Background On School Marching Band - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Background on school marching band
It consists of around 21 students.
It is due to play in a 22 band competition.
It has been invited to play in the town’s 23
They have listened to a talk by a 24
Joe will discuss a 25 with the band.
Joe hopes the band will attend a 26 next month.
Questions 27–30 Matching
What problem does Joe mention in connection with each of the following band members?
Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-F, next to Questions.
Problems
A makes a lot of mistakes in rehearsals
B keeps making unhelpful suggestions
C has difficulty with rhythm
D misses too many rehearsals
E has a health problem
F doesn’t mix with other students
Band members
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | 50 | Well the band has students in it from all years, so they’re aged 11 to 18, and there are about 50 of them altogether. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the band has students from all ages, from 11 to 18 years old. It also says there are about 50 students in the band. Answer Explanation: The answer is 50. It represents the number of students in the marching band. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 50 because the excerpt explicitly states that 'there are about 50 of them altogether,' referring to the number of students in the marching band. |
| Q22 | regional | They aren’t really good enough to enter national band competitions, but they’re in a regional one later in the term. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript indicates that the school marching band is not skilled enough to participate in national band competitions but is scheduled to perform in a competition happening locally later in the semester. Answer Explanation: The answer 'regional' refers to a competition or event that takes place within a specific area or region, such as a town or city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'regional' because it accurately reflects the context in the excerpt where it mentions that the band is participating in a competition that is not national but rather local or limited to a smaller geographical region. |
| Q23 | carnival | Well, now the town council’s organising a carnival in the summer, and the band has been asked to perform. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the town council is planning a fun event where the school marching band has been requested to perform. Answer Explanation: The answer 'carnival' refers to a festive event usually held in the summer with music, entertainment, and activities for the community to enjoy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'carnival' because it fits the context of a town event where the school marching band has been invited to perform, as mentioned in the excerpt about the carnival organized by the town council. |
| Q24 | drummer | I played a recording I came across, of a drummer talking about how playing in a band had changed his life. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that someone listened to a recording of a drummer. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'drummer'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'drummer' because the excerpt mentions a recording of a drummer talking about his experience in a band. This means that the band has heard from a drummer about his experience. |
| Q25 | film | I’m planning to show them that old film from the 1940s ‘Strike Up the Band’, and talk about it with the students. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that Joe plans to show an old movie called 'Strike Up the Band' from the 1940s to the students and discuss it with them. Answer Explanation: The answer 'film' refers to a movie, which is what Joe intends to show the students. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'film' because Joe mentions showing the students an old movie, 'Strike Up the Band', in the excerpt. A film is another word for a movie, making it the appropriate answer in this context. |
| Q26 | parade | I’m hoping I can take some of the band to a parade that’s going to take place next month. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that Joe wants to take some of the band to a festive event that will happen in the upcoming month. Answer Explanation: The answer 'parade' refers to a public procession or ceremony usually including people marching, which is a type of event where the school marching band could perform. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer fits well with the context provided in the transcript, where Joe mentions taking some band members to a parade next month. This aligns perfectly with the theme of a band participating in public events, such as parades. |
| Q27 | D | We rehearse twice a week after school, but she’s hardly ever there. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the band practices twice a week after school, but the flautist is rarely there. Answer Explanation: The answer says that the problem with the flautist is that she misses too many rehearsals. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the excerpt says that the flautist is rarely at rehearsals, which means she misses a lot of them. |
| Q28 | B | She’s always saying what she thinks other people should do, which makes my job pretty difficult. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the person mentioned keeps offering suggestions to others, which causes difficulties for Joe in his role. Answer Explanation: The answer choice 'B' indicates that the trumpeter keeps making unhelpful suggestions. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because the excerpt specifically mentions that the person in question keeps saying what others should do, which aligns with the behavior of someone who keeps making unhelpful suggestions as noted in answer choice 'B'. |
| Q29 | E | could be an excellent musician – except that he has breathing difficulties, and he doesn’t really have enough breath for the trombone. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the trombonist could be a great musician, but he struggles because he has difficulty breathing. Due to this health issue, he cannot produce enough breath to play the trombone well. Answer Explanation: The answer suggests that the trombonist has a health problem, specifically breathing difficulties, which affects his ability to play his instrument properly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'E' because the excerpt explicitly mentions that the trombonist has breathing difficulties that impact his trombone playing. This aligns with the description provided for option 'E' in the list of problems related to band members. |
| Q30 | F | he never seems to interact with other people, and he always rushes off as soon as the rehearsal ends. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the percussionist does not mix with other people and leaves quickly after rehearsals. Answer Explanation: The answer is F) doesn't mix with other students, which means the percussionist does not interact or socialize with others. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the excerpt explicitly states that the percussionist 'never seems to interact with other people', which means they do not mix well with others, supporting the answer choice F. |
Transcript
LIZZIE: So how are you getting on with your teaching practice at the High School, Joe?
