Paper on Public Libraries - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Paper on Public Libraries
Questions 24–30 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Study of local library: possible questions
- whether it has a 24 of its own
- its policy regarding noise of various kinds
- how it’s affected by laws regarding all aspects of 25
- how the design needs to take the 26 of customers into account
- what 27 is required in case of accidents
- why a famous person’s 28 is located in the library
- whether it has a 29 of local organisations
- how it’s different from a library in a 30
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | Maybe we should concentrate on this country, and try relate the changes in libraries to external developments, like the fact that far more people can read than a century ago, and that the local population may speak lots of different languages. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that Trudie and Stewart want to focus on how changes in society, like more people being able to read and diverse language populations, impact public libraries. Answer Explanation: The answer B indicates that the main topic of the paper will be how changes in society are reflected in public libraries. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the excerpt talks about relating changes in libraries to external developments such as increased literacy and cultural diversity, which directly links to how societal changes are reflected in public libraries. |
| Q22 | C | But the digitalised books that are available online for free are mostly out of copyright, aren’t they? And copyright in this country lasts for 70 years after the author dies. So you won’t find the latest best-seller or up-to-date information. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that free online digitalized books are mostly old because they are out of copyright protection, which means they are not the latest books or have up-to-date information. Answer Explanation: The answer means that one disadvantage of free digitalized books is that they are generally old. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' because the excerpt mentions that the books available online for free are mostly out of copyright, which implies they are not the latest or most up-to-date books. This aligns with the answer choice 'they are generally old.' |
| Q23 | C | What I’m afraid will happen is that books and magazines will all disappear, and there’ll just be rows and rows of computers. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that the speaker is worried that in the future, there won't be any books or magazines in libraries, and instead, there will only be computers. Answer Explanation: The answer is saying that in the future, libraries will not have books. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C) no longer contain any books because the excerpt is saying that the speaker is worried that books will disappear and computers will take their place, which means libraries will not have books in the future. |
| Q24 | budget | For instance, um, we could interview some of the staff, and find out whether the library has its own budget, or if that’s controlled by the local council. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is suggesting ways to study a local library. One idea is to interview the library staff to learn about its financial arrangement. Answer Explanation: The answer is referring to the financial amount allocated to the library for its operations and activities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'budget' because the excerpt mentions 'whether the library has its own budget', which means having its own financial allocation and control, rather than relying on the local council for funding. |
| Q25 | employment | Then there are things like how the library is affected by employment laws. I suppose there are rules about working hours, facilities for staff, and so on. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is talking about how laws related to employment (such as working hours and staff facilities) impact the local library. Answer Explanation: The answer 'employment' refers to the topic of laws and regulations related to hiring and working within an organization. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'employment' because the excerpt mentions rules about working hours and facilities for staff, which are aspects related to employment laws and regulations. |
| Q26 | safety | Then there are other issues relating to the design of the building and how customers use it. Like what measures does the library take to ensure their safety? | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about the library's design and how people who use it behave. It asks about what the library does to keep people safe. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'safety', which means the condition of being protected from harm. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'safety' because the excerpt asks about measures the library takes to ensure the protection of its customers. |
| Q27 | insurance | there’s the question of the kind of insurance the library needs to have, in case anyone gets injured. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is talking about the importance of having protection for the library in case someone gets hurt. Answer Explanation: The answer 'insurance' means having money to pay for damage or injuries. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'insurance' because the excerpt says 'in case anyone gets injured' and insurance is a way to protect against financial losses from accidents. |
| Q28 | diary | Well, next to it they’ve got the diary of a well-known politician from the late 19th century. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that next to the library, they have a book that belonged to a famous politician from the late 19th century. Answer Explanation: The answer 'diary' refers to the personal journal of the well-known politician mentioned in the transcript. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'diary' because the excerpt indicates that the library has the personal diary of a famous politician from history, illustrating why a famous person's item is located in the library. |
| Q29 | database | you know people might ask in the library about local organisations, like sports clubs? Well, I wonder if they keep a database, or whether they just look online. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript suggests that people may inquire if the library keeps a record of local organizations such as sports clubs, indicating a need for organized information. Answer Explanation: The answer 'database' refers to a structured collection of data stored electronically, typically to be easily accessed and managed. It implies that the library may keep a digital record of local organizations. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'database' because it aligns with the idea that the library might store information about local organizations, such as sports clubs, in a structured electronic format for easy reference and accessibility. |
| Q30 | museum | I quite fancy finding out what the differences are between a library that’s open to the public and one that’s part of a museum, for example | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is mentioning a comparison between libraries that are open to the public and libraries that are part of museums. Answer Explanation: The answer 'museum' refers to a place where art, historical objects, or scientific items are displayed and can be visited by the public. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'museum' because the excerpt specifically talks about comparing a library open to the public with one that is part of a museum. The answer 'museum' fits perfectly in the context provided in the transcript. |
Transcript
TRUDIE: OK, Stewart. We need to start planning our paper on public libraries. Have you thought of an angle yet?
