BUYING A USED CAR - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Road to IELTS Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
BUYING A USED CAR
| Example | Answer |
| Name of caller | Peter Smith |
Vehicle Details:
- Vehicle for sale: 2012 Toyota sedan
- Vehicle colour: 1
- Condition of vehicle: original 2
no scratches
no dents
engine: no problems, regular servicing
- Ownership: one driver, old lady
3
- Tyres: back tyres: worn
front tyres: 4
- Extras air conditioning
5
power steering, central locking, ABS brakes
manual transmission
tow bar – useful for Peter’s 6
- Mileage: 7 km
Meeting Arrangements
- Tina’s address: 352 8
- Time of appointment: 9 today
- Peter’s phone number: 045 - 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | silver | The one I’m after is silver | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter directly stating that the car he is looking for is the silver one. Answer Explanation: The color of the car that Peter wants to buy is silver. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is silver because when Tina (the seller) suggests various car colors like black pearl or Barcelona red, Peter clarifies that he is looking for a different color. He uses the phrase 'after' to mean the car he is searching for or intends to buy is silver. |
| Q2 | paint | Well, the paint is original, there are almost no scratches or dents | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tina describing the car's state, specifically mentioning that the colored coating (the paint) is in its first, unchanged condition. Answer Explanation: The answer "paint" refers to the colored liquid used to cover the surface of the car to make it look good and protect the metal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "paint" because Tina explains the condition of the car by saying the outer color is the same as when it was first bought. She uses the word "original" directly before it to describe that it is the factory-applied surface. |
| Q3 | two owners / 2 owners | It’s only had the one driver; oh, except that on the papers it says two owners, because her son took over the ownership when the old lady stopped driving | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that even though only one person mostly used the car, the legal documents show two people have owned it because the son became the owner after his mother finished driving. Answer Explanation: The answer tells us the number of people who have officially owned the car according to the registration documents. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when Tina describes the car's ownership history. She mentions that although it only had one driver (an old lady), the official paperwork shows 'two owners' because her son took over the title when she could no longer drive. This fits the 'Ownership' category in the notes. |
| Q4 | new | the owner had the front two replaced only a couple of months ago, so those ones are new | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that since the owner bought these tires very recently to replace the old ones, they are in excellent, unused condition. Answer Explanation: The answer "new" means the tires on the front of the car are fresh and have not been used for very long. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "new" because Tina, the seller, explains that the previous owner changed the front two tires just two months ago. This means they are not old or damaged like the back tires, which she says are worn. |
| Q5 | stereo | Well, air conditioning of course, and there’s a nice stereo which plays CDs or you can use it with an mp3 player | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tina listing the car's special features. Right after she mentions 'air conditioning', she describes a 'nice stereo' that can play music from CDs or an mp3 player. Answer Explanation: The answer is one of the extra items that comes with the car. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "stereo" because when Peter asks about the "extras" (special features) the car has, Tina starts listing them. She mentions air conditioning first and then immediately introduces the stereo as the next feature. This matches the order of the items in the notes. |
| Q6 | bike / bicycle | Yes, I don’t want an automatic, and the tow bar sounds great, I need that for carrying my bike | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter agreeing that the car's features are good. He specifically says the tow bar is useful because he needs it to move his bicycle. Answer Explanation: The answer is bike or bicycle, which is a vehicle with two wheels that you ride by pushing pedals with your feet. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is bike because Peter explicitly mentions that he needs the car's tow bar to carry his bike. In the conversation, Tina lists the features of the car, including a tow bar. Peter responds positively, saying it is 'great' for his specific need. The word 'carrying' in the transcript is a synonym for moving or transporting something from one place to another. |
| Q7 | 50,000 / 50000 / fifty thousand | Most cars of that age would be around 80,000 km or even up to 120,000 but as I said the old lady didn’t drive much so it’s very low, only 50,000 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tina comparing this car's distance to other cars and stating that this one has accurately clocked 50,000 kilometers. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the total distance the car has been driven, which is 50,000 kilometers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 50,000 because in the conversation, Peter asks for the 'mileage,' which means the number of miles or kilometers a vehicle has traveled. Tina answers him by saying that for this specific car, the number is 'only 50,000.' |
| Q8 | Hunter Place | Yes, I’m in Pembrose, at 352 Hunter Place. H U N T E R |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tina telling Peter her home address, which consists of the house number 352 followed by the street name, Hunter Place. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the street where Tina lives, which is Hunter Place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Hunter Place because when Peter asks where Tina lives so he can visit, she gives her exact address. She states that she lives in the suburb of Pembrose at house number 352 on a street called Hunter Place, even spelling out 'Hunter' for him. |
| Q9 | 4.30 pm / 4:30 pm / 4.30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. | Peter: Yes that’s good. OK, let’s say 4.30 pm, and I guess I’ll just have to be late for the gym. I’m usually very punctual, so being late just once won’t matter too much | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter choosing 4:30 in the afternoon as the final time for their meeting today. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific time in the afternoon that Peter and Tina agreed to meet to look at the car. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 4.30 pm because Peter specifically suggests this time. Earlier, they discussed meeting at 7:30 pm, but Peter wanted to see the car in daylight. When Tina suggests meeting around 4:00 (4-ish), Peter agrees and sets the final appointment for 4:30 pm, even though he will be slightly late for his gym class. |
| Q10 | 352 7652 | That’s 045 – 3-5-2-7-6-5-2 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter saying these specific numbers after mentioning they are for his mobile phone. Answer Explanation: The answer is the last seven digits of Peter's mobile phone number. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by listening to Peter provide his phone number. When Tina asks for a mobile number, Peter first gives a landline number starting with 09 but immediately tells Tina to ignore it. He then provides his mobile number, which starts with 045. Because the notes already provide '045 -' as the beginning of the number, the missing part to be filled in is the remaining sequence of digits he says: 352 7652. |
Transcript
MAN: Hi, It’s Peter speaking. I’m calling about the ad you put online for a used car?
