Listening 2026-02 Test 4

==================== IELTS Listening Transcript ==================== PART 1 Speaker 0: Section one. You will hear a man telephoning to ask for information about swimming lessons. First, you have some time to look at questions one to six on page two. 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. Speaker 1: Hello, City Swim School. Speaker 2: Oh, hello. I wanted to ask about swimming lessons. That's in a class, not individual. Speaker 1: Right. Well, we do group lessons at various levels. To start off with, we have what we call the water babies class. Speaker 0: The first class is called water babies, so babies 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 one to six. Speaker 1: Hello, City Swim School. Speaker 2: Oh, hello. I wanted to ask about swimming lessons. That's in a class, not individual. Speaker 1: Right. Well, we do group lessons at various levels. To start off with, we have what we call the water babies class. That's for babies of three months and over. Speaker 2: Really? As young as that? Speaker 1: Yes. That's really the best time to start. Speaker 2: Right. Well, we do have a baby, so I'll make a note of that. What do they actually do in the lessons? Speaker 1: Well, the main aim is just to familiarize them with the water so they feel at ease there. They get the children to enjoy themselves. They have lots of toys and things they can use to play with in the water. Speaker 2: Right. And how much do the lessons cost? Speaker 1: They're held on Tuesday mornings, and each lesson costs £3.80. It's not really a course as such. Speaker 2: Okay. Well, I'll talk to my wife about that. But I was actually ringing about lessons for me. Speaker 1: Okay. So are you a beginner? Speaker 2: Not exactly, but I'm not very good. Speaker 1: Well, the beginners' classes are really for people who don't have any experience of swimming. They aim to teach you techniques for breathing in the water, and they get you to do things like put your head underwater and open your eyes. Speaker 2: Okay. I can do that. Speaker 1: And by the end of the course, they aim to have you swimming five metres. Speaker 2: I think I can probably just about do that. Speaker 1: Okay. So you'd be better in the intermediate class then. That's where you learn the main swimming strokes, front stroke, backstroke, and so on. Speaker 2: What about diving? Speaker 1: Yes. They teach you how to do that. And you'd also do some underwater swimming. Speaker 2: Not with a tank or anything? Speaker 1: Oh, no. Not scuba. Just ordinary underwater swimming. And in the intermediate course, you also look at water safety, both in the pool and when swimming in other places. Speaker 2: Okay. Well, that sounds the right level for me, I think. So how much does that cost? Speaker 1: £61 for a course. That's 10 lessons. Speaker 2: Can you tell me a bit more about the class? How many people would there be in it? Speaker 1: Well, the intermediate class is usually around eight to 10. That's what we aim at. Though occasionally, it might go up to 12. Speaker 2: Okay. That sounds quite a reasonable size, not too many. And the class is for adults, is it? Speaker 1: Yes. Speaker 2: Okay. And just out of interest, is there an advanced class? Speaker 1: Yes. They focus on developing more efficient swimming techniques and on working on your speed, and they also prepare you for competitive swimming. Speaker 2: Okay. Now, I think I'd want to start with the intermediate one, really. Speaker 0: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions seven to 10 on page three. Now listen and answer questions seven to 10. Speaker 2: Now is there anything special I need to know? Speaker 1: Well, the classes are on Tuesdays, and the first lesson is on January 13, so you need to register before then. January 8 is the latest, but it's filling up quickly, so I'd do it straight away. You can pick up a form here or get one off the Internet. And classes are at 7:30 PM. Speaker 2: Right. Then I just roll up with my swimming trunks. Do I have to bring my own towel? Speaker 1: That's right. We provide all participants with a swimming hat, though. Speaker 2: Oh, I don't usually wear one. Speaker 1: Well, we do insist on it, actually. It helps the instructor to identify you apart from anything else. Oh, and don't forget you need a 20p coin for the locker. Speaker 2: Oh, okay. Right. Well, I've been meaning to do this for ages. I really need to get some more exercise, and everyone says swimming is good for your health. Speaker 1: Yes. And a lot of people find it improves their confidence too. And, of course, it could save your life or even someone else's. Speaker 2: That's right. Okay. Well, thanks very much. Goodbye. Speaker 1: Goodbye. Speaker 0: That is the end of section one. You now have half a minute to check your answers. PART 2 Speaker 4: Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14. Speaker 5: Our special guest today is Claire Benetall, the restaurant manager of the Emperor Hotel here in town. She's here to tell us about their famous afternoon teas in the restaurant. Welcome. Speaker 3: Thanks, Peter. Speaker 5: Tell us about what makes afternoon tea so special. Speaker 3: Well, it's been a time honored tradition for over a century. At the Emperor Hotel, we've been serving tea to royalty, dignitaries, and movie stars in the grandest tradition. A lot of people come to see the expensive fabrics, antique carpets, and beautiful handmade furniture we have here. Our waiters serve tea against the picturesque backdrop of the boats on the harbor. We're busy, so we strongly recommend making reservations. However, we rarely turn guests away. Tea is always an event here. Of course, we serve the Emperor Tea Blend, which is created exclusively for the hotel by the