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    Cambridge IELTS 19, Test 4, Listening Part 2

    Compton Park Runners Club: listening answers and explanations

    Running coach Liz Fuller from Compton Park Runners Club gives a podcast for people thinking of taking up running. She covers the problems with online training plans, her tips for new runners, four club members' stories, her own first marathon and when to enter a race.

    Questions 11-20 · 10 marks · 4 question blocks

    Take Cambridge 19 Test 4 Listening

    How the answers come

    Everything runs in order: training programmes (11-12), tips (13-14), the four members in the order printed (15-18), her marathon (19) and race advice (20). Liz is the only speaker.

    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.

    QYour answerAnswer
    Questions 11-12 · Multiple choice (choose TWO)
    11
    		C and E(in either order)
    12
    Questions 13-14 · Multiple choice (choose TWO)
    13
    		A and D(in either order)
    14
    Questions 15-18 · Matching (A-C)
    15
    		A
    16
    		B
    17
    		C
    18
    		A
    Questions 19-20 · Multiple choice
    19
    		C
    20
    		B
    Multiple choice (choose TWO)

    Questions 11-12

    How to attack this block: Liz first praises the programmes, then says 'However'. The two problems come after that word. Options about injuries, age and motivation sound plausible but aren't what she criticises.

    Question 11-12

    Answer: C and E (in either order)At the start, after she says why people like the programmes

    Which two problems with online training programmes does Liz mention?

    they don't work for everyone - especially if you suffer from something like a heart condition or asthma … if you have any specific questions related to your needs, there's no one to provide any answers.

    Question says → You hear

    • unsuitable for people with health issuesa heart condition or asthma
    • a lack of individual supportthere's no one to provide any answers

    Why: C: heart conditions and asthma are health issues, and the programmes 'don't work' for those people. E: there's no one to answer your specific questions, which is a lack of individual support.

    The trap: B is the strongest distractor: 'people of all ages' take part, so age isn't the problem. Injury and motivation are never mentioned; the programmes 'don't push them too hard'.

    Multiple choice (choose TWO)

    Questions 13-14

    How to attack this block: Liz mentions all five options, and three of them she rejects or doesn't mind. Listen for her verdict on each: 'can prevent progress', 'better than', 'not especially important', 'enough to begin with'.

    Question 13-14

    Answer: A and D (in either order)At 'I have a couple of simple tips'

    Which two tips does Liz give new runners?

    Listening to music can be very helpful … so aim to train regularly - twice a week is enough to begin with.

    Question says → You hear

    • doing two runs a weektwice a week is enough to begin with
    • listening to music during runsListening to music can be very helpful

    Why: D: music 'can be very helpful' because it takes your mind off things. A: 'twice a week is enough to begin with', so two runs a week.

    The trap: E is the trap most people fall for: she says running very slowly 'can prevent progress'. C is worse than music, and B doesn't matter to her: 'I don't think the time of day is especially important'.

    Matching (A-C)

    Questions 15-18

    How to attack this block: Only three reasons for four people, so one letter is used twice. Each member's reason is said in a paraphrase: worried about being left behind, hated the idea, a busy schedule, courage. Don't be distracted by how they feel now.

    Question 15

    Answer: AThe first member Liz describes

    What stopped Ceri from joining earlier?

    She'd always enjoyed running at school but wasn't sure if she'd be able to do it. She was worried about being left behind and being the slowest runner.

    Question says → You hear

    • a lack of confidencewasn't sure if she'd be able to do it

    Why: Doubting she could do it and worrying about being the slowest both show a lack of confidence: A.

    The trap: She 'always enjoyed running', so B (dislike) is ruled out.

    Question 16

    Answer: BThe second member

    What stopped James from joining earlier?

    James had always hated the idea of running but a friend encouraged him to come along for a taster session

    Question says → You hear

    • a dislike of runninghad always hated the idea of running

    Why: 'Hated the idea of running' is a dislike of running: B.

    The trap: He has 'a really demanding job', which sounds like C (time). But that's about now: he never misses a session despite it.

    Question 17

    Answer: CThe third member, before the stress at work

    What stopped Leo from joining earlier?

    Leo was worried about having to commit himself to training sessions every week and wasn't sure he'd be able to fit training into his busy schedule.

    Question says → You hear

    • a lack of timefit training into his busy schedule

    Why: Not being able to fit training into a busy schedule is a lack of time: C.

    The trap: 'Worried' and 'wasn't sure' sound like confidence (A), but what worried him was the weekly commitment.

    Question 18

    Answer: AThe last member, who took up running after he retired

    What stopped Mark from joining earlier?

    It took him months to find the courage to contact us

    Question says → You hear

    • a lack of confidenceIt took him months to find the courage

    Why: Needing months to find the courage shows a lack of confidence: A, the letter used twice.

    The trap: He's 'never considered himself to be a sporty person', which can sound like B (dislike). Not seeing yourself as sporty isn't the same as hating running.

    Multiple choice

    Questions 19-20

    How to attack this block: Two questions about Liz's own experience and advice. In 19 her husband ran marathons, but that doesn't mean he persuaded her. In 20 she gives several time spans, so match the one she recommends to the option.

    Question 19

    Answer: CWhen she turns to her own running story

    What does Liz say about her first marathon?

    I managed to complete it in four hours, but I felt like giving up halfway through - it was only the support of the spectators that kept me going.

    Question says → You hear

    • She nearly gave up before the endI felt like giving up halfway through

    Why: Feeling like giving up halfway through means she nearly gave up before the end: C.

    The trap: Her husband ran marathons, but she never says he persuaded her (B). 'I never dreamed I'd be doing one' rules out A, her ambition.

    Question 20

    Answer: BThe last section, on why entering a race is motivating

    When should new runners sign up for a race?

    But after you've been training for a few weeks, it's worth putting your name down for a 5K

    Question says → You hear

    • sign up for a raceputting your name down for a 5K
    • within a few weeks of taking up runningafter you've been training for a few weeks

    Why: 'Putting your name down' is signing up, and she suggests doing it after a few weeks of training: B.

    The trap: Six months is when Liz did her first 10K, which she doesn't recommend. C fails too: some people only need a few practice runs, but she'd allow 'a couple of months at least'.

    The questions most people get wrong

    Question 13-14

    People expect 'run slowly' to be her tip, but Liz says it 'can prevent progress'. Running with a friend is also out: music is 'better than running with a friend'.

    Question 15

    Ceri enjoyed running at school, which rules out dislike. She 'wasn't sure if she'd be able to do it' and worried about being the slowest, which is a lack of confidence.

    Question 20

    'Six months' is when Liz did her first 10K, and she doesn't recommend it. Her advice is to sign up 'after you've been training for a few weeks'.

    Words from this recording worth keeping

    build up to(Training programmes)
    gradually get ready for something harder
    asthma(Training programmes)
    an illness that makes breathing difficult
    put off(Club members)
    made to not want to do something
    taster session(Club members)
    a short first try of an activity
    commit(Club members)
    promise to give time to something
    spectators(Liz's marathon)
    people watching an event
    sense of achievement(Entering a race)
    the good feeling of having done something hard

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