Furniture rental companies: listening answers and explanations
Shelley Meyer, who is about to move into a rented house, phones the owner for advice on renting furniture. The owner describes four companies: Peak Rentals, Aaron and Oliver, Larch Furniture and Space Rentals, with their prices, conditions and extras.
Ten gaps in order, one company at a time: Peak Rentals (Q1-3), Aaron and Oliver (Q4-5), Larch Furniture (Q6-7), then Space Rentals (Q8-10), which the owner adds with 'Sorry to interrupt'. Almost every answer comes from the house owner.
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
Questions 1-10 · Note completion (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
How to attack this block: Each company name is a clear signpost, so read its lines before the owner reaches it. Two gaps are company names (Q4 and Q8): Aaron is spelled out, Space isn't, so know your common words. Q1 is a price where the lower figure is already printed.
Question 1
Answer: 239When the owner reads from the Peak Rentals brochure
Also accepted: two hundred thirty-nine / two hundred and thirty-nine
What is the highest monthly price per room at Peak Rentals?
It says the monthly price per room starts at $105 and goes up to $239.
Question says → You hear
Prices range from $105 tostarts at $105 and goes up to $239
Why: The range is $105 up to $239. The lower figure is printed, so the gap is the top one. Write the digits: 239.
The trap: $105 comes first, but it's already in the notes. Make sure you hear 2-3-9, not 293.
Question 2
Answer: modernWhen Shelley asks about the positive feedback
What is Peak Rentals' furniture like?
People have mentioned that the furniture from Peak Rentals is more modern than any of the other companies.
Question says → You hear
The furniture is verymore modern than any of the other companies
Why: 'More modern than any of the other companies' means the furniture is very modern. The gap needs an adjective.
The trap: Fast delivery comes straight after, but that's already printed ('Delivers in 1-2 days').
Question 3
Answer: lampWhen the owner says there's a special offer at the moment
What do you get free with a living room set?
If you rent living room furniture, I believe that's a set of chairs and a TV table. You'll also get a lamp at no extra cost.
Question says → You hear
free ... with every living room setYou'll also get a lamp at no extra cost
Why: 'At no extra cost' means free, and the free item is a lamp.
The trap: Chairs and a TV table are what the living room set contains, so they're what you pay for, not the free extra.
Question 4
Answer: AaronWhen Shelley says Peak's prices are more than she hoped to pay
What is the first part of the second company's name?
Then you could try Aaron and Oliver. … Aaron. A-A-R-O-N.
Why: Shelley mishears and asks, so the owner spells it: A-A-R-O-N. Copy that spelling, with a capital A.
The trap: Spelling. Aron or Aaren lose the mark, so trust the letters, not how the name sounds.
Question 5
Answer: damageWhen Shelley asks if Aaron and Oliver are cheaper
What is the extra 12% monthly fee for?
they charge an extra 12% every month in case of damage
Question says → You hear
12% monthly fee foran extra 12% every month in case of damage
Why: The 12% is charged 'in case of damage', so the fee is for damage.
The trap: Cleaning comes next, but it's printed as a separate service. Insurance belongs to Larch Furniture, not here.
Question 6
Answer: electronicWhen the owner introduces Larch Furniture as quite new
What kind of items does Larch Furniture rent cheaply besides furniture?
it has the lowest prices in town. That's for both furniture and also electronic equipment.
Question says → You hear
Offers cheapest pricesit has the lowest prices in town
furniture and ... itemsfurniture and also electronic equipment
Why: 'Lowest prices in town' matches 'cheapest prices', and the second category is electronic equipment. The notes say 'items', so the gap is the adjective electronic.
The trap: 'Equipment' is the noun you hear, but 'equipment items' isn't right. You need the describing word.
Question 7
Answer: insuranceWhen the owner says there are two things to know about large furniture
What must you arrange yourself with Larch Furniture?
First of all, you have to take out insurance on the furniture, and you need to organize that yourself.
Question says → You hear
Must have owntake out insurance … organize that yourself
Why: You have to take out insurance and organize it yourself, so you must have your own insurance.
The trap: The second condition, the six-month minimum contract, is already printed. Don't confuse this with the 12% damage fee at Aaron and Oliver.
Question 8
Answer: SpaceWhen the owner interrupts with 'Sorry to interrupt'
Also accepted: space
What is the name of the fourth company?
I just thought of another furniture rental company. It's called Space Rentals, and it's located very near to the house.
Question says → You hear
RentalsIt's called Space Rentals
Why: The company is Space Rentals, and the notes already give 'Rentals'. It isn't spelled out, so you need to spell the everyday word space correctly.
The trap: 'Very near to the house' might tempt a word like 'local', but the name is Space.
Question 9
Answer: appStraight after the owner says she has no information about their charges
Where can you see Space Rentals' latest prices?
it's best to use their app to find out what it would cost you to use them
Question says → You hear
See the ... for the most up-to-date pricesuse their app to find out what it would cost
Why: The owner has no price details and says to use their app. One word: app.
The trap: A website or brochure would make sense, and Peak's brochure was mentioned earlier. But for Space Rentals she only says app.
Question 10
Answer: exchangesThe end of the call, 'One good thing about that company'
What is allowed within a week of delivery?
if you don't like the furniture once it's delivered, you can request exchanges as long as you do that within a week of receiving it
Question says → You hear
allowed within 7 days of deliveryyou can request exchanges … within a week of receiving it
Why: You can request exchanges within a week. A week is 7 days. Plural, because the notes say 'are allowed'.
The trap: 'Returns' or 'refunds' fit the idea but aren't said. Write the word you hear: exchanges.
'Request exchanges' is the phrase, and the notes say '... are allowed', so you need the plural exchanges. 'Within a week' becomes 'within 7 days'.
Words from this recording worth keeping
temporary(Opening)
lasting only for a limited time
permanent(Opening)
lasting for good
brochure(Peak Rentals)
a small booklet with information about a company
special offer(Peak Rentals)
a lower price or free extra for a limited time
at no extra cost(Peak Rentals)
free
mid-price(Aaron and Oliver)
neither cheap nor expensive
take out insurance(Larch Furniture)
buy an insurance policy
request(Space Rentals)
ask for something formally
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 20 Test 3 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 20, Test 3, 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 20 Test 3 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereFurniture rental companies
