Hilary Lodge Retirement Home - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 8 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Hilary Lodge Retirement Home
Example
The name of the manager is Cathy
Activities programme involving volunteers
Monday evenings: computer training
- Training needed in how to produce 1
Tuesday afternoons: singing
- The home has a 2 and someone to play it
Thursday mornings: growing 3
- The home doesn't have many 4 for gardening
Once a month: meeting for volunteers and staff
Interview
- Go in on 5, any time
- Interview with assistant called 6
- Address of home: 73 7 Road
'Open house' days
- Agreed to help on 8
- Will show visitors where to 9
- Possibility of talking to a 10 reporter
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | simple documents / documents | Well, on Monday evenings we organise computer training. We've got six laptops, and five or six residents come to the sessions regularly. They're all now fine at writing and sending emails, but our trainer has just moved away, and we need two or three volunteers who can help the residents create documents | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the people living in the home are already good at emails, but they need someone's help to learn how to make or create documents. Answer Explanation: The answer is documents because that is what the residents (the people living at the retirement home) want to learn how to make on a computer. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Cathy explains that even though the residents can send emails, they now need help to 'create' computer files. In this context, to 'produce' something means the same thing as to 'create' it. |
| Q2 | keyboard | We've got a keyboard, and someone who plays | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the retirement home owns this musical instrument and has a person who knows how to play it for the residents. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'keyboard', which is a musical instrument with black and white keys that sounds like a piano. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'keyboard' because Cathy explains that for the Tuesday afternoon singing class, the retirement home already has a keyboard and a musician to play it. She mentions this when describing what tools or resources they have for that specific activity. |
| Q3 | flowers | Then on Thursday mornings we generally have a session in our garden. Several of our residents enjoy learning about flowers, where they grow best, how to look after them, and so on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that on Thursday mornings, there is a session in the garden where residents learn about things related to flowers. Answer Explanation: The answer is the colorful part of a plant that people like to look at and grow in gardens. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'flowers' because Cathy mentions that on Thursday mornings, the home’s activities take place in the garden. She explains that the residents like to learn about flowers, specifically where they grow and how to take care of them. |
| Q4 | tools | John: I'm no expert, but I enjoy gardening, so yes, I'd like to get involved. Do you have your own tools at the home? Cathy: We've got a few, but not very many | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John asking if the retirement home has its own tools for gardening. Cathy answers that they only have a small number ("a few"), which means they do not have very many. Answer Explanation: The answer "tools" refers to the equipment or instruments used to do a specific job, in this case, gardening (like a shovel or a rake). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "tools" because Cathy explains that the retirement home only has "a few" of them, which means they "don't have many." John asks about the tools right after they discuss gardening on Thursday mornings, making it clear that these are the items needed for the activity. |
| Q5 | Saturday | John: I'm busy the next couple of days, but would Saturday be possible? Cathy: Certainly. Just drop in any time during the day | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John asking to come for the interview on Saturday since he is busy before then. Cathy agrees and tells him he can arrive at any time during that day. Answer Explanation: The answer is Saturday, which is the day John will visit the retirement home for his interview. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Saturday because, during their conversation, Cathy asks John if he can come for an interview later that week. John explains that he is busy for the next few days and asks if Saturday is okay. Cathy agrees and says he can come at any time that day. This matches the note 'Go in on Saturday, any time.' |
| Q6 | Mairead | Cathy: Certainly. Just drop in any time during the day. I won't be working then, so you'll see my assistant, Mairead | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Cathy explaining that since she is off work on the day of the interview, John will meet her assistant, a woman named Mairead. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the assistant manager who will talk to John on Saturday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Mairead because the manager, Cathy, says she will not be working on the day John comes in for his interview. She explains that John will instead meet with her assistant and then spells out the name for him: M-A-I-R-E-A-D. |
| Q7 | Bridge | John: Right. And the road that Hilary Lodge is in is called Bridge Road, isn't it? Cathy: That's right. Number 73 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John asking if the home is located on Bridge Road. Cathy says yes and gives the specific number, 73. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the street where the retirement home is located. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Bridge' because in the conversation, John asks for confirmation that the home is on Bridge Road, and Cathy, the manager, confirms this and provides the house number, which is 73. This specifically answers the request for the name of the road at address 73. |
| Q8 | 14th May / 14 May / May 14th / May 14 | John: I can certainly manage May 14th. I've got another commitment on April 9th, though | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John confirming that he is free to help on May 14th, while he is busy with something else on the earlier date in April. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific date (May 14th) when John says he is available to help at the retirement home's special event. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from Cathy mentioning two possible dates for the 'open house' days: April 9th and May 14th. John then clearly states that he has another plan on April 9th but can specifically work on May 14th. |
| Q9 | park | John: Well, shall I show people where they can park? Cathy: Lovely. Thank you | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows John asking if he can help visitors find a place for their cars, and Cathy thanks him for the offer. Answer Explanation: The answer "park" means to move a car into a space and leave it there for some time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "park" because John suggests helping at the 'open house' by showing visitors where they can leave their cars. Cathy agrees to this suggestion by saying "Lovely," which means she thinks it is a good idea. The notes ask what he will show visitors where to do, and John specifically mentions the action of parking. |
| Q10 | newspaper | So you may find you have someone from a newspaper wanting to interview you | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that John might be interviewed by someone who works for a newspaper during the open house event. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'newspaper', which refers to a person who writes for a local paper. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'newspaper' because Cathy mentions that during the open house events, a person from a newspaper might want to interview the volunteers to learn why they help at the retirement home. This means John could potentially talk to a reporter from a local newspaper. |
Transcript
Cathy: Hello, Hilary Lodge retirement home, Cathy speaking.
