Achieve IELTS Practice Tests Academic Listening Test 2 (Online Test)

Library assistant: Hi. Can I help you?

Student: Erm – yes – I wanted to join the library.

Library assistant: OK. First of all, let me show you round the library and explain a few things for you. (pause) OK, now we're here at the main entrance. You can see the reception, which is where you bring back and take out books and also we can order books and answer your questions there. Next to the reception, where you can see those old desks, is where we keep the magazines because you can sit down and read there. They're divided into sections for Sciences, Geography, Arts, etcetera. Then, at the back of the library you can see the section for old books. Next to that is where the books proper start. That used to be the Science section but now on those shelves you'll find the Arts section. We had a big re-organisation in the summer, which I think has made it clearer. The numbering is standard so you should be able to find what you want quite easily. However, if you can't find something, it probably means it's been borrowed. OK, then in the corner, next to the reference section, is where we thought it was quietest, and away from the phones and printers and things, so we've put the study desks there. They all have computer access, if you need it for your laptop. We do ask that you don't just read magazines there, though. OK, then there's the reference section where you can look up the files. Then, as we come back to the main entrance, is the next section, where we used to have the languages. It got very busy and noisy, so when we moved everything round we decided to put the law books here. Also, because it's a smaller section it fits quite well here. OK, then we're back at the main entrance. Over there, by reception, there's a door that goes to the extension and we have further sections, such as Languages, and study desks through there so you could have a look round when we've finished. Then just between reception and the door here is where we decided to put the computers but the computer magazines are in the magazine section as we found too many went missing here! OK, is that everything ...

Student: That's great thanks. Can you just tell me a bit about borrowing and the rules and whatever?

Library assistant: Of course. Over the last two months we've been introducing a new system for this and you can now take books out for six weeks. That's generally enough for most people – we usually get books back within thirty days. Of course, you may decide to renew the period. You used to have to come in to get the book stamped because we don't like doing it over the phone as there's no record of it. But now you can do all that via email. If you do forget to renew, then we do make a charge, I'm afraid. That helps our costs, of course, – but we do insist on it. The good news is that there is only one charge – I know some libraries charge £1 for one week and then it goes up with each week it's late! We ask for £1.50 as we think that's high enough to stop people being overdue. The other thing you may want to know is what you do about books that are not on the shelves. We do have a system for reserving them. All you have to do is fill in a yellow form, behind those blue ones on the desk, and give it to someone at reception. We'll let you know when it comes in. Also, sometimes you will need a journal article that we don't have but can get from other libraries, so we offer an ordering service if you need it. Now if you'd like to ... (fade) ...

Ramil: Hi, Kirsten. Have you heard about that Architecture conference in Oxford at the end of the year?

Kirsten: Yeah. I saw the leaflet on the noticeboard. As it's my final year, I ought to try giving a paper. But I've got no idea how to go about it!

Ramil: I think you should go for it. I did one last year. It's quite straightforward. First of all, you need to see what the conference themes are – you know, what topics they are covering. You can do that by looking it up on the website. You need to submit a paper that falls into one of the categories they give you.

Kirsten: Oh, that may give me some ideas.

Ramil: Then, while you're doing that, you should also have a look at the information on how to submit your paper – the 'rules', if you like, such as the length. It's important you follow those.

Kirsten: I see. Then I suppose the next stage is to start writing it up. I'd like to use it as an opportunity to propose some future work, but I understand it must be based on current work. Still there's plenty to choose from. It makes sense to do something that I'm more familiar with.

Ramil: Yes, – and the other thing is, when you've written it up, then go back and look at your data carefully and make certain that you've presented it in a format that is standard for your subject. Remember people have to absorb information very quickly while they're listening – don't make it too complicated.

Kirsten: OK, well, I reckon that'll take me about a month to get that sorted. Then, the next thing I have to do, I guess, before I send it off to the conference organiser, is give the whole thing to the Events Officer so that he can look through it and see if it all makes sense and is OK.

Ramil: Yeah. Remember to warn him that it's en route so he can fit it into his schedule! Then you're done really. All you have to do after that is to go through it and sort out any changes you need to make. Then finally you can submit it. You can do that online.

Kirsten: Phew! Good. Then I just wait to hear I suppose. How long does that take?

Ramil: Depends – but usually about six weeks. When you hear, if your paper has been accepted, then, at that stage, it's worth giving them a list of any technical things you'll need when you actually give the talk – a screen or video players or that sort of thing.

Kirsten: OK – but that's a long way off. And I know that, if my paper is accepted, then, at that stage, I have to give them a short text about myself and my academic background, so that they can put it in the brochure. Famous, at last!

Ramil: Yeah.

Kirsten: Right – well, I've got to get a couple of things sorted if I'm going to get this paper completed.

Ramil: Have you got enough data?

Kirsten: Possibly. I'd like to reinforce some of it, though, so I thought I'd send out some more questionnaires. I was looking at that thesis that Angela wrote last year and she said you need a sample of over 100 to be sure of your results.

Ramil: I think some of this year's postgraduates are doing some of the same stuff as you on buildings. Why don't you talk to them?

Kirsten: I'll end up getting confused. It would be more useful for me to actually go out to that site by the rail bridge to see how they're building the new factory. I managed to get hold of Professor Barnett at London University and he said I should go out and take pictures. I'm pretty busy but I'll have to make time. Anyway, what about you ... (fade) ...

Lecturer: OK, now today we're looking at changes in communication, and specifically changes that have just happened or are likely to happen in the next few years. Key to this is the mobile phone, which is increasingly being seen as an all-purpose system rather than just a phone. If you only use your phone for texting and making calls now, you will be amazed at how you will be using it in the future. The technology has been developed for a range of other uses. For example, phones could be used so that if you are meeting someone and they get lost you could send them a map of your location to help them. This will save all those complicated explanations over the phone and our poor friends or colleagues trying to drive and find out where they are at the same time. And, if you get bored waiting, or if you are travelling for example, you will soon be able to see TV news on your phone as it is actually being broadcast. This means that you won't have to miss any of your favourites if you are away for a few days. Most people have got used to texting now, and young people send pictures to each other but, what is exciting, is the possibility of putting music with them before you send them. And it's not all frivolous. Phones are going to become even more critical in business and education. Some recent developments have a highly practical usage so, for example, as lecturers we will be able to send everybody a text to let them know if lectures have been cancelled. And the new phones could have a further use in education, as well as business, as they will enable us to go to any destination – such as when we are doing a field trip for instance – and from there to send data directly to a computer so that we can access it when we get home. This means we will no longer be limited by what the phone can store.

And it's interesting to look at the different ways that men and women use phones now, as that does affect how the technology will develop. Some research has been done on how people use phones and some of the results are surprising. One of the increasing usages of mobile phones is to get all sorts of data such as phone numbers, the weather, train times, etcetera and, while there's been an attempt to set up connections with things that women might be interested in accessing, it is overwhelmingly men who do this. But what about the traditional use of a phone – to speak to people! I suppose we would predict that it is mainly women who use phones as a method of contact for friends and family but, in fact, the genders exploit this facility equally. I've spoken about the increased business usages that phones will offer and I suppose we would associate this usage with men. The survey picked up though that women are often working from home or catching up with work in the evenings so they use phones in this way as much as men do. Most of us are aware we can store photos on our phones – it's an ideal method of capturing a moment, wherever you are. Women tend to be the group that keep photos on their phones, but it seems that men use their phones to actually take pictures much more than women do. And, of course, all this knowledge affects the marketing that the companies will do ... (fade) ...