Goodbye Party For John - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 04 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
GOODBYE PARTY FOR JOHN
Example
Date: 22nd December
Venue: 1
Invitations (Tony)
Who to invite:
- John and his wife
- Director
- the 2
- all the teachers
- all the 3
Date for sending invitations: 4
Present (Lisa)
Collect money during the 5
Suggested amount per person: $ 6
Check prices for:
- CD players
- 7
- coffee maker
Ask guests to bring:
- snacks
- 8
- 9
Ask student representative to prepare a 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | College Dining Room | I've been looking at the College Dining Room; that seems pretty reasonable | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Lisa recommending the College Dining Room as the place for the party because it is not too expensive. Answer Explanation: The answer is the location where the farewell party for John will be held. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Lisa explains that a hotel would be too expensive. She suggests the College Dining Room instead because the price is fair, and Tony agrees with this choice. In this context, 'venue' means the place where an event happens. |
| Q2 | office staff | TONY: And the Director. LISA: Ah ha. TONY: The office staff. LISA: Yep, and all the teachers and all the students | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tony adding the people from the office to the guest list, which already includes the Director and will also include teachers and students. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the group of people who work in the office at the college. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when Tony and Lisa are making a list of people to invite to the party. After Tony mentions the Director, he suggests including the office staff. Lisa then adds teachers and students to that list. The notes follow this sequence of people being invited. |
| Q3 | students | LISA: Yep, and all the teachers and all the students | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Lisa confirming that both the teaching staff and the people studying (students) should be invited to the event. Answer Explanation: The answer 'students' refers to the group of people who are studying at the college and should be invited to John's farewell party. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by the conversation where Lisa and Tony list the people they need to invite. After mentioning the office staff and teachers, Lisa specifically includes 'all the students' in the invitation list. Keywords to note are 'all', which matches the notes, and 'students', which completes the group being discussed. |
| Q4 | 10th December / December 10th / 10th of December / 10 December / December 10 | LISA: Enough time but not too early. What about the fifteenth of December?TONY: Well, there are exams on the sixteenth - better avoid them.LISA: Tenth?TONY: Yeah, that should do it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the speakers discussing when to send the invitations. They choose the 10th of December because it provides enough time before the party and avoids the busy exam schedule on the 16th. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific date that Lisa and Tony decide to send out the invitations for John's farewell party. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 10th December because Lisa and Tony agreed this was the best day to send the invitations. Lisa originally suggested the 15th, but Tony reminded her that exams are on the 16th, so they should avoid that date. Lisa then suggested the 10th, and Tony agreed, which makes it the final decision. |
| Q5 | coffee break / coffee breaks | LISA: No, not at all; we usually go round with an envelope during coffee break, don't we?TONY: Yeah, coffee break's always the best time, 'cos people have got their money handy | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Lisa and Tony agreeing that the break time for coffee is the perfect time to collect money from everyone for a group present. Answer Explanation: The answer means a short rest time during a work day when people drink coffee and relax. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'coffee break' because Lisa and Tony are planning the gift collection. Lisa mentions that they normally take an envelope around to get money while people are having their coffee break. Tony agrees, saying it is a good time because people have their money ready at that time. |
| Q6 | 6 / six | We suggested six dollars last time, is that OK | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tony proposing the amount of six dollars as a donation from each guest, based on what was done previously. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number 6, which represents the amount of money in dollars that each person is expected to contribute for the gift. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 6 because Tony and Lisa discuss a suggested amount of money for the gift. Tony mentions that they suggested six dollars at a previous event, and Lisa agrees that this is a sufficient amount. Pay attention to terms like 'suggested amount' and 'amount per person' which relate to the money being collected. |
| Q7 | set of dictionaries / dictionaries / a good dictionary | TONY: Yeah, that's a, that's a good idea, and also I thought maybe, you know, a set of dictionaries. I heard him say he needed a good one | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tony suggesting that they buy several dictionaries for John because he remembers John saying he needed a high-quality dictionary. Answer Explanation: The answer is a collection of books that tell you what words mean, because Tony mentions that John needs a good one. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'a set of dictionaries' (or just 'dictionaries') because Tony suggests this as a gift option for John. In the conversation, after Lisa suggests CD players, Tony brings up dictionaries as a potential present based on something John had said. This is one of the three gift items they agree to consider, alongside CD players and a coffee maker. |
| Q8 | some music tapes / music tapes / some music / music / some tapes / tapes | Well, some music, because there'll be a tape deck there in the room, and we can have some dancing later on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Lisa suggesting music as an item for guests to bring, mentioning a tape deck is available for dancing. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people going to the party should bring music, such as tapes, so everyone can dance. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is music or music tapes because Lisa recommends that guests bring it. She says there is a 'tape deck' (a machine for playing music tapes) in the room, and since they want to have dancing, music is a necessary item for guests to provide. This fits perfectly in the list of things guests are asked to 'bring' in the notes. |
| Q9 | photos / photographs | TONY: So we should ask the guests to bring photos. OK. I'll put it on the invitations | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tony clearly stating that they will ask the people coming to the party to bring their own pictures. Answer Explanation: The answer means the people invited to the party should bring pictures (photos or photographs) with them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the part of the conversation where Tony and Lisa talk about activities for the party. Lisa mentions a game they played before using pictures. Tony then decides that they should ask the guests to bring photos and says he will include this request on the invitations. Synonyms for 'photos' include 'photographs' or 'pictures'. |
| Q10 | speech | LISA: Now the last thing is, who shall we ask to do the speech? TONY: Don't you think it might be nice to have one of the students? LISA: Well then, the Student Leader? TONY: Yeah, much better than the Director giving speeches again. LISA: OK then, I'll ask her | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Lisa asking who will talk at the farewell event. Tony suggests choosing one of the students, and they decide on the Student Leader to give the speech. Answer Explanation: The answer "speech" means a talk that a person gives to a group of people at a special event, like a party. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "speech" because Lisa and Tony are discussing the final details of John's party. Lisa asks who should give a speech, and they agree that the "Student Leader" (who is the student representative) should do it. Keywords to notice are "student," "Student Leader," and "speech." |
Transcript
LISA: Hi Tony, thanks ever so much for coming. You know we've been asked to organise something for John's farewell?
