Second-hand Bedroom Furniture For Sale - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Road to IELTS Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–5 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Second-hand Bedroom Furniture for Sale
Example: Number of items for sale: Answer: three
Bedside tables
Construction: wood
Colour: 1
Drawers: two (in each table)
handles made of 2
Height: 3 cm
Condition: 4
Price: 5 (for both)
Questions 6–10 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Dressing table
Drawers: five (two are 6)
Width: 7
Mirrors: three: one large, two small (all 8)
Condition: good
Price: 9
Seller's details
Name: Carolyn Kline
Address: 19 10 Road
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | cream | Well, they're a matching pair and they're made of wood - but the wood has been painted, it's not brown anymore, it's been painted cream | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says the furniture is made of wood but someone painted it. The woman tells the man that the current color is cream. Answer Explanation: The answer "cream" is a color that looks like white with a tiny bit of yellow or light brown in it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "cream" because the woman describes the bedside tables. She mentions that they are made of wood, but since they have been painted, their color is now cream rather than brown. |
| Q2 | brass | Oh, and the drawers have square brass handles - quite modern and quite nice really | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the seller telling the buyer that the handles on the drawers are made of brass. Answer Explanation: The answer is brass, which is a type of bright, yellow-colored metal used to make things like drawer handles. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is brass because the woman explicitly describes the bedside tables' details. When talking about the drawers, she mentions the material of the handles by saying they are 'square brass handles.' This matches the requirement to identify what the handles are made of. |
| Q3 | 65 / sixty-five | What I really need to know is how tall they are - you see my bed's quite high. WOMAN: 65 centimetres high and 45 centimetres deep | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man asking for the height of the tables because his bed is tall, and the woman providing the specific number of centimeters. Answer Explanation: The answer 65 or sixty-five is the measurement in centimeters for how tall the bedside tables are. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 65 because the man asks the woman for the measurement of the furniture's height since his bed is quite high. The woman answers that the tables are 65 centimeters high. The words 'tall' and 'high' are used as synonyms for 'height' in this conversation. |
| Q4 | perfect | They're in perfect condition - there isn't a mark on them, you know | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman explaining that the tables are in great shape and do not have any scratches or damage. Answer Explanation: The answer is the word 'perfect', which describes how new or undamaged the tables look. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'perfect' because the woman describes the tables as being in 'perfect condition' and mentions that there isn't even a single mark on them. This indicates the furniture is in the best possible state. |
| Q5 | £30 / 30 pounds | I think fifteen pounds each would be a fair price, but I've decided that I'll only sell them together, as a pair, so that means the price is thirty pounds all up | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that while one table is 15 pounds, the seller only allows someone to buy them as a pair (two together) for a total of 30 pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is the total cost for the two bedside tables. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is thirty pounds because the seller states that each table costs fifteen pounds, but she will only sell them as a pair (together). This brings the total cost for both items to thirty pounds. The speaker uses the phrase 'all up' to mean the total price. |
| Q6 | deep | Five altogether. Um the bottom two drawers hold more as they're deep |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man that there are five drawers in total. She notes that the bottom two drawers are deep, which is why they can carry more items. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'deep', which describes the shape or size of the bottom two drawers of the dressing table. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'deep' because the woman explains that while there are five drawers in total, the bottom two are different because they are 'deep', meaning they have more space inside to hold things. |
| Q7 | 1.25 metres / 1.25 meters / 1.25 m | MAN: Mmm and the dimensions - how wide is it? That's all I need to know - it wouldn't be more than a metre and a half, would it? WOMAN: Well, just under actually it's ah, 1.25 metres across |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the man asking about the size and width of the table. The woman answers that the size is 1.25 metres across. Answer Explanation: The answer is 1.25 metres (or 1.25 m), which is the measurement for how wide the dressing table is from one side to the other. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 1.25 metres because the man asks for the width of the dressing table. The woman tells him the size is 1.25 metres. In the conversation, the word 'across' is used to describe the width (how wide something is). |
| Q8 | adjustable | WOMAN: It has three mirrors - you know a central one and a narrower one on each side. And they're all adjustable |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the dressing table has three mirrors (one in the middle and one on each side) and states that all of them can be moved to different positions. Answer Explanation: The answer 'adjustable' means that the mirrors can be moved or have their angle changed. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'adjustable' because the woman describes the three mirrors on the dressing table and says they can all be moved. In English, 'adjustable' is a common word used for objects that can be moved into different positions to suit the user. The note asks for a word describing all the mirrors, and the woman specifically uses this term right after describing them. |
| Q9 | £50 / 50 pounds | Well, it has a couple of scratches on the surface but it's still in good condition so I'm asking fifty pounds | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the seller explaining that the table has some marks (scratches) but is otherwise in good shape, so she sets the price at fifty pounds. Answer Explanation: The answer is the price for the dressing table, which is £50 or fifty pounds. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is fifty pounds because the woman selling the furniture clearly states this price at the end of the description of the dressing table. She mentions that despite some small scratches, it is still in good condition, and therefore she is asking for fifty pounds. |
| Q10 | Domain | WOMAN: That's right. And I live at 19 Domain Road. MAN: Did you say the main road? WOMAN: No, Domain - D-O-M-A-I-N Road | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman telling the man she lives at 19 Domain Road. She even spells out the word D-O-M-A-I-N to help the man understand correctly. Answer Explanation: The answer is Domain, which is the name of the street where the woman selling the furniture lives. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Domain because the woman clearly states her street address. When the man asks if her address is 'the main road', she clarifies and spells out the word 'Domain' to ensure there is no confusion. |
Transcript
NARRATOR:
Test 3
You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work. All the recordings will be played once only. The test is in 4 sections. At the end of the test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Now turn to section 1.
