Different Beaches - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 1 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
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Questions
Questions 11–20 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
| Name of Beach | Location | Geographical Features | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandela | 1km from Bandela 11 | surrounded by 12 | safe for children/non-swimmers |
| Da Porlata | east corner of island | area around beach is 13 | can hire 14 |
| San Gett | just past 'Tip of Caln' | 15 beach on island | check 16 on beach in rough weather |
| Blanaka | 17 corner | surrounded by 18 | can go caving and diving |
| Dissidor | close to Blanaka | need to walk over 19 | need to take some 20 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | fishing village | This beach is one kilometre away from the old fishing village of Bandela which is a beautiful spot |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the beach is 1km away from a specific type of place called a fishing village. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a small town where people live and earn money by catching fish. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'fishing village' because the speaker specifically mentions that Bandela beach is located one kilometer away from the 'old fishing village of Bandela'. This matches the table's requirement to identify what kind of place 'Bandela' is in relation to the beach's location. |
| Q12 | pine trees | It's very pretty because the whole beach is backed by pine trees so its very sheltered | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the beach has many pine trees right behind it, which helps protect the area from the wind. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to many tall trees with needle-like leaves that are located behind the beach area. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker describes the surroundings of Bandela beach. She mentions that the beach is pretty specifically because it is 'backed by pine trees.' In the table, 'surrounded by' acts as a synonym or description for this geographical feature. |
| Q13 | marshland / marshes / marsh | The land around this beach is marshland it's all marsh and there's a stream which winds through it |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes the ground close to the beach as wet and muddy by using the words 'marshland' and 'marsh.' Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the type of wet, soft ground found near Da Porlata beach, which is called marshland or a marsh. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the speaker's description of Da Porlata beach. She specifically mentions that the area surrounding the beach is 'marshland' and then emphasizes this by saying it is 'all marsh.' This directly answers the request for geographical features in that location. |
| Q14 | sunbeds and umbrellas | When you're level with the sea, there is a handful of shops and bars and you can hire sunbeds and umbrellas | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when you reach the beach area, there are some small shops and bars where you can pay money to use sunbeds and umbrellas. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to two items you can pay to borrow at the beach: sunbeds (special chairs for lying in the sun) and umbrellas (large covers to provide shade). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'sunbeds and umbrellas' because the speaker mentions these specific items when describing Da Porlata beach. In English, 'hire' means to pay to use something for a short time, which is a synonym for 'rent'. The transcript confirms that after reaching the sea level at this beach, these two items are available for visitors to hire. |
| Q15 | longest | Why? Because there isn't a beach longer than this on the island. If you want to know, it's exactly two and a half kilometres long | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that San Gett is the biggest beach in terms of length because no other beach is bigger than 2.5 kilometers. Answer Explanation: The answer "longest" means that this beach has the most distance from one end to the other compared to all other beaches on the island. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "longest" because the speaker asks why people should visit San Gett and then explains that no other beach on the island is longer than it. Earlier in the transcript, she also mentions that the largest beach is two and a half kilometres long, and later specifies that San Gett is exactly that length. |
| Q16 | flag system / flags | This beach operates a flag system as the sea can get rough and you should always swim between the flags | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that San Gett beach uses a special method with flags to tell swimmers when the water is dangerous and where it is safe to go in. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the safety flags or the system used to show if it is safe to swim when the water is not calm. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the section about San Gett beach. The speaker explains that because the sea can become 'rough' (having large waves), the beach uses a 'flag system' to keep people safe. Visitors are told to check these flags and swim only in certain areas. |
| Q17 | north-west / northwest | Blanaka is another popular beach – just in the north-west corner of the island | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the beach called Blanaka is found in the corner where the north and west sides of the island meet. Answer Explanation: The answer tells us which corner of the island Blanaka beach is located in. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "north-west" because the woman in the recording specifically says that this beach is located in that part of the island. She uses the words "north-west corner" to show its position. |
