The Annual Business Exhibition Overview - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–12 Two Choices
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 13–14 Two Choices
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 15–20 Matching
Which topic will each of the following speakers focus on?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G.
A. Supporting job seekers
B. Dealing with personal problems
C. Effects of an unexpectedly rapid expansion
D. A global range of business experiences
E. Coping with financial set-backs
F. Developing a company in response to changing markets
G. Combining business success with contributions to charities
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | — | — | |
| Q12 | C / E | We also used the Breakout area where people could sit down and relax, and try out our products, and due to popular request we used that again last year. Last year we also sponsored the innovative Business Connections Zone where people could leave their contact details on a board to contact other companies, and that also effectively raised our corporate profile | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that because the Breakout area was popular, the company returned to it last year. It also states that in the same year, they sponsored the Business Connections Zone to help more people learn about their business. Answer Explanation: The answer is the Breakout area and the Business Connections Zone. These are the two places where James Craig's company was present during the previous year's event. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the feedback from James Craig. He mentions two specific places his company used "last year." First, he says they used the Breakout area for a second time last year because people liked it. Second, he explicitly says they sponsored (paid to support) the Business Connections Zone last year to help people notice their company. |
| Q13 | — | — | |
| Q14 | A / B | As well as a unique chance to publicise your company, businesses who exhibit with us can claim discounts on a number of popular brands, including major high street fashion and jewellery outlets, as well as grocery chains. Discounts available range from 3.5% up to an amazing 15%, so you can save a lot of money. In fact, the average saving made by each exhibitor came to over £400! The scheme is available to every member of your organisation so this is a benefit that really does have something for you all | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that companies that show their products at the event get special lower prices at clothing shops and supermarkets. It also says that every person working at the company can get these lower prices. Answer Explanation: The answer means that everyone who works at an exhibiting company can use the discounts, and these discounts work for buying things like clothes and food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on two specific pieces of information in the transcript. First, it mentions that the discounts can be used at "fashion" outlets (which means clothing) and "grocery chains" (which means food). Second, it states that the discount "scheme is available to every member of your organisation," meaning all employees at the company can use it. It does not say you must spend £400; rather, £400 is the average amount people saved. Also, the discount percentage is not always the same because it ranges from 3.5% to 15%. |
| Q15 | C | Jim Clowrie started off selling vegetables from a small plot, then opened a small café. Rather to his surprise this became a bit of a sensation, and in a remarkably short time he had opened an amazing 76 restaurants worldwide | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says Jim started with a very small business, but it became popular very fast and he opened many restaurants across the world in a way that surprised even himself. Answer Explanation: The answer C means Jim Clowrie will talk about how his business grew very big very quickly in a way he did not expect. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker describes Jim Clowrie's business as becoming a "sensation" and growing in a "remarkably short time," which matches the word "rapid" in the choice. It also says this success happened "to his surprise," which matches the word "unexpectedly." Moving from one small café to "76 restaurants worldwide" is a clear example of "expansion" (growing larger). |
| Q16 | G | David France will be giving an inspirational talk about how as a business-minded teenager he managed to set up his own company, and even to be the first person under 18 to get a business bank account. David's company has gone from strength to strength but he isn't just interested in making money - he also makes regular donations to organisations helping those in need both in the UK and elsewhere in the world | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that David France started his own company which became very successful and that he also gives money to organizations that help people in the UK and other countries. Answer Explanation: The answer is G, which means David France will talk about being successful in business while also giving money to charity groups. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the speaker explains that David France's business is very successful (it has "gone from strength to strength") and that he gives money to groups that help people ("makes regular donations to organisations helping those in need"). In this context, "making donations" is a synonym for contributing to charities, and the growth of his company represents his "business success." |
| Q17 | D | Oliver Stanton was born and educated in the UK, and then went to Malaysia where he set up a rubber-wood furniture business. He then built log houses in the mountains in Japan before moving to Hong Kong to set up a digital marketing business. After that he moved back to the UK with his wife Saiphin, and together they opened a Thai café. He'll be telling you about what he discovered during his travels around the world about business practices in different cultures | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Oliver Stanton worked in many places like Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and the UK. It says he will share what he learned about how business works in different cultures and countries. Answer Explanation: The answer is D because Oliver Stanton will talk about his experiences doing business in many different countries around the world. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the speaker describes Oliver Stanton's history of starting businesses in several different countries, including Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, and the UK. The description concludes by saying he will talk about what he learned during his 'travels around the world' regarding 'business practices in different cultures.' This matches the phrase 'A global range of business experiences,' where 'global' refers to his work across multiple countries and 'range' refers to the different types of businesses he ran. |