STEWART: Well, there’s so much we could look into. How libraries have changed over the centuries, for instance, or how different countries organise them. What do you think, Trudie?
TRUDIE: Maybe we should concentrate on this country, and try relate the changes in libraries to external developments, like the fact that far more people can read than a century ago, and that the local population may speak lots of different languages.
STEWART: We could include something about changes in the source of funding, too.
TRUDIE: Yes, but remember we’re only supposed to write a short paper, so it’s probably best if we don’t go into funding in any detail.
STEWART: Right. Well, shall we just brainstorm a few ideas, to get started?
TRUDIE: OK. We obviously need to look at the impact of new technology, particularly the internet. Now that lots of books have been digitalised, people can access them from their own computers at home.
STEWART: And if everyone did that, libraries would be obsolete.
TRUDIE: Yes.
STEWART: But the digitalised books that are available online for free are mostly out of copyright, aren’t they? And copyright in this country lasts for 70 years after the author dies. So you won’t find the latest best-seller or up-to-date information.
TRUDIE: That’s an important point. Anyway, I find it hard to concentrate when I’m reading a long text on a green. I’d much rather read a physical book. And it takes longer to read on a screen.
STEWART: Oh, I prefer it. I suppose it’s just a personal preference.
TRUDIE: Mm. I expect that libraries will go on evolving in the next few years. Some have already become centres where community activities take place, like local clubs meeting there. I think that’ll become even more common.
STEWART: I’d like to think so, and that they’ll still be serving their traditional function, but I’m not so sure. There are financial implications, after all. What I’m afraid will happen is that books and magazines will all disappear, and there’ll just be rows and rows of computers. They won’t look anything like the libraries we’re used to.
TRUDIE: Well, we’ll see.
———————
TRUDIE: I’ve just had an idea. Why don’t we make an in-depth study of our local public library as background to our paper?
STEWART: Yes, that’d be interesting, and raise all sorts of issues. Let’s make a list of possible things we could ask about, then work out some sort of structure. For instance, um, we could interview some of the staff, and find out whether the library has its own budget, or if that’s controlled by the local council.
TRUDIE: And what their policies are. I know they don’t allow food, but I’d love to find out what types of noise they ban – there always seems to be a lot of talking, but never music. I don’t know if that’s a policy or it just happens.
STEWART: Ah, I’ve often wondered. Then there are things like how the library is affected by employment laws. I suppose there are rules about working hours, facilities for staff, and so on.
TRUDIE: Right. Then there are other issues relating to the design of the building and how customers use it. Like what measures does the library take to ensure their safety? They’d need floor coverings that aren’t slippery, and emergency exits, for instance. Oh, and another thing – there’s the question of the kind of insurance the library needs to have, in case anyone gets injured.
STEWART: Yes, that’s something else to find out. You know something I’ve often wondered?
TRUDIE: What’s that?
STEWART: Well, you know they’ve got an archive of local newspapers going back years? Well, next to it they’ve got the diary of a well-known politician from the late 19th century. I wonder why it’s there. Do you know what his connection was with this area?
TRUDIE: No idea. Let’s add it to our list of things to find out. Oh, I’ve just thought – you know people might ask in the library about local organisations, like sports clubs? Well, I wonder if they keep a database, or whether they just look online.
STEWART: Right. I quite fancy finding out what the differences are between a library that’s open to the public and one that’s part of a museum, for example – they must be very different.
TRUDIE: Mmm. Then something else I’d like to know is …