ACE voluntary organisation: listening answers and explanations
A speaker gives a short welcome talk to people thinking of volunteering for ACE, a local support organisation. She covers age, training and what really matters before you apply, then runs through five areas of voluntary work and what would help in each.
All answers come in order from one speaker. Questions 11-13 are covered in the opening minutes (seats, age, training). 'Now, I would ask you to consider…' introduces 14-15. 'Let's take a look at some of the work areas' starts 16-20, which come in the same order as the list.
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: Three quick questions near the start, one per topic. The speaker mentions words from the wrong options too (enough seats, reliability, 60, managers, face-to-face), so match the idea, not a single word.
Question 11
Answer: CRight after the welcome, 'By the way, I hope you're all comfortable'
What is the speaker sorry about regarding the seating?
we have brought in extra seats so that no one has to stand, but it does mean that the people at the back of the room may be a bit squashed.
Question says → You hear
very close togethermay be a bit squashed
Why: Extra seats were added, so people at the back are 'a bit squashed'. That means the seats are very close together: C.
The trap: B is the opposite of what she says: there are enough seats now, so no one has to stand. Nothing is said about the seats being small (A).
Question 12
Answer: A'One of the first questions we're often asked'
What is her view on how old volunteers are?
Other considerations. such as reliability, are crucial in voluntary work and age isn't related to these, in our experience.
Question says → You hear
less important than other factorsOther considerations. such as reliability, are crucial
Why: Other things, such as reliability, are 'crucial', and age isn't related to them. So age matters less than other factors: A.
The trap: Reliability is mentioned, which suggests B, but she says it has nothing to do with age. The 60 in C is just one end of the age range, not a typical age.
Question 13
Answer: A'Another question we get asked relates to training'
What does she say about the training?
training doesn't end when you start working for us - it takes place before, during and after periods of work.
Question says → You hear
continuousdoesn't end … before, during and after
Why: Training that 'doesn't end' and happens 'before, during and after' work is continuous: A.
The trap: Managers are mentioned, but they prefer to get on with other things, so experienced volunteers run it (not B). It's all face-to-face, so not online (C).
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 14-15
How to attack this block: The speaker lists four things and rules two out: why you volunteer and your income. Listen for the strong words that mark what matters: 'it is critical' and 'What we value'.
Question 14-15
Answer: B and E (in either order)From 'Now, I would ask you to consider a couple of important issues'
Which two things should people think about before applying?
it is critical that you have enough hours in the day for whatever role we agree is suitable for you … What we value is dedication.
Question says → You hear
their availabilityenough hours in the day
their level of commitmentWhat we value is dedication
Why: E: 'enough hours in the day' is about whether you are available. B: 'dedication' and the loyal volunteers who 'give their full energy' describe commitment.
The trap: A, financial situation, is raised and then dismissed: 'your income is important, but we don't ask about that'. Work experience (C) is just one reason people volunteer, and they don't worry about reasons.
Matching (A-G)
Questions 16-20
How to attack this block: Five work areas, in the order on the page, and seven helpful things in the box. Each area gets one sentence about what would help. The words are paraphrased: acting becomes stage experience, nutrition becomes food and diet.
Question 16
Answer: BFirst work area: 'You may wish simply to help us raise money'
What would help with fundraising?
If you have the creativity to come up with an imaginative or novel way of fundraising, we'd be delighted
Question says → You hear
original, new ideasimaginative or novel way
Why: 'Imaginative' means original and 'novel' means new, so B.
The trap: Shops are mentioned, which points to retail experience (E), but only as the boring way of collecting money with a box.
Question 17
Answer: G'One outdoor activity that we need volunteers for'
What would help with litter collection?
it's useful if you can walk for long periods, sometimes uphill.
Question says → You hear
a good level of fitnesswalk for long periods, sometimes uphill
Why: Walking for a long time, sometimes uphill, needs physical fitness: G.
The trap: She says some collectors are 'quite elderly', which might make you think fitness doesn't matter. She adds that they are 'very active', which supports G.
Question 18
Answer: D'If you enjoy working with children'
What would help the 'playmates' volunteers?
You don't need to have children yourself, but it's good if you know something about nutrition and can give clear instructions.
Question says → You hear
an understanding of food and dietknow something about nutrition
Why: Nutrition is the science of food and diet, so D.
The trap: C, parenting skills, is ruled out directly: 'You don't need to have children yourself'.
Question 19
Answer: A'If that doesn't appeal to you, maybe…'
What would help at the story club?
especially if you have done some acting. We put on three performances a year
Question says → You hear
experience on stageif you have done some acting / the theatrical side
Why: Acting, performances and 'the theatrical side' all point to experience on stage: A.
The trap: The plays are based on books the children have read, but nothing in the box is about reading. Don't let 'story' pull you away from the acting.
Question 20
Answer: F'The last area I'll mention today is first aid'
What would help first aid volunteers?
Initially, though, your priority will be to take in a lot of information and not forget any important steps or details.
Question says → You hear
a good memorynot forget any important steps or details
Why: Taking in lots of information and not forgetting steps needs a good memory: F.
The trap: Teaching others is mentioned first, but that's something volunteers may end up doing later, and it isn't in the box. The help needed 'initially' is memory.
You hear 'extra seats so that no one has to stand', which pushes people towards 'not enough of them'. The apology is for the seats being squashed together at the back.
First aid volunteers may teach others later, which is not in the box. The help you need first is to take in information and not forget steps, which is a good memory.
Words from this recording worth keeping
squashed(Welcome)
pressed tightly together with little space
reliability(Age of volunteers)
being someone others can depend on
crucial(Age of volunteers)
extremely important
dedication(Before you apply)
being fully committed to something
loyal(Before you apply)
staying with and supporting someone over time
novel(Fundraising)
new and unusual
nutrition('Playmates')
the food you eat and how it affects your health
vulnerable(First aid)
easily hurt or in need of protection
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The full Cambridge 18 Test 1 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 18, Test 1, 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.
