Preparations for the Town’s 250th Anniversary - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–12 Two Choices
Choose TWO correct letters A-E.
What TWO changes to the organization of this year's festival are mentioned?
Questions 13–15 Table Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER FOR each answer.
| Teams | Purpose | Meeting point | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beach Team | Pick up litter | 13 | 8 am |
| Town Team | Arrange 14 | Village Hall | 15 am |
Questions 16–20 One Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | — | — | |
| Q12 | B / D | First of all, this time we are going to make the concert on the beach open to everyone without charge. This is because we have been given money by the council for the celebration and also because last year we had so many problems with keeping people out who had not paid. And on top of this, people will not have to pay for refreshments either, as these are being donated | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that two things are free this year: anyone can go to the beach concert without paying, and attendees do not need to pay for snacks and drinks because they were given as gifts (donated). Answer Explanation: The answer means that people do not have to pay any money for drinks and snacks (free refreshments) or to attend the music show on the beach (free concert). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and D because the speaker explicitly lists the changes for this year's event. The speaker says the beach concert will be "open to everyone without charge" (meaning a free concert, matching choice D) and adds that "people will not have to pay for refreshments either" (meaning free food and drinks, matching choice B). |
| Q13 | Beach Shop | Everyone is meeting at the Beach Shop at 8am | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that all the volunteers in that group will gather together at the Beach Shop at 8:00 in the morning. Answer Explanation: The answer means a store located near the beach where the Beach Team will gather. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'Beach Shop' because the speaker talks about the Beach Team and states where they will gather. The speaker clearly mentions that everyone in this team is meeting at the Beach Shop at 8:00 am. |
| Q14 | seating | The second team will be responsible for setting out seating in the square for the speeches and prize giving | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the second team's duty is to put chairs in place in the town square so people can sit during speeches and award presentations. Answer Explanation: The answer means chairs or places for people to sit down. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "seating" because the speaker discusses the tasks of the second team (the Town Team). The speaker states that this group is responsible for "setting out seating in the square". In the notes, the verb "arrange" means the same as "setting out", which makes "seating" the exact word needed to describe their purpose. |
| Q15 | 9:30 / 9.30 | so shall we say that everyone should meet at the Village Hall at 9:30 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the group meeting at the Village Hall should assemble at 9:30. Answer Explanation: The answer is 9:30, which is the time in the morning when the team meets. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 9:30 because the speaker discusses the second team (responsible for seating in the square and meeting at the Village Hall) and decides that members should meet there at 9:30 to give extra time if the vans are delayed. |
| Q16 | A | On the whole, they will have had experience of judging before | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that generally or mostly, the judges already have previous experience judging competitions. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the majority of the judges have done this kind of work before. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions that "On the whole, they will have had experience of judging before." The phrase "on the whole" is a synonym for generally or mostly, which matches "Most people judging". |
| Q17 | B | A cash prize will be given to the winner in each category and for the two runners-up there will be book-tokens | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript clearly states that each category winner gets a reward of cash, while the runners-up get tokens to buy books. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the person who finishes first in each competition will receive money. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker states that the first-place winner in every contest will receive money ("cash prize"). The book-tokens are only given to the people in second and third place ("runners-up"), not the winners. |
| Q18 | A | all the profits will go to the local Children's Hospital to help fund much needed specialist apparatus | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that all extra money from the event will be given to the Children's Hospital to pay for important special equipment that they need. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the money made from the run will be used to purchase special medical tools and machines for the hospital. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker states that all profits will go to the Children's Hospital to fund "specialist apparatus". In English, the word "apparatus" means tools or equipment used for a specific purpose, and to "fund" means to provide money to buy something. Therefore, this matches "buy new specialist equipment". |
| Q19 | B | The fields near the entrance to the beach can be used as car parks and we need wardens to help make sure the actual parking is more organized than last year, which was a mess | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that car park wardens are needed to make parking orderly, because the parking situation last year was messy and disorganized. Answer Explanation: The answer means that wardens are needed because parking was messy and not well managed last year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker mentions that parking this year must be "more organized than last year, which was a mess." The word "mess" means disorganized or chaotic. Therefore, wardens are needed because last year's parking lacked order. |
| Q20 | C | the Council has agreed to provide large bags to collect all the recyclable material like glass and plastic, etc. but we have to deal with the rest like left-over food ourselves | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the council will give bags specifically for recyclable materials like glass and plastic, while the volunteers have to take care of the other waste like food by themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the council will give bags just for items that can be recycled, not for other trash. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker clearly says that the council will give large bags to gather recyclable things like glass and plastic. At the same time, the speaker mentions that they have to handle the other waste, such as leftover food, on their own. This shows that the bags are only for recyclable items. |
Transcript
And now for the preparation plans for the town's 250th anniversary celebrations. We are going to follow the same system we had last year, but with a few changes to increase the party spirit.
First of all, this time we are going to make the concert on the beach open to everyone without charge. This is because we have been given money by the council for the celebration and also because last year we had so many problems with keeping people out who had not paid. And on top of this, people will not have to pay for refreshments either, as these are being donated.
Right now, mmm... We are going to divide into four teams: the first one, the Beach Team, will be responsible for cleaning up the beach on the Saturday morning, picking up litter, bottles, plastic bags, wood and anything else that's lying around. Everyone is meeting at the Beach Shop at 8am. It's an early start, but we want to give everywhere a good thorough clean. We have had permission from the council to close the beach to get it ready for the anniversary celebration on Sunday.
The second team will be responsible for setting out seating in the square for the speeches and prize giving. Again an early start is preferable, but the vans with the seats can't be there until 9am, so shall we say that everyone should meet at the Village Hall at 9:30? Starting then will allow extra time if the vans are late.
Now the third team will be the judges. For each of the various competitions we will have three judges. On the whole, they will have had experience of judging before. There will be a boat race, a swimming competition and the best fancy dress. A cash prize will be given to the winner in each category and for the two runners-up there will be book-tokens.
There is a sponsored mini-marathon and by the deadline lunch-time today we had 263 applicants with ages ranging from 15-60. That's 80 more than last year. Each entrant has paid a £20 registration fee to enter and all the profits will go to the local Children's Hospital to help fund much needed specialist apparatus.
The fourth team consists of the wardens for the day itself. We are expecting at least 10,000 people if last year is anything to go by. The fields near the entrance to the beach can be used as car parks and we need wardens to help make sure the actual parking is more organized than last year, which was a mess. We also need someone to be in charge of the first-aid, which will be at the entrance to the beach.
Finally, we need some volunteers for the clean-up. Last year we didn't do this very well and so the Council has agreed to provide large bags to collect all the recyclable material like glass and plastic, etc. but we have to deal with the rest like left-over food ourselves. We don't want to leave piles of rotten food around or dangerous bottles.