Winridge Forest Railway Park: listening answers and explanations
A radio presenter interviews Simon Winridge, who set up a railway theme park on his family's farm. He tells the story of how it started, what each family member does there now, and the park's latest developments.
All answers come from Simon, in order. Questions 11-13 are the history (the idea, the first opening, visitor numbers), 14-18 run through the family in the order of the list, and 19-20 come after the presenter asks if development is finished, in the part about the Go-Kart arena.
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.
5 to 12Also accepted: 5-12 / 5 - 12 / five to twelve
Multiple choice
Questions 11-13
How to attack this block: These three questions cover the story of the park. Simon gives reasons and numbers that are close to the options, so listen for the reason he actually states and for exactly which figure answers the question.
Question 11
Answer: CEarly in Simon's story, after the children's miniature railway
Where did Simon's idea for a theme park come from?
we didn't think anything more of it until I went on a trip to a theme park near Birmingham and decided we … could do a much better job!
Question says → You hear
his visit to another parkI went on a trip to a theme park near Birmingham
Why: The idea came after a trip to another theme park, near Birmingham, when he decided they could do better. That's C.
The trap: A: trains were the children's hobby, and Simon's models came out of that, but 'we didn't think anything more of it' until the trip. B: the landscaping happened later, once the park was running.
Question 12
Answer: AWhen Simon describes the first opening in 1984
Why did they first open only in July?
we opened to the public for just a month that year, 1984 - in July - our driest month - because our children said they didn't want our quests to have a miserable, wet visit.
Question says → You hear
the weather was expected to be goodin July - our driest month
Why: They chose July because it's the driest month, so guests wouldn't have a wet visit. That's choosing a time when the weather is expected to be good, A.
The trap: B: the children are mentioned, but as the people who suggested avoiding rain, not because of school. C: the farm comes next, but Liz just carried on with it.
Question 13
Answer: CWhen Simon says Winridge is one of the most popular attractions in the area
How many visitors has the park had in total since opening?
with 50,000 visitors a year - a million and a half people have been through our … doors since we opened.
Question says → You hear
Since openingsince we opened
Why: 'Since we opened' matches the question exactly, and that figure is a million and a half: 1,500,000, C.
The trap: A, 50,000, is said first but it's per year. B, a million, is a trap for anyone who catches 'a million' and misses 'and a half'.
Matching (A-H)
Questions 14-18
How to attack this block: The people come in the same order as the list. For each one, Simon often mentions a past job and then the current one, and the question asks about the current main area of work. Listen for 'now', 'only' and 'taking over'.
Question 14
Answer: EWhen Simon says it's now 'a truly family concern'
What is Simon's main job now?
I'm near to retirement age so I only concern myself with looking after the mechanical side of things - keeping the trains going.
Question says → You hear
engine maintenancelooking after the mechanical side of things - keeping the trains going
Why: The mechanical side and keeping the trains going is engine maintenance, E.
The trap: Building (C) is tempting because Duncan 'took over from' Simon in construction. That was Simon's old job, not his current one.
Question 15
Answer: HStraight after Simon describes his own role
What is Liz's main job now?
Liz now devotes all her energies to recruiting and supporting the large … squadron of workers
Question says → You hear
staffingrecruiting and supporting the large … squadron of workers
Why: Recruiting and supporting the workers is staffing, H. 'Now' tells you it's her current role.
The trap: Liz used to do the farm work, which might suggest animal care (B). That was in the early days.
Question 16
Answer: FWhen Simon says Sarah has returned to the park
What is Sarah's main job now?
after some years away teaching, Sarah has now returned to the park and makes sure the visitors are kept fed and watered
Question says → You hear
food and drinkmakes sure the visitors are kept fed and watered
Why: 'Fed and watered' is an informal way of saying she provides food and drink, F.
The trap: D, educational links, plays on her teaching. That was her job before she came back.
Question 17
Answer: CWhen Simon moves on to his son
What is Duncan's main job now?
Our son, Duncan, has been a stalwart of the park for the last ten years, taking over from me in the area of construction
Question says → You hear
buildingtaking over from me in the area of construction
Why: Duncan took over construction from his father, which is building, C.
The trap: 'Taking over from me' could make you think of Simon's current job, engine maintenance. Duncan took over the construction side, which Simon no longer does.
Question 18
Answer: GThe last family member, Duncan's new wife
What is Judith's main job now?
his new wife, Judith, has also joined the team in charge of retail. … a lot of people want to buy souvenirs.
Question says → You hear
salesin charge of retail … a lot of people want to buy souvenirs
Why: Retail means selling to customers, here souvenirs, so sales, G.
The trap: A, advertising, sounds business-like and close, but nothing about promoting the park is said. Retail is selling.
Table completion (ONE WORD AND/OR NUMBERS)
Questions 19-20
How to attack this block: The railway row is done for you, so use it to follow along: size, then challenge, then age group. Both answers are numbers, said once and quickly.
Question 19
Answer: 120After the railway and the tunnels, when Simon mentions the new installation
How big is the Go-Kart arena?
We're also very pleased with a new installation of the Go-Kart arena … which is 120 square metres in area.
Question says → You hear
Go-Kart arena - Size: ... m²the Go-Kart arena … which is 120 square metres in area
Why: The arena is 120 square metres. The m² is printed, so write 120.
The trap: 1.2 kilometres is the railway, said just before, and it's already printed.
Question 20
Answer: 5 to 12Right after the mounds were levelled for safety
Also accepted: 5-12 / 5 - 12 / five to twelve
Which age group are the go-karts for?
We wanted to enable 5-12 year olds to use the go-karts.
Question says → You hear
Target age group: ... year-oldsWe wanted to enable 5-12 year olds to use the go-karts
Why: The target group is 5 to 12 year olds. Write 5-12 or 5 to 12; the 'year-olds' is printed.
Two numbers come together: 50,000 visitors a year and a million and a half since they opened. The question asks about the whole time since opening, so C.
Simon used to handle the park business and construction. Now, near retirement, he only looks after the mechanical side, keeping the trains going: engine maintenance.
Sarah used to teach, which pulls people to educational links. But that was 'some years away'. Now she keeps visitors 'fed and watered': food and drink.
Words from this recording worth keeping
acquired(How it started)
got or bought
miniature(How it started)
a very small copy of something
onto a winner(How it started)
doing something that will clearly succeed
family concern(The family)
a business run by a family
stalwart(The family)
a loyal, hard-working supporter or member
retail(The family)
selling goods to the public
geology(New developments)
the rocks and soil of an area
level(New developments)
make flat
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The full Cambridge 9 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 9, 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.
