New Union Building: listening answers and explanations
A Students' Union representative presents students' views to the committee planning a new union building. The talk explains how student opinion was gathered, then reports what students think about the three possible sites, the facilities they want, a drama theatre, and security.
All in order. Questions 31-32 come from the survey method at the start. Questions 33-37 follow the three sites, first their locations, then their pros and cons. Then the facilities give Question 38, the drama theatre Question 39, and security Question 40.
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 31-32 · Note completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER)
Note completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER)
Questions 31-32
How to attack this block: The speaker lists the steps in order: a meeting, written suggestions, a questionnaire, a report. The notes skip the meeting, so start listening from the suggestion box. The second gap is a number of people, so keep it apart from the number of weeks.
Question 31
Answer: questionnaireAfter the suggestion box
What did the students' written suggestions shape?
These suggestions then provided the basis for the design of a questionnaire which was completed by approximately 2,000 of the college students
Question says → You hear
these points informed the design of aprovided the basis for the design of a questionnaire
Why: 'Provided the basis for the design of' is 'informed the design of'. The thing designed was a questionnaire.
The trap: The suggestion box and the cards come just before, but they're how suggestions were collected. The report is the final step and is printed already.
Question 32
Answer: approximately 2,000In the same sentence as the questionnaire
Also accepted: about 2,000 / 2,000 / 2000 / approximately 2000 / about 2000
How many students answered the questionnaire?
a questionnaire which was completed by approximately 2,000 of the college students over a period of three weeks
Question says → You hear
there were ... respondentscompleted by approximately 2,000 of the college students
Why: Respondents are people who complete a questionnaire. Approximately 2,000 did, so write 2,000, or 'about 2,000' if you want to keep the approximation.
The trap: Three weeks is the other number in the sentence. It's how long the survey ran, not how many people answered.
Table completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
Questions 33-37
How to attack this block: The sites are described twice: first where each one is, then why students liked or disliked it. The table follows the same two rounds, so fill the location row first, then go back to Site One for the advantages and disadvantages.
Question 33
Answer: EducationWhen the speaker lists the three site options
Which faculty is Site One near?
One in the city center near the Faculty of Education
Question says → You hear
Site One - city centre near Faculty ofOne in the city center near the Faculty of Education
Why: 'Faculty of' is printed, so write the next word: Education.
The trap: The park belongs to Site Two. Don't write 'city centre' either, it's already in the table.
Question 34
Answer: halls of residenceThe third option, 'out of town'
Also accepted: living quarters
What is Site Three near?
three out of town near the halls of residence
Question says → You hear
out of town near theout of town near the halls of residence
Why: Site Three is out of town near the halls of residence. That's three words, which fits the limit.
The trap: Later, the same place is called 'living quarters', which the key also accepts. 'Halls' alone is incomplete.
Question 35
Answer: traffic and parkingWhen the speaker gives the reasons for and against each site
Also accepted: parking and traffic / traffic, parking
What problems made Site One unpopular?
Site one was unpopular because of traffic and parking problems.
Question says → You hear
Site One - problems withunpopular because of traffic and parking problems
Why: Two problems are named together: traffic and parking. Write both.
The trap: Writing just traffic or just parking. The gap allows three words, so the full pair fits.
Question 36
Answer: lecture roomsStraight after Site One
Also accepted: lecture halls / lecture theatres
What is Site Two close to?
Site two had a number of supporters, mainly because it was close to most lecture rooms
Question says → You hear
Site Two - close toit was close to most lecture rooms
Why: 'Close to' is copied from the talk, so the next words are the answer: lecture rooms.
The trap: The park is part of Site Two's location, already in the table. The advantage here is the lecture rooms.
Question 37
Answer: facilitiesAfter the speaker says the union is used mainly after lectures
Also accepted: choice of facilities / room for facilities
Because Site Three is bigger, what would there be more of?
It was also felt that the larger site would allow more room for a choice of facilities.
Question says → You hear
larger site, so morethe larger site would allow more room for a choice of facilities
Why: The larger site means more room for facilities. Facilities or choice of facilities both fit.
The trap: 'Room' comes right after 'more', so many people write 'more room'. That only fits with 'for facilities' added. Write facilities to be safe.
Multiple choice
Question 38
How to attack this block: Each option names two facilities, and both must be right. Several facilities are mentioned and then rejected or changed (a library, the games room, an Olympic pool), so tick only the ones students actually asked for.
Question 38
Answer: CWhen the speaker turns to 'the facilities'
Which pair of facilities did students ask for?
We would like the current table games room to be replaced with a small gym … There was a large number of respondents in favor of a travel agents and insurance center.
Why: A small gym is a mini fitness centre, and students also wanted a travel agents. Both are in C.
The trap: B includes a large swimming pool, but students asked for a small one, 'not, of course, Olympic sized'. A has the games room, which they want replaced, and a library, which had minimal interest. D's lecture theatre is the disputed drama theatre.
Multiple choice
Question 39
How to attack this block: The drama theatre divided opinion. Only the argument against it matters, and it comes in two quick words: elitist and a waste of funds. Match both ideas to one option.
Question 39
Answer: BWhen the speaker says there was 'much disagreement'
What was the argument against a drama theatre?
a largish minority were strongly against it, claiming that it is elitist and a waste of funds
Why: Elitist means it serves only a small, select group, and a waste of funds is a poor use of resources. B puts both together.
The trap: 'Minority' is said, but about the students who opposed it, not the users. A goes too far: 40 percent were in favour, so it isn't true that no students would use it.
Multiple choice
Question 40
How to attack this block: Each option names two security measures. Listen for what is recommended and what the students think won't work, especially the difference between checking cards 'on request' and checking everyone at the door.
Question 40
Answer: BThe last section, after 'unfortunate incidents in the current union'
Which pair of security measures was recommended?
The recommendations would be at least video surveillance and security personnel who would check student union cards on request.
Why: Video surveillance is closed-circuit TV, and cards checked 'on request' means showing your union card when asked. That's B.
The trap: D has 'show Union Card on entering the building'. The speaker says they doubt a check at reception of everyone coming in would be feasible.
Students want a small gym, which the option calls a mini fitness centre, and a travel agents. The other options mix in things that were rejected, like the games room, or changed, like the swimming pool, which is small, not large.
D looks almost the same as B. The difference is when union cards are checked: students asked for checks 'on request', and they doubt checking everyone at reception would work.
The table gives 'larger site, so more ...'. The speaker says the larger site would allow 'more room for a choice of facilities'. Room is part of the idea, but the key word is facilities.
Words from this recording worth keeping
feasible(Introduction)
possible and practical to do
beneficiaries(Introduction)
people who gain from something
collated(Procedures)
collected and arranged information
consensus(Choice of site)
general agreement
living quarters(Choice of site)
the place where people live
premises(Facilities)
a building and its grounds
elitist(Drama theatre)
serving only a small, privileged group
surveillance(Security)
careful watching, often with cameras
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The full Cambridge 4 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 4, Test 3, Listening Part 4. 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.
