Flagstone Properties: listening answers and explanations
Jon Anderson phones Janice at Flagstone Properties, a letting agency, because he wants to rent a two-bedroomed house with a garden. She tells him where they have houses and what they cost, describes two properties, books a viewing and lists what he needs to rent with them.
One ten-gap note block, strictly in order. Janice gives almost every answer: areas and prices first, then the two houses, the viewing day, and finally the paperwork and payments. Jon's own figures (his £350 limit, Thursday) are the distractors.
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 (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER)
one month's rentAlso accepted: 1 month's rent / month's rent / a month's rent
Note completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER)
Questions 1-10
How to attack this block: A straight Part 1 phone call. The notes follow the conversation in order, so keep your eyes one gap ahead. Watch for numbers that belong to the wrong thing: Jon's budget, the other house's rent, the day that is unavailable. Check each answer fits the words printed around the gap.
Question 1
Answer: city centreRight after Jon says he wants a two-bedroomed house with a garden
Also accepted: the city centre / city center / the city center / the city centre itself
Which area does the agency deal with besides the north suburbs?
our main areas, the main areas we deal with, are the city centre itself
Question says → You hear
Areas dealt withthe main areas we deal with
Why: Janice names two areas: the city centre and the north suburbs. The north suburbs are already printed, so the gap is city centre.
The trap: Jon then says they are most interested in the Northern areas. That's his preference, and the north is already on the page.
Question 2
Answer: £250 to £500When Jon asks for some idea of the price
Also accepted: 250 to 500 / £250-£500 / 250-500 / £250 to about £500 / 250 to about 500 / £250 - £500 / 250 - 500
What is the range of monthly rents?
It really ranges from £250 per month. … Yes, to about £500 depending on a number of different factors.
Question says → You hear
Rent: ... a monthranges from £250 per month … to about £500
Why: Janice gives a range in two halves, split by Jon's surprised 'Only £250?'. Put both ends together: £250 to £500.
The trap: Jon says '£350 a month would be our limit' a little later. That's his budget, not the agency's rents.
Question 3
Answer: gardenWhen Jon asks what the price depends on
Also accepted: a garden
Apart from the area and a garage, what affects the rent?
Well, obviously the quality of the area. And then whether there's a garden.
Question says → You hear
availability ofwhether there's a garden
Why: Janice lists three factors: the area, a garden and a garage. Area and garage are printed, so the missing one is garden.
The trap: Garage comes straight after and 'pushes up the price', but it's already in the notes. Don't write it in the wrong slot.
Question 4
Answer: 325After Jon says 'I'll just get a pen'
Also accepted: £325
How much is the West Park Road house per month?
there's one on West Park Road which is £325 a month
Question says → You hear
West Park Road - rent £West Park Road which is £325 a month
Why: The first property is given with its price in one breath. The pound sign is printed, so write 325.
The trap: Jon's £350 limit was said just before, and the Tithe Road house costs £380. Match each figure to its house.
Question 5
Answer: waterWhen Jon asks if the bills are included
Also accepted: the water / water bill / the water bill / water bills
Which bill does the West Park Road rent include?
Well, that one just includes the water bill.
Question says → You hear
includingjust includes the water bill
Why: 'Just includes' tells you only one bill is covered: water. Water or water bill are both accepted.
The trap: The telephone rental comes up a moment later, but for the Tithe Road house, not this one.
Question 6
Answer: telephoneRight after Janice confirms the £380 rent
Also accepted: the telephone / phone / telephone rental / phone rental
What does the Tithe Road rent include?
No, I'm afraid not, but it does include the telephone rental.
Question says → You hear
including ... rentalit does include the telephone rental
Why: Jon asks about water and Janice says no, but the telephone rental is included. The word rental is printed after the gap, so you only need telephone.
The trap: Water is the word in Jon's question, and it's the answer for the other house. Here it's the thing that is not included.
Question 7
Answer: WednesdayWhen Janice asks when he can come and see the houses
Also accepted: Wed / Wednesday afternoon
On which day will Jon meet Janice at the office?
No, I'm sorry we don't have any availability for Thursday. How about Wednesday afternoon?
Question says → You hear
meet at office onHow about Wednesday afternoon
Why: Jon suggests Thursday, Janice rejects it and offers Wednesday afternoon, and Jon agrees with 5.00. The time is printed, so the gap is the day.
The trap: Thursday is said first, and by Jon. It's the day with no availability.
Question 8
Answer: employerStraight after the letter from the bank
Also accepted: your employer
Who must the reference come from?
And then a reference letter from your employer.
Question says → You hear
reference froma reference letter from your employer
Why: Janice lists the documents in order: the bank letter, then a reference from his employer. 'Your employer' is accepted too.
The trap: Bank is the first document and it's already printed. The gap is the second one.
Question 9
Answer: two weeks'After Jon says the reference is OK
Also accepted: 2 weeks' / two weeks / 2 weeks / a fortnight / fortnight / fourteen days / 14 days
How much notice must Jon give before moving in?
we would need you to give 2 weeks' notice of moving in
Question says → You hear
give ... notice of moving ingive 2 weeks' notice of moving in
Why: The note copies Janice's words almost exactly, so the gap is the length of time: 2 weeks. Digits or words are both fine.
The trap: One month comes next, but that's the deposit. Don't let the two time phrases swap places.
Question 10
Answer: one month's rentWhen Jon asks 'what about a deposit?'
Also accepted: 1 month's rent / month's rent / a month's rent
How big is the deposit?
That's one month's rent, whatever the amount is.
Question says → You hear
give deposit ofThat's one month's rent
Why: The deposit equals one month's rent, whatever the house costs. Write the full phrase so it's clear what the month refers to.
The trap: Jon repeats 'One month' and many people write just that. The key wants one month's rent.
The gap needs a range, not one figure. Janice says '£250', Jon interrupts, and she finishes with 'to about £500'. People who stop at 250, or write Jon's £350 limit, lose the mark.
Water is mentioned again here, but as the bill this house doesn't include. Rental is already printed after the gap, so the answer is just telephone.
Words from this recording worth keeping
enquiries(Start of the call)
questions asked to get information
suburbs(Areas dealt with)
areas of homes on the edge of a city
depending on(Rent)
changing according to
pushes up the price(Rent)
makes the cost higher
availability(Viewing arrangements)
free time or places that can be booked
reference letter(Documents needed)
a letter from someone who vouches for your character or reliability
notice(Moving in)
a warning given in advance that something will happen
deposit(Moving in)
money paid at the start and returned later if nothing is damaged
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Cambridge IELTS 3, 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 3 Test 1 Listening
Part 1 · Questions 1-10 · You're hereFlagstone Properties
