00:00:00,360 --> 00:01:09,920 [speaker_0]

This recording is copyright. Guided e-learning IELTS Listening Practice Tests. Test two. In
the IELTS test, you hear some recordings, and you have to answer questions on them. You
have time to read the instructions and questions and check your work. All recordings are
played only once. Now turn to section one. Section one. You will hear a telephone
conversation between a man and a woman discussing a hotel reservation. First, you have
some time to look at questions one to six. Now we begin. You should answer the questions
as you listen, as the recording is not played twice. Listen carefully to the conversation and
answer questions one to six.

00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,400 [speaker_1]

Sunrise Hotel, good morning. Barbara speaking.

00:01:14,460 --> 00:01:20,720 [speaker_2]

Hello, my name is Bruce Griffin. I'd like to make a booking for tonight, please. Are there any
rooms still available?

00:01:20,820 --> 00:01:23,920 [speaker_1]

Yes, there are a few left. What were you wanting?

00:01:23,980 --> 00:01:27,950 [speaker_2]

Well, I'm on a business trip, so I only need a single room.

00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:35,640 [speaker_1]

I don't think that will be a problem. Let's look. Yes, there's one single room left. Shall I book
it for you?

00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,560 [speaker_2]

Yes, please. That would be great.

00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:41,780 [speaker_1]

Right, then, let me get a pen. So what's your name again, please?

00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:48,280 [speaker_2]

Bruce Griffin. That's B-R-U-C-E G-R-I-F-F-I-N.

00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:54,140 [speaker_1]

Okay, I've got that down. Wait a minute. You've been here before, haven't you?

00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,160 [speaker_2]

Yes, that's right. I've stayed with you twice before.

00:01:57,220 --> 00:02:07,340 [speaker_1]

Well, we should have your details already. Let's look at the cards. Here we are. So Bruce
Griffin, uh, from Sydney, right?

00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,100 [speaker_2]

Yes, that's right.

00:02:09,220 --> 00:02:17,940 [speaker_1]

So tell me if I'm wrong. Bruce Griffin, passport number eight seven six three seven four
eight nine, age thirty.

00:02:17,980 --> 00:02:27,370 [speaker_2]

Yes, that's right. I'll just repeat the passport number to make sure you've got it right. Eight
seven six three seven four eight nine.
00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:36,280 [speaker_1]

Thanks. I have it right. So it's a single room for two nights. Is your credit card number the
same to confirm the booking?

00:02:36,300 --> 00:02:42,540 [speaker_2]

Yes, it's the same, but I want you to forward the bill to my company again. Is that okay?

00:02:42,620 --> 00:02:52,420 [speaker_1]

Oh, yes, Mr. Griffin, that's no problem at all. Your company have always settled very
promptly in the past. And what time can we expect you tonight, Mr. Griffin?

00:02:52,500 --> 00:03:08,440 [speaker_2]

Well, the plane lands at nine fifteen PM, so by the time I get through the formalities, that
should take about twenty minutes. I should be at your place by ten. Will the restaurant still
be open at that time, as I'll be hungry? I hate plane food.

00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:18,880 [speaker_1]

Oh, I'm afraid it'll be closed by then, Mr. Griffin. Can I organize some snacks to be left in your
room? A burger, fries, sandwiches?

00:03:18,940 --> 00:03:23,820 [speaker_2]

Yes, that would be great. How about a cheese sandwich with fries?

00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:29,900 [speaker_1]

No problem, sir. I'll see to that. Oh, the fries might be cold when you get in.

00:03:30,020 --> 00:03:32,900 [speaker_2]

Ah, yes. Uh, just the sandwich then.

00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,980 [speaker_1]

No problem. Anything else, Mr. Griffin?

00:03:36,100 --> 00:03:39,320 [speaker_2]

No, that's all. Thank you. See you tonight.

00:03:39,380 --> 00:03:41,720 [speaker_1]

See you tonight, Mr. Griffin. Goodbye.

00:03:41,740 --> 00:03:43,000 [speaker_2]

Goodbye.

00:03:43,900 --> 00:04:17,700 [speaker_0]

Now you will hear a conversation between Barbara and another man, Mark. Before you hear
this, you have some time to look at questions seven to ten. Now listen carefully and answer
questions seven to ten.

00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:27,480 [speaker_1]

Uh, Mark, that was Mr. Griffin. You know, that nice man from Sydney who's been here a
couple of times before? He's booked a single room for two nights from tonight.

00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:32,020 [speaker_3]

Ah, good. Uh, wait a moment. What, uh... Which room have you put him in?

