Midbury Drama Club - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 1 Academic Listening Test 3 · 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.
Midbury Drama Club
Background
- Example: club started in 1957
- prize recently won by 1 section
- usually performs 2 plays
Meetings
- next auditions will be on Tuesday, 3
- help is needed with publicity and 4
- rehearsals take place in the 5 hall
- nearest car park for rehearsals is in Ashburton Road opposite the 6
Costs
- annual membership fee is £ 7
- extra payment for 8
Contact
- secretary's name is Sarah 9
- secretary's phone number is 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | youth | Yes, the youth section did very well in a competition and won £100 which will help with their next production | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the young people in the club did a great job in a contest and won £100 to help with their next play. Answer Explanation: The answer 'youth' means the group of young people in the drama club. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'youth' because the man explains that the group of young members, known as the 'youth section', won a prize (a competition reward) recently. The woman mentions seeing a picture of them receiving a prize, and the man confirms it was the youth section that won. |
| Q2 | comedy | Mm we mainly do comedy plays |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Robert confirming that the club's primary focus is performing funny plays. Answer Explanation: The answer "comedy" means a type of show or play that is funny and intended to make people laugh. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified when Robert, a member of the Midbury Drama Club, describes what types of plays they put on. In the conversation, he states that they "mainly do comedy plays," which is another way of saying they usually perform comedies because they attract large audiences. |
| Q3 | 12th March / March 12th / 12 March / March 12 / 12th of March | Yes, there were a few auditions last Tuesday and we'll be doing more at our next meeting which is in two weeks' time, that's on Tuesday the 12th of March | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that more auditions (tests to see if someone can act) will happen at the next meeting, and that specific meeting takes place on Tuesday the 12th of March. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific date for the next session where new people can try out for acting roles. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 12th March because the man explicitly states that while some auditions happened recently, the club will perform more during their next meeting. He identifies the date of this next meeting as Tuesday the 12th of March. This directly provides the date needed to complete the notes regarding the 'next auditions'. |
| Q4 | lights | I've designed publicity before. Man: Great! We're very short of people who can do that, so that would be really good. There are a lot of people who like making scenery so we get plenty of help with that, but we haven't got enough people to do the lights at the moment | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the club has enough volunteers for the scenery, but they lack people to help with advertising the shows (publicity) and operating the stage equipment (lights). Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the specific tasks — publicity (or design) and lights — that the drama club currently needs help with from its members. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from Robert’s response to Chloe's offer to help. While he mentions they have plenty of help with 'scenery,' he explicitly states they are 'very short of people' who can do 'publicity' (which Chloe mentions she has 'designed' before) and that they 'haven't got enough people' to manage the stage 'lights.' Therefore, these are the two areas where assistance is required. |
| Q5 | community | We meet to rehearse every Tuesday evening in the community hall | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the group practices (rehearses) their plays every Tuesday night in a building called the community hall. Answer Explanation: The answer "community" describes the specific type of hall where the drama club holds its rehearsals. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "community" because when the man explains their meeting location, he explicitly states that they meet to rehearse in the community hall. In this context, "community hall" is a compound noun where "community" specifies the location mentioned in the notes. |
| Q6 | sports centre / sports center | Woman: Oh, I know, there's a big car park down there, just before you get to a hotel. It's on the other side of the road from the sports centre. Man: That's it. That's the closest place to leave your car | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman describing the location of a car park. She explains that it is situated across the street (on the "other side of the road") from the sports centre. The man agrees that this is the best and nearest place to park for their meetings. Answer Explanation: The answer "sports centre" means that the car park used for rehearsals is located across the street from a building where people go to do sports. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "sports centre" because when the woman describes the location of the car park on Ashburton Road, she mentions it is on the "other side of the road" from the sports centre. Robert confirms this is the correct location. In English, saying something is on the "other side of the road" is a synonym for saying it is "opposite" that thing. |
| Q7 | 180 | Everyone pays a subscription of £180 to be a member for a year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that to join the club for one year, the cost is 180 pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer 180 is the price in pounds that people must pay to be a member of the drama club for one year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 180 because the man in the conversation clearly says that members pay a subscription of £180 for a year. The term 'annual membership fee' in the notes means the same thing as a yearly 'subscription'. Even though he mentions it can be paid in monthly parts of £15, the total 'annual' (yearly) amount is 180. |
| Q8 | costumes / costume hire | That fee covers all the costs like photocopying of scripts and producing the posters but it excludes the costumes for the performances. We ask people to pay for the hire of those themselves | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that while the annual membership fee covers many things, it does not pay for theater clothes. Because these costs are left out, members have to spend their own money to rent the outfits for the shows. Answer Explanation: The answer means that members must pay an additional fee to rent the clothes they wear during their stage performances. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the man's explanation about what the membership fee does and does not include. He states that the fee 'excludes' (which means it does not cover) the costumes. Therefore, members must pay extra for the 'hire' (rental) of these clothes themselves. The synonyms for 'extra payment' in this context are 'excludes' from the main fee and 'pay for the hire' by the members. |
| Q9 | Sawdicott | It's Sarah Sawdicott. That's S-A-W-D-I-C-O double T | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man giving the name of the secretary and spelling her last name out loud to be very clear. Answer Explanation: The answer is Sawdicott, which is the last name of the woman who works as the secretary for the drama club. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Sawdicott because the man suggests the woman call the secretary to find out more about the auditions and the next play. He says the secretary's name is Sarah and then carefully spells her last name so the woman can write it down correctly. In this context, a secretary is a person who keeps records and helps organize a group. |
| Q10 | 07955 240063 | Ah! It's 07955 240063 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man saying the exact numbers needed for the secretary's contact information. Answer Explanation: The answer is the telephone number of the club secretary. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is the phone number given by the man at the end of the conversation. When the woman asks for the secretary's phone number, the man looks for a mobile number and reads it out as 07955 240063. |
Transcript
Man: Hello. Robert Gladwell speaking.
