Parks And Open Spaces - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–13 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Parks and open spaces
| Name of place | Of particular interest | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Halland Common | source of River Ouse | 24 hours |
| Holt Island | many different
11 |
between 12
and Sunday |
| Longfield Country Park | reconstruction of a
2,000-year-old 13 with activities for children |
daylight hours |
Questions 14–16 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 17–20 Map Labeling
Label the map below.
Write the correct letter, A-I, next to questions 17-20.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | trees | Then there's Holt Island, which is noted for its great range of trees | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that Holt Island is well-known because it has a wide variety or a large collection of trees. Answer Explanation: The answer is trees, which means this island is special because it has many different kinds of trees growing on it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is trees because the speaker describes Holt Island as being famous for its "great range of trees." In the table, the phrase "many different" means the same thing as the speaker's phrase "great range." |
| Q12 | Friday | The island is only open to the public from Friday to Sunday, because it's quite small, and if there were people around every day, much of the wildlife would keep away | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that because the island is small, people can only go there between Friday and Sunday. This helps the animals there feel safe. Answer Explanation: The answer "Friday" shows the days when Holt Island is open. People can visit starting on Friday and ending on Sunday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Friday" because the speaker explains that Holt Island is small. To protect the animals (wildlife), the park is only open for visitors from Friday until Sunday. If people were there every day, the animals would stay away. Keywords to note are 'open to the public' and 'Friday to Sunday'. |
| Q13 | farm | Longfield has a modern replica of a farm from over two thousand years ago | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the park features a new copy of a farm built to look like it is from the distant past. Answer Explanation: The answer 'farm' identifies the type of place that was rebuilt to look like it did 2,000 years ago. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'farm' because the speaker mentions that Longfield Country Park contains a 'modern replica'—which is another way of saying a reconstruction—of a farm that existed over two thousand years ago. This matches the description in the table 'reconstruction of a 2,000-year-old [input]'. |
| Q14 | C | On Monday you can learn about herbs, and how they've been used over the centuries. You'll start with a tour of our herb garden, practise the technique of using them as colour dyes for cloth, and listen to an illustrated talk about their use in cooking and medicine | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript lists what will happen on Monday. Visitors will walk through the garden, learn how to color fabric with herbs, and hear a speech about using herbs for food and health. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who visit on Monday will use plants (herbs) to change the color of pieces of fabric. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker specifically says that on Monday, visitors will 'practise the technique of using them as colour dyes for cloth'. The word 'dye' matches the word 'dyes' in the text, and 'cloth' is also directly mentioned. While the talk mentions 'cooking,' it does not say the visitors will actually 'prepare food,' which makes choice A incorrect. There is also no mention of meeting a 'well-known herbalist' as suggested in choice B. |
| Q15 | B | We keep to a small number of people in the group, so if you want to go you'll need to phone the park ranger a few days ahead | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that since the group is kept small, you must call the park ranger several days early if you wish to participate. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who want to go to the event on Wednesday must call or sign up before the day it happens. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker mentions that the group size is limited (small number of people). Because of this, anyone interested must call the park ranger a few days before the event. In English, to "phone ahead" or call before a certain time is a way to "book in advance." |
| Q16 | A | One thing, though, is to make sure you're wearing something that you don't mind getting dirty or torn | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells the visitors to wear specific clothes that they do not care about keeping clean or perfect because the work might damage them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people going to the park on Saturday should wear clothes that are okay to get messy or ruined. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker gives advice for the 'working party' on Saturday. They explain that the work might make you messy, so you need 'suitable clothing'—which means clothes that you are fine with getting 'dirty or torn.' The speaker also says people can join for only a 'short while,' which means choice B is wrong. Also, people can choose their tasks when they arrive, which means choice C is wrong. |
