Tourist Information and Sightseeing - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 04 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–5 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C
Questions 6–8 Note Completion
Complete the notes below using words from the box.
Art Gallery | Cathedral | Castle
Gardens | Markets
Tourist attractions open all day: 6 and Gardens
Tourist attractions NOT open on Mondays: 7 and Castle
Tourist attractions which have free entry: 8 and Markets
Questions 9–10 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
- The first place Peter and Sally will visit is the 9.
- At the Cathedral, Peter really wants to 10.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | C | I'd love a really chilled mineral water or something. Will you have another coffee | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter saying he wants water that is very cold ("chilled"). This confirms he is looking for a cold drink. Answer Explanation: The answer is that Peter wants a drink that is cold. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Peter specifically mentions that he wants a "chilled mineral water." In English, the word "chilled" is a synonym for "cold" or "iced." Since mineral water is a type of "drink," choice C is the correct general description of what he wants. He asks Sally if she wants coffee, but he does not want coffee for himself. |
| Q2 | C | Well, the exchange rate was looking healthy, but when I went to the teller, they told me the computer system was temporarily down, so they couldn't do any transactions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says the bank's computer system stopped working for a while, so the bank worker could not help Peter with his money. Answer Explanation: The answer means the bank's computers were not working for a short time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Peter explains that he had to wait because the bank's "computer system was temporarily down." This means the machines weren't working, so the bank could not process money requests (transactions). Choice A is wrong because he says the exchange rate was actually "healthy," which means it was good. Choice B happened because of the bank delay, but it was not the cause of the problem. |
| Q3 | B | No, he was a tourist, from New York. His name's Henry, and he's been here for a week, but he's moving on to Germany tomorrow | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the person Peter met is a visitor named Henry who comes from New York. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the person Peter talked to is a man from the United States. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Peter describes the person he met at the bank as a tourist from New York. Since New York is a famous city in America, this identifies him as an American man. Peter also mentions he met him for the first time while waiting at the teller, so he was not an old friend. Furthermore, although Peter says the man is going to Germany next, it does not mean the man is German. |
| Q4 | B | Oh, and he also gave me this map of the bus system | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter telling Sally that Henry gave him a map for the buses because Henry was finished with it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the map Henry gave to Peter shows the paths and stops for the city's buses. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because while talking about a tourist named Henry he met at the bank, Peter mentions that Henry gave him a "map of the bus system." In the options, "bus routes" refers to the same thing as "bus system"—the organized paths that buses take across the city. |
| Q5 | A | PETER: Well, I'm hungry, and we've got a lot of sightseeing to do, so let's just have a snack and a drink.SALLY: Sounds good to me | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter explaining that because he is hungry and they have a busy day of visiting famous places ahead, they should order a small meal and something to drink. Sally tells him that his suggestion is a good idea. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the two people, Peter and Sally, decide to buy both something to eat and something to drink. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Peter explicitly suggests getting a 'snack' (which is a synonym for a small amount of food) and a 'drink' because he feels hungry. Sally agrees with this plan, meaning they will order both types of items. This matches the 'food and drinks' option. |
| Q6 | Cathedral | The Cathedral itself is open morning and afternoon | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that this specific building is available for people to visit during both the early part of the day and the later part of the day. Answer Explanation: The answer "Cathedral" is used to complete the list of tourist spots that visitors can go to for the entire day. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Cathedral. In the dialogue, Sally reads from a guidebook and mentions that the Cathedral is open both in the morning and in the afternoon. This indicates that it is an "all day" attraction for tourists. This is different from the Castle, which is only open during a short window in the afternoon (one to five), or the Markets, which are only open in the morning. Peter also mentions it is "open every day," further showing its accessibility. |
| Q7 | Markets | As well as today and tomorrow, we can see some other places on Monday, you know. But I don't think the Markets will be open then; they only open on Thursdays, so we've missed them for this week | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter discussing their plans for Monday. He notes that the Markets will not be open then because they only open on Thursdays. Answer Explanation: The answer Markets identifies one of the tourist attractions mentioned in the conversation that cannot be visited on a Monday. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Markets" because Peter explains that they are only open on Thursdays. Since they are only open on one specific day of the week, it means they are closed on all other days, including Mondays. This matches the section of the notes listing attractions that are not open on Mondays. |
