ella says that five days is too hopeful ('optimistic') for the work required. She confirms that she planned or 'scheduled' six days for this specific part of the project instead. |
| Q4 | Mike | No, Arthur’s got other things to do, and Rob’s on leave, so Mike alone will be the main man on this part | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that since Arthur has other tasks and Rob is not at work, Mike will be the only main person working on this specific stage. Answer Explanation: The answer is Mike, who is the person chosen to do the main work during Phase 2 of the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Mike because the transcript mentions that while other people (Arthur and Rob) are busy or away, Mike is the one who will be responsible for Phase 2. He is described as the main person for this part. |
| Q5 | Leo | Peter’s not free at the moment, so I can arrange Leo to chip in some time and advice | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that because Peter is not available, Marcus will get Leo to help out and give advice on the project. Answer Explanation: The answer is Leo, who is the team member chosen to assist Mike during the second part of the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Leo because Marcus suggests him as the person to provide help or 'chip in' for Phase 2. Ella mentions that Mike will be the main person but needs assistance with smaller tasks. Since Peter is busy, Marcus decides to assign Leo to the project. |
| Q6 | C | I’m of the view that the best way to find out things is to ask people directly, so that’s what we’ll do | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Ella thinks the best method for gathering information is to speak to people directly, and she confirms that is what the team is going to do. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the team will get their information by talking to people in person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Ella decides that the team will ask people directly to get information. While Marcus mentions questionnaires (Option A) and Ella mentions using the Internet (Option B), she rejects those ideas. She believes that asking people directly is the best way to gather information, so that is the plan they choose. |
| Q7 | A | No, I don’t think so, as long as we stay back at work for some after-hours meetings | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ella's plan to finish the work by staying at the office later than usual for meetings. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the employees will stay at their workplace and continue working after their normal finishing time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Ella suggests that instead of working from home, the team should stay at the office for meetings after the official working day ends. She uses the phrases 'stay back at work' and 'after-hours', which are both synonyms for working late. Marcus agrees with this idea, comparing it favorably to starting work early in the morning. |
| Q8 | C | Not only that, we’ll have to attach a small booklet to the end, containing printouts of the relevant parts from all the foreign websites we accessed | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ella explaining that she will add a little book (a booklet) to the end of the report. This booklet will contain printed information collected from websites in other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the final report will include an additional small book with extra information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Ella says they will attach a 'small booklet' to the end of the project's final report. In English, 'supplementary' describes something that is extra or added to complete something else, so 'a supplementary booklet' and 'a small booklet' attached to a report mean the same thing. Marcus mentions having 'at least two' appendices, but does not say 'three', making option A incorrect. Additionally, Ella mentions using 'foreign websites' (websites from other countries), not the 'company website', making option B incorrect. |
| Q9 | B | Now, there’s a public holiday on the 10th, meaning that everything should be able to be submitted on the 15th | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ella planning the schedule. She explains that after the work phases are done, the report (referred to here as 'everything') should be ready to be turned in on the 15th. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the finished report will be turned in or given to the person in charge on the 15th day of the month. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Ella outlines the timeline for the project. She mentions that Phase 1 ends on the 5th and Phase 2 begins around the 8th or 9th. Following a holiday on the 10th, she explicitly states the date for submission. To 'submit' something means to hand it in or give it to someone for a decision or review, which matches the idea of handing in the final report. |
| Q10 | C | Well, we definitely don’t want a party in the office, do we? We’ll want to get away from this place, and we’re all too busy with our own lives and families to find a mutual time free for a dinner party, so I thought we’d just buy some nice expensive gifts for everyone who participated | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Ella explaining why she rejects an office party or a dinner. She says they will buy expensive gifts for everyone who took part in the project instead. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who worked on the project will receive gifts at the end as a way to celebrate their success. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Ella talks about how they should celebrate. She says she does not want a party at the office, and she also says everyone is too busy to have a dinner party together. Instead, she suggests buying 'expensive gifts' for the people who helped. In English, 'gifts' is another word for 'presents.' |
Transcript
Marcus: Okay, Ella. As you know, the deadline for this project is the end of the month, so we’d better plan it well.