| Q18 | white cliffs | Blanaka has white cliffs all around it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the beach called Blanaka is encircled by high, white, rocky hills. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to tall walls made of white rock, called cliffs, that are located on every side of the Blanaka beach. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'white cliffs' because the speaker says that Blanaka beach has them 'all around it'. The table uses the phrase 'surrounded by', which means the same thing as 'all around it'. |
| Q19 | sand-banks / sandbanks | You can reach Dissidor by a steep slope which goes over some sandbanks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to arrive at Dissidor, people have to walk down a hill that passes over piles of sand. Answer Explanation: The answer 'sandbanks' refers to small hills or piles of sand that you must walk across to get to a specific place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'sandbanks' because when the speaker talks about Dissidor beach, she explains how to get there. She says visitors can 'reach' the beach by walking on a 'slope' that goes over these sand hills. In the table, 'walk over' means the same thing as the path described in the transcript. |
| Q20 | food and drink | It's a good idea to take some food and drink with you if you decide to go here as there's only one little bar which isn't always open | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that because the only small bar at Dissidor is often closed, visitors should bring their own meals and beverages. Answer Explanation: The answer "food and drink" refers to items that people consume for nourishment and hydration, such as snacks and water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the suggestion to bring your own supplies when visiting Dissidor beach. Because the beach is in a remote area and the single bar there may not be open, it is recommended that you take things to eat and drink with you. The words "take some" in the table match "take some" in the transcript. |
Transcript
Woman: Right, let's move on to the beaches here which are absolutely beautiful. You do have over a hundred to choose from, they're mostly sandy beaches and they vary from the largest which is two and a half kilometres long, to tiny sandy coves. But there are a few that I'd really recommend you to visit.
So looking at this pamphlet, first of all there's Bandela beach. This beach is one kilometre away from the old fishing village of Bandela ... which is a beautiful spot. If you park in the car park behind it, there's a small path which leads down to the bay. It's very pretty because the whole beach is backed by pine trees so its very sheltered. The beach itself is very clean and the water is shallow and safe. That together with the soft sand make it an ideal beach for children and non-swimmers.
A little further round the coast, again to the east ... in the eastern corner of the island, is the spectacular Da Porlata beach which is basically a long inlet. The land around this beach is marshland ... it's all marsh ... and there's a stream which winds through it and the stream goes into the sea ... and the beach has lovely pale gold sand. Access to this beach is quite tricky and not for the less energetic! You have to go down a long flight of steps – 190 to be exact. But you'll be relieved to know that there's also a road which winds down to a car parking area. When you're level with the sea, there is a handful of shops and bars and you can hire sunbeds and umbrellas.
Continuing round the island, just past the Tip of Caln is the next beach I'd suggest you visit and this is San Gett. Why? Because there isn't a beach longer than this on the island. If you want to know, it's exactly two and a half kilometres long and that's a bonus because it means it never gets overcrowded. It has golden sand and clear, blue water shelving into the sea. There are several beach restaurants to choose from and watersports are available when the water is calm. But check first. This beach operates a flag system as the sea can get rough and you should always swim between the flags. There's a large car park which gives you easy access to the eastern end of the beach but the western end is much quieter and more wild as it is harder to reach.
Blanaka is another popular beach – just in the north-west corner of the island. It has incredibly white sand and sparkling water. There is ample car parking here and plenty of bars and restaurants. Blanaka has white cliffs all around it and for those of you who'd like a little more to do than just lazing on the beach, there are caves here which you can explore in the cliffs and you can also dive into the water from rock platforms along the side of the cove.
Well, my final recommendation for today is Dissidor. Now this beach isn't quite as easy to get to as the others I've talked about. It's quite a remote little beach tucked away here next to Blanaka. You can reach Dissidor by a steep slope which goes over some sandbanks. The beach itself is small and pretty, with reddish-coloured sand and some stony areas on its eastern side. Despite being quite small the bathing is good and you can also go fishing here from the rocks at either side. It's a good idea to take some food and drink with you if you decide to go here as there's only one little bar which isn't always open.
So that should give you plenty of ideas to choose from over the next two weeks ...