Randhir Ghotra and Dave Hadley’s Conversation - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 27–30 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow-chart below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Next steps
Get approval from 27
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Complete a 28 form
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Book a 29 with the systems analyst
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Set up a 30 with technologies team
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | C | It's over ten years old and although it was fine when it was first introduced, it is just not good enough now | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the computer system was good in the past, but because it is very old (over ten years), it is not useful for the work they do today. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the computer program is now too old to be useful for the college's current needs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dave mentions that the system is more than ten years old. He explains that while it worked perfectly when it started, it does not fit the modern way they work anymore. This makes the system 'outdated,' which means it is old-fashioned and no longer helpful. |
| Q22 | A | Well, there's a lot more data now and it sometimes seems the system has crashed but, in fact, it just takes ages to go from one screen to the next. Randhir: Right. Is that the only problem? Dave: Well that's the main one, but there are others | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave saying that the system does not actually stop working, but it 'takes ages' (is very slow) to move between screens. When asked if there are other problems, Dave says this speed issue is the 'main one,' or the most important problem. Answer Explanation: The answer A means the biggest problem with the computer is that it takes a long time to move from one screen to another. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Dave explains that the biggest issue with the system is the time it takes to process things. He says it 'takes ages' to go from one screen to the next, which means it is very slow. Although he mentions it might look like it has 'crashed' (stopped working), he clarifies that it is actually just slow because there is more information to handle. He then confirms this is the 'main' problem. |
| Q23 | B | In the past, doing the timetabling was quite simple but now we have a lot more courses and what's made it complicated is that many of them have options. Randhir: Right - but the system should allow you to include those. Dave: Well no, it doesn't | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave explaining that scheduling was easy before, but it is now difficult because courses have different paths (options) that the old computer system is not able to process or include. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the current computer software is unable to manage the different choices or variations (options) available within the college courses. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Dave explicitly mentions that timetabling has become difficult because many courses now offer different options. When Randhir suggests that the software should be able to include those details, Dave clarifies that it actually does not. This identifies a specific technical failure of the system to handle the complexity of modern course structures. |
| Q24 | A | so what about having an online system that students can use to do their scheduling | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Randhir suggesting a new way of working where students use a computer program to handle their own schedules instead of the staff doing it for them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Randhir suggests a solution where the students are the ones who pick and organize their own class schedules. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Randhir proposes using an online system that allows students to do their own 'scheduling.' In this conversation, 'scheduling' is another word for the task of 'timetabling.' He suggests this because hiring an assistant for Dave is 'obviously not possible,' and letting students manage their own schedules would save Dave time. |
| Q25 | C | OK - that'll probably take longer although it may save you money in the long run | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Randhir explaining that while a new system takes more time to finish, it might help the college spend less money later. Answer Explanation: The answer means that building a brand-new computer system could cost less money in the future compared to fixing the old one. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Randhir tells Dave that a new system 'may save you money in the long run.' In English, the word 'economical' describes something that is good value for money or helps avoid wasting money. By saying it saves money over a long period (the long run), Randhir is explaining that the new system is a better financial choice than trying to fix the old, broken one. |
| Q26 | B | Well it's January now and the new intake of students will be in September. We need to start processing admissions - in the next few weeks really. Randhir: Well it will take more than a few weeks, I'm afraid. As an initial estimate I think we'll be looking at April or May to improve the existing system but for a new system it would take at least nine months | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that it is currently January. The expert, Randhir, explains that making the current system better will take until April or May. Counting from January, this totals about four or five months. Answer Explanation: The answer means that fixing the current computer system will take about 4 or 5 months. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Randhir says the work to improve the system will be finished in April or May. Since the current month is January, the time from January until April or May is four or five months. The phrase 'improve the existing system' means making the current computer system better rather than building a brand-new one. Option A is incorrect because 'a few weeks' is what Dave hoped for, but Randhir said it was impossible. Option C is incorrect because 'nine months' is the time needed for a totally new system, not for fixing the old one. |
| Q27 | senior management / management / senior managers / managers | Well, the first question is - do you have support from your senior management | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Randhir asking Dave if he has the agreement of his leaders as the very first step in the process. Answer Explanation: The answer means the group of top-level bosses or leaders in a company who give permission for projects to happen. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is senior management because Randhir asks Dave if he has support from his bosses before they starting working. In this context, 'support' means approval. Randhir clarifies that getting this approval is the first thing that needs to be done and that they cannot move forward without it. |
| Q28 | project request | It's called a 'project request form' | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Randhir is giving Dave the specific name of the online form he needs to fill in. Answer Explanation: The answer is the specific name of the document that Dave must fill out to officially start the new technology project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'project request' because Randhir identifies this as the name of the form Dave needs to complete as his next step. In the conversation, Randhir explains that after getting support from management, Dave must fill out a specific document online to formally begin the project. He uses the exact words 'project request form' to name it. |
| Q29 | meeting | OK - can you send me his contact details and I'll set up a meeting with him | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave asking for Samir's information so that he can organize a time for them to talk together. Answer Explanation: The answer means Dave needs to arrange a time to talk or have an appointment with the computer expert. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'meeting' because when Randhir tells Dave to go and see Samir, who is the systems analyst, Dave agrees and says he will set up a 'meeting' with him. This matches the third step in the flow-chart which is to book an appointment with the analyst. |
| Q30 | conference call | Dave: That's OK - I'm used to having conference calls providing they are not late at night Randhir: Right - so I'll send you details of the team and if you could set up a call that would be great |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dave saying he is comfortable with using conference calls for meetings. Randhir then asks Dave to arrange a call once he receives the contact information for the technology team. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'conference call', which is a meeting where people talk to each other using phones or computers from different locations. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'conference call' because Randhir mentions that the team works in different places, which makes it hard to have meetings in person. Dave agrees to have 'conference calls,' and Randhir asks him to arrange one as the final step in the process. |
Transcript
Randhir: Hello - I'm Randhir Ghotra from the technologies department.