Ella: Yes, I’ve already been thinking along those lines, and I’ve decided we should divide this project into three phases: the Pre-phase, then Phase 1, and then Phase 2, with strict deadlines involved for each one.
Marcus: Given that we have to finish this quickly, that sounds good. Tell me more.
Ella: The Pre-phrase is the simplest. We just need to allocate a space or a place to do our planning, and this space will need to be quite big.
Marcus: Sure, and we have to decide on the equipment needed as well. Remember the last project, when we didn’t have enough projectors to present our ideas? We lost lots of time there.
Ella: Yes, that was a bad start. That’s why, after the Pre-phase is finished, I’ve allocated a mere three days for Phase One.
Marcus: That will involve drawing the plans. We’ll need Jenna to help us.
Ella: And Marco.
Marcus: Yes, but not Susan. Susan is just far too busy to participate, as much as I’d like her in the team.
Ella: Let’s just take Fred instead. He’ll do.
Marcus: Sure. Fred’s not as experienced as Greg, but I agree, he’ll do fine for this job.
Ella: Then it’s straight into Phase 2, collecting, collating, analysing, and preparing the final report.
Marcus: Can we do that in five days?
Ella: I think that’s optimistic, which is why I scheduled six.
Marcus: That’s almost a week! Do we have that much time?
Ella: We do, and with the right people, six days should see the job done.
Marcus: Who are the people for this phase? Arthur and Rob, right?
Ella: No, Arthur’s got other things to do, and Rob’s on leave, so Mike alone will be the main man on this part. He’s done it before, so it should be fine. But he may need some help with the smaller tasks. Someone who is good with detail and procedures.
Marcus: Hmmm. Peter’s not free at the moment, so I can arrange Leo to chip in some time and advice. Leo’s very useful, particularly under pressure. And that’s everything sorted! Well done Ella. This report should certainly be ready in time.
Marcus: Okay, Ella, you’ve done a good job with the basic timeframe of this project, but what about specifics?
Ella: What sort of specifics?
Marcus: Well, things like information gathering. Are we going to use questionnaires like we did last time?
Ella: I was thinking of using the Internet to ask people to give their views, but you often get such silly responses when you do that. I’m of the view that the best way to find out things is to ask people directly, so that’s what we’ll do.
Marcus: Okay, but that will take longer. We’ll probably even have to do some of the work at home.
Ella: No, I don’t think so, as long as we stay back at work for some after-hours meetings.
Marcus: Well, that’s better than coming in early. No one functions well in the morning. Also, the final report will need at least two appendices.
Ella: Not only that, we’ll have to attach a small booklet to the end, containing printouts of the relevant parts from all the foreign websites we accessed.
Marcus: That will take even more time. Are you sure we can meet this deadline?
Ella: Yep, I’ve worked it all out, and I’m confident we can do it. Phase 1 should be finished by the 5th, leaving Phase 2 to begin about the 8th or 9th. Now, there’s a public holiday on the 10th, meaning that everything should be able to be submitted on the 15th , and after that, we can relax, and celebrate on the 25th when the Design Division gives us approval to go ahead.
Marcus: Hah, you’re assuming that the Design Division will approve this, and that’s not guaranteed at all.
Ella: Oh come on Marcus, be positive. You know this should be approved—in fact, I’m even planning the celebration when this is all over.
Marcus: Oh yeah, what’s on the agenda, then?
Ella: Well, we definitely don’t want a party in the office, do we? We’ll want to get away from this place, and we’re all too busy with our own lives and families to find a mutual time free for a dinner party, so I thought we’d just buy some nice expensive gifts for everyone who participated. We can just give these to the people here in the office.
Marcus: That sounds fine to me, but make sure they’re not too expensive. The Budget Department will never approve the cost.
Ella: Don’t worry; I know how much I can get away with.
Marcus: Alright. I’ll leave that with you.