Transport in London - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Achieve IELTS Practice Tests Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–15 Matching
Of which types of transport is the following true?
Write the correct letter, A, B or C.
A. tube
B. train
C. bus
Questions 16–20 Map Labeling
Label the map below.
Write the correct letter, A – G.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | C | Overall, you'll spend less on the bus as it operates on a basic flat fare for each journey | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that riding the bus costs the least amount of money because passengers pay a single fixed price for each trip. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means the bus. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the man states that taking the bus costs less money overall because each journey uses a simple fixed fare. Therefore, the bus is the cheapest option. Keywords like "spend less" match the meaning of "cheapest". |
| Q12 | A | The mainline trains only operate in the outlying areas, though a few cross London, whereas the tube has stations which are placed in central areas of the city close to the main sights and shops | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that tube stations are centrally located near major sights and shops, making the tube the most convenient way to travel around the central areas of the city. Answer Explanation: The answer "A" means that the tube (the underground train) is the most convenient type of transport. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the man explains that the tube stations are located right in central parts of the city near key attractions and shops. In contrast, buses often require transferring which "can be inconvenient," and mainline trains mostly run in outer areas. |
| Q13 | B | Having said that, the tubes do get very crowded so you should use the train if you want to sit down | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the underground tube is packed with too many people, so you should ride the train if you wish to have a seat. Answer Explanation: The answer B means the train is the transport type described as the most comfortable. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the man points out that the tube gets very crowded, so passengers who want to sit down should take the train. Having a seat to sit down makes the train the most comfortable option. |
| Q14 | B | Again, the train has fewer stops so is probably your quickest option to get to and from college | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that because the train does not stop as often, it is likely the fastest way to travel. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the train is the fastest form of transport. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the man explains that the train has fewer stops and is the quickest option for the student's journey. The word "quickest" is a synonym for "fastest". |
| Q15 | C | There are a lot of tube trains at busy times of day, but fewer at other times whereas the buses run every five minutes through most of the day and there are night buses | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that buses arrive very often (every five minutes) for the majority of the day, showing they have the most frequent service. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the bus (C) comes more often than the train or the tube. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker compares how often the transport options run ("frequent"). The speaker explains that trains might only arrive every twenty minutes and tube services are reduced outside peak hours, whereas buses run every five minutes throughout most of the day, making them the most frequent service. |
| Q16 | B | Now, next to us, on the corner of the high street and Sweet Street is the bus stop, opposite the bank | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the bus stop is located next to the information office, at the street corner across from the bank. Answer Explanation: The answer is letter B. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the speaker explains directions starting from the information office. He mentions that right next to the office, located on the corner of the high street and Sweet Street and across from the bank, is the bus stop. |
| Q17 | E | If you want to take the train, walk down the high street towards the city, go past the bank and on your left is the station, just before you get to the post office | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to reach the train station, a person should walk along High Street past the bank, where the station is located on the left just before the post office. Answer Explanation: The answer E points to the train station on the map. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is E because the man gives directions from the information office. He says to walk down the High Street, pass the bank, and find the station on the left side of the street right before reaching the post office. On the map, location E is on the left after the bank and before the post office. |
| Q18 | G | Opposite the post office, on the corner of Heart Lane is the tube entrance – you'll see the big signs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the entrance to the underground train (the tube) is on the corner of Heart Lane, across from the post office. Answer Explanation: The answer is letter G. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because the man explains that the tube entrance is located directly opposite the post office on the corner of Heart Lane. On the map, letter G matches this exact position. |
| Q19 | C | To get to the ticket office, you go out of here onto the high street. Then turn into South Street and the ticket office is on your right opposite the cinema | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that to find the ticket office, you go out to the high street, turn into South Street, and it will be on the right side across from the cinema. Answer Explanation: The answer C is the letter on the map that marks the location of the transport ticket office. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the speaker gives clear directions to the ticket office. He tells the student to go out onto the high street, turn into South Street, and find the ticket office on the right side, directly opposite the cinema. On the map, this spot corresponds to letter C. |
| Q20 | A | If you do want to get a cab, then the rank is outside here just opposite the office | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that if a person wants to catch a cab (taxi), the taxi rank is located right outside, directly across from the information office. Answer Explanation: The answer is letter A. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the speaker mentions they are currently speaking at the information office. When discussing taking a taxi, he uses the synonym "cab" and explains that "the rank is outside here just opposite the office." Therefore, the location directly across from the information office (A) represents the taxi rank. |
Transcript
Man: Hello, can I help you?
Student: Yes, I was wondering what the best way was for me to get around London.
Man: Well, there are a lot of possibilities. As you probably realise, the main ways to get around are bus, train and tube – the underground. It depends how much you want to spend. All forms of transport offer special tickets, such as cheap day returns on the trains and so on. Overall, you'll spend less on the bus as it operates on a basic flat fare for each journey. But, of course, it may not go to where you need to travel to. The mainline trains only operate in the outlying areas, though a few cross London, whereas the tube has stations which are placed in central areas of the city close to the main sights and shops. Obviously there are more bus stops but you will probably have to change buses to get where you want, which can be inconvenient. You will find that the buses are mainly in the central areas but some tube lines go quite a long way out of London so you could use this for longer journeys. Having said that, the tubes do get very crowded so you should use the train if you want to sit down. It does depend where you're travelling to.
Student: Well, I'm living on the outskirts but I have to travel into London to college everyday and then around London when I'm here.
Man: OK, so time is going to be an issue for you. The tube should be fast crossing London, but quite honestly, there are so many delays that it's not very efficient. Again, the train has fewer stops so is probably your quickest option to get to and from college. Of course, which service you use might depend on how frequent it is. I mean, the trains might only be every twenty minutes or whatever, but a timetable is published to save you hanging around. There are a lot of tube trains at busy times of day, but fewer at other times whereas the buses run every five minutes through most of the day and there are night buses. But you'll need to check out your route first.
Student: OK, thanks. How can I get from here to Hackney, then?
Man: Right, well you can choose. We're here at the information office, OK? Now, next to us, on the corner of the high street and Sweet Street is the bus stop, opposite the bank. The bus goes all the way to Hackney but it is a very indirect route so it could take ages. If you want to take the train, walk down the high street towards the city, go past the bank and on your left is the station, just before you get to the post office. There's a mainline service to Hackney Wick so, if you need to get into the centre of Hackney, you may need to pick up a bus when you get there. Opposite the post office, on the corner of Heart Lane is the tube entrance – you'll see the big signs. That's probably the best way to get there, though you may have to change. It's probably best if you go and get a travel card first. To get to the ticket office, you go out of here onto the high street. Then turn into South Street and the ticket office is on your right opposite the cinema. Of course, you may decide it's quicker to take a taxi. But, it's a long way so I think it'll be very expensive. If you do want to get a cab, then the rank is outside here just opposite the office.