Local Walks - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–15 Map Labeling
Label the map below.
Write the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 11–15.
Questions 16–20 Matching
What comment does the speaker make about each of the following tracks?
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to Questions 16–20.
A. It is possible to get lost here.
B. It only offers basic accommodation.
C. It requires physical strength.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | G | If you want to get to the supermarket for your supplies of food and water, go right, that's the quickest way, and then turn right at the top of Willow Lane, and it's the second building you come to, opposite the old railway station | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to reach the shop for food, you should walk right on the first road, then turn right at the end of that road. It says the shop is the second building and is across from the place where trains stop. Answer Explanation: The answer is G, which is the location of the supermarket on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the speaker gives clear directions from the tourist information center. To find the supermarket, you need to go right on Willow Lane and then turn right again at the top of the street. The speaker explains that it is the second building you reach and that it sits across from the old railway station. These specific steps lead directly to the spot labeled G. |
| Q12 | D | Turn left once you're outside the tourist information centre, take Willow Lane all the way up to Pine Street – you want to go left along here – then keep walking and go past Mountain Road on your right, until you come to the next turning on the left – head down there, and you'll come to the climbing supplies store | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains the exact path to find the store by telling the visitor which streets to use and where to turn until they reach the shop. Answer Explanation: The answer is D, which represents the location of the shop where people can buy climbing gear on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the speaker gives specific directions from the tourist information centre. First, you turn left and walk to Pine Street. Then, you turn left again and walk past Mountain Road. Finally, you take the next left turn, which leads you directly to the climbing supplies store. These directions match the position of letter D. |
| Q13 | A | So, when you reach Pine Street from here, you'll see the old railway line on the other side of the road – turn left into Pine Street, and keep going until you come to Mountain Road, and just up here, the museum will be on your left, just behind the railway line | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to find the museum, you must reach Pine Street, turn left, and walk until you reach the corner of Mountain Road; the building is on the left side, positioned behind the old train tracks. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the museum as location A on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by following the directions from the tourist information centre to Pine Street. Once at Pine Street, the speaker tells the listener to look across the road at the old train tracks and turn left. By walking toward Mountain Road, the museum is found on the left side, situated behind those train tracks. This description matches the placement of letter A. |
| Q14 | E | To get to the hire shop, again you need to head to Pine Street. On the left-hand side of Pine Street, you'll see the Town Hall, go down the little road that you come to just before it, and you'll find the bike hire shop just behind the hall | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the shop where you can get a bike is located on a small road right next to the Town Hall on Pine Street, specifically behind the building. Answer Explanation: The answer E is the shop where you can pay to borrow a bicycle for your trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the speaker provides specific directions to the bike hire shop. To find it, visitors need to go to Pine Street and look for the Town Hall on the left. The shop is located down a small road just before the Town Hall and is situated directly behind the hall. The keywords to look for are Pine Street and Town Hall. |
| Q15 | C | Again, when you leave the tourist information centre, turn right and follow Willow Lane until it joins Pine Street – and right opposite – on the far side of the railway tracks – is the café | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to find the café, you should exit the tourist information centre and turn right. Stay on Willow Lane until you reach Pine Street. The café is located straight ahead, across the train tracks. Answer Explanation: The answer is the location marked as C on the map, which represents the café. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker gives specific directions from the tourist information centre to the café. You must turn right onto Willow Lane and go to the corner where it meets Pine Street. The café is located directly across from this intersection, on the other side of the train tracks. Keywords to look for are 'turn right', 'Willow Lane', 'Pine Street', and 'far side of the railway tracks'. |
| Q16 | B | There's a wooden hut where you can stay at the end of the track but be aware that it's really just an overnight shelter, and you'll need to take your own sleeping bags and cooking equipment | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there is a small wood building to stay in at the end of the North Point path, but it is only a simple shelter and travelers must bring their own beds and tools to cook food. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the place to sleep on this path is very simple and does not have many comforts. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker mentions a 'wooden hut' where visitors can stay, but they warn that it is 'really just an overnight shelter.' Furthermore, visitors must bring 'their own sleeping bags and cooking equipment,' which indicates that the accommodation provided is minimal or basic. This matches choice B. |
| Q17 | A | Unfortunately, the signposting isn't very good in places and you do need good map-reading skills to avoid becoming disoriented, which happens to visitors a little too frequently, I'm afraid | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the signs (signposting) on the path are not good and that people often become "disoriented," which means they get lost or confused about where they are. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which says it is possible to lose your way on this path. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker explains that the signs on the Silver River path are not very clear. Because of this, people need to be good at reading maps so they do not get "disoriented," which is another word for getting lost. The speaker also mentions that visitors get lost there quite often. |
