City Of Darwin In Australia - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–15 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct answer, A, B or C.
Questions 16–20 Matching
What can you find at each of the places below?
Choose your answers from the box and write the correct letter A-H next to Questions 16-20.
A. a flower market
B. a chance to feed the fish
C. good nightlife
D. international arts and crafts
E. good cheap international food
F. a trip to catch fish
G. shops and seafood restaurants
H. a wide range of different plants
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | A | But, what a lot of the tourists don't realise until they get there is that the city's also got a very young population the average age is just 29, and this makes the whole place very buzzy |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that many visitors do not know the city has many young people until they visit. It adds that the average age of people living there is 29, which makes the city feel alive. Answer Explanation: The answer means that tourists who visit Darwin find it unexpected that there are so many young residents in the city. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Joanne mentions that many tourists do not know about the city's young population until they actually arrive. The phrase 'don't realise until they get there' is a synonym for being surprised. She clarifies that the average age in Darwin is only 29, which makes the city feel very energetic or 'buzzy.' |
| Q12 | C | But in fact what happens is that we just do it ourselves - lots of people play music, classical as well as pop, and there are things like artists groups and writers groups and dance classes - everyone does something, we don't just sit and watch other people | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that since they are far away, the people in Darwin make their own fun. They play instruments and join groups for art or dancing. This shows that everyone is involved in producing culture rather than just being an audience. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people living in Darwin create their own entertainment, like music and art, instead of just watching other performers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice C because the speaker explains that Darwin is very far away from other big cities, so it is expensive to bring in professional shows like theater or opera. Instead of waiting for others, the local people "do it ourselves." This means they play their own instruments and join groups for writing or dancing. In other words, they are active in making the cultural activities happen themselves. |
| Q13 | B | but, erm, when a very bad storm - a a cyclone in fact - hit Darwin in the 1970s it was almost completely destroyed. The only parts of the temple that survived were part of the altars and the stone lions, but after the storm they reconstructed it using modern materials |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that a huge storm called a cyclone hit the city and almost totally broke the building. Only a couple of pieces stayed safe. After the storm ended, people built the temple a second time so it could be used again. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the temple was built again after a powerful storm broke it down. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker, Joanne, describes how a powerful storm (a cyclone) hit Darwin in the 1970s and almost completely destroyed the Chinese temple. She notes that workers later 'reconstructed' the building using modern materials. In this context, 'reconstructed' is a synonym for 'rebuilt,' and 'cyclone' is a specific type of 'storm.' |
| Q14 | A | A lot of the year it's just so hot and humid. Some tourists think it'll be fine because there's not much in the way of hills, and the traffic's quite light compared with some places, but, believe me, you're better off with public transport - it's fine, and not expensive | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that for most of the year, the weather is very hot and sticky. Even though there are no steep roads (hills) and not too many cars (traffic), Joanne thinks it is better to take a bus than to ride a bike because of the heat. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the weather conditions are the biggest difficulty for people who want to ride a bike in Darwin. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Joanne specifically warns against hiring a bicycle due to the heat and humidity. She mentions that while there are very few hills and the traffic is not heavy (light), these facts do not make up for the uncomfortable climate. In English, 'climate' refers to the general weather patterns of a place, such as being 'hot and humid,' which Joanne highlights as the main obstacle. |
| Q15 | C | I mean, I don't want to put you off, there are protected swimming areas netted off where you'll be safe from jellyfish and crocs, or there are the public swimming pools, they're fine of course | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although there are dangerous animals like jellyfish and crocodiles (crocs), there are special parts of the sea with nets around them where it is safe to swim. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who want to swim in the sea should only swim in specific spots that have nets or protection. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Joanne mentions that there are dangerous animals in the water like jellyfish and crocodiles. To stay safe, she suggests using the 'protected swimming areas' that are 'netted off'. These nets act as a fence to keep the dangerous creatures out, making these specific areas safe for people to swim. |
| Q16 | B | Well, one of the most popular attractions is called 'Aquascene'. What happens is every day at high tide hundreds of fish come in from the sea - all different sorts, including some really big deep-sea fish - and some of them will even take food from your hand | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that at Aquascene, many kinds of fish come from the ocean and will take food from your hand. Answer Explanation: The answer means that you can give food to fish at this location. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Joanne describes 'Aquascene' as a place where many different fish come from the sea. She notes that some of these fish are so friendly that they will eat food directly from your hand. This matches the description 'a chance to feed the fish'. |
| Q17 | E | And if you don't have lots to spend, the best place to go is to Smith Street Mall where they have stalls selling stuff to eat, there's all sorts of different things including south-east Asian dishes, which I really like | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Smith Street Mall is a good spot for visitors on a budget because it has many food stalls serving a variety of international meals, like South-East Asian food. Answer Explanation: The answer is good cheap international food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the speaker describes Smith Street Mall as a place for people who do not want to spend a lot of money. It features stalls that sell many different types of food, particularly South-East Asian dishes. This combination of low cost and diverse cuisine makes 'good cheap international food' the best description. Key phrases to notice are 'don't have lots to spend' (meaning cheap) and 'south-east Asian dishes' (meaning international food). |
| Q18 | G | but you can get fresh fish in the restaurants on Cullen Bay Marina - it's a nice place to go for a special meal, and they have some good shops in that area too | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Cullen Bay Marina is a location where visitors can find restaurants serving fresh fish and also enjoy shopping at the stores nearby. Answer Explanation: The answer means that at Cullen Bay Marina, people can find shops and places to eat seafood. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the speaker mentions two main things about Cullen Bay Marina: it has restaurants where you can get fresh fish (seafood) and it has good shops. The speaker suggests going there for a 'special meal,' which matches the idea of having restaurants specifically for seafood in that area. |
| Q19 | H | What else well, there's the botanic garden; it's over a hundred years old and there's lots to see - an orchid farm, rainforest, a collection of palm trees, erm, a wetlands area you can easily spend an afternoon there. That's at Fannie Bay, a couple of kilometres out to the north |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that at Fannie Bay, there is a big area called a botanic garden. Inside, visitors can find many different green things like orchids, a rainforest, and palm trees. Answer Explanation: The answer is H, which means you can see many kinds of plants at Fannie Bay. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because the transcript explains that Fannie Bay is the home of a botanic garden that is over a century old. This garden has many different types of nature, including orchids, palm trees, and even a rainforest area. The variety of these features matches the description of 'a wide range of different plants'. |
| Q20 | C | Then, if you've got any energy left in the evening, the place to go is Mitchell Street - that's where it all happens as far as clubs and music and things are concerned - you'll bump into lots of my friends there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that if you want to go out at night, Mitchell Street is the best place because it has many clubs and music events happening there. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Mitchell Street is the best area to find fun activities at night, like music and clubs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Joanne suggests visiting Mitchell Street in the evening. She explains that it is the center for things like clubs and music. In English, activities like going to clubs and listening to music in the evening are called nightlife. |
Transcript
Rob: Joanne?
