Stewart’s Work Placement at the Central Museum Association - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS Academic Listening Test 8 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–27 Matching
What helped Stewart with each of the following stages in making his training film for museum employees?
Choose SEVEN answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–I, next to Questions 21–27.
A. advice from friends
B. information on a website
C. being allowed extra time
D. meeting a professional film maker
E. good weather conditions
F. getting a better computer
G. support of a manager
H. help from a family member
I. work on a previous assignment
Questions 28–30 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Stewart's work placement: benefits to the Central Museum Association
- his understanding of the Association's 28
- the reduction in expense
- increased co-operation between 29
- continuous 30 which led to a better product
- ideas for distribution of the film
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | E | And even though it was the middle of winter, there wasn't any snow, so I didn't have any transport problems | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Stewart did not have trouble traveling because there was no snow, even though it was the cold season. Answer Explanation: The answer is E because Stewart says that good weather made it easier for him to travel and find a place to film. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because Stewart explains that while he was looking for a place to shoot the film, the weather stayed clear. Even though it was winter, there was no snow, which meant he didn't face any 'transport problems' or delays when traveling across the country. Keywords like 'middle of winter' and 'wasn't any snow' show that the weather conditions were helpful for his search. |
| Q22 | I | Yes. I think they were quite surprised at how well I managed that. It was just the luck of the draw actually, I'd done that project with you last year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that Stewart's bosses were surprised at how well he chose the equipment. Stewart explains it was just the luck of the draw because he had finished a similar school project with his teacher a year earlier. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Stewart knew which tools to use because he had done a similar school project in the past. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is I because Stewart told his teacher that he was good at picking equipment because of a project they did together last year. This previous work gave him the recording technology knowledge he needed for the film. Using a past assignment (the project) to help with a current task is what option I describes. |
| Q23 | C | What I found really hard was actually writing the script. I had a deadline for that but the Association had to extend it. I couldn't have done it otherwise | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Stewart admitting that writing the script was a hard task. He says he had a finish date, but the group he was working for gave him more time. He mentions that without this extra time, he would not have been able to finish the task. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Stewart was given more time than first planned to finish writing his script. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Stewart says that writing the script for the film was very difficult for him. He explains that he had a set date to finish (a deadline), but the organization let him have more time (extended it). The phrases 'deadline' and 'extend' match the idea of being 'allowed extra time'. |
| Q24 | G | But Janice King, who I was reporting to for the project, she was great. She arranged for people to have time off and for their work to be covered. So that was a big help for me | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Stewart's supervisor, Janice King, gave him a lot of help. She allowed staff members to stop their work and be in his film without worrying about their duties. Answer Explanation: The answer 'G' means that a manager or boss helped Stewart choose the right people to be in his film. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because Stewart mentions a person named Janice King. He says he was 'reporting to' her, which means she was his boss or manager. She provided support by making sure the workers had time to participate in the film and that their regular jobs were still being done. This help from his manager made the 'casting' (choosing people to act in the film) possible. |
| Q25 | B | And it sounds like the filming itself went well. I gather you found a company who provided an online introduction to the techniques. Stewart: Yeah. It was really informative, and very user-friendly. I learned a lot from it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher talking about how the filming part of the project was successful because Stewart found a lesson on the internet. Stewart agrees, saying that the information on the website was very clear and useful for him. Answer Explanation: The answer means that looking at a website helped Stewart learn how to film properly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor mentions that Stewart found an 'online introduction' to film-making techniques. Stewart confirms that this source was very helpful and easy to use, and that he learned a lot from it. The word 'online' is a synonym for information found on a website. |
| Q26 | D | For that, the Association put me in touch with someone who works for one of the big movie companies and I went down to the studio and sat with him in front of his computer for a day, learning how to cut and paste, and deal with the soundtrack and so on | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that Stewart met with a person from a famous movie company. He spent a day at a studio learning how to fix the video parts and handle the sound from this expert. Answer Explanation: The answer means Stewart got help with the editing stage by working with a person who makes professional movies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Stewart mentions that for the editing part of his project, he was introduced to someone working at a large movie company. He visited a professional studio and spent a day learning specific skills like how to "cut and paste" video and handle sound from this expert. This person is a professional film maker. |
| Q27 | A | No, but I did a rough draft and then talked it through with a couple of my mates and they gave me some more ideas, and when I'd finished it, I showed it to the people who worked at the Association and they really liked it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Stewart created a first version (rough draft) of the cover and discussed it with his friends, who gave him more thoughts and suggestions to improve it. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Stewart received suggestions from his friends to help him create the design for the DVD case. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Stewart mentions that he shared his initial draft of the DVD cover with a few of his 'mates' (which is another word for friends). These friends provided him with extra ideas, which helped him complete the design successfully. In this context, 'ideas' from 'mates' matches the option 'advice from friends'. |
| Q28 | aims / objectives / goals | But because I was actually working for the Association, I'd got much more of a feeling for what their aims are | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Stewart explaining that because he was an employee at the Association, he had a deeper knowledge of their specific goals and intended results, which he calls "aims." Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the goals, purposes, or targets that the Central Museum Association wanted to achieve. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is extracted from Stewart's explanation of why his project was unique compared to one done by an outside company. He explains that since he was a worker there, he had a better "feeling for"—meaning a better understanding of—the Association's "aims." This matches the note which asks for what he had an understanding of regarding the Association. |
| Q29 | staff | The Association also said making the film had a very positive effect in getting staff to work together more closely | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the film project had a good result because it encouraged the workers to collaborate and help each other more. Answer Explanation: The answer "staff" refers to the people who work for the Association. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "staff" because the transcript states that the project helped the workers at the organization work together more effectively. In the notes, "increased co-operation" is a synonym for the phrase "work together more closely," and the people doing this are specifically called "staff." |
| Q30 | feedback | And certainly, people weren't afraid to tell me what they thought about it as I was making it, so I was able to get lots of feedback at every stage. That was useful for me but it also meant the final product worked better for them | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that people shared their thoughts with Stewart throughout the project. This input, which he calls feedback, helped ensure the finished movie was of higher quality for the Association. Answer Explanation: The answer is feedback, which refers to the opinions and comments people gave Stewart about the film while he was making it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is feedback because Stewart explains that getting people's opinions at every stage of the process was very helpful. He mentions that receiving this continuous information helped make the final film (the product) better for the museum association. In the notes, 'continuous' matches his phrase 'at every stage' and 'better product' matches 'final product worked better'. |
Transcript
Tutor: Right Stewart, well I've read your draft report on your work placement at the Central Museum Association. Sounds as if you had an interesting time. So you ended up making a film for them?
