Cambridge IELTS 4 Listening Test 1 #ieltspreparation #ielts #english #foryou #ieltslistening

Summary

The provided script from 'Cambridge IELTS 4' outlines an English language listening test. It comprises four sections, each featuring a different audio scenario: a student inquiring about school trips, a museum tour guide's talk, a student discussing assignment issues with a lecturer, and a lecture on urban landscapes and the role of trees. The test format includes listening to recordings followed by answering questions, with a final 10-minute period to transfer answers.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script is from the Cambridge IELTS 4 test, which includes listening exercises with various sections.
• 🗣️ The test consists of four sections with different types of audio recordings, including conversations and lectures.
• ⏰ Candidates are given time to read instructions and questions, and to check their answers, but recordings play only once.
• 📝 Section one involves a student inquiring about school-organized trips, including the frequency, types of locations, costs, and reservation process.
• 🏞️ Trips organized by the school are to places of historical interest with shopping options, guided tours, and are within a three-hour drive.
• 💰 The cost of trips varies between five and fifteen pounds, depending on the distance.
• 👥 Special trips can be arranged if a group of more than 12 people is interested.
• ✍️ To reserve a place on a trip, students must sign up on a notice board three days in advance.
• 🏛️ Section two describes a museum tour of Riverside Industrial Village, highlighting the historical significance of the site for industry.
• 🏡 The village features various buildings like workshops, a showroom, grinding shop, engine room, and period-furnished cottages.
• 🌳 Section four discusses the impact of trees on urban landscapes, including their role in regulating temperature, reducing wind, and managing noise pollution.
• 🏙️ Urban planning can incorporate trees to improve microclimates and create more comfortable living conditions in cities.

Q & A

How many trips does the school organize each month?

The school organizes five trips every month, with three during weekends and two on Wednesday afternoons.

What type of places does the school choose for the trips?

The school chooses places of historical interest that also offer a variety of shopping and have guided tours.

What is the maximum distance of the trips organized by the school?

All the visits organized by the school are less than a three-hour drive.

What is the cost range for the trips organized by the school?

The cost of the trips varies between five and fifteen pounds, depending on the distance.

How can students reserve a place on a trip?

Students can reserve a place by signing their name on the notice board, and they need to sign up three days in advance.

What is the schedule for the trips planned for the term?

The specific schedule has not been printed yet, but the dates for the trips have been confirmed.

What is the capacity for the trip to Saint Ives?

The trip to Saint Ives has only 16 places available because they are going by minibus.

What is the optional extra visit for the trip to Bristol?

The optional extra visit for the trip to Bristol is the SS Great Britain.

What is the reason for the assignment extension given to Melanie Griffin?

Melanie Griffin was given an extension because she did well in her first assignment and was having trouble getting the required books from the library.

Which article did Dr. Johnson suggest Melanie should read in its entirety?

Dr. Johnson suggested that Melanie should read the article by Anderson and Hawker in its entirety.

What is the main topic of the talk in section four?

The main topic of the talk in section four is the impact of trees on the urban landscape and how they can be used to improve the local climate.

How do trees help in reducing noise in urban areas?

Trees can help reduce noise by acting as a barrier, although they are not completely effective, especially against low-frequency noise which can pass through them.

What challenges do trees present in urban planning?

Trees present challenges such as the need for space, consideration of root systems, and branches that may block windows or sunlight.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 School Trips Information

The script introduces an IELTS listening test from Cambridge IELTS 4, focusing on a conversation between a student and a social organizer about school trips. The organizer explains that there are five trips per month, with three on weekends and two on Wednesday afternoons. The trips are to places of historical interest with shopping opportunities and guided tours. The cost varies between five and fifteen pounds, and special trips can be arranged for groups of 12 or more. Trips are within a three-hour drive, and the organizer provides details on the reservation process and the typical schedule for the trips.

05:04

🏛️ Riverside Industrial Village Tour

This section is a listening exercise where a tour guide provides an overview of the Riverside Industrial Village, a museum center. The guide explains the historical significance of the site due to its fast-flowing river, which made it ideal for manufacturing works. The area had abundant raw materials and fuels, leading to the establishment of water wheels and iron forges in the 12th century. The guide also mentions the shift of industry to towns with the advent of the steam engine and railways. The script ends with the guide inviting questions and suggesting the group to read the guidebook for more information.

