Brindall’s Estate Agents - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–3 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 4–10 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Location | Features | Good (✓) and bad (✗) points |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge Street, near the 4 | • 3 bedrooms
• very big living room |
✓ 5 £ 5 a month
✓ transport links ✗ no shower ✗ could be 6 |
| 7 | • 4 bedrooms
• living room • 8 |
✓ 9 and well equipped
✓ shower ✓ will be 10 ✗ £800 a month |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | two of us work in the Central Bank, that's Chris and me | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Martin saying that he and Chris are the ones who work at the Central Bank. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Martin has a job at a bank. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Martin clearly says that he and his friend Chris have jobs at the "Central Bank." He explains that they are not students but have full-time "employment." This means his "occupation" or job is working in a bank. |
| Q2 | A | Yeah – at least three. But actually, we'd rather have a fourth room as well – if we can afford it – for friends staying over and stuff | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Martin wants at least three rooms, but he says they would like a fourth room even more so that their friends can stay the night. Answer Explanation: The answer is four bedrooms. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Martin says he and his friends would 'rather have a fourth room' if they can afford it. In English, 'rather have' means the same as 'prefer'. While they need at least three bedrooms for themselves, they want a fourth one for guests who stay over. |
| Q3 | C | but we'd consider anything in the west suburbs as well really – actually for Phil that'd be better | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that while the group looks at many options, the speaker says that living in the west suburbs is a better choice for Phil specifically. Answer Explanation: The answer means Phil prefers to live in the west suburbs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Martin, the speaker, explains that the group is looking for a place to live, and while he and Chris like the city center, living in the west suburbs would be better for Phil. Phil works at a car factory a few miles out of town, so the west area is his preference. Even though the other two friends choose the city center as their top choice, the text specifically links the west suburbs with what 'for Phil' would be 'better'. |
| Q4 | bus station | This first one I'm looking at is in Bridge Street – and very close to the bus station | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Cindy, the agent, describing the first flat. She says it is on Bridge Street and is very close to the station for buses. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies a place where buses stop, which is located near one of the apartments for rent. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on what the estate agent says about the first apartment. She mentions that the flat is on Bridge Street and describes its location as being 'very close' to a specific place. In English, 'very close to' means 'near'. Therefore, the location is near the bus station. |
| Q5 | 450 | The good news is that it's only four hundred and fifty pounds a month | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says the cost of the rent for the first apartment is four hundred and fifty pounds every month. Answer Explanation: The answer is the monthly cost to rent the apartment located on Bridge Street. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 450 because Cindy explicitly states the monthly rent for the first apartment on Bridge Street is four hundred and fifty pounds. This makes it much cheaper than others in the area. |
| Q6 | noisy | er but unfortunately there isn't a shower in the flat, and that location is likely to be noisy, of course |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the area where the flat is located will likely have a lot of sound, which makes it a negative point for the apartment. Answer Explanation: The answer noisy describes a place that has many loud sounds and is not quiet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is noisy because Cindy warns Martin that the Bridge Street flat is located in a loud part of town. In the table, this is listed under 'bad points' because most people prefer a quiet home. Keywords to listen for include 'location' and 'noisy'. |
| Q7 | Hills Avenue | Let's see oh yes, well this one is in a really nice location – on Hills Avenue |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the estate agent identifying the location of the second flat as being on a street called Hills Avenue while she checks her list of available homes. Answer Explanation: The answer is the street name where the second apartment being offered by the estate agent is located. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Hills Avenue because it is the specific name of the street linked to the second property Cindy describes. Throughout the conversation, she compares two different flats: one on Bridge Street and the other on Hills Avenue. While the first option has fewer rooms and is noisy, the Hills Avenue option is described as modern and special. |
| Q8 | dining room | It's got four big bedrooms and erm, there's a big living room and oh, this will be good for you: a dining room |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Cindy, the agent, listing the parts of the second flat. She mentions four bedrooms, a large living room, and then adds that there is a dining room as well. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'dining room', which is a specific room in a house or flat where people sit down together to eat their meals. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'dining room' because while listing the rooms in the flat on Hills Avenue, the agent specifically highlights this as an extra room that would be beneficial for the group. In the transcript, she identifies it as a feature of the property in addition to the four bedrooms and the large living room. |
| Q9 | very modern / modern | That whole area's being developed, and the flat's very modern, which I'm sure you'll like | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Cindy telling Martin that the apartment is new and stylish because the entire neighborhood is currently being improved. Answer Explanation: The answer '(very) modern' means that the apartment is new, uses current styles, and has up-to-date features. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when Cindy describes the second property on Hills Avenue. She mentions that since the neighborhood is being updated, the apartment itself is 'very modern.' This fits the positive point in the table describing the flat's condition alongside being 'well equipped.' |
| Q10 | quiet | And of course it's going to be quiet, especially compared with the other place | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says the flat is good because it is not loud, unlike the first place they talked about. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the flat will not be loud or have much noise. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'quiet' because the agent, Cindy, describes the second flat on Hills Avenue as a peaceful place to live. She uses the word 'quiet' as a positive feature for this home, specifically comparing its low noise level to the first flat, which she said would be noisy. |
Transcript
Cindy: Hello, Brindall's Estate Agents here. How may I help you?
