Listening 2026-07 Test 7

Now turn to Section 1, on page 2 of your question booklet. Section 1 You will hear a telephone conversation between a man who works for a library service and a woman who wants to join a library. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5 on page 2. You will see that there is an example that has been done for you. On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first. Good morning, library services. Oh, good morning. My family and I have recently moved to the area and we'd like to find where our nearest library is. We don't have a car. Right, so whereabouts are you? In person, in the west. Fine, so I'll just get the details on screen for you. The woman is asking about libraries in the west of the area, so west has been written in the space. Now we shall begin. You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time. Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5. Good morning, library services. Oh, good morning. My family and I have recently moved to the area and we'd like to find where our nearest library is. We don't have a car. Right, so whereabouts are you? In person, in the west. Fine, so I'll just get the details on screen for you. Okay, your nearest one is the Minak library. Minak. Yes, in Schellen Street. Can you spell that? It's s-k-e-l-l-a-r-n Street. Got that. It's very easy to find because it's beside a park. Oh, I think I know that area. There's a sports center near there, isn't there? I don't know of one. Oh, I'm probably mistaken. Anyway, it's probably a bit far for us to walk from home. Are there any buses? Yes, it's well served by public transport. There's a stop about five minutes walk away. Oh, right. And when does the library open? Will most often want to come at the weekend? I'm afraid it's not open on Sunday. Saturday? It opens at nine o'clock, closes at 4.30. We shut at five on weekdays. That's fine. Now, I've got two kids, 14 and nine. And I wondered whether you have any special activities for them. In our last place, we had an art club. Well, the library does run a drama club, but that would only be suitable for your younger child. It's open for five to 13-year-olds. But pity it's not open to both of them. Have you anything they could both go to? Well, there's no reading club that would suit them both. Oh, but there's a singing club that's held every second Saturday afternoon for children of all ages up to 16. Excellent. Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions six to ten on page two. Now listen and answer questions six to ten. Now, because we're new to the area, I'm also wanting to get involved in local activities. Well, Minak does some sessions for adults as well. There's a book of the month club. That's good. And I know that about once every twelve months, they have a session where you can meet artists, you know, from the local area. How interesting. Well, that sounds like a full program. Now, while I'm on the phone, can I check what the facilities are? Can you take out CDs? Not CDs, I'm afraid, but films, yes. Right. I'll make a note of that. Anything else you need to know? Oh, yes. We have ten computers. And we also stock several magazines, including business, healthcare and hobbies. Same as my last place. And there is a new drop-off facility where you can post any item through the door if it's after hours. All you have to do is attach a note to it with the number on your card clearly written. That sounds good. And we do have a small shop on the premises where we sell postcards. We don't have many, but it's a popular service. Oh, that's a good idea. They're very popular. We also have an impressive range of maps of the surrounding area for sale. Well, it sounds like you've got it. That is the end of Section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Section 2. You will hear the organizer of a family camp talking to a group of people who will be staying at a campsite. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16 on page 3. --- 2. You will hear the organizer of a family camp talking to a group of people who will be staying at a campsite. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16 on page 3. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16. Hello everyone and welcome to this orientation session prior to our camp next week. Thank you for coming along to find out what you and your children will be doing on this year's camp. To start off with, let's tell you a bit about the campsite itself so that you'll be able to find your way around once you get there. Firstly, we'll be arriving by bus into the car park, which if you look at the plan you have in front of you, you'll see at the top of the picture on the left hand side. Now, if you cross the road from the car park, the first building you'll come to is the toilet block. It's been recently upgraded so it's very nice and clean in there now with plenty of facilities and built onto that so this is across the road from the community hall is the new shower block. The hot water does run out occasionally but usually there's enough to cope with a group your size. If you now move to the bottom left of your map, among the pine trees, there is a special flat site set up for pitching tents with power points and outdoor taps for water. Now let's go back and move along the top of your map. There's another area of Pine Forest and then over on the far right hand side there's a block of small cabins. Note that this is different from the main accommodation block which doesn't appear on this map but is further over again to the right. Now let's look down from there over the road so we're moving clockwise around your map, okay? In this next block beside the flower beds, we have a lovely place for barbecues where you can cook in the open air. What else to tell you about? Below the flower bed and across lakeside drive, you'll see a trail for mountain biking which is always a popular activity. Moving on now, in the middle of the campsite you'll see the lake where you can canoe and above that again the community hall. So that completes your introduction to the campsite. I hope you found that useful. Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20 on page 4. Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20. Now let's think about what you need to bring with you. I'm sure you're all wondering what you need to pack. The lake is a bit cold for swimming at this time of year so you can leave your talks out of the suitcase. While we're on the subject of weather too, usually I recommend that campers bring sunblock with them. But I guess now that we're into April, that too can be left behind. Ah, let me think. Some campers like a torch, but actually the days are still so long that it's light outside till quite late, and the blocks all have outside lighting now. So I'd say that a pair of ear plugs are more useful, as in my experience a lot of talking goes on after lights out. But in April, if it's wet, it can get muddy around the campsite. So to bring boots isn't a bad idea. Finally, can you all please prepare something for the final night concert? Bring your musical instruments or whatever else you need. You can't have a camp without a good sing-along. That's our favourite activity. Maybe you could recite a poem, act out a skit, or charades for us if you brave enough to try that, or failing that, perhaps you can tell a joke or a funny story. But actually, people much prefer to say some good dancing. I'll look forward to seeing you all perform next week. That is the end of section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Section 2. You will hear part of a talk about an Australian wild zoo, given by a tour guide. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15. Now, listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15. Good morning everybody and welcome to the Australian wild zoo. I would like to start by introducing you to the new features that we have added to our zoo in the recent renovation. Being the only zoo in the area, we receive thousands of visitors a year. We found that this huge footfall was too demanding for the facilities that we were able to provide. And so we decided to expand ourselves in order to give every visitor a brilliant and exciting experience. We initially intended to build a new dog walking area. However, we felt that the zoo should cater only to exotic animals. During our previous renovation, we expanded the exhibition centre. And so we felt that this time the zoo would benefit most from introducing a new batch of animals. So visitors can now see a whole range of new additions at the Australian wild zoo, including lions and bears. With this huge improvement to our facilities, we also found it necessary to change our regulations, which we put into action in June. We now allow visitors access to the zoo during weekdays, and as some of our newly added animals are nocturnal, guests may also now visit the animals late at night. Unfortunately, some visitors had started feeding the animals during these late night viewing times, which disrupted their feeding pattern. And as a result, we had to ban food in the viewing areas. One of our most exciting additions to the zoo is our native kangaroo, who we have named Frisbee. For a fee of just $5, visitors can have their photo taken with him, and have it printed onto a selection of items, such as keyrings and mugs. At first, visitors were also allowed to feed Frisbee items that we provided, such as carrots and leaves. However, some guests started feeding him hamburgers and chips, so we were forced to forbid visitors from feeding him. As kangaroos are such calm animals, Frisbee isn't disturbed by the noises and shouting of visitors at the zoo, which has helped him to settle in at his new home very quickly. The pie dog zone has been permanently closed throughout the winter period, to allow the dogs to hibernate as they would in their natural habitat. We were very excited to be reopening the zone, however, unfortunately we have been forced to close it temporarily, as the result of a broken fence, which will take about one week to fix. We were intending to renovate the zone with the other construction that we were undertaking, but unfortunately we did not have sufficient funds. We understand that this temporary closure may disappoint our visitors, and so we have decided to offer a discounted price on our tickets for the next week. If you ask it the reception desk, they will happily direct you to the Photoshop, where you can purchase the ticket. The ticket will also entitle you to a 10% discount off any item in our gift shop, where we sell a range of items including postcards and fluffy toys. Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at question 16 to 20. Now listen and answer question 16 to 20. Now we're currently standing at the gate, which is marked with the arrow on the map. Now if any of you need to visit the toilets before we get started, they're right here to our left. Out to the east, just across the grass, there is the bird hide, where we have over 100 species of birds for you to watch. We even have an interactive zone, where you can feed them with seed and take photographs with our parrots. What a great souvenir to remember your trip. And up the path to the north, if you look in front of you now, there is the pie dog zone. Although it is closed, if any of the dogs are playing outside, you will be able to see them through the fence. And then let's pass by the refuge. This area is a sheltered part for brawler watchers, who can use it to spy through binoculars. And after that, I suggest that you all visit the rest area for some cold drinks and snacks, as it is very hot outside. It is just at the northwest corner of the zoo. After that, you could cut across the path to the large rectangular hut, where you will be able to see our new addition of fierce lions. The mother has just had cubs, so it is really quite a rare thing to see. And around to the west, for those of you who want to visit Frisbee, our native kangaroo, he is in the circular shaped hut just up the path to the left. Don't forget to have your photo taken with him. Now, as I mentioned before, you can purchase your discounted tickets at the Photoshop. And this is also where you will come to collect any photos you have had taken at the zoo during your visit. The Photoshop is located at the southwest corner of the zoo. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your visit. That is the end of section 2. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Now turn to section 3. --- Part 3. You will hear a discussion between a student called Mike and his tutor about Mike's proposed project on oral history. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25. Now, listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25. Thanks Mike for dropping by. I've read the proposal for your project, which is an oral history of the local football team, particularly the time around 1983 when they won the league championship. But first, how do you define oral history? Well, in fact, I used the definition you gave us last year in our research methodology class. I found the handout in my file. The definition says that oral histories are planned interviews or conversations about some aspect of the past, which is considered historically or socially important. The interviews are with people who took part in whatever it's about, so they'll be a record which historians can use later for all those academic articles they write. And although history textbooks are mostly about famous people and important events, oral history can be about ordinary people doing ordinary things. Oral history really seems to have started in the States. You're right. In fact, the first modern oral history interviews were done by a historian in New York. By that time, audio technology had improved so much that it was fairly easy to record those interviews. I was also interested in how the internet is contributed to oral history studies. Yes, it means that lots of people can access the material, and that's great. Also, the interactive nature of the better websites means that more students get interested in oral history. But from what I've read, the real contribution of the internet is that the recording of the interviews will be preserved forever. In the old days, the tapes were just wear out, and after some years, you couldn't really use them, but not now. You're right, of course. Anyhow, let's move on to the subject of your project. Why did you decide to study a sports team? Well, actually, I don't even like football very much. And some of my friends think I'm crazy to go for that subject, but my dad is a huge fan, and he might be able to help me. And how did you find out background about the team? You talked to the team manager, I assume. Yes, I did manage to track him down. I looked at all the old news stories about the team in the town newspaper office. That was where I got the most helpful information. I had high hopes that the local library would have lots of stuff, but they don't keep many records for more than 10 years. I know that you managed to locate 10 of the original 18 members of the team using an old-fashioned method, didn't you? Not a website or anything? Just the telephone directory? Yes. I didn't even need to use the local team's records. Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30. Now, listen and answer questions 26 to 30. OK, now I've read your proposal carefully, overall your plan seemed excellent, but I want to discuss how you might improve them. Great. I've read through the list of questions you've drafted. I felt most of them are rather complex to be processed as oral questions, but you don't have too many, which is good, but you should try to do something about that problem. Right. I'll work on them. And the time you've allotted for each interview. Actually, I think you may have scheduled too much time for each. You want them to be tight, not going on and on. That makes for better results. I can change the schedule. One thing I'm nervous about is the recording equipment I use. I've got an old recorder. It runs without making too much noise and it isn't complicated, but it sometimes just doesn't seem to work. It stopped during an interview I tried out with my dad. Well, the important thing is just be ready if anything happens. I'll take some spare batteries, or even an extra recorder. Now I'm a little concerned with the subjects you've chosen to cover. The topic seemed quite general, not very specific. For example, why did they like playing for this team? You need to talk about more exact things and feelings. No, that way your results will be more valuable. I'll try to refine them. And you know, the plan for my report seems to be just to report back more or less what the players say, what happened, when, what they each did and so on, but I'm not sure about that. Yes. Although your outline seems long enough, change it to indicate that you plan to include your own evaluation of the data you get from your interviewees. Anyhow, best of luck on your project? I look forward to seeing the results. Thanks for your help. That is the end of Part 3. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Part 3. Thank you. You will hear an engineering student called Cathy discussing a piece of work with her tutor. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. If you want to learn a piece of work, you can use it as a guide. You can also use it as a guide. You will hear an engineering student called Cathy discussing a piece of work with her tutor. You will hear an engineering student called Cathy discussing a piece of work with her tutor. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26. Hello Cathy, how's your dissertation on water pumps going? Not too bad, thanks. I'm getting on well with the literature of you now. And my lab works find so far. Oh, that's good. Remember you should aim to have your results section completed by the end of next month. So there's plenty of time to finalise the whole thing by the summer deadline. Anyway, looks like you're on track. I've been through your first chapter now and I was quite impressed. Oh, that's a relief. Sometimes your sentences are a little long and over complex, but the overall structure of the piece is very clear. I'd recommend you get a critical friend to go through it with you. Then once you've built in citations of other work in the field, I think it'll be pretty good. Oh, thanks. I was pleased I decided to focus on water pumps. Going to be testing an appropriate range of pump design. Lots of students make the mistake of either restricting their range too much or conversely not narrowing it down enough. You've managed to avoid those twin traps. However, I think you'd get more convincing results if you took some additional measurements. I've noted exactly what I mean on your work. Yes, I thought that might be necessary and I know I need to get down to some more library work too. Well, I don't think that's essential at