TONY: Yeah, sure, it's about time we started working out details.
LISA: Exactly. We don't want to leave it so late that it's double the work.
TONY: Mmm, mm, right, do you want me to take notes?
LISA: That'd be great, thanks.
TONY: Right, first thing is, when is the best time to hold it?
LISA: Well, he leaves on the twenty-fourth of December.
TONY: So what about the twenty-second?
LISA: Yeah, I think that's about right. We want it quite near the time, don't we?
TONY: Sure, and what about a venue? In college? A hotel?
LISA: I think a hotel will probably work out rather expensive, and I've been looking at the College Dining Room; that seems pretty reasonable.
TONY: Fine, yeah, why not?
LISA: And then we ought to be thinking about invitations ... Who mustn't we forget to invite?
TONY: Well, obviously John and his wife.
LISA: Right.
TONY: And the Director.
LISA: Ah ha.
TONY: The office staff.
LISA: Yep, and all the teachers and all the students.
TONY: Anyone else?
LISA: Faculty Heads?
TONY: No, better draw the line, I don't think it's necessary.
LISA: Yeah, you're right.
TONY: I don't mind writing the invitations. When shall we get them out for?
LISA: Enough time but not too early. What about the fifteenth of December?
TONY: Well, there are exams on the sixteenth - better avoid them.
LISA: Tenth?
TONY: Yeah, that should do it.
LISA: So what does that leave? Oh yes, a present.
TONY: Would you mind doing that?
LISA: No, not at all; we usually go round with an envelope during coffee break, don't we?
TONY: Yeah, coffee break's always the best time, 'cos people have got their money handy.
LISA: Yeah, exactly. Do we suggest an amount? Or does it seem a bit unfair?
TONY: No, I think people welcome it. We suggested six dollars last time, is that OK?
LISA: Yeah, plenty I would have thought, which should leave us with about ninety dollars.
TONY: Have you any ideas for presents?
LISA: Well, I've been having a little think. I thought, you know, he loves music.
TONY: Yeah, and books.
LISA: So, I thought I'd check on prices for, well, perhaps CD players.
TONY: Yeah, that's a, that's a good idea, and also I thought maybe, you know, a set of dictionaries. I heard him say he needed a good one.
LISA: The other thing he was saying last week was that his computer printer had broken.
TONY: Umm. No, I'd be really frightened about getting the wrong type.
LISA: OK, yeah.
TONY: The other thing is something for the home - Jill suggested a coffee maker.
LISA: Oh yeah. I'll certainly find out what they cost. OK, have you got all that down?
TONY: Yes.
LISA: Now we need to think a little more about the money. I know we've got a set amount from the Social Fund.
TONY: Right, what does that cover?
LISA: It's meant to cover the cost of the room.
TONY: Yeah.
LISA: And a certain amount for food.
TONY: And also drinks?
LISA: Oh yeah, certainly.
TONY: But will it be enough?
LISA: What we've done in the past is to ask guests to bring some snacks.
TONY: Right.
LISA: We don't ask them to bring more drinks because we figure that's ... that should come from the Social Fund.
TONY: OK. Anything else for the guests to bring?
LISA: Well, some music, because there'll be a tape deck there in the room, and we can have some dancing later on.
TONY: Anything else?
LISA: Well, it's just a thought, but a couple of years ago we had a really good party where we set up, you know, some simple games.
TONY: Yeah, great. Wasn't it based on photos from the students and teachers?
LISA: That's right.
TONY: So we should ask the guests to bring photos. OK. I'll put it on the invitations.
LISA: Now the last thing is, who shall we ask to do the speech?
TONY: Don't you think it might be nice to have one of the students?
LISA: Well then, the Student Leader?
TONY: Yeah, much better than the Director giving speeches again.
LISA: OK then, I'll ask her. Lovely! So, is that all?
TONY: Looks like it.
LISA: Great. Thanks ever so much ... (fade out)