Ice Curling - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 4 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–16 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
- The first player of a team to throw the stone is called 11 , then the second, the third, and the skip.
- The rink of curling is called the 12 .
- The 13 is the name for the target area.
- 14 is usually the material for making the curling brushes.
- The sole of gripper shoe is made of 15 .
- The team members may carry a 16 along with them while playing.
Questions 17–20 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | the lead | Two curling teams consist of four players: the lead, the second, the third and finally the skip. The captain of the curling team, and its players will throw their stones in the order stated above | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there are four players on a team. It lists their names and says they throw their stones in the order that they were named, which starts with the lead. Answer Explanation: The answer "the lead" refers to the specific name given to the first player on a curling team who starts the game by throwing their stones. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified because the transcript lists the four players on a curling team in the order that they play. It starts with "the lead" and then mentions the second, third, and skip. It explicitly confirms that the players throw stones in this specific sequence. |
| Q12 | sheet | The ice surface on which the game is played or the rink in curling is called 'the sheet' | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the ice area where the game happens, which is also known as the rink, is named 'the sheet'. Answer Explanation: The answer sheet is the specific name for the ice floor where a curling game is played. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is sheet because the text clearly states that the 'rink' in the sport of curling has a special name. When the speaker introduces the playing area, he says the 'ice surface' or 'rink' is called 'the sheet'. To find this answer, a learner should look for the synonym 'rink' or the phrase 'is called'. |
| Q13 | house | The curling players should slide the heavy, polished stones or rocks, across the ice curling sheet towards the house—a circular target marked on the ice, as I've mentioned before | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that players push heavy stones toward a target circle on the ice, and this circle is called the house. Answer Explanation: The answer "house" is the special name used in curling for the round mark on the ice that players aim for. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified from the speaker's description of the game's layout. In the transcript, the target area on the ice is explicitly defined as the "house." The speaker describes it as a "circular target marked on the ice." Therefore, when the sentence asks for the name of the target area, "house" is the required word. |
| Q14 | Horsehair / Horse hair | The most important things are the curling brush, which is used to sweep the ice surface in the path of the stone; as well as the curling stone, which is sometimes called rock. The former is usually made of horsehair, and the latter is made of granite, mainly coming from Scotland | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there are two main pieces of equipment: the brush and the stone. It notes that the first one mentioned, which is the brush, is typically made from the hair of a horse. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies horsehair as the material commonly used to create the brushes used in curling. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker's description of the essential equipment. He mentions two items: the curling brush and the curling stone. He then uses the word 'former' to refer back to the first item (the brush) and states it is usually made of horsehair. |
| Q15 | rubber | The sole of the slider shoe, which is designed for the sliding foot, is typically made of Teflon, while the gripper shoe for the hack foot has a special layer of rubber applied to the sole | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while the sliding shoe uses Teflon, the gripper shoe features a layer of rubber on its sole (the bottom of the shoe). Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific material used to make the bottom part of a curling shoe that is meant to provide grip on the ice. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is rubber because the speaker describes the specialized shoes used in curling. He mentions that there are two different shoes: one for sliding and another called the 'gripper shoe.' He specifically explains that the gripper shoe has a layer of rubber on the bottom (the sole) to help the player's foot stay firm on the ice. |
| Q16 | stopwatch / stop watch | During the curling game, you may also find a stopwatch attached either to the player's clothing or the broom, which is used to time the stones over a fixed distance to calculate their speed | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that during a game, a stopwatch can be found on a player's clothes or their broom to help them measure time and speed. Answer Explanation: The answer is a stopwatch, which is a special type of watch used to measure exact amounts of time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is stopwatch because the text explains that players have this tool with them during a game. They attach it to their clothes or their broom so they can measure how much time the stone takes to travel. This helps the players figure out the stone's speed. The words 'attached either to the player's clothing or the broom' show that the players carry it with them while playing. |
| Q17 | B | Kilsyth Curling Club is renowned as the first club in the world, having been formally constituted in 1716, and widely influencing the ice curling development | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that this specific club is famous for being the world's very first curling club, which was officially started in the year 1716. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the club is well-known for being the very first one created in that area. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker states that the Kilsyth Curling Club is 'renowned,' which means famous, for being 'the first club in the world.' It was officially established in 1716. Because it was the first, it is also the oldest. Key words to look for are 'renowned' (famous) and 'first' (the earliest or oldest). |
