The University of Northumbria and the City of Newcastle - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–12 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentence below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
- Students from more than 80 countries study on 11.
- Overseas students are guaranteed a single bedroom in one of the 12.
Questions 13–14 One Choice
Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
Questions 15–20 Table Completion
Complete the notes below
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Newcastle
| Location | Transportation to London | Convenient for travelling |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 16 | International airport and 17 |
| Size | Entertainment | Chinatown |
| 18 | Varied 19 | World-famous 20 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | undergraduate courses | In fact, we currently have students on undergraduate courses from more than 80 different countries | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that students who attend the university's undergraduate study programs come from more than 80 different nations around the world. Answer Explanation: The answer "undergraduate courses" refers to university study programs that students take to earn their first degree (a bachelor's degree) after finishing high school. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "undergraduate courses" because the speaker directly states that students from over 80 different countries are enrolled in these specific programs. In the sentence, the phrase "study on" matches the phrase "students on" from the recording. |
| Q12 | student dormitories / dormitories | And what's more, if you are an overseas student, you are guaranteed a room in one of the student dormitories on campus, with two meals a day included in your rent | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that any student coming from another country is sure to get a room inside one of the campus student dormitories. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the university buildings where students live and sleep, known as student dormitories or dormitories. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by the speaker when discussing accommodation for international learners. The speaker states that if someone is an "overseas student," they are "guaranteed a room in one of the student dormitories." Therefore, completing the phrase "in one of the..." requires "(student) dormitories." |
| Q13 | A | There are many clubs formed by students that arrange many different types of social events with the main aim of raising money for good causes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the primary objective of the groups created by students is to host social activities to gather money for charitable reasons. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the primary goal of the student clubs is to collect money to help people in need. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker clearly mentions that student clubs organize activities with the 'main aim of raising money for good causes.' In this context, 'main aim' directly corresponds to 'main purpose', and 'raising money for good causes' is a synonym for 'raising funds for charity'. |
| Q14 | B | The courses are taught through standard lectures as well as small group sessions, called seminars, which require students to interact and share ideas thereby developing students' ability to think independently | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in small classes called seminars, students talk and exchange their ideas so that they can learn how to think for themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the goal of seminars is to help students learn how to think on their own. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains that seminars are small group sessions where students talk together and share thoughts, "thereby developing students' ability to think independently." The word "thereby" shows that interacting and sharing ideas are the methods used to achieve the main goal, which is to build independent thinking. |
| Q15 | Northeast of London / North-East of London | The University of Northumbria is set in the city of Newcastle, in the far north-east of England | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states clearly that Newcastle is situated in the north-east region of the country. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies where the city of Newcastle is located geographically. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer explains the location of Newcastle. According to the speaker, the University of Northumbria and the city of Newcastle are situated in the 'far north-east of England'. |
| Q16 | 3-hour train / train / 3-hour 3 hours' train / 3 hours' train | Yet at the same time it's only a 3-hour train journey to London | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that traveling from Newcastle to London takes only three hours by train. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to riding a train for 3 hours to travel to London. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker talks about traveling to London from Newcastle. They state that the trip takes only a "3-hour train journey", which describes the mode of transportation to London. |
| Q17 | shipping port | Newcastle, however, has its own international airport and shipping port making it an ideal location to visit many other parts of Europe | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Newcastle has both an airport and a shipping port, which makes it a great place for traveling to other European destinations. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a harbor or sea station where ships arrive and leave. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "shipping port" because the speaker discusses why Newcastle is convenient for traveling to other areas. The speaker explains that Newcastle has two major travel facilities: an "international airport" and a "shipping port". Therefore, "shipping port" correctly fills in the blank next to "International airport and". |
| Q18 | Half of London | Despite its size it's about half as big as London | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Newcastle's physical size is around half the size of London. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the city of Newcastle is about half the size of London. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Half of London" because the speaker discusses the city's size and compares it directly to London, explaining that Newcastle is about half as large. |
| Q19 | nightlife | it has a surprisingly entertaining and different nightlife with theatres, nightclubs, bars, pubs, and discos | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that Newcastle has many enjoyable and varied things to do in the evening, such as going to theatres, clubs, bars, pubs, and discos. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to fun evening activities and entertainment, such as going to bars, clubs, or theatres. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because the speaker describes Newcastle's entertainment scene. The speaker mentions that the city has a 'surprisingly entertaining and different nightlife' that includes theatres, nightclubs, and pubs. Here, the word 'different' matches the note prompt 'Varied', making 'nightlife' the right word to fill in the blank. |
| Q20 | art gallery | as well as a very good museum and a world renowned art gallery | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Newcastle features a museum and an art gallery known by people around the world. Answer Explanation: The answer "art gallery" means a place or building where people can look at paintings, sculptures, and other forms of art. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "art gallery" because the notes mention something in Newcastle that is "World-famous". In the talk, the speaker highlights that the city has "a world renowned art gallery". The words "world renowned" have the exact same meaning as "world-famous". |
Transcript
Welcome everybody to this introduction to the University of Northumbria and the City of Newcastle.
For those of you who are considering studying at the university I think you'll find it an extremely rewarding experience. The university is, in fact, one of the largest in the UK, with more than 900 academic staff and 24,000 students. And students themselves come from many parts of the world, including China, Malaysia and the Caribbean. In fact, we currently have students on undergraduate courses from more than 80 different countries. So I'm sure you'll agree that culturally it will be a very rewarding experience indeed. And what's more, if you are an overseas student, you are guaranteed a room in one of the student dormitories on campus, with two meals a day included in your rent.
Student life on campus is very varied. There are many clubs formed by students that arrange many different types of social events with the main aim of raising money for good causes. These include discos, sports events and theme nights. They also arrange excursions to places of local interest, as well as trips farther afield, including other European countries. And for the sports fans amongst you the university has no fewer than 45 sports clubs, offering a variety of sports for all tastes.
Although the university offers courses in a wide range of subjects, business management, psychology and modern languages are a specialty, and therefore it serves the growing demands of modern employers who require graduates to be well versed in the skills taught on these courses. The courses are taught through standard lectures as well as small group sessions, called seminars, which require students to interact and share ideas thereby developing students' ability to think independently.
The University of Northumbria is set in the city of Newcastle, in the far north-east of England, which, as you can see from the picture here is a beautiful coastal town bordering Scotland. Yet at the same time it's only a 3-hour train journey to London. Newcastle, however, has its own international airport and shipping port making it an ideal location to visit many other parts of Europe. In fact, many of the courses on offer at the university allow students an opportunity to spend a semester studying in one of several European universities, including France, Germany and Spain.
But more about the city of Newcastle. Despite its size it's about half as big as London, it has a surprisingly entertaining and different nightlife with theatres, nightclubs, bars, pubs, and discos. It even has its very own Chinatown, where the food, I may add, is excellent, as well as a very good museum and a world renowned art gallery.