Food And Restaurants In The Local Area - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 1 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–14 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 15–20 Matching
Which advantage is mentioned for each of the following restaurants?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-H, next to questions 15-20.
A. the decoration
B. easy parking
C. entertainment
D. excellent service
E. good value
F. good views
G. quiet location
H. wide menu
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | A | When the new shopping centre was built in the 1960s, it found a home beneath the multi-storey car park where it still is, but there are plans to move it back to its previous home by the river | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when a new shopping mall was created in the 1960s, the market was put under a tall parking building. It says the market is still there today, even though they might move it again in the future. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the market is currently located below a large building used for parking cars. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because the speaker explains where the market has been at different times. While it was once near the cathedral and then by the river, the speaker says it moved 'beneath the multi-storey car park' in the 1960s. The phrase 'where it still is' confirms that this is its current location. |
| Q12 | C | But if you come on a Sunday, you'll find a different market, where craftspeople sell what they have made - things like bags, cards, clothes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that on Sunday, the market is different because people who make crafts (craftspeople) sell the items they have created, such as bags and clothes. Answer Explanation: The answer means that there is a specific day each week when people sell things they have made by hand. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the speaker says that on Sunday, the market changes. While food is sold from Tuesday to Saturday, Sunday is the only day when craftspeople come to sell items they have made themselves, like bags and cards. The other choices, like local food and antique furniture, are sold over several days 'during the week.' |
| Q13 | B | What we do have is an apple cake that isn't really made anywhere else | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the area has a special cake made with apples that you cannot find in other locations. Answer Explanation: The answer is a cake. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains that while people might expect a famous fish dish due to the location, the local specialty is actually a unique cake. He notes that this apple cake is not really made in other places, making it the thing the area is well known for. Keywords like 'local dish' and 'isn't really made anywhere else' help identify that the cake is the unique food item of the area. |
| Q14 | B | Most of the restaurants used to be at the far end, but that part was redeveloped and the restaurants had to relocate to the other end | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that because one area was changed or rebuilt, the restaurants had to move from their old location at the far side to the opposite side. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the places where people go to eat in the harbour area have moved to a different spot. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains that the harbour area was recently changed and rebuilt, which forced the restaurants to move from one side to the other. To 'relocate' means to move to a new position. Choice A is not a recent 'change' because fishermen have been selling fish there for a very long time. Choice C is incorrect because the speaker says new restaurants have opened, so there is still a 'good range' of them. |
| Q15 | D | The friendly staff offer very attentive service and a really enjoyable evening | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that the people working at Merrivales are nice and give excellent help to the guests. Answer Explanation: The answer is choice D because Merrivales is known for having great workers who take care of their customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the speaker highlights the high quality of the staff at the restaurant. He describes them as both "friendly" and providing "attentive service." In English, "attentive" means the staff is very careful and pays close attention to the needs of the diners, which is a key part of having excellent service. |
| Q16 | H | The Lobster Pot is on the main road going down to the harbour so it also misses out on the sea view, but the food makes up for that. It serves a huge range of fish and seafood as well as vegetarian and meat dishes so there's something for everyone | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although the restaurant is not in a spot with a nice view, the food is very good. It has a very large variety of meals, so every person can find something they like. Answer Explanation: The answer H means that The Lobster Pot restaurant offers a lot of different types of food for customers to choose from. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because the speaker mentions that the restaurant serves a 'huge range' of many kinds of food, including fish, seafood, vegetarian, and meat dishes. In English, a 'huge range' and having 'something for everyone' at a restaurant means they have many choices, which is another way to say they have a 'wide menu.' |
| Q17 | F | It's on the twentieth floor above some offices and it's a great place to sit for a while as you can see most of the city spread out from there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about the restaurant being at the top of a tall building. Because it is so high up, you can look out and see the whole city below you. Answer Explanation: The answer F means that people can see beautiful sights from the restaurant. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the speaker mentions that the restaurant is on the 'twentieth floor'. This high location allows visitors to 'see most of the city' while they are there. In English, being able to see a large area from a high place is called having a 'good view'. |
| Q18 | G | Not far from the city centre is The Cabin which is on the canal bank. You can't park your car there - it's a fifteen-minute walk from the nearest car park - but it's very peaceful, a good place to relax away from the traffic | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because the restaurant is located on a canal bank away from cars and traffic, it is a very calm and quiet place. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the restaurant called The Cabin is located in a place that is not noisy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the speaker describes The Cabin as a "peaceful" place where people can go to "relax away from the traffic." This matches the idea of a quiet location. The speaker also mentions it is a fifteen-minute walk from the car park, which suggests that cars are not driving right past it, keeping it calm. |
| Q19 | C | There's plenty of room and on Friday and Saturday nights, the wooden floors resound with live music and dancing which is certainly worth going for | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that during the weekend, the restaurant provides live music and a space for dancing, which are forms of entertainment people enjoy while dining. Answer Explanation: The answer 'C' means that the restaurant offers entertainment, which is fun things for people to watch or do, like listening to music or dancing. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker mentions that on Friday and Saturday nights, visitors can enjoy 'live music and dancing' at The Olive Tree. In English, 'entertainment' is a general category that includes things like music and dancing. So, this matches the advantage described in the talk. |
| Q20 | A | The Old School Restaurant has been very cleverly renovated. The use of mirrors, plants and the colours on the walls makes you feel as though you're in a large garden instead of the city centre | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the building was updated in a smart way. It uses items like plants and mirrors to decorate the space. This internal design makes customers feel like they are in a garden. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the restaurant is special because of its internal design and style. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker describes how the restaurant looks on the inside. He mentions that it has been "cleverly renovated" and highlights the "use of mirrors, plants and the colours on the walls." These are elements of decoration that change the feel of the building. Even though it is in the city, the decoration makes people feel like they are in a garden. |
Transcript
You will hear someone talking on the radio about food and restaurants in the local area. First you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen and answer questions 11 to 14.
