The Taj Mahal - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert On Cambridge IELTS 07 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–12 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 13–16 Plan Labeling
Label the plan below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Questions 17–17 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 18–20 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow chart below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
How running water is provided
Water taken from the 18 by bullocks.
Water channelled into the 19.
Water piped to the 20.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | C | The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan to commemorate his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal when she died, and, although this was not his original intention, for he had planned to build a black marble tomb for himself, they both lie side by side in the tomb today | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Shahjahan made the building in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and today both the Emperor and his wife are buried next to each other inside the tomb. Answer Explanation: The answer means that both Emperor Shahjahan and his wife are resting inside the tomb. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker notes that although the Emperor originally planned to create a separate black marble tomb for himself, "they both lie side by side in the tomb today." The phrase "they both" refers directly to Emperor Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal, meaning both people are buried there. |
| Q12 | A | Much of the structure was built in white marble that was carried by a thousand elephants all the way from the Indian region of Rajasthan some 300 kilometres away | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that elephants carried the white marble for the building from Rajasthan, a place located in India. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the white marble used to build the Taj Mahal was brought from India. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker clearly mentions that the white marble was transported from Rajasthan, which is a region in India. China provided crystal and jade, while Persia was where some craftsmen and architects came from, not the white marble. |
| Q13 | The Main Gateway / Main Gateway | Your tour begins here at the point marked with an X on the plan. This is known as The Main Gateway | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the starting point of the visit, which is indicated by an X on the map, is called The Main Gateway. Answer Explanation: The answer means the primary or main entrance building to the site. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker states that the tour starts at the location marked with an "X" on the plan, and explicitly identifies this spot as "The Main Gateway". |
| Q14 | the 16 flower beds / the sixteen flower beds / the flower beds / 16 flower beds / sixteen flower beds / flower beds | Each of these four quarters is then sub-divided into flower beds. So there are 16 flower beds altogether | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the four sections of the garden are split into smaller areas for growing flowers, resulting in 16 flower beds in total. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the "16 flower beds" or "flower beds" that make up the divided sections of the garden. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified by following the guide's description of the garden layout. The speaker explains that two canals divide the garden into four quarters, and each quarter is further divided into "flower beds," making a total of "16 flower beds altogether." |
| Q15 | a raised pond / a pond / the raised pond / the pond / raised pond / pond | Instead, at the centre of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the gateway, there's a raised pond which provides a reflection of the Taj Mahal | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in the middle of the garden, between the main entrance and the tomb, there is a raised pool of water showing the reflection of the building. Answer Explanation: The answer means a small body of water that is built higher than the ground around it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when the speaker describes the layout of the garden on the plan. They explain that right in the middle, between the tomb and the gateway, there is a "raised pond". Therefore, the location in the centre of the garden is labeled as a pond or raised pond. |
| Q16 | a Mosque / the Mosque / Mosque | The one to the west - to the left on our plan - is a mosque | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript clearly states that the building located on the left side (the west) of the map is a mosque. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a mosque, which is a holy building where Muslims go to pray. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the tour guide when describing the layout of the complex. The speaker points out that there are red sandstone buildings on both sides of the tomb. Specifically, the building on the west side, which corresponds to the left side of the map plan, is identified directly as a "mosque". |
| Q17 | C | Perhaps the most likely answer to this question is that its purpose is purely aesthetic, to act as a visual balance for the mosque and to preserve the symmetry of the design of the whole complex | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the building was made mainly for looks, helping the whole site look balanced and symmetrical next to the mosque. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the Rest House was built as a design element to make the building complex look balanced and beautiful. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the guide explains that the true role of the Rest House was "purely aesthetic"—meaning for visual beauty—to create balance with the mosque on the other side and keep the symmetry of the overall design. While people wonder if it was a place for pilgrims or a meeting hall, those are just questions, not the actual purpose. |
