New staff at theatre: listening answers and explanations
Jody welcomes two new members of staff to the Amersham Theatre. She explains the refurbishment, what the theatre offers the public, its workshops, and where four rooms are on the ground floor.
Three choose-two pairs come first, in order: refurbishment (11-12), facilities for the public (13-14) and workshops (15-16). 'Now, a word about the layout of the building' starts the plan, and the four rooms come in question order.
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 'so far'. Jody mentions plenty of changes, but several are planned, postponed or about to start. Tick only what is already done.
Question 11-12
Answer: A and B (in either order)Start of the talk, when Jody says 'we're carrying out a major refurbishment'
Which two changes have already been made in the refurbishment?
We've replaced them with larger seats … we've taken the opportunity to install, seats that can easily be moved … storerooms over to other purposes, like using them for meetings
Question says → You hear
Some rooms now have a different usestorerooms over to other purposes, like using them for meetings
A different type of seatinglarger seats … seats that can easily be moved
Why: A: storerooms have been turned over to other purposes, such as meetings. B: the old close-together seats have been replaced with larger, movable ones, a different type of seating.
The trap: E is the strongest trap: the seats changed, but there are now fewer in total, not extra. C is postponed because of the budget, and D is about to start (only the interior has been repainted).
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 13-14
How to attack this block: 'Currently' is the filter. Every option is mentioned, but three are future plans: 'looking into', 'will be available', 'considering'. Listen for the verb tense, not just the noun.
Question 13-14
Answer: B and D (in either order)After 'We try hard to involve members of the public'
Which two facilities are available to the public now?
One way is by organising … backstage tours, so people can be shown round the building … These are proving very popular. … We have a bookshop, which specialises in books about drama
Question says → You hear
backstage toursbackstage tours, so people can be shown round the building
a bookshopWe have a bookshop
Why: B: the tours are running and 'proving very popular'. D: 'We have a bookshop', present tense, and it attracts plenty of customers.
The trap: The café (E) is only a possibility they're 'looking into'. The rooms for hire (A) will be decorated next month and only then become available. Costume hire (C) is being considered.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 15-16
How to attack this block: Same pattern again: five workshops, but only two are running now. 'Has already started' and 'we're now running them every month' are the ones that count.
Question 15-16
Answer: C and E (in either order)When Jody says 'Now I want to tell you about our workshops'
Which two workshops are running at the moment?
our lighting workshop has already started, with great success … A surprise success is the workshop on … making puppets
Question says → You hear
lightingour lighting workshop has already started
making puppetsA surprise success is the workshop on … making puppets
Why: E: lighting 'has already started'. C: the puppet-making workshop was so popular they're 'now running them every month'.
The trap: Sound (A) starts next month. Acting (B) is waiting for trainers, and make-up (D) is only being considered for the future.
Plan labelling (A-G)
Questions 17-20
How to attack this block: Jody is standing in the foyer. Most routes start 'through the double doors' and then go left or right, so find the double doors on the plan first. Listen for 'first room', 'end of the corridor' and which side the door is on.
you might have noticed it on your way in … it's next door, with a separate entrance from the road
Question says → You hear
box officeit's next door, with a separate entrance from the road
Why: The box office isn't in the foyer, where you'd expect it. It's next door with its own entrance from the road, so it's the space labelled G.
The trap: 'Standing here in the foyer' tempts you to put it near the foyer. Jody says it's precisely not there.
Question 18
Answer: DStraight after the box office
Where is the theatre manager's office?
For the theatre manager's office, you go across the foyer and through the double doors … and it's the room at the end of the corridor, with the door on the left
Question says → You hear
theatre manager's officethe room at the end of the corridor, with the door on the left
Why: Cross the foyer, go through the double doors, turn right, and it's the room at the end of that corridor, entered from the left. That's D.
The trap: The artistic director's office uses the same start (double doors, turn right) but is the first room on the right. The manager's office is at the end.
Question 19
Answer: BAfter Jody explains what the lighting box is for
Where is the lighting box?
When you're through the double doors, turn left, turn right at the water cooler, and right again at the end. It's the second room along that corridor.
Question says → You hear
lighting boxIt's the second room along that corridor
Why: Through the double doors, left, right at the water cooler, right again at the end, then the second room. Jody also says it's at the back of the building. That's B.
The trap: It's the only route that starts with a left turn, and it's the second room, not the first. Stopping at the first room along that corridor gives the wrong letter.
Question 20
Answer: FLast room before Jody mentions the relaxation room
Where is the artistic director's office?
The artistic director's office is through the double doors, turn right, and it's the first room you … come to on the right-hand side
Question says → You hear
artistic director's officeit's the first room you … come to on the right-hand side
Why: Through the double doors, turn right, and it's the first room on the right-hand side. That's F.
The trap: The manager's office is down the same corridor, but at the far end on the left. 'First' and 'right-hand side' put the director nearer the doors.
The box office isn't in the foyer at all. It's next door, with its own entrance from the road, so don't look for it beside the foyer or behind the double doors.
The longest route: through the double doors, left, right at the water cooler, right again at the end, then the second room along. Lose one turn and you lose the mark.
Words from this recording worth keeping
refurbishment(Changes to the building)
repairing and redecorating a building
running over budget(Changes to the building)
costing more money than planned
postpone(Changes to the building)
move to a later time
modernised(Changes to the building)
brought up to date with newer designs or equipment
backstage(Facilities for the public)
the area behind the stage that the audience doesn't see
private functions(Facilities for the public)
events such as parties held for invited guests
amateur(Facilities for the public)
done for pleasure, not as a paid job
foyer(Layout of the building)
the entrance hall of a theatre or hotel
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The full Cambridge 11 Test 2 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 11, 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.