Announcer: And now we have our 'Know your town' section where we look at what's on offer in our area. Today John Munroe is going to tell us about local food and eating out. John.
John: Well, most of us buy our food in supermarkets these days but we're very lucky having a wonderful market here. It was originally on the piece of land in front of the cathedral but at the beginning of the twentieth century it was moved to a site by the river. When the new shopping centre was built in the 1960s, it found a home beneath the multi-storey car park where it still is, but there are plans to move it back to its previous home by the river.
The market is now open six days a week. On Tuesday to Saturday you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and cheese from the area, as well as a whole range of imported produce. But if you come on a Sunday, you'll find a different market, where craftspeople sell what they have made - things like bags, cards, clothes. During the week there are a few stalls selling more everyday utensils like saucepans and cleaning products alongside the fruit and vegetables - as well as one new stall selling antique furniture which is proving to be very popular.
People often ask what our local dish is. As we're by the sea, they expect it to be some kind of fish recipe. Our fish is good of course but there isn't one particular dish that stands out. What we do have is an apple cake that isn't really made anywhere else. There's a new café in the High Street: Barton's, which bakes them fresh every morning and serves them with delicious home-made ice cream in a choice of flavours.
Now, the harbour is obviously the place to buy fresh fish. Every morning there's a stall where local fishermen sell a selection of the day's catch before the rest goes to London or abroad. They've been doing that for as long as anyone can remember of course, but the harbour itself looks very different from a few years ago. Most of the restaurants used to be at the far end, but that part was redeveloped and the restaurants had to relocate to the other end. Many of them are simply the old ones in new premises but a couple of new ones have opened recently so there's a good range now both in the harbour and the town itself. I'm now going to give you my 'Top Six Places to Eat' in different parts of the town.
Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]
Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.
So Number 1 for me is Merrivales, which is in one of the busiest parts of the town leading down to the harbour. It's in a side street so it doesn't look out over the water but it's very close, so you can take a walk after your meal and find one of the cafés with live music. At Merrivales you can enjoy delicious fresh fish and seafood. The friendly staff offer very attentive service and a really enjoyable evening.
The Lobster Pot is on the main road going down to the harbour so it also misses out on the sea view, but the food makes up for that. It serves a huge range of fish and seafood as well as vegetarian and meat dishes so there's something for everyone. Prices are from mid-range to fairly expensive so it's really only for a special occasion.
Elliots is in the city centre and is a very upmarket restaurant in the evening but during the day it serves lunch and coffee. It's on the twentieth floor above some offices and it's a great place to sit for a while as you can see most of the city spread out from there. It does get very busy though and you may have to wait to be served.
Not far from the city centre is The Cabin which is on the canal bank. You can't park your car there - it's a fifteen-minute walk from the nearest car park - but it's very peaceful, a good place to relax away from the traffic. It's not cheap but it's an ideal place for a long lunch.
The Olive Tree is a family-run restaurant in the city centre offering beautifully prepared Greek dishes. It's well known locally and very popular. Service can be slow when it's busy as all the food is freshly made. There's plenty of room and on Friday and Saturday nights, the wooden floors resound with live music and dancing which is certainly worth going for.
The last place I want to recommend has only just opened in a converted school building. The Old School Restaurant has been very cleverly renovated. The use of mirrors, plants and the colours on the walls makes you feel as though you're in a large garden instead of the city centre. There are only a few dishes on the menu but they change every day.
So Tanya, I ...
That is the end of section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[Pause the recording for 30 seconds.]