THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 08 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–16 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
| Well known for: | 11 |
| Complex consists of: | concert rooms
theatres cinemas art galleries public library restaurants a 12 |
| Historical background: | 1940 – area destroyed by bombs
1960s–1970s – Centre was 13 and built in 14 – opened to public |
| Managed by: | the 15 |
| Open: | 16 days per year |
Questions 17–20 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Day | Time | Event | Venue | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday and Tuesday | 7.30 p.m. | 'The Magic Flute'
(opera by Mozart) |
17 | from £8.00 |
| Wednesday | 8.00 p.m. | '18'
(Canadian film) |
Cinema 2 | £ 19 |
| Saturday and Sunday | 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. | '20'
(art exhibition) |
Gallery 1 | free |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | classical music / classical concerts / music concerts / concerts | It's famous throughout the world as one of the major venues for classical music | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says the center is known by people all over the world as a very important place for classical music. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the arts center is very popular and famous for its shows and events involving classical music. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the speaker's description of the National Arts Centre's reputation. He uses the word 'famous,' which is a synonym for 'well known.' He then explains that it is known globally as a top 'venue' (a place where events happen) for 'classical music.' |
| Q12 | bookshop / bookstore | Under a single roof it houses concert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries and a wonderful public library, as well as service facilities including three restaurants and a bookshop | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that many different rooms and services, such as places for music, movies, art, and books, are all found together in one big building. Answer Explanation: The answer is a shop where people can go to buy books. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'bookshop' because the speaker mentions it as one of the specific places located inside the National Arts Centre. He lists it alongside other facilities like restaurants, theaters, and a library to show what visitors can find in the building. |
| Q13 | planned | but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s and eventually opened to the public in 1983 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the building's design started in the 1960s, the construction (building it) happened in the 1970s, and it finally welcomed visitors in 1983. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the design or ideas for the building were created during the 1960s. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the history of the building mentioned in the talk. The speaker explains the timeline of the project: it was 'planned' in the 60s, then 'built' in the 70s. This matches the note which asks what happened during the 1960s-1970s period. |
| Q14 | 1983 / the 1980s / 1980s | Of course it took a while for such a big project to get started, but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s and eventually opened to the public in 1983 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that after the long process of planning and building, the centre finally opened for people to use in the year 1983. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific year (1983) or the decade (the 1980s) when the National Arts Centre first allowed people to come inside and visit. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1983 because the speaker provides a timeline for the creation of the center. He states that the project was planned in the 60s and built in the 70s, but the process concluded when it 'eventually opened to the public in 1983.' This matches the part of the notes asking for the time it opened. |
| Q15 | City Council | It is not privately owned, like many arts centres, but is still in public hands – it's run by the City Council | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the building belongs to the public and is managed or 'run' by the people who lead the city, known as the City Council. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the local government of the city is the group that organizes and looks after the arts center. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'City Council' because the speaker says the building is 'run by' this group. In this context, the words 'run by' mean the same thing as 'managed by.' It shows that the local government, not a private business, controls the center. |
| Q16 | 363 | and as the Centre is open 363 days of the year, there are plenty of performances to choose from | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that the arts center is open for 363 days throughout the year, which means there are many shows people can go to see. Answer Explanation: The answer 363 represents the number of days in a year that The National Arts Centre is open to the public. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 363 because the speaker explicitly mentions this specific number when discussing how often the centre is open and available for performances. To find this information, you should listen for the keyword 'open' followed by 'days of the year'. |
| Q17 | the Garden Hall / Garden Hall | It's in the Garden Hall and tickets start at only £8.00, but you'll have to be early if you want to get them that cheap | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the music show (the "it") is inside a place called the Garden Hall. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the room where the music show will be. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'the Garden Hall'. The host says that the opera 'The Magic Flute' is happening on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. He then mentions that this event is located in the Garden Hall. In this table, a 'venue' is the specific place where an event is held. |