Metropolitan Tea Company. This famous blend comes from more than six different places all over the world. That's why the taste is so special. I also have some interesting facts about our tea tables. During our dining room renovation, we kept the wood from the original floor and used it to make our tea tables. You can now say you were eating off the floor. They always have white tablecloths on them, which is, of course, normal in the better hotels. We'll finish renovating next year by covering the chairs in a shade of red to match the walls. These days, we serve about half a million cups of tea every year. Our waiting staff have over 42 years of combined service with us. The original cups and saucers were first used by the hotel back in 1939 for a visit by the King and Queen of England. Today, the pattern is still made by the Midland China Company exclusively for us and is available for sale in the hotel store and online. Speaker 4: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20. Speaker 5: Would you describe your afternoon tea parties for our listeners? Speaker 3: Sure. The hotel has several different kinds of tea parties. We have a special afternoon tea for children known as the playtime tea. Children can enjoy bubblegum tea and cookies inside a little children's castle. We give them crowns and dress up clothes to wear. This gives them the experience of being kings and queens. Our bridal tea can be customized for any upcoming marriage. It's a traditional afternoon where women, friends, and family get together and shower the bride with gifts. Our photographer will be there to take many pictures of the best moments of the day, to remind the bride and her friends of something special that they can look back at. The summer tea is served out in the lovely hotel grounds. We spread a souvenir blanket for you under a tree. A basket is prepared for you. Inside, it has four local Salt Spring Island cheeses with fresh honey that's made from the chef's own beehives. Our Canadian tea is the most popular one with our international visitors. It includes strawberries and peaches grown in the neighbourhood, which we serve with special sandwiches and jam made with raspberries from our own backyard. The farmer's tea is our most famous party. Guests love having a satisfying tea where our famous drink is served with a variety of meat and egg pies hot from the oven, along with our homemade bread. And don't forget the farm style fruit pies for dessert. And finally, back by popular demand is our seniors tea. If you're 60 or older, you can enjoy afternoon tea in our cozy library. While there, you can look at the photos of famous actors and musicians that have visited our hotel, and read what they said about the hotel. Our chef and restaurant staff serve handmade scones, delicious pastries, and sweets freshly baked in our restaurant daily. It's wonderful. Speaker 4: That is the end of part two. You now have thirty seconds to check your answers to part two. PART 3 Speaker 6: Section three. You will hear two students talking about the Moa with the lecturer. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26. Speaker 7: Thank you all for coming here today to hear about the moa, a kind of animal which has been extinct for a long time. Well, first of all, we look at what the moa are. The moa are nine species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. They were the dominant herbivores in New Zealand's forest, shrubland, and subalpine ecosystems for thousands of years. But around five hundred years ago, they all went extinct. When I mention extinct animals during ancient times, you may immediately think of dinosaurs, which disappeared around 66 million years ago. Fossils of dinosaurs, which we used to study, are large in number, but not many of those of Moa remain, though both animals appeal to people today. Speaker 8: So the Moa sound more mysterious now. But, sir, I've got a question about these flightless birds. How can we distinguish them from other birds? Speaker 7: That's a good question. Birds are commonly characterized by being warm blooded, having feathers and wings, usually capable of flight, and laying eggs while the flightless moa, until their extinction, were the largest birds in the world. Their heads are relatively small in relation to their bodies, and they are the only wingless birds lacking even the vestigial wings and substantial tailbones in their family. Speaker 9: That's impressive, but were they born to be like that? I mean, when they were chicks. Speaker 7: Yes. Absolutely. So let's move on to the chicks. The eggs of Moa were laid in nests and incubated for about two months. The chicks would be well developed upon hatching and probably would be able to leave the nests to feed on their own almost immediately. Speaker 9: I've heard that the male Moa are thought to have incubated the eggs. Is that true? Speaker 7: I think there is a possibility for that. I've read somewhere that the sex specific DNA recovered from the outer surfaces of eggshells suggested that these eggs were likely to have been hatched by the male, but we still need to consult more. But I have a question. There has been some occasional speculation that the Moa was still alive because someone said they had caught sight of them in New Zealand in the late nineteenth century or even the twentieth. Do you think it's possible? Speaker 9: I'm not amazed by that since that kind of thing has been claimed several times. But I find it funny because no reliable evidence of Moa tracks has ever been found, and experts still contend that Moa survival is extremely unlikely. Speaker 8: So what was the reason for the Moa's extinction? I wonder if it was global warming or some other factors related to their living environment. Speaker 7: Well, before the arrival of