Visit To Branley Castle - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 14 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–15 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Visit to Branley Castle
Questions 16–20 Plan Labeling
Label the plan below.
Write the correct letter, A-H, next to Questions
Branley Castle
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | B | they’d make a new house for her out of wood next to the main hall. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that a new house made of wood would be built for Queen Elizabeth I next to the main hall. Answer Explanation: The answer suggests that a new building was constructed for Queen Elizabeth I before her visit to the castle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'B' because the excerpt confirms that a new house was indeed planned to be built for Queen Elizabeth I, aligning with the statement that a new building was constructed for her visit. |
| Q12 | C | It was eventually taken over by a company who owned a number of amusement parks | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript tells us that a company that owned several amusement parks took control of the castle eventually. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the castle was sold to an entertainment company. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' (an entertainment company) because the excerpt explicitly mentions a company that owned amusement parks took over the castle. This directly aligns with the choice 'an entertainment company.' |
| Q13 | C | When you go inside, you’ll find that in the state rooms there are life-like moving wax models dressed in costumes of different periods in the past, which even carry on conversations together. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about how inside the castle, there are models that look like real people from the past. These models are dressed in historical costumes and can move and talk like they are having conversations. Answer Explanation: The answer means that visitors can see models of historical figures within the castle that can move and talk. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' because it directly matches the description in the excerpt where it mentions 'life-like moving wax models dressed in costumes of different periods in the past' who 'carry on conversations together.' This aligns with the idea of seeing models of historical figures moving and talking within Branley Castle. |
| Q14 | B | Nowadays the old zoo buildings are used for public displays of painting and sculpture. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript talks about old zoo buildings being used for showing paintings and sculptures. Answer Explanation: The answer means that visitors can go to an art exhibition in the castle park. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer (B) is supported by the information that the zoo buildings are now used for displaying art, indicating that visitors can indeed go to an art exhibition in the park. |
| Q15 | A | we’ll then take you to the same place, where afternoon tea will be served to you. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that after the visit, the group will be taken to the same place where they will be served afternoon tea. Answer Explanation: The answer choice A, which is afternoon tea in the conservatory, aligns with this information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the excerpt clearly states that the group will be served afternoon tea, matching the information provided. The other answer choices are not supported by the excerpt. |
| Q16 | H | The starting point’s quite near the main entrance – walk straight down the path until you get to the south gate, and it’s just there. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the starting point for walking the walls is close to the main entrance of Branley Castle. To find the starting point, you need to walk straight down the path until you reach the south gate, and it will be right there. Answer Explanation: The answer H tells you that the starting point for walking the walls is near the south gate. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is H because the excerpt clearly states that the starting point is near the south gate. Choosing answer H aligns with the direction given in the excerpt for finding the starting point. |
| Q17 | D | The quickest way to get there is to take the first left after the main entrance and follow the path past the bridge, then you’ll see it in front of you at the end. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript is saying that to reach the bow and arrow display, you need to turn left after entering the castle, go past the bridge, and it will be at the end of the path in front of you. Answer Explanation: The answer 'D' indicates that the bow and arrow display is located at the end of the path after turning left and passing the bridge. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'D' because it aligns with the direction provided in the excerpt, stating that the display can be found at the end of the path after taking the first left and passing the bridge. |
| Q18 | F | If you go from the main entrance in the direction of the south gate, but turn right before you get there instead of going through it, you’ll see it on your right past the first tower. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes a direction to find something near the south gate but not through it, past the first tower on the right. Answer Explanation: The answer F corresponds to 'Hunting birds display'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer matches the direction in the excerpt, guiding the reader to find the hunting birds display near the south gate, past the first tower on the right. |
| Q19 | A | At 3 pm there’s a short performance of traditional dancing on the outdoor stage. That’s right at the other side of the castle from the entrance, and over the bridge. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript mentions that at 3 pm, there will be a short performance of traditional dancing happening outdoors at the castle's stage, which is located on the opposite side of the castle from the entrance and requires crossing a bridge. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' refers to 'Traditional dancing'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because the excerpt explicitly states that there will be a performance of traditional dancing at the specified time and location in the plan, matching the description provided in the answer choice 'A'. |
| Q20 | E | It’s actually inside one of the towers, but the way in is from the outside. Just take the first left after the main entrance, go down the path and take the first right. | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes the location of the shop at Branley Castle. The shop is inside one of the towers but accessed from outside by following specific directions. Answer Explanation: The answer 'E' indicates that the shop is located inside the tower at Branley Castle, in line with the directions provided. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'E' because the excerpt mentions that the shop is inside a tower, aligning with where the letter 'E' is situated on the plan. |
Transcript
We’ll be arriving at Branley Castle in about five minutes, but before we get there I’ll give you a little information about the castle and what our visit will include.
