British Library - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
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Questions
Questions 11–15 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
- The reading rooms are only open for group visits on 11.
- The library was officially opened in 12.
- All the library rooms together cover 13 m².
- The library is financed by the 14.
- The main function of the library is to provide resources for people doing 15.
Questions 16–20 Plan Labeling
Label the plan below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | Sundays | I'm afraid we don't do visits on Fridays – or any weekday during working hours, so as not to disturb the readers. But if you do want to see those rooms, the only day there are tours is on Sundays | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that because of the readers, visits are not allowed during the work week, and the only time you can take a tour of the reading rooms is on Sunday. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific day of the week when groups of people can go inside the reading rooms to see them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Sundays because the guide explains that they do not allow visits on Fridays or other weekdays because they do not want to disturb the people reading. He directly states that the only day for tours (group visits) is on Sundays. |
| Q12 | 1998 | It was first designed by Sir Colin St John Wilson in 1977, and inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen more than twenty years later, in 1998 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the building project began with a design in 1977, but the official opening ceremony performed by the Queen took place in 1998. Answer Explanation: The answer is the year that the British Library was officially opened to the public. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1998 because the speaker mentions that while the building was designed in 1977, the Queen 'inaugurated' it later. In English, the word 'inaugurated' is a formal synonym for 'officially opened'. |
| Q13 | 100,000 / 100000 / one hundred thousand / a hundred thousand | The total floor space here is 100,000 square metres | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the library's total amount of floor area is 100,000 square metres. Answer Explanation: The answer provides the number for the total area of all the floors in the library building. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is '100,000' (or the word equivalent) because the tour guide specifically mentions this number when describing the size of the library. In the transcript, he uses the term 'total floor space,' which matches the idea of 'all the library rooms together' mentioned in the task. The unit 'm²' in the question is a symbol for 'square metres,' which the guide also uses. |
| Q14 | government | It is still funded by the government as a national institution, of course, and it houses one of the most important collections in the world | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because the library is a national institution (an official place for the whole country), it gets its money from the government. Answer Explanation: The answer "government" refers to the group of people who rule a country and use public money to pay for things. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "government" because the speaker tells the group that the library is still funded by them. In English, the word "financed" used in the task means the same thing as the word "funded" used in the transcript. |
| Q15 | research | Access to the collections is limited to those involved in carrying out research – so, it's really a huge reference library for that purpose, and anyone who wants to consult any materials that are kept here can formally apply to use the library reading rooms | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the library is specifically for people who are doing detailed study projects. Because it is a place for study, it is called a reference library for that type of work. Answer Explanation: The answer means the activity of studying something carefully to find new facts or information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found where the guide explains that you cannot just borrow books from this library like a normal public one. Instead, it is a 'reference library' meant for a specific purpose. He says that the people allowed to use the rooms are those busy with 'carrying out research,' which means doing serious study or looking for information. |
| Q16 | Conference Centre / Conference Center | On the other side of the Piazza from the statue is the Conference Centre, which is used for all kinds of international conventions – we'll take a quick look inside at the end of our tour | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that if you look across from the statue in the outdoor area called the Piazza, you will see the Conference Centre, a place used for big international meetings. Answer Explanation: The answer is a building called the 'Conference Centre.' This is a special place where people from many different countries gather for large meetings or events. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is the 'Conference Centre' because the tour guide mentions it while describing the layout of the library's exterior. He explains that it is located across from a statue in the open square (called the Piazza). He also notes that it is used for international 'conventions' (large meetings) and that the tour will finish there. |
| Q17 | Information Desk | Looking ahead of us now, you'll see that we're standing opposite the staircase down to the basement where you'll find the cloakroom, and to the left of that, we have the information desk where you can find out about any current exhibitions, the times of the tours and anything you need to know | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when you look forward from where the group is standing, you see stairs leading down. To the left side of those stairs is the information desk, which provides visitors with details about events and tours. Answer Explanation: The answer is the 'Information Desk', which is a specific location in the British Library where visitors can go to ask questions or get help. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified based on the tour guide's description of the building's layout while standing at the Meeting Point. The guide explains that if you look straight ahead at the stairs going down to the basement, the information desk is located to the left of those stairs. This desk is specifically mentioned as the place to get information about tours and exhibitions. |
