Christmas Dinner - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
NOTES – Christmas Dinner
Date of dinner: 21 December
Choices for venue:
- First choice 1 Tel. number: not known
- Second choice 2 Tel. number: 777192
- Third choice 3 Tel. number: 4
Price per person: £12
Restaurant must have vegetarian food and a 5
Menu: First course - French Onion Soup OR Fruit Juice
Main course - Roast Dinner OR 6
Dessert - Plum Pudding OR Apple Pie
- Coffee
Restaurant requires from us:
£7 deposit and letter of confirmation
and we must 8 in advance.
Must confirm in writing by: 9
Put notice in 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Rajdoot | That new Indian restaurant in Wetherfield is supposed to be excellent the Rajdoot.PETER: How do you spell that?JOAN: R-A-J-D-O-O-T.PETER: But it’s bound to be packed.JOAN: Well, let’s put that down as the first choice |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript captures Joan naming the restaurant "Rajdoot" and subsequently deciding that it should be recorded as their "first choice" for the event. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the restaurant that is the preferred option for the group's Christmas dinner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified as "Rajdoot" because Joan brings up a new restaurant with that name. When they discuss where to go, she explicitly tells Peter to list it as the "first choice" among their options. |
| Q2 | Park View Hotel / Park View | What about the Park View Hotel as a second choice?PETER: Yes, that’s always reliable. Park View Hotel | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Joan asking to make the Park View Hotel their second option, and Peter agrees that it is a good, dependable choice. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the place Joan and Peter chose as their second option for the Christmas meal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Park View (Hotel)' because Joan suggests it as their 'second choice' during the planning of the event, and Peter agrees that it is a 'reliable' place. The phone number Joan gives for this hotel later in the transcript, '777192', also matches the number written in the notes for the second choice. |
| Q3 | London Arms | What about the Park View Hotel as a second choice?PETER: Yes, that’s always reliable. Park View Hotel JOAN: And the London Arms in case.PETER: London Arms |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Joan suggesting the Park View Hotel as their second choice. Following that, she suggests adding the London Arms as another backup option. Peter notes this name down as part of their list. Answer Explanation: The answer "London Arms" is the name of the third restaurant choice the group is considering for their Christmas dinner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "London Arms" because, during the planning session, Joan and Peter list potential locations. After identifying the first choice (the Rajdoot) and the second choice (the Park View Hotel), Joan mentions the "London Arms" as an additional option to have "in case" the others are not available. This makes it the third choice on their list. |
| Q4 | 208657 | Park View Hotel: 777192 and London Arms: 208657 |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Joan giving the phone numbers for the hotels they discussed. She mentions that the number for the London Arms is 208657. Answer Explanation: The answer is 208657, which is a telephone number. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is this number because Joan reads it out as the contact number for the London Arms. In the notes, the London Arms is listed as the third choice for the restaurant location, and this number follows its name. |
| Q5 | no-smoking section / non-smoking section / nonsmoking section | JOAN: And a non-smoking section! You know what the boss is like | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Joan specifically asking for a part of the restaurant where smoking is prohibited, using the term 'non-smoking section'. Answer Explanation: The answer means a specific place in the restaurant where people are not permitted to smoke. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Joan's requirement for the Christmas dinner location. After Peter mentions the need for vegetarian food, Joan adds that the restaurant must have a 'non-smoking section' because of their boss's preferences. |
| Q6 | Lentil curry | Roast dinner or lentil curry sounds ordinary but my friend said it was really tasty |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter listing the two options available for the main course of the dinner: a roast dinner or a lentil curry. Answer Explanation: The answer is a food dish called lentil curry, which is one of the choices for the main part of the meal. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by looking at the section of the conversation where Peter describes the restaurant's Christmas menu. He mentions that for the main course, guests can choose between a traditional 'Roast dinner' or a 'lentil curry'. Since 'Roast Dinner' is already provided in the notes, 'lentil curry' is the missing information. |
| Q7 | fifty / 50 | Oh, and if we go ahead, they’d like a £50 deposit | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter telling Joan that the restaurant wants a payment of 50 pounds early to secure their booking. Answer Explanation: The answer is the amount of money (£50) paid to the restaurant early to keep the reservation, which is called a deposit. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is £50 deposit because in the conversation, Peter mentions that if the group chooses to eat at the Rajdoot restaurant, they need to pay a '£50 deposit'. Joan agrees that this is a normal amount. In the notes, this fits the section asking what the restaurant 'requires from us' along with a 'letter of confirmation'. A 'deposit' is money paid in advance to guarantee a service. |
