Cell Phone Packages - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Road to IELTS Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–6 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Cell Phone Packages
| Type of Plans |
|
| Prepaid Plans |
|
| SIM cards |
|
| Minimal Plan |
|
| Social Plan |
|
| 5 Plan |
|
| Changing Plans |
|
Questions 7–10 Form Completion
Complete the sales form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Sales Form
| Plan | Social Plan |
| Phone Number | 047 - 7 |
| Customer Name | 8 |
| Address | 375 Thompson 9 |
| Total Payment | $42.50 |
| Payment Method | 10 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | handsets | We’ve got a number of different plans, but first of all I should just mention that none of them come with handsets. You’ll just be buying a SIM card, and you can replace the one in your old phone | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman explaining that the prepaid plans do not provide a phone (handset). Customers only buy a small card (SIM card) to put inside their old phone. Answer Explanation: The answer 'handsets' refers to the physical cell phone devices themselves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'handsets' because the woman specifically states that these pre-paid plans do not include a new phone. In the transcript, she explains that customers do not get a handset with these plans; instead, they are only buying a SIM card to use in a phone they already own. The word 'handsets' is used here to mean the mobile phone hardware. |
| Q2 | local calls | The card itself is just 2 dollars, and that gives you about 15 minutes of local calls | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the 2-dollar SIM card includes a small amount of time to talk to people nearby. Answer Explanation: The answer "local calls" refers to the specific type of phone calls someone can make for about 15 minutes using only the money spent on the SIM card. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the shop assistant describes the SIM card price and what is included. She explains that the card costs 2 dollars and that this price includes 15 minutes of talk time for "local calls," which are calls to phones within the same nearby area. |
| Q3 | internet access | MAN: Ah how about internet access with that one? WOMAN: No, sorry, that’s not included |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man asking if the cheap phone plan allows him to go online, and the woman confirms that it does not have that feature. Answer Explanation: The answer 'internet access' refers to the ability to use the web on a phone, which is not part of this specific plan. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'internet access' because the woman informs the man that the 'Minimal Plan' does not come with this feature. In the conversation, the man specifically asks if he can go online with that plan, and the woman says it is 'not included'. The phrase 'not included' means the plan is 'without' that service, matching the heading in the table. |
| Q4 | 500 texts | That’s 40 dollars a month. But you get 200 minutes of talking time, 500 texts and 2 gigabytes of data, which is about 15 hours of watching videos, and thousands of photo uploads | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman listing the benefits of the Social Plan. She mentions it offers 40 dollars per month, 200 minutes for calls, 500 texts, and 2 gigabytes of data for using the internet. Answer Explanation: The answer is 500 texts. This means you can send 500 short messages (SMS) using this mobile phone plan each month. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the woman's description of the 'Social Plan'. When the man asks about the cost of that specific plan, she explains all its features, including the price, the amount of talk time, the number of text messages, and the amount of internet data. In the table, the field for the amount of texts was missing, and the transcript clearly states this plan includes 500 texts. |
| Q5 | Friends And Family | On that one, you choose five people, or five phone numbers, and you can talk to or text them as much as you want. That’s called the Friends and Family Plan That plan costs 70 dollars a month, but it does come with 3 gigabytes and unlimited texts, as well as your 5 designated people |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript first explains that a plan for five specific people with unlimited calls and texts is called the Friends and Family Plan. It then confirms that this specific plan has a cost of 70 dollars and includes 3 gigabytes of data, matching all the details listed in the table. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a specific mobile phone service option called the Friends and Family Plan. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified by matching the row's description in the table (which includes five phone numbers, free calls and texts, a $70 monthly price, and 3GB of data) with the woman's explanation in the transcript. She explains that a package with these exact features is named the 'Friends and Family Plan.' Keywords to note are 'five people,' 'text them as much as you want,' and '3 gigabytes.' |
| Q6 | website | It’s also possible to log into our website and manage your account yourself online | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that the man can go onto the company's page on the internet to look at and change his phone plan details by himself. Answer Explanation: The answer 'website' refers to the company's internet page where a customer can log in to handle their phone service details. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'website' because the woman tells the man that he has two ways to change his phone plan: he can visit the store ('come in'), or he can use the company's 'website' to manage his account online. Since 'in person' is already mentioned in the table, 'website' is the missing method. |
| Q7 | 8779233 | MAN: Uh yes it’s 0 – 4 –7 – 8 – double 7 – 9 – 2 – double 3 |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man saying his phone number out loud. He lists the numbers one by one, using the word 'double' to show when a number appears two times in a row. Answer Explanation: The answer is the missing digits needed to complete the man's new phone number. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the man reads the number printed on his SIM card. He says '0 – 4 –7', which matches the first part of the form. He then continues with '8 – double 7 – 9 – 2 – double 3'. In phone numbers, 'double' means the number is repeated twice. So, 'double 7' is 77 and 'double 3' is 33. Combining these remaining numbers gives 8779233. |
| Q8 | Steven Conway | MAN: Sure. It’s Steven, that’s Steven with a v. And my surname is Conway. That’s C – O – N – W – A –Y | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the customer telling the salesperson his first name and his last name so she can write it down on the form. Answer Explanation: The answer is the full name of the man who is signing up for the phone plan. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Steven Conway because he provides this information when the salesperson asks for his name to complete the form. He even explains that his first name contains a 'v' and carefully spells out his last name (surname) to ensure it is written correctly. |
| Q9 | Avenue | It’s 375 Thompson Avenue | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man stating the house number, the street name 'Thompson', and the street type 'Avenue' when provide his details for the form. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name for a type of street which is part of the man's home address. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Avenue' because the man gives his current location in the transcript by saying '375 Thompson Avenue' right after the woman asks for his address. |
| Q10 | credit card | No, it doesn’t look like I have enough. I guess I’ll have to put it on my credit card. Here you are | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man saying that he does not have enough cash, so he decides to pay for the phone plan using his credit card. Answer Explanation: The answer 'credit card' is a small plastic card from a bank that people use to buy things now and pay later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found at the end of the conversation. The man wants to pay for his new phone plan and SIM card. He first checks how much cash he has, but he realizes it is not enough to cover the total price. Therefore, he offers to pay using his credit card instead. |
Transcript
WOMAN: Good morning. What can I help you with today?