Section 1
You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman who is selling some furniture and a man who is making enquiries about it. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
[20 seconds]
You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only the conversation relating to this will be played first.
WOMAN: Hello, Carolyn speaking.
MAN: Hello. My name is Lincoln Farraday and I'm ringing to see if you still have the bedroom furniture that you advertised for sale?
WOMAN: Yes, there are three items left - two bedside tables and a dressing table.
The woman said she has three items available so three has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.
WOMAN: Hello, Carolyn speaking.
MAN: Hello. My name is Lincoln Farraday and I'm ringing to see if you still have the bedroom furniture that you advertised for sale?
WOMAN: Yes, there are three items left - two bedside tables and a dressing table.
MAN: Oh, good. They're just the items I'm after. Tell me, what's the construction of the bedside tables - I mean, what are they made of?
WOMAN: Well, they're a matching pair and they're made of wood - but the wood has been painted, it's not brown anymore, it's been painted cream.
MAN: I see.
WOMAN: Each table has a shelf and 2 drawers. Oh, and the drawers have square brass handles - quite modern and quite nice really.
MAN: And what about the dimensions?
WOMAN: Well, each table is 50 centimetres wide ...
MAN: That's good, much bigger than that and they wouldn't fit beside my bed. I live in an apartment where the bedrooms are quite small. What I really need to know is how tall they are - you see my bed's quite high.
WOMAN: 65 centimetres high and 45 centimetres deep.
MAN: Thanks. Just a couple more questions about the bedside tables, what condition are they in and how much are they?
WOMAN: They're in perfect condition - there isn't a mark on them, you know. I had them painted professionally, you see, so the finish is much better than you'd normally expect. As for how much ... well, I guess ... I think fifteen pounds each would be a fair price, but I've decided that I'll only sell them together, as a pair, so that means the price is thirty pounds all up.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.
[20 seconds]
Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.
MAN: Now, can you tell me about the dressing table?
WOMAN: Yes, it matches the other tables in colour and style.
MAN: Good - how many drawers does it have?
WOMAN: Five altogether. Um ... the bottom two drawers hold more as they're deep.
MAN: Mmm ... and the dimensions - how wide is it? That's all I need to know - it wouldn't be more than a metre and a half, would it?
WOMAN: Well, just under actually ... it's ... ah, 1.25 metres across.
MAN: Does it have a mirror?
WOMAN: Three.
MAN: Sorry?
WOMAN: It has three mirrors - you know ... a central one and a narrower one on each side. And they're all adjustable.
MAN: I see - and the overall condition of the dressing table?
WOMAN: Well, it has a couple of scratches on the surface but it's still in good condition so I'm asking fifty pounds.
MAN: Could I call round and have a look later today?
WOMAN: What time were you thinking of?
MAN: In about half an hour ...
WOMAN: Oh, yes, that's fine. By the way, my name is Carolyn Kline - it's on the gate at the front of the house.
MAN: Kline - is that K-L-I-N-E?
WOMAN: That's right. And I live at 19 Domain Road.
MAN: Did you say the main road?
WOMAN: No, Domain - D-O-M-A-I-N Road.
MAN: That's just off Ash Grove, isn't it?
WOMAN: Yes. See you soon then ...
MAN: Yes, in about 30 minutes.
Narrator:
That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[30 seconds]
Now turn to section 2.