| Q18 | river | When it was built, water was drawn from the river manually, using an elaborate rope and bucket system, pulled by a team of bullocks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when the site was constructed, bullocks pulled buckets on ropes to pull water up from the river. Answer Explanation: The answer "river" means a wide, natural stream of fresh water flowing across the land. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "river" because the speaker describes the first step of the water supply system. The text states that water was "drawn from the river" using ropes and buckets pulled by bullocks. Here, "drawn from" means taken from. |
| Q19 | supply tanks / tanks | The water was then brought through a broad water channel and held in a number of supply tanks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that after water moved through a channel, it was kept in storage tanks. Answer Explanation: The answer means containers used for storing water, known as tanks or supply tanks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "(supply) tanks" because the speaker explains the steps of the water system. After water was collected from the river, it was moved through a wide channel and stored in several supply tanks. In the task, "Water channelled into" matches the transcript's phrase "brought through a broad water channel and held in a number of supply tanks". |
| Q20 | fountains | Using an elaborate system of underground pipes, the water was then distributed from the supply tanks to each of the fountains | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that pipes under the ground were used to move water from the tanks into each of the fountains. Answer Explanation: The answer means decorative water features that spray water up into the air. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "fountains" because the flow chart tracks the path of the water system. The final step asks where the water was piped. The speaker explains that underground pipes were used to send water from the supply tanks to "each of the fountains." In this context, using underground pipes to distribute water means the water was "piped to the fountains." |
Transcript
Welcome to our audio tour of the Taj Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is the most popular tourist attraction in India. It is also one of the most spectacular buildings of the world, and is considered as a symbol of love. But how many people realise that it was actually built as a tomb or burial place for the Emperor's wife?
The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan to commemorate his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal when she died, and, although this was not his original intention, for he had planned to build a black marble tomb for himself, they both lie side by side in the tomb today. Emperor Shahjahan's two greatest passions were architecture and jewellery and both are represented here in all their splendour.
The most skilled architects and craftsmen came from across India and countries as far away as Persia and Turkey. Much of the structure was built in white marble that was carried by a thousand elephants all the way from the Indian region of Rajasthan some 300 kilometres away. Crystal and jade came from China, sapphires from Sri Lanka and turquoise from Tibet.
But there's a lot more to the Taj Mahal than just the tomb, so let's have a look at the overall plan before we take a walk through the magnificent gardens. Your tour begins here at the point marked with an X on the plan. This is known as The Main Gateway. Walk through the gate and you come into an elaborate garden. There are two marble canals studded with fountains, which cross in the centre of the garden, dividing it into four equal squares. Each of these four quarters is then sub-divided into flower beds. So there are 16 flower beds altogether. The tomb stands majestically at the north end, not in the centre as you might have expected. Instead, at the centre of the garden, halfway between the tomb and the gateway, there's a raised pond which provides a reflection of the Taj Mahal. It's a magnificent sight. On either side of the tomb there are buildings made of red sandstone. The one to the west - to the left on our plan - is a mosque. It faces towards Mecca and is used for prayer. On the east side of the Taj is a building known as the Rest House. It's like the twin of the mosque, but because it faces away from Mecca, it was never used for prayer.
Many people have asked what the Rest House was for. Was it a place for pilgrims to stay? Was it a meeting hall of some kind? Perhaps the most likely answer to this question is that its purpose is purely aesthetic, to act as a visual balance for the mosque and to preserve the symmetry of the design of the whole complex.
Let's have a look at some of the engineering features of the garden. For one thing, they require a constant supply of running water. When it was built, water was drawn from the river manually, using an elaborate rope and bucket system, pulled by a team of bullocks. The water was then brought through a broad water channel and held in a number of supply tanks. These tanks were at varying heights off the ground and were ingeniously designed to store the very large amounts of water required. Using an elaborate system of underground pipes, the water was then distributed from the supply tanks to each of the fountains. To ensure that the water pressure was the same throughout the garden, there was a copper pot under each fountain connected to the water supply. It was undoubtedly a brilliant system.