Dave: Ah yes. Good. I'm Dave Hadley. Thanks for coming to see me.
Randhir: That's OK. I believe you want us to do some work for you?
Dave: Yes that's right. Um, I'm responsible for student admissions to the college and I use a computer system to help process student enrolments and to do the timetabling. But it really doesn't suit the way we work these days. It's over ten years old and although it was fine when it was first introduced, it is just not good enough now.
Randhir: OK - what problems are you experiencing?
Dave: Well, 20 years ago, the college was quite small and we didn't have the numbers of students or tutors that we have now.
Randhir: So the system can't handle the increasing volumes ...
Dave: Well, there's a lot more data now and it sometimes seems the system has crashed but, in fact, it just takes ages to go from one screen to the next.
Randhir: Right. Is that the only problem?
Dave: Well that's the main one, but there are others. In the past, doing the timetabling was quite simple but now we have a lot more courses and what's made it complicated is that many of them have options.
Randhir: Right - but the system should allow you to include those.
Dave: Well no, it doesn't. It was supposed to - and a few years ago we did ask someone from the technologies department to fix it, but they never seemed to have the time.
Randhir: Hmm - are there any other issues with the system?
Dave: Well - I've been given extra responsibilities and so I have even less time to do the timetabling. If there was anything you could do, Randhir, to make the process more efficient, that would be really helpful.
Randhir: Well it sounds like you could do with an assistant but that's obviously not possible, so what about having an online system that students can use to do their scheduling?
Dave: How would that work?
Randhir: Well - it may mean less choice for students but we could create a fixed schedule of all the courses and options and they could then view what was available ...
Dave: ... and work it out for themselves - that sounds great.
Randhir: OK, so ... um ... we'll need to decide whether or not to improve the existing system or to build a completely new system.
Dave: Well I'd much prefer to have a new system. Quite frankly, I've had enough of the old one.
Randhir: OK - that'll probably take longer although it may save you money in the long run. When were you hoping to have this in place?
Dave: Well it's January now and the new intake of students will be in September. We need to start processing admissions - in the next few weeks really.
Randhir: Well it will take more than a few weeks, I'm afraid. As an initial estimate I think we'll be looking at April or May to improve the existing system but for a new system it would take at least nine months. That would be October at the earliest.
[pause]
Dave: What are the next steps if we are to have a new system?
Randhir: Well, the first question is - do you have support from your senior management?
Dave: Yes, I've already discussed it with them and they're also keen to get this work done.
Randhir: OK, because I was going to say, that's the first thing you need to do and without that we can't go ahead.
Dave: Yes, I've done that.
Randhir: That's good.
Dave: Actually, they mentioned that there's probably a form I need to complete to formally start the project.
Randhir: Yes – that's the next thing you need to do. I'll send you an email with a link so you can fill it in online. It's called a 'project request form'.
Dave: OK, great. And then what happens?
Randhir: Well, I have a list of things but I think the third thing you should do is see Samir. He's our analyst who will look at the system and identify what needs to be done.
Dave: OK - can you send me his contact details and I'll set up a meeting with him.
Randhir: OK that's good, so we should soon be able to get a team together to start the work. Some members of our team work in different locations so it's not easy to have face-to-face meetings.
Dave: That's OK - I'm used to having conference calls providing they are not late at night.
Randhir: Right - so I'll send you details of the team and if you could set up a call that would be great.
Dave: OK, I'll do that.
Randhir: Thanks.