JOE: Well I’ve been put in charge of the school marching band, and it’s quite a responsibility. I’d like to talk it over with you.
LIZZIE: Go ahead. You’d better start by giving me a bit of background.
JOE: OK. Well the band has students in it from all years, so they’re aged 11 to 18, and there are about 50 of them altogether. It’s quite a popular activity within the school. I’ve never worked with a band of more than 20 before, and this is very different.
LIZZIE: I can imagine.
JOE: They aren’t really good enough to enter national band competitions, but they’re in a regional one later in the term. Even if they don’t win, and I don’t expect them to, hopefully it’ll be an incentive for them to try and improve.
LIZZIE: Yes, hopefully.
JOE: Well, now the town council’s organising a carnival in the summer, and the band has been asked to perform. If you ask me, they aren’t really up to it yet, and I need to get them functioning better as a band, and in a very short time.
LIZZIE: Have you been doing anything with them? Apart from practising the music, I mean.
JOE: I played a recording I came across, of a drummer talking about how playing in a band had changed his life. I think it was an after-dinner speech. I thought it was pretty inspiring, because being in the band had stopped him from getting involved in crime. The students seemed to find it interesting, too.
LIZZIE: That’s good.
JOE: I’m planning to show them that old film from the 1940s ‘Strike Up the Band’, and talk about it with the students. What do you think?
LIZZIE: Good idea. As it’s about a school band, it might make the students realise how much they can achieve if they work together.
JOE: That’s what I’ve got in mind. I’m hoping I can take some of the band to a parade that’s going to take place next month. A couple of marching bands will be performing, and the atmosphere should be quite exciting. It depends on whether I can persuade the school to hire a coach or two to take us there.
LIZZIE: Mmm. They sound like good ideas to me.
JOE: Thanks.
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JOE: Can I tell you about a few people in the band who I’m finding it quite difficult to cope with? I’m sure you’ll have some ideas about what I can do.
LIZZIE: Go ahead.
JOE: There’s a flautist who says she loves playing in the band. We rehearse twice a week after school, but she’s hardly ever there. Then she looks for me the next day and gives me a very plausible reason – she says she had to help her mother, or she’s been ill, but to be honest, I don’t believe her.
LIZZIE: Oh dear! Any more students with difficulties?
JOE: Plenty! There’s a trumpeter who thinks she’s the best musician in the band, though she certainly isn’t. She’s always saying what she thinks other people should do, which makes my job pretty difficult.
LIZZIE: She sounds a bit of a nightmare!
JOE: You can say that again. One of the trombonists has got an impressive sense of rhythm, and could be an excellent musician – except that he has breathing difficulties, and he doesn’t really have enough breath for the trombone. He’d be much better of playing percussion, for instance, but he refuses to give up. So he ends up only playing half the notes.
LIZZIE: I suppose you have to admire his determination.
JOE: Maybe. One of the percussionists isn’t too bad, but he never seems to interact with other people, and he always rushes off as soon as the rehearsal ends. I don’t know if there are family reasons, or what. But it isn’t good in a band, where people really need to feel they’re part of a group.
LIZZIE: Hmm.
JOE: There are others too, but at least that gives you an idea of what I’m up against. Do you have any thoughts about what I can do, Lizzie?