Woman: Oh hi. My name's Chloe Martin. I was given your name and phone number by Ben Winters. I work with him and he said you're a member of Midbury Drama Club.
Man: Yes, I am.
Woman: Well, I've just moved to the area and I'm keen to join a drama club.
Man: Great! Yes, I can give you some information. We're one of the oldest drama clubs in the area as the club started in 1957. We now have about 60 members. Our youngest member is ten and our oldest member is 78.
Woman: I think I saw a picture in the newspaper the other day of some of your members being presented with a prize.
Man: Yes, the youth section did very well in a competition and won £100 which will help with their next production. Anyway, tell me a bit more about yourself.
Woman: Well, I've done a bit of acting. I was in a couple of musicals when I was at university and a historical play more recently.
Man: Mm ... we mainly do comedy plays. We get good audiences for that kind of thing. We haven't attempted a musical yet, but we might do one soon.
Woman: Oh! When do you usually meet?
Man: On Tuesdays.
Woman: Presumably I'll need to do an audition?
Man: Yes, there were a few auditions last Tuesday and we'll be doing more at our next meeting which is in two weeks' time, that's on Tuesday the 12th of March. There'll be another opportunity two weeks after that which will be on the 26th of March.
Woman: Oh, well I can come to your next meeting. And if I don't get an acting part in a play, I'd be happy to help with something else. I've designed publicity before.
Man: Great! We're very short of people who can do that, so that would be really good. There are a lot of people who like making scenery so we get plenty of help with that, but we haven't got enough people to do the lights at the moment so if you think you can do that or you have any friends who would like to, do bring them along. We can show you what to do if you haven't got any experience.
Woman: Mm ... I'll have to think about it. So do you meet in the theatre?
Man: We do our performances in The Manor Theatre but we only hire that for the nights of the actual performances. We meet to rehearse every Tuesday evening in the community hall. We rent a room there.
Woman: Oh, I'm not sure where that is. I'll be coming by car because I don't live in the town centre.
Man: It's in Ashburton Road. As you're coming towards the centre down Regent Street, you need to turn left at the crossroads.
Woman: Oh, I know, there's a big car park down there, just before you get to a hotel. It's on the other side of the road from the sports centre.
Man: That's it. That's the closest place to leave your car and you don't have to pay in the evening to park there. We meet at 7.30 and we usually finish by 9.30 or 10.
Woman: OK!
Man: I haven't mentioned that we have to make a charge. Everyone pays a subscription of £180 to be a member for a year. You can pay for the whole year at once or you can pay £15 every month. It works out the same. There are reductions for retired people and under-18s but I don't think you come into either category?
Woman: No. I'm 26!
Man: Oh! That fee covers all the costs like photocopying of scripts and producing the posters but it excludes the costumes for the performances. We ask people to pay for the hire of those themselves. It does mean they look after them properly as they know they won't get their deposit back otherwise.
Woman: Mm ... can I come along to the next meeting then?
Man: Of course. We'd love to see you. And if you want to know more about how we run the auditions or the next play we're doing, why don't you give our secretary a ring? She'll be really pleased to help you.
Woman: What's her name?
Man: It's Sarah Sawdicott. That's S-A-W-D-I-C-O double T.
Woman: Got that. And her phone number?
Man: I've only got a mobile number for her. Um ... just a minute ... let me find it. Ah! It's 07955 240063.
Woman: Great. Thanks for your help.