Cambridge IELTS 2, Test 2, Listening Part 2

Smith House: listening answers and explanations

The president of Smith House, one of the university's oldest residential colleges, welcomes new students. They explain the building's history, how room numbers work, the keys and doors, what the fees cover, and the few house rules.

Questions 11-20 · 10 marks · 4 question blocks

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How the answers come

A single talk, answered in order: the history (11), the room number code (12-14), keys, doors and fees (15-17), then the house rules and who to ask (18-20). The speaker moves on with clear signposts: 'You'll notice', 'You'll also notice', 'There are only a few rules'.

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.

Q	Your answer	Answer
Question 11 · Multiple choice
11		B
Questions 12-14 · Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
12		northAlso accepted: N
13		floorAlso accepted: second floor / 2nd floor / floor number / second floor number / 2nd floor number
14		roomAlso accepted: room number
Questions 15-17 · Sentence completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
15		8 pmAlso accepted: 8pm / 8 p.m. / eight pm / 8 o'clock
16		the fire doorsAlso accepted: fire doors / the emergency doors / emergency doors
17		laundryAlso accepted: washing
Questions 18-20 · Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
18		the balconiesAlso accepted: balconies / balconys
19		meal timesAlso accepted: mealtimes
20		floor seniorAlso accepted: floor seniors / elected floor senior / elected floor seniors

Multiple choice

Question 11

How to attack this block: The history comes in the first minute. All four options are mentioned in some form, so listen for the word 'original' and what the house was first built for.

Question 11

Answer: BNear the start, as the president describes the building you're in

What was Smith House first built as?

was part of the original old house, built in the 1840s to be used by the family of George Smith

Question says → You hear

originally built asthe original old house, built in the 1840s to be used by the family

Why: It was built in the 1840s as a home for George Smith's family, so a family house: B. It was converted into a college much later.

The trap: A, a residential college, is what it is now. It became one in 1940, so that wasn't its original use. D, offices, are just one of the rooms in the building today.

Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

Questions 12-14

How to attack this block: The example room N 2 34 is explained piece by piece: the letter, then the first number, then the rest. Each gap is one idea: a direction, a floor and an individual room.

Question 12

Answer: northWhen the president explains the letters N, S and W

Also accepted: N

What does the N in the room number stand for?

The first letter refers to the three wings of the college … the letters represent the three directions - in this case - north, south and west

Question says → You hear

N = ... wingthe three wings of the college … north

Why: The letter is the wing, and the letters stand for directions. N is the north wing.

The trap: South and west are said in the same breath. Only N is in the example, so the answer is north.

Question 13

Answer: floorRight after the explanation of the wings

Also accepted: second floor / 2nd floor / floor number / second floor number / 2nd floor number

What does the 2 in the room number show?

the next number you see is either one, or in this case two, and this indicates which floor your room is on

Question says → You hear

2 =this indicates which floor your room is on

Why: Each wing has two floors, and the first number tells you which one. So 2 means the floor (the second floor).

The trap: Writing 'room' here. The room number comes after the floor, and that's the next gap.

Question 14

Answer: roomStraight after the floor explanation

Also accepted: room number

What does the 34 in the room number show?

The number after that is your individual room number.

Question says → You hear

personal ...your individual room number

Why: 'Personal' in the notes matches 'individual', so the gap is room, or room number.

The trap: Writing 'individual' itself: 'personal individual' doesn't make sense. The gap needs the noun.

Sentence completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

Questions 15-17

How to attack this block: The sentences paraphrase the talk, so match the idea, then copy the speaker's words. Times, door types and fees are all said clearly, but each sits next to something similar that doesn't fit.

Question 15

Answer: 8 pmWhen the president talks about the two keys

Also accepted: 8pm / 8 p.m. / eight pm / 8 o'clock

From what time do students need the front door key?

This door is closed and locked at 8 pm every night and opened again at 7 am.

Question says → You hear

need a front door key between ... and 7 amYou'll need your key if you're coming back to the college between those times

Why: The door is locked from 8 pm to 7 am, and you need your key between those times. The 7 am is printed, so the gap is 8 pm.

