Alarm System - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Achieve IELTS Practice Tests Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–20 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- A quarter of break-ins are through the 11.
- The 12 of the house should also be protected.
- You should warn burglars your house is alarmed by putting a 13 in the window.
- The alarms show a constant 14.
- The alarms can be set off by a 15.
- The alarms are connected to the 16.
- The alarms are usually installed in 17.
- The security code should be kept 18.
- The alarms can be installed 19 at an additional cost.
- Customers can pay 20 for their alarm system.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | back door | Did you know that 25% of all burglaries are committed by burglars breaking and entering via the back door | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that one quarter (25%) of home break-ins happen when thieves enter through the door at the back. Answer Explanation: The answer means the door located at the back of a house. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "back door" because the speaker mentions that 25% (which means "a quarter") of all burglaries (break-ins) happen by entering through the back door. |
| Q12 | top floor | So, if you're trying to protect your home, you should make sure the top floor is covered by that protection, not just the ground floor | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that to keep your whole home safe, the highest floor must also be protected, not just the bottom floor. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the highest level or upstairs area of a house. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's advice on home security. The speaker explains that people often think upper areas are not vulnerable, but when protecting a home, you must ensure that the "top floor" is included in the security coverage alongside the ground floor. |
| Q13 | sign | To do this, we suggest you stick a sign in the front window of the house so it can be seen clearly | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that to warn potential burglars, homeowners are advised to place a notice or sign in the front window where anyone can easily see it. Answer Explanation: The answer "sign" means a written notice or small poster displayed to give information or a warning to people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "sign" because the speaker discusses how homeowners should warn thieves about having an alarm system. He explicitly suggests that people "stick a sign in the front window of the house" so that it is visible and can discourage a burglar from attempting a break-in. |
| Q14 | blue light | on the underneath, there is a blue light, which you can see whether they are switched on or not | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there is a blue light under the alarm device that stays visible at all times. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a light that is blue in color and always visible. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "blue light" because the speaker explains that on the bottom of the alarm, there is a blue light that can be seen at all times, whether the alarm is turned on or off. The phrase "which you can see whether they are switched on or not" matches the idea of showing a "constant" light. |
| Q15 | spider | You may be surprised to hear that a cat can often slink around unnoticed under the infrared beams but a spider crawling across them will set them off | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a spider crawling across the alarm's infrared beams will cause the alarm to sound. Answer Explanation: The answer means a small eight-legged creature that can accidentally trigger the home alarm. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "spider" because the speaker mentions how sensitive the alarm system is. While a cat might move under the beams without being detected, a spider moving across the beams will trigger ("set off") the alarm. |
| Q16 | company office | All our alarms have an automatic link to our company office | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that every alarm is automatically connected to the alarm company's own office. Answer Explanation: The answer "company office" means the central workplace or building of the alarm business. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "company office" because the speaker explains that while most companies connect alarms to the police station, their alarm system is linked directly to their own business location. In the audio, the phrase "have an automatic link to" matches the task phrase "are connected to". |
| Q17 | hallways / hall | you don't have to worry about them being intrusive, as we normally put them in hallways rather than individual rooms | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the company usually places the alarm devices in the corridors (hallways) of the home instead of putting them inside individual rooms. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to halls or hallways, which are the passages or corridors inside a house that connect different rooms. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker explains where the alarms are typically placed during installation. He states, "we normally put them in hallways rather than individual rooms." In this context, "normally put them in" means the same as "usually installed in." |
| Q18 | with a neighbour / with a neighbor | a lot of people keep it in the kitchen or their study but we suggest you leave it with a neighbour so that if there is a break in, the burglars can't switch the system off | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that instead of keeping the security code inside the house, homeowners are advised to give it to a neighbour so burglars cannot turn off the alarm. Answer Explanation: The answer means that homeowners should give their alarm password or PIN to someone living nearby for safekeeping. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the speaker's advice about the alarm system's security code. He mentions that people often make the mistake of leaving the code inside their home, such as in the kitchen or study. To prevent intruders from finding it and turning off the alarm, he explicitly advises homeowners to leave the code "with a neighbour". |
| Q19 | in the evenings / in the evening | we do offer a service where we can fit the alarm system in the evenings for you but we do charge a little bit extra for that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the company provides a service to install the alarm system during the evening, but customers must pay some extra money for this service. Answer Explanation: The answer means during the nighttime or evening hours. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker explains that the company can fit (install) the alarm system during the evenings, but it costs a little bit extra (at an additional cost). Key synonyms to notice are "fit" for "installed" and "charge a little bit extra" for "at an additional cost." |
| Q20 | monthly | we do allow you to set up a monthly payment if it's too much in one go | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the company lets customers spread out the cost by paying every month. Answer Explanation: The answer means paying money every month instead of paying all at once. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "monthly" because the speaker mentions that customers can set up a "monthly payment" if paying the full price all at once ("in one go") is too expensive. |
Transcript
Salesman: Thank you for inviting me to your residents meeting. My name is Martin Pugh from Safe Sell Alarms. I'm going to explain a little bit about home security and I hope you'll all feel a bit better informed and perhaps that you will even purchase one of the alarms we sell. It is all too easy these days for people to break in to our homes. Did you know that 25% of all burglaries are committed by burglars breaking and entering via the back door? Even though it is locked, it is still relatively easy for someone to gain entry. And there are parts of our house that we think are not vulnerable because they look inaccessible - but they're not. So, if you're trying to protect your home, you should make sure the top floor is covered by that protection, not just the ground floor. We believe that the only way to secure your property is by having an alarm fitted. Just having the alarm on the outside can put burglars off and we also recommend that you warn them about the alarm. To do this, we suggest you stick a sign in the front window of the house so it can be seen clearly. This alone should be enough to dissuade a burglar before they start.
Now, our company has a range of alarms on offer and I've brought several along for you to see tonight. But let me just explain a few things about them. First of all, all of our alarms are highly visible. They're coloured red and, on the underneath, there is a blue light, which you can see whether they are switched on or not. This acts as a deterrent to burglars who can see it is an active alarm system. Like most systems, our alarms are very sensitive so you do need to look after them. You may be surprised to hear that a cat can often slink around unnoticed under the infrared beams but a spider crawling across them will set them off. Also, our system is a little different from some. Most companies offer an option that connects their alarms to the police station. All our alarms have an automatic link to our company office. This means we can deal with the situation promptly and can sort out any alarms that have gone off by mistake.
OK, let me tell you about the installation of our alarms. Later on I'll show you some house plans and diagrams of how the alarms operate but you don't have to worry about them being intrusive, as we normally put them in hallways rather than individual rooms. The diagrams show you how the beams work to cover the whole house in this way. Oh, one small thing while I remember, is don't leave your security code in your house - a lot of people keep it in the kitchen or their study but we suggest you leave it with a neighbour so that if there is a break in, the burglars can't switch the system off. Now, regarding the practical aspects of installation - I know that many of you are out all day and I'm afraid we don't install the alarms at weekends, but we do offer a service where we can fit the alarm system in the evenings for you but we do charge a little bit extra for that. Finally, we do offer a range of systems, so I suggest you look at the leaflets on our prices. And please don't be put off from investing in a more sophisticated system to protect your home as we do allow you to set up a monthly payment if it's too much in one go. OK, now, if you'd like to ... (fade) ...