DVD Player - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Achieve IELTS Practice Tests Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–4 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
DVD Customer Profile
Occupation: student
Have you owned a DVD player before? No
What is the maximum you want to spend on a DVD player? 1
How often do you watch DVDs? 2
What type of films do you enjoy? 3
What other DVDs (non-film) do you watch? 4
Questions 5–10 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Player | Features | Cost | After-sales service |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB 30 | basic | £69 | 5 only |
| XL 643 | Can also 6 | £7 | 8 at reduced cost |
| TriX 24 | Will also play 9 | £94 including 10 | Guaranteed for 3 years |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | £85 / 85 pounds | My friend said I should allow about £100 but I can't afford over £85, so that's what I'm working on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the customer saying that £85 is the highest price she can pay for a DVD player. Answer Explanation: The answer means the highest amount of money the customer can spend is 85 pounds. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is £85 because the customer explicitly states her maximum spending limit. Although her friend suggested £100, the customer mentions that she cannot afford anything over £85. |
| Q2 | 3 a month / three a month | Customer: Um - depends what you mean by often. I don't know what the norm is - is it about two a week? I suppose I watch three a month. That's enough for me | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the customer confirming that she watches three DVDs per month. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the customer watches three DVDs every month. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "3 a month" (or "three a month") because when the shop assistant asks how often she watches DVDs, the customer states her actual viewing habit: "I suppose I watch three a month." Although she mentions "two a week", that is just a question about what is standard, not her own habit. |
| Q3 | thrillers | Customer: (laughs) Not really. My boyfriend always insists we watch science-fiction movies but I prefer thrillers. Something to get your teeth into | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the customer explaining that she likes and prefers to watch thriller movies instead of science-fiction or action films. Answer Explanation: The answer "thrillers" refers to an exciting genre of movies that involves mystery, suspense, and tension. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "thrillers" because the shop assistant asks the customer what sort of films she likes watching. While she mentions that her boyfriend insists on science-fiction movies, she specifically states that she herself prefers "thrillers". |
| Q4 | comedy programmes / comedy / comedy programs | Shop assistant: OK. Just one more. Do you watch other DVDs - ones that are not films - like music or something? Customer: Not much because I don't want to spend the money on something I can watch on TV but I occasionally rent out comedy programmes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the shop assistant asking what other types of DVDs that are not films the customer watches, and the customer answers that she sometimes rents comedy programmes. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to funny TV shows or funny video content, specifically "comedy" or "comedy programmes". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is comedy (programmes) because the shop assistant asks the customer if she watches non-film DVDs (DVDs that are not movies). The customer replies that she sometimes rents out "comedy programmes". |
| Q5 | parts | As it's so cheap the DB30 comes with a limited after-sales service as it only includes parts | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the post-purchase service for the DB 30 DVD player covers only the replacement components (parts), requiring the customer to pay for repair labor. Answer Explanation: The answer "parts" means the individual pieces or hardware components needed to fix a broken machine. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "parts" because the shop assistant explains the after-sales service for the DB 30 model. She mentions that because the model is inexpensive, its after-sales service is limited and "only includes parts", which directly matches the table prompt " only". |
| Q6 | record | Then a slight grade up from that is the XL 643. This comes with an additional feature in that it has an extra button allowing you to record | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the XL 643 DVD player includes an extra function that lets the user record content. Answer Explanation: The answer "record" means to capture and save video or audio programs so you can watch them again later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "record" because when describing the features of the XL 643 model, the shop assistant explains that it has an extra feature and button that allows the user to record. |
| Q7 | 71.99 | Let me see how much it is ah, yes, that one's actually reduced at the moment - from £79 to £71.99 |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the shop assistant stating that the current discounted price for the XL 643 player is £71.99. Answer Explanation: The answer means the price of the XL 643 DVD player is seventy-one pounds and ninety-nine pence (£71.99). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "£71.99" because when discussing the XL 643 model, the shop assistant checks the price and states that it has been lowered ("reduced at the moment") from £79 to £71.99. Therefore, the current cost to fill in the table is £71.99. |