10:06

🏡 Historic Village Layout

The script details a tour of a historic village where buildings are arranged in a half-circle around a yard. The main workshop contains a furnace and is where metal was smelted and tools cast. There's a showroom displaying tool samples, a grinding shop for tool finishing, and a cafe. The guide also mentions worker cottages, stables for product transport, and the Works office with old accounts. The guide offers a tour starting at the engine room, providing a comprehensive look at the village's layout and historical significance.

15:08

📚 Student-Lecturer Discussion on Assignments

This section features a student, Melanie Griffin, discussing her population studies course with Dr. Johnson. Melanie seeks an extension for an assignment due to difficulty in accessing required books and managing her time. Dr. Johnson, acknowledging her good performance in the previous assignment, grants an extension. They also discuss the relevance of various journal articles for her studies, with Dr. Johnson advising which articles to prioritize and which to skip.

20:17

🌳 Urban Landscape and Vegetation

The script presents a talk on urban landscapes, focusing on how vegetation, particularly trees, can affect the urban climate. The speaker explains that trees can regulate temperature and humidity, making cities cooler or more humid as needed. They also discuss how trees can reduce wind force and traffic noise, improving the local environment. However, the speaker notes that trees require space and sunlight, making it challenging to integrate them into dense urban areas. The talk concludes with suggestions for incorporating trees into urban planning.

25:17

🏙️ Urban Planning and Tree Integration

The final section of the script touches on the challenges and opportunities of integrating trees into urban planning. It highlights the need for space, water, and sunlight for trees to grow, suggesting that urban planning should consider these factors when designing streets and neighborhoods. The script ends with a prompt for listeners to consider innovative ways to design urban spaces that accommodate vegetation for a more comfortable living environment.

Keywords

💡IELTS

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is a globally recognized test that assesses the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. In the video's context, it is the framework for the listening test being described, which is a crucial part of the IELTS examination.

💡Section

In the context of the IELTS listening test, a 'section' refers to a distinct part of the test, each with its own theme and set of questions. The script outlines four sections, each dealing with different scenarios and requiring the listener to extract specific information.

💡Trips

The term 'trips' in the script refers to organized outings or excursions that the school arranges for students. These trips are a key topic in Section One, where a student inquires about the details and logistics of these trips, including their frequency, destinations, and costs.

💡Historical Interest

Places of 'historical interest' are locations with significant historical or cultural heritage. In the script, the social organizer mentions that the trips organized by the school always include such places, indicating the educational value of these outings.

💡Shopping

The script mentions 'shopping' as one of the activities considered for the trips, reflecting the students' preferences. It shows that the trips are designed to be both educational and enjoyable, catering to the interests of the participants.

💡Guided Tours

In the context of the script, 'guided tours' are organized visits led by a guide who provides information about the place being visited. The social organizer emphasizes the importance of guided tours for giving a 'good focus' to the school trips.

💡Distance

The 'distance' in the script refers to how far the trips are from the school. It is a factor in determining the cost of the trips, as mentioned by the social organizer, with all visits being less than a three-hour drive.

💡Cost

'Cost' in the script pertains to the price students have to pay to participate in the trips. The social organizer indicates that the cost varies depending on the distance, ranging between five and fifteen pounds.

💡Reservation

The term 'reservation' in the script refers to the process of signing up for a trip. Students are required to sign their names on a notice board and do so at least three days in advance to secure their place.

💡Refund

A 'refund' in the context of the script is the full return of money paid for a trip. The social organizer assures that if a trip is canceled, students will receive a full refund, indicating the school's commitment to fair practices.

💡Museum Center

The 'Museum Center' in the script refers to 'Riverside Industrial Village,' which is the subject of the talk in Section Two. It is a place where historical industrial activities are preserved and presented to the public, showcasing the history and evolution of industry in the area.

💡Urban Landscape

In Section Four, 'urban landscape' is the central theme of the talk, focusing on how elements like trees and vegetation can influence the climate and livability of cities. The speaker discusses the benefits of integrating nature into urban planning for a more comfortable environment.

Highlights

The test is divided into four sections with a 10-minute answer transfer period at the end.

Section 1 involves a student inquiring about school-organized trips, with 5 trips offered monthly.

Trips are to places of historical interest with shopping options and guided tours.

All visits are within a 3-hour drive and cost between 5 and 15 pounds.

Special trips can be arranged for groups of more than 12 people.

Reservations require signing up on a notice board three days in advance.

Section 2 features a tour guide discussing Riverside Industrial Village's history.