human settlers in New Zealand, the Moa's only predator was the massive Haas eagle. Then the Maori arrived sometime before CE 1300, and all Moa genera was soon driven to extinction by hunting. Speaker 8: What a horrible thing. Speaker 6: Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30. Speaker 7: Alright. Now let's look at the features of some species of moa. The South Island giant moa may have been the tallest birds ever known, and the second tallest of the nine moa species is the North Island giant moa, with the females being markedly larger than males, both in weight and height. Speaker 9: And I've heard that the smallest of the moa birds are the coastal moa. Is that right? Speaker 7: Yes. You were right. And have you heard about any other kind of moa before? Speaker 9: I know the crested moa. The eggs they laid may be larger than others. As they mainly lived in the remote interior of the Southern Island, their fossils are rare or absent in archaeological sites, and no egg remains have yet been identified. Speaker 8: Are there any species of moa that have got more fossils? Speaker 7: Yes, of course. A considerable amount of remains of the stout legged moa exist due to the well preserved properties of their habitat. Their skulls reveal relatively bad vision, a good sense of smell, and a very short bill. Then there is the eastern moa. They were remarkable in having very long and narrow windpipes, which probably enabled them to make louder, more resonant calls than those of other moa and had the greatest vocal abilities, so they could communicate when they could not see each other in the forest or at night. They used a range of senses apart from sound in their search for food, such as their sense of smell and vision. Speaker 6: That is the end of section three. You now have half a minute to check your answers. PART 4 Speaker 4: Part four. You will hear part of a lecture on the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergmann given to media study students by a film critic. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40. Speaker 10: You can read a great novel, listen to a great symphony, or go to see a painting by a great artist, and you'll want to experience it again and again. And every time you do, you'll learn something new from it. Very few films achieve this. Most of them are mere entertainment, and very few of them could be said to be works of art. They simply don't have the depth that a work of art has, and this means that you may see them once, but you won't want to watch them again. Why is it that so many commercial films today have such a limited shelf life? One problem is that for many films, once you've seen them once and you know what happens, that's it. They rely on the element of surprise to keep you interested, and once that's lost, that feeling of what's going to happen next, there's nothing left. In addition, the commercial nature of filmmaking means that rather than focusing on the development of characters in the film, many films are just becoming vehicles for actors, box office successes who essentially play the same part each time. Then, as well as this, many critics would argue that the greatest black and white films had their own special world with its own special atmosphere, and that nowadays it's harder to create this because the director is unable to play with light in the same way. Another problem is that many directors lack the ability to focus the camera on the important points. There may be impressive visual images, but they don't contribute to the meaning of the film. Which brings me on to Ingmar Bergmann, the great Swedish film director who died in 2007. No other director has equaled Bergman in his ability to convey emotion. His films have the dramatic force of a work by the world's greatest playwrights, such as Ibsen or Shakespeare. Watching Bergman's films is an enriching experience. Nothing is immediately obvious or predictable, but gradually it becomes clear where he is taking you. If you study a film such as Wild Strawberries, you'll see that every little detail is significant. Each image on the screen is there for a purpose, and gradually builds up an understanding of the central meaning. With Bergman, too, you know that a small gesture made by a character, or the expression on a character's face, can tell you just as much as the words uttered. In his film Persona, the central character says nothing, but meaning is conveyed by what we see on the screen. But Bergmann wasn't just a great cinematographer. He was also a great storyteller. Each of his films follows a similar pattern in that the story is organized on two levels: firstly, on the level of a straightforward, dramatic narrative but secondly, on the level of myth, and the story works throughout the film on both these levels. In Bergman's film Wild Strawberries, an old man travels back to the places he knew as a child and a young man. In the film, we can identify themes that occur again and again in Bergman's work. First of all, we have the idea of the journey. Part of the journey is a real one, but linked with that is the theme of dreams where they can take us and what we can learn from them. Another theme, which was to be central to Bergmann's work throughout his life, is that of relationships, and in particular, the ties that join the members of a family together. And finally, as the old man in Wild Strawberries struggles to make sense of his life, we have another theme which underlies all his work. No matter how anxious or unhappy his characters may appear to be, and that is that we have to accept everything that life can give. It's not a fashionable philosophy, and it may be why Bergman's films have fallen out of fashion. Speaker 4: That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers to part four.