Car For Sale (Mini) - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 3 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Car for sale (Mini)
Example
Age of car: just under 13 years old
Colour: 1
Mileage: 2
Previous owner was a 3
Current owner has used car mainly for 4
Price: may accept offers from £5
(Note: 6 not due for 5 months)
Condition: good (recently serviced)
Will need a new 7 soon
Minor problem with a 8
Viewing
Agreed to view the car on 9 a.m.
Address:
238, 10 Road.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | grey / gray | Woman: And I seem to remember from the ad that it’s gray. Brian Parks: That’s it. Doesn’t show the dirt | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman saying she thinks the car is gray, and Brian agrees that she is right. Answer Explanation: The answer is the color of the car. In English, this color can be spelled two ways: 'grey' (British) or 'gray' (American). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'grey/gray' because the woman mentions that she remembers seeing this color for the car in an advertisement. Brian, the owner, confirms she is correct by saying 'That’s it.' |
| Q2 | 62,000 / 62000 | Actually, it’s 40,000 less than that. 62,000 on the clock | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Brian correcting the woman's guess about the car's high mileage. He tells her the car has 62,000 miles recorded. Answer Explanation: The answer 62,000 is the total distance (mileage) that the car has been driven. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 62,000 because Brian explicitly states this number when answering the woman's question about the car's mileage. In car sales, the phrase 'on the clock' is a common expression used to describe the number of miles or kilometers shown on a vehicle's odometer (the instrument that records distance traveled). |
| Q3 | teacher | I’m the second one. Before, it was owned by a teacher, who was a very careful driver | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Brian saying he is the second owner. He then mentions that before he bought it, the owner was a teacher. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the job of the person who owned the car before the current owner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is teacher because Brian Parks, the man selling the car, explains that he is the second owner. He states that the previous owner, the person who had it before him, was a teacher who drove very carefully. The word 'before' indicates the previous ownership. |
| Q4 | shopping | I haven't used it all that much. Mostly for shopping. You know the sort of thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Brian Parks, who currently owns the car, says he primarily uses the vehicle for his trips to the store. Answer Explanation: The answer means the current owner uses the vehicle mostly for going to stores to buy things. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'shopping' because Brian Parks, the current owner, explains his driving habits. When asked what he uses the car for, he specifies that he uses it 'mostly' for this activity. In the notes, the word 'mainly' is a synonym for 'mostly', indicating the primary purpose of the car's use. |
| Q5 | 1,100 / 1000 | Woman: 1100? Brian Parks: I might be able to go to that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman suggesting a new price of 1,100. Brian replies that he can possibly accept that lower amount. Answer Explanation: The answer is 1,100, which is the lower price that the seller is willing to accept for the car. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1,100 because this is the amount agreed upon during the price negotiation. The woman asks if the seller would take 1,100 pounds instead of the higher original price, and the seller says he could do that. In this context, 'accept offers' means the seller is willing to take a different amount of money than what was first asked for. |
| Q6 | tax | Woman: Okay, I’ll make a note of that. What about tax? Is it due soon? Brian Parks: Got another five months before it’s due | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking about the car's tax and if it needs to be paid soon. Brian answers that there are five more months before the payment is needed. Answer Explanation: The answer "tax" refers to the money or fee that a car owner must pay to the government to legally drive the vehicle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "tax" because Brian directly mentions this word when describing payments. He explains that it is not "due" (the time when it must be paid) for another "five months," which matches the timeline mentioned in the notes. |
| Q7 | tyre / tire | The only thing is, you’d have to get a new tire in the near future | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the owner explaining that although the car is safe now, a new tire will be needed very soon. Answer Explanation: The answer is the rubber part of a car wheel that needs to be replaced soon. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'tire' (also spelled 'tyre') because the man selling the car mentions that a report shows one of them will need replacing 'in the near future'. This phrase means the same as 'soon' in the notes. |
| Q8 | headlight | And the garage also mentioned that one headlight could probably do with replacing. They think there’s a fault there, you know, intermittent | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Brian telling the woman that a repair shop noticed a small issue with one of the car's front lights. He says it may need to be replaced soon because it has a fault. Answer Explanation: The answer 'headlight' refers to one of the two large lamps on the front of a car that help the driver see at night. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'headlight' because the owner of the car mentions that a garage found a small problem with one of them. He says it might need 'replacing' because there is an 'intermittent' fault, which means the light does not always work correctly. This fits the description of a 'minor problem' in the notes. |
| Q9 | Thursday | Woman: Well, Thursday then? Brian Parks: That’d be fine, yes. Woman: In the morning? Brian Parks: Yes, that’d suit me perfectly | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that when the woman asks if they can meet on Thursday morning, Brian says it is a good time for him and agrees to the plan. Answer Explanation: The answer Thursday is the day of the week that the buyer and seller choose to meet so the buyer can inspect the car. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Thursday because the woman suggests this day after finding out that Brian is busy on Wednesday. Brian agrees to meet on Thursday morning, which matches the note stating when they will view the car in the 'a.m.' (morning). The learner should notice that the speakers discuss different days before settling on Thursday. |
| Q10 | London | Woman: London Road | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the speaker confirming the name of the street for the address is London. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific name of the street mentioned in the address. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "London" because the woman provides her address to the man so they can arrange a meeting. She clearly states that the street is "London Road." Since the notes already include the house number "238" and the word "Road," only the name "London" is required to complete the information. |
Transcript
Narrator: CD 2. Test 3, section 1. You will hear a woman talking on the telephone to a man about a car he is selling. First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4. You will see that there is an example which has been done for you. On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
Brian Parks: Hello, Brian Parks speaking.