The site's suitability for industry was due to the fast-flowing river and availability of raw materials.

Water wheels were first established in the 12th century, supporting over 160 water mills by the 17th and 18th centuries.

The invention of the steam engine and railways led to industry moving away from rivers and into towns.

Section 3 is a conversation between a student and lecturer discussing an assignment and reading materials.

The lecturer suggests specific journal articles for the student to focus on for the assignment.

The student is granted an extension for the assignment due to previous good performance.

Section 4 is a talk on how trees can impact urban climate and city planning.

Trees can regulate temperature, humidify air, and reduce wind force in urban areas.

Planting trees can make city streets less dangerous by filtering wind and reducing noise.

The challenges of integrating trees into urban landscapes due to space and growth requirements.

The importance of considering trees in urban design, especially when rebuilding areas.

Transcripts

Cambridge IELTS 4 by University of

Cambridge esol examinations

published by Cambridge University press

this recording is copyright

cd1

test one

you'll hear a number of different

recordings and you'll have to answer

questions on what you hear

there will be time for you to read the

instructions and questions and you'll

have a chance to check your work

all the recordings will be played once

only

the test is in four sections

at the end of the test you'll be given

10 minutes to transfer your answers to

an answer sheet

now turn to section one

section one

you'll hear a young student asking the

social organizer of his school for

information about organized trips

first you have some time to look at

questions one to four

you'll see that there is an example

which has been done for you

on this occasion only the conversation

relating to this will be played first

good morning good morning how can I help

you I understand that the school

organizes

um trips to different yes we run five

every month three during weekends and

two Wednesday afternoon trips

there are five trips every month so five

has been written in the notes

now we shall begin

you should answer the questions as you

listen because you will not hear the

recording a second time

listen carefully and answer questions

one to four

good morning good morning how can I help

you I understand that the school

organizes

um trips to different yes we run five

every month three during weekends and

two Wednesday afternoon trips what sort

of places well obviously it varies but

always places of historical interest and

also which offer a variety of shopping

because our students always ask about

that

and then we go for ones where we know

there are guided tours because this

gives a good Focus for the visit

um do you travel far well we're lucky

here obviously because we're able to say

that all our visits are less than three

hours drive how much do they cost again

it varies between five and fifteen

pounds ahead depending on distance

uh-huh oh and we do offer to arrange

special trips if you know there are more

than 12 people all right I'll keep that

in mind and what other times normally we

try to keep it pretty fixed so that the

students get to know the pattern we

leave at 8 30 a.m and return at 6 PM we

figure it's best to keep the day fairly

short oh yes and um how do we reserve a

place you sign your name on the notice

board do you know where it is uh-huh I

saw it this morning and we do ask that

you sign up three days in advance so we

know we've got enough people interested

to run it and we can cancel if necessary

with full refund of course that's fine

thanks

before you hear the rest of the

conversation you have some time to look

at questions 5 to 10.

now listen and answer questions five to

ten

and what visits are planned for this

term right well I'm afraid the schedule

hasn't been printed out yet but we have

confirmed the dates and planned the

optional extra visits which you can also

book in advance if you want to

oh that's all right and if you can just

give some idea of the weekend ones so I

can you know work out then to see

friends Etc oh sure

the first one is Saint Ives that's on

the 13th of February and we'll have only

16 places available because we're going

by minibus

and that's a day in town with the

optional extra of visiting the Hepworth

Museum all right yeah that sounds good

um then there's a London trip on the

16th of February and we'll be taking a

medium-sized coach so there'll be 45

places on that and let's see the

optional extra is the Tower of London oh

I've already been there yeah uh after

that there's Bristol on the 3rd of March

where Bristol

b-r-i-s-t-o-l okay that's

um in a different minibus with 18 places

available oh and the optional extra is a

visit to the SS Great Britain okay

we're going to Salisbury on the 18th of

March and that's always a popular one

because the optional extra is Stonehenge

so we're taking the large coach with 50

seats oh good

and then the last one is to Bath on the

23rd of March oh yes is Bath the Roman

city yes that's right and that's in the

16-seater minibus and there's the

optional visit it's to the American

Museum well worth a visit okay well

that's great um thanks for all that my

pleasure oh by the way if you want more

information about any of the trips have

a look in the student newspaper okay or

have a word with my assistant her name

is Jane yentob that's

y-e-n-t-o-b all right I've got that

thank you very much for all your help

you're very welcome I hope you enjoy the

trips

that is the end of section one

you now have half a minute to check your

answers

now turn to section two

section 2.

