NOTES ON SOCIAL PROGRAMME - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 04 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–4 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
NOTES ON SOCIAL PROGRAMME
Example
Number of trips per month: 5
Visit places which have:
• historical interest
• good 1
• 2
Cost: between £5.00 and £15.00 per person
Note: special trips organised for groups of 3 people
Time: departure – 8.30 a.m.
return – 6.00 p.m.
To reserve a seat: sign name on the 4 3 days in advance
Questions 5–10 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Place | Date | Number of seats | Optional extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Ives | 5 | 16 | Hepworth Museum |
| London | 16th February | 45 | 6 |
| 7 | 3rd March | 18 | S.S. Great Britain |
| Salisbury | 18th March | 50 | Stonehenge |
| Bath | 23rd March | 16 | 8 |
For further information:
Read the 9 or see Social Assistant: Jane 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | shopping / variety of shopping | Well, obviously it varies, but always places of historical interest and also which offer a variety of shopping, because our students always ask about that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the school chooses travel destinations based on two main things: history and the ability for students to go shopping at many different stores. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies shopping as one of the key features that the school looks for when choosing locations for student trips. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is determined by the woman's description of trip locations. She states that the school always selects places with historical interest and a 'variety of shopping' because students specifically request it. The word 'variety' here means 'many different types,' indicating that students want a good range of shops to visit. |
| Q2 | guided tours | and then we go for ones where we know there are guided tours, because this gives a good focus for the visit | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the school chooses to visit places that have guides to lead the group. This is because it helps the students pay attention and learn more about what they are seeing. Answer Explanation: The answer "guided tours" refers to travel experiences where a person who knows the area leads the group and tells them interesting information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "guided tours" because it is one of the three main things the school looks for when choosing locations for their trips. The school official explains that they pick places with historical interest, shopping opportunities, and guided tours. She notes that these tours are important because they provide a "good focus" for the students during their visit. |
| Q3 | more than 12 / over 12 / more than twelve / over twelve | Oh, and we do offer to arrange special trips if, you know, there are more than twelve people | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman saying that the school provides special trips if there are more than twelve people who want to go. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the school can plan special trips if there is a group of at least 13 people. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the woman's explanation of trip arrangements. She states that the school can organize special trips for groups, but only if the group has "more than twelve" members. This matches the note about organizing trips for groups of a specific size. |
| Q4 | notice board | You sign your name on the notice board. Do you know where it is?MAN: Ah ha. I saw it this morning.WOMAN: And we do ask that you sign up three days in advance | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man that he needs to write his name on the board and that this must be done three days before the trip occurs. Answer Explanation: The answer "notice board" refers to a physical board on a wall where information is posted and where students can write their names to sign up for activities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "notice board" because the school official explicitly tells the man to write his name there to "reserve a place." The prompt also mentions signing up "3 days in advance," which matches the woman's instructions in the conversation to ensure they have enough people for the trip. |
| Q5 | 13th February / 13th of February / February 13th / 13 February / February 13 | Well, the first one is St Ives. That's on the thirteenth of February and we'll have only sixteen places available 'cos we're going by minibus | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the school's first trip is to the town of St Ives and gives the date as the 13th of February. Answer Explanation: The answer is the day and month when the first school trip to a place called St Ives occurs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 13th February because the staff member explicitly mentions that the first trip to St Ives is scheduled for that date. In the transcript, she says 'the thirteenth of February', which is written as 13th February. |
| Q6 | Tower of London | Then there's a London trip on the sixteenth of February and we'll be taking a medium-sized coach so there'll be forty-five places on that, and, let's see, the optional extra is the Tower of London | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman listing the details for the London visit, clarifying that the choice for an extra sightseeing stop is the Tower of London. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a famous old castle in London that students can choose to visit as an additional activity during their trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Tower of London because when the woman describes the trip happening on the sixteenth of February to London, she identifies it as the optional extra activity. The table asks for the 'Optional extra' for the London trip, and her words confirm this specific location. |