| Q8 | labour / labor | Shop assistant: Well, you get a bit more for your money because what we are offering is a discount on labour. So you don't pay the full price if you have to call an engineer out | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that for this DVD player, customers receive a lower price (a discount) for the repair work done by an engineer. Answer Explanation: The answer "labour" means the physical work done by a person (such as a technician or engineer fixing a machine). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "labour" because the customer asks about the after-sales service for the XL 643 model. The shop assistant explains that the service package provides a "discount on labour", which matches the phrase "at reduced cost" in the table. |
| Q9 | CDs | Shop assistant: Then the last one is this TriX 24. It's a very good player and you can use it to listen to your CDs as well as watch DVDs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the shop assistant explaining that the TriX 24 player can play music CDs in addition to standard DVDs. Answer Explanation: The answer "CDs" refers to compact audio discs that people use to play and listen to music. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "CDs" because when the shop assistant describes the features of the "TriX 24" model, he explicitly states that you can use the device to "listen to your CDs" in addition to playing movies on DVD. |
| Q10 | insurance | Let's see - yes it's £94 - but, what you have to remember is that, that includes insurance, so you don't have to pay extra for that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the TriX 24 model costs £94, and this total price already includes insurance coverage. Answer Explanation: The answer is "insurance", which refers to financial protection that covers the cost of damage or problems. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "insurance" because the shop assistant mentions that the TriX 24 costs £94 and specifically points out that this price "includes insurance". Therefore, the missing word in the table for the cost of the TriX 24 player is "insurance". |
Transcript
Customer: Hello. I'm interested in buying a DVD player. Can you help me as I don't know very much about them.
Shop assistant: Of course. We sell quite a range. Actually, we're doing a customer survey at the moment. So I wonder if I could fill in this form about you and that will actually help me to advise you on the best DVD player for you.
Customer: OK ...
Shop assistant: First of all, your occupation?
Customer: Um - student.
Shop assistant: OK. Then, have you already got a DVD player?
Customer: No. I've never had one before.
Shop assistant: And how much do you think you want to spend on a player?
Customer: I'm not sure really - but I have got a budget. My friend said I should allow about £100 but I can't afford over £85, so that's what I'm working on.
Shop assistant: And do you watch DVDs very often?
Customer: Um - depends what you mean by often. I don't know what the norm is - is it about two a week?
I suppose I watch three a month. That's enough for me!
Shop assistant: Yes (laughs). What sort of films do you like watching then? Action movies?
Customer: (laughs) Not really. My boyfriend always insists we watch science-fiction movies but I prefer thrillers. Something to get your teeth into!
Shop assistant: OK. Just one more. Do you watch other DVDs - ones that are not films - like music or something?
Customer: Not much because I don't want to spend the money on something I can watch on TV but I occasionally rent out comedy programmes. And I fight with my boyfriend over all the sports DVDs he watches.
Shop assistant: OK. Let me explain a bit to you about the DVD players that are in your price range. First there's the DB 30 which has only got basic features but it is a bargain at £69. Now all the DVDs come with an after-sales service that starts when the guarantee runs out. As it's so cheap the DB30 comes with a limited after-sales service as it only includes parts. You would have to pay for most of the repair.
Customer: Seems OK.
Shop assistant: Then a slight grade up from that is the XL 643. This comes with an additional feature in that it has an extra button allowing you to record. That's quite useful.
Customer: Oh yes. That would mean spending less on DVDs to watch.
Shop assistant: Yes, so you'd make the extra money back on it that it costs. Let me see how much it is ... ah, yes, that one's actually reduced at the moment - from £79 to £71.99. I think it's worth the extra myself.
Customer: And is that the same level of after-sales service as the other one?
Shop assistant: Well, you get a bit more for your money because what we are offering is a discount on labour. So you don't pay the full price if you have to call an engineer out.
Customer: I see.
Shop assistant: Then the last one is this TriX 24. It's a very good player and you can use it to listen to your CDs as well as watch DVDs.
Customer: It looks nice - but I bet it's expensive.
Shop assistant: No, it's not top of the range. Let's see - yes it's £94 - but, what you have to remember is that, that includes insurance, so you don't have to pay extra for that. And it comes with a guarantee that's valid for three years as opposed to the usual one. What do you think?
Customer: Hm, maybe ... (fade) ...