Listening 2026-04 Test 5

==================== IELTS Listening Transcript ==================== PART 1 Speaker 0: You will hear a number of different recordings, and you will have to answer questions on what you hear. There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions, and you will have a chance to check your work. All the recordings will be played once only. The test is in four sections. Write all your answers in the listening question booklet. At the end of the test, you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Now turn to section one on page two of your question booklet. Section one. You will hear a woman phoning an activity center for information about weekend courses. First, you have some time to look at questions one to four 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: Good morning. Renfrew Activity Center. How can I help you? Hello. Speaker 2: I'm calling about your activity weekends. Some colleagues and I would like to learn some new skills. We're fed up with the boring things like playing tennis or going to the gym. We thought something like rock climbing might be quite fun. Speaker 1: That's one of the activities you do, don't you? That's right. The rock climbing takes place here in the center grounds. Speaker 0: The woman is interested in going rock climbing, so rock climbing 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 four. Speaker 1: Good morning. Renfrew Activity Center. How can I help you? Hello. Speaker 2: I'm calling about your activity weekends. Some colleagues and I would like to learn some new skills. We're fed up with the boring things like playing tennis or going to the gym. We thought something like rock climbing might be quite fun. Speaker 1: That's one of the activities you do, don't you? That's right. The rock climbing takes place here in the center grounds. Speaker 2: Fine. From your website, I see that the main technique I would learn would be rope work. What is that exactly? Speaker 1: Well, you need to know how to use ropes if you're going to climb. So we spend the first morning learning about that, and then we practice on the indoor climb. On the second day, we take you on two supervised climbs outside. Speaker 2: And what's the cost of the weekend? Speaker 1: Well, it depends how many of you there are. Up to nine people is £65 per person. Speaker 2: There'll be about 12 of us. Right. That's £60 each. That's very reasonable. Does that include our accommodation and food? Speaker 1: No. But it does include the equipment. Speaker 2: Right. Now I was wondering about the mountain biking weekends. Speaker 1: Oh, yes. They're very popular. Do you have to be an experienced rider? Not at all. We do take you out in the mountains, but our routes are relatively easy. Speaker 2: The website said that we learn to do safety checks on our bikes. Yes. You learn all about that. That'll be very useful. And how much is that? Speaker 1: It's £70 Speaker 3: and includes all the help you need from our guide. He knows all the best places. Speaker 0: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions five to 10 on pages two and three. Now listen and answer questions five to 10. Speaker 2: Some of my colleagues might prefer something a little less energetic, maybe camping or walking. There was something on the website called wild camping. It's in the forest, the website said. That's right. I read a bit about it in the paper last week. They said that the forest has the most amazing plants. Do we get a chance to learn something about that? Yes. You do. And the cost? £50. Speaker 1: That includes your tented accommodation. Speaker 2: Right. I've got that. I think the other activity which we may be interested in is the hill walking one. That's in the national park, isn't it? Yes. It's very popular, Speaker 1: and it gives people a chance to get to know each other. And so you won't get lost when you go walking on your own, we teach you some navigation skills. Speaker 2: And the cost of that? Speaker 1: £90. Speaker 2: Does that include accommodation? Speaker 1: It doesn't, but there are some very inexpensive B and Bs nearby. Or you can stay at the local youth hostel, but lunch is included. Speaker 2: Thanks. Oh, and just a couple of other things. Yes? Will you need a deposit with the booking? Yes. Speaker 1: When you book, we usually ask for a deposit of £25 per person. But if you're booking for a group, then it'll be 20% of the total cost. Speaker 2: Okay. And is there any equipment we must bring with us, or is it all provided? Speaker 1: The most important thing is to have the right shoes, so you'll need to bring those. Other things like maps and wet weather gear can be borrowed from here. Speaker 2: Right. That's good to know. I'll get back to my colleagues and call you when we've decided what to do. Or you could book it online. Speaker 1: But don't hesitate to call me if you still have questions. My name's Gordon, Gordon Arkwright. That's A R K W R I G H T. Speaker 2: Thanks for your help. Speaker 0: That is the end of section one. You now have half a minute to check your answers. PART 2 Speaker 3: Section two. You will hear a guide at an art museum talking to a group of visitors. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16. Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16. Speaker 4: Good morning and welcome to the museum, one with a remarkable range of exhibits which I'm sure you'll enjoy. My name's Greg, and I'll tell you about the various collections as we go around. But before we go, let me just give you a taste of what we have here. Well, for one thing, we have a fine collection of twentieth and twenty first century paintings, many by very well known artists. I'm sure you'll recognize several of the paintings. This is the gallery that attracts the largest number of visitors, so it's best to go in early in the day before the crowds arrive. Then there are the nineteenth century paintings. The museum was opened in the middle of that century, and several of the artists each donated one work to get the museum started as it were. So they're of special interest to us. We feel closer to them than to other works. The Sculpture Gallery has a number of fine exhibits, but I'm afraid it's currently closed for refurbishment. You'll need to come back next year to see it properly, but a number of the sculptures have been moved to other parts of the museum. Around the World is a temporary exhibition. You've probably seen something about it on TV or in the newspapers. It's created a great deal of interest because it presents objects from every continent and many countries, and provides information about their social context, why they were made, who for, and so on. Then there's the collection of coins. This is what you might call a focused specialist collection because all the coins come from this country and were produced between 2000 and a thousand years ago, and many of them were discovered by ordinary people digging their gardens and donated to the museum. All our porcelain and glass was left to the museum by its founder when he died in 1878, and in the terms of his will, we're not allowed to add anything to that collection. He believed it was perfect in itself, and we don't see any reason to disagree. Speaker 3: Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20. Speaker 4: Okay. That was something about the collections, and now here's some more practical information in case you need it. Most of the museum facilities are downstairs in the basement, so you go down the stairs here. When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you'll find yourself in a sitting area with comfortable chairs and sofas where you can have a rest before continuing your exploration of the museum. We have a very good restaurant which serves excellent food all day in a relaxing atmosphere. To reach it, when you get to the bottom of the stairs, go straight ahead to the far side of the sitting area, then turn right into the corridor. You'll see the door of the restaurant facing you. If you just want a snack or if you'd like to eat somewhere with facilities for children, we also have a cafe. When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you'll need to go straight ahead, turn right into the corridor, and the cafe is immediately on the right. And talking about children, there are baby changing facilities downstairs. Cross the sitting area, continue straight ahead along the corridor on the left, and you and your baby will find the facilities on the left hand side. The cloakroom, where you should leave coats, umbrellas and any large bags, is on the left hand side of the sitting area. It's through the last door before you come to the corridor. There are toilets on every floor, but in the basement they're the first rooms on the left when you get down there. Okay. Now if you've got anything to leave in the cloakroom, please do that now and then we'll start our tour. Speaker 3: That is the end of section two. You now have half a minute to check your answers. PART 3 Speaker 5: Now Speaker 0: Now turn to section three on page five. Section three. You will hear a discussion between a student called Helen and her tutor about an assignment that Helen is working on. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 24 on page five. Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24. Speaker 6: Come in, Helen. How can I help you? Speaker 7: Well, I'm doing research for the anthropology assignment, and I was hoping to check a few details. Speaker 6: Sure. You chose the topic of Pacific Island Tapa Cloth, didn't you? What have you found out so far? Speaker 7: Well, I was going to introduce my assignment by saying that the tapa cloth is a fabric made from bark, just the outer layer of the trees. It's particularly common in the Pacific Islands, but not exclusive to them. In fact, many other peoples around the world have made high quality cloth from bark. But what sets Pacific tapa apart is the incredible variety of roles it's played in this region. Yes. Speaker 6: Nice introduction, though I think you could be more specific regarding dates. Okay. So what about the raw materials used? Speaker 7: Well, tapa cloth is made from several species of tree. In the Pacific, the paper mulberry tree is most common, but it doesn't thrive in all conditions. In fact, it wasn't originally found in the islands, but was carried in their canoes by the first migrants. Tapa is also made from the breadfruit tree, which is convenient because its fruit is a staple food. The paper mulberry tree is only grown for tapa making, though. Yes. Speaker 6: That's good. Now what about the Maori people here in New Zealand? But the Maori don't make tapa now. That's right, and you need to account for it. We know that when Maori migrated here from the other Pacific Islands, they were prepared to make tapa because they brought the paper mulberry tree with them. The thing was, after they'd been in New Zealand a bit, they found the flax plant, which is superior to tapa because it makes a stronger fabric. By the time Europeans arrived in the eighteenth century, Maori were making all their fabric from flax and had been for some time. Okay. Speaker 7: So with the production process itself, first that the inner bark is beaten with wooden hammers to soften the fibres. Then the different pieces are glued together using an adhesive paste made from the arrowroot tuber. This is the only way to fabricate large pieces of cloth because bark strands are too fine to be woven together and stitching isn't strong enough. Speaker 0: Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30 on page six. Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30. Speaker 6: So now you need details about different countries. Speaker 7: Where would you start? Speaker 6: I think Samoa is the obvious place. It's famous for its very fine cloth called siapo, which is hand painted with representations of the ancestors. Still today, at the most profound events in life such as births, funerals, weddings, and the investiture of chiefs, Samoans wear siapo robes to add significance and meaning to the ceremony. Speaker 7: Okay. Then I could talk about Tonga. It seems to me that the great innovation in Tonga has been developing a simple, coarse cloth, which is quick and easy to make. This is suitable for all sorts of everyday functions around the house, like bed covers, mosquito nets, and curtains. Speaker 6: Good point. Now what about Cook Islands, tapa? Speaker 7: Well, the soil there is poor quality, so the breadfruit tree is often used. One type of thick cloth called tikoru was wrapped around the poles and used to mark the entrances to places of worship, so it was highly regarded in local culture. Speaker 6: You might mention Fiji as well, which is interesting because tapa was actually used as a currency there. Fijians used to sail between the islands and exchange tapa for other commodities like canoes or pigs. Speaker 7: I know that in Tahiti the tapa cloth is different because the patterns are in colour, which is considered more valuable than the usual brown patterns? Speaker 6: You're right about the Tahitians using coloured pigments, but they aren't more valuable. The colours are only a decoration. People enjoy wearing bright robes, especially for dancing and competitive games, Speaker 7: and do it just for fun. Oh, I'll make a note of it. Well, the last place I was going to mention was Tikopia. Even today, it's commonplace to see people wearing clothes made of tapa cloth. In many of the other islands, the tapa only comes out on special occasions. But here, you see people working in the gardens wearing tapa. Speaker 6: Sounds promising, Helen. I'll look forward to reading your assignment. Speaker 0: That is the end of section three. You now have half a minute to check your answers. PART 4 Speaker 0: Part four. You will hear a lecturer talking to a group of biology students about recent plant studies. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40. Speaker 5: Good morning, everyone. In the last few weeks, we looked at ways in which different types of animals use their senses. And today, I'm going to introduce the topic of plant behavior, and we'll look at the reasons why ideas about plants have been changing in the last few years. So up until fairly recently, plants' lack of eyes or ears or noses or mouths made them less interesting to many members of the public compared to animal species. And even by scientists, they were generally regarded as organisms which were essentially passive. However, in the last twenty years or so, evidence has started to emerge that plants can sense their surroundings in quite sophisticated ways. But because scientific attitudes towards plants and their capabilities had been fixed for such a long time, this evidence has been met with some disbelief. So let's look at some of these recent findings that are starting to change the way some scientists view plant life. It all began with a Canadian study that looked at a species of plant known as the Great Lakes Sea Rocket. This is a wild plant which grows on beaches. In appearance, it's perfectly ordinary, with little purple flowers and a long stalk. But actually, the plant is far from ordinary. Normally, when the sea rocket detects other plants growing nearby, it quickly grows additional roots. This is so it can compete with these other plants for the available nutrients in the soil, by soaking up as many of them as possible. But scientists found that the sea rocket doesn't do that when the surrounding plants are related to it. And as even animals sometimes find this type of recognition difficult, such a finding was very unexpected. It was an ability that was previously unheard of in any other plant. Since then, it's been suggested that two other plants may have a similar ability. These are sagebrush and thorn apple. It's been claimed that these plants can recognize the characteristics of their neighbors by sensing properties of the light that is reflected from them. The reason they are able to do this is that all plant species are slightly different to each other in this respect. So each plant species has what you could call its own signature. Sagebrush and thorn apple are able to recognize these. But scientists point out that this behavior is very different to the way that animals sense things. Another type of plant which can sense things in its surroundings is the dodder plant. This plant is different to most other species because it doesn't have the ability to make sugar by converting nutrients from the soil. This means that as soon as the dodder has sprouted from a seed, it needs to find another plant in order to survive. In other words, it's a parasite. Dodders infest a variety of food crops around the world as they wrap themselves like string around their target plants, and the effect can be devastating for farmers. It's particularly damaging to alfalfa, as well as to potatoes and different varieties of citrus. At first, scientists were puzzled as to how the dodder knows which plants to prey on. But now they've found that the plant can identify a suitable host by sensing the chemicals that other plants release into the soil and air. What really surprised researchers was how extremely quickly and accurately the dodder identifies a possible host. They used time lapse videos to study the mechanism and saw from these that when the dodder is trying to check out its environment, it rotates in a circle, and then, without touching any other plants, it heads directly towards its selected host. It could sense reliably which type of plant it would grow best on. Scientists who were working on the project reported that the dodder sprout resembled a worm as it moved towards the other plant. Well, those are some examples of the new discoveries about plant characteristics. So which direction is plant science likely to go in next? Many of the phenomena related to plant behavior that I've just described are now quite easy to observe, using up to date equipment. So gradually, scientists are accepting the fact that plants are more capable than we used to believe. But although such plant behavior is often obvious to some scientists Speaker 0: That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers to part four.