| Q17 | A | As you can see, there's a lake in the north west of the park, with a bird hide to the west of it, at the end of a path | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that there is a lake in the upper-left (north-west) area. It says the bird hide—a place to watch birds without them seeing you—is located to the left (west) of the lake at the very end of a walking path. Answer Explanation: The answer is location A on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker describes the location of the bird hide relative to the lake. The lake is in the north-west part of the park. If you look to the west side of that lake, you will find a path that ends at the bird hide. This matches location A on the map. |
| Q18 | I | Fairly close to where refreshments are available, there's a dog-walking area in the southern part of the park, leading off from the path | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the area where people can walk their dogs is in the bottom (southern) area of the park and is located near the place to buy food. Answer Explanation: The answer is I, which marks the location of the dog-walking area on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified by looking at the location described by the speaker. They mention that the dog-walking area is located in the 'southern part' of the park. On a map, south is at the bottom. They also mention it is near where 'refreshments' (food and drinks) are sold and that it lead off from a path. |
| Q19 | F | And if you just want to sit and relax, you can go to the flower garden; that's the circular area on the map surrounded by paths | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that the flower garden is a round place on the map that has paths on every side. Answer Explanation: The answer F is the location of the flower garden on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the speaker describes the flower garden as a 'circular' area. 'Circular' means round like a circle. They also say it is 'surrounded by paths,' which means there are walking ways going all around it. These details help a listener find the right spot on the map. |
| Q20 | E | And finally, there's a wooded area in the western section of the park, between two paths | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the area full of trees is located in the west part of the park and sits right in the middle of two walking paths. Answer Explanation: The answer is E, which is the letter on the map marking the place with many trees. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the speaker describes the location of the wooded area (a place where trees grow) very clearly. They say it is in the 'western' part—which is the left side—and also mention it is 'between two paths'. These two clues point to letter E on the map. |
Transcript
Hello, I'm delighted to welcome you to our Wildlife Club, and very pleased that you're interested in the countryside and the plants and creatures of this area. I think you'll be surprised at the variety we have here, even though we're not far from London. I'll start by telling you about some of the parks and open spaces nearby.
One very pleasant place is Halland Common. This has been public land for hundreds of years, and what you'll find interesting is that the River Ouse, which flows into the sea eighty kilometres away, has its source in the common. There's an information board about the plants and animals you can see here, and by the way, the common is accessible 24 hours a day.
Then there's Holt Island, which is noted for its great range of trees. In the past willows were grown here commercially for basket-making, and this ancient craft has recently been reintroduced. The island is only open to the public from Friday to Sunday, because it's quite small, and if there were people around every day, much of the wildlife would keep away.
From there it's just a short walk across the bridge to Longfield Country Park. Longfield has a modern replica of a farm from over two thousand years ago. Children's activities are often arranged there, like bread-making and face-painting. The park is only open during daylight hours, so bear that in mind if you decide to go there.
Longfield Park has a programme of activities throughout the year, and to give you a sample, this is what's happening in the next few days. On Monday you can learn about herbs, and how they've been used over the centuries. You'll start with a tour of our herb garden, practise the technique of using them as colour dyes for cloth, and listen to an illustrated talk about their use in cooking and medicine.
Then on Wednesday you can join local experts to discover the variety of insects and birds that appear in the evening. We keep to a small number of people in the group, so if you want to go you'll need to phone the park ranger a few days ahead. There's a small charge, which you should pay when you turn up.
I'm sure you're all keen to help with the practical task of looking after the park, so on Saturday you can join a working party. You'll have a choice of all sorts of activities, from planting hedges to picking up litter, so you'll be able to change from one to another when you feel like it. The rangers will be hard at work all day, but do come and join in, even for just a short while. One thing, though, is to make sure you're wearing something that you don't mind getting dirty or torn.
And finally I'd like to tell you about our new wildlife area, Hinchingbrooke Park, which will be opened to the public next month. This slide doesn't really indicate how big it is, but anyway, you can see the two gates into the park, and the main paths. As you can see, there's a lake in the north west of the park, with a bird hide to the west of it, at the end of a path. So it'll be a nice quiet place for watching the birds on the lake.
Fairly close to where refreshments are available, there's a dog-walking area in the southern part of the park, leading off from the path. And if you just want to sit and relax, you can go to the flower garden; that's the circular area on the map surrounded by paths.
And finally, there's a wooded area in the western section of the park, between two paths.
Okay, that's enough from me, so let's go on to …