Cycling Holiday In Austria - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 1 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write no more than TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Cycling holiday in Austria
- Holiday begins on 1.
- No more than 2 people in cycling group.
- Each day, group cycles 3 on average.
- Some of the hotels have a 4.
- Holiday costs £ 5 per person without flights.
- All food included except 6.
- Essential to bring a 7.
- Discount possible on equipment at www. 8 .com
- Possible that the 9 may change.
- Guided tour of a 10 is arranged.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 17th April / 17 April / April 17 / 17th of April | Man: Well, that trip is in the middle of the month. It starts on the 17th of April and it finishes on the 27th | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man giving the specific start date for the cycling holiday, which is the 17th of April. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the cycling trip starts on April 17th. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 17th April because when the woman asks for the dates of the trip, the man explains that the holiday starts on the 17th of April. In this context, the word 'starts' is a synonym for 'begins,' which is the word used in the notes. |
| Q2 | 16 / sixteen | The maximum number is 16 so it's almost fully booked. We can't go over that because it's hard to keep a larger group together | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the highest number of people they allow in one group is 16 because bigger groups are hard to manage. Answer Explanation: The answer is 16, which is the largest number of people allowed in the travel group. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 16 because the man tells the woman that the group has a size limit. He says they cannot have more than 16 people because it is difficult to keep a very large group of people together while cycling. He uses the words 'maximum number' to describe this limit. |
| Q3 | 45 km / forty-five km / 45 kilometres / 45 kilometers / forty-five kilometres / forty-five kilometers | Woman: I need to check that I'm fit enough for this but the distances look OK. The website says we'll ride approximately 45km a day. Is that right? Man: That's correct and I've got the exact distances here | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking if people cycle about 45km a day, and the man says that is correct. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the total distance people ride each day is usually around 45 kilometers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 45 km because in the conversation, the woman mentions that the website says they will ride approximately 45km a day, and the man confirms this is correct. The word approximately means about or roughly, which is the same as the phrase on average used in the notes. |
| Q4 | swimming pool / pool | Woman: And do they have pools? It's how I relax after a long day. Man: There is a swimming pool in a few of the hotels but none of them has a gym | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking about pools for relaxation. The man replies that some hotels have a swimming pool, but none have a gym. Answer Explanation: The answer is a place filled with water where people can swim, which is found in some of the hotels on the trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'pool' because when the woman asks if the hotels have pools to help her relax, the man confirms that 'a few' (which means some) of the hotels do have a swimming pool. He also mentions that they do not have a gym, making the pool the only facility available in some locations. |
| Q5 | 1,013 / 1013 | Man: Including flights it's £1,177 for one person.Woman: Oh, we'll book our own flights on the Internet.Man: Ah, that's just £ 1,013 then | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows a conversation where the man says the high price includes flights. The woman decides to buy her own tickets on the web. The man then changes the price to one thousand and thirteen pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is the price of the holiday in pounds (£) for one person if they do not include the cost of airplane tickets. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1,013 because the man first gives a price that includes flights (£1,177), but when the woman says she will buy her own tickets (meaning 'without flights'), the man gives the lower price of £1,013. This shows that the cost of the ground package alone is 1,013. |
| Q6 | snacks | Well, er, breakfast of course. And the hotels will provide you with a packed lunch each day. We do stop during the afternoon in a village somewhere for a rest, so any snacks you buy then are extra. Then dinner will be in the hotel every evening and that's included in the price of the holiday | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that breakfast, lunch, and dinner are part of the holiday package, but any small food items (snacks) bought during afternoon breaks are an additional cost, or 'extra'. Answer Explanation: The answer snacks refers to small items of food that are eaten between main meals and must be paid for by the traveler. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'snacks' because the transcript lists all the meals that are included in the holiday price: breakfast, a packed lunch, and dinner. The man specifically mentions that when they stop in a village in the afternoon, any 'snacks' bought there are 'extra,' which means they are not included in the main price of the holiday. |
| Q7 | cycle helmet / helmet | But we won't allow you to cycle unless you bring a helmet. We don't provide these locally because, like walking boots on a walking holiday, it's really important it fits properly | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the man tells the woman she must bring her own head protection if she wants to ride the bikes, and the company does not give them to the travelers. Answer Explanation: The answer is a hard hat that you wear on your head to stay safe while riding a bike. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'helmet' or 'cycle helmet' because the man says the group will not let anyone ride a bike if they do not have one. The word 'essential' in the notes means something that is necessary or required. Since the company does not provide them and requires you to have one to join the trip, it is 'essential to bring' one. |
| Q8 | ballantyne | It's www.ballantyne.com. That's all one word, and I'll spell it for you: www dot B-A double L-A-N-T-Y-N-E dot com | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man providing the full web address and then carefully spelling the word 'ballantyne' so the woman can record it perfectly. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a website where travelers can buy equipment at a lower price for their trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'ballantyne' because the man suggests using a specific website to buy any special gear (equipment) needed for the holiday. He mentions that travelers can get a 'discount' which means the items will cost less money. To make sure the woman gets it right, he spells the name out letter by letter: B-A-L-L-A-N-T-Y-N-E. |
| Q9 | route | I should warn you that we do reserve the right to make some alterations to the route if the weather is bad | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the company keeps the right to change ("make some alterations to") the path the cyclists follow ("the route") if the weather is not good. Answer Explanation: The answer "route" means the path or planned way that the group will cycle along during their holiday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "route" because the tour guide (the man) explains that the company might make "alterations," which is a synonym for changes, to the planned path if the weather is poor. Using the word "route" correctly completes the note stating that this specific part of the holiday might be changed depending on conditions like rain or mud. |
| Q10 | theatre / theater | Woman: There's a theatre in a town called Grein. A friend of mine went there last year and said it was amazing. Man: Let's see. Um, ah yes, there's a guide who'll take you round the building. We don't have any other tours arranged but you can visit several castles and museums on the holiday | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking about the theatre and the man explaining that a guide will take the group around it, while other places like castles and museums are things they can visit without an arranged tour. Answer Explanation: The answer is a building where people go to watch plays or shows. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'theatre' because the woman asks to see a theatre in a town named Grein. The man confirms that a guide is available to take people through that specific building. He also notes that there are 'no other tours arranged', meaning the theatre is the only place with a planned group tour. |
Transcript
You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman and a man who works for a holiday company, about a holiday she would like to go on. First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
Man: 'Holidays for You'. Sean speaking. Can I help you?