you'll hear a tour guide giving a talk

about a Museum Center called Riverside

industrial Village

first you have some time to look at

questions 11 to 13.

now listen carefully and answer

questions 11 to 13.

good afternoon everybody and welcome to

Riverside industrial Village

to start your visit I'm just going to

give you a brief account of the history

of the museum before letting you roam

about on your own I won't keep you long

okay

now from where we're standing you've got

a good view of the river over there

and it was because of this fast flowing

water that this site was a natural place

for manufacturing works the water and

the availability of raw materials in the

area like minerals and iron ore and also

the abundance of local fuels like coal

and firewood all made this site suitable

for industry from a very early time

water was the main source of power for

the early Industries and some of the

water wheels were first established in

the 12th century would you believe

at that time local Craftsmen first built

an Iron Forge just behind the village

here on the bend in the river

by the 17th and 18th centuries the

Region's Rivers supported more than 160

water Mills and many of these continued

to operate well into the 19th century

but then the steam engine was invented

and then the railways came and the

centers of Industry were able to move

away from the rivers and the countryside

and into the towns so industrial

Villages like this one became very rare

so that's the history for you if you'd

like any more information you can ask me

some questions or you can read further

in our excellent Guidebook

before you hear the rest of the talk you

have some time to look at questions 14

to 20.

now listen and answer questions 14 to

20.

now I'm going to give you a plan of the

site and I'd just like to point out

where everything is and then you can

take a look at everything for yourself

I've already pointed out the river which

is on the left and of course running

along the bottom is Woodside Road got it

okay now we're standing at the entrance

see it at the bottom

and immediately to our right is the

ticket office

you won't need that because you've got

your group booking but just past it are

the toilets always good to know where

they are

in front of us is the car park as you

can see and to the left by the entry

gate is the gift shop

that's where you can get copies of the

guide like this one here

now beyond the car park all the

buildings are arranged in a half circle

with a yard in the middle

the Big Stone building at the top is the

main Workshop

that's where the furnace is and where

all the metal was smelted and the tools

were cast as you'll be able to see

now in the top right hand corner that

building with bigger Windows is the

showroom where samples of all the tools

that were made Through the Ages are on

display

in the top left corner is the grinding

shop where the tools were sharpened and

finished

and on one side of that you can see the

engine room

and on the other is the cafe which isn't

an antique you'll be pleased to know

though they do serve very nice

old-fashioned teas

the row of buildings you can see on the

left are the Cottages

these were built for the workers towards

the end of the 18th century and they're

still furnished from that period so you

can get a good idea of ordinary people's

living conditions

across the yard from them you can see

the Stables where the horses were kept

for transporting the products

and the separate building in front of

them is The Works office and that still

has some of the old accounts on display

right if anyone wants a guided tour then

I'm starting at the engine room if you'd

like to come along this way please

ladies and gentlemen

that is the end of section two you now

have half a minute to check your answers

now turn to section three

a student talking to one of her

lecturers about her studies

first you have some time to look at

questions 21 to 27.

now listen carefully and answer

questions 21 to 27.

excuse me Dr Johnson may I speak to you

for a minute sure come in

I'm Melanie Griffin I'm taking your

course in population studies right uh

well Melanie how can I help you

trouble with a sec

12 days

what sort of trouble are you having is

the assignment question a problem

well that's that's part of the problem

I'm also having I've been having trouble

getting hold of the books I've been to

the library several times and all the

books are out sounds like you should

have started borrowing books a bit

earlier well

I had a really big assignment due in for

another course and I've been spending

all my time on that and I thought uh you

might get an extension of time to finish

your assignment for me

if that's possible but I don't know well

yes it is possible but uh extensions are

normally given only for medical or

compassionate reasons otherwise it's

really a question of organizing your

study and we don't like giving

extensions to students who simply didn't

plan their work properly

uh what did you get for your first

assignment I got 87 hmm

yes you did very well indeed

so obviously you can produce good work I

don't think I'll need too much extra

time as long as I can get hold of some

of the important references

well since you did so well in your first

assignment

I'm prepared to give you an extra two

weeks for this one so that'll mean

you'll need to submit it about a month

from now

thank you now what about the reading

materials have you checked out the

journal articles in the list

oh no

not 20 of them and I wasn't sure which

ones would be most useful or important

well they're all useful but I don't

expect anyone to read them all because a

number of them deal with the same issues

uh let me give you some suggestions

the article by Anderson and Hawker is

really worth reading right I'll read

that one you should also read the

article by Jackson but just look at the

part in the research methodology how

they did it

[Music]

