Hiring a public room: listening answers and explanations
A woman phones the Village Hall to book a room for a charity dinner on 1 September. The official tells her which room fits, what it costs and what is included, then runs through the rules for before, during and after the event.
One ten-gap note block in strict order. The four headings (room and cost, before, during and after the event) follow the call. Nearly every answer comes from the official, usually right after the woman asks a question.
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 1-10 · Note completion (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
How to attack this block: The official does most of the talking and reels off rules quickly, so keep your eyes one gap ahead. Watch for prices said in pairs (weekend and weekday), payment methods that change for different charges, and things the woman suggests that he corrects, like sweeping the floor.
Question 1
Answer: CharltonRight after the official mentions the Main Hall and its 200 seats
What is the name of the smaller room that seats 100?
The Charlton Room - C-H-A-R L-T-O-N.
Question says → You hear
the ... Room - seats 100That's got seating for up to one
Why: The woman says 'Sorry?', so the official repeats the name and spells it. A spelled-out name is the clearest signal in Part 1 that the exact spelling is being tested. Start it with a capital C.
The trap: Main Hall is the example, not the answer: it's the room with 200 seats. Also watch the spelling: Charleton or Chariton loses the mark.
Question 2
Answer: 115After the woman confirms that 1 September is a Saturday
Also accepted: one hundred and fifteen / a hundred and fifteen
How much does the Main Hall cost on a Saturday evening?
from six pm to midnight that'd be £115 - that's the weekend price, it's £75 on weekdays
Question says → You hear
Cost of Main Hall for Saturday eveningthat's the weekend price
Why: The woman has just said the date is a Saturday, and the official gives £115 as 'the weekend price'. The £ sign is printed in the notes, so write just the number. Digits are safer than words.
The trap: £75 is said straight after, but that's the weekday price. The £250 that follows is the deposit, which is already in the notes.
Question 3
Answer: cashWhen the official mentions the £250 deposit
How must the deposit be paid?
But we do insist that this is paid in cash, we don't take cards for that.
Question says → You hear
£250 deposit (... payment is required)we do insist that this is paid in cash
Why: 'Insist' matches 'is required', and 'this' refers back to the deposit. So the deposit must be a cash payment.
The trap: Credit card and cheque are mentioned a moment later, but only for the rent of the room. The deposit itself has to be cash.
Question 4
Answer: parkingWhen the woman asks what the charge covers
What else is included in the cost, besides tables and chairs?
So does the charge include use of tables and chairs and so on? … Yeah, that's all included.
Question says → You hear
Cost includes use of tables and chairs and alsoYeah, that's all included
Why: The woman asks about tables and chairs, then asks 'what about parking?', and the official says that's all included. Parking is the extra thing the cost covers.
The trap: The very next thing he says is 'the only thing that isn't included' and then the kitchen. The kitchen costs £25 extra, and the note already lists it on its own line.
Question 5
Answer: musicStart of the 'before the event' section, after 'there are just one or two things you need to think about'
What kind of licence will they need?
licence if you're planning to have any music during the meal
Question says → You hear
Will need a ... licencelicence if you're planning to have any music
Why: A licence is needed if there is music during the meal, so the gap is the type of licence: a music licence. The gap comes before 'licence', so it works like an adjective.
The trap: 'Meal' sits right next to it, but nobody needs a meal licence. The band is mentioned later, but the licence is about music in general.
Question 6
Answer: entryWhen the official mentions Mr Evans and 'about a week or ten days before your event'
What does she need to arrange with the caretaker in advance?
make the arrangements for entry - he'll sort that out with you
Question says → You hear
contact caretaker (Mr Evans) in advance to arrangemake the arrangements for entry
Why: 'A week or ten days before' is the 'in advance' in the notes, and 'make the arrangements for entry' gives the noun after 'arrange'. The answer is entry.
The trap: The woman asks if she pays Mr Evans too. She doesn't: payment goes to the official, so payment is wrong here.
Question 7
Answer: stageWhen the official asks 'are you having a band?'
Which door should the band use?
rather than using the front door they should … round the back and use the stage door there
Question says → You hear
The band should use the ... door at the backround the back and use the stage door there
Why: Because of all their equipment, the band should go round the back and use the stage door. The note already has 'door at the back', so you need the type of door: stage.
The trap: Front door is said first, as the one they should not use. The fire door comes up a moment later, but that's where the volume control box is.
Question 8
Answer: codeStart of the 'after the event' section, when the official talks about leaving the premises in good condition
What do they need to know to open the cleaning cupboard?
locked cupboard and you'll be informed of the code you need to open that
Question says → You hear
Need to know the ... for the cleaning cupboardyou'll be informed of the code you need to open that
Why: The cupboard is locked, and they'll be told the code that opens it. 'Be informed of' matches 'need to know'.
The trap: Key is the word many people expect for a locked cupboard, but it's never said. Write what you hear, not what you'd guess.
Question 9
Answer: floorWhen the woman asks what they need to do after everyone has gone
Also accepted: floors
What has to be washed after the event?
Sweep the floors I suppose? … Well, actually they have to be washed, not just swept.
Question says → You hear
The ... must be washedthey have to be washed, not just swept
Why: The woman suggests sweeping the floors, and the official corrects her: 'they' (the floors) have to be washed. Floor or floors are both accepted.
The trap: Rubbish is mentioned straight after, but it goes into black bags, and that's already printed in the note. The trap is thinking the floors only need sweeping.
Question 10
Answer: decorationWhen the woman says 'Oh, and I forgot to ask'
Also accepted: decorations
What has to be taken down at the end?
I presume, we can have decorations in the room? … Yes, but you must take them down afterwards.
Question says → You hear
All ... must be taken downyou must take them down afterwards
Why: Decorations are allowed, but 'you must take them down afterwards'. 'Them' refers back to the decorations. Decoration or decorations both get the mark.
The trap: The chairs and tables come next, but they are 'stacked up', which matches 'piled up' on the last line of the notes, not 'taken down'.
Parking comes up as a two-word question from the woman and a quick 'that's all included'. The kitchen is the thing that isn't included, so don't let it pull you into the gap.
Words from this recording worth keeping
deposit(Room and cost)
money paid in advance as a guarantee, often given back later
returnable(Room and cost)
able to be given back
licence(Before the event)
official permission to do something
caretaker(Before the event)
a person who looks after a building
legal requirement(During the event)
something the law says you must do
premises(After the event)
a building and the land around it
detergent(After the event)
a liquid or powder used for cleaning
stacked up(After the event)
put in a neat pile, one on top of another
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The rest of Cambridge 11 Test 1 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereHiring a public room
