Nunston housing development: listening answers and explanations
Mark Reynolds, the communications manager for a new housing development near Nunston, gives a public presentation. He explains why the site was chosen, what people liked about the plans, and then walks the audience round a map showing where the main facilities will go.
In order, one speaker. 'Why we've selected this particular site' gives 11-12; 'We've had a lot of positive feedback' gives 13-14. 'I'll put a map of the proposed development up on the screen' starts 15-20, and each place on the map is introduced with 'There'll be…' in the same order as the questions.
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: He mentions five features of the site, but sorts them for you: one is 'convenient' but 'wasn't one of our major criteria', one is a 'drawback'. The two real reasons are the demand from workers and the hospital and school nearby.
Question 11-12
Answer: B and E (in either order)From 'why we've selected this particular site'
Which two things were the main reasons for choosing the site?
because of the new industrial centre in Nunston, there's a lot of demand for housing for employees … We were more interested in the fact that there's an excellent hospital just 15 kilometres away
Question says → You hear
convenient for workersdemand for housing for employees
easy access to local facilitiesan excellent hospital … a large secondary school even closer
Why: E: workers at the new industrial centre need homes nearby, because many now commute long distances. B: they were 'more interested in' the hospital and the secondary school close by.
The trap: C, the airport, is called 'certainly convenient' but 'wasn't one of our major criteria'. The steep slope (A) is a drawback, and nothing is said about the farmland having little value (D).
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 13-14
How to attack this block: Several things are praised quickly, so match the options carefully. Cyclists are something people want more of, not praise. The two answers are paraphrased: 'blended in' with nature, and people of all ages living together.
Question 13-14
Answer: B and C (in either order)'We've had a lot of positive feedback about the plans'
Which two aspects did people praise?
blended in well with the natural features of the landscape, with provision made for protecting trees and wildlife … a place where people of all ages can live together happily.
Question says → You hear
the impact on the environmentprotecting trees and wildlife
good relations between residentspeople of all ages can live together happily
Why: B: people liked how it blends with the landscape and protects trees and wildlife, which is its effect on the environment. C: the overall feedback is that people of all ages can live together happily.
The trap: A is the opposite: people want more facilities for cyclists. D is wrong because the praise is for a wide variety of prices, not low ones.
Map labelling (A-I)
Questions 15-20
How to attack this block: Fix the starting points before the talk: the main road on the south side, London Road on the west, the South Entrance at the bottom and the lake near the top. Each building is described from one of those, using words like 'second turning to the left', 'just below', 'adjoining' and 'to the south of'.
Question 15
Answer: G'There'll also be a school for children up to 11 years old'
Where will the school be?
If you look at the South Entrance at the bottom of the map, there's a road from there that goes right up through the development. The school will be on that road, at the corner of the second turning to the left.
Question says → You hear
Schoolat the corner of the second turning to the left
Why: Start at the South Entrance, follow the road north and count two turnings on the left. The school is on the corner of the second one: G.
The trap: The first turning on the left comes before it. Count carefully, because both corners are on the same road.
Question 16
Answer: C'A large sports centre is planned'
Where will the sports centre be?
This will be on the western side of the development, just below the road that branches off from London Road.
Question says → You hear
Sports centreon the western side … just below the road that branches off from London Road
Why: London Road forms the western edge. Find the road that branches off it into the development; the sports centre is just south of that road: C.
The trap: 'Just below' means south of the side road, so anything north of it, or on London Road itself, is wrong. The school's 'turning to the left' is a different road, from the South Entrance.
Question 17
Answer: D'There'll be a clinic where residents can go'
Where will the clinic be?
Can you see the lake towards the top of the map? The clinic will be just below this, to the right of a street of houses.
Question says → You hear
Clinicjust below this, to the right of a street of houses
Why: Go to the lake at the top, look directly beneath it, and pick the building on the right-hand side of the row of houses: D.
The trap: Two clues work together: below the lake and to the right of the houses. A building below the lake on the left of the houses is wrong.
Question 18
Answer: B'There'll also be a community centre for people of all ages'
Where will the community centre be?
On the northeast side of the development, there'll be a row of specially designed houses specifically for residents over 65, and the community centre will be adjoining this.
Question says → You hear
Community centreadjoining this
Why: Find the row of houses for over-65s in the northeast corner. 'Adjoining' means right next to it: B.
The trap: The houses for older residents are a separate row; the centre is the building joined to them, not the row itself.
Question 19
Answer: H'We haven't forgotten about shopping'
Where will the supermarket be?
There'll be a supermarket between the two entrances to the development. We're planning to leave the three large trees near London Road, and it'll be just to the south of these.
Question says → You hear
Supermarketbetween the two entrances … just to the south of these
Why: Two clues: it lies between the two entrances, and just south of the three big trees by London Road: H.
The trap: The trees are a landmark, not the location. The supermarket is below them, so don't choose the space beside or above them.
Question 20
Answer: AThe last place, 'a playground for younger children'
Where will the playground be?
If you look at the road that goes up from the South Entrance, you'll see it curves round to the left at the top, and the playground will be in that curve, with nice views of the lake.
Question says → You hear
Playgroundit curves round to the left at the top, and the playground will be in that curve
Why: Follow the main road up from the South Entrance to the top, where it bends left. The playground sits inside that bend, looking at the lake: A.
The trap: The lake also helped you find the clinic. Use the curve in the road for this one, not 'below the lake'.
The airport is '20 minutes' drive away' and sounds like a selling point, but he says it 'wasn't one of our major criteria'. The real reasons are workers and local facilities.
People liked the short drive to the countryside, which makes E (rural location) look right. The development is on the outskirts and close to the countryside, not rural itself, and the key gives the environment and good relations instead.
The school is on the road from the South Entrance at the second turning to the left. Count the turnings: stopping at the first one is the usual slip.
Words from this recording worth keeping
outskirts(Introduction)
the outer parts of a town
commute(Choice of site)
travel regularly between home and work
criteria(Choice of site)
the standards used to make a decision
drawback(Choice of site)
a disadvantage
blended in(Feedback)
fitted in naturally with its surroundings
provision(Feedback)
arrangements made for something in a plan
bounded(The map)
having its edge formed by
adjoining(The map)
next to and joined to
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Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 2, 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.