and if you have time the one by Roberts

says very relevant things although it's

not essential

[Music]

by Morris

I wouldn't bother with that at this

stage if I were you okay I won't bother

with Morris oh now someone told me the

article by Cooper is important well yes

in a way

but just look at the last part where he

discusses the research results and

lastly there's Forester

I can't think why I included that one

it's not bad and could be of some help

but

not that much

before you hear the rest of the

conversation you have some time to look

at questions 28 to 30.

now listen and answer questions 28 to

30.

now let's deal with the assignment

question what's the problem there hits

the graph on page two well it seems to

be the problem it's just the bar graph

showing reasons why people change where

they live well I've got a photocopy but

the reasons at the bottom are missing ah

okay uh look at the first bar on the

graph now that indicates the number of

people who move because they want more

space

oh I see

bar one okay now what about the next bar

bar two is to do with the people living

nearby disturbing them so they chose to

move away to somewhere quieter

now let's look at Bar number three

another reason people change their place

of living is because they want to be

closer to the city okay proximity to the

city is an issue

now Bar number four refers to problems

when the owner of the property won't

help fix things that go wrong

in other words the owner is not helpful

and so the tenants move out okay now

what about bar five bar five is about

those people who move because they need

a bus or train to get them into the city

or to go to work okay

and bar six bar number six is

interesting that reason was given quite

a lot people moving because they wanted

to be in a more attractive neighborhood

oh yes

thank you very much

that is the end of section three

you now have half a minute to check your

answers

now turn to section four

section 4. you'll hear a talk on the

subject of the urban landscape

first you have some time to look at

questions 31 to 40.

now listen carefully and answer

questions 31 to 40.

good day ladies and gentlemen I have

been asked today to talk to you about

the urban landscape

there are two major areas that I will

focus on in my talk

how vegetation can have a significant

effect on urban climate and how we can

better plan our cities using trees to

provide a more comfortable environment

for us to live in

trees can have a significant impact on

our cities

they can make a city as a whole a bit

less windy or a bit more windy if that's

what you want

they can make it a bit cooler if it's a

hot summer day in an Australian city or

they can make it a bit more humid if

it's a dry Inland City

on the local scale that is in particular

areas within the city

trees can make the local area more shady

cooler more humid and much less windy

in fact trees and planting of various

kinds can be used to make city streets

actually less dangerous in particular

areas

how do trees do all that you ask

well the main difference between a tree

and a building is a tree has got an

internal mechanism to keep the

temperature regulated

it evaporates water through its leaves

and that means that the temperature of

the leaves is never very far from our

own body temperature

the temperature of a building surface on

a hot sunny day can easily be 20 degrees

more than our temperature

trees on the other hand remain cooler

than buildings because they sweat

this means that they can humidify the

air and cool it a property which can be

exploited to improve the local climate

trees can also help break the force of

winds

the reason that high buildings make it

windier at ground level is that as the

wind goes higher and higher it goes

faster and faster

when the wind hits the building it has

to go somewhere some of it goes over the

top and some goes around the sides of

the building forcing those high level

winds down to ground level

that doesn't happen when you have trees

trees filter the wind and considerably

reduce it preventing those very large

strong gusts that you so often find

around tall buildings

another problem in built up areas is

that traffic noise is intensified by

tall buildings

by planting a belt of trees at the side

of the road you can make things a little

quieter but much of the vehicle noise

still goes through the trees

trees can also help reduce the amount of

noise in the surroundings although the

effect is not as large as people like to

think

low frequency noise in particular just

goes through the trees as though they

aren't there

although trees can significantly improve

the local climate they do however take

up a lot of space

there are root systems to consider and

branches blocking windows and so on

it may therefore be difficult to fit

trees into the local landscape

there is not a great deal you can do if

you have what we call a street Canyon a

whole set of high-rises enclosed in a

narrow Street

trees need water to grow

they also need some sunlight to grow and

you need room to put them

if you have the chance of knocking

buildings down and replacing them then

suddenly you can start looking at

different ways to design the streets and

to introduce

that is the end of section four

you now have half a minute to check your

answers

that is the end of the listening test

in the IELTS test you would now have 10

minutes to transfer your answers to the

listening answer sheet