00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,940 [speaker_1]

Well, I, I put him in number twenty-two. Is that okay?

00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:44,640 [speaker_3]

I think so. Uh, let me just check. Oh, blast! There was a booking earlier this morning. All the
singles are now gone.

00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,580 [speaker_1]

Oh, dear. Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize.

00:04:48,770 --> 00:04:55,450 [speaker_3]

Don't worry, i- it's not a problem. We'll stick him in number thirty-four. It's a double room,
but it shouldn't matter.

00:04:55,560 --> 00:05:03,410 [speaker_1]

What about the price? The double is one hundred and fifty dollars a night, and he's going to
be expecting one hundred dollars a night for a single.

00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:11,460 [speaker_3]

Well, we don't want to upset him. Uh, we want him to come back. Make a note that we'll give
him the single rate, and he's got a free upgrade.

00:05:11,540 --> 00:05:16,400 [speaker_1]

I'm so sorry, Mark. I should have let him know that there weren't any singles left.

00:05:16,460 --> 00:05:25,700 [speaker_3]

No, it's not your fault. I took the booking earlier, but the computers were down. I should
have made a note of the booking so that everyone knew. It's my fault.

00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:32,110 [speaker_1]

Mr. Griffin has ordered a cheese sandwich to be left in his room, too, as the restaurant will
be closed when he gets in.

00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:43,469 [speaker_3]

That's no problem. Just leave a message for my wife in the order book there. She'll make
sure that it's prepared by the kitchen staff, and then room service can take it to his room
just before he arrives.

00:05:43,469 --> 00:05:45,880 [speaker_1]

How much shall I charge him for the sandwich?

00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:57,460 [speaker_3]

What is it again? Oh, yes, cheese. Hmm, well, beef and chicken are both ten dollars, and salad
is eight dollars. Just make it nine dollars. That should be okay.

00:05:57,540 --> 00:05:58,840 [speaker_1]

Okay. Thanks, Mark.

00:05:59,800 --> 00:07:12,730 [speaker_0]

That is the end of section one. You will now have half a minute to check your [Link]
turn to Section two. Section two. You will hear a news broadcast on a radio station. First,
you have some time to look at questions eleven to fifteen. Now listen carefully to the news
broadcast and answer questions eleven to fifteen.

00:07:12,770 --> 00:09:12,310 [speaker_4]

Good morning, and welcome to 2RC, your local radio news service for the Westley area. And
here are your headlines for this morning. More news from the police into the jewelry
robbery that occurred last Tuesday in the center of town. CompTech, the local computer
hardware manufacturer, has announced that it must cut forty jobs. New routes open up at
the Westley International Airport. Plans for the redevelopment of the Oakley Woods have
been shelved. A local cricket team make it to the regional finals. And get set for a heat wave!
First of all, police have released two descriptions for the two men wanted in connection
with the robbery at the local jewelry store, Nichols, in the center of town last Tuesday. At
nine AM, just when the store was opening, two men burst through the door and demanded
bags to be filled up with jewelry. Although the two men were armed with baseball bats, the
shopkeepers bravely attacked them and beat them off. Although the two men had
motorcycle helmets on, these were knocked off during the scuffle, and the shopkeepers
were able to get a good look at them. The first man is said to be about two meters in height,
slight build, dark hair, and a small mustache. He was wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and
a black leather jacket. The second man is much shorter, around one meter eighty-three
centimeters, with a fat build and red hair and clean shaven. He was wearing a dark blue
sweater and black jeans. They are both probably in their early twenties. The police hope to
issue photofit pictures later today. The public are urged to call Westley Police if they think
they recognize either of the two men.

00:09:12,390 --> 00:09:40,930 [speaker_0]

You now have some time to look at questions sixteen to twenty. Now listen to the rest of the
news broadcast and answer questions sixteen to twenty.

00:09:42,410 --> 00:11:52,440 [speaker_4]

