Ratner Athletics Centre - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Succeed in IELTS Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–5 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Ratner Athletics Centre
Example: Current students get membership for no charge / free
- a yearly membership costs 1 for alumni
- Features offered include:
- the Emily Pankhurst 2
- the Dalton 3
- personal 4 at an extra charge
- Hours: 6 a.m. to 5 on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends
Questions 6–10 Form Completion
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
NEW CUSTOMER MEMBERSHIP FORM
- Customer name: Shannon 6
- Street Address: 7
- City: Newcastle
- Postcode: 8
- Telephone number: 9
- Payment method: cash
- Proof of address: 10
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | £240 | For an alumnus, that's two hundred and forty pounds annually, or one hundred pounds for a month | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that for a past student, the price is 240 pounds each year or 100 pounds for each month. Answer Explanation: The answer means that former students have to pay £240 for one full year of membership. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is £240 because the employee states the price for an alumnus is "two hundred and forty pounds annually". In this conversation, the keyword "annually" means "yearly", and an "alumnus" is a singular form referring to one of the "alumni" (former students). |
| Q2 | fitness centre / fitness center | For the cost, members have access to the Emily Pankhurst Fitness Centre, which is a beautiful exercise space - open and full of light | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that members can use the workout area called the Emily Pankhurst Fitness Centre. Answer Explanation: The answer means a gym or place with exercise equipment named after Emily Pankhurst. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "fitness centre" because the note asks for a feature offered at the facility named "the Emily Pankhurst [blank]". When describing what members can access, the employee specifically mentions "the Emily Pankhurst Fitness Centre". Therefore, "fitness centre" completes the blank. |
| Q3 | swimming pool | But the most prominent, and I'd have to say popular, feature of the Ratner Centre is the Dalton swimming pool | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that a well-known feature of the facility is called the Dalton swimming pool. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a place for swimming called the "swimming pool". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "swimming pool" because the employee lists the features of the sports centre and names "the Dalton swimming pool" as a major feature. In the notes, the text mentions "the Dalton ", so the missing words are "swimming pool". |
| Q4 | trainers | Yes, we have four personal trainers available for an additional cost | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that there are four personal fitness helpers available, but customers must pay extra money to use them. Answer Explanation: The answer "trainers" refers to fitness coaches who teach people how to exercise properly and safely. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "trainers" because the employee states that they have "personal trainers available for an additional cost." In the task, the phrase "at an extra charge" has the same meaning as "for an additional cost." Therefore, the word that completes "personal ..." is "trainers". |
| Q5 | midnight / 24.00 | We're open from six in the morning to midnight on weekdays and from six in the morning to nine p.m. on weekends | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript clearly states that during weekdays, the facility stays open from 6:00 a.m. until midnight. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to 12:00 at night, which is called midnight. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when Shannon asks about the opening hours. The employee explains that the centre is open from six in the morning until midnight on weekdays. |
| Q6 | Fleet | Employee: Very well. Can I have your name please? Shannon: Shannon Fleet. S-H-A-N-N-O-N F-L-E-E-T | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the worker asking for the customer's name, and the customer answers that her name is Shannon Fleet and spells out both names. Answer Explanation: The answer is the customer's last name, which is "Fleet". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Fleet" because the employee asks for Shannon's full name, and she replies "Shannon Fleet", spelling out both her first name and her last name ("F-L-E-E-T"). Since the form already gives her first name ("Shannon"), only her surname "Fleet" is needed. |
| Q7 | 24 Whitehail Close | Employee: Ok, and your address? Shannon: Twenty-four Whitehall Close, Newcastle Employee: Sorry, can you please spell the street name for me? Shannon: Yes, of course. That's W-H-I-T-E-H-A-L-L C-L-O-S-E |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the worker asking Shannon where she lives. Shannon gives the number 24 and the street name Whitehall Close, and then spells out the letters of the street name clearly. Answer Explanation: The answer is the street address where the customer lives, which is house number 24 on Whitehall Close. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Shannon's street address. When the employee asks for her address, Shannon replies with 'Twenty-four Whitehall Close'. The employee then asks her to spell the street name, and Shannon spells it out as 'W-H-I-T-E-H-A-L-L C-L-O-S-E'. |
