Rivenden City Theatre - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 06 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–16 Matching
What change has been made to each part of the theatre?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to questions 11-16.
A. doubled in number
B. given separate entrance
C. reduced in number
D. increased in size
E. replaced
F. strengthened
G. temporarily closed
Questions 17–20 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Play | Dates | Starting time | Tickets available | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Hunt of the Sun | October 13th to 17 | 18 pm | for Monday and 19 | £ 20 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | B | Then the box office has been reoriented, with its own access from the side of the building instead of through the foyer, which means it can be open longer hours, and has more space, too | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the box office was moved or turned around so that people can enter it directly from the side of the building rather than walking through the main lobby. Answer Explanation: The answer is B because the place where people buy tickets now has its own door to enter through. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the theatre changed how people enter the box office. Previously, visitors had to go through the foyer (the main entrance hall) to get to it. Now, it has 'its own access' from the side of the building. In this context, 'access' is a synonym for 'entrance.' By having its own door away from the main entrance, it has been given a separate entrance. |
| Q12 | G | The shop that used to be in the foyer, which sold books and CDs, is the one part of the redevelopment which isn't yet complete. The plan is to find new premises for it near the theatre, and we've had difficulty finding somewhere suitable. We hope to reopen the shop in the next few months | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the shop is the only part of the theatre's update that is not ready yet. Because they are still looking for a new place for it, they expect it to be open again in a few months. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the shop is not open right now but will open again later. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the speaker mentions that the work on the shop is not finished yet ("isn't yet complete"). They are looking for a new location and "hope to reopen" it in the coming months. This indicates that it is currently shut down for a short time. |
| Q13 | C | Yes, we've increased the leg-room between the rows. This means that there are now fewer seats but we're sure audiences will be much happier | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theater added more space for legs between the rows of chairs. Because of this change, there are now fewer chairs available for people to sit in. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that the theater now has a smaller number of regular seats than it had before. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker says there is now more space for people's legs in the seating area. To make this extra space, they had to take some seats away. In English, 'fewer' means a smaller number, which is the same as being 'reduced in number'. |
| Q14 | A | We already had a few seats which were suitable for wheelchair users, and now there are twice as many, which we hope will meet demand | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theatre used to have only a few special seats for wheelchair users, but they have increased the count so that they now have two times that amount. Answer Explanation: The answer is A, which means the theatre now has two times the number of seats for people who use wheelchairs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker says there are now 'twice as many' seats for people who use wheelchairs compared to what they had before. In English, 'twice as many' means the amount has been multiplied by two, which is the same as saying the number has 'doubled'. |
| Q15 | E | Something else that will benefit audiences is the new lifts. The two we used to have were very small and slow. They've now gone, and we've got much more efficient ones | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theatre has new elevators. The two old ones were small and slow, so they were taken away and substituted with better ones. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the old elevators were removed and new ones were put in their place. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'replaced' because the speaker says the old lifts are 'gone' and they now have 'more efficient ones.' When you get rid of something old and get something new to take its place, you replace it. |
| Q16 | D | The small, dark dressing rooms we used to have have been converted into two large airy rooms, so they're much more comfortable now | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theater turned the old, small rooms for actors into two new rooms that are big and have a lot of space. Answer Explanation: The answer means the rooms where the actors change their clothes and get ready are now bigger than they used to be. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the theater staff changed the old dressing rooms, which Lynne describes as 'small,' into two rooms that are 'large.' Moving from a small space to a large space means that the area has 'increased in size.' |