the moment. Oh, right. So what do you suggest I do next? Repeat my last experiment using different variables? Well, you could have a word with James Higgins tomorrow. James is coming here to give a lecture on hydraulics to the faculty and it would be a great chance to have a chat with him. Especially as your experimental work has drawn so heavily from his last article in the British Engineering Journal. Oh, fantastic. And you never know how successful a chat with him might turn out to be. I got my first research post when I was a final year student and asked a visiting professor to explain what he meant in some article he'd written. So I urge all my students to take any such opportunity that arises. But times have changed. People like that are too busy to talk to mere students these days. I don't know about that. Anyway, is there anything else I can help with? Any practical information about layout perhaps? Well, I suppose I'm a bit unsure about how the bibliography should be presented. Like you, I can just check what's normally done in journal articles so that's not something to bother you with. I'd welcome some guidance though about what I should or shouldn't include in the appendices. I know some things, some of my data tables or details of specs perhaps, are not really needed in the main body of the text and I'm likely to be pushed for words there. Okay, I can certainly help you with that. But it will take a while, so can we deal with that next week? I've got that solar panel seminar to go into in a few minutes. There's plenty of work you can be carrying on within the meantime. Sure, that's no problem. I think I'll go and investigate the latest version of the CAD software to see if it might help with my pump design experiments at all. Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30. Before you go though, I'd like quickly to run through what you should be doing over the next few months, not just for your dissertation, but also to help your chances of getting the research post you'd like. Is that okay with you? Yes, that would be really helpful. Well, you certainly need to become a member of the Mechanical Engineers Society and then you'll be able to go along to their meetings. There you must make a point of making yourself known to various people like Professor Jones. He's the current president and is very approachable. Okay, so I could do some networking there. Exactly. Also, I think you should try to set up some visits to industry. Go to a lot of different workplaces just to see how things are done. It's actually a very good way of making sure you're familiar with the cutting edge of what's going on. Textbooks, even academic articles, sometimes lag behind industry. That sounds really interesting. Also, I'd love the chance to do a bit of work abroad for a while. Well, that's actually the next thing I was going to recommend. I'm sure we could set up a month for you in either the States or Canada, and that would be a great way to find out how things are done elsewhere. That would be good. Thank you. And the last thing I was going to suggest was that you could go to the European Water Engineering Conference being held in Spain in May. I could even present my dissertation there. Yes. Thank you so much. That's all really helpful. Good. That is the end of part three. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part three. --- You will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. In the book of Viking life, you will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. In the book of Viking life, you will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. In the book of Viking life, you will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. In the book of Viking life, you will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. In the book of Viking life, you will hear a lecture about Viking life and culture. Now, listen carefully and answer the questions. The Vikings, known for their seafaring skills, were not only warriors, but also traders and explorers. Their voyages extended far beyond Scandinavia, reaching as far as North America. One significant piece of evidence confirming this is the discovery of a small silver coin found in a site associated with indigenous settlements. This finding suggests that Viking traders may have engaged in exchanges with indigenous people, possibly bartering metal goods or textiles for local resources. Warfare played an important role in Viking society, and they were skilled in producing and using a variety of weapons. Archaeological digs have unearthed a range of armaments, including spears, axes, and an especially well-crafted weapon, likely used both in combat and for ceremonial purposes. These weapons were often passed down through generations, signifying status and craftsmanship. One of the Vikings' most impressive achievements was their advanced shipbuilding techniques. They designed sleek, sturdy vessels capable of enduring long sea voyages. A key feature of their longships was a large sail, allowing them to harness wind power and travel efficiently across vast distances. This innovation enabled them to raid, trade, and establish settlements across Europe and beyond. Given the harsh conditions at sea, preserving food for long voyages was crucial. Vikings employed various methods to prevent spoilage. One commonly used technique involved drying or curing meat, but they also relied heavily on a natural preservative, mainly salt. This ensured that their supplies remained edible for extended periods, particularly during their voyages to distant lands. Every day life among the Vikings was quite different from modern times. For instance, their drinking vessels were often made from natural materials, rather than glass or ceramics. A common choice was a horn, which was both lightweight and durable. Eating utensils, on the other hand, were simpler than those we used today. Rather than using spoons and knives exclusively, Vikings commonly carried a fork, which served multiple purposes, including assisting in eating and even as a small tool. Viking sailors frequently encountered storms and rough waters, which often led to ship damage. However, they were highly skilled in maintaining and restoring their vessels. Rather than abandoning damaged ships, they made on-the-spot repairs, reinforcing wooden