Expedition Across Attora Mountains - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 02 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–13 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Expedition Across Attora Mountains
Leader: Charles Owen
Prepared a: 11 for the trip
Total length of trip: 12
Climbed highest peak in: 13
Questions 14–15 One Choice
Circle the correct letters A - C.
Questions 16–18 Three Choices
Circle THREE letters A - F.
Questions 19–20 Two Choices
Circle TWO letters A - E.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | route book | Well, as you know, I run these walking trips across the mountains for tourists and over the years, I've collected maps and other data to prepare what I call a 'route book' for this trip and this book basically shows the route across the mountains that we took | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Charles gathered maps and information over a long time to make a book he calls a "route book," which shows the path the group took for their journey. Answer Explanation: The answer "route book" refers to a notebook or guide that shows the path or way to get from one place to another during a trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "route book" because Charles Owen, the leader of the expedition, mentions that he used his years of experience and maps to create this specific item to guide them across the mountains. He explains that he prepared a 'route book' that shows the path they followed. |
| Q12 | 900 miles / nine hundred miles | Yes, it was 900 miles in total and we managed to climb 32 peaks that were over 3000 metres high, including Toubkal, which is of course the highest in North Africa | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the team covered a distance of 900 miles in total while also climbing many high mountains during their trip. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the total distance traveled during the expedition, which was 900 miles. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 900 miles because Charles mentions this number when discussing the scale of the trip. The keyword 'total' confirms that this was the full length of the journey from beginning to end. |
| Q13 | North Africa | including Toubkal, which is of course the highest in North Africa | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the team climbed a mountain named Toubkal and notes that this mountain is the tallest peak found in North Africa. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the specific region where the climbers found the tallest mountain mentioned in the story. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the leader's description of their climb. Charles Owen says that the mountain they climbed, Toubkal, is the tallest or 'highest' peak located in the northern part of the continent. |
| Q14 | A | It got us right from day one and we were pretty taken aback really to find that it rained on quite a number of days, and so we were forced to start re-planning our route almost from the outset | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that from the very first day, the group was very surprised because it rained many times. This unexpected weather made them change their plan for the walk almost immediately. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the travelers did not expect there to be so much rain during their journey. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions they were 'taken aback' by the rain. In English, to be 'taken aback' means to be very surprised by something you did not expect. The rain was unexpected enough that they had to change their travel plans right at the beginning of the trip. |
| Q15 | C | The scenery was as fine as any we saw on the trip and that was how it was every time—having to take another pass was never a disappointment | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the views on the new routes were just as good as the rest of the trip and the team was never sad or upset about having to take a different path. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Charles was still happy and had a great time even when he had to go a different way than he had planned. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice C because Charles explains that the scenery on the new paths was beautiful. He says that they were rewarded with mountain views and fine scenery. Most importantly, he says that needing to take a different path, or a 'pass', was never a disappointment. This shows that changing the route did not take away from his enjoyment of the journey. |
| Q16 | — | — | |
| Q17 | — | — | |
| Q18 | B / C / E | we'd arranged to meet up with friends at various points on the journey. I mean this was actually one of the purposes of the trip and we managed to keep all these dates, which is amazing really considering the detours we made. An old friend acted as a sort of transport organiser for everyone and the Hotel Ali in Marrakech was a good social base—I'd really recommend it, although I can't remember who runs it. Anyway, groups of friends actually joined us for three-week stints and others just linked up with us |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the group planned to see friends at different points along the way. They were able to meet everyone at the set times. One specific friend took charge of organizing the transport, and teams of friends came along to travel with them for three-week periods during the journey. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Charles and his team were able to meet their friends at the times they planned, one friend managed the travel arrangements, and some friends walked with the team for parts of the trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Charles's description of how friends were involved in the expedition. He states that they successfully met on the planned 'dates' or times, which shows they kept their arrangements. He notes that a friend was the 'transport organiser,' which means that person helped move people or items. Finally, he mentions that groups of friends 'joined' them for several weeks, meaning they traveled together as a group. |
| Q19 | — | — | |
| Q20 | B / D | Taza and Tamri, as we called them after the last places in the trip, well, they made quite a unique journey between them, and but it was continuously demanding for them. On both the really high summits, they took diversions that were quite out of character and I can only assume that it must have been due to tiredness |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the names Taza and Tamri were chosen because they were the names of places from the trip. It also says the donkeys acted 'out of character,' meaning their behavior changed and became unpredictable because they were tired. Answer Explanation: The answer shows that the donkeys' names came from locations visited during the trip and that the animals acted in a way that was not expected. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the part of the talk where Charles describes the donkeys. He says he named them Taza and Tamri after the 'last places' they visited, which supports choice B. He also mentions they did things 'out of character,' which means they acted in a strange or unpredictable way, supporting choice D. |
Transcript
INTERVIEWER A dream came true in 1995, when over 96 days of the spring and summer, and expedition of four men undertook what they believe to have been the first and only complete end-to-end crossing of Morocco's Attora mountains. I talked to Charles Owen, the leader or the expedition group, about the trip. Charles, how much planning went on beforehand?
CHARLES Well, as you know, I run these walking trips across the mountains for tourists and over the years, I've collected maps and other data to prepare what I call a 'route book' for this trip and this book basically shows the route across the mountains that we took.
INTERVIEWER You actually broke records while you were out there, didn't you?
CHARLES Mmm. Yes, it was 900 miles in total and we managed to climb 32 peaks that were over 3000 metres high, including Toubkal, which is of course the highest in North Africa. We weren't actually out to make a name for ourselves—it just happened really.
INTERVIEWER What was the weather like?
CHARLES It got us right from day one and we were pretty taken aback really to find that it rained on quite a number of days, and so we were forced to start re-planning our route almost from the outset. One of the obvious problems is the heavy snow which blocks the mountain passes, so you have to make considerable detours. When we were on the way to Imilchil, for example, the snow forced us into a northern bypass which was new to us, but anyway, either way we would have been rewarded because we fell upon amazing, high meadows, huge gorges and wonderful snow-capped mountains. The scenery was as fine as any we saw on the trip and that was how it was every time—having to take another pass was never a disappointment.
INTERVIEWER It was in many ways a social trip, wasn't it?
CHARLES Yes, yes...we'd arranged to meet up with friends at various points on the journey. I mean this was actually one of the purposes of the trip...and we managed to keep all these dates, which is amazing really considering the detours we made. An old friend acted as a sort of transport organiser for everyone and the Hotel Ali in Marrakech was a good social base—I'd really recommend it, although I can't remember who runs it. Anyway, groups of friends actually joined us for three-week stints and others just linked up with us. Some, whom we hadn't met before the trip at all, tagged on for short bursts—people from the area—who just came along for the tide. But outside the major visitor areas like Toubkal we only met one other group of travellers like ourselves in the whole 96 days.
INTERVIEWER Were there any bad moments?
CHARLES We took two, I must say, long-suffering donkeys with us to help transport water and tents and things. I suppose if we were to do it all again we'd probably hire donkeys along the way. Taza and Tamri, as we called them after the last places in the trip, well, they made quite a unique journey between them, and...but it was continuously demanding for them. On both the really high summits, they took diversions that were quite out of character and I can only assume that it must have been due to tiredness.
INTERVIEWER Well, thank you...And Charles has put together a video about this journey and continues to lead groups to the Attora mountains, so if you want further information....