Stewart: Yeah. It was a film to train the employees in different museums in the techniques they should use for labelling ancient objects without damaging them. Some of them are really fragile.
Tutor: OK. So in your report you go through the main stages in making the film. Let's discuss that in a little more detail. You had to find a location - somewhere to shoot the film.
Stewart: That took quite a few days, because I had to look at different museums all over the country, but I'd allowed time for it. And even though it was the middle of winter, there wasn't any snow, so I didn't have any transport problems.
Tutor: Right. Did you have to decide what equipment you'd need for the filming?
Stewart: Yes. I think they were quite surprised at how well I managed that. It was just the luck of the draw actually, I'd done that project with you last year.
Tutor: Oh, on recording technology? So you knew a bit about it from that, right.
Stewart: Yeah. What I found really hard was actually writing the script. I had a deadline for that but the Association had to extend it. I couldn't have done it otherwise.
Tutor: Would it have helped if you'd had some training there?
Stewart: I think you're right, I probably needed that, yeah.
Tutor: Right. Now from your draft report it sounds as if you had one or two problems deciding who was going to actually appear in the video.
Stewart: The casting? Yeah. I'd expected that the people who worked for the Association would be really keen on taking part ...
Tutor: But they weren't?
Stewart: The thing was, they were all so busy. And it did mean some of them had to travel. But Janice King, who I was reporting to for the project, she was great. She arranged for people to have time off and for their work to be covered. So that was a big help for me.
Tutor: Right. And it sounds like the filming itself went well. I gather you found a company who provided an online introduction to the techniques.
Stewart: Yeah. It was really informative, and very user-friendly. I learned a lot from it.
Tutor: And then the editing?
Stewart: For that, the Association put me in touch with someone who works for one of the big movie companies and I went down to the studio and sat with him in front of his computer for a day, learning how to cut and paste, and deal with the soundtrack and so on.
Tutor: So was that all?
Stewart: No, I didn't include this in my draft report but I had to design the cover for the DVD as well... the lettering and everything.
Tutor: Have you done any of that sort of design work before?
Stewart: No, but I did a rough draft and then talked it through with a couple of my mates and they gave me some more ideas, and when I'd finished it, I showed it to the people who worked at the Association and they really liked it.
Tutor: Excellent.
Tutor: Now as well as your own draft report, I've also received some written evaluation from the Association on the work you did during your placement, and how it was of benefit to them. I noticed that you haven't included anything on that in your report yet.
Stewart: How my project benefited the Association, you mean? So do I have to include that?
Tutor: Yes.
Stewart: Well, let's think... I suppose if I hadn't made the film for them, they'd have had to get an outside company to do it. But because I was actually working for the Association, I'd got much more of a feeling for what their aims are. Things like their responsibility for the conservation of the exhibits. I don't think an outside company would have had that understanding, they'd have been more detached.
Tutor: Right. And the Association also said that because of your background, you had a good idea of where to go to get the best deal for the equipment you needed. They said the saving in expense made it worthwhile even though sourcing it took quite a bit of time.
Stewart: Yes, that's true.
Tutor: The Association also said making the film had a very positive effect in getting staff to work together more closely.
Stewart: Oh. I hadn't heard that. That's good. And certainly, people weren't afraid to tell me what they thought about it as I was making it, so I was able to get lots of feedback at every stage. That was useful for me but it also meant the final product worked better for them.
Tutor: Can you think of any other benefits?
Stewart: Well, I don't think they'd really thought out what they'd do with the film once it was made. I made quite a few suggestions for the distribution - other people we could send it to as well as museum staff.
Tutor: Yes, they mentioned that. OK, good, well it sounds like they certainly ...