| Q17 | October the 19th / October 19th / 19 October / 19th October / October 19 / the 19th / 19th | That starts on October the 13th and runs till the 19th | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the play begins on October 13th and continues until the 19th. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the day in October when the performance of the play ends. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the speaker's description of the play 'Royal Hunt of the Sun'. She specifies its starting date and its closing date using the phrase 'runs till', which indicates the final day of the event. |
| Q18 | 7 | We used to start all our performances at 7.30, but that made it difficult for people to go home by public transport, so instead we're beginning at 7, because at 9.45, when it finishes, there are still buses running | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theater moved the start time from 7:30 to 7:00 so that when the play finishes at 9:45, audience members can still catch a bus home. Answer Explanation: The answer is 7 o'clock. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 7 because the speaker mentions that they have changed the starting time for performances. While they used to start at 7:30, they now begin at 7:00 to make it easier for people who use public transport (like buses) to get home after the show ends at 9:45. |
| Q19 | Thursday | The Friday and Saturday performances sold out almost immediately and, in fact, now there are only tickets for Monday and Thursday | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that people already bought all the tickets for Friday and Saturday, so now there are tickets left just for Monday and Thursday. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the only days you can still buy tickets for are Monday and Thursday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the information provided about the availability of tickets for the play. The speaker explains that while many dates are already full, tickets have not all been bought yet for two specific days. She mentions that because Friday and Saturday are sold out, people can only get tickets for Monday and Thursday. |
| Q20 | 18 | We've introduced a simpler price structure. Ticket prices used to range from £6 to £30 but now they're all £18 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the theater has a new, easier system for costs. In the past, the price of a ticket could be between 6 and 30 pounds, but now every ticket costs exactly 18 pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number 18, which is the cost of a ticket in pounds (£). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 18 because the speaker explains that the theater has changed how it charges for tickets. Instead of having many different prices ranging from £6 to £30 like in the past, they now have one simple price for every seat, which is £18. |
Transcript
MAN: And here on Radio Rivenden we have Lynne Rawley, the Public Relations Officer of our own Rivenden City Theatre. Hello, Lynne.
LYNNE: Hello.
MAN: Now, the theatre is reopening soon after its three-year redevelopment programme, isn't it?
LYNNE: That's right, and there are a lot of improvements. The first thing people will see when they go in is that the foyer has been repainted in the original green and gold. Then the box office has been reoriented, with its own access from the side of the building instead of through the foyer, which means it can be open longer hours, and has more space, too. The shop that used to be in the foyer, which sold books and CDs, is the one part of the redevelopment which isn't yet complete. The plan is to find new premises for it near the theatre, and we've had difficulty finding somewhere suitable. We hope to reopen the shop in the next few months.
MAN: Will audiences find any difference in the auditorium?
LYNNE: Yes, we've increased the leg-room between the rows. This means that there are now fewer seats but we're sure audiences will be much happier. And we've installed air conditioning, so it won't get so hot and stuffy. We already had a few seats which were suitable for wheelchair users, and now there are twice as many, which we hope will meet demand. Something else that will benefit audiences is the new lifts. The two we used to have were very small and slow. They've now gone, and we've got much more efficient ones.
MAN: Anything for the performers?
LYNNE: Yes, we've made a number of improvements backstage. The small, dark dressing rooms we used to have have been converted into two large airy rooms, so they're much more comfortable now. And the state-of-the-art electronic sound and lighting systems have been installed.
MAN: OK, so what's the first play that audiences can see when the theatre reopens?
LYNNE: We've got a very exciting production of Peter Shaffer's Royal Hunt of the Sun, which is currently touring the country. That starts on October the 13th and runs till the 19th. We're experimenting a bit with the time the curtain goes up. We used to start all our performances at 7.30, but that made it difficult for people to go home by public transport, so instead we're beginning at 7, because at 9.45, when it finishes, there are still buses running. Tickets are already selling fast. The Friday and Saturday performances sold out almost immediately and, in fact, now there are only tickets for Monday and Thursday.
MAN: How much are they?
LYNNE: We've introduced a simpler price structure. Ticket prices used to range from £6 to £30 but now they're all £18. They're available from the box office, in person, by phone, fax or post, or online.
MAN: OK, Lynne, now if you'd like to give the contact details for the theatre . . .