Comparing Bicycle Company Websites - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Matching
Which company website has the following features?
Write the correct letter A, B, or C next to questions 21-26.
A. Hills Cycles' website
B. Wheels Unlimited's website
C. both websites
Questions 27–30 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | C | Both companies show their catalogue - I mean pictures of different models of bike, with specifications | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states clearly that both companies display their catalogue of bikes on their websites. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that both bicycle websites have a bicycle catalogue. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Jack explicitly mentions that "Both companies show their catalogue", which includes pictures and details of various bicycle models. The word "Both" directly points to both websites (Hills Cycles and Wheels Unlimited). |
| Q22 | C | Tutor: And prices? Jack: Yes, they're there too, although they list them in different ways - Hills Cycles have got them next to the pictures and Wheels Unlimited show them on a separate page | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher asking if prices are included. Jack answers that prices are on both websites, but shown in different ways: Hills Cycles shows prices next to the pictures, while Wheels Unlimited lists them on a different page. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that both bicycle companies' websites include prices for their products. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because when the tutor asks about prices, Jack confirms that prices are present on both websites ("they're there too"). He explains that Hills Cycles places the prices right next to the bicycle pictures, while Wheels Unlimited lists them on a separate page. Since both websites display prices, choice C is the correct option. |
| Q23 | B | Sarah: But Wheels Unlimited advertises lots of other products connected with bikes - like helmets, and clothing, and tools. Jack: Yes, all kinds of things. Tutor: And Hills Cycles? Sarah: No. They only show the bikes themselves | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Wheels Unlimited sells extra items related to bikes like helmets and tools, while Hills Cycles only shows the bikes. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that only Wheels Unlimited's website features bicycle accessories. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Sarah mentions that Wheels Unlimited advertises many products connected to bikes, such as helmets, clothing, and tools (which are bicycle accessories). When the tutor asks about Hills Cycles, Sarah says they only display the bikes themselves. Therefore, only Wheels Unlimited has bicycle accessories. |
| Q24 | A | Tutor: OK. Well is there anything on the Hills Cycles website that Wheels Unlimited doesn't have? Jack: Not really. Sarah: Yes there is - it's got a little photo of the original shop, and a paragraph about the history of the company - it's family owned |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor asking what Hills Cycles has that the other site does not have, and Sarah explaining that Hills Cycles has text explaining the history of the company. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that only Hills Cycles' website features the company's history. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the tutor asks whether Hills Cycles' website has anything that Wheels Unlimited does not have. Sarah replies that Hills Cycles has a photo of the original shop and "a paragraph about the history of the company". Therefore, the company history is a feature found specifically on Hills Cycles' website. |
| Q25 | B | Jack: Yes. Hills Cycles doesn't have any facility for online ordering. You have to ring up to order something. That's the only way you can do it. Sarah: Well no, you can send off for a paper catalogue with an order form. Jack: Oh yes, I suppose so. But with Wheels Unlimited you can order online or in the conventional ways | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Hills Cycles does not let customers order through the internet, requiring phone calls or paper forms instead. However, Wheels Unlimited gives customers the option to buy products directly on their website. Answer Explanation: The answer 'B' means that only the website of Wheels Unlimited allows customers to buy items online. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Jack mentions that Hills Cycles does not have a system for online ordering. In contrast, he explains that with Wheels Unlimited, customers 'can order online'. Therefore, this feature only belongs to Wheels Unlimited's website. |
| Q26 | A | Jack: As I said, both the sites have got pictures, and they're both quite attractive, but Wheels Unlimited hasn't got any moving graphics. Sarah: Yes. Hills Cycles has got an animated cartoon at the top of the Home Page | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jack saying Wheels Unlimited has no moving graphics, while Sarah explains that Hills Cycles has an animated cartoon at the top of its front page. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that only Hills Cycles' website features moving graphics. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Jack notes that Wheels Unlimited does not have moving graphics, and Sarah confirms that Hills Cycles has an "animated cartoon" on its Home Page. In English, an "animated cartoon" is a type of "moving graphic". Therefore, only Hills Cycles has this feature. |
| Q27 | C | Because really you've got to look at attractiveness and user-friendliness in relation to the people the website is aiming at. So, I'd deal with that criterion first if I were you | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor advising the students to start with the people the website is trying to reach (the target customers) before looking at how good the site looks or how easy it is to use. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means that the most important or first rule for judging the websites should be based on the intended buyers (the target audience). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor suggests changing the order of the evaluation points. Sarah mentions three criteria: attractiveness, user-friendliness, and potential customers. The tutor explains that how a site looks and how easy it is to use depend on "the people the website is aiming at," so the students should look at this criterion first. In this context, "the people the website is aiming at" means target customers, and addressing it first makes it the basic or primary criterion. |
| Q28 | A | Well it sounds about right to me. You've got ten minutes altogether and you have got to stick to that limit | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor agreeing with the students' timing plan, confirming that it seems correct and reminding them to keep to their ten-minute limit. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the teacher thinks the students' time schedule for their talk is good and suitable. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because after Jack describes their timing breakdown (four minutes for comparison, three minutes for evaluation, and three minutes for questions), the tutor responds by saying, "Well it sounds about right to me." The phrase "sounds about right" means that their plan is acceptable and appropriate. |
| Q29 | C | So Sarah's going to do all the talking, and I'm going to manage the visuals | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript clearly states that Sarah will do all of the speaking and Jack will handle the visual materials, showing that each person manages a different part of the presentation. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Sarah and Jack will split the presentation by each being responsible for a different type of job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Jack explains the final plan after rejecting their earlier ideas. Initially, they thought about taking turns speaking or splitting the presentation into two equal halves, but they found that too difficult. Ultimately, they decided that "Sarah's going to do all the talking" while Jack will "manage the visuals." Doing the talking and handling the visuals are different tasks or "aspects" of the presentation. |
| Q30 | B | Only one thing I would say: make sure that you keep your visuals simple. I mean, if you're showing a list of key features, for example, you should make it as brief as possible. Just use bullet points and simple phrases, even single words | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor warning the students to make their lists very short and simple so the audience does not get overwhelmed by too much information. Answer Explanation: The answer means the teacher tells the students not to display lists that are difficult or have too much text. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor advises the students to "keep your visuals simple." He specifically mentions that when presenting a "list of key features," they should make it "as brief as possible" using only "simple phrases" or "single words" rather than presenting too much information. Therefore, he warns them against showing complicated lists. |
Transcript
Tutor: Hello you two, have a seat... OK? So, you're going to tell me about the presentation you're preparing for next week's marketing seminar, right?
