Box Telecom - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 05 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–24 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Box Telecom
Problems: been affected by
- drop in 21
- growing 22
- delays due to a strike
Causes of problems:
- high 23
- lack of good 24
Questions 25–27 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 28–30 Matching
Which opinion does each person express about Box Telecom?
Choose your answers from the box and write the letters A-F.
A. its workers are motivated
B. it has too little investment
C. it will overcome its problems
D. its marketing campaign needs improvement
E. it is old-fashioned
F. it has strong managers
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | sales | Well of course what first came to their attention was that, despite a new advertising campaign, they were suffering from falling sales – and this is something that had many causes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the company first realized they had a problem because their sales were going down (falling), despite their efforts to advertise. Answer Explanation: The answer sales refers to the number of items or services the company sold to customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is sales because the student, Karin, identifies this as the first major issue the company noticed. She uses the words falling sales to describe the situation. In the notes provided in the task, the phrase drop in is used as a synonym for falling, indicating that the total amount of business was decreasing. |
| Q22 | competition | what had also happened over the last two years was that, although they had invested in an expansion plan, they had to face up to increased competition | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that even though the company tried to get bigger, they had to deal with more companies trying to sell the same things. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to other companies that are trying to sell the same things and get the same customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'competition' because Karin says the company had to face 'increased competition.' In the notes, 'growing' is used as a synonym for 'increased.' |
| Q23 | interest rates / rates of interest | what they were set back by was high interest rates | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jason explaining that the company's progress was stopped or delayed because of the high cost of borrowing money. Answer Explanation: The answer "interest rates / rates of interest" refers to the extra money that a person or a business must pay when they borrow money from a bank. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is interest rates because Jason identifies this as a major reason for the company's difficulties. When talking about the causes of the problems, Jason explains that the company was slowed down or prevented from succeeding by "high interest rates." In the notes, the word "high" is followed by a blank space, and Jason uses the exact phrase "high interest rates" in the conversation. |
| Q24 | training | At the same time, their longer-term problems, which were affecting their market share, were eventually credited to poor training – and having looked at the details in their last report I think that's right | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jason explaining that the company's loss of customers over a long time was caused by bad or low-quality teaching for the employees. Answer Explanation: The answer is training, which means the process of teaching workers the skills they need to do their jobs correctly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is training because Jason points out that the company's long-term difficulties were caused by a lack of quality instruction for the staff. He uses the phrase poor training to describe this cause. In the notes, the phrase lack of good is used, which has the same meaning as poor. Jason confirms this information is correct after checking the company's official report. |
| Q25 | A | But I think they're much more cautious than that and expect they will start trying to find individuals who'd be prepared to back them with some of the capital they need | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Karin thinks the company is careful, so she predicts they will look for people (individuals) who can support them (back them) with money (capital). Answer Explanation: The answer means that Karin thinks Box Telecom will try to find specific people who are willing to give the company the money it needs to operate. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Karin discusses a few options for the company's future. She mentions that they could be bought by another company or sell shares, but she thinks the leaders are too careful (cautious) for those choices. Instead, she believes they will choose to find specific people (private individuals) to provide the money (capital or investment) that the company needs. |
| Q26 | B | But a more ambitious approach, and one which I think would have more chance of success, would be to alter how they're running things - the management layers and the processes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the tutor thinks the company will have better results if they change their internal structure and their business methods instead of just closing shops or changing the person at the top. Answer Explanation: The answer means the company should change its internal structure and the way its work is managed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor mentions that the best way for the company to succeed is to change or 'alter' its internal operations. He specifically names 'management layers' (the levels of bosses) and 'processes' (how things are done) as the things that need to be changed. In business, changing these parts of a company is described as changing how it is 'organised.' |
| Q27 | A | I want you to take Box Telecom as an example and suggest some ways in which they might overcome their problems | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the tutor wants the students to look at Box Telecom and figure out how the company can move past its current troubles. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Jason and Karin should write a report that gives ideas on how to fix the issues Box Telecom is having. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the tutor tells the students exactly what he wants in their report. He asks them to use Box Telecom as an example and to 'suggest some ways in which they might overcome their problems.' This matches the idea of offering solutions. He specifically tells them to focus only on this company and not to use other examples, which means they should not compare different companies. He also mentions that they have already studied the UK market in general, so that is not the main task for this specific report. |