CompTech last night announced that they must release forty workers. This was blamed on a
downturn in sales and increased competition. The jobs to be lost will be a mixture of early
retirement offerings and are spread from all departments in the company. Westley
International Airport has been awarded by CheapAir, the new low-cost carrier, four new
routes into Europe. The new routes will be into four European countries, though the details
have not yet been released. When the deals have been finalized, this will lead to a significant
number of jobs. Environmentalists were delighted this morning by the news that plans by
the local council to develop the Oakley Woods area have been shelved. The woods were to
have been developed into a shopping area, but opposition from local residents and local
environmental groups has led to a turnaround by the local council, and they will now look
for an alternative site. Westley Green, a local pressure group, says they are ecstatic that the
council has bowed to the wishes of the people in the area. Mr. George Finchley, Mayor of
Westley, made the announcement and said that the committee responsible took all available
information into account before taking the decision, and he hopes that Westley residents
are happy that the local council are sensitive to their wishes when making decisions.
Eastmoor CC, a local league cricket club, has made it to the finals of the Sunday League
Knockout Cricket Competition. They will play the final at home on Sunday, the thirtieth of
August, against Newbury CC. Go along and support if you're around that day, as you'll be
assured a great Sunday afternoon sport. And finally, get set for a heat wave for the
remainder of the month of August. Weather experts have assured us that we will have three
weeks of unbroken sunshine till the end of the month. Great news, but those of us who are
experienced with British weather will most likely greet this news with, "Let's wait and see!"

00:11:53,610 --> 00:13:08,560 [speaker_0]

That is the end of Section two. You will now have half a minute to check your [Link]
turn to Section three. Section three. You will hear an admissions tutor at a university
interviewing a prospective student. First, you have some time to look at questions twenty-
one to twenty-six. Now listen carefully and answer questions twenty-one to twenty-six.

00:13:09,500 --> 00:13:11,960 [speaker_5]

Hello there. It's Robert Johnson, isn't it?

00:13:12,060 --> 00:13:13,220 [speaker_6]

Yes, that's right.

00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:32,340 [speaker_5]

First of all, thanks for coming to this interview, and thanks for applying to the engineering
department of Wesley University. This is a fairly informal interview where I just get to know
you and find out what kind of person you are. There won't be any technical questions, as
we've got all your education background from your application form.

00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:33,500 [speaker_6]

Oh, that's good!

00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:39,560 [speaker_5]

Now, I know you have applied to us to study civil engineering. So can you tell me why you
chose this field?

00:13:39,640 --> 00:14:08,330 [speaker_6]

It's a mixture of reasons, really. First of all, I've always been fascinated by building things.
Whenever the family was on holiday, I would always be interested in the local bridge and all
that. My father is a civil engineer, too, so he'd always be able to explain things, and it was he,
I suppose, who really fostered my interest in these things. I'm lucky as well because my best
subjects at school were maths and physics, which are the ones that are of particular use for
engineering.

00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,570 [speaker_5]

So you'll be keeping it in the family then?

00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:17,340 [speaker_6]

Yes. My brother wants to do the same thing as well, so you'll probably get an application
from him in another two years.

00:14:17,380 --> 00:14:27,420 [speaker_5]

Great! Now then, I noticed from your application form that you took a year off between
school and university. What did you do during this year?

00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:42,180 [speaker_6]

Well, I'd like to say that I got plenty of work experience, but what I did was travel. I went
over to Australia for the year and spent the time traveling and working all around the
country. At the end, I went to New Zealand and traveled around there for a couple of
months.

00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,249 [speaker_5]

What kind of work did you do out there?

00:14:44,340 --> 00:14:53,670 [speaker_6]

It was fairly menial stuff. I delivered furniture, worked in a pub, worked in a hotel, and
worked on a building site for a couple of months, too.
00:14:53,740 --> 00:14:57,940 [speaker_5]

Working on a building site must have been some good experience for engineering.

00:14:58,140 --> 00:15:05,880 [speaker_6]

I suppose so. I mean, it was interesting to see the brass tacks side of things, and a good
engineer has to get his hands dirty, my father says.

00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:13,460 [speaker_5]

He's absolutely right as well. Now, why did you choose Wesley University to study civil
engineering?

00:15:13,500 --> 00:15:25,850 [speaker_6]

Well, first of all, I know that the department has a very good reputation in this field, and
before applying, I checked out the stats and saw that the percentage of graduates going
straight into industry was very good.

00:15:25,900 --> 00:15:28,040 [speaker_5]

Yes, we're very proud of that.

00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:38,249 [speaker_6]

I'm also very interested in mountaineering, and your campus here in the Midlands is within
reasonable distance of Snowdonia, so I'll be able to go hiking at weekends when work
allows it.

00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:45,480 [speaker_5]

That's good. It's very important for students to have interests outside of their studies. It
helps deal with the stress.

00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:52,029 [speaker_6]

I also play a lot of football, and the university runs quite a few teams in the local leagues, so
I'd like to get into that.

00:15:53,200 --> 00:16:22,160 [speaker_0]

You now have some time to look at questions twenty-seven to thirty. Now listen to the rest
of the interview and answer questions twenty-seven to thirty.

00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:25,420 [speaker_5]

Is there anything you'd like to ask me about the course?