MAN: Well, I’ve just moved here, and I need to get a new cell phone number.
WOMAN: OK, we’ve got both pre-paid plans and 24-month contract plans …
MAN: l’ll only be here for a year, so I think a pre-paid plan is better. Can you tell me something about those?
WOMAN: Of course. We’ve got a number of different plans, but first of all I should just mention that none of them come with handsets. You’ll just be buying a SIM card, and you can replace the one in your old phone.
MAN: Yes, that’s perfect. So, how much are the SIM cards?
WOMAN: Well the expense isn’t really in the card. To use it, you’ll need to set up a plan, and that can range from just over 10 dollars a month upwards. The card itself is just 2 dollars, and that gives you about 15 minutes of local calls.
MAN: Ok, I knew I’d need a new plan from you guys, but I don’t have much money at the moment. Can you tell me about the cheaper plans?
WOMAN: Yes. Our least expensive is the ‘Minimal Plan’ … it’s only 12 dollars a month.
MAN: That’s good …
WOMAN: … but it’s for someone who doesn’t use their phone very much. You only get 40 minutes a month of talking time.
MAN: Ah … how about internet access with that one?
WOMAN: No, sorry, that’s not included.
MAN: No, no, that plan’s not for me. I’ll definitely need to go online.
WOMAN: For browsing the net, or for things like Facebook and We Chat?
MAN: Mostly social media. It’s how I keep in touch with people back home.
WOMAN: Well, we do have what we call a Social Plan. That might really suit you. You get unlimited data on social media websites.
MAN: That sounds great. How much is that one?
WOMAN: That’s 40 dollars a month. But you get 200 minutes of talking time, 500 texts and 2 gigabytes of data, which is about 15 hours of watching videos, and thousands of photo uploads.
MAN: Well, I do upload lots of photos for my friends back home, so that’s fine. But I’m worried that I’ll need more texts than that. Do you have any plans with unlimited texting?
WOMAN: … Well, there is one other plan. On that one, you choose five people, or five phone numbers, and you can talk to or text them as much as you want. That’s called the Friends and Family Plan.
MAN: OK, that sounds like the one for me! What’s the catch?
WOMAN: Well it’s not exactly cheap. That plan costs 70 dollars a month, but it does come with 3 gigabytes and unlimited texts, as well as your 5 designated people.
MAN: That’s a bit too pricey for me, but I do like it. Can I choose a cheaper plan now and change after I find a job?
WOMAN: Yes, you can just come in and let us know whenever you like. It’s also possible to log into our website and manage your account yourself online.
MAN: OK. I think the social media plan is the best option for the time being.
WOMAN: Great, so we’ll set you up today. We’ll just fill in this sales form. Here’s your new SIM card. I’ll just need to record the number for you. Can you read me that number on the top left hand side of the card? It’s your new phone number.
MAN: Uh yes…it’s 0 – 4 –7 – 8 – double 7 – 9 – 2 – double 3.
WOMAN: Ok, I got it. So remember, that’s your new number, so you should write it down as well so you can inform your contacts. Hold onto this package that the SIM comes in. There’s information on that about how to contact us, you know, just in case your phone gets lost or something like that.
MAN: Oh yes, that’s important.
WOMAN: So, next I’ll need your name.
MAN: Sure. It’s Steven, that’s Steven with a v. And my surname is Conway. That’s C – O – N – W – A –Y.
WOMAN: Ok, that’s cool, and your address please?
MAN: Well, at the moment I’m living in temporary accommodation. Once I’ve found work, I’ll be moving to a different place. Do you think that matters?
WOMAN: Well, not really for now, but please let us know when you get a permanent address, OK?
MAN: Yes, fine. So I’ll just give you my current address for now, then. It’s 375 Thompson Avenue.
WOMAN: Is that spelled T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N?
MAN: Yes, that’s right. It’s in Greenpark.
WOMAN: Ah, yes. OK. So, the total for today is $42.50, that’s the SIM card and the first month’s plan.
MAN: So just to confirm, I’ll be able to get the SIM card today and start using it immediately?
WOMAN: Yep. You’ve got the SIM card already.
MAN: Oh ... yeah, right, sorry! … Now, let me see if I have enough cash. Ten, twenty, thirty … No, it doesn’t look like I have enough. I guess I’ll have to put it on my credit card. Here you are.
WOMAN: No problem … Just a moment … So, just sign here, please. Now, do you want help putting the SIM card into your phone?