| Q8 | choose the menu / choose menu | And they say with such large numbers we have to choose the menu in advance | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter telling Joan that because so many people are attending, the restaurant requires them to pick the food items early. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the staff members must pick which food options they want to eat before the actual date of the Christmas dinner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Peter's explanation of the restaurant's rules. He mentions that because they have a large group of people, the restaurant requires them to pick their meals ahead of time. This matches the sentence in the notes asking what must be done 'in advance'. Key synonyms include 'choose' for picking the food, and 'in advance' which means before the event. |
| Q9 | 4th November / November 4th / 4th of November / 4 November / November 4 | PETER: It was let’s see the 4th of November |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter providing the specific date that the restaurant needs the confirmation letter. Answer Explanation: The answer 4 November is the date when the group must send a letter to the restaurant to say they are definitely coming. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 4 November because Joan asks Peter about the deadline for confirmation. Peter replies with the 4th of November, which is the time limit for them to send their confirmation letter. |
| Q10 | the Newsletter / Newsletter | PETER: Well, the Newsletter is probably your best bet.JOAN: Good idea. I’ll go and do that now | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter recommending the Newsletter as the most effective place ('best bet') to reach the staff. Joan confirms she likes this plan and will act on it immediately. Answer Explanation: The answer is the newsletter, which is the publication where Joan will put information about the Christmas dinner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is the Newsletter because when Joan asks where to put the message so everyone can see it, Peter suggests this option. Earlier, Joan says she doesn't want to use the noticeboard because not many people look at it. She agrees that the Newsletter is a 'good idea.' Students should look for phrases where characters agree on a final plan, such as 'good idea' or 'I’ll go and do that now.' |
Transcript
JOAN: Right... let s try and get it sorted out today so we don t have it hanging over us. OK?
PETER: Good idea. I’ll take notes.
JOAN: First thing .. . numbers... have we got anything definite?
PETER: Well.. . I’ve been working it out and I think 40 to 43.
JOAN: Shall we put 45 to be on the safe side?
PETER: Yep, fine.
JOAN: Dates ... well. That’s straightforward.
PETER: The last working day before Christmas ... which is...
JOAN: . .. which is December the 21st.
PETER: .. . which is going to be pretty difficult to book at Christmas so we’d better think of two or three places just to be on the safe side.
JOAN: Well, last year’s was hopeless.
PETER: The Red Lion, wasn’t it?
JOAN: Yep. We ought to go for something more expensive, cos you . ..
PETER: . .. you gets what you pay for.
JOAN: That new Indian restaurant in Wetherfield is supposed to be excellent... the Rajdoot.
PETER: How do you spell that?
JOAN: R-A-J-D-O-O-T.
PETER: But it’s bound to be packed.
JOAN: Well, let’s put that down as the first choice and have some back-ups. What about the Park View Hotel as a second choice?
PETER: Yes, that’s always reliable. Park View Hotel. ..
JOAN: And the London Arms in case.
PETER: London Arms . ..
JOAN: I’ll call them now if you want.
PETER: No. I’ll do it, Joan. You’re really busy. Have you got the numbers?
JOAN: Not for the Rajdoot, but... right... Park View Hotel: 777192 and ... London Arms: 208657.
PETER: Great. Before I ring, we’d better just make sure they’re within the price range.
JOAN: Up to £15 a head?
PETER: I think you’ll find some people won’t be able to go that high.
JOAN: Well, you can’t get anything decent under £10.
PETER: OK. We’ll say £12?
JOAN: OK.
PETER: And we’d better make sure there’s good vegetarian food.
JOAN: And a non-smoking section! You know what the boss is like.
PETER: Don’t remind me. I’ll let you know as soon as I get anything.
PETER: Good news. 1 found Rajdoot’s number straight away and they can fit us in. Their Christmas menu sounds great.
JOAN: What is it?
PETER: French onion soup or fruit juice.
JOAN: Uh-huh.
PETER: Roast dinner or lentil curry .. . sounds ordinary but my friend said it was really tasty.
JOAN: Umm ... lentil curry ... that’s unusual.
PETER: Then for dessert there’s traditional plum pudding or apple pie, plus coffee.
JOAN: That sounds really good for £12. Did you book it?
PETER: Well, I said I’d check with the staff first. But they did say they’d hold the booking until next Wednesday anyway. Oh, and if we go ahead, they’d like a £50 deposit.
JOAN: 50 is normal. .. that’s fine.
PETER: And they want a letter.
JOAN: Right... to confirm.
PETER: And they say with such large numbers we have to choose the menu in advance.
JOAN: That won’t be a problem. I’ll put up a notice with details of the restaurant and the menu. When did you say they wanted confirmation by?
PETER: It was .. . let’s see . .. the 4th of November.
JOAN: Where do you think I should put up the notice? Where everyone’s guaranteed to see it.
PETER: On the cafe noticeboard I should think.
JOAN: Hardly anyone looks at that.
PETER: Well, the Newsletter is probably your best bet.
JOAN: Good idea. I’ll go and do that now.