| Q18 | C | Valley Crossing will take you through some stunning scenery but there are several points along the way where you'll need the level of fitness required to get over some pretty big rocks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while the views are beautiful, there are parts of the walk where you must be healthy and strong enough to climb over large stones. Answer Explanation: The answer is option C, which means that you need to be in good physical shape or strong to walk this path. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker explains that walkers on the Valley Crossing track will need a certain 'level of fitness' to move past 'pretty big rocks'. Being fit enough to climb over large stones is another way of saying that you need physical strength. |
| Q19 | C | Stonebridge is one of the shorter tracks, but very steep as it takes you up to the waterfall, and you do need to be in good condition to manage it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although the walk is short, the path moves upward very sharply toward a waterfall. Because the climb is hard, the person walking must be strong and healthy to finish it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who walk the Stonebridge path need to be physically fit or strong. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker describes the Stonebridge track as "very steep" and says that you "need to be in good condition" to do it. The word "steep" means a path goes up very fast, which is difficult to climb. Needing to be in "good condition" is a synonym for needing physical strength or fitness. |
| Q20 | A | Lastly, the Henderson Ridge track will take you all the way to the summit of the mountain. Do bear in mind, though, that at this time of year the weather is very changeable and if the cloud suddenly descends, it's all too easy to wander off the track | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the weather on this mountain path changes a lot. If clouds suddenly cover the area, it becomes very easy for a person to accidentally walk away from the path and get lost. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which means that people walking on this path might lose their way and become lost. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker gives a warning about the Henderson Ridge track. They explain that the weather changes quickly and clouds can come down. When it is cloudy and hard to see, it is very simple for a person to 'wander off' or leave the path. In this context, to 'wander off the track' is a synonym for getting lost. |
Transcript
Welcome to everyone here. I hope you enjoy your stay in our village and enjoy the local scenery. I'll tell you a bit about the forest and mountain tracks in a minute, but first, I'll just give you an idea of where everything is in the village. So, we're here in the tourist information centre, and when you come out of the centre, you're on Willow Lane, just opposite the pond. If you want to get to the supermarket for your supplies of food and water, go right, that's the quickest way, and then turn right at the top of Willow Lane, and it's the second building you come to, opposite the old railway station. If you're planning on doing some serious climbing and you need some equipment, we do have an excellent climbing supplies store just five minutes' walk away. Turn left once you're outside the tourist information centre, take Willow Lane all the way up to Pine Street – you want to go left along here – then keep walking and go past Mountain Road on your right, until you come to the next turning on the left – head down there, and you'll come to the climbing supplies store. If you get to the small building that sells ski passes, you'll know you've gone too far. You also need to head to Pine Street for the museum - it's small but well worth a visit if you're interested in the history of the village and the old gold mining industry. So, when you reach Pine Street from here, you'll see the old railway line on the other side of the road – turn left into Pine Street, and keep going until you come to Mountain Road, and just up here, the museum will be on your left, just behind the railway line. Don't worry about crossing over the tracks. The trains stopped running through here in 1985. If you're planning on following one of the easier forest walks, you might like to hire a bicycle. To get to the hire shop, again you need to head to Pine Street. On the left-hand side of Pine Street, you'll see the Town Hall, go down the little road that you come to just before it, and you'll find the bike hire shop just behind the hall. They have a good range of bikes so I'm sure you'll find something that suits your needs. Last but not least, if you're hungry after a long day's trek I can recommend our local café. Again, when you leave the tourist information centre, turn right and follow Willow Lane until it joins Pine Street – and right opposite – on the far side of the railway tracks – is the café.
OK, let me tell you a little bit about the different tracks we have here. All of them start at the end of Mountain Road and you'll find a parking lot there where you can leave your vehicles. Let's start with North Point track. It's a gentle route through lowland forest - good for biking and probably the one for you if you have small children. There's a wooden hut where you can stay at the end of the track but be aware that it's really just an overnight shelter, and you'll need to take your own sleeping bags and cooking equipment. Another option is the Silver River track. As the name suggests, you'd be following the river for most of the way, and you get to see some of our beautiful native birds, but the track also goes through a densely forested area. Unfortunately, the signposting isn't very good in places and you do need good map-reading skills to avoid becoming disoriented, which happens to visitors a little too frequently, I'm afraid. Valley Crossing will take you through some stunning scenery but there are several points along the way where you'll need the level of fitness required to get over some pretty big rocks. Stonebridge is one of the shorter tracks, but very steep as it takes you up to the waterfall, and you do need to be in good condition to manage it. Lastly, the Henderson Ridge track will take you all the way to the summit of the mountain. Do bear in mind, though, that at this time of year the weather is very changeable and if the cloud suddenly descends, it's all too easy to wander off the track. It's best to check with us for a weather report on the morning you think you want to go. On the way to the summit, there's a hotel which provides comfortable rooms and quality meals, so it's worth climbing all ...