Edelman Pottery - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–16 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Questions 17–18 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Questions 19–20 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | A | Things like baskets and pictures don't survive in the earth in the same way that pots do | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that unlike baskets and pictures, pots can stay in the ground for a long time. Answer Explanation: The answer means that pottery stays in the ground for a very long time compared to other art forms. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Heather explains that pottery, unlike things like baskets and pictures, can survive for thousands of years in the earth. She says ancient pots give important information about the past, which shows they last longer. |
| Q12 | B | Archaeologists can tell whether the pots were for, say, storage or cooking by examining the impressions on the clay, the scratches from tools, and the clay itself can reveal where the pots came from | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that archaeologists can understand what ancient pots were used for by looking at the marks on them. These marks help show if the pot was used for something like holding food or something else. Answer Explanation: The answer is B, which means that archaeologists can find out how ancient pottery was used by looking at the marks or patterns on the pottery. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker talks about how archaeologists can tell whether pots were for cooking or storage by examining the impressions on the clay and scratches from tools. This means that the marks on the pottery give important information about its use. |
| Q13 | C | Like our ancestors, they hope that something they create will also last longer than they do, that their work, whether it is good or not, might say something about humanity many years after their death | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that people want their pottery to last longer than they live and to mean something for future generations. Answer Explanation: The answer means that some people want to create something that lasts a long time, even after they are gone. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Heather explains that many people hope their pottery will last beyond their life and express something about humanity. This shows that they are interested in making something that will remember them and remain for a long time. |
| Q14 | A | what I love most is the concentration you need to make a good pot. That focus takes you away from the stresses of everyday life | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that Heather loves the focus needed to make a good pot, and that this focus helps people forget about their daily problems. This means it is calming. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'A', which means Heather thinks making pottery is very calming and helps you relax. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because Heather says that making a good pot requires a lot of focus and concentration, which helps people forget their everyday worries. This shows that she values the calming effect of pottery. |
| Q15 | B | Like nearly everyone who comes here, I'm sure this is the first time you will have tried the art | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that almost everyone visiting has not tried making pottery before. This means they are new to making pots. Answer Explanation: The answer means that most visitors have not made a pot before they come to Edelman Pottery. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the transcript mentions that nearly everyone who comes to Edelman Pottery is trying pottery for the first time. It also states that they are likely inexperienced, which supports that they have never made a pot before. |
| Q16 | C | Can I just say a word about what you're wearing? As we said in our email please remove any watches necklaces etc and put them somewhere safe | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript means that Heather asks everyone to take off their jewellery, like watches and necklaces, and keep it safe. This is to make sure that it does not get damaged or cause problems while they are making pottery. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Heather tells her visitors to remove their jewellery, like watches and necklaces, before making pottery. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C, take off their jewellery, because Heather specifically says, 'please remove any watches, necklaces, etc.' She emphasizes that it is important for safety and to protect their clothes while working with clay. |
| Q17 | — | — | |
| Q18 | A / E | To make pottery that will last, you need a potter's wheel, a kiln, which is basically a very hot oven where you fire the pottery Some people fire pottery in a fire pit outside but bear in mind |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that a kiln is a hot oven used to cook pottery. It also says that some people use fire pits instead of kilns. Answer Explanation: The answer shows that Heather explains what kilns do and what some people use instead of kilns. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A (What their function is) and E (What some people use instead of one) because Heather talks about how kilns are very hot ovens that fire the pottery, which is their function. She also mentions that some people use their own ovens or fire pits outside instead of kilns. |
| Q19 | — | — | |
| Q20 | C / E | However, there are some basic tools that you will need to handle the clay on the wheel We can provide these and I wouldn’t recommend spending money on them yet |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that there are important tools you need to shape the clay and that they can give these tools to you, so you can use them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that some potter's tools are important to have, and some tools can be used by the people who are making pottery. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C and E because Heather explains that there are some basic tools potters need to create pottery and that they can provide these tools for the participants. This shows that some tools are essential and available for use. |
Transcript
Hello and welcome. My name’s Heather McCallum and I’m one of the potters who work here at Edelman Pottery. Before we go into the workshop, I just want to say a bit about the craft of pottery. Then we’ll have a look at the equipment and you can try making a pot of your own. Like many people, I’m sure you know that pottery as an art form is tens of thousands of years old. And we know this because it stands the test of time. Things like baskets and pictures don’t survive in the earth in the same way that pots do. and even if ancient pots are found in small pieces they still provide a lot of information about the past. There no doubt that pottery has given archaeologists a fascinating insight into how ancient hls lived The shape of an artefact may have been lost but archaeologists can tell whether the pots were for, say, storage or cooking by examining the impressions on the clay, the scratches from tools, and the clay itself can reveal where the pots came from. When I ask people why they want to take a pottery class with me, they sometimes talk about these things. Like our ancestors, they hope that something they create will also last longer than they do, that their work, whether it is good or not, might say something about humanity many years after their death. Of course, you will all have your own reasons for coming here. As far as I’m concerned, what I love most is the concentration you need to make a good pot. That focus takes you away from the stresses of everyday life. If you’re elderly, it’s also good exercise for hands and wrists and helps with arthritis. And of course, it’s a fun activity for children because it’s so messy. Here at Edelman Pottery, we show you some of the basic pottery techniques so that you can use these to create whatever you wish. A gift for a friend, perhaps. Like nearly everyone who comes here, I’m sure this is the first time you will have tried the art So we’ll keep things simple today Now, before we move on, can I just say a word about what you’re wearing? As we said in our email please remove any watches necklaces etc and put them somewhere safe If you have long hair do tie it back now We provide aprons later but I trust your clothes are old but comfortable not your favourite T-shirt or jeans.
---------------
So now we’re in the workshop. Have a look around. There’s a lot going on. To make pottery that will last, you need a potter’s wheel, a kiln, which is basically a very hot oven where you fire the pottery, and some tools. So, first, the kiln. If you look over in the far corner, you’ll see one of ours. Since their invention, kilns have changed very little, though in the past 20 years a lot of progress has been made in temperature control. Basically, a kiln removes the water from clay at temperatures of around 1000 degrees Celsius. This allows anything you’ve made to set permanently in shape. It’s a pretty ugly heavy object that’s hard to keep in a house or flat, so most people don’t have one.
You may think, can’t I use my oven? Well, that’s possible, but domestic ovens don’t really get hot enough and eventually the clay will crack and fall apart. Some people fire pottery in a fire pit outside but bear in mind… that can be dangerous You also need to know about safety procedures for kilns as they release toxic compounds into the air Every potter needs a potter’s wheel. This machine is used to shape the clay into an object with circular walls or sides, such as a bowl. Its invention revolutionised the pottery industry, allowing multiple items to be produced in a day. Lastly, there are a number of different tools that potters use, depending on what they want to make. When you start, your hands can make all kinds of shapes and curves without relying on a sculpting tool. However, there are some basic tools that you will need to handle the clay on the wheel. Some look very strange and have even odder names that you may find hard to remember. Rather than go through them all now, I’ll just name a few tools as we go along. We can provide these and I wouldn’t recommend spending money on them yet. So, let’s try making a pot of your own. If you sit down…