Local History Project and Cambridge Field Trip - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 27–30 Table Completion
Complete the timetable below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
FIELD TRIP SCHEDULE
| Wednesday | |
|---|---|
| am | Check in hotel |
| pm | Visit an 27 in museum |
| Thursday | |
| am | Interview a 28 |
| pm | Free |
| Friday | |
| am | Tour city centre using different 29 |
| pm | Take photos of local 30 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | A | it seems that Angela and I are the only ones actually following the plan. That's meant that the whole project has been lacking co-ordination and so we've fallen behind our schedule | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that only two members are following the plan, which led to a lack of teamwork and caused them to be late with their work. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the group members are not working well together. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Joe explains that only he and Angela are following the agreed plan. As a result, the team lacks coordination (which means cooperation or working smoothly together), causing them to fall behind schedule (meaning their progress is slow). |
| Q22 | B | But, looking back, we probably should have really specified individual responsibilities | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Angela explaining that the group should have clearly decided and assigned each person's specific tasks. Answer Explanation: The answer B means each team member's own specific tasks or jobs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Angela says that looking back at their teamwork, they should have clearly stated each person's job. She uses the phrase "specified individual responsibilities", where "specified" corresponds to "clearly established" and "individual responsibilities" means "personal duties". |
| Q23 | C | I think you'd better go to the Resource Centre, and you will find the advice service they provide there helpful at this point | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. William directly advising the students to visit the Resource Centre because the advice service there will be useful for them. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means that Dr. William recommends the students go and ask for help from an advice service. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dr. William says the students already had enough group meetings and tells them to visit the Resource Centre to use their "advice service". He believes this will help solve their teamwork problems. |
| Q24 | A | On a specific note, I think we've got carried away with recruiting people to interview at the expense of building up the reference section, which I don't think is going to be solid enough | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the speaker explaining that the team focused too much on finding people to interview, so the reference section was not developed well and will not be strong enough. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that the reference section is not good or strong enough. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the student mentions that they spent too much time finding people to interview and neglected the reference section. In the conversation, Angela states that she does not think the reference section is "going to be solid enough," which means it is inadequate or not strong enough. The words "not... solid enough" directly correspond to the keyword "inadequate". |
| Q25 | C | What you'd better do is to ensure your methodology is really strong, so at least you can't be faulted on that front | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. William telling the students that they should focus on making their research method ("methodology") as strong and solid as possible so that no one can find mistakes in how they did the work. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means that Dr. William advises the students to make sure their way of doing the research (their research method) is very strong. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dr. William directly advises Angela and Joe on what to focus on. He tells them, "What you'd better do is to ensure your methodology is really strong". In academic research, the word "methodology" is a direct synonym for "research method". He suggests this so nobody can criticize them on how they conducted their project. |
| Q26 | B | Yes, I think one resource that we haven't exploited fully enough is the internet | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Angela saying that their group has not taken full advantage of the internet as a helpful resource. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Angela thinks the team should use the internet more than they do now. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Angela directly states that the group has not used the internet enough. In the conversation, she says, "one resource that we haven't exploited fully enough is the internet." The phrase "haven't exploited fully enough" is a synonym for could "make more use of." Therefore, option B is correct. |
| Q27 | exhibition | Now, I've arranged for you to have a look at some useful visual materials, especially photographs, old magazines and newspapers, which are in an exhibition called "History in Pictures" in Fitzwilliam Museum | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that after lunch on the first day (Wednesday), the students will see materials displayed in an exhibition inside the Fitzwilliam Museum. Answer Explanation: The answer "exhibition" means a public display or show of objects, art, or historical items in a place like a museum. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "exhibition" because Dr. William discusses their plans for Wednesday afternoon (after lunch). He tells them they will see visual materials that are in an "exhibition called 'History in Pictures' in Fitzwilliam Museum". Therefore, what they visit in the museum on Wednesday afternoon is an exhibition. |
| Q28 | professor | Then the following morning, I want you to go and talk to Christopher Andrew, the history professor of Cambridge University | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that on Thursday morning, the students need to speak with Christopher Andrew, who is a history professor at Cambridge University. Answer Explanation: The answer "professor" refers to a senior university teacher or scholar. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "professor" because the timetable asks who the students will interview on Thursday morning ("am"). In the conversation, Wednesday is the first day of the trip, making "the following morning" Thursday morning. Dr. William instructs the students to "go and talk to" (which means interview) Christopher Andrew, who is the history "professor" at Cambridge University. |
| Q29 | maps | But it's back to work on Friday morning. Walk around the central area, you know, Trinity Street, Market Square, Great St. Mary's Church. I'm getting maps ready for you from different periods, and your task is to compare those with the make-up of the city today | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that on Friday morning, the students will walk around the center of the city using maps from different time periods to see how the city has changed. Answer Explanation: The answer "maps" refers to drawings or diagrams of the city showing roads, streets, and buildings from different times in the past. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "maps" because Dr. William tells the students that on Friday morning they will walk around the city's central area ("Tour city centre") and use "maps" from different periods to compare with how the city looks today. Therefore, the missing word that fits "using different " is "maps". |
| Q30 | castle | The history of the castle is an indispensable part of the city's development, so don't forget to take a digital camera with you and get some nice pictures | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the castle's history is very important to the city, so the students must bring a digital camera to take good photos of it. Answer Explanation: The answer "castle" refers to a large historic building with thick stone walls that was built long ago. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "castle" because the timetable asks what the students should take photos of on Friday afternoon ("pm"). In the conversation, Dr. William instructs them for Friday afternoon: "The history of the castle is an indispensable part of the city's development, so don't forget to take a digital camera with you and get some nice pictures." The phrase "take a digital camera with you and get some nice pictures" matches the timetable prompt "Take photos of local". Therefore, the word that fills the blank is "castle". |
Transcript
Dr. William: Hello, Joe, Angela.
