Listening 2026-07 Test 9

Section 1. You will hear a man telephoning to ask for information about swimming lessons. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6 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. Hello, City Swim School. Oh, hello. I wanted to ask about swimming lessons. That's in a class, not individual. Right. Well, we do group lessons at various levels. To start off with, we have what we call the water babies class. 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 1 to 6. Hello, City Swim School. Oh, hello. I wanted to ask about swimming lessons. That's in a class, not individual. 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. Really, as young as that. Yes, that's really the best time to start. Right. Well, we do have a baby, so I'll make a note of that. What do they actually do in the lessons? Well, the main aim is just to familiarise them with the water, so they feel it is there. They get the children to enjoy themselves. They have lots of toys and things they can use to play with in the water. Right. And how much do the lessons cost? They're held on Tuesday mornings and each lesson costs £3.80. It's not really a course as such. Okay. Well, I'll talk to my wife about that. But I was actually ringing about lessons for me. Okay. So, are you a beginner? Not exactly, but I'm not very good. Well, the beginner's classes are really for people who don't have any experience of swimming. They aim to teach you techniques for breathing and the water, and they get you to do things like put your head underwater and open your eyes. Okay. I can do that. And by the end of the course, they aim to have you swimming 5 metres. I think I can probably just about do that. Okay. So, you'd be better in the intermediate class then. That's where you learn the main swimming strokes, front stroke, back stroke and so on. What about diving? Yes, they teach you how to do that. And you'd also do some underwater swimming. Not with a tank or anything. 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. Okay. Well, that sounds the right level for me, I think. So, how much does that cost? 61 pounds for a course. That's 10 lessons. Can you tell me a bit more about the class? How many people would there be in it? Well, the intermediate class is usually around 8 to 10. That's what we aim at. Though occasionally it might go up to 12. Okay. That sounds quite a reasonable size, not too many. And the class is for adults, is it? Yes. Okay. And just out of interest, is there an advanced class? Yes. They focus on developing more efficient swimming techniques and on working on your speed. And they also prepare you for competitive swimming. Okay. Now, I think I'd want to start with the intermediate one really. Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10 on page 3. Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10. Now, is there anything special I need to know? Well, the classes are on Tuesdays and the first lesson is on January the 13th. So you need to register before then. January the 8th 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 7.30pm. Right. Then I just roll up with my swimming trunks. Do I have to bring my own towel? That's right. We provide all participants with a swimming hat, though. Oh, I don't usually wear one. 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. 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. 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. That's right. Okay. Well, thanks very much. Goodbye. Goodbye. That is the end of section 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers. Thank you. --- You will hear a guide at an outdoor sculpture park talking to a group of visitors. First you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16. Hello everyone and welcome to the Anglia sculpture park. Right, well the idea behind the sculpture park is that it's a place where works of art such as large sculptures and carvings can be displayed out of doors in a natural setting. As you'll have noticed when you drove here most of the land around the park is farmland. The park itself belonged to a family called the Dequincees who had made a lot of money from manufacturing farm machinery and who also owned substantial stretches of forest land to the north of the park. They built a house in the centre of the park not far from where we're standing now but this burnt down in 1980 and the Dequincees then sold the land. The Anglia sculpture park isn't the only one in the country. Several of the London parks sometimes display contemporary sculptures and there are a couple of other permanent sculpture parks in England. But we're unique in that some of our sculptures were actually created for the sites they occupy here and we also show sculptures by a wider range of artists than anywhere else in the country. For example, at present we have an exhibition by Joe Tremaine of what he calls burnt sculptures. These are wood and stone sculptures that he's carved and marked with fire to illustrate the ferocity and intensity of the forces that have shaped our planet over millions of years. They look really dramatic in this rural setting. To see some of the sculptures you'll need to follow the path alongside the lower lake. We had to renovate this after the lake overflowed its banks a couple of months ago and flooded the area. The water levels back to normal now and you shouldn't have any trouble, the path's very level underfoot. You should be back at the visitor centre at about four o'clock. If you have time it's worth taking a look at the centre itself. It's not possible to go upstairs at present as builders are working there adding another floor. But the rest's well worth seeing. The architect was Guy King. He was actually born in this part of England but he recently designed a museum in Canada that won a prize for innovation in public buildings. If you want to get something to eat when you get back like a snack or a sandwich the terrace room is currently closed but you can go to the kiosk and buy something then sit on one of the chairs overlooking the lower lake and enjoy the view as you're eating. Before you hear the rest of the conversation you will have some time to look at the questions 17 to 20. Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20. Now let me just tell you a bit about what you can see in the sculpture park. If you look at your map you'll see the visitor centre where we are now at the bottom just by the entrance. Since we only have an hour you might not be able to get right around the park but you can choose to visit some of the highlights. You might like to take a look at the Joe Tremaine sculptures which are displayed on this side of the upper lake just behind the education centre and near the bridge. They're really impressive but please remember not to let your children climb on them. One of our most popular exhibitions is the Georgio Cataluci bird sculptures. They're just across the bridge on the north side of the lower lake. I love the way they're scattered around in the long grass beside the lake looking as if they're just about to take to their wings. You could also go to the garden gallery. It's on this side of the upper lake. From the visitor centre you go to the education centre then keep on along the path and you'll see it on your right. There's an exhibition of animal carvings there which is well worth a look. We also have the long house. That's quite a walk. From here you go to the bridge and then turn left on the other side. Soon you'll see a winding pathway going up towards the northern boundary of the park. Go up there and you'll find it at the top. They have some abstract metal sculptures that are well worth seeing if you have time. Okay, well now if you... Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15. Hi everybody, thank you very much for agreeing to participate in the next Beach Cleanup Day. These days are a real benefit for our community. I'm Brenda, the organiser, and I just want to explain a bit about the day to help you prepare and to answer any questions you might have. The beach that's been chosen for the Cleanup Day is Quinlan Beach. Because it's easily accessible by public transport, the beach is really popular and well used by locals and tourists alike. The town council does its best to provide bins, but litter is still a problem. It's important to deal with this as it's a threat to the groups of seals that swim around there and regularly rest on the flat rocks. When you observe them in their natural habitat, you really sense why you're picking up this litter. You'll be working in groups of three to four people at the beach. Some of you have signed up as groups already, which is great. The rest of you will be organised into groups on the day. There are different roles in the group. It'll be up to you to choose who does what in the group. After lunch, we'll form new groups which will give you a chance to get to know new people. You may be wondering what kind of equipment you'll need. You may have seen tools to pick up litter with. They're like poles with a sharp end. If you want to use one of those, you'll have to bring your own. After the safety briefing, we'll give you each a whistle to blow in case you need to get our attention. The town council is providing special collection bags for us to use, which are fully biodegradable. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding clothing for the day. Definitely go for something comfortable and wear shoes or boots that will keep your feet dry. We're all going to be given yellow caps so we can identify each other. The town council is supplying vinyl gloves, but they're quite large, so your own may be more comfortable. Some screen is up to you, but highly recommended. Each group that goes out picking up litter will be given a survey to fill in as you go along. The town council can get an estimate of the quantity and the different kinds of litter we gather up by examining the bags we collect. However, they are very keen to know more about where you find the rubbish, which may help them in future, so that's what you're asked to indicate on the survey. Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20. Now listen and answer a question 16 to 20. Okay, now please look at the map showing Quinlan Beach. When you arrive, you can park in the car park, which is at the bottom of the map. The first state station is close to the door and will be staffed all day in case anyone needs it. You can find it by taking the footpath that goes north from the car park towards the beach. The path branches out, but carry on straight and there it is. To get to the equipment pickup, walk along the road that leads from the car park around the bend and pass the bus stop. There's a small building before you get to the golf club and that's where the equipment is kept. You'll want to know where the toilets are. They're adjacent to the car park on the opposite side from where the wooded area is. You can see the beach is sort of divided into two stretches by rocky point. The meeting point for the beach cleanup is on the beach that's closest to the cafe. Later in the day, you'll move to the west beach. We'll be meeting for lunch at 1pm. Some food is available in the cafe or you can bring your own. We'll meet in the area immediately outside the entrance to the grand pier where there are picnic tables. You get a good view from there. So now, if there are any questions then. That is the end of part two. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two. --- Part 3. You will hear two students called Aria and John discussing the research on water higher synths. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26. You will hear two students called Aria and John discussing the research on water higher synths. Now, listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26. John, how is it going with your research on water higher synths? Well, I went on a field trip on my own and collected the primary data. After I came back, I also referred to the published data. So, what do you know about this plant? The water higher synth grows in tropical countries. It has beautiful purple blue flowers, but everybody hates it. Why is that? The water higher synth, as the world's worst invasive aquatic plant, has attracted significant attention. Millions of these plants grow in rivers and lakes and have brought huge environmental and cultural problems to the local people. Farmers cannot travel in boats on the water and thus cannot fish in it. In addition, heavy, free-floating mats of water high synth are clogging the dam with the power station west Africa. Turbines of the power station are often shut down because of the intertwined leaves. Damms often cease to function as a result, severely restricted in the electricity generation. Dense mats of water high synths also shade the surface and prevent algae growth, thus limiting the production of oxygen and threatening the survival of fish. So, where did water higher synths originate from? The water higher synth is native to the Amazon basin in Latin America. It has spread mainly to the tropics and subtropics throughout much of the world since the 1800s. Later, it was introduced into Europe and Africa as an ornamental garden pond plant due to its beauty. Flowers of this plant were being sold in local markets in African countries as an source of income for women. Since the 1900s, this weed has infested lakes, rivers, and creeks of the delta areas in West Africa. I guess whoever introduced this plant had never expected the disastrous impact it would have on the local ecological environment. What kind of habitat does water higher synth thrive most in? Well, it has been discovered that the nutrient-rich environment contributes significantly to the rapid proliferation of this weed, which obtains its nutrients directly from the water. This is normally compounded with a decrease of nutrients along the river banks. Why is that? The main reason for soil nutrient loss is that local residents cut down trees. Excessive deforestation accelerates soil erosion, which indirectly compound this issue. Without enough trees to retain nutrients in the soil, frequent rain might partly aggravate this by carrying some of the nutrients into the waterways. Are there any effective measures to control or even eradicate this weed? Yes, a number of approaches have been widely applied throughout the world. Among them, biological control is the most widely favored long-term control method by introducing a type of insect that feeds on water hyacin. So far, Nigeria has used this method for six months. However, water hyacinth won't be removed immediately. The side effects of this method on local ecology will remain unforeseen for years because it takes time for this external insect species to reach a density sufficient enough to affect ecological development. Then what about other approaches? Is there a quick way to control it? Well, the mechanical removal of water hyacinth is seen as the best short-term solution. This option includes harvesting plants and inside cutting. This method can immediately open physical space for fish and boat traffic. It is, however, inefficient for workers to process extensive areas and costly to use large cutting and dredging equipment. Ironically, it costs even more to dispose of this plant than to remove it. Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 27-30. Now, listen and answer questions 27-30. Can we make use of this weed and turn it into something good? Now scientists think that water hyacinth can be useful. The plant itself, although more than 95% water, has a fibrous tissue and a high energy and protein content and can be used for a variety of useful applications. So what do people do with water hyacinth that is initially removed? First, the cut down water hyacinth is left to dry under the sun for a few days before being mixed with ash and animal manure. The mixture can be used as alternative soil rather than fertilizer. It can grow crops with increased yield. That sounds interesting. Mushroom farmers can benefit from water hyacinth as well. Using the mixture mentioned earlier, mushrooms generally grow much faster so that farmers can harvest mushrooms sooner, which enables them to make money faster. I see. It can be used to grow oyster and straw mushrooms, right? Yes. In India, attempts have been made to grow the types of edible mushrooms organically utilizing water hyacinth. These mushrooms provide sufficient nutritional values, including minerals and high-quality protein, which are essential to people's level of fitness. Right. Are there any other measures taken to utilize water hyacinth? In Southeast Asia, people feed cows using chopped water hyacinth mixed with other vegetables. Then the waste from the cows is treated to produce methane gas, which can be used as fuel for cooking, lighting, or powering an engine. And with global warming getting worse, developing alternative source of energy will be more urgent than ever. Maybe in the future, people will lot water hyacinth instead of hating it. Yes, that's very likely if we can make full use of this weed. That is the end of Part 3. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to Part 3. you --- Now turn to part four. You will hear a lecture about invasive species. First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40. Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40. Good morning everyone. In today's environmental science lecture, we will continue our discussion of ecological systems by focusing on a topic that has attracted increasing global concern, invasive species. These are organisms introduced outside their native range, which, once established, can cause significant ecological disruption, economic loss, and even risks to human wellbeing. There are several key issues associated with invasive species, and these operate at both large and small scales. On a broader level, they can alter entire ecosystems and reduce biodiversity. However, on a more immediate and personal level, one of the first problems people often notice is that such species can rapidly dominate a garden, out-competing cultivated plants and native vegetation. In terms of how these species spread, multiple mechanisms are involved. For example, birds contribute to seed dispersal by excreting undigested seeds after