Working at The Library - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Practice Test Plus 2 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 1 · Questions 1–10
Audio
Questions
Questions 1–7 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 8–10 Multiple Choice (Three Answers)
Choose THREE letters A-G.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | B | We always include an orientation to the library, together with emergency procedures, that's fire regulations, emergency exits, first aid so you can cope with accidents or sudden illness, things like that which are necessary for anyone who's working with the public | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that every worker must learn how to handle emergencies and give 'first aid'. Learning first aid means learning how to help people with 'accidents' or if they become 'ill' (sick). Answer Explanation: The answer means that volunteers learn to help people who get sick or hurt suddenly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the librarian says that all new volunteers learn 'first aid'. First aid is a type of basic medical skill used to help people during an accident or illness. The transcript uses the word 'always' to show that this part of the training is for everyone. While computer skills are mentioned, they are described as 'specialist training' for specific projects, not training that everyone 'always' receives. |
| Q2 | A | we ask you to sign in and sign out for insurance purposes, but that's all | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that workers must sign their names when they start work and again when they finish to follow insurance rules. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who volunteer at the library must write down when they arrive at the building and when they leave. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the librarian mentions that there are rules for volunteers related to insurance. Specifically, they are required to sign in and sign out. These actions are synonyms for recording arrival and departure. The transcript also mentions a name badge, but that is not the same as a full uniform, and it mentions that volunteers move outside the 'staff only' areas, which makes options B and C incorrect. |
| Q3 | C | My husband needs the car during the day but it's only about twenty minutes on the bus. Librarian: In fact, we can reimburse part of your travel expenses in that case | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman saying she travels to the library by bus. The librarian responds by telling her that the library can pay back some of the money she spends on that travel. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'C'. This means the woman can get some money back from the library for the cost of traveling by bus. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'C' because the librarian states that the library can 'reimburse' (pay back) some of her travel costs since she takes the bus. A bus is a form of 'public transport'. The librarian also says they do not pay for car travel because parking is a problem at the library, which rules out option B. |
| Q4 | B | We've just finished one which involved working with photographs taken of the area 50 or 100 years ago - it basically involved what we call encapsulation Putting them in some sort of covers to keep them safe?Librarian: Exactly |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the library recently completed a task with very old photos. They used a process called encapsulation, which the librarian confirms means putting the photos inside covers so they stay safe. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that a project completed by the library lately focused on keeping old pictures safe from damage. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the librarian uses the phrase 'just finished' to describe a project, which matches the meaning of 'recent' in the question. He explains that this project involved 'photographs' from '50 or 100 years ago' (historical) and uses the word 'encapsulation.' The woman then clarifies that this means 'keeping them safe' by putting them in covers, and the librarian confirms this is 'exactly' what they did. This 'keeping safe' is a synonym for 'protecting.' |
| Q5 | A | We provide volunteers with equipment so that they can take books home with them and read them aloud onto CDs | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the library gives volunteers the tools they need to record their voices reading books onto CDs at home. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the library currently needs volunteers to make voice recordings of books and save them on CDs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice A because the librarian specifically mentions a current project where volunteers use special equipment to read books aloud and record them onto CDs to help people who cannot read or are blind. While the woman asks about reading stories to children (Choice B), the librarian explains that this task is handled by the regular staff, not volunteers. Although the recordings help the blind (Choice C), the specific action the library is looking for volunteers to perform 'at present' is the recording process itself. |
| Q6 | A | Woman: Oh, I noticed someone with a trolley of books when I was at the hospital last week. That sort of thing? Librarian: That would have been one of ours, yes. It's one of our most popular services - lots of people who wouldn't dream of going to the library normally, when they're at home, borrow a book when the trolley comes round the ward. Woman: I can imagine. Yes, I'd definitely be interested in that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the woman asking if the work is like the book service she saw at a hospital. The librarian confirms this and explains that volunteers take books to people in hospital rooms (wards). The woman then says she is interested in doing that job. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the woman wants to help by giving books to people who are staying in the hospital. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the woman mentions seeing a 'trolley of books' at the hospital. The librarian confirms that this is a project where volunteers take books to patients in 'wards' (hospital rooms). The woman says she is 'definitely interested' in this specific work because she wants a job where she can meet people. The librarian's explanation confirms the service is for people at the hospital, even if they usually stay at home when they are healthy. |
| Q7 | B | but we do need someone for a couple of afternoons from 2 to 4 so four hours altogether. Woman: That sounds fine |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the librarian asking for someone to work two afternoons for two hours each (from 2 to 4), totaling four hours. The woman says "That sounds fine," which means she accepts this schedule. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the woman agrees to give four hours of her time to help at the library every week. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the librarian explains that the library needs help for two afternoons, specifically from 2:00 to 4:00. This equals a total of four hours. When the librarian suggests this amount of time, the woman responds by saying it "sounds fine," which shows her agreement. |
| Q8 | — | — | |
| Q9 | — | — | |
| Q10 | B / D / G | You also need to fill in details of who we should get in touch with in case of any accident or problem like that, we do need to have that filled in We'll need the names of two referees - not relatives or family members, obviously But you will need to sign this separate document - that's a copy of commitment; it's basically an agreement to work according to the library guidelines |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that volunteers must provide basic safety and character information: first, they must provide information on how to contact someone if there is an accident; second, they must provide the names of two people (referees) who can vouch for them; and third, they must sign a paper promising to follow the library's official rules. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies three requirements for all library volunteers: a signed promise to follow rules (commitment), contact details for emergencies, and professional or personal references (referees). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the librarian's list of requirements for filling out the volunteer form. While items like birth dates, certificates, or criminal record checks are only for certain ages or specific roles (like working with children), the librarian explicitly states that everyone must provide emergency contact details (who to call in an accident), names of two referees (people who can talk about your character), and a signed agreement to follow library rules (a copy of commitment). Synonyms for 'emergency contact information' include 'who we should get in touch with in case of any accident,' and 'document' or 'agreement' are used to describe the 'copy of commitment'. |
Transcript
Woman: Erm... I'm interested in doing some work for the library - are you the person to speak to?
