Which Person In University To Promote - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 6 Academic Listening Test 3 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–25 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Questions 26–30 Table Completion
Complete the table.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| Candidates | ||||
| Steven | Abdul | Lek | Oscar | |
| Years of Experience | 26 | 7 | 8 | 12 |
| Qualification | MBA | 27 | degree | Certificates |
| Possible Concerns | 28 | limited English | 29 | 30 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | Well, it can be from any faculty, since the position requires more general skills: handling personnel, settling disputes, and motivating them to focus on the task | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the job requires general skills such as managing staff, solving problems between people, and helping workers stay focused on their work. Answer Explanation: The answer means the new job requires a person who is good at managing and working with other staff members. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Director A explains that the position focuses on general leadership skills rather than technical expertise. He mentions specific tasks like 'handling personnel' (managing staff) and 'settling disputes' (fixing arguments), which all involve dealing with people. He also clarifies that computer knowledge was needed for the previous role, not this one, and that although arts knowledge might help, it is not the main requirement. |
| Q22 | C | They’ll all too new, lacking in sufficient experience, whereas these ones from the business faculty are longtimers, so we’ll take someone from there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the speaker decided to select someone from the business department because the workers there have much more experience than the newer staff in the computing department. Answer Explanation: The answer means the new manager will be chosen from the business department. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the leaders decided to pick a person from the business faculty. Director A did not want to pick from the computing faculty because those workers were too new and did not have enough experience. He preferred the business faculty because the staff there are 'longtimers,' meaning they have worked at the university for many years. Director B also agreed that the arts faculty did not have any good candidates. |
| Q23 | A | But we’ll still have to train the person—teach the ropes, as they say. And he or she will have to expect to do overtime, as needed | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the faculty directors will provide training to the person hired and that the person must be ready to work extra hours (overtime). Answer Explanation: The answer means that the person who gets this job will have to work extra hours beyond their normal schedule. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Director A states that the candidate will "have to expect to do overtime." In a workplace, "overtime" is a common synonym for working long hours. Choice B is incorrect because the transcript says the directors will train the new person, rather than the new person training others. Choice C is incorrect because, although they mention busy times, Director A clarifies that the university is only open from Monday to Friday. |
| Q24 | B | You get overtime rates, a nice place to put your car, as well as additional petrol money if you drive for company purposes, which they’ll probably be required to do | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the job offers several extra things. One of those things is 'a nice place to put your car,' which is a synonym for a parking space. Answer Explanation: The answer is option B, which means the person who gets this job will have a specific spot where they can park their vehicle. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the director explains that while the salary is not much higher, there are other 'benefits' or extra rewards for the job. One specific benefit mentioned is 'a nice place to put your car,' which is another way to say a parking space. This matches option B. The transcript also mentions that the salary is not a big 'improvement' (meaning it is not much better), which makes option C incorrect. It mentions paying for gas ('petrol money') but does not say they will give the person a free 'car,' making option A incorrect. |
| Q25 | C | Yeah I know, but these candidates should realise that if they do this job well, there’ll be more promotions down the line | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that if the person does good work in this position, they will be given more opportunities for higher roles in the future. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the main benefit of this job is that it leads to even higher-level jobs in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice C because Director A mentions that performing well in this new role leads to more rewards in the future. He uses the phrase "more promotions down the line" to explain that this job is a stepping stone to better positions. Choice A is incorrect because Director B mentions that many people might actually dislike the increased responsibility. Choice B is incorrect because a private office is something that would only happen "after a few years" of hard work, not a benefit that comes immediately with the job. |
| Q26 | 7 | Abdul and Steven both have seven years, Lek has one more, and Oscar is the most experienced, at 12 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Abdul and Steven have both worked for seven years. It also mentions that Lek has 8 years (one more than 7) and Oscar has 12 years. Answer Explanation: The answer is the number 7, which represents the number of years Steven has worked in his field. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 7 because Director B clearly says that two people, Abdul and Steven, have the same amount of experience, which is seven years. This information directly fills the first empty box in the table under Steven's name and the 'Years of Experience' category. |
| Q27 | MBP | Steven and Abdul have an MBA — sorry! Abdul’s got something called a M.B.P. — some foreign thing which translates as Master of Business Practice | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that when the directors discuss the candidates' education, Director B corrects his first statement to say that Abdul actually has a qualification called an M.B.P. Answer Explanation: The answer MBP represents the name of the degree or qualification that Abdul has earned. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is MBP because, during the discussion about the candidates' qualifications, Director B clarifies that Abdul holds an M.B.P. Although he initially mentions an MBA, he immediately corrects himself to specify that Abdul's qualification is an M.B.P., which stands for Master of Business Practice. In the context of a table asking for qualifications, this specific acronym is the required information. |
| Q28 | not stable | Ah, he’s not stable. Dir. B: Not stable at all, apparently. We’ll never know for how long he’ll hold the job | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Steven is not a good candidate for the job because he is 'not stable.' The speakers are worried because they do not know how long he will stay in the position before leaving to go elsewhere. Answer Explanation: The answer 'not stable' describes someone who is likely to quit their job or move away soon rather than staying for a long time. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'not stable' because the directors are discussing Steven's future plans. They mention that he wants to move to another country to teach. Because he might leave the university at any time, they decide that he is not a reliable or 'stable' choice for the promotion. The transcript uses 'not stable' and 'moving on' as reasons why they are concerned about him. |
| Q29 | bad attitude | That’s not the problem with the next candidate, Lek, who has good language ability, but this job involves handling people, and his dean says Lek’s attitude is bad | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the speaker identifies a problem with Lek. Although he speaks English well, his boss says he has a bad attitude, especially regarding how he works with others. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Lek does not have a helpful or positive way of thinking and acting at work, which is a problem for this job. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified because Director B explicitly mentions that while Lek has good language skills, his dean (the head of his department) reported that his 'attitude is bad'. This makes him a difficult candidate for a job that requires managing other people. |
| Q30 | health problems | But with his age comes health problems as well, and serious ones at that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that because Oscar is older, he also has serious medical troubles. Answer Explanation: The answer "health problems" refers to medical conditions or physical issues that might make it hard for a person to work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "health problems" because while the directors are listing the "drawbacks" or worries about each candidate, Director B explains that although Oscar is a good worker, his age has brought about serious medical issues. These medical issues are the specific "concerns" the directors have about promoting him. Keywords like "problem" and "issue" are used in the conversation to signal these concerns. |
Transcript
SECTION 3
You will hear two faculty directors talking about which person in their university to promote.