| Q28 | C | KARIN: Yes, I think I can do that. Personally I've got great hopes for it. I think it will recover | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Karin saying she has high expectations for the company's future and believes it will get better and return to a normal, successful state. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Karin believes the company will be successful again in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Karin expresses a positive view of the company's future despite its current difficulties. She explicitly states her belief that the company will 'recover,' which is a synonym for 'overcom[ing] its problems.' She mentions having 'great hopes' and praises their 'strong' advertising and 'innovative' products as reasons why she expects a positive turnaround. |
| Q29 | B | I think it can but it's not a foregone conclusion unless they manage to attract the right level of investment | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jason saying that the company's recovery is not certain. He believes they can only fix their problems if they are able to get enough money from investors. Answer Explanation: The answer B means Jason thinks the company does not have enough money put into it to be successful. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer B is chosen because Jason expressed doubt about the company's future success. He mentions that for the company to recover, it must get a certain amount of money from people who want to put money into the business (investors). This implies that the company currently lacks the necessary funds. Keywords to notice are "attract" and "investment," which suggest they need more money than they currently have. |
| Q30 | D | And I disagree with you about the advertising campaign Karin. That's where they could do with some innovation - to get sales kick-started | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor disagreeing with Karin's opinion that the advertisements were strong. Instead, he believes the company needs to find new and better ways to advertise if they want to increase their sales. Answer Explanation: The answer choice D suggests that the way the company advertises its products to the public (its marketing campaign) is not effective and needs to be changed for the better. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the tutor specifically mentions that he does not think the advertising campaign was good. He tells Karin that he disagrees with her positive view and states that the company needs 'innovation' in that area to help them start selling products again. In business, 'marketing' and 'advertising' are often used to describe the same process of promoting goods, and saying something needs 'innovation' to 'kick-start' sales means it needs improvement. |
Transcript
TUTOR: Right, Jason and Karin, now I asked you to look at the case study for Box Telecom as part of your exam assessment. It's interesting because they are in the middle of problems at the moment and I want you to track how they deal with them. Let's start with you, Karin. Having read through the case study, can you just summarise what the problems were that Box Telecom had to take on board?
KARIN: Um, yeah . . . Well of course what first came to their attention was that, despite a new advertising campaign, they were suffering from falling sales – and this is something that had many causes. On top of that immediate problem, what had also happened over the last two years was that, although they had invested in an expansion plan, they had to face up to increased competition. And, before they had a chance to get to grips with the effects of that, they were stalled by a strike and it was just when they were thinking about making a colossal investment in new machinery for their plants. So they were really in trouble.
TUTOR: Yes, I think that's fair. And Jason, you contacted the company, didn't you? What did the company define as the reasons for these problems?
JASON: Well, I think they've hit on the right things - it would be easy to say they had invested too heavily, or at the wrong time, but in fact the signs were good and what they were set back by was high interest rates. At the same time, their longer-term problems, which were affecting their market share, were eventually credited to poor training – and having looked at the details in their last report I think that's right.
TUTOR: So, onto the larger issues then. Karin, what do you think the company will do?
KARIN: Hmm . . . Well, obviously they have the choice of accepting the very favourable terms that another company – KMG Plc – have given them to buy them out. That would mean creating a new company with a new image. Or they could decide on a bolder move and offer some new shares if they wanted. But I think they're much more cautious than that and expect they will start trying to find individuals who'd be prepared to back them with some of the capital they need.
TUTOR: Well, you mustn't always assume that dramatic problems require dramatic solutions. Sometimes there's a simple fix such as changing the guy at the top. If they truly are cautious, then I suspect they will seek to shut down some of their shops. But a more ambitious approach, and one which I think would have more chance of success, would be to alter how they're running things - the management layers and the processes. So in your analysis try to think of all the options. Jason?
JASON: Yes, it's interesting because I've found it a really useful company to study. Its problems cross all types of industries and it's lucky it's so big - a smaller or even medium-sized company would have gone under by now.
TUTOR: Ah well in fact, what I want you two to do is to go away when we've finished our discussion today and write a report. We've looked in general at the telecommunications market in the UK over the last few sessions and I want you to take Box Telecom as an example and suggest some ways in which they might overcome their problems. And outline the reasons why you think as you do - but try and keep it intrinsic to the company rather than dragging in other examples. Is that OK, Karin?
KARIN: Yes, I think I can do that. Personally I've got great hopes for it. I think it will recover. That advertising campaign they did was very strong and they're very innovative with their products – they set new trends. The company's got to recover, don't you think, Jason?
JASON: Hmmm I'm not sure. I think it can but it's not a foregone conclusion unless they manage to attract the right level of investment. The company definitely needs a boost and to attract more highly skilled workers if their recovery is to be long-lasting. When I was talking to the marketing manager he said to me that he thinks the company had got a great management team – but he would say that, wouldn't he? – but they are suffering from having to work with outdated production machinery and that could cost a lot to put right.
TUTOR: Well, personally I think the stock market is to blame. I think they were expecting too much of the company and then inevitably it looked bad when it didn't perform. The market should have had more realistic expectations.
And I disagree with you about the advertising campaign Karin. That's where they could do with some innovation - to get sales kick-started. Anyway, let's see what you come up with . . . [fade]