Librarian: Yes, Right, well, erm, what sort of work are you interested in?
Woman: I've just come to live here in Australia... I don't want a full-time job until my children have settled down, but I really need to get out of the house a bit, and I heard you need voluntary workers for various projects....?
Librarian: Right.
Woman:... but I don't know if I have the right skills.
Librarian: Well, we do provide training.
Woman: Oh.
Librarian: We always include an orientation to the library, together with emergency procedures, that's fire regulations, emergency exits, first aid so you can cope with accidents or sudden illness, things like that which are necessary for anyone who's working with the public. Then we give specialist training for particular projects - like using our database system.
Woman: I do have quite good computer skills, in fact.
Librarian: Umm. Great.
Woman: Is there any sort of dress requirement?
Librarian: Well, all staff have to wear a name badge - so they can be identified if they go outside the 'staff only' areas. But apart from that there aren't many regulations - we ask you to sign in and sign out for insurance purposes, but that's all. How about transport - do you live locally?
Woman: Not too far away. I'm at Porpoise Beach. My husband needs the car during the day but it's only about twenty minutes on the bus.
Librarian: In fact, we can reimburse part of your travel expenses in that case.
Woman: Oh. Would that be the same if I came by car?
Librarian: No, because parking is such a problem here. One thing we are looking for though is someone who can drive a minibus.
Woman: No problem. So, do the projects involve going outside the library?
Librarian: Some, yes. But not all. We've just finished one which involved working with photographs taken of the area 50 or 100 years ago - it basically involved what we call encapsulation...
Woman: Putting them in some sort of covers to keep them safe?
Librarian: Exactly, It's time-consuming work, and we were very grateful to have help with it. Then, sometime next year we're hoping to begin working on an initiative involving the sorting and labelling of objects relating to local history. We'll be needing help with the cataloguing.
Woman: I'd definitely be interested. How about at present?
Librarian: Well, we have a small team who work to support those who are unable to read.
Woman: Working with the blind?
Librarian: Yes, or other groups who have reading difficulties. We provide volunteers with equipment so that they can take books home with them and read them aloud onto CDs. We're gradually building up a collection that can be lent to those who need them.
Woman: Mmm. I can see it would be useful, but I'd really like to do some sort of work where I can get the chance to meet people. How about reading stories to children?
Librarian: Mmm. That's done by our regular staff. But we do have another project - it's a very long-established scheme which involves helping those who are unable to have direct access to the library.
Woman: Oh, I noticed someone with a trolley of books when I was at the hospital last week. That sort of thing?
Librarian: That would have been one of ours, yes. It's one of our most popular services - lots of people who wouldn't dream of going to the library normally, when they're at home, borrow a book when the trolley comes round the ward.
Woman: I can imagine. Yes, I'd definitely be interested in that. Right, so how do I enrol?
Librarian: Well, we do ask all volunteers to commit themselves to a regular period each week.
Woman: I could probably do five or six hours...
Librarian: Oh... be careful not to take on too much - but we do need someone for a couple of afternoons from 2 to 4... so four hours altogether.
Woman: That sounds fine.
Librarian: Right, so here's the application form... it asks the usual questions, name and address and telephone number. You also need to fill in details of who we should get in touch with in case of any accident or problem like that, we do need to have that filled in, and there's a space for date of birth, but that's only if you're over 75 so, we won't worry about that.
Woman: No. Oh, it asks for qualifications - do I need to provide certificates?
Librarian: They're not necessary. We'll need the names of two referees - not relatives or family members, obviously. What else... signature of parent or guardian - that won't be necessary as I assume you're over 18?
Woman: Yes. What's this? It says 'civil conviction check'.
Librarian: That's a document we have to provide by law for those working on projects involving children, so we won't need it in your case. But you will need to sign this separate document - that's a copy of commitment; it's basically an agreement to work according to the library guidelines. So, if you'd like to fill this all in - you can do it here, or take it home, whichever you prefer.
Woman: I'll take it home if that's OK. Right, well thank you for your time...