Dir. A: Okay, we’ve got to decide who to promote to Leading Education Officer.
Dir. B: Someone from the arts faculty, I suppose.
Dir. A: Well, it can be from any faculty, since the position requires more general skills: handling personnel, settling disputes, and motivating them to focus on the task. It was the last position which involved computer knowledge, not this one.
Dir. B: Surely computer knowledge would help. So too would knowledge in the arts.
Dir. A: Sure, it would help, but the key criterion is being able to direct the staff appropriately.
Dir. B: So, it doesn’t matter then from which faculty we select our candidates?
Dir. A: Not really, but I’ve already looked at those from computing, and rejected them all.
Dir. B: Why?
Dir. A: They’ll all too new, lacking in sufficient experience, whereas these ones from the business faculty are longtimers, so we’ll take someone from there.
Dir. B: I suppose you’re right. The arts faculty doesn’ t present much in the way of suitable candidates either.
Dir. A: But we’ll still have to train the person—teach the ropes, as they say. And he or she will have to expect to do overtime, as needed.
Dir. B: Of course. It can get so busy that, if we were open on the weekend, they’d have to work then as well.
Dir. A: Just as well we’re a Monday to Friday university, right?
Dir. B: Right! But are you sure these people will actually want the job? The salary isn’t such an improvement on their current ones.
Dir. A: I know, but there are benefits. You get overtime rates, a nice place to put your car, as well as additional petrol money if you drive for company purposes, which they’ll probably be required to do.
Dir. B: But those benefits are quite limited, especially given all the work and responsibility involved. People often don’t like that. They prefer the creative freedom of less-senior teaching positions.
Dir. A: Yeah I know, but these candidates should realise that if they do this job well, there’ll be more promotions down the line. You know how everyone likes having their own office, right?
Dir. B: Sure.
Dir. A: Well, that would come after a few years, if they’re prepared to work hard and grow with the university.
Dir. B: Yes, that should attract these people.
Dir. A: Well, that’s enough talk about the job. What about the actual candidates? How many do we have?
Dir. B: Ah, I’ve narrowed it down to four—ah, just using their first names, that’s Steven, Abdul, Lek, and Oscar. As you said, there’s quite a bit of experience between them, about 34 years in all.
Dir. A: What’s the exact breakdown of figures?
Dir. B: Abdul and Steven both have seven years, Lek has one more, and Oscar is the most experienced, at 12.
Dir. A: But who’s the most qualified?
Dir. B: Steven and Abdul have an MBA — sorry! Abdul’s got something called a M.B.P. — some foreign thing which translates as Master of Business Practice.
Dir. A: I’m not sure what that is, but does he do the job well?
Dir. B: Very well, apparently — better than Lek and Oscar, who hold a degree and some certificates, respectively. But we have to think about any drawbacks — y’know, possible issues with any of them. I asked their respective deans for feedback, and I found out that Steven, the younger one, drinks a bit.
Dir. A: So, he has a problem with alcohol?
Dir. B: No, he never drinks to excess, but at the bar he’s often expressed his intention of moving on, of teaching abroad.
Dir. A: Ah, he’s not stable.
Dir. B: Not stable at all, apparently. We’ll never know for how long he’ll hold the job.
Dir. A: We need stable personnel, and people without family problems, or sick relatives, like the last guy we promoted. What about Abdul then? Will he do?
Dir. B: He might do, except his English language ability is limited. It’s functional, but a bit broken, and meaning is sometimes lost. That’s not the problem with the next candidate, Lek, who has good language ability, but this job involves handling people, and his dean says Lek’s attitude is bad.
Dir. A: In what way?
Dir. B: His manners are okay, and he’s interested in his job, but he believes there should always be adequate leisure in life. He definitely won’t work overtime and complains a lot already about his job, but this last candidate, Oscar, is probably not the right one, either.
Dir. A: Why not? Not another problem with language?
Dir. B: His first language isn’t English, but he speaks it well enough. He’s stable, with a good attitude, but his age is the problem.
Dir. A: Age is not a problem. That would be ageism, and I don’t believe in that.
Dir. B: But with his age comes health problems as well, and serious ones at that.
Dir. A: Oh, that might be an issue then.