Excursions and nightlife: listening answers and explanations
Jake Stevens, a holiday rep, welcomes guests to their hotel on an island. He describes six daytime excursions, from dolphin watching to horse riding, and then two evening events: a musical show and a medieval-style castle feast.
The six excursions come in the order listed (11-16), each introduced by name. 'So there's plenty to do in the daytime, but what about night life?' starts the two evening events: Musical Favourites (17-18), then the Castle Feast (19-20).
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: Eight pieces of information for six trips, so two are spare. Every trip comes with a price and a day, which you can ignore; listen for the one detail that matches an option. Weather comes up twice but never as a condition, so be careful with C.
Question 11
Answer: GThe first excursion, after the price of 35 euros
What does he say about dolphin watching?
Unfortunately there aren't any places left for this … afternoon's trip, but come and see me to book for later in the week.
Question says → You hear
fully booked todaythere aren't any places left for this … afternoon's trip
Why: No places left for this afternoon's trip means it's fully booked today: G. You can book for later in the week.
The trap: The guarantee to repeat the trip free if you don't see dolphins might suggest E, no charge. But the trip costs 35 euros.
Question 12
Answer: DWhen he says 'If you're energetic'
What does he say about the forest walk?
There'll be a stop half way, and you'll be provided with a drink and sandwiches.
Question says → You hear
food includedyou'll be provided with a drink and sandwiches
Why: Sandwiches are provided, and the price is 'all inclusive': D.
The trap: 'Bring a waterproof in case it rains' might suggest C, but the walk goes ahead in the rain. You need to be fit, so B is wrong too.
Question 13
Answer: AWhen he mentions Thursdays and 'the fun of biking without the effort'
What does he say about the cycle trip?
We'll take you and your bike up to the top of Mount Larna, and leave you to bike back - it's a 700-metre drop in just 20 kilometres
Question says → You hear
all downhilltake you and your bike up to the top … leave you to bike back - it's a 700-metre drop
Why: You're driven to the top and ride back down a 700-metre drop. That's all downhill: A.
The trap: C: 'if it's a clear day' is only about the views. B is ruled out: 'this isn't really for inexperienced cyclists'.
Question 14
Answer: EWhen he mentions traditional activities on the island
What does he say about the local craft tour?
And the best thing about this trip is that it's completely free.
Question says → You hear
no chargeit's completely free
Why: 'Completely free' is no charge: E. Buying products is optional.
The trap: 'You can buy some of the products' might make you think it costs money, but that's up to you.
Question 15
Answer: FWhen he says the island is one of the best places to observe the night sky
What does he say about the observatory trip?
Afterwards we'll head down to Sunset Beach, where you can have a dip in the ocean if you want
Question says → You hear
swimming possibleyou can have a dip in the ocean if you want
Why: 'Have a dip' means a short swim, and 'if you want' makes it possible, not required: F.
The trap: The expert talk and telescopes take up most of the description, but none of the options is about learning. Price (90 euros) rules out E.
Question 16
Answer: BThe last excursion, introduced with 'Finally, there's horse riding'
What does he say about horse riding?
it's a great experience if you're a keen horseback rider, or even if you've never been on a horse before
Question says → You hear
suitable for beginnerseven if you've never been on a horse before
Why: Never having been on a horse makes you a beginner, and it's still 'a great experience': B.
The trap: Riding 'through the waves' might suggest swimming, F, but you're on the horse. F belongs to the observatory trip.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 17-18
How to attack this block: Prices and drinks are mentioned, but in ways that cancel two options out. Listen for what you can do at the end of the show and what Jake tells you to do now.
Question 17-18
Answer: B and D (in either order)When he moves to night life and 'the number one attraction'
Which two things does he say about Musical Favourites?
you'll have a chance to chat with them. It's hugely popular, so let me know now if you're interested because it's no good leaving it until the last minute.
Question says → You hear
meet the performersthe cast members come down from the stage … you'll have a chance to chat with them
book it in advancelet me know now … it's no good leaving it until the last minute
Why: D: the cast come off the stage and you can chat with them, which is meeting the performers. B: it's so popular you have to tell him now, not at the last minute, so you must book ahead.
The trap: A is the opposite: the drinks are 'unlimited free drinks'. C: the extra 10 euros buys a table by the stage; there's no discount for two tickets.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 19-20
How to attack this block: Each option picks up something real from the description: costumes, food, horses, dancing. Check who wears the costumes, whether there's a choice of food, and whether the horse event is a race.
Question 19-20
Answer: A and D (in either order)When he says 'If you'd like to go back in time'
Which two things does he say about the Castle Feast?
which you eat in the medieval way, using your hands instead of cutlery … Then you can watch the dancers in the ballroom and join in as well if you want.
Question says → You hear
Knives and forks are not usedusing your hands instead of cutlery
Visitors can dance after the mealjoin in as well if you want
Why: D: you eat with your hands instead of cutlery, so no knives and forks. A: after the meal and the competitions, you can watch the dancers and join in.
The trap: C: the long gowns are worn by the ladies serving the food, not the visitors. E: the riders try to knock each other off their horses, which isn't a race. B: everyone gets a whole chicken, so there's no choice.
The observatory trip is all telescopes and talks, so people forget the ending: a stop at Sunset Beach 'where you can have a dip in the ocean'. A dip is a swim: F.
The cycle trip mentions a clear day and fantastic views, which pulls you towards C. But the trip isn't cancelled in bad weather. The key fact is that they drive you to the top and you ride a 700-metre drop: all downhill.
The horseback riders try to knock one another off their horses. That's a competition, not a race, so E is wrong. And the ladies in long gowns are serving the food; the visitors aren't in costume.
Words from this recording worth keeping
excursions(Introduction)
short trips for pleasure
guarantee(Dolphin watching)
promise that something will happen
all inclusive(Forest walk)
with everything included in the price
inexperienced(Cycle trip)
without much practice or skill
ceramics(Craft tour)
objects made from baked clay
observatory(Observatory trip)
a building with telescopes for studying the sky
canter(Horse riding)
ride a horse at a fairly fast, smooth speed
medieval(Castle Feast)
from the Middle Ages
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The full Cambridge 14 Test 4 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 14, Test 4, 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.
