The North Bank Business Centre and Local Business Support - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–33 One Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
Questions 34–35 Short Answers
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 36–40 Table Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
| Size of business | Companies | Help being given |
|---|---|---|
| Start-ups | O-foods | Improving the 36 turn around |
| Innovations | Support to attract business partners and achieve 37 | |
| Small | Sampsons Ltd | Business 38 |
| Vintage Scooter | Product monitoring scheme after sales customer service | |
| Medium | Build Ltd | Extension of 39 |
| Jones Systems | Conflict management and 40 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | A | Moreover, they had all without exception come up against enormous bureaucratic obstacles | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that every single business person had faced huge official barriers and difficulties. Answer Explanation: The answer means that every local business person had faced very big difficulties. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker explicitly states that all of the business people, without exception, faced "enormous bureaucratic obstacles." In this context, "obstacles" means "problems" or difficulties, and "enormous" means extremely large. Therefore, they all met enormous problems. |
| Q32 | C | Stemming from that is the Centre, which now focuses mainly but not exclusively on business start-ups | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states clearly that the primary attention of the Centre right now is given to newly established businesses. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Centre works mostly with new companies that were created very recently. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker explains what the Centre concentrates on today. The speaker says the Centre 'focuses mainly' on 'business start-ups'. In English, 'focuses mainly' means having a main focus, and 'business start-ups' are businesses that have just started up. |
| Q33 | B | snapshot research conducted by the department over the telephone gave some startling results | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the university department did quick research by calling people on the phone. Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that the research was done using the phone. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains how the snapshot research was done. In the text, the speaker mentions that "snapshot research conducted by the department over the telephone gave some startling results." The phrase "over the telephone" directly corresponds to the answer choice "by telephone." |
| Q34 | 33% / thirty-three percent | high rents, which are 33% higher than the national average due to the area being very central | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the cost to rent property in this area is 33 percent higher than the standard rent across the country. Answer Explanation: The answer means that rent for local businesses is 33 percent (or 33%) more expensive than the average rent across the whole country. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker when listing why local businesses closed down. The speaker explicitly says that local rents are "33% higher than the national average" because the location is very central. |
| Q35 | 2 / two | And now, after a year, only two businesses close out of every ten compared to eight before the Centre was set up | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript directly states that at present, after one full year, only two out of ten businesses end up closing. Answer Explanation: The answer means that only two businesses shut down within a year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "2" (or "two") because the speaker discusses the current performance of businesses supported by the Centre. The speaker states that today, after a year, "only two businesses close out of every ten," showing a big improvement compared to the past. |
| Q36 | stock | Ofoods, a small start-up company with nine employees involved in organic food and based at a local market, has one final year graduate doing a year-long study on improving the stock turnaround | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a graduate student is doing research to help Ofoods improve how quickly they sell and replace their stock (inventory). Answer Explanation: The answer "stock" refers to goods or products that a business has ready to sell. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "stock" because the speaker discusses the company Ofoods and the help it is receiving. A university graduate is doing a study specifically aimed at "improving the stock turnaround". In the notes, the phrase is "Improving the turn around", which clearly takes the word "stock". |
| Q37 | production targets | Another start-up is Innovations which deals with producing video games. This company, which employs only five people all under the age of 25, is receiving support in attracting business partners and achieving production targets | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the young company Innovations makes video games and is getting assistance to find business partners and reach its production goals. Answer Explanation: The answer means the goals or amounts of goods that a company aims to make. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "production targets" because the speaker discusses the start-up company called Innovations. The speaker explicitly mentions that this company "is receiving support in attracting business partners and achieving production targets." In the notes, the phrase "Support to attract business partners and achieve" directly matches this sentence, making "production targets" the exact words needed to complete the gap. |