Jack: That's right. We've drafted this plan for you to look at.
Tutor: OK, thanks. Perhaps you could just talk me through it, could you? Sarah, do you want to begin?
Sarah: Yes. Well, we're going to compare the websites of two bicycle companies...
Tutor: Right... And they're called Hills Cycles and Wheels Unlimited?
Sarah: Yes. And first of all, we've compared the content of each site, and the presentation. Then we've done an evaluation of each one.
Tutor: OK... And did you find much difference between the two websites? Jack?
Jack: Quite a bit, yes. Wheels Unlimited has a lot more pages, for a start... Both companies show their catalogue - I mean pictures of different models of bike, with specifications.
Tutor: And prices?
Jack: Yes, they're there too, although they list them in different ways - Hills Cycles have got them next to the pictures and Wheels Unlimited show them on a separate page.
Sarah: But Wheels Unlimited advertises lots of other products connected with bikes - like helmets, and clothing, and tools.
Jack: Yes, all kinds of things.
Tutor: And Hills Cycles?
Sarah: No. They only show the bikes themselves.
Tutor: OK. Well... is there anything on the Hills Cycles website that Wheels Unlimited doesn't have?
Jack: Not really.
Sarah: Yes there is - it's got a little photo of the original shop, and a paragraph about the history of the company - it's family owned.
Jack: Oh yes, I forgot about that.
Tutor: Right... That's the content then. And you compared the functions of the two websites, did you?
Jack: Yes. Hills Cycles doesn't have any facility for online ordering. You have to ring up to order something. That's the only way you can do it.
Sarah: Well no, you can send off for a paper catalogue with an order form.
Jack: Oh yes, I suppose so. But with Wheels Unlimited you can order online or in the conventional ways.
Sarah: That's right.
Tutor: Fine, OK. And what about the presentation? Did you find any particular differences there? Or similarities? What about visuals?
Jack: As I said, both the sites have got pictures, and they're both quite attractive, but Wheels Unlimited hasn't got any moving graphics.
Sarah: Yes. Hills Cycles has got an animated cartoon at the top of the Home Page.
Tutor: Right. Well, it looks as if you've got plenty to talk about.
Sarah: There are other things too, but those are the main things we noticed.
Tutor: OK, well you'd better stick to the most obvious differences, because you've only got ten minutes for the whole presentation, haven't you? And you said you're going to evaluate each site as well, didn't you? How are you going to do that? I mean what criteria will you use?
Sarah: We thought we'd use three criteria: how attractive each website is, how user friendly it is, and how closely it targets its potential customers. Do you think that's OK?
Tutor: Sounds fine. But I'd look at the criteria in a different order if I were you. Because really you've got to look at attractiveness and user-friendliness in relation to the people the website is aiming at. So, I'd deal with that criterion first if I were you.
Sarah: Right.
Tutor: What about the timing? Have you thought of that? Ten minutes is very short you know.
Jack: Yes. We tried it out.
Sarah: Several times!
Jack: And we've decided to spend four minutes comparing the two sites, then three minutes evaluating them, and leave three minutes for questions. That's not really enough, but...
Tutor: Well it sounds about right to me. You've got ten minutes altogether and you have got to stick to that limit. It's good practice, and at least the audience won't have time to get bored! What visuals are you going to use?
Jack: We're going to use Powerpoint and a flip chart as well.
Sarah: So we can show two things at once. For example, we're going to start by showing the Home Pages of each website, and we're going to put up a list of key features on the flip chart at the same time.
Tutor: OK. And it's a joint presentation, so have you decided how you're going to share the work?
Jack: Yes. First we thought we'd keep taking it in turns to speak - Sarah would say a bit, then I'd take over, and so on. Then we thought we'd just divide it into two equal parts and do one part each. But it was all too complicated. So Sarah's going to do all the talking, and I'm going to manage the visuals. And hope we can coordinate properly!
Sarah: It's the only way we can fit everything in.
Tutor: Well, good. You've obviously worked hard and you've been very careful with the details. Only one thing I would say: make sure that you keep your visuals simple. I mean, if you're showing a list of key features, for example, you should make it as brief as possible. Just use bullet points and simple phrases, even single words. Your audience won't have much reading time. It's a classic mistake with seminar presentations to present so much information that the audience can't process it quickly enough, and they stop listening to what you're saying. OK?
Jack: Yes. Right. OK.
Tutor: And now let's talk about...