The trap: The 9 pm noise rule comes later in the talk. Don't mix the two times up.

Question 16

Answer: the fire doorsRight after the president asks everyone to use the front door

Also accepted: fire doors / the emergency doors / emergency doors

What should students use in an emergency?

there is another door but these are fire doors and are kept locked from the outside. They should only be opened from the inside in case of emergency.

Question says → You hear

In an emergencyin case of emergency

Why: At the end of each corridor are fire doors that open from the inside only in an emergency. 'Use the fire doors' completes the sentence.

The trap: The front door is the one students must always use normally. In an emergency, it's the fire doors.

Question 17

Answer: laundryAfter the doors, when the president turns to fees

Also accepted: washing

What extra charge do the fees already include?

In your fees you've paid a laundry fee which covers the cleaning of bed linen and towels.

Question says → You hear

Fees also cover some ... chargesIn your fees you've paid a laundry fee

Why: The fees include a laundry fee for bed linen and towels. 'Some laundry charges' matches that.

The trap: 'A small extra fee' is for other laundry, which isn't covered. Don't let that make you think laundry is wrong; the bed linen and towels are covered.

Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)

Questions 18-20

How to attack this block: A notice of rules. The first line (no noise after 9 pm) is given, then smoking, meals and who to ask. The last answer is a title the college uses, 'floor senior', so get both words.

Question 18

Answer: the balconiesRight after the 9 pm noise rule

Also accepted: balconies / balconys

Where is smoking allowed?

There is also no smoking in the rooms or anywhere inside the college but smoking is permitted on the balconies.

Question says → You hear

Smoking only allowed onsmoking is permitted on the balconies

Why: 'Permitted' means allowed, and the place is the balconies. Plural, as said.

The trap: The rooms are mentioned, but as places where smoking is banned.

Question 19

Answer: meal timesWhen the president says all meals are served in the dining room

Also accepted: mealtimes

What can't be changed?

Please read these carefully as meal times cannot be changed

Question says → You hear

No changes can be made tomeal times cannot be changed

Why: Meal times are fixed, and if you're late you go hungry. 'Meal times' (or 'mealtimes') fills the gap.

The trap: The dining room is said just before, but it's where meals are served, not what can't be changed.

Question 20

Answer: floor seniorNear the end, after 'If you're unsure about things'

Also accepted: floor seniors / elected floor senior / elected floor seniors

Who should students ask if they have questions?

each floor has an elected 'floor senior' who is usually a student in their third or fourth year

Question says → You hear

If you have any questions, ask theThe floor seniors will introduce themselves later today and answer any questions you have

Why: Each floor has a floor senior who will answer your questions. 'Floor senior' is the term to write.

The trap: Marney is named straight after, but only to hand out the packs and keys. The president isn't the answer either.

The questions most people get wrong

Question 11

The building now holds offices and the college is part of a university, so B looks too simple. But the original house was built for George Smith's family; it became a college only in 1940.

Question 16

There are three kinds of door in the talk: the room door, the front door and the fire doors. Only the fire doors are for emergencies, and they are opened from the inside.

Question 17

'Laundry' is said three times, including a 'small extra fee' for other laundry. The sentence is about what the fees already cover: the laundry fee for bed linen and towels.

Words from this recording worth keeping

residential college(History of the house): a college where students live as well as study
converted(History of the house): changed to be used for a different purpose
room allocation(Room numbers): the room you are given
orientation pack(Keys): information given to newcomers
embossed(Laundry): printed with raised letters
permitted(Rules): allowed
elected(Floor seniors): chosen by a vote

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The rest of Cambridge 2 Test 2 Listening

Part 1 · Questions 1-10Contents insurance
Part 2 · Questions 11-20 · You're hereSmith House
Part 3 · Questions 21-30Forms of media
Part 4 · Questions 31-40British agriculture

Part 2 in other Cambridge 2 tests

Test 2 Part 2 in other Cambridge books

All of Cambridge 2 Listening Next: Forms of media See all Cambridge listening answers

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