Summer Festival: listening answers and explanations
On a radio arts programme, reviewer Jane Hemington previews this year's Summer Festival. She gives the dates and the festival's theme, then reviews two circus shows and an outdoor water puppet show, saying what's best about each and who it suits.
Questions 11-14 come from the introduction and the start of the Circus Romano review, in order. Questions 15-20 fill the table row by row: Circus Romano, then 'The second circus performance is Circus Electrica', then 'finally' the Mekong Water Puppets.
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.
young childrenAlso accepted: younger children / children
Multiple choice
Questions 11-14
How to attack this block: Jane mentions every option for most of these questions, so listen for the one she settles on. Dates are given as 'the end of the month' rather than numbers, and the venue is described rather than named in the options' words.
Question 11
Answer: CNear the start, when Jane says the timing is different
When does the festival take place this year?
For the last couple of years, it's been around the 5th to 17th, but this year, they wanted to allow everyone enough time to recover from the 1st of January celebrations, and they've put it at the end of the month.
Why: 'At the end of the month', after people recover from New Year, is 25-31 January, C.
The trap: B, 5-17 January, is said aloud, but it's the dates of previous years. 'But this year' tells you it has changed.
For today's report, though, Jeffrey, I'm looking at some of the theatrical events that you might like to see.
Why: 'Theatrical events' are theatre, A.
The trap: Dance and art exhibitions are both listed in the sentence before, as part of the whole programme. Street music is what the festival is most famous for, but it isn't today's topic.
Question 13
Answer: CWhen she introduces this year's theme, circuses
How many circuses are in the festival?
I'm going to tell you about two circus performances, but there are plenty of others in the program.
Why: Two plus 'plenty of others' means several circuses, C.
The trap: Two is the number she reviews, not the number in the festival. The 'but' that follows changes the answer.
Question 14
Answer: BWhen she describes Circus Romano as a travelling circus
Where does Circus Romano perform?
it follows a long tradition by performing in a marquee, which is really like a canvas portable building
Why: A marquee, a canvas building that can be moved, is a large tent. That's B.
The trap: A theatre and a stadium are both mentioned in the next breath, but as places it does not perform: 'rather than in a theater or stadium'.
Table completion (NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS)
Questions 15-20
How to attack this block: Each show gets a short review in the same pattern: where, what kind of show, the best part, and who should go. The audience answers come at the end of each review, often as advice ('leave them at home', 'a must for young children'), so wait for them.
Question 15
Answer: lightingAfter 'There are no animals'
Also accepted: lights / light
Apart from the music, what's the highlight of Circus Romano?
The show has a lot of very funny moments, especially at the beginning, but the best part is the music and lighting. They're magical.
Question says → You hear
Highlights: music andthe best part is the music and lighting
Why: 'The best part' is the highlight, and music is printed, so the gap is lighting. Lights or light are also accepted.
The trap: The funny moments come first in the sentence, but 'but the best part' moves you on to the real highlight.
Question 16
Answer: adultsAfter she says it's very expensive
Also accepted: adult
Who is Circus Romano suitable for?
It's really for adult tastes. In fact, much of it would be wasted on children, so I suggest you leave them at home.
Question says → You hear
Type of audienceIt's really for adult tastes
Why: 'For adult tastes' and 'leave the children at home' both point to adults.
The trap: Children are mentioned, but as the audience it isn't for. Don't write 'families' just because it's a circus.
Question 17
Answer: Studio TheatreWhen she moves to 'The second circus performance'
Also accepted: the Studio Theatre / Studio Theater / at the Studio Theatre
Where is Circus Electrica on?
The second circus performance is Circus Electrica at the Studio Theater.
Question says → You hear
Circus Electrica - WhereCircus Electrica at the Studio Theater
Why: The venue comes right after the name: the Studio Theatre. Either spelling of theatre is accepted.
The trap: The marquee belongs to Circus Romano. Writing 'Studio' alone is incomplete; it needs both words.
Question 18
Answer: the whole familyAt the end of the Circus Electrica review, after the young performers
Also accepted: all the family / families / whole family
Who is Circus Electrica suitable for?
The youngest is only 14, but it's still well worth seeing. A good one for the whole family.
Question says → You hear
Type of audienceA good one for the whole family
Why: 'A good one for the whole family' is the audience: the whole family. All the family or families are also accepted.
The trap: 'The youngest is only 14' is about the performers, not the audience. Don't write teenagers or young people.
Question 19
Answer: City GardensWhen she moves to outdoor performances, 'And finally'
Also accepted: the City Gardens / in the City Gardens / outdoors
Where are the water puppets performing?
like the famous Mekong Water Puppet Troupe performing in the city gardens this week
Question says → You hear
Mekong Water Puppets - WhereMekong Water Puppet Troupe performing in the city gardens
Why: 'Performing in the city gardens' gives the venue: City Gardens.
The trap: The lake is where the puppeteers stand, which is inside the gardens. The table wants the venue name.
Question 20
Answer: young childrenThe very end of the review, after 'As an adult, I had a great time'
Also accepted: younger children / children
Who is the water puppet show aimed at?
It's a must for young children, though, and that's the audience it's really aimed at.
Question says → You hear
Type of audiencethat's the audience it's really aimed at
Why: She says the audience it's really aimed at is young children. Children alone is also accepted.
The trap: Jane enjoyed it as an adult, but she adds that other older people weren't so impressed. Adults is the wrong audience.
No dates are given for this year. The 5th to 17th was the old timing, and the 1st of January is the celebration they want to avoid. 'At the end of the month' points to 25-31 January.
Jane says she'll talk about two circus performances, so B looks right. Then she adds 'there are plenty of others in the program'. Two is just the number she reviews; there are several.
Jane loved the puppet show as an adult, which pulls you towards adults. But she says other older people weren't so keen and the show is really aimed at young children.
Words from this recording worth keeping
what's in store(Introduction)
what is going to happen
sensational(The programme)
extremely exciting and impressive
marquee(Circus Romano)
a very large tent used for events
acrobatic(Circus Romano)
involving jumps, balances and difficult movements
purists(Circus Electrica)
people who want things done in the traditional way
showcase(Circus Electrica)
an event that shows off someone's skills
aerial displays(Circus Electrica)
performances high in the air
troupe(Water puppets)
a group of performers who work together
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
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 2. 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.