| Q18 | A | Her main business interest is in technology, but she's also passionate about helping people gain employment and organises an annual jobs fair, so she'll be concentrating on this in her talk | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although Francesca works in technology, she cares a lot about helping people find jobs and hosts a yearly event to help them. This is the main topic she will discuss in her presentation. Answer Explanation: The answer A means that Francesca Heptonstall's speech will focus on helping people find work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions that Francesca Heptonstall is very interested in helping people get jobs and even holds a yearly event called a 'jobs fair' for this purpose. She plans to focus her speech on these efforts. In this context, 'helping people gain employment' is a direct synonym for 'supporting job seekers.' |
| Q19 | F | Salman Khan is the Chief Executive of QBF Enterprises, and has turned around this business from a major publishing business to one of the UK's largest digital marketing service providers. He'll be talking about the need for flexibility to cope with new directions in today's business world | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Salman Khan changed his company's focus from old publishing methods to digital marketing. It also says he will speak about why businesses need to be ready to change when the world around them changes. Answer Explanation: The answer 'F' means Salman Khan will talk about how a company can change and grow to keep up with a changing business world. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because the transcript describes how Salman Khan changed his company, QBF Enterprises, from a publishing business into a digital marketing business. He will talk about the importance of being 'flexible' and able to handle 'new directions' in the business world. This matches the idea of 'developing a company in response to changing markets,' as he adapted his business to keep up with modern technology. |
| Q20 | B | Her session will offer an interactive look at different obstacles in people's own lives, not just in business. She also looks at how you can overcome them, whether you're starting out in business or at the top of your game | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Annie Craven's talk is about difficulties people face in their daily lives, not only at work, and how they can solve those problems. Answer Explanation: The answer is option B because Annie Craven will talk about how to handle difficult situations in a person's private life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker mentions that Annie Craven's session looks at "obstacles in people's own lives." In English, an "obstacle" is a problem or a difficulty that stops you from doing something. "People's own lives" means their personal or private life, rather than just their work or business. The transcript also says she talks about how to "overcome" them, which means to deal with or solve these problems. |
Transcript
Hello and welcome to this podcast telling you about our annual business exhibition. This year, as always, it will be full of the very best speakers, features and innovations.
Let me start by reading some feedback from James Craig, who's exhibited with us for the past two years. James says, 'I'm director of a company called TalkCon, which is an office phone system. The first year we exhibited, we had a stand in the Business Village, where we made a lot of useful contacts. We also used the Breakout area where people could sit down and relax, and try out our products, and due to popular request we used that again last year. Last year we also sponsored the innovative Business Connections Zone where people could leave their contact details on a board to contact other companies, and that also effectively raised our corporate profile. We're hoping that in the coming exhibition we'll also have a presence in the Digital Marketing centre, which is clearly a key area for our company. And also maybe have our own Talkcon Zone, at some stage.'
The exhibition's open from 8am to 11 pm and there's a range of special events for you to enjoy in the evening.
As well as a unique chance to publicise your company, businesses who exhibit with us can claim discounts on a number of popular brands, including major high street fashion and jewellery outlets, as well as grocery chains. Discounts available range from 3.5% up to an amazing 15%, so you can save a lot of money. In fact, the average saving made by each exhibitor came to over £400! The scheme is available to every member of your organisation so this is a benefit that really does have something for you all.
Now let me tell you about some of our keynote speakers for this year's exhibition.
Jim Clowrie started off selling vegetables from a small plot, then opened a small café. Rather to his surprise this became a bit of a sensation, and in a remarkably short time he had opened an amazing 76 restaurants worldwide. He'll be telling you how it all happened, and how it changed his life.
David France will be giving an inspirational talk about how as a business-minded teenager he managed to set up his own company, and even to be the first person under 18 to get a business bank account. David's company has gone from strength to strength but he isn't just interested in making money - he also makes regular donations to organisations helping those in need both in the UK and elsewhere in the world.
Oliver Stanton was born and educated in the UK, and then went to Malaysia where he set up a rubber-wood furniture business. He then built log houses in the mountains in Japan before moving to Hong Kong to set up a digital marketing business. After that he moved back to the UK with his wife Saiphin, and together they opened a Thai café. He'll be telling you about what he discovered during his travels around the world about business practices in different cultures.
Francesca Heptonstall is a broadcaster and businesswoman who's known for her down-to-earth attitude. After winning a top job in a TV contest, she launched a number of online deal sites. Her main business interest is in technology, but she's also passionate about helping people gain employment and organises an annual jobs fair, so she'll be concentrating on this in her talk.
Salman Khan is the Chief Executive of QBF Enterprises, and has turned around this business from a major publishing business to one of the UK's largest digital marketing service providers. He'll be talking about the need for flexibility to cope with new directions in today's business world.
Finally, Annie Craven is a consultant and coach who works with people to create lasting changes in their business and life. Her session will offer an interactive look at different obstacles in people's own lives, not just in business. She also looks at how you can overcome them, whether you're starting out in business or at the top of your game.
Now let me ...
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