| Q8 | Gardens | I think there's a charge for all of them except the Botanical Gardens. Oh, and the Markets, of course you don't pay to go in | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that there is an entry price (a "charge") for almost every location mentioned, but it specifically lists the Botanical Gardens and the Markets as the two places where you do not have to pay to enter. Answer Explanation: The answer "Gardens" refers to the Botanical Gardens, which is one of the tourist spots that the speakers can visit without paying an entry fee. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Gardens" because, in the conversation, Sally checks her guidebook and notes that while most attractions require people to pay to enter, the Botanical Gardens and the Markets are free. In the list provided in the task, the third point asks for a tourist attraction with free entry to go along with "Markets." Therefore, "Gardens" is the only choice that fits this category based on the transcript's information about costs. |
| Q9 | Art Gallery | I really want to spend some time in the Art Gallery, because they've got this wonderful painting by Rembrandt that I've always wanted to see OK, well, it looks like our plan is this: we'll go to see the painting you like first, the Rembrandt, then have lunch and go on to the Castle after that, and then the Cathedral |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Sally saying that a painting by the artist Rembrandt is in the Art Gallery. Then, Peter says their plan is to look at that Rembrandt painting first, before they have lunch or visit the Castle and the Cathedral. Answer Explanation: The answer "Art Gallery" is a building where famous paintings and other art are kept for people to look at. It is the first place Peter and Sally decide to go for their trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Art Gallery" because when Peter and Sally are deciding what to do, Peter suggests a plan to see the Rembrandt painting "first." Earlier in the conversation, Sally explained that this Rembrandt painting is located in the Art Gallery. Therefore, by going to see the painting first, they are visiting the Art Gallery as their first stop. They choose to do this today because the Art Gallery is closed on Sundays. |
| Q10 | climb the tower / see the view | What I really want to do at the Cathedral is climb the tower. The view is supposed to be spectacular | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Peter's specific plan for their visit to the Cathedral. He says he wants to go up the high tower because he has heard that the view from there is very beautiful. Answer Explanation: The answer means that at the Cathedral, Peter's goal is to go up the tall part of the building so he can see the landscape from high up. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'climb the tower / see the view' because Peter clearly expresses his main interest when discussing their trip to the Cathedral. He uses the keyword 'climb' and the noun 'tower' to describe his plan, and mentions that the 'view' is supposed to be excellent or 'spectacular.' |
Transcript
SALLY: Oh, Peter, there you are. You've been ages. What kept you so long?
PETER: I'm sorry I'm so late, Sally. Have you been waiting long?
SALLY: Oh, half an hour. But it doesn't matter. I've had a coffee and I've been reading this guidebook for tourists. Sit down. You look very hot and tired. What would you like to drink?
PETER: I'd love a really chilled mineral water or something. Will you have another coffee?
SALLY: Yes, I will. The waitress will be back in a moment. Why were you so late? Did something happen?
PETER: Yes. You know I went to the bank to cash some travellers cheques? Well, the exchange rate was looking healthy, but when I went to the teller, they told me the computer system was temporarily down, so they couldn't do any transactions. They said the problem would be fixed in a few minutes, so I waited. And then I started talking to another guy in the bank, and I forgot the time.
SALLY: Oh, really? Someone you met in the bank? Does he work there?
PETER: No, he was a tourist, from New York. His name's Henry, and he's been here for a week, but he's moving on to Germany tomorrow. He's an architect, and he's spending four weeks travelling around Europe.
SALLY: Just like us!
PETER: Yeah, just like us. He told me the names of some places where we should eat. Great food, and not too expensive, he said. Oh, and he also gave me this map of the bus system. He said he didn't need it any more.
SALLY: That's useful. Pity he's moving on tomorrow. Ah, here's the waitress. Let's order. Do you want anything to eat, or shall we just have a drink?
PETER: Well, I'm hungry, and we've got a lot of sightseeing to do, so let's just have a snack and a drink.
SALLY: Sounds good to me!
PETER: Well, let's decide what we'll see today. I guess the best place to start is the Cathedral, and then the Castle. What are the opening times for those two?
SALLY: Well, according to this guidebook, the Cathedral is only open from nine-thirty in the morning until midday. No, hang on. That's the Cathedral Museum. The Cathedral itself is open morning and afternoon. The Castle is just open from one to five, so we can't go there until after lunch. I really want to spend some time in the Art Gallery, because they've got this wonderful painting by Rembrandt that I've always wanted to see.
PETER: What else should we see?
SALLY: Well, the guidebook says the Botanical Gardens are worth spending some time in, and they're open all day, from eight to six, so we can go there any time. I'd like to go to the Markets near the river too, but ... oh ... no, wait, that's only in the mornings, too.
PETER: As well as today and tomorrow, we can see some other places on Monday, you know. But I don't think the Markets will be open then; they only open on Thursdays, so we've missed them for this week. Maybe we should go to the Cathedral today because it's Sunday tomorrow, and even though it's open every day it might be more difficult to get in tomorrow because of the church services.
SALLY: That's true, but the Art Gallery isn't open on Sundays at all, so we'll have to go there today. The Castle's open every day except Mondays, so we're OK there, and the Gardens of course only close at night.
PETER: Are all these places free or do we have to pay to go in? What does the guidebook say?
SALLY: I think there's a charge for all of them except the Botanical Gardens. Oh, and the Markets, of course you don't pay to go in.
PETER: OK, well, it looks like our plan is this: we'll go to see the painting you like first, the Rembrandt, then have lunch and go on to the Castle after that, and then the Cathedral.
SALLY: OK. It says here that the roof of the Cathedral is really beautiful.
PETER: Is that right? What I really want to do at the Cathedral is climb the tower. The view is supposed to be spectacular.
SALLY: OK, well, that'll be more than enough for today. Then, tomorrow, let's go to the Botanical Gardens and have a picnic. I want to sit by the river and watch the swans. This city's famous for them.