Angela: Hello.
Joe: Hi.
Dr. William: So, how's the local history project going? Are you making good progress?
Angela: Yes and no.
Dr. William: Oh?
Joe: Well, we anticipated problems of various kinds. None of the group has much experience of collaborating on projects. But we spent some time on discussing how to go about it, and thrashed out what seemed a useful approach, but it seems that Angela and I are the only ones actually following the plan. That's meant that the whole project has been lacking co-ordination and so we've fallen behind our schedule.
Dr. William: I see... that's tricky.
Angela: Yes, it is. We felt that the targets had been defined, so we'd all know what to deal with. But, looking back, we probably should have really specified individual responsibilities. As it is, we only have a loose sense of what should be done by whom.
Dr. William: Well, this is quite a common problem, actually. I take it that you've had enough group meetings, and you're looking for an effective solution. I think you'd better go to the Resource Centre, and you will find the advice service they provide there helpful at this point.
Angela: Thanks, we'll go there later.
Angela: On a specific note, I think we've got carried away with recruiting people to interview at the expense of building up the reference section, which I don't think is going to be solid enough. Do you think that will be a major problem?
Dr. William: Hmm, I'd have to see how much is there to be sure. But, well, you'll have to be pragmatic at this point, I think. What you'd better do is to ensure your methodology is really strong, so at least you can't be faulted on that front. Then, if people challenged your results, at least you would have carefully reported on how you reached them. Do you see what I mean?
Joe/ Angela: Yes.
Dr. William: So...
Angela: Yes, I think one resource that we haven't exploited fully enough is the internet. I've gone through a lot of journals in the closed reserve of the library, but, actually, there are websites where you can call up lists of approaches or data sets really quickly.
Dr. William: I think that's a good idea.
Dr. William: Now, let's think about the field trip, and at least make sure that it goes as well. You're going to Cambridge on the twenty-third?
Angela: The Wednesday, yes.
Dr. William: And on Day one, you'll take the morning flight and then get settled into the hotel.
Angela: Uh-huh.
Dr. William: But you need to get down to work after lunch, of course. Now, I've arranged for you to have a look at some useful visual materials, especially photographs, old magazines and newspapers, which are in an exhibition called "History in Pictures" in Fitzwilliam Museum.
Joe: That sounds like a good starting point.
Angela: I went to the Darwin exhibit at the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge last year. It was absolutely inspiring. It couldn't be better. The staff was very professional and the exhibit was brilliantly presented.
Dr. William: Yes, indeed. There are quite a lot on show, so that'll occupy most of the afternoon. Then the following morning, I want you to go and talk to Christopher Andrew, the history professor of Cambridge University. Of course, don't forget to take a tape recorder with you so that you can replay and recall with perfect clarity what was said later on.
Angela: And make sure to have our questions ready.
Dr. William: Indeed. OK, and the afternoon is free for you to wander around, get the feel of the place, and soak up the atmosphere.
Joe: Do some sightseeing...
Dr. William: As you wish, it's a beautiful city. But it's back to work on Friday morning. Walk around the central area, you know, Trinity Street, Market Square, Great St. Mary's Church. I'm getting maps ready for you from different periods, and your task is to compare those with the make-up of the city today. Make notes on how the city has changed over time, you know, what's grown up, what's gone... that sort of thing.
Angela: That sounds so interesting. I hope the weather's good!
Dr. William: Yes. And in the afternoon I want you to think about producing your own records, follow the format of the ones in the City Library's archives. The history of the castle is an indispensable part of the city's development, so don't forget to take a digital camera with you and get some nice pictures. Try your best to reflect the relation between the buildings and the surroundings.
Joe: We'll do our best! And when will we travel back?
Dr. William: That's up to you. You can either...