Junior Cycle Camp: listening answers and explanations
A mother phones Jake at the Junior Cycle Camp because she is thinking of sending her seven-year-old son, Charlie. Jake explains the level Charlie would join, the instructors, the classes, what to bring, what happens on the first day and the weekly cost.
One ten-gap note block in order, following the headings: level, instructors, classes, what to bring, Day 1 and cost. Jake gives most answers, but questions 5 and 7 come from the mother's side, in her questions and comments.
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: Jake often gives two details and only one is the answer: red and blue shirts, a story or a game, the park or the road. Check the note's wording to see which one it wants. The final gap is a price said in words, and last year's price follows it, so write the first figure in digits.
Question 1
Answer: parkRight after Jake says Charlie would probably be best in Level 5
Where do Level 5 children practise first?
we aim to get them riding on the road, but first they're taken to ride in the park, away from the traffic
Question says → You hear
First of all, children at this level are takenfirst they're taken to ride in the park
Why: The note copies Jake's structure: 'first ... taken to' a place. That place is the park, away from traffic.
The trap: The road is the aim for later, and 'the site here' is where they start off practising. Neither follows 'first they're taken'. Also don't write 'in the park': 'in a' is already in the note.
Question 2
Answer: blueWhen the mother asks about the instructors
What colour shirts do instructors wear?
we have three supervisors, and they have red shirts. … Then the instructors themselves are in blue shirts
Question says → You hear
Instructors wear ... shirtsthe instructors themselves are in blue shirts
Why: 'The instructors themselves are in blue shirts', so blue.
The trap: Red is said first, for the supervisors. If you write the first colour you hear, you lose the mark.
Question 3
Answer: referenceRight after Jake describes the shirts
What must instructors provide before they are accepted?
In order to be accepted, all our instructors have to submit a reference from someone who's seen them work with children
Question says → You hear
A ... is requiredall our instructors have to submit a reference
training is givencomplete our training course
Why: 'Have to submit a reference' means a reference is required. The training is the second half of the note.
The trap: Babysitter is given as an example of who could write the reference. Lesson plans are part of the training, not what's required first.
Question 4
Answer: storyAfter the mother asks about class size
What can the instructor give during quiet times, besides a game?
they have quiet times too, where their instructor might tell them a story that's got something to do with cycling, or get them to play a game together
Question says → You hear
quiet times during the morningthey have quiet times too
or a gameor get them to play a game together
Why: The quiet times are for 'a story ... or ... a game'. Game is printed, so the gap is story.
The trap: The limit of eight children comes just before, but the note covers that with 'class size is limited'.
Question 5
Answer: rainWhen the mother asks 'what happens if ...?'
In what weather do classes still go ahead?
Now, what happens if there's rain? Do the classes still run? … Oh yes. We don't let that put us off
Question says → You hear
Classes are held even if there iswhat happens if there's rain? Do the classes still run
Why: The mother names the weather and Jake says yes, classes still run. 'Still run' becomes 'are held even if'. The gap needs a noun after 'there is', so rain.
The trap: Jake's reply mentions waterproofs, which is the solution, not the condition. The word comes from the mother, so don't wait for Jake to say it.
Question 6
Answer: snackWhen the mother asks if Charlie should bring anything special
What, besides spare clothes, should Charlie bring?
Well, maybe some spare clothes, especially if the weather's not so good. And a snack for break time.
Question says → You hear
a change of clothingsome spare clothes
Why: Spare clothes is the first item, already in the note as 'a change of clothing'. The second item is a snack.
The trap: Drink is the tempting one: the mother asks about it, but Jake says 'we'll provide that'.
Question 7
Answer: medicationAfter Jake says shoes, not sandals
What of Charlie's own should he bring?
just at present Charlie has to take medication every few hours, so I'll make sure he has that
Question says → You hear
Charlie'sCharlie has to take medication every few hours
Why: The mother says Charlie needs medication every few hours and she'll make sure he has it. Jake agrees.
The trap: This comes from the mother, after Jake has finished listing things. Don't stop listening once Jake's list ends.
Question 8
Answer: helmetWhen Jake explains why Day 1 starts earlier
What gets checked before the first class?
The most important is that we have a very careful check to make sure that every child's helmet fits properly.
Question says → You hear
will be checkeda very careful check to make sure that every child's helmet fits
Why: The extra time on Day 1 is for checking that each child's helmet fits. The note says 'his ... will be checked'.
The trap: Bike is mentioned at the end, but only as where the helmet must be worn. The times 9.30, 9.20 and 12.30 are already dealt with.
Question 9
Answer: tentStraight after the helmet check, 'Then after that'
Where does Charlie meet his instructor?
all the instructors will be waiting to meet their classes, and they'll meet up in the tent - you can't miss it
Question says → You hear
to meet his class instructorall the instructors will be waiting to meet their classes
Why: The instructors meet their classes in the tent. 'Go to the ...' needs a place.
The trap: There's no strong distractor, but don't add a second word: 'big tent' or 'the tent' isn't needed.
Question 10
Answer: 199The mother's final question, about the weekly cost
How much does the camp cost per week?
One hundred ninety-nine dollars. We've managed to keep the price more or less the same as last year - it was one hundred ninety then.
Question says → You hear
The course costs $ ... per weekOne hundred ninety-nine dollars
Why: This year's price is 199 dollars. The dollar sign is printed, so write just the number, in digits.
The trap: 190 is last year's price, said right after. It's 'more or less the same', which is the point: the figures are close, so listen to the ending.
The price is said in words, 'one hundred ninety-nine dollars', and then last year's 'one hundred ninety' follows straight away. The note wants this year's price, 199.
Three places come up: the site, the road and the park. 'First of all' in the note matches Jake's 'but first', which comes before 'the park'.
Words from this recording worth keeping
supervisors(Instructors)
people in charge of others at work
stand in for(Instructors)
do someone's job while they are away
submit(Instructors)
formally hand in
well-being(Instructors)
health and happiness
put us off(Classes)
stop us from doing something
waterproofs(Classes)
clothes that keep the rain out
medication(What to bring)
medicine someone takes regularly
adjust(Day 1)
change something slightly so it fits
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The full Cambridge 16 Test 3 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 16, Test 3, Listening Part 1. 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.
The rest of Cambridge 16 Test 3 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereJunior Cycle Camp