| Q18 | Three Lives / 3 Lives | And that's called 'Three Lives.' | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript identifies the name of the film being shown on Wednesday as "Three Lives." Answer Explanation: The answer "Three Lives" is the title of a movie from Canada. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Three Lives" because the speaker describes a Canadian film scheduled for Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. in Cinema 2 and says this is what it is called. The keywords "Canadian film," "Wednesday evening," and "Cinema 2" help you find the name of the event in the transcript. |
| Q19 | 4.50 | It's had fantastic reviews and tickets cost just £4.50, which is a reduction on the usual price of £5.50 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that for this specific movie performance, the cost to enter is only £4.50, which is lower than the normal price. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that a ticket for the movie shown on Wednesday costs £4.50. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 4.50 because the speaker clearly mentions that the tickets for the Canadian film 'Three Lives' cost £4.50. He also notes that this price is a reduction, meaning it is cheaper than the usual cost of £5.50, making it a good deal for the audience. |
| Q20 | Faces of China | But you can see the centre's main attraction at the weekend, because on Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm, they're showing a wonderful new exhibition that hasn't been seen anywhere else in Europe yet. It's a collection of Chinese Art called 'Faces of China' – that's in Gallery 1 – and it has some really fascinating paintings and sculptures by leading artists from all over China – and the good news is that it is completely free, so don't miss it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells the listeners about a special show at the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The show is an art exhibition called 'Faces of China' located in Gallery 1, and it is free to visit. Answer Explanation: The answer 'Faces of China' is the name of the special art display that people can see on the weekend. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified as 'Faces of China' because the transcript explicitly mentions it as the name of a new art exhibition. The speaker explains that this event takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm. He also confirms the location within the center is Gallery 1 and that there is no cost to see it, matching all the details in the table. |
Transcript
Hello, and welcome to Focus on the Arts. I'm your host – Dave Green – and this is your very own local radio programme. Every Friday evening we put the spotlight on different arts and culture facilities, and look at the shows and events that are on offer in the coming week.
And today the focus is on The National Arts Centre. Now, if you don't already know it yourself, I'm sure you've all heard of it. It's famous throughout the world as one of the major venues for classical music.
But did you know that it is actually much more than just a place to hear concerts? The Centre itself is a huge complex that caters for a great range of arts. Under a single roof it houses concert rooms, theatres, cinemas, art galleries and a wonderful public library, as well as service facilities including three restaurants and a bookshop. So at any one time, the choice of entertainment there is simply enormous.
So, how did they manage to build such a big arts complex right in the heart of the city? Well, the area was completely destroyed by bombs during the war in 1940. So the opportunity was taken to create a cultural centre that would be, what they called: 'the City's gift to the Nation'. Of course it took a while for such a big project to get started, but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s and eventually opened to the public in 1983. Ever since then it has proved to be a great success. It is not privately owned, like many arts centres, but is still in public hands – it's run by the City Council. Both our National Symphony Orchestra and National Theatre Company were involved in the planning of the project, and they are now based there – giving regular performances every week – and as the Centre is open 363 days of the year, there are plenty of performances to choose from.
So, to give you some idea of what's on, and to help you choose from the many possibilities, we've made a selection of the star attractions.
If you're interested in classical music, then we recommend you go along to the National on either Monday or Tuesday evening at 7.30 for a spectacular production of 'The Magic Flute' – probably the most popular of all Mozart's operas. It's in the Garden Hall and tickets start at only £8.00, but you'll have to be early if you want to get them that cheap! And remember, it's only on for those two evenings.
For those more interested in the cinema, you might like to see the new Canadian film which is showing on Wednesday evening at 8pm in Cinema 2. And that's called 'Three Lives.' It's had fantastic reviews and tickets cost just £4.50, which is a reduction on the usual price of £5.50. So, it's really good value, especially for such a great movie.
But you can see the centre's main attraction at the weekend, because on Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 10 pm, they're showing a wonderful new exhibition that hasn't been seen anywhere else in Europe yet. It's a collection of Chinese Art called 'Faces of China' – that's in Gallery 1 – and it has some really fascinating paintings and sculptures by leading artists from all over China – and the good news is that it is completely free, so don't miss it!
So why not go along to the National Arts Centre next week for one – or all – of these great events – and you can always pick up a programme and check out all the other performances and exhibitions on offer, or coming soon, on almost every day of the year.
Next week we'll be looking at the new Museum of Science . . .