Oyster Bay Sailing Club: listening answers and explanations
A man phones Oyster Bay Sailing Club to ask about courses for complete beginners. The receptionist compares the one-day Taster Day with the two-day Level 1 course, then runs through what to bring, food at the club and how to prepare.
Questions 1-6 follow the table row by row: one gap for the Taster Day, then five for the Level 1 course in the order she describes it. When she says 'Just a couple of general things', you move to the notes for 7-10. Every answer comes from the woman, often straight after the man's question.
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 1-6 · Table completion (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
How to attack this block: Read the table across each row before you listen: the Taster Day row has only one gap, so most of the work is on Level 1. Prices are given in the table already, so listen for the extra detail around each price, like the member discount and what's included.
Question 1
Answer: 10Right after the man says it would just be him
Also accepted: ten
What is the largest number of people in a Taster Day group?
You'd be in a small group, usually about eight people but no more than ten
Question says → You hear
small groups (maxno more than ten
Why: 'No more than ten' is the maximum, which is exactly what 'max' in the table asks for. Write 10 in digits.
The trap: Eight is said first, but that's the usual size, not the limit. The two prices (£120 and £110) are nearby too, but the price column is already filled in.
Question 2
Answer: weatherWhen the man asks what you learn on the Level 1 course
Which natural condition do you study alongside the tides?
So you learn about things like the weather, which is obviously really important and also the tides
Question says → You hear
understanding the ... and tidesthe weather … and also the tides
Why: The table lists two theory topics joined by 'and tides'. She names the weather first, then the tides, so the gap is weather.
The trap: Theory and practical skills are mentioned just before, but those are the categories, not the topic.
Question 3
Answer: safetyEnd of her description of going out in the training dinghies
What kind of information is part of the basic sailing skills?
He or she will make sure you understand everything you need to know about safety.
Question says → You hear
basic sailing skills including ... informationeverything you need to know about safety
Why: The instructor makes sure you know 'everything you need to know about safety'. The table turns that into 'safety information'.
The trap: Harbour and dinghies are said in the same stretch, but they are places and boats, not information.
Question 4
Answer: discountRight after she gives the £200 price
What do club members get on the Level 1 price?
But it's a bit cheaper if you decide to join the club. There's a discount for members.
Question says → You hear
available for club membersThere's a discount for members
Why: 'A bit cheaper' is the idea and 'a discount for members' gives you the exact word. The gap needs a noun after £200, so discount.
The trap: Writing 'cheaper' or 'reduction' loses the mark: cheaper is the wrong part of speech and reduction isn't said.
Question 5
Answer: dictionaryWhen the man asks if the cost includes everything
What useful extra item comes with the course?
Yes, everything's included and you also get a really good dictionary explaining all the sailing terminology.
Question says → You hear
all inclusive (plus a usefuleverything's included and you also get a really good dictionary
Why: 'Everything's included' matches 'all inclusive', and 'you also get' matches 'plus'. 'Really good' becomes 'useful', and the item is a dictionary.
The trap: She goes on about pictures and terminology, which are features of the dictionary, not the item itself.
Question 6
Answer: certificateJust before she mentions moving on to Level 2
What does everyone receive when they finish the course?
And on completion of the course you get a certificate.
Question says → You hear
at the end of the courseon completion of the course
Why: 'On completion' is a formal way of saying 'at the end'. The gap follows 'a', so it's the singular noun certificate.
The trap: Level 2 comes straight after, but that's the next course, not something you get.
Note completion (ONE WORD ONLY)
Questions 7-10
How to attack this block: Short practical notes, one word each. The man asks a quick question before most answers (a towel? food? lockers?), so his questions are your signposts. Check whether each gap needs a singular or plural noun.
Question 7
Answer: towelAfter the list of things the club provides and what to bring
What item should you bring besides clothing and toiletries?
you need to bring swimming trunks and some old trainers. … And a towel? … Yes definitely.
Question says → You hear
Bring suitable clothing, aAnd a towel? … Yes definitely
Why: The man suggests a towel and she confirms it with 'Yes definitely'. Swimming trunks and trainers are the 'suitable clothing' already in the note.
The trap: Wetsuits and life jackets are mentioned, but the club provides them, so you don't bring them.
Question 8
Answer: cafeWhen the man asks about food and drink
Also accepted: café
What facility is there at the club for food?
Do I need to bring that or is there a cafe at the club? … Yes, you can get sandwiches, cakes and snacks there.
Question says → You hear
There is a ... at the clubis there a cafe at the club? … Yes
Why: The man asks if there's a cafe and she says yes. The note uses his exact words, 'a ... at the club'. Café with an accent is also accepted.
The trap: Sandwiches, cakes and snacks are what you can buy, not the facility. They also won't fit after 'a'.
Question 9
Answer: videosWhen he asks how he can prepare for the course
What online training material does she recommend?
I recommend you watch some videos we use for training. They're available online.
Question says → You hear
Online training ... are recommendedI recommend you watch some videos we use for training. They're available online
Why: 'I recommend' matches 'are recommended', and 'videos ... for training ... available online' fits 'online training ...'. The verb 'are' tells you it's plural: videos.
The trap: Link is said next ('I can send you the link'), but you don't watch a link. Writing 'video' without the s also loses the mark.
Question 10
Answer: lockersThe man's last question, about cycling to the club
Also accepted: Lockers
What can course participants use to store their valuables?
I'm just wondering if there are lockers for people to use? … Yes, there are plenty in the changing rooms.
Question says → You hear
are available for course participantslockers for people to use … there are plenty
Why: He asks about lockers and she says there are plenty. The note has 'are available', so the plural lockers.
The trap: Changing rooms is where the lockers are, not what's available for valuables.
The safety information comes at the end of a long description of dinghies and instructors. Many people write a word from the boat part instead of the last word, safety.
The man says the word cafe in his own question, and she answers 'Yes'. People wait for her to say it and miss it.
Words from this recording worth keeping
taster day(Taster Day)
a short introductory session to try something out
introduction(Taster Day)
a first, basic experience of a subject
tides(Level 1 course)
the regular rise and fall of the sea level
terminology(Level 1 course)
the special words used in a subject
on completion(Level 1 course)
when you have finished
toiletries(General information)
things you use to wash, like shampoo and soap
valuables(General information)
things you own that are worth a lot
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The full Cambridge 21 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 21, Test 1, 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 21 Test 1 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereOyster Bay Sailing Club
