IELTS Basic - Listening - Lesson 2
1. protect
M: Right.Then I think you'll find the first part of the exhibition as you go in is quite relevant. It's all about electronics and how we can use them to protect the world around us - you know, the environment and what we can do to avoid damaging it further.
W: Protecting the environment. That sounds interesting.
2. ocean
W: Anything I should specially look out for there?
M There are lots of new devices. One which fascinated me when I went round was a new instrument for measuring how the temperature of the ocean changes at different levels, …
3. safety
M: … because the subject of the next section is all about different things for keeping an eye on your children and looking after their safety.
4. accident
M: It contains a range of things, from electronic instruments used in medicine to children's electronic games and even a number of new devices to prevent children from having an accident when they're at home.
5. school
M: Yes, there's even an invention for older children - you'll see a demonstration of it while you're there - which helps parents to make sure their kids are going to school.
6. money
W: Are there any other sections which feature electronics?
M: Sure. There's another section - it's the third you come to, I think - which should interest everyone. It contains lots of new electronic instruments or devices for looking after and working with money
MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
1 & 2. B, E
W Here they are. First one. Why are you visiting the exhibition?
I: Well, I want to keep up with the latest developments in electronics, you know- I was recommended by a friend to come here and see what new devices and inventions are coming out and learn a bit. I mean, I don't gonorally go shopping for new electronics. I'm not the sort of person who goes out and buys all the latest gadgets - the prices are too high when they're new. But it interests me, and I thought also there would be things which would interest my son and he'd enjoy it as well, so that's why we're here.
3 & 4. B, C
I: Recently? Sure. I was thinking of buying a new calculator for the office, but I decided it wasn't really necessary because I can do all the calculations just as easily on a computer. Anyway, I got a new laptop recently because, you know, they have so many applications and they don't take up much space either…. The other thing I bought was a present for my husband's birthday…a camera … I'm not very keen on the sort of pictures you can take with a mobile phone, …
5 & 6. B, D
W: Right... And here's a question about this building… what do you think of it?
I: Oh, it looks pretty good to me. It's got lots of natural light, so you don't have to put up with lots of electric lighting which can be quite tiring on the eyes. It feels very large and spacious, which is great because although it's full of activity and quite noisy, it doesn't feel too crowded. Also, when you look up at the ceiling near the entrance with the design of stars and planets on it, that's something I really like. I'm not so keen on those revolving doors, though. I always feel I'm going to get stuck in one.
7 & 8. C, D
W: And did you have any difficulties getting to the exhibition?
I: Well, coming at this time of day the roads weren't too busy, so that was all right... so the car park was easy to find. The only problem was it was full when I arrived I guess I should have come earlier - so I had to find another one quite a long walk away, which was a pity. Then we had to stand outside for quite a long time queuing to get in this exhibition is pretty popular. That was a bit of a problem, because my son gets impatient, but fortunately it wasn't raining, otherwise we might have gone home.
1. B
Keywords: Family Welcome, begins
SUE: That sounds interesting. What time does it start?
MARTIN: The gallery opens at 10, and the 'Family Welcome' event runs from 10.30 until 2 o'clock. The gallery stays open until 5.
2. C
Keywords: now
M: And several times during the day, they're going to show a short film that the gallery has produced. It demonstrates how ceramics are made, and there'll be equipment and materials for children to have a go themselves. Last time they ran the event, there was a film about painting, which went down very well with the children, and they're now working on one about sculpture.
3. B
Keywords: most, free
MARTIN: Well there are several free concerts taking place at different times - one or two in the morning, the majority at lunchtime, and a couple in the evening
4. A
Keywords: 4 pm, Latin American
SUE: The Latin American could be fun. What time is that?
MARTIN: It's being repeated several times, in different places. They're performing in the central library at 1 o'clock, then at 4 it's in the City Museum, and in the evening, at 7.30, there's a longer concert, in the theatre.
5. C
Keywords: boat race, begins
MARTIN: The race starts at Offord Marina, to the north of Burnham, and goes as far as Summer Pool. The best place to watch it from is Charlesworth Bridge, though that does get rather crowded.
6. A
Keywords: (pay attention to the differences in the choices)
A - a, regional
B- a, national
C - several, regional
SUE: And who's taking part?
MARTIN: Well, local boat clubs, but the standard is very high. One of them came first in the West of England regional championship in May this year- it was the first time a team from Bumham has won. It means that next year they'll be representing the region in the national championship.
7. birds
Keywords: seeing, rare, all year
SUE: Now I've heard something about Paxton Nature Reserve. It's a good place for spotting unusual birds, isn't it?