| Q38 | expansion plans | In the smaller business category, Sampsons Ltd, a courier company, which is interested in developing a taxi service, is being offered help with their business expansion plans | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Sampsons Ltd is getting assistance with its plans to expand and grow its business. Answer Explanation: The answer "expansion plans" means ideas and strategies for making a business grow bigger and offer new services. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "expansion plans" because the speaker discusses the smaller business "Sampsons Ltd" and clearly mentions that they are receiving support for their "business expansion plans." In the notes, the word "Business" is already provided, so the missing words are "expansion plans." |
| Q39 | company's product range / product range | The first of the two medium-sized companies that the scheme is monitoring is Build Ltd, which employs 47 people. A comparison of their products and services with other businesses in the area is being carried out by a researcher, who is trying to support them in their efforts to extend the company's product range | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Build Ltd is receiving help from a researcher to add more items to the range of products they sell. Answer Explanation: The answer means the variety or different types of items that the business sells. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker discusses the medium-sized company 'Build Ltd'. A researcher is helping them with their goal to 'extend the company's product range'. In the notes, the phrase 'Extension of' matches 'efforts to extend', which means the missing words are '(company's) product range'. |
| Q40 | team building | And so we are looking at conflict management and team building within the company | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the project is focusing on managing disagreements and improving cooperation among team members at Jones Systems. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to activities that help members of a group work well together as a unit. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker when describing the assistance provided to Jones Systems. The speaker notes that the business suffered from staff issues, so they are focusing on "conflict management and team building". |
Transcript
The subject of this evening's talk at the North Bank Business Centre is local businesses in the area surrounding the university, and the benefit they bring to the employment prospects of people in the local area, especially young people at the beginning of their career.
We established the Centre in response to approaches from several business people in the area who had wanted to start up new businesses but who had not managed to find any help locally and did not know where to turn. Moreover, they had all without exception come up against enormous bureaucratic obstacles. We therefore invited them in as a group to meet the members of the department and the students. Stemming from that is the Centre, which now focuses mainly but not exclusively on business start-ups.
Just after the Centre was set up, snapshot research conducted by the department over the telephone gave some startling results. The information about local businesses revealed that three out of every ten local businesses start-ups, that we could collect information on, had failed within the first six months, and another five had gone within the year, leaving only two. The most common reasons given for the businesses closing were: first, high rents, which are 33% higher than the national average due to the area being very central; second, lack of knowledge about grants, basically because of ignorance about how to access them; and thirdly a lack of business support, because they did not know where to obtain advice from.
Since the Centre came into existence three years ago, we have helped to change this climate of failure. The current statistics show a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of local businesses. And now, after a year, only two businesses close out of every ten compared to eight before the Centre was set up.
Six local businesses are now taking part in a work-placement and monitoring scheme, which is of mutual benefit to ourselves and the companies involved. Ofoods, a small start-up company with nine employees involved in organic food and based at a local market, has one final year graduate doing a year-long study on improving the stock turnaround. This was a particular problem because the company found that they were losing sometimes up to 30 percent of their stock. Another start-up is Innovations which deals with producing video games. This company, which employs only five people all under the age of 25, is receiving support in attracting business partners and achieving production targets.
In the smaller business category, Sampsons Ltd, a courier company, which is interested in developing a taxi service, is being offered help with their business expansion plans. Another small niche company, called Vintage Scooter, which specializes in revamping old scooters, is taking part in a product-monitoring scheme, offering customer service up to a year after purchase to check the quality of their restoration.
The first of the two medium-sized companies that the scheme is monitoring is Build Ltd, which employs 47 people. A comparison of their products and services with other businesses in the area is being carried out by a researcher, who is trying to support them in their efforts to extend the company's product range.
The last company, Jones Systems, is perhaps the most interesting, because it has been the victim of considerable personnel problems, which have been affecting the day-to-day operations of the company. And so we are looking at conflict management and team building within the company.
To sum up, advisors help the companies look at different business options and models, apply for grants, deal with employment issues, systems creation, and also provide accommodation at the centre to help them start up. E-mentoring for fledging businesses is also in operation for those who find it difficult to attend the centre personally. The programme is funded by grants from local authorities.