| Q8 | NE0 1EN | Employee: Got it. And your post code? Shannon: N-E zero, one - E - N | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the worker asking Shannon for her postcode, and Shannon giving the code letter by letter and number by number: N-E-0-1-E-N. Answer Explanation: The answer is the postal code "NE0 1EN". Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "NE0 1EN" because when the employee asks for Shannon's "post code", she spells it out as "N-E zero, one - E - N". Written in standard UK postcode format, this is NE0 1EN. |
| Q9 | 9765 484 493 | Shannon: Ok, it's 9-7-6-5 4-8-4 4-9-3. Employee: That's 9-7-6-5 4-8-4 9-4-3. Shannon: No, sorry. The last three numbers are 4-9-3, not 9-4-3 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Shannon stating her contact number and then correcting the employee to make sure the last three numbers are recorded properly as 4-9-3. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Shannon's telephone number is 9765 484 493. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "9765 484 493" because when the employee asks for a phone number, Shannon says "9-7-6-5 4-8-4 4-9-3". The staff member repeats it with an error at the end ("9-4-3"), but Shannon corrects the worker by confirming that the final three digits are "4-9-3, not 9-4-3". |
| Q10 | electricity bill | Employee: Fine. And be sure to bring some sort of proof of address, like a bill or driver's licence. Shannon: I don't drive. Will my electricity bill do? Employee: Yes, that's fine | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the employee asking Shannon for a document that proves where she lives. Shannon offers to bring her electricity bill, and the employee says that is acceptable. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a paper showing how much money someone must pay for electric power, which also shows where they live. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "electricity bill" because the staff member asks Shannon to bring a "proof of address" when joining. Since Shannon does not have a driving licence, she asks if an "electricity bill" is acceptable, and the staff member agrees by saying "Yes, that's fine." |
Transcript
Shannon: Yes, hi. I'm interested in finding out some information about membership.
Employee: Certainly. Are you a student?
Shannon: No. Is that a problem? I was a student here two years ago...
Employee: Alright, that's no problem. Current students get membership for no charge, but recreational memberships are also available for purchase for university faculty, staff, alumni, and retirees, as well as their spouses and children.
Shannon: Ok, good. How much does it cost?
Employee: For an alumnus, that's two hundred and forty pounds annually, or one hundred pounds for a month.
Shannon: Oh. That's quite expensive. It's a shame I didn't take advantage of the athletics facility when I was a student here. I'll have to think about this.
Employee: Well, we do offer a really excellent facility. For the cost, members have access to the Emily Pankhurst Fitness Centre, which is a beautiful exercise space - open and full of light. The fitness centre includes two weight circuits, free weights, rowing machines, elliptical trainers, recumbent and upright bicycles, step mills, and treadmills - and many many other activities. But the most prominent, and I'd have to say popular, feature of the Ratner Centre is the Dalton swimming pool. It's 50 metres by 25 metres and includes up to 20 lanes in the 25-metre dimension and nine lanes in the 50-metre dimension, and also has two one-metre diving boards available. What activities, specifically, are you interested in?
Shannon: Yes, well, I'm interested in swimming, and also in getting started with some weight training, although I've never tried it before in my life. I feel rather intimidated, actually. Is there instruction available? You know, someone to teach me to use the machines and maybe help me figure out a training programme to reach my goals?
Employee: Yes, we have four personal trainers available for an additional cost. We also offer fitness evaluation, which by the way I highly recommend for someone just starting out with weight training, and you would be orientated to the machines as part of this.
Shannon: Oh, one more thing. What are the opening hours?
Employee: We're open from six in the morning to midnight on weekdays and from six in the morning to nine p.m. on weekends.
Shannon: Oh, that's good. Alright, well, I guess I'd like to join.
Employee: Very well. Can I have your name please?
Shannon: Shannon Fleet. S-H-A-N-N-O-N F-L-E-E-T.
Employee: Ok, and your address?
Shannon: Twenty-four Whitehall Close, Newcastle...
Employee: Sorry, can you please spell the street name for me?
Shannon: Yes, of course. That's W-H-I-T-E-H-A-L-L C-L-O-S-E.
Employee: Got it. And your post code?
Shannon: N-E zero, one - E - N.
Employee: N as in night and E as in England?
Shannon: Yes, that's correct.
Employee: I'll need a phone number.
Shannon: Ok, it's 9-7-6-5 4-8-4 4-9-3.
Employee: That's 9-7-6-5 4-8-4 9-4-3.
Shannon: No, sorry. The last three numbers are 4-9-3, not 9-4-3.
Employee: Ok. Now, you'll need to pay when you come for the first time, and you can either pay by cash or credit card.
Shannon: I'll pay cash.
Employee: Fine. And be sure to bring some sort of proof of address, like a bill or driver's licence.
Shannon: I don't drive. Will my electricity bill do?
Employee: Yes, that's fine. And also bring a passport-sized photo so we can make up your membership card.
Shannon: Ok, thanks. I'll come by this afternoon.