Family excursions: listening answers and explanations
A father visits a tourist information centre to ask about day trips for his family. The employee describes a lake cruise on an old steamship, a farm visit on the other side of the lake, and a cycling trail, and then works out the price.
One ten-gap note block, strictly in order, under four headings: cruise, farm visit, cycling trips and cost. Most answers come from the employee's descriptions, but listen to the father's questions too: lunch (4) and the helmet (8) are things he asks about.
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 notes follow the conversation, so use the headings (Farm visit, Cycling trips, Cost) to keep your place. Several gaps are answered by a yes to the visitor's own question, so his questions are clues too. The last gap is a price that gets recalculated: wait for the final figure.
Question 1
Answer: mountainsRight after the employee says the trip lasts about an hour and a half
What can you photograph around the lake?
And don't forget to take pictures of the mountains. … They're all around you when you're on the boat and they look fantastic.
Question says → You hear
take photostake pictures
surround the lakeThey're all around you
Why: 'Take pictures of the mountains' matches 'take photos of the ...', and 'they're all around you' gives the 'surround' idea. The gap after 'the' needs a plural noun, mountains.
The trap: Spelling and the plural. 'Mountain' alone doesn't fit 'that surround the lake', so keep the s.
Question 2
Answer: horseWhen the father says his son really likes animals
What can the son ride round the farm for 40 minutes?
Well, there's also a 40-minute trek round the farm on a horse, if he wants.
Question says → You hear
40-minute ridea 40-minute trek round the farm
Why: 'Trek round the farm on a horse' becomes 'a 40-minute ride on a ...'. The number in the note is your signpost: when you hear 40 minutes, the answer follows.
The trap: Sheep are mentioned just before, but they are the animals children feed in the holding pens, not something you ride.
Question 3
Answer: gardenAfter the employee says visitors must close gates when they explore
Also accepted: gardens
Which part of the farm by the lake can visitors walk in?
There are some very beautiful gardens along the side of the lake which also belong to the farm
Question says → You hear
the farm's ... by the lakegardens along the side of the lake which also belong to the farm
Why: 'Along the side of the lake' matches 'by the lake', and 'belong to the farm' matches 'the farm's'. Garden or gardens are both accepted.
The trap: The farm itself is where visitors 'explore on their own', but the gap needs the specific place by the lake.
Question 4
Answer: lunchWhen the visitor asks about eating on the other side of the lake
What can visitors get at the farm if they pay extra?
And can we get lunch there? … it's not included … when you get there
Question says → You hear
available at extra costit's not included … when you get there
Why: The visitor asks about lunch and is told he can get it, but it's not included in the ticket: you pay when you get there. That is 'available at extra cost'. The answer is the word in the question, lunch.
The trap: The café on the boat came up earlier, but that's on the cruise, not at the farm, and it isn't described as costing extra.
Question 5
Answer: mapWhen the employee describes the Back Road trail and its scenery
What is given to cyclists free of charge?
you could easily spend three or four hours exploring it, and the scenery's wonderful. They'll give you … your ticket for the cruise … no extra charge
Question says → You hear
is providedThey'll give you
Why: The employee says they'll give you a map when you buy your cruise ticket, at no extra charge. 'They'll give you' becomes 'is provided'. The gap follows 'A', so it needs a singular noun: map.
The trap: A bike is not provided: the visitor later has to rent one in the city. Don't write bike here.
Question 6
Answer: experienceWhen the visitor asks how difficult the trail is
What must cyclists have to manage the trail?
Quite challenging in places, it wouldn't be suitable for your seven-year-old. It … needs someone who's got a bit more experience.
Question says → You hear
Only suitable for cyclists who have someneeds someone who's got a bit more experience
Why: 'Needs someone who's got a bit more experience' matches 'only suitable for cyclists who have some ...'. The gap needs an uncountable noun: experience.
The trap: 'Challenging' describes the trail, not the cyclist. And the seven-year-old is mentioned only as someone it isn't suitable for.
Question 7
Answer: RatchesonsWhen the visitor asks where they could rent bikes in the city
Where can bikes be rented?
It's called Ratchesons. … R-A-T-C-H-E-S-O-N-S. It's just by the cruise ship terminal.
Question says → You hear
near the Cruise Ship TerminalIt's just by the cruise ship terminal
Why: The name is spelled out letter by letter, which tells you it's an answer. 'Just by the cruise ship terminal' confirms it matches the bracket in the note.
The trap: Spelling only. Copy every letter you hear, R-A-T-C-H-E-S-O-N-S, with a capital R and the final s.
Question 8
Answer: helmetAfter the repair kit, snack and water, when the visitor asks what he can rent from the bike place
What else do cyclists need that they can hire?
Sure, you should definitely get that. It's a great ride, but you want to be well prepared
Why: The visitor asks if he can rent a helmet from the bike place, and the employee says he should definitely get one. 'Rent' in his question matches '(can be hired)' in the note, so the answer is helmet.
The trap: The repair kit, the snack and the water are all said just before, but they are already in the notes as 'a repair kit' and 'food and drink'. Only the helmet is hired.
Question 9
Answer: shopsWhen the employee warns that the area is very remote
What, besides accommodation, is missing in the trail area?
it's very remote - you won't see any shops round there … anywhere to stay, so you need to get back in time for the last boat
Question says → You hear
no ... or accommodationyou won't see any shops … anywhere to stay
Why: 'Won't see any shops' matches 'there are no ...', and 'anywhere to stay' is the accommodation already in the note. The gap needs a plural noun: shops.
The trap: The last boat is mentioned in the same breath, but it's a reason to hurry back, not something missing.
Question 10
Answer: 267The end of the call, after the employee asks the daughter's age again
What is the total cost for the whole family?
Then I'm afraid it's $267 because she has to pay the adult fare
Question says → You hear
Total cost for whole familyit's $267
Why: The first total, $214, assumed two child fares. Because the daughter is fifteen, she pays the adult fare, so the total rises to $267. Write the digits.
The trap: $214 is the figure said first, and $117, $75 and $22 are part-prices. Only the corrected total answers the note.
Four prices fly past: $117, $214, then $75 and $22 for single fares. The total changes to $267 once the employee realises the 15-year-old pays the adult fare. Only the corrected total fits.
The visitor names the item himself when he asks if he can rent one, and the employee just says 'you should definitely get that'. If you are waiting for the employee to say the word, you miss it.
The visitor asks 'can we get lunch there?' and the answer is that it's not included in the price. The note turns that into 'available at extra cost', so the answer is the word from his question.
Words from this recording worth keeping
excursions(Opening request)
short trips for pleasure
holding pens(Farm visit)
small fenced areas where animals are kept
trek(Farm visit)
a long walk or ride, usually in the countryside
complete beginners(Farm visit)
people with no experience at all
trail(Cycling trips)
a path or route through the countryside
challenging(Cycling trips)
difficult in a way that tests your ability
remote(Cycling trips)
far away from towns and other people
fare(Cost)
the price of a journey
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The rest of Cambridge 12 Test 5 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereFamily excursions
