Traffic and highways report: listening answers and explanations
At a local council meeting, Councillor Thornton reports on traffic and highways: a transport survey, the riverside cycle path, a delayed pedestrian crossing and new signs on Station Road. Thornton then presents a map of proposed changes to the town's recreation ground.
Questions 11-14 follow the traffic report in order. The chairperson's 'Proposals for improvements to the recreation ground' opens the map, and the six features come in the same order as questions 15-20, with the river (north), the road and the Community Hall as landmarks.
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: Each item names all three options, usually with a 'but' that cancels two of them: complaints that didn't happen, plans for later, and problems already sorted. Ask which option describes what's actually happening now or soon.
Question 11
Answer: CAt the start of the report, the survey results
What worried people most about local traffic?
a significant number of people complained about the increasing number of heavy vehicles using our local roads to avoid traffic elsewhere
Question says → You hear
changes in the type of trafficthe increasing number of heavy vehicles
Why: More heavy vehicles on local roads is a change in the type of traffic, and it's what 'a significant number' complained about.
The trap: A: the council expected complaints about the train cuts, 'but it doesn't seem to have affected people too much'. B: people were 'generally satisfied with the state of the roads', with only one or two pothole complaints.
Question 12
Answer: AWhen the councillor moves on to the cycle path
What will soon be done to the riverside cycle path?
overtaking can be a problem so we're going to add a bit on the side to make it wider
Question says → You hear
It will be widenedadd a bit on the side to make it wider
Why: Overtaking is difficult, so they'll make the path wider. 'Going to' marks it as the near-future change.
The trap: B: extending the path through the town 'won't be happening in the immediate future'. C: the surface was already improved last year.
Question 13
Answer: BWhen the councillor says the crossing plans have been 'put on hold'
Why has the pedestrian crossing been delayed?
the Highways Department have told us that it would be dangerous to have a pedestrian crossing where we'd originally planned it as there's a bend in the road there
Question says → You hear
the proposed location is unsafeit would be dangerous to have a pedestrian crossing where we'd originally planned it
Why: The planned spot is dangerous because of a bend in the road. 'Dangerous' matches 'unsafe' and 'where we'd originally planned it' is the proposed location.
The trap: A: there were only rumours that the Post Office would move, and now 'they're staying where they are'. C: the money was budgeted for this year.
Question 14
Answer: BWhen the councillor talks about the level crossing near the station
What do the new signs on Station Road say?
we've now got signs up requesting them not to leave their engines running at that time
Question says → You hear
notices have been erectedwe've now got signs up
asking motorists to switch off enginesrequesting them not to leave their engines running
Why: The signs ask waiting drivers not to leave their engines running, which means switching them off.
The trap: A: cyclists' bikes are a problem, but the fix is bike racks, not signs. C: pedestrians are mentioned as the people who benefit from fewer fumes, not as the signs' audience.
Map labelling (A-I)
Questions 15-20
How to attack this block: Fix the landmarks before the talk: the river in the north, the road and entrance in the south, the Community Hall near the entrance, and a line of trees with new land to the east. For several items the councillor first says where it won't go, so wait for the final location.
Question 15
Answer: CAfter the councillor points out the river and the Community Hall on the map
Where will the new car park be?
At present, cars can park between the Community Hall and that line of trees to the east, but this is quite dangerous for pedestrians so we're suggesting a new car park on the opposite side of the Community Hall, right next to it.
Question says → You hear
New car parka new car park on the opposite side of the Community Hall, right next to it
Why: Cars currently park east of the Community Hall, towards the trees. The new car park goes on the opposite side, the west, right beside the hall. That's C.
The trap: The current parking area, between the hall and the trees, is described first. That's the place being replaced.
Question 16
Answer: FWhen the councillor says 'We also have a new location for the cricket pitch'
Where will the new cricket pitch be?
we plan to move it away from its current location, which is rather near the road, into this new area beyond the line of trees
Question says → You hear
New cricket pitchinto this new area beyond the line of trees
Why: The new land is to the east of the recreation ground, beyond the trees, and the pitch moves there. That's F.
The trap: Its current spot near the road is mentioned first. It moves away from there to cut the risk of stray balls hitting cars.
Question 17
Answer: AStraight after the cricket pitch
Where will the children's playground be?
We've got plans for a children's playground which will be accessible by a footpath from the Community Hall and will be alongside the river.
Question says → You hear
Children's playgroundaccessible by a footpath from the Community Hall and will be alongside the river
Why: It's beside the river in the north, reached by a footpath from the Community Hall. That's A.
The trap: 'We'd originally thought of having it close to the road' is the rejected plan. The final location is by the river.
Question 18
Answer: IWhen the councillor says the ramp is very popular
Where will the skateboard ramp be?
we had considered moving this up towards the river, but in the end we decided to have it in the southeast corner near the road
Question says → You hear
Skateboard rampin the end we decided to have it in the southeast corner near the road
Why: 'In the end' gives the decision: the southeast corner, by the road. That's I.
The trap: Up towards the river was only considered. 'In the end' is your signal that the answer comes next.
Question 19
Answer: EWhen the councillor says the pavilion is used by footballers and cricketers
Where is the pavilion?
It will stay where it is now - to the left of the line of trees and near to the river
Question says → You hear
Pavilionto the left of the line of trees and near to the river
Why: The pavilion stays put: west of the trees and close to the river, between the football and cricket pitches. That's E.
The trap: The playground is also near the river. The pavilion is the one next to the line of trees.
Question 20
Answer: HThe final item, introduced with 'And finally'
Where will the notice board be?
that will be directly on people's right as they go from the road into the recreation ground
Question says → You hear
Notice boarddirectly on people's right as they go from the road into the recreation ground
Why: Picture yourself walking in from the road at the entrance: the notice board is immediately on your right. That's H.
The trap: Right means on your right as you walk in from the road. Turn the map in your head so you're facing into the ground from the entrance, or you'll pick the wrong side.
Potholes and the train service are both mentioned, but people were satisfied with the roads and the train cuts didn't bother them much. The real complaint was more heavy vehicles, a change in the type of traffic.
The Post Office rumour sounds like the reason, but the Post Office is staying. The crossing is on hold because the planned spot is next to a dangerous bend.
The councillor considered moving the ramp up towards the river, which pulls people north. The decision was the southeast corner near the road.
Words from this recording worth keeping
agenda(Start of the meeting)
the list of things to discuss at a meeting
potholes(Survey results)
holes in the surface of a road
commuters(Survey results)
people who travel regularly to work
overtaking(Cycle path)
passing a slower person or vehicle
put on hold(Pedestrian crossing)
delayed until a later time
level crossing(Station Road)
a place where a road crosses a railway line
fumes(Station Road)
harmful gases, for example from engines
stray balls(Cricket pitch)
balls that go somewhere they shouldn't
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