| Q18 | C | The mother club of curling—Grand Caledonian Curling Club was instituted in 1838 for the purpose, not as such to attract people's interest, but to regulate the ancient Scottish game of curling by general laws | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the club was 'instituted' (formed or started) for a specific 'purpose' (reason). That reason was to 'regulate' (set rules for) the game using 'general laws' (official regulations) rather than just to get more people interested in it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the club was started specifically to create and set official rules for the game of curling. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found by looking at the speaker's explanation of why the Grand Caledonian Curling Club was founded. He clearly states that the club's 'purpose' was to 'regulate' the game using 'general laws'. This directly matches the idea of 'fixing regulations'. While the speaker mentions that these rules helped train young players more professionally afterward, the main reason for starting the club itself was to establish these rules. |
| Q19 | B | So, do you know the reason for curling being kept during the 16th century? Is it because it was so popular or because people from all ages like children could play it? The spirit of curling dictates that one never cheers mistakes, misses or gaffes by one's opponent, and most importantly, all the team members should strictly follow the instructions of their captain, which is essential for men in battle | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript asks why curling was allowed (not banned) in the 16th century. It then explains that the most important reason is that players must obey their captain, which is a skill men need when they go to war. Answer Explanation: The answer means that curling was allowed because it helped men learn the skills needed to be good soldiers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the transcript explains that unlike other sports that were banned to make men practice archery, curling was kept. The speaker says curling was not banned because it requires players to follow their leader's (the captain's) orders exactly. This ability to follow orders is very important or 'essential' for soldiers during a war or 'battle'. |
| Q20 | C | Curlers often used iron curling 'stones', made from melted materials such as cannonballs rather than granite until the early 1900s, because there were transport problems importing granite stones from Scotland | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that early players in Canada used iron stones made from melted materials like cannonballs instead of granite stones. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the objects used for the game in Canada a long time ago were made of iron. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because the transcript mentions that before the 1900s, people in Canada used iron stones for curling. They used iron because it was hard to bring stone from Scotland at that time. They made these heavy iron stones by melting things like cannonballs. Using iron (specifically cast iron) was a way to solve the problem of not having granite stones available. |
Transcript
Interviewer: Today we're pleased to have on the show Chris Evans from The Royal Caledonian Curling Club. Now, let's welcome Chris to tell us something about ice curling. Chris, please.
Chris: Thank you. It's my honour to briefly talk about ice curling here to all of you. So let's start with what curling is.
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on an ice rink towards a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles. Two curling teams consist of four players: the lead, the second, the third and finally the skip. The captain of the curling team, and its players will throw their stones in the order stated above. Each team has eight stones. The purpose is to accumulate the highest score in the game; points are scored depending on which stone is resting closest to the centre of the target area at the end of the game.
The ice surface on which the game is played or the rink in curling is called 'the sheet'. It is covered with tiny droplets of water that become ice and cause the stones to 'curl' or deviate from a straight path. The curling players should slide the heavy, polished stones or rocks, across the ice curling sheet towards the house—a circular target marked on the ice, as I've mentioned before.
There are several pieces of equipment essential for a curling game, so a concise introduction will be given to you.
The most important things are the curling brush, which is used to sweep the ice surface in the path of the stone; as well as the curling stone, which is sometimes called rock. The former is usually made of horsehair, and the latter is made of granite, mainly coming from Scotland.
Curling shoes are similar to ordinary athletic shoes except that the two shoes in a pair have dissimilar soles. The sole of the slider shoe, which is designed for the sliding foot, is typically made of Teflon, while the gripper shoe for the hack foot has a special layer of rubber applied to the sole.
During the curling game, you may also find a stopwatch attached either to the player's clothing or the broom, which is used to time the stones over a fixed distance to calculate their speed.
Now a word about the development of curling clubs. Curling is thought to have been invented in medieval Scotland, and outdoor curling was very popular in Scotland between the 16th and 19th centuries, as the climates provided good ice conditions every winter. Kilsyth Curling Club is renowned as the first club in the world, having been formally constituted in 1716, and widely influencing the ice curling development. In Kilsyth today, both Men's and Ladies' sections are thriving, participating in all major competitions and having won championships in the British Open in the past.
The mother club of curling—Grand Caledonian Curling Club was instituted in 1838 for the purpose, not as such to attract people's interest, but to regulate the ancient Scottish game of curling by general laws. With these official rules, the young curlers could be trained in a more professional way. By 1842 the new national club had sought and obtained royal patronage, and it has ever since been known as The Royal Caledonian Curling Club.
However, many sports such as athletics and tennis were frowned upon as being too recreational and not practical enough. So the crown banned them by law during the 1300s in the hope that men would instead practise the archery skills that were seen as vital to the country's defence. And the ban was lifted in the 17th century.
So, do you know the reason for curling being kept during the 16th century? Is it because it was so popular or because people from all ages like children could play it? The spirit of curling dictates that one never cheers mistakes, misses or gaffes by one's opponent, and most importantly, all the team members should strictly follow the instructions of their captain, which is essential for men in battle.
Curling was brought to Canada from Scotland and some curling was played informally before 1800. Curlers often used iron curling 'stones', made from melted materials such as cannonballs rather than granite until the early 1900s, because there were transport problems importing granite stones from Scotland...