Opportunities for voluntary work in Southoe village: listening answers and explanations
Frank has just retired to the village of Southoe and phones Jane, who co-ordinates volunteers. She runs through help needed at the library and lunch club, two one-off jobs for residents, and the social events coming up.
Questions 1-7 follow the notes in order: library, lunch club, help for individuals. Then 'monthly social events' takes you into the table (8-10), which goes by date: October, November, New Year's Eve. Frank offers some answers himself (transport, art, the poster).
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: One word only. Several answers are said by Frank as offers, not by Jane, so listen to both voices. Watch the grammar around each gap: 'help with ... books' needs an -ing word, 'keep ... of books' needs a plural noun.
Question 1
Answer: collectingJane's first suggestion, right after she says where the books come from
What can Frank help with for the library books?
So, one thing you could do is get involved in collecting them - if you've got a car, that is.
Question says → You hear
Help with ... booksget involved in collecting them
Why: The books are borrowed and donated, and Frank could collect them by car. The note needs an -ing form after 'help with', so collecting.
The trap: Borrow and donate are said first, but those are what the town library and individuals do, not Frank's job.
Question 2
Answer: recordsRight after Jane says the times are flexible
What needs keeping up to date at the library?
Another thing is the records that we keep of the books we're given … It would be very useful to have another person to help keep them up to date.
Question says → You hear
keep ... of books up to datethe records that we keep of the books … help keep them up to date
Why: Jane says the records need keeping up to date. The gap needs a plural noun: records.
The trap: Frank mentions a computer, but that's how the records are kept, not what needs updating.
Question 3
Answer: WestWhen Frank asks if the library is purpose-built
What is the name of the library room?
No, we simply have the use of a room in the village hall, the West Room. It's on the left as you go in.
Question says → You hear
the ... Room in the village halla room in the village hall, the West Room
Why: It's called the West Room, and 'Room' is already printed, so write West.
The trap: 'On the left' straight after can make you doubt yourself, but that's where the room is, not its name.
Question 4
Answer: transportWhen the talk moves on to the lunch club for elderly people
What can volunteers provide for the lunch club?
I could help with transport, if that's of any use. … Ooo definitely.
Question says → You hear
Help by providingI could help with transport
Why: Frank offers transport and Jane says definitely, because people come from neighbouring villages. 'Providing transport' fits the note.
The trap: Drivers is the word Jane uses, but 'providing drivers' isn't what Frank would do himself, and transport is the word that fits.
Question 5
Answer: artWhen Frank asks about groups that focus on a hobby
What hobby group might Frank help with?
I could get involved in one or two, particularly if there are any art groups.
Question says → You hear
hobbies such asfocus on a particular hobby … art groups
Why: Frank names art as the hobby he'd like. Write art, not 'art groups', because the note says 'hobbies such as'.
The trap: Nothing else is named, so the danger is writing two words. One word only.
Question 6
Answer: hospitalWhen Jane gives an example of help for an individual
Where does Mrs Carroll need taking?
She needs a lift to the hospital next week, and we're struggling to find someone.
Question says → You hear
Taking Mrs Carroll toShe needs a lift to the hospital
Why: 'A lift to the hospital' means taking her there. One word: hospital.
The trap: Appointment is said straight after, but that's why she's going, not where. Tuesday morning is the time.
Question 7
Answer: gardenRight after Frank agrees to take Mrs Carroll
Where at Mr Selsbury's house will Frank work?
We've got some people to decorate his kitchen, but if you could do some weeding in his garden, that would be wonderful.
Question says → You hear
Work in the ... at Mr Selsbury's housedo some weeding in his garden
Why: The job asked of Frank is weeding, which happens in the garden.
The trap: Kitchen is said first, but other people are already doing that. The 'but' moves you on to Frank's job.
Table completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Questions 8-10
How to attack this block: Read across each row: the date tells you when to listen, and the 'help needed' column tells you what Jane asks for. The event in row one and the jobs in rows two and three are all single nouns said clearly.
Question 8
Answer: quizWhen Jane says 'next month, on the 19th of October'
What event is on 19 October?
So next month, on the 19th of October, we're holding a quiz
Question says → You hear
19 Octon the 19th of October, we're holding a quiz
Why: The date leads straight into the event: a quiz. The village hall and refreshments in the same row confirm you're in the right place.
The trap: Social events in general come just before. Don't write social or event; the table wants the specific event.
Question 9
Answer: ticketsWhen Frank says he's not really a dancer
What will Frank check at the dance?
we sell tickets in advance, and having an extra person to check them at the door, as people arrive, would be good
Question says → You hear
checkingcheck them at the door
Why: 'Them' refers back to the tickets, so the job is checking tickets. Write the plural, as you hear it.
The trap: The band from the 1930s is described first, and door comes after 'check'. Neither is what is checked.
Question 10
Answer: posterRight after Jane spells the name of the hotel
What does Frank design for the New Year's Eve party?
The one thing we haven't got yet is a poster.
Question says → You hear
designing thewe haven't got yet is a poster … I was a graphic designer
Why: The one missing thing is a poster, and Frank says he was a graphic designer, so that's the design job.
The trap: Dinner and a band are mentioned just before, but the hotel is providing those and the band is already booked.
Jane never says transport. Frank offers to help with it, and Jane's 'we're always in need of more drivers' confirms it. Drivers doesn't fit 'help by providing'.
The room's name is a direction word, West, and it's followed by another direction, 'on the left'. Write West, with a capital.
Words from this recording worth keeping
co-ordinate(Introduction)
organise people or activities so they work together
donate(Library)
give something for free to help
purpose-built(Library)
made specially for one use
neighbouring(Lunch club)
near or next to
one-off(Help for individuals)
happening only once
refreshments(Social events)
drinks and snacks
bottleneck(Social events)
a place where people get held up because too many arrive at once
right up my street(New Year's Eve party)
exactly the kind of thing I'm good at or like
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 17 Test 2 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 17, Test 2, 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 17 Test 2 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereOpportunities for voluntary work in Southoe village