Martin: Oh, good morning, I'm ringing to see what flats you have for rent at the moment.
Cindy: Right. Can I start by just taking your name Mr em...
Martin: Hill, Martin Hill.
Cindy: Right, and are you looking for a flat for yourself or ... em ... a family perhaps?
Martin: Well it's for three of us: myself and two friends – we're going to share together.
Cindy: I see ... erm, what about employment – are you all students?
Martin: Oh no, we've all got full-time jobs – two of us work in the Central Bank, that's Chris and me, and Phil – that's the other one – is working for Hallam cars, you know, at the factory about two miles out of town?
Cindy: I'll put you down as young professionals, then – and I suppose you'll be looking for somewhere with three bedrooms?
Martin: Yeah – at least three. But actually, we'd rather have a fourth room as well – if we can afford it – for friends staying over and stuff.
Cindy: Is that with a living room to share? Plus kitchen and bathroom?
Martin: Yeah, that sounds good. But we must have a bathroom with a shower. We don't mind about having a bath, but the shower's crucial.
Cindy: OK, I'll just key that in ... And, are you interested in any particular area?
Martin: Well, the city centre would be good for me and Chris, so that's our first preference ... but we'd consider anything in the west suburbs as well really – actually for Phil that'd be better, but he knows he's outnumbered! But we aren't interested in the north or the east of the city.
Cindy: OK, I'm just getting up all the flats on our books.
Cindy: Just looking at this list here, I'm afraid there are only two that might interest you ... do you want the details?
Martin: OK, let me just grab a pen and some paper ... fire away!
Cindy: This first one I'm looking at is in Bridge Street – and very close to the bus station. It's not often that flats in that area come up for rent. This one's got three bedrooms, a bathroom and kitchen, of course ... and a very big living room. That sounds a good size for you.
Martin: Mmmm ... So, what about the rent? How much is it a month?
Cindy: The good news is that it's only four hundred and fifty pounds a month. Rents in that area usually reach up to six fifty a month, but the landlord obviously wants to get a tenant quickly.
Martin: Yeah, it sounds like a bit of a bargain. What about transport for Phil?
Cindy: Well, there'll be plenty of buses – so no problem for him to use public transport ... er ... but unfortunately there isn't a shower in the flat, and that location is likely to be noisy, of course ...
Martin: OK – what about the other place?
Cindy: Let's see ... oh yes, well this one is in a really nice location – on Hills Avenue. I'm sure you know it. This looks like something a bit special. It's got four big bedrooms and erm, there's a big living room and ... oh, this will be good for you: a dining room. It sounds enormous, doesn't it?
Martin: Yeah, it sounds great!
Cindy: That whole area's being developed, and the flat's very modern, which I'm sure you'll like. It's got good facilities, including your shower. And of course it's going to be quiet, especially compared with the other place.
Martin: Better and better ... but I'll bet it's expensive, especially if it's in that trendy area beside the park.
Cindy: Hmm, I'm afraid so. They're asking £800 a month for it.
Martin: Wow! It sounds a lot more than we can afford.
Cindy: Well, maybe you could get somebody else to move in too? I'll tell you what, give me your address and I can send you all the details and photos and you can see whether these two are worth a visit.
Martin: Thanks, that would be really helpful ... my address is ...