Woman: Oh hi. I've been looking at your website. Um, I'm interested in a cycling holiday in Austria in April.
Man: Ah! We have two trips in April - one lasts fourteen days and the other ten days.
Woman: Mm ... I think the 10-day trip is better. So let's see. I've got a calendar here. What are the dates?
The length of the trip that the woman chooses is 10 days, so '10' 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 6.
Man: Well, that trip is in the middle of the month. It starts on the 17th of April and it finishes on the 27th.
Woman: That suits me. I can't leave work before the 10th of April.
Man: Let me see if there are any spaces. Is it just for yourself?
Woman: Myself and my sister - so two of us.
Man: Um, yes. We have spaces.
Woman: Is it a big group?
Man: At the moment there are 12 people booked on this trip and with you two that will be 14. The maximum number is 16 so it's almost fully booked. We can't go over that because it's hard to keep a larger group together.
Woman: I need to check that I'm fit enough for this but the distances look OK. The website says we'll ride approximately 45km a day. Is that right?
Man: That's correct and I've got the exact distances here. It really depends on which part of the trip. Some days are only 35km and some are more. But you'll never have to cycle more than 50km in one day.
Woman: Oh, OK. I can manage that. And we stay in hotels?
Man: Yes. They all have restaurants and the rooms have en-suite facilities.
Woman: And do they have pools? It's how I relax after a long day.
Man: There is a swimming pool in a few of the hotels but none of them has a gym.
Woman: I don't think we'll need a gym after all that cycling! I'd better find out how much the holiday costs before I get too excited.
Man: Including flights it's £1,177 for one person.
Woman: Oh, we'll book our own flights on the Internet.
Man: Ah, that's just £ 1,013 then. And we can book insurance for you if you want.
Woman: Mm ... and which meals are included in that price?
Man: Well, er, breakfast of course. And the hotels will provide you with a packed lunch each day. We do stop during the afternoon in a village somewhere for a rest, so any snacks you buy then are extra. Then dinner will be in the hotel every evening and that's included in the price of the holiday.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.
Woman: And you provide the bicycles of course. What else?
Man: A lock and a bell come with the bike as well as lights, although you shouldn't need to cycle in the dark. There's a small bag, or pannier, on the front of the bike, where you can put the things you want to take with you during the day like water or fruit. But we won't allow you to cycle unless you bring a helmet. We don't provide these locally because, like walking boots on a walking holiday, it's really important it fits properly.
Woman: OK.
Man: If there's any special gear you need for your holiday, we recommend a particular website and you can get a discount by quoting your booking reference.
Woman: Great. What is it?
Man: It's www.ballantyne.com. That's all one word, and I'll spell it for you: www dot B-A double L-A-N-T-Y-N-E dot com.
Woman: Good. I've got that down. I've been looking at your website while we've been talking. I see we cycle along the river Danube?
Man: Yes, it's one of Europe's most well-known areas for cycling.
Woman: It looks fascinating - lots of beautiful countryside and things to see.
Man: I should warn you that we do reserve the right to make some alterations to the route if the weather is bad. Some of the tracks sometimes get very muddy.
Woman: OK. Well, hopefully it won't rain too much! I know we stop in towns and villages but do we get a chance to look around? Because I'm really interested in history.
Man: Oh yes, you get opportunities to explore. Is there something in particular you want to see?
Woman: There's a theatre in a town called Grein. A friend of mine went there last year and said it was amazing.
Man: Let's see. Um, ah yes, there's a guide who'll take you round the building. We don't have any other tours arranged but you can visit several castles and museums on the holiday.
Woman: Well, thank you for all that information. I'd like to book that then.
Man: Right. Well, I'll just ...
That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]