John: Hello, my name's John Shepherd. Could I ask if you're the manager of the home?
Cathy: That's right.
John: Oh, good. Hello, Cathy. A friend of mine is a volunteer at Hilary Lodge, and I'd like to help out, too, if you need more people. I work part-time, so I have quite a lot of free time.
Cathy: We're always glad of more help, John. Shall I tell you about some of the activities that volunteers get involved in?
John: Please.
Cathy: Well, on Monday evenings we organise computer training. We've got six laptops, and five or six residents come to the sessions regularly. They're all now fine at writing and sending emails, but our trainer has just moved away, and we need two or three volunteers who can help the residents create documents. Just simple things, really.
John: I'd certainly be interested in doing that.
Cathy: Great. Then on Tuesday afternoons we have an informal singing class, which most of the residents attend. We've got a keyboard, and someone who plays, but if you'd like to join in the singing, you'd be very welcome.
John: I work on Tuesdays at the moment, though that might change. I'll have to give it a miss for now, I'm afraid.
Cathy: OK. Then on Thursday mornings we generally have a session in our garden. Several of our residents enjoy learning about flowers, where they grow best, how to look after them, and so on. Is that something you're keen on?
John: I'm no expert, but I enjoy gardening, so yes, I'd like to get involved. Do you have your own tools at the home?
Cathy: We've got a few, but not very many.
John: I could bring some in with me when I come.
Cathy: Thank you very much. One very important thing for volunteers is that we hold a monthly meeting where they all get together with the staff. It's a chance to make sure we're working well together, and that everyone knows how the residents are, and what's going on in the home.
John: Uhuh.
Cathy: Now obviously we'd need to get to know you before you become one of our volunteers.
John: Of course.
Cathy: Could you come in for an informal interview – later this week, maybe?
John: I'm busy the next couple of days, but would Saturday be possible?
Cathy: Certainly. Just drop in any time during the day. I won't be working then, so you'll see my assistant, Mairead.
John: Sorry, how do you spell that?
Cathy: It's M-A-I-R-E-A-D. Mairead.
John: OK, got that. It's not a name I'm familiar with.
Cathy: It's an Irish name. She comes from Dublin.
John: Right. And the road that Hilary Lodge is in is called Bridge Road, isn't it?
Cathy: That's right. Number 73.
John: Fine.
Cathy: Oh, one other thing you might be interested in – we're holding a couple of 'open house' days, and still need a few volunteers, if you're available.
John: What are the dates?
Cathy: There's one on April 9th, and another on 14th May. They're both Saturdays, and all-day events.
John: I can certainly manage May 14th. I've got another commitment on April 9th, though.
Cathy: That would be a great help. We're having several guest entertainers - singers, a brass band, and so on - and we're expecting a lot of visitors. So one possibility is to help look after the entertainers, or you could spend an hour or so organising people as they arrive, and then just be part of the team making sure everything's going smoothly.
John: Well, shall I show people where they can park?
Cathy: Lovely. Thank you. One reason for holding the open house days is to get publicity for Hilary Lodge locally. So you may find you have someone from a newspaper wanting to interview you. They'll want to find out from two or three people why they volunteer to help at the home. We're trying to get a TV station to come, too, but they don't seem very interested.
John: I don't mind being interviewed.
Cathy: Good. Well, if you come in for a chat, as we arranged, we'll take it from there. Thank you very much for calling.
John: My pleasure. Goodbye.
Cathy: Bye.