So in fact there’s been a castle on this site for over eleven hundred years. The first building was a fort constructed in 914 AD for defence against Danish invaders by King Alfred the Great’s daughter, who ruled England at the time. In the following century, after the Normans conquered England, the land was given to a nobleman called Richard de Vere, and he built a castle there that stayed in the de Vere family for over four hundred years.
However, when Queen Elizabeth I announced that she was going to visit the castle in 1576 it was beginning to look a bit run down, and it was decided that rather than repair the guest rooms, they’d make a new house for her out of wood next to the main hall. She stayed there for four nights and apparently it was very luxurious, but unfortunately it was destroyed a few years later by fire.
In the seventeenth century the castle belonged to the wealthy Fenys family, who enlarged it and made it more comfortable. However, by 1982 the Fenys family could no longer afford to maintain the castle, even though they received government support, and they put it on the market. It was eventually taken over by a company who owned a number of amusement parks, but when we get there I think you’ll see that they’ve managed to retain the original atmosphere of the castle.
When you go inside, you’ll find that in the state rooms there are life-like moving wax models dressed in costumes of different periods in the past, which even carry on conversations together. As well as that, in every room there are booklets giving information about what the room was used for and the history of the objects and furniture it contains.
The castle park’s quite extensive. At one time sheep were kept there, and in the nineteenth century the owners had a little zoo with animals like rabbits and even a baby elephant. Nowadays the old zoo buildings are used for public displays of painting and sculpture. The park also has some beautiful trees, though the oldest of all, which dated back 800 years, was sadly blown down in 1987.
Now, you’re free to wander around on your own until 4.30, but then at the end of our visit we’ll all meet together at the bottom of the Great Staircase. We’ll then go on to the long gallery, where there’s a wonderful collection of photographs showing the family who owned the castle a hundred years ago having tea and cakes in the conservatory – and we’ll then take you to the same place, where afternoon tea will be served to you.
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Now if you can take a look at your plans you’ll see Branley Castle has four towers, joined together by a high wall, with the river on two sides.
Don’t miss seeing the Great Hall. That’s near the river in the main tower, the biggest one, which was extended and redesigned in the eighteenth century.
If you want to get a good view of the whole castle, you can walk around the walls. The starting point’s quite near the main entrance – walk straight down the path until you get to the south gate, and it’s just there. Don’t go on to the north gate – there’s no way up from there.
There’ll shortly be a show in which you can see archers displaying their skill with a bow and arrow. The quickest way to get there is to take the first left after the main entrance and follow the path past the bridge, then you’ll see it in front of you at the end.
If you like animals there’s also a display of hunting birds – falcons and eagles and so on. If you go from the main entrance in the direction of the south gate, but turn right before you get there instead of going through it, you’ll see it on your right past the first tower.
At 3 pm there’s a short performance of traditional dancing on the outdoor stage. That’s right at the other side of the castle from the entrance, and over the bridge. It’s about ten minutes’ walk or so.
And finally the shop. It’s actually inside one of the towers, but the way in is from the outside. Just take the first left after the main entrance, go down the path and take the first right. It’s got some lovely gifts and souvenirs.
Right, so we’re just arriving …