Woman: Oh, hello. I’m calling about the advert in the paper.
Brian Parks: For the car?
Woman: Ah, yes, the Mini you’ve got advertised for sale.
Brian Parks: Oh yes.
Woman: I just wanted to find out a bit more information.
Brian Parks: Of course, what would you like to know?
Woman: It’s my brother who’s interested actually, but he’s not in today, so he asked me to call you.
Brian Parks: Fine.
Woman: Great, thanks. So it’s a Mini?
Brian Parks: Yep.
Woman: And how old is it?
Brian Parks: Just coming up to 13 years old.
Narrator: The man says the car is just coming up to 13 years old. So 13 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 4.
Brian Parks: Hello, Brian Parks speaking.
Woman: Oh, hello. I’m calling about the advert in the paper.
Brian Parks: For the car?
Woman: Ah, yes, the Mini you’ve got advertised for sale.
Brian Parks: Oh yes.
Woman: I just wanted to find out a bit more information.
Brian Parks: Of course, what would you like to know?
Woman: It’s my brother who’s interested actually, but he’s not in today, so he asked me to call you.
Brian Parks: Fine.
Woman: Great, thanks. So it’s a Mini?
Brian Parks: Yep.
Woman: And how old is it?
Brian Parks: Just coming up to 13 years old.
Woman: And I seem to remember from the ad that it’s gray.
Brian Parks: That’s it. Doesn’t show the dirt.
Woman: Absolutely. Anyway, the color shouldn’t be a problem for Jeff. You know, the important thing is the quality.
Brian Parks: Yes, of course.
Woman: And what about mileage? With it being pretty old, it’s probably over 100,000?
Brian Parks: Actually, it’s 40,000 less than that. 62,000 on the clock.
Woman: Great, I remember now. I’m confusing it with another ad I was looking at.
Brian Parks: Right, pleasant surprise then.
Woman: Yeah. Have you been the only owner, or was there a previous one?
Brian Parks: I’m the second one. Before, it was owned by a teacher, who was a very careful driver. Didn’t have any accidents.
Woman: Very good. And what about you? What do you tend to use it for?
Brian Parks: I haven’t used it all that much. Mostly for shopping. You know the sort of thing.
Woman: So not much wear and tear. I’ll make a note of that. I know Jeff wanted me to check that.
Brian Parks: Right.
Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10. Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
Woman: Now, about the price. I see you’ve got it down as 1250 pounds. I’m not sure Jeff will be able to come up with that amount.
Brian Parks: In the ad I did say 1250 or nearest offer.
Woman: So would you be prepared to go down to 1000?
Brian Parks: That’s really too low, I’m afraid.
Woman: 1100?
Brian Parks: I might be able to go to that.
Woman: Okay, I’ll make a note of that. What about tax? Is it due soon?
Brian Parks: Got another five months before it’s due.
Woman: Oh, that’s a real plus, yes. I’ll make a note of that.
Brian Parks: Okay.
Woman: Now, you say it’s in good condition.
Brian Parks: For its age, I’d say yes, definitely. It’s just been serviced and there were no major problems.
Woman: Major?
Brian Parks: I’d be able to show you the service report. The only thing is, you’d have to get a new tire in the near future. Though it’s still okay, you know, it’s certainly absolutely safe at the moment.
Woman: Okay, fair enough. Yes, I understand.
Brian Parks: And the garage also mentioned that one headlight could probably do with replacing. They think there’s a fault there, you know, intermittent.
Woman: Well, we’d obviously look at all the documents, but that sounds very straightforward.
Brian Parks: Of course. I’ve got all the service documents up to date and you can look at those.
Woman: Well, it all sounds pretty good. And I know my brother will be interested. So would it be possible for him to see the car? He’s back from his trip tomorrow, and away tonight. So how about tomorrow?
Brian Parks: Tomorrow, Wednesday… hmm, I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’m out pretty much all day.
Woman: Well, Thursday then?
Brian Parks: That’d be fine, yes.
Woman: In the morning?
Brian Parks: Yes, that’d suit me perfectly.
Woman: Great. Now, you’ll need my address.
Brian Parks: Oh, yes, of course. What is it?
Woman: It’s number 238.
Brian Parks: 238.
Woman: London Road.
Brian Parks: Oh, that’s easy enough.
Woman: Yes, very straightforward.
Brian Parks: So, I’ll pass on these notes to Jeff, and he’ll see you in a couple of…
Narrator: That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.