On a local radio show, Jane reports on a new branch of Sports World, a sports shop opening in Bradcaster. She describes where it is, what it sells, the opening-day events and competition, and a special offer on fitness tests.
All the answers come from Jane, in order. Questions 11-16 cover the shop itself (location, floors, ordering, specialities), 17-18 the opening weekend and the quiz, and 19-20 the fitness test, which is the last thing she talks about.
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 11-16 · Note completion (ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER)
How to attack this block: One word per gap, and the notes follow Jane's description floor by floor. Several gaps have a contrast built in: the new shop versus the original one (west versus north, ten days versus fourteen). Make sure your answer is about the new branch.
Question 11
Answer: branchJane's opening, when she introduces Sports World
What is the new shop in relation to the company?
Sports World - the branch of a Danish sports goods company … the company has now decided to open another branch in the area.
Question says → You hear
a new ... of an international sports goods companyopen another branch / the branch of a Danish sports goods company
Why: The company is opening 'another branch', and 'Danish' is paraphrased as 'international' in the notes. The gap after 'a new' needs a singular noun: branch.
The trap: Shop or store might feel natural, but 'branch' is the word you hear, twice.
Question 12
Answer: westStraight after the company decides to open another branch
Which side of Bradcaster is the new shop on?
It's going to be in the shopping centre to the west of Bradcaster … the original shop in the north of the town
Question says → You hear
located in the shopping centre to thein the shopping centre to the west of Bradcaster
Why: The new branch is in the shopping centre to the west. The note copies the phrase almost exactly.
The trap: North is said a few words later, but that's where the original shop is, the one people found hard to get to.
Question 13
Answer: clothingAfter the black and red colour scheme
What do floors one to three sell besides equipment?
The first three floors have a huge range of sports clothing as well as … equipment
Question says → You hear
on floors 1 - 3The first three floors
Why: 'The first three floors' becomes 'floors 1-3', and the two things on them are sports clothing and equipment. Equipment is printed, so the gap is clothing.
The trap: The top floor has a café and a book and DVD section. Those belong to the fourth floor, not floors 1-3.
Question 14
Answer: 10After 'all the well-known names'
Also accepted: ten
How many days does the shop need to get an item it doesn't have?
If they haven't got exactly what you want in stock they promise to get it for you in ten days. Unlike the other store, where it can take up to fourteen days.
Question says → You hear
can get you any item withinthey promise to get it for you in ten days
Why: The new shop promises ten days. Write 10 or ten; digits are safer.
The trap: Fourteen days is said straight after, but that's the other store, which is slower.
Question 15
Answer: runningWhen Jane lists the major sports they cover
Which sport does the shop focus on most?
They cover all the major sports, including football, tennis and swimming, but they particularly focus on running,
Question says → You hear
shop specialises in equipment forthey particularly focus on running
Why: 'Particularly focus on' is the paraphrase of 'specialises in', and it comes after 'but', which separates the special sport from the general list.
The trap: Football, tennis and swimming are all mentioned first, but they're the sports every shop covers. The 'but' tells you running is the one that stands out.
Question 16
Answer: bagsRight after the claim about the widest range of running equipment
What does the special section sell?
a whole section of the third floor is devoted to sports bags, including the latest designs from the States
Question says → You hear
a special section which just sellsa whole section of the third floor is devoted to sports bags
Why: 'A whole section ... devoted to' is the special section, and what it sells is sports bags. 'Sports' is already in the heading idea, so the one word is bags, in the plural.
The trap: Designs is said in the same sentence, but it describes the bags. Keep the plural: bag is wrong.
Multiple choice
Questions 17-18
How to attack this block: Both questions are about the opening weekend. Each option is mentioned in some form, so listen for the exact condition: how long the champion stays, and which prize goes to the person with a perfect score.
Question 17
Answer: AWhen Jane gives the opening time on Saturday
How long will the champion runner be in the shop?
The shop will be open from 9.00 am this Saturday … he will be staying around until about midday
Question says → You hear
on Saturday morning onlyfrom 9.00 am this Saturday … until about midday
Why: Paul King opens the shop at 9 am on Saturday and stays until about midday. From nine until noon is Saturday morning, so A.
The trap: C comes from what follows: 'special attractions all weekend'. Those are the other events, not Paul King, who leaves around midday.
Question 18
Answer: AWhen Jane explains the competition
What prize goes to the first person with a perfect score?
the first person to get all the questions correct gets a year's … free membership of the Bradcaster Gym.
Question says → You hear
first person to answer 20 quiz questions correctlythe first person to get all the questions correct
Why: 'All the questions' means all twenty, and the prize for the first person to do that is a year's free gym membership, so A.
The trap: B is the DVD, which you win for fifteen out of twenty. C, the calendar, goes to every entrant.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 19-20
How to attack this block: The fitness test comes right at the end in a few quick sentences. Tick off each option as you hear it, and check what the recording actually says about cost, place and booking.
Question 19-20
Answer: A and E (in either order)The last offer she describes, the fitness test done in the shop
Which two facts does Jane give about the fitness test?
This would normally cost £30.00 but is available at half … price for this month only. There are only a limited number of places available for this, so to make a booking phone 560341.
Question says → You hear
need to reserve a placelimited number of places … to make a booking
cheaper this monthhalf … price for this month only
Why: A: there are limited places and you phone to make a booking, which is reserving a place. E: it's normally £30 but half price this month only, so it's cheaper this month.
The trap: B is the strongest distractor: account holders get 'lots more special offers', but that's a separate point and nothing says the test is free for them. D is wrong because the test is done in the shop, and C is out because the test is a review of your fitness, with no mention of advice.
There are three prizes in the quiz. The DVD (option B's video) goes to anyone who gets fifteen out of twenty, and the calendar goes to everyone who enters. Only the first person to get all twenty right gets gym membership.
Option B sounds right because account holders get 'special offers', but that's said about other things after the fitness test. The fitness test itself is half price this month and needs a booking.
Words from this recording worth keeping
attracted a lot of custom(Introduction)
brought in many customers
preview(The new shop)
a chance to see something before it opens to the public
minimalist(The new shop)
very simple in style, with few decorations
signature colours(The new shop)
the colours a brand is known for
in stock(Ordering)
available in the shop now
devoted to(Third floor)
used only for
fixtures(Competition)
sports events planned for particular dates
cardiac fitness(Fitness test)
how healthy and strong your heart is
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 9 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 9, Test 1, 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.