WOMAN: Sorry, what was your name again?
MAN: Oh, sorry, it’s Peter Smith.
The man says his name is Peter Smith, so Peter Smith has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 7.
Peter: Hi, It’s Peter speaking. I’m calling about the ad you put online for a used car.
Tina: Sorry, what was your name again?
Peter: Oh, sorry, it’s Peter Smith.
Tina: Ah, hi, I’m Tina. Good to hear from you. So tell me, which car are you after?
Peter: I’m interested in the sedan, the 2012 Toyota sedan.
Tina: We have a few of those available right now. Let’s see, was it the black pearl one? Or maybe the Barcelona red one?
Peter: Oh yes, I saw the red one, but I don’t really like red cars. The one I’m after is silver.
Tina: Right, I see … OK, well, what would you like to know?
Peter: Well, it says in the ad that it’s in good condition. What does that mean, exactly?
Tina: Well, the paint is original, there are almost no scratches or dents. It looks like a new car, in fact. There was a tiny scratch on the door, but we polished that right out for you.
Peter: Oh, that’s good. How’s the engine?
Tina: The engine? Oh, yes, well, there haven’t been any problems, and it’s been serviced regularly, you know, oil changes, lubes and so on. The previous owner was a very careful old lady, and she looked after it. It’s only had the one driver; oh, except that on the papers it says two owners, because her son took over the ownership when the old lady stopped driving.
Peter: How about the tyres? Are they in good condition? I do a lot of driving on the open road.
Tina: Well, they all passed the car safety test. You might need to replace the back ones in the next 6 months or so, because they’re a bit worn, but the owner had the front two replaced only a couple of months ago, so those ones are new. You won’t need to replace them for ages. Oh … and it had new brake linings recently, too. I have the garage receipts for all those things.
Peter: OK … that’s good … and what extras does it have?
Tina: Well, air conditioning of course, and there’s a nice stereo which plays CDs or you can use it with an mp3 player. Umm, what else? All the usuals, power steering, central locking, ABS brakes, oh, and it also has a tow bar. You can remove that and store it inside the car when you’re not using it. Um, what else? You know it’s manual transmission, right?
Peter: Yes, I don’t want an automatic, and the tow bar sounds great, I need that for carrying my bike. Ok, well, that all sounds very cool. And you’re asking 25,000 dollars, is that right?
Tina: No, no way! I think you must have the wrong ad. This one is 30,000, and we won’t go lower than that.
Peter: Hmm, I see … What’s the mileage again?
Tina: Most cars of that age would be around 80,000 km or even up to 120,000 but as I said the old lady didn’t drive much so it’s very low, only 50,000. You won’t get a better low-mileage car than this one.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 8 to 10.
Now listen and answer questions 8 to 10.
Peter: OK … well, I’d like to come and see it if that’s all right. Where do you live?
Tina: I’m in the suburb of Pembrose. Do you know where that is?
Peter: Sorry, can you say that again? I’ll just check on my GPS.
Tina: Yes, I’m in Pembrose, at 352 Hunter Place. H...U...N...T...E…R
Peter: Oh yes, I see, yes that’s OK, it’s about 30 minutes’ drive from here. No, that’s no problem.
Tina: So, when would you like to come?
Peter: How about this evening? I could come at 5 pm … oh, no … sorry I forgot my gym class, how about 6.30? Does that suit you?
Tina: Look, sorry, I have someone else coming then. Can you make it a bit later? Say, 7.30?
Peter: Well, OK then, but that’s getting a bit late really and it’ll be dark by then, won’t it? I’d really like to see the car in daylight, if that’s OK.
Tina: Well then, how about 4-ish?
Peter: Yes that’s good. OK, let’s say 4.30 pm, and I guess I’ll just have to be late for the gym. I’m usually very punctual, so being late just once won’t matter too much.
Tina: Yes, fine, see you then. Oh, just in case there’s a problem, what’s your mobile number?
Peter: Oh, of course. It’s 09-367-8192. Um, ignore that … it’s my landline. Of course it makes more sense to give you my mobile. That’s 045 – 3-5-2-7-6-5-2
Tina: Got that! Excellent. See you later, Peter.
Peter: Yes, sure. Bye, Tina.
That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
Now turn to section 2.