00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:35,660 [speaker_6]

Yes. The information in the prospectus wasn't very clear about assessment. How will I be
assessed over the four years of the course?

00:16:35,740 --> 00:17:22,500 [speaker_5]

Well, as it's a sandwich course, you will be working in industry for the third year, and there
won't be any exams for that year. In the first year, you will have exams at the end of May.
You'll probably have five papers to sit then. The second year is identical to the first year.
You have to pass the exams in these years, but they won't actually be part of your degree. In
the fourth year, you will have to write a dissertation of a minimum of fifteen thousand
words, and most people use their time in the third year when they're working to use as a
basis for their dissertation. So the third year can be spent doing the hard work for the
dissertation, leaving the fourth year to polish it and study for your finals.

00:17:22,620 --> 00:17:25,660 [speaker_6]

What will I have to do for the finals?

00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:38,900 [speaker_5]

There will be eight papers in all during June, and these will be based on work done
throughout the entire course. It's hard and a stressful time, but students usually cope with
it. Anything else?
00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:41,800 [speaker_6]

Yes, I'd like to ask about...

00:17:41,940 --> 00:18:54,270 [speaker_0]

That is the end of section three. You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
Now turn to section four. Section four. You will hear part of a research methods lecture.
First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to [Link] listen carefully and
answer questions thirty-one to forty.

00:18:55,530 --> 00:23:56,850 [speaker_3]

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As you know, I'm Dr. Sharp. Welcome to this
auxiliary lecture on research methods. This lecture is not aimed specifically at one
particular course, but is a general lecture that will be relevant to any student who must
conduct research into a topic for his or her course. For most of you, this will be the research
that you need to do in order to write your dissertations and theses. It has been said that
First World societies are no longer industrial societies, but information societies. That is,
our major problems and tasks no longer mainly center on the production of goods and
services necessary for survival and comfort, but rather require a prompt and accurate flow
of information on preferences, needs, and behavior. This is why surveys today are regarded
with so much importance. What then is a survey? Today, the word survey is used most often
to describe a method of gathering information from a sample of individuals. This way, the
results can be projected from the sample to the larger population. An important
consideration to take at the start is to decide how large a survey to perform. The sample
size required for a survey partly depends on the statistical quality needed and the size of the
total population of the area in question. Even so, there is no simple rule for sample size that
can be used for all surveys. Analysts, though, often find that a moderate sample is sufficient
statistically and operationally. A properly selected sample of only one thousand individuals
can reflect various characteristics of the total population, but it is not always needed to
sample the entire population for your needs. I'd like now to look at some of the types of
survey available to us, and the focus here will be on the methods for surveying individuals
and companies. Mail, telephone interview, and in-person interview surveys are the most
common ways for doing this. The latter can be in offices, homes, or on the street. Mail
surveys can be relatively low in cost. A decent response rate, though, is the major problem.
Mail surveys can be most effective when directed at particular groups, such as subscribers
to a specialized magazine or members of a professional association. Telephone interviews
are an efficient method of collecting some types of data and are being used increasingly.
They lend themselves particularly well to situations where timeliness is a factor and the
length of the survey is limited. For students such as you, though, cost will be an issue. In-
person interviews in a respondent's home or office are good when complex information is
to be collected. It could involve a great deal of traveling around, though. Street interviews
could also be useful, as they are easy, but the sampling is not very scientific. We also need to
look at the content of our surveys. Surveys can focus on opinions and attitudes or on factual
characteristics or behavior. Many surveys combine types of questions. Questions may be
open-ended, such as, "Why do you feel that way?" Or of a closed type, such as, "Do you
approve or disapprove?" The questionnaire may be very brief, a few questions taking five
minutes or fewer, or it can be quite long, requiring an hour or more of the respondent's
time. Also, because changes in attitudes or behavior cannot be reliably ascertained from a
single interview, some surveys employ a panel design. This is when the same respondents
are interviewed on two or more occasions. There are also certain ethics to be looked at in
conducting surveys. Some of you will see that the information that you will compile is of
value to companies operating in that particular sector. Therefore, you must always bear in
mind a few guidelines. Surveys should be carried out solely to develop statistical
information about a subject. They should not be designed to produce predetermined results
or as a ruse for marketing and similar activities. The industry standard for all reputable
survey organizations is that individual respondents should never be identified in reporting
survey findings. All of the survey's results should be presented in completely anonymous
summaries, such as statistical tables and charts.

00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:36,890 [speaker_0]

That is the end of section four. You will now have half a minute to check your answers. That
is the end of listening test two.