planks, sealing leaks, and replacing worn-out parts. Their ability to repair ships ensured their survival during long and dangerous sea journeys. Vikings also had a remarkable ability to craft objects from raw materials. They were particularly adept at working with oars, transforming them into tools and weapons. One of the most essential materials they relied on was metal, which they shaped into swords, armor, and farming implements. Like many ancient societies, Vikings passed down their history through oral traditions rather than written records. They often gathered around fires or in great halls to listen to recitations of heroic tales and myths. These narratives were preserved and transmitted through poems, which kept their cultural heritage alive for generations. Unlike in some contemporary societies at the time, Viking women had certain legal rights. They were able to inherit property and manage businesses. More notably, they had the right to approach a court if they wished to end their marriage. In such cases, a woman could formally request a divorce, a practice that was relatively uncommon in many other medieval cultures. you you you you you Architects in New Zealand in the early 20th century were big fans of traditional styles. At that time, they often looked to European models for inspiration and perceived building design from a traditional perspective. The climate, for example, was the top concern when designing the roof. Weather conditions across the country can vary significantly and regions with frequent rain needed special attention. In areas where the annual precipitation is high, ensuring water could drain efficiently was essential for protecting the structure and longevity of the building. Therefore, proper drainage systems had to be considered. Wood was the most popular choice for house building, mainly due to its availability, cost effectiveness and ease of use. Other materials either weren't affordable or simply weren't accessible in rural parts of the country at the time. The majority of traditional buildings are square in shape, and this wasn't by accident, it was a strategic choice. Straight lines and right angles are easier to construct and more space efficient. Architects believed this approach helped to maximize utilization of interior space, especially in areas where plots of land were relatively small. Additionally, avoiding unusual shapes like curves and diagonal corners made furnishing the interiors much more straightforward. Complex forms not only wasted valuable room but also posed problems when arranging furniture or installing fixtures. As the country progressed, there were several changes New Zealand architects embraced in the 1960s. These changes reflected not only a shift in design philosophy but also improvements in technology and construction methods. The first was a shift to concrete as a material which gradually replaced timber in many modern buildings. This transition was made possible by construction techniques introduced by immigrants from Europe and Japan who brought with them advanced machinery and engineering knowledge. At the same time New Zealand, like many other nations, was dealing with financial constraints following global events. Because of the economic impact of the Second World War, resources had to be used wisely. As a result, both private developers and government-backed construction projects were focused on the cost of construction. Minimizing expense while maximizing utility became the dominant goal during this period. That's one of the key factors they considered. They pursued economical designs. Somiles Warren's architecture offers a classic example of this country's architectural styles at that time. He became well known for modernizing the traditional aesthetic and for using geometric forms in innovative ways. In many of his works, he integrated repetitive block-like shapes into his works, a feature that became a hallmark of his style. This approach came to be associated with a trend in architecture called brutalism, which emphasized raw materials and strong bold structures. At the same time, the use of natural materials was changing. He, like others, abandoned some expensive materials such as stone, not just for economic reasons, but also for practicality and mass construction. Meanwhile, car ownership was on the rise, and families were becoming increasingly reliant on private vehicles for commuting and daily tasks. As a result, equipping each new house with a garage gradually became trendy. This change was seen not just as a convenience, but as a necessity that architects needed to incorporate into every design for suburban homes. Among other modern housing styles, Lockwood homes, which featured identical walls, stood out for their uniformity and efficient production. These homes were mass-produced and became popular for their quick assembly and affordability. They also gained in popularity, especially among working-class families. However, the design was not without its critics. Some architects and homeowners felt it lacked variety and personal expression, and the buildings were also criticised for this characteristic. A sameness that didn't allow much room for individuality or creativity in layout. Still, few people would have doubts about the architectural changes of this era, especially considering how widespread and influential they became. In urban centres, industrial or business complexes have been designed to resemble towers, a departure from earlier, more horizontal layouts. These tall structures helped maximise space, encrowded city districts and symbolised economic development. This has happened elsewhere in some industrialised countries, following similar trends seen in places like the UK and Japan. In addition to the overall shape, which served a functional purpose, architects also concentrated on the visual appeal of some detail designs, such as shadow and colours. These finer aesthetic elements helped modern buildings feel less sterile and more engaging to the eye, improving both their beauty and their emotional impact on residents and visitors alike. The design was designed to be a very unique and unique design, and it was designed to be a very unique and unique design. The design was designed to be very unique and more diverse, and it was designed to be very unique and unique to the eye.