Buying a bicycle: listening answers and explanations
A radio presenter gives listeners practical advice on buying a bicycle: the kinds of bike available, what they cost, which number of gears suits which kind of riding, and how to get the right size.
One block of ten notes in strict order. The talk moves from kinds and prices, through single, three, five and ten speed bikes, to size. 'Now the next thing we need to look at is size' takes you to the last two gaps.
Answer key and self-check
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
Q
Your answer
Answer
Questions 11-20 · Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
How to attack this block: The presenter mostly uses the same words as the notes, so this block rewards quick, accurate copying. Each bike type gets its own sentence: listen for the number of speeds, then for 'suited to' or 'necessary for'.
Question 11
Answer: mountainRight at the start, when he says the range is enormous
Also accepted: mountain bikes
What kind of bicycle is missing from the list?
there are racing bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes or just plain ordinary bikes for riding round town
Question says → You hear
racing, touring, ..., ordinaryracing bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes or just plain ordinary bikes
Why: The list in the notes follows his order exactly, so the gap between touring and ordinary is mountain (bikes).
The trap: Not much of one, but make sure you don't write 'ordinary', which is already printed.
Question 12
Answer: qualityStraight after the list of kinds
Apart from price, how do bicycles vary?
They vary enormously in two basic ways: price and quality.
Question says → You hear
They vary in price andThey vary enormously in two basic ways: price and quality
Why: 'Two basic ways' tells you two things are coming, and the notes already give price. The other is quality.
The trap: 'Your own personal needs' follows soon after, but that's about how you choose, not how bikes vary.
Question 13
Answer: $2,000When he says 'in broad terms' what you can spend
Also accepted: $2000 / 2,000 dollars / 2000
What is the top price for a bicycle?
you can spend anything from $50 to $2,000 on a bike
Question says → You hear
Prices range from $50.00 toanything from $50 to $2,000
Why: 'From ... to' is the range, and $50 is printed, so the top figure is $2,000. Write the dollar sign and the digits.
The trap: Mishearing 'two thousand' as 'two hundred'. The number is said in thousands.
Question 14
Answer: short ridesWhen he starts on single speed cycles, 'bikes with no gears'
Also accepted: casual rides / short, casual rides / short casual rides
What are single speed bikes good for?
Single speed cycles - that is bikes with no gears, are really only suited to short, casual rides.
Question says → You hear
Single speed cycles are suitable forare really only suited to short, casual rides
Why: 'Suited to' matches 'suitable for'. Short rides, casual rides or short casual rides are all accepted.
The trap: Simplicity and reliability come next, but those are their attractions, not what they're suitable for.
Question 15
Answer: town ridingWhen he says 'Three speed cycles on the other hand'
Also accepted: shopping
What are three speed bikes good for?
Three speed cycles on the other hand are all that is really necessary for most town riding, going to the shops and things like that.
Question says → You hear
Three speed cycles are suitable forall that is really necessary for most town riding
Why: 'All that is really necessary for' means they're enough for that job: town riding. Shopping is accepted too.
The trap: Hills come straight after, but that's when you'd need something more than three speeds.
Question 16
Answer: serious touringWhen he moves on to five and ten speed bicycles
What are five and ten speed bikes suitable for, besides distance and hills?
Five and ten speed bicycles are best suited to riding over long distances or hilly terrain and to serious touring
Question says → You hear
longer distances, hills andlong distances or hilly terrain and to serious touring
Why: The notes list the same three things in the same order. Long distances and hills are printed, so the gap is serious touring, which he says twice.
The trap: 'Touring' alone loses the meaning: ordinary touring bikes were in the first list. Keep 'serious'.
Question 17
Answer: similarWhen he says it's worth paying a little bit extra
Also accepted: almost the same
How do ten speed bikes compare in price?
So I would tend to recommend the ten speed bike as the price is similar - however you'll be getting better quality components.
Question says → You hear
they are ... in pricethe price is similar
Why: The note says 'they are ... in price', so it needs an adjective: similar. 'Almost the same' is accepted too.
The trap: 'The difference in price ... is usually very little' comes first, but 'very little in price' doesn't say the right thing about the bikes.
Question 18
Answer: better qualitySame sentence as Question 17, after 'however'
Also accepted: better quality components
What do you get with a ten speed bike?
however you'll be getting better quality components
Question says → You hear
buthowever you'll be getting better quality components
Why: 'However' matches 'but', and what follows is the advantage: better quality (components).
The trap: 'More efficient' was said earlier about hills. It's not the reason he gives for choosing ten speeds.
Question 19
Answer: buying clothesWhen he says 'the next thing we need to look at is size'
What is buying a bicycle compared to?
Buying a cycle is like buying clothes, first of all you find the right size and then you try it on
Question says → You hear
Buying a cycle is likeBuying a cycle is like buying clothes
Why: The note copies his sentence word for word up to the gap: buying clothes.
The trap: 'Trying it on' is part of the comparison, not the thing being compared.
Question 20
Answer: frameStraight after the comparison with clothes
Also accepted: the frame
What decides the size of a bicycle?
the size of the cycle is not determined by the size of the wheels (except in children's cycles), but by the size of the frame
Question says → You hear
determined by the size of thebut by the size of the frame
Why: 'Not ... but' tells you the second item is the real answer: the frame.
The trap: Wheels comes first and fits the gap grammatically, but it's ruled out (except for children's bikes).
He first says the price difference is 'very little', and only later says 'the price is similar'. The note needs an adjective after 'they are', so similar fits, not 'very little'.
Single speed bikes are 'really only suited to short, casual rides'. He later adds 'basic transport', but the key's answer is short (casual) rides.
Words from this recording worth keeping
compromise(Choosing a bike)
a choice that balances different needs
simplicity(Single speed cycles)
being easy and uncomplicated
reliability(Single speed cycles)
working well without breaking down
neglect(Single speed cycles)
not being looked after
terrain(Five and ten speed cycles)
the type of land you travel over
components(Ten speed cycles)
the parts that something is made from
contrary to(Size)
the opposite of
determined by(Size)
decided or fixed by
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Cambridge IELTS 1, Test 2, Listening Part 2. The recording, transcript and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts of the transcript only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full material, or sit the test on Langujet.
