Talk to new kitchen assistants: listening answers and explanations
Joy Parkins, a restaurant manager, welcomes a group of new kitchen assistants on their first day. She tells them what the job is like, what they must and mustn't do, and which members of staff to go to for different problems.
Questions 11-16 come from the first half, in order: what people like, dress and jewellery, why today is busy, the age rule, then what makes the job stressful. 'Now let me tell you about some of the people you need to know' signals the matching block, and the four staff are introduced in the same order as the list.
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: Joy mentions almost every option in passing, but most of them are ruled out or turned into something else. Listen for the reason she gives, not just the topic. For the age question, notice which rules apply to everybody and which only to the two under-18s.
Question 11
Answer: ARight at the start, after Joy says they might feel nervous
What do most kitchen assistants enjoy about the job?
they're pleased that they have so many different things to do, which means they never get bored
Question says → You hear
the variety of workso many different things to do
Why: 'So many different things to do' is the variety of work, and 'they're pleased' tells you it's what they like. A is the key.
The trap: C, promotion, comes next: 'if you do well, we might think about moving you up'. It's a possibility Joy offers, not what staff say they enjoy. B is never said: they 'might get shouted at sometimes'.
Question 12
Answer: AAfter she praises them for arriving on time
What is the manager unhappy about in the way some new staff look?
some of you'll need to remove your rings and bracelets - just put them somewhere safe for today, and remember to leave them at home tomorrow
Question says → You hear
jewelleryyour rings and bracelets
Why: Rings and bracelets are jewellery, and Joy says some of them must take them off. That's her concern, so A.
The trap: Shoes and hair are both mentioned, but positively: nobody has unsuitable footwear, and long hair is already tied out of the way.
Question 13
Answer: CStraight after the safety points about jewellery
Why will today be busy in the kitchen?
busy day for you all today … free for this evening, and only a few for lunch
Question says → You hear
almost fully bookedonly a few for lunch
Why: Joy says there are no tables free this evening and only a few for lunch. That's a restaurant that is almost fully booked, so C.
The trap: The head chef comes up, but he's back from holiday: he was absent last week, not today. A public holiday is never mentioned.
Question 14
Answer: CWhen Joy mentions Emma and Jake, the two under 18
Which equipment can only staff aged 18 or over use?
Then I think there are two of you here who are under 18 … so for you two, the meat slicer is out of bounds.
Question says → You hear
Only kitchen staff who are 18 or oldertwo of you here who are under 18 … the meat slicer is out of bounds
Why: 'Out of bounds' for the under-18s means only those 18 or over can use the meat slicer. C.
The trap: The waste disposal system and the electric mixer are both banned too, but for everyone 'whatever your age' until they've been trained. Age isn't the rule there.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 15-16
How to attack this block: All five options are touched on in one short passage about stress. Two are confirmed as tough parts of the job; the others are softened: the break is guaranteed, overtime is optional and the air conditioning is good.
Question 15-16
Answer: A and E (in either order)After Joy admits 'this can be a stressful job'
Which two things make the job stressful?
you're on your feet all day long, lifting and carrying … when someone tells you to do something you need to do it straightaway
Question says → You hear
physically demandingon your feet all day long, lifting and carrying
follow orders immediatelyyou need to do it straightaway
Why: Being on your feet, lifting and carrying makes the work physically demanding (E). Doing what you're told straightaway is following orders immediately (A).
The trap: C is the strongest distractor: breaks are mentioned, but Joy promises 'you'll get a break in the middle'. Overtime (D) is a choice, 'if you want to', and the kitchen isn't hot thanks to 'a very efficient air conditioning system' (B).
Matching (A-F)
Questions 17-20
How to attack this block: Each person gets a short description of what you go to them for. None of the box words are said directly, so match the situation: an injury means first aid, a smashed plate means breakages, low flour means food stocks. Two letters are never used.
Question 17
Answer: FWhen she says 'So as I said, I'm Joy Parkins'
What is Joy Parkins responsible for?
I decide who does what during the day and how long they work for
Question says → You hear
timetableswho does what during the day and how long they work for
Why: Deciding who works when and for how long is organising the staff timetables. F.
The trap: She adds that she wants you to work with lots of people 'so that you learn while you're on the job'. That's learning on the job, not training courses (A).
Question 18
Answer: CThe second name, introduced as someone you must remember
What is David Field responsible for?
he'll make sure the incident is recorded and you get the appropriate treatment. He's trained to give basic treatment to staff himself
Question says → You hear
first aidtrained to give basic treatment to staff himself
Why: You go to him if you injure yourself, and he gives basic treatment. That is first aid, C.
The trap: 'He's trained' might pull you towards training courses (A), but it describes his first-aid skill, not a course he runs.
Question 19
Answer: DRight after David Field
What is Dexter Wills responsible for?
he's the person you need to see if you smash a plate or something like that
Question says → You hear
breakagesif you smash a plate
Why: Smashing a plate is a breakage, and Joy says it must be noted and replaced. D.
The trap: 'Replaced' could suggest stock, but it's about broken items, not food. Food stocks belong to the next person.
Question 20
Answer: BThe last name, introduced with 'And finally'
What is Mike Smith responsible for?
He's the member of staff who takes care of all the stores of perishables, so if you notice we're getting low in flour or sugar
Question says → You hear
food stocksall the stores of perishables … flour or sugar
Why: Perishables are foods that go off, and flour and sugar are stores you order more of. He looks after food stocks, B.
The trap: 'Put in an order' might sound like purchasing or discounts, but staff discounts (E) are never mentioned.
Promotion is mentioned straight after, 'we might think about moving you up', so it's tempting. But that is Joy's promise, not what the assistants say they enjoy. They like having so many different things to do.
Three pieces of equipment are banned, but two of them are banned for everyone until they are trained. Only the meat slicer is out of bounds specifically for the under-18s.
Joy talks about getting you to work with many people so that you learn, which sounds like training courses. Her actual job is deciding who does what and how long they work for: timetables.
Words from this recording worth keeping
responsibility(Introduction)
a duty or job you are in charge of
unsuitable footwear(Dress and safety)
the wrong kind of shoes for the job
safety hazard(Dress and safety)
something that could cause an accident
out of bounds(General regulations)
not allowed to be used or entered
overtime(Working conditions)
extra hours worked beyond the normal day
appropriate treatment(Staff to know)
the right kind of medical care
perishables(Staff to know)
foods that go bad quickly
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The full Cambridge 12 Test 5 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 12, Test 5, 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.
