Bike-sharing schemes: listening answers and explanations
Two students, Jake and Amy, plan a report on city bike-sharing schemes. They decide which benefits matter most and what makes a scheme succeed, then give their opinion of the schemes in six cities, from Amsterdam to Sydney.
Questions 21-22 come from the talk about benefits, 23-24 from Amy's 'Shall we quickly discuss the recommendations'. Amy's 'Shall we look at some examples now?' opens 25-30, and the six cities come in list 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 question asks which benefits both students agree are the most important. Amy raises some benefits that Jake plays down, so listen for the agreement words: 'Certainly', 'Which is the main point', 'Exactly'.
Question 21-22
Answer: B and C (in either order)From Jake's 'But isn't that of less importance?' to Amy's 'Exactly'
Which two benefits do both students think matter most?
doesn't the impact of reduced emissions on air pollution have a more significant effect on people's health? … Certainly … And also helped to cut the number of cars on the road significantly. … Which is the main point. … Exactly.
Question says → You hear
improving air qualitythe impact of reduced emissions on air pollution
reducing traffic congestioncut the number of cars on the road significantly
Why: C: Jake says reduced emissions matter more for health, and Amy agrees ('Certainly'). B: Amy adds that fewer cars are on the road, Jake calls it 'the main point', and Amy says 'Exactly'.
The trap: D is the strongest distractor: Amy argues it's good for health, but Jake says it's 'of less importance'. A: Amy says the effect on noise pollution is smaller, and E: Jake says the costs put some people off.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 23-24
How to attack this block: Each option is discussed, and three are dismissed with phrases like 'I wouldn't say they're absolutely necessary' or 'there are examples of successful schemes where this hasn't happened'. Keep the two they call essential.
Question 23-24
Answer: B and C (in either order)After Amy asks to discuss their recommendations
Which two things do the students think a scheme needs to succeed?
some technical things are really important - like a fully functional app - so people can make payments and book bikes easily … What does matter though - is having a big publicity campaign. … Definitely.
Question says → You hear
The app should be easy to usea fully functional app - so people can make payments and book bikes easily
Public awareness should be raisedhaving a big publicity campaign
Why: B: a fully working app for easy payments and booking is 'really important', and places without one 'have really struggled'. C: a big publicity campaign 'does matter', and Jake adds that people who don't understand the scheme won't use it.
The trap: E is the closest miss: cities with lots of new bike lanes did better, but Amy notes successful schemes without them. A: GPS is nice but not 'absolutely necessary'. D: Jake says competition can be beneficial.
Matching (A-G)
Questions 25-30
How to attack this block: Seven opinions for six cities, so one is spare. The key is often in the speakers' reaction rather than the facts: 'it's strange', 'Not really', 'Crazy', 'It's a shame'. For Dublin, listen for the two speakers disagreeing.
Question 25
Answer: CThe first city, 'one of the first cities to have a bike-sharing scheme'
What do they think about Amsterdam's scheme?
In a way it's strange that there was such a demand for bike-sharing because you'd have thought most people would have used their own bikes. … And yet it's one of the best-used schemes
Question says → You hear
surprised it has been so successfulit's strange that there was such a demand … And yet it's one of the best-used schemes
Why: With a strong cycling culture, you'd expect people to use their own bikes, so the demand is 'strange'. Jake's 'And yet' adds that it's one of the best-used schemes. That's surprise at its success, C.
The trap: Being one of the first schemes might suggest good design, E, but they never praise how it was planned.
Question 26
Answer: FWhen Jake calls Dublin 'an interesting example of a success story'
What do they think about Dublin's scheme?
It must be because the public transport system's quite limited. … Not really - there's no underground, but there are trams and a good bus network. I'd say price has a lot to do with it.
Question says → You hear
disagree about the reasons for its successIt must be because … Not really … I'd say price has a lot to do with it
Why: Amy says public transport is limited; Jake says 'Not really' and credits the low price. They agree it's a success but not on why, F.
The trap: B: Dublin is 'one of the cheapest schemes in Europe', so it doesn't need to be cheaper. They agree the weather isn't a factor, but that's not a reason for success.
Question 27
Answer: DWhen Jake says the London scheme has been quite successful
What do they think about London's scheme?
isn't expanding quickly enough. … Basically, not enough's been spent on increasing the number of cycle lanes. Hopefully that'll change. … Yes.
Question says → You hear
more investment is requirednot enough's been spent on increasing the number of cycle lanes
Why: Amy says it isn't expanding fast enough, Jake says not enough has been spent on cycle lanes, and Amy agrees. So more investment is needed, D.
The trap: G says it has expanded too quickly, the opposite of what Amy says. 'Well maintained' might suggest good design, E, but their point is the lack of spending.
Question 28
Answer: EWhen they move outside Europe
What do they think about Buenos Aires's scheme?
They built a huge network of cycle lanes to support the introduction of the scheme there, didn't they? … An example of good planning. … Absolutely.
Question says → You hear
the system has been well designedAn example of good planning
Why: Building cycle lanes alongside the scheme attracted huge numbers of cyclists. Jake calls it 'good planning' and Amy says 'Absolutely'. That's E.
The trap: It attracted cyclists 'where previously there were hardly any', which sounds like surprise, C, but they explain the success, they aren't surprised by it.
Question 29
Answer: BWhen Amy calls New York 'a good example of how not to introduce a scheme'
What do they think about New York's scheme?
When they launched it, it was more than ten times the price of most other schemes. … More than it costs to take a taxi. Crazy.
Question says → You hear
should be cheapermore than ten times the price of most other schemes
Why: The price was more than ten times other schemes and more than a taxi, which Jake calls 'Crazy'. They think it should cost less, B.
The trap: A, disappointing, fits 'how not to introduce a scheme', but their complaint is specifically the price. A is used for Sydney.
Question 30
Answer: AThe last city, just before Amy wraps up
What do they think about Sydney's scheme?
I would have expected it to have grown pretty quickly here. … I can't quite work out why it hasn't been an instant success like some of the others. It's a shame really.
Question says → You hear
agree it has been disappointingit hasn't been an instant success … It's a shame really
Why: Amy expected fast growth, Jake says it hasn't been a success and 'It's a shame', and Amy agrees ('I know'). That's A.
The trap: Jake 'can't quite work out why', which sounds like F, disagreeing about reasons. But they don't disagree; neither of them knows.
Amy argues for health and fitness, D, but Jake asks 'isn't that of less importance?' and they move on to air pollution and fewer cars, which both agree are the main points.
Cycle lanes, E, sound essential, and Buenos Aires shows how well they work. But Amy says there are successful schemes without new lanes, so they aren't necessary.
Dublin is described as a success, so E or C are tempting. The match is F: Amy thinks limited public transport explains it, Jake says 'Not really' and credits the price.
Words from this recording worth keeping
puts people off(Benefits)
makes people not want to do something
emissions(Benefits)
gases sent into the air, for example by cars
state-of-the-art(Recommendations)
the most modern and advanced
fully functional(Recommendations)
working completely and properly
publicity campaign(Recommendations)
an organised effort to make the public aware of something
persuasion(Recommendations)
convincing someone to do something
taken off(Buenos Aires)
suddenly become successful or popular
lacked vision(New York)
had no clear plan or imagination for the future
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