feeding. Nevertheless, while this is a natural process, it is not the principal driver. A substantial body of research indicates that humans are, in fact, the primary agents responsible for the global distribution of invasive species, largely due to international trade, horticulture, and transportation networks. Now, let us consider several well-documented examples. The first species is common broom, or cytosus scoparius. Although it is now widespread in regions such as North America, it originally comes from Europe. This plant produces distinctive yellow flowers during the summer months, which partly explains why it was historically introduced as an ornamental species. Despite its visual appeal, its ecological impact has been considerable. In forested regions, it forms dense stands that compete with young trees for light and nutrients, thereby affecting regeneration processes and ultimately influencing the timber industry. Just to control this species have included various biological methods. Nowadays, biologists are making efforts to manage the population by introducing some species of insects in controlled breeding pairs, carefully monitoring their ecological impact. Let us now turn to Japanese barberry, Burburis Thunbergii. While its name suggests an origin in Japan, historical records show that some early plant shipments into Europe and North America were rooted through Russia before 1900. This shrub can be identified by several characteristics. One notable feature is the presence of small yellow insects inhabiting the microenvironment around its stems and beneath the bark, benefiting from the plant's dense structure. Finally, we have common buckthorn, ramnus cathartica. This species produces berries and has thorn-bearing leaves, and its reproductive structures develop from small yellow flower clusters. Its spread is strongly associated with bird behaviour. In particular, robins consume the fruit and disperse the seeds over long distances, meaning its distribution is closely linked to their feeding habits and seasonal migration patterns. It is worth noting that not all aspects of invasive species are entirely negative. Historically, common buckthorn has been used in traditional remedies. Modern studies confirm that it contains compounds with effects on the digestive system, and it has been used to treat digestive problems, although its use must be carefully controlled. That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers. Well, today we're focusing on New Zealand in the 1860s, and in particular, how the discovery of gold transformed the country. At that time, gold had created great wealth in North America and Australia, and, naturally, New Zealand was hoping for the same success. People knew there was gold in New Zealand, some had been found in 1852 leading to a brief gold rush in which people had come from all parts of the world to see if they could dig up any for themselves. But now, New Zealand needed experienced gold prospectors, people who knew where to look for the stuff to find in other areas. So what the local government started doing in the late 1850s was promising a reward of these prospectors discovered gold anywhere in their province. The man who eventually answered the call was an Australian minor called Gabrielle Reed who came to Otago in May 1861. The story goes that he was walking outside his tent at night when he saw gold shining like stars in a nearby river. It didn't take long for word of his fine to spread, and soon thousands were coming to Otago to take part in the gold rush. Who were these people? Well, the men that came were predominantly labourers and tradesmen, and often very young, although some were married and left their families back in the countries they came from. But women did come too, to the towns that suddenly sprang up by the goldfields. They made a living by starting up hotels, simple ones of course where new arrivals would often stay. And then there were businessmen who knew there was money to be made by setting up services like hardware stores that sold mining and camping equipment, and of course banks where gold could be deposited. In fact, the businessmen often did better than the miners. So, as I mentioned before, where there was a goldfield, a town began to grow too. At first, the buildings were constructed in a temporary fashion, just made out of materials such as canvas and timber. But later, once supplies started arriving, it was concrete, so the structures became more permanent. But the fact was, the goldfields were often in very isolated areas, so life was very difficult for these people. The miners were often working at the bottom of deep gorges, so they had to cope with freezing temperatures, and also sudden flooding when winter ice melted in the mountains. If this wasn't bad enough, the miners also had to deal with another problem. Because they had to carry everything with them, they had a very poor diet. They mostly drank tea, and the main thing they had to eat was flour, which they cooked in different ways. That's all that was available. Anyway, some miners were lucky, others not. But the gold that was found certainly brought many benefits to the Otago region, and also a couple of problems. First of all, the town of Deniden was suddenly transformed into the biggest city in New Zealand. Some of the original residents complained about how the value of land was increasing, and about the inadequate sanitation. You can imagine how crowded it might have felt with the sudden influx of thousands of immigrants. But overall, the gold brought many positive changes to the city. There was immense investment in growth in the shipping industry, just what the region needed. Another unexpected benefit of this wealth was that it provided the funds for the first university in the country. As well as this, as the industry developed, there was a great demand for workers of all sorts, but most of all there was a demand for experienced and skilled engineers. They often started their own companies, and many of these companies are still operating today. What we will discover next week is that these companies are still...