Joanne: Hi - you must be Rob. Nice to meet you. So, I hear you're planning to visit Australia.
Rob: Yeah - and I really wanted to talk to you because I was thinking of spending some time in Darwin and my sister told me you're from there.
Joanne: That's right.
Rob: So... tell me about it.
Joanne: Well... where shall I start... well, Darwin's in what they call the 'top end' 'cause it's right up at the northern end of Australia and it's quite different from the rest of Australia in terms of cultural influences - in fact it's nearer to Jakarta in Indonesia than it is to Sydney, so you get a very strong Asian influence there. That means we get lots of tourists - people from other parts of Australia are attracted by this sort of international, cosmopolitan image. And as well as that, we've got the same laidback atmosphere you get all over Australia - probably more so if anything, because of the climate. But, what a lot of the tourists don't realise until they get there is that the city's also got a very young population... the average age is just 29, and this makes the whole place very buzzy. Some people think that there might not be that much going on as far as art and music and dancing and so on are concerned, because it's so remote. I mean, we don't really get things like theatre and opera in the same way as cities down in the south like Sydney for example, because of the transport expenses. But in fact what happens is that we just do it ourselves - lots of people play music, classical as well as pop, and there are things like artists groups and writers groups and dance classes - everyone does something, we don't just sit and watch other people.
Rob: You said it's very international?
Joanne: Yeah, they say there's over 70 different nationalities in Darwin. For instance, there's been a Chinese population there for over 100 years - we've even got a Chinese temple. It was built way back in 1887, but, erm, when a very bad storm - a... a cyclone in fact - hit Darwin in the 1970s it was almost completely destroyed. The only parts of the temple that survived were part of the altars and the stone lions, but after the storm they reconstructed it using modern materials... it's still used as a religious centre today, but it's open to tourists too and it's definitely worth going to see it. Oh, and as far as getting around goes, you'll see places that advertise bicycles for hire, but I wouldn't recommend it. A lot of the year it's just so hot and humid. Some tourists think it'll be fine because there's not much in the way of hills, and the traffic's quite light compared with some places, but, believe me, you're better off with public transport - it's fine, and not expensive. Or you can hire a car, but it's not really worth it.
Rob: What's the swimming like?
Joanne: Well, there are some good beaches, but the trouble is that there's this nasty creature called the box jellyfish and if it stings you, you're in bad trouble. So you have to be very careful most of the year especially in the winter months... you can wear a lycra suit to cover your arms and legs, but I wouldn't like to risk it even so, personally. And there are the salt water crocodiles too... I mean, I don't want to put you off, there are protected swimming areas netted off where you'll be safe from jellyfish and crocs, or there are the public swimming pools, they're fine of course.
Rob: So which places would you specially recommend?
Joanne: Well, one of the most popular attractions is called 'Aquascene'. What happens is every day at high tide hundreds of fish come in from the sea - all different sorts, including some really big deep-sea fish - and some of them will even take food from your hand. It's right in the middle of town, at the end of the Esplanade. It's not free - I think you have to pay about five dollars - but it's definitely something you have to experience. Then of course Darwin has a great range of food, being such a cosmopolitan place. And if you don't have lots to spend, the best place to go is to Smith Street Mall where they have stalls selling stuff to eat, there's all sorts of different things including south-east Asian dishes, which I really like. You'd think there'd be plenty of fresh fish in Darwin as it's on the coast, but in fact because of the climate it mostly gets frozen straight away, but you can get fresh fish in the restaurants on Cullen Bay Marina - it's a nice place to go for a special meal, and they have some good shops in that area too. What else... well, there's the botanic garden; it's over a hundred years old and there's lots to see - an orchid farm, rainforest, a collection of palm trees, erm, a wetlands area... you can easily spend an afternoon there. That's at Fannie Bay, a couple of kilometres out to the north. Then, if you've got any energy left in the evening, the place to go is Mitchell Street - that's where it all happens as far as clubs and music and things are concerned - you'll bump into lots of my friends there!... Talking of friends, why don't I give you some email addresses. I'm sure they...