| Q18 | bookshop | As you can see, on this lower ground floor we also have a bookshop – that's the area over to the left of the main entrance | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that on this bottom level of the building, there is a bookshop located to the left of the main door. Answer Explanation: The answer 'bookshop' refers to the store inside the library where visitors can buy books. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found by listening to the guide's description of the building's layout. While standing on the lower ground floor near the main entrance, the guide points out the specific location of the store. He mentions it is to the left of the entrance so that visitors can identify it on their map. |
| Q19 | King's Library / Kings Library | And at the top of them, in the middle of the upper ground floor, you can see a kind of glass-sided tower that rises all the way up through the ceiling and up to the first floor. This is called the King's Library | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there is a glass tower in the center of the floor, and this tower is called the King's Library. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a special glass tower inside the library called the King's Library. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer identifies a specific area of the building based on the guide's description. He mentions a tower made of glass that stands in the middle of the floor and tells the group it is called the King's Library. |
| Q20 | stamp display | That's the exciting one, so we'll be visiting that first, but we'll also take a look at the stamp display situated behind it, on the way to the café – a lot of people miss that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that after visiting the first exciting gallery, the group will see the area for stamps. This area is located behind the gallery and is on the path to where people eat. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a specific area or exhibit in the library where people can look at postage stamps. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by the tour guide's description of the library's layout on the upper ground floor. The guide mentions visiting the Treasures Gallery first and then visiting a specific spot located behind it while walking toward the cafeteria. This spot is named the stamp display. Using keywords like 'behind' and 'situated' helps to identify the exact location on the map. |
Transcript
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to your very own tour of the British Library on this lovely afternoon. My name is Tony Walters and I'm your guide for today. Could I please see your tickets for the guided tour? I'd also like to remind you that any tickets bought today do not include a visit to the reading rooms. I'm afraid we don't do visits on Fridays – or any weekday during working hours, so as not to disturb the readers. But if you do want to see those rooms, the only day there are tours is on Sundays. So, I don't want anyone to be disappointed about that today. OK? Thank you.
Right. We'll start with a brief introduction. As many of you know, this is the United Kingdom's National Library and you can see that this is a magnificent modern building. It was first designed by Sir Colin St John Wilson in 1977, and inaugurated by Her Majesty the Queen more than twenty years later, in 1998.
As you can see, the size is immense and the basements alone have 300 kilometres of shelving – and that's enough to hold about 12 million books. The total floor space here is 100,000 square metres and, as I'll show you, the library houses a huge range of facilities and exhibition spaces, and it has a thousand staff members based here in the building – so, you can appreciate the scale of our operation.
In fact, this was the biggest publicly-funded building constructed in the United Kingdom last century. It is still funded by the government as a national institution, of course, and it houses one of the most important collections in the world. The different items come from every continent and span almost 3000 years.
The library isn't a public library, though – you can't just come in and join and borrow any of the books. Access to the collections is limited to those involved in carrying out research – so, it's really a huge reference library for that purpose, and anyone who wants to consult any materials that are kept here can formally apply to use the library reading rooms.
Right, well, here we are, standing at the Meeting Point on the lower ground floor just to the right of the Main Entrance. I've given you all a plan of the building so that we can orientate ourselves and get an idea of where we'll be going. Now, outside the Main Entrance you'll see the wide Piazza with the stunning sculpture of Newton. The sculptor was Paolozzi, but it's based on the famous image by William Blake – and it's definitely worth a closer look. On the other side of the Piazza from the statue is the Conference Centre, which is used for all kinds of international conventions – we'll take a quick look inside at the end of our tour.
Looking ahead of us now, you'll see that we're standing opposite the staircase down to the basement where you'll find the cloakroom, and to the left of that, we have the information desk where you can find out about any current exhibitions, the times of the tours and anything you need to know – if you don't have a tour guide. As you can see, on this lower ground floor we also have a bookshop – that's the area over to the left of the main entrance. You'll be free to browse there when we get back to the ground floor.
Now, opposite the main entrance on this floor we have the open stairs leading up to the upper ground floor. And at the top of them, in the middle of the upper ground floor, you can see a kind of glass-sided tower that rises all the way up through the ceiling and up to the first floor. This is called the King's Library. It's really the heart of the building. It was built to house the collection that was presented to the nation in 1823 by the King. You can see it from every floor above ground. When we go up there, you'll find the library's Treasures Gallery on the left. Can you find it on your plan? That's the exciting one, so we'll be visiting that first, but we'll also take a look at the stamp display situated behind it, on the way to the café – a lot of people miss that. The Cafeteria runs along the back of the floor and, in the right-hand corner you'll find the lifts and toilets ... ha, always good to locate them. ... The other main area on that floor is the Public Access Catalogue section and I'll show you how that operates when we get up there ...