Joining the leisure club: listening answers and explanations
Sandy Fisher, a fitness manager at LP Clubs, talks to a group of new members before a tour of the club. She describes the recent improvements to the facilities, explains the personal assessment every new member goes through, and runs through the types of membership and what each one costs.
All the answers come from Sandy, in order. Questions 11-12 come from the opening tour of the facilities. Questions 13-15 follow the personal assessment step by step. 'Now, I'll just quickly run through the types of membership' leads into questions 16-19, and question 20 comes at the very end with the practical advice.
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.
How to attack this block: The key word is 'recently improved'. Sandy mentions several facilities, but only two have actually changed: listen for words like 'expanded' and 'recently refurbished'. A facility that 'continues' as before, or one the club doesn't have, isn't an improvement.
Question 11-12
Answer: A and C (in either order)The opening description of the facilities, before the personal assessment
Which two facilities have been improved recently?
now we've expanded it to eight lanes, it's much wider. … Our recently refurbished fitness suite has all the latest exercise equipment
Question says → You hear
recently been improvednow we've expanded it / recently refurbished fitness suite
Why: A: the gym is the 'fitness suite', and Sandy says it was recently refurbished with new machines. C: the indoor pool has been expanded to eight lanes, so it's much wider.
The trap: E is the strongest distractor: children's activities are mentioned, but they 'continue to benefit' from tuition, so nothing has changed. D is out because there isn't space for an outdoor pool, only a roof that opens.
Note completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS)
Questions 13-20
How to attack this block: Two words is the limit, and several answers really are two words (health problems, safety rules, free entry, photo card). The notes split at 'Types of membership', which Sandy signposts clearly. Several gaps sit before a word that's already printed (fee, hours), so don't repeat that word.
Question 13
Answer: health problemsStart of the personal assessment, 'This starts on day one'
What do new members have to tell the club about?
You are asked to fill in a questionnaire giving details of any health problems.
Question says → You hear
describe anygiving details of any health problems
Why: 'Giving details of' becomes 'describe' in the notes, and 'any' is the same in both. The answer is two words: health problems.
The trap: Sports injuries come up a little later, but as something the club wants to avoid, not something you describe.
Question 14
Answer: safety rulesStraight after the trainer goes through your questionnaire
What will be explained before you use the equipment?
The trainer will then take you … the safety rules for using the equipment in the fitness suite.
Question says → You hear
will be explained to youThe trainer will then take you … the safety rules
Why: 'Take you through' means explain, and the thing explained is the safety rules for the equipment. Plural 'rules', two words.
The trap: Equipment is printed in the note already, and 'fitness suite' follows. The gap is what is explained about it.
Question 15
Answer: plan'At the end of the personal assessment'
What will you be given for six weeks?
the trainer will draw up a plan, outlining what
Question says → You hear
You will be given a six-weekthe trainer will draw up a plan
Why: The trainer 'draws up a plan' of what to achieve 'within a six-week period'. The note moves six-week in front, so the gap is just plan.
The trap: Review is mentioned too ('reviewed at the end of the six weeks'), but that happens to the plan. It isn't what you're given.
Question 16
Answer: joiningRight after 'Now, I'll just quickly run through the types of membership'
What is the compulsory £90 fee called?
All members must pay a … fee of £90 in addition to the rates for the monthly membership fees.
Question says → You hear
compulsory £90 ... feeAll members must pay a … fee of £90
Why: Sandy says every member must pay a joining fee of £90 on top of the monthly fees. 'Must pay' matches 'compulsory'. The word in the gap is joining (the printed transcript garbles it, but you hear it clearly).
The trap: Monthly and membership come straight after, but they describe the other fees you pay every month, not the £90.
Question 17
Answer: free entryThe first membership type, Gold
What do Gold members get at all LP clubs?
free entry at all LP Clubs.
Question says → You hear
Gold members are given ... to all the LP clubsfree entry at all LP Clubs
Why: Gold membership 'entitles you to free entry at all LP Clubs', which is great if you travel. Both words are needed: free entry.
The trap: Just 'entry' misses the point of the benefit. 'Reciprocal arrangements' later belong to Premier members.
Question 18
Answer: peakWhen Sandy moves on to Premier membership for busy professionals
When do Premier members get priority?
LP gives booking preferences to Premier members at peak times.
Question says → You hear
given prioritygives booking preferences
during ... hoursat peak times
Why: 'Booking preferences' is the paraphrase of priority, and 'peak times' becomes 'peak hours' in the note. Only peak goes in the gap.
The trap: 'During the day' is said just before, but it's when busy professionals can't come. It doesn't fit 'during ... hours'.
Question 19
Answer: guestsRight after 'Premier membership is for individuals only'
Who can Premier members bring every month?
Premier membership is for individuals only, but you will be sent passes for
Question says → You hear
can bring some ... every monthyou will be sent passes for
Why: Premier is for one person only, but members are sent passes for guests every month. Guests must be plural after 'some'. (The bank's printed text has a typo here, but the word you hear is guests.)
The trap: 'Partner' was mentioned with Gold joint membership, not Premier, and passes is what you're sent, not who you bring.
Question 20
Answer: photo cardNear the end, after the robes and hairdryers
Also accepted: photo cards
What should members always bring with them?
your photo card because you won't be able to get in without it.
Question says → You hear
should always takeremember your photo card
Why: The club gives you robes and hairdryers, but you must remember your photo card because you can't get in without it.
The trap: Clothes and equipment are mentioned first, but as things you don't need to bring.
Sandy talks about the pool, an outdoor pool, the gym and children's classes. Only the pool and the gym have been improved: there's no outdoor pool, and the children's tuition 'continues' as before.
The note gives you '£90 ... fee', and Sandy says 'joining fee'. It's easy to write monthly or membership, because those words follow straight after, but those are separate fees.
Premier members get booking preferences 'at peak times'. The note says 'during ... hours', so the gap is peak, not 'peak times'.
Words from this recording worth keeping
facilities(Introduction)
the rooms and equipment a place provides
retractable(The swimming pool)
able to be pulled back or opened
refurbished(The fitness suite)
repaired and redecorated to look new
catered for(Children's activities)
provided for, given what they need
questionnaire(Personal assessment)
a form with written questions to answer
entitles(Gold membership)
gives you the right to have something
work commitments(Premier membership)
duties and hours your job requires
reciprocal arrangements(Premier membership)
agreements that work both ways between clubs
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The full Cambridge 10 Test 1 listening paper with the real audio: all four parts, played once, marked the moment you finish. Already done it? Take it again and listen for the traps this page showed you.
Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 1, 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.