| Q7 | Bristol | After that there's Bristol on the third of March.MAN: Where?WOMAN: Bristol B-R-I-S-T-O-L.MAN: OK WOMAN: That's in a different minibus with eighteen places available, oh, and the optional extra is a visit to the S.S. Great Britain |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man about a trip to Bristol. She says it happens on the third of March, has eighteen seats, and includes a visit to the S.S. Great Britain. Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of a city in England called Bristol. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is the location for the trip scheduled for March 3rd. In the transcript, the woman identifies the destination as Bristol and spells it out for the man. The details she provides match the information in the table, including the date (third of March), the seating capacity (eighteen places), and the extra activity (S.S. Great Britain). |
| Q8 | American Museum | WOMAN: And then the last one is to Bath on the twenty-third of March.MAN: Oh yes. Is Bath the Roman city?WOMAN: Yes, that's right, and that's in the sixteen-seater minibus.MAN: And where's the optional visit?WOMAN: It's to the American Museum – well worth a visit | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the speakers talking about the last trip on the list, which goes to Bath on March 23rd. When the man asks what the extra choice for that day is, the woman says it is the American Museum. Answer Explanation: The answer is American Museum. This is the official name of the extra place that students can choose to visit during their trip to Bath. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is American Museum because the woman confirms this is the optional extra visit for the trip to Bath on March 23rd. She mentions the city and date first, and then directly names the museum after the man asks about the 'optional visit'. |
| Q9 | student newspaper | By the way, if you want more information about any of the trips, have a look in the student newspaper | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man that if he needs more details about the travel plans, he should check the school's paper. Answer Explanation: The answer is the student newspaper, which is a publication published by students at the school. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified when the woman suggests where the man can find 'more information' about the trips. She explicitly mentions two sources: first, to 'have a look in the student newspaper,' and second, to speak with her assistant, Jane. The task asks for the item you need to 'read,' and the newspaper is the only thing mentioned that needs to be read. |
| Q10 | Yentob | Or, have a word with my assistant; her name is Jane Yentob – that's Y-E-N-T-O-B | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man he can talk to her assistant, Jane Yentob, to get more information. Answer Explanation: The answer is the last name of the assistant named Jane. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Yentob because the woman in the story says her assistant's name is Jane Yentob. To help make it clear, she spells the name for the man letter by letter: Y-E-N-T-O-B. This matches the request in the table to find Jane's last name. |
Transcript
MAN: Good morning.
WOMAN: Good morning. How can I help you?
MAN: I understand that the school organises ... umm, trips to different ...
WOMAN: Yes, we run five every month: three during weekends and two Wednesday afternoon trips.
MAN: What sort of places?
WOMAN: Well, obviously it varies, but always places of historical interest and also which offer a variety of shopping, because our students always ask about that ... and then we go for ones where we know there are guided tours, because this gives a good focus for the visit.
MAN: Do you travel far?
WOMAN: Well, we're lucky here, obviously, because we're able to say that all our visits are less than three hours drive.
MAN: How much do they cost?
WOMAN: Again it varies – between five and fifteen pounds a head, depending on distance.
MAN: Ah ha ...
WOMAN: Oh, and we do offer to arrange special trips if, you know, there are more than twelve people.
MAN: Oh right, I'll keep that in mind. And what are the times normally?
WOMAN: We try to keep it pretty fixed so that, that students get to know the pattern. We leave at eight-thirty a.m. and return at six p.m. We figure it's best to keep the day fairly short.
MAN: Oh yes. And how do we reserve a place?
WOMAN: You sign your name on the notice board. Do you know where it is?
MAN: Ah ha. I saw it this morning.
WOMAN: And we do ask that you sign up three days in advance so we know we've got enough people interested to run it, and we can cancel if necessary, with full refund of course.
MAN: That's fine, thanks.
MAN: And what visits are planned for this term?
WOMAN: Right, well I'm afraid the schedule hasn't been printed out yet, but we have confirmed the dates and planned the optional extra visits which you can also book in advance if you want to.
MAN: Oh that's all right. If you can just give some idea of the weekend ones so I can, you know, work out when to see friends, etcetera.
WOMAN: Oh sure. Well, the first one is St Ives. That's on the thirteenth of February and we'll have only sixteen places available 'cos we're going by minibus. And that's a day in town with the optional extra of visiting the Hepworth Museum.
MAN: Oh right ... yeah ... that sounds good.
WOMAN: Then there's a London trip on the sixteenth of February and we'll be taking a medium-sized coach so there'll be forty-five places on that, and, let's see, the optional extra is the Tower of London.
MAN: Oh, I've already been there.
WOMAN: After that there's Bristol on the third of March.
MAN: Where?
WOMAN: Bristol ... B-R-I-S-T-O-L.
MAN: OK ...
WOMAN: That's in a different minibus with eighteen places available, oh, and the optional extra is a visit to the S.S. Great Britain.
MAN: OK ...
WOMAN: We're going to Salisbury on the eighteenth of March and that's always a popular one because the optional extra is Stonehenge, so we're taking the large coach with fifty seats ...
MAN: Oh good.
WOMAN: And then the last one is to Bath on the twenty-third of March.
MAN: Oh yes. Is Bath the Roman city?
WOMAN: Yes, that's right, and that's in the sixteen-seater minibus.
MAN: And where's the optional visit?
WOMAN: It's to the American Museum – well worth a visit.
MAN: OK, well that's great, thanks for all that ...
WOMAN: My pleasure. By the way, if you want more information about any of the trips, have a look in the student newspaper.
MAN: OK.
WOMAN: Or, have a word with my assistant; her name is Jane Yentob – that's Y-E-N-T-O-B.
MAN: Right, I've got that. Thank you very much for all your help.
WOMAN: You're very welcome. I hope you enjoy the trips.