MARTIN: That's right – throughout the year.
8. flowers
Keywords: good time, unusual
M: …. And just at the moment you can see various flowers that are pretty unusual …
9. mushroom
Keywords: learn, collect
MARTIN: And there's going to be a talk and slide show about mushrooms - and you'll be able to go out and pick some afterwards and study the different varieties.
10. river
Keywords: part, suitable, swimming
SUE: Uhuh. And is it possible for children to swim in the river?
MARTIN: Yes. Part of it has been fenced off to make it safe for children to swim in.
1. salary
R: First of all, how much do you spend on electronic items a month?
J: Hmm, let me see. I don't earn a lot, so I don't have much left after I've paid for things like rent, bills, food and so on. Anything else is a luxury. So, I'd guess about 5%, maybe 10% of my monthly salary.
2. friends
R: All right, and what influences you in your choice of product? Say you wanted a new mobile phone, how would you decide which one to buy?
J: Well, first I look at reviews on the Internet, you know, what other customers think about them. Then I'll ask my friends what they think. In fact, their opinions are probably more important than anything.
3. famous
J: Well, if it's someone I respect, you know, like a famous sportsman or actor, that can certainly make a difference. I know it shouldn't really, but it does.
4. shops
R: And where do you buy most of these products? The High Street? The Internet?
J: Most people seem to avoid shops, these days, don't they, for things like that? They think they can get things cheaper on the Internet.
R: Right
J: But I find that if you say to a shop assistant that you can get a new, er, camera for example, for £100 on the Internet, they'll often match the price. So, that's where I go.
5. ordering
R: Any other advantages?
J: Well, you get personal service and you don't have to wait for the product to be delivered. Ordering online means you have to wait, sometimes for ages, to get the things you've just bought. I hate that. I guess I'm just very impatient.
6. unusual
R: OK, one final question. Do you ever see a product and think I've absolutely got to get one of those?
J: Oh, all the time, especially if I'm walking past a shop and I see a new electronic item in the window, especially if it's unusual
1 & 2. A, C
R: Let's start with the mobile phone.
Joe: OK, well, it has its good points and its bad points. The purple and silver make it quite eye-catching. you know, modern, exciting.
R: Right. Anything else?
...
J: On the other hand, thanks to the oval design, it does fit comfortably in your hand.
3 & 4. A, D
J: When I buy a mobile phone, I don't want one that's going to be difficult to operate.
R: So keep it simple, right?
J: Right. And I want a phone that doesn't have problems picking up a signal, or doesn't cut you off halfway through a call.
5 & 6. C, E
R: Next, the digital radio. What did you think?
…
J: The thing is, I'm not sure if it's the area I live in, but the choice of radio stations seemed very limited. It didn't make any difference what I did with the aerial or where I put the radio high up on a shelf, low down on the floor. And there seemed to be a delay when you turned up the volume.
R: What do you mean?
J: Well, when you press the volume control, for example, nothing seems to happen for a few seconds. And the same thing happens when you want to change radio stations.
7 & 8. B, E
J: … But at £900, I'm not sure you'd get many customers. That's a lot of money for a laptop. Bring that down to, say, £400 and things might be different.
R: Any other changes you'd make? Like adding more memory, for example?
J: I think that's fine as it is… But the computer doesn't have anywhere you can play CD-ROMS. And I'd include a light in the keyboard so you can use it when it's dark.
1. C
Keywords: Peter, drink
S: What would you like to drink?
P: I’d love a really chilled mineral water or something
2. C
Keywords: caused, Peter , problem, bank
P: You know I went to the bank to cash some travellers cheques. Well, the exchange rate was looking healthy, but when I went to the teller, they told me that the computer system was temporarily down.
So they couldn't do any transactions.
3. B
Keywords: Peter, talk, bank
S: Someone you met in the bank? Does he work there?
P: No, he was a tourist, from New York. His name is Henry, and he's been here for a week, but he's moving on to Germany tomorrow.
4. B
Keywords: map
P: Oh, and he also gave me this map of the bus system, he said he didn't need it anymore.
5. A
Keywords: Peter and Sally decide
Ah, there's the waitress. Let's order.
Do you want anything to eat, or shall we just have a drink?
Well. I'm hungry.
And we've got a lot of sightseeing to do.
So let's just have a snack and drink.
Sounds good to me.
6. art gallery
Keywords: first place
we'll go to see the painting you like first, the Rembrandt, then have lunch and go on to the Castle after that, and then the Cathedral.
OK.
7. climb the tower
Keywords: Cathedral, Peter, really
What I really want to do at the Cathedral is climb the tower.