IELTS Listening Mock Test 3

A: Good morning, Westside Homestay Services. This is Amara speaking. How can I help you today? B: Hi Amara. I'm looking for a homestay room for my upcoming course. My name's Tomas Varga. A: Lovely to speak with you, Tomas. Let me start an enquiry form. Could you spell your last name for me? B: Sure, it's V-A-R-G-A. And my contact number is 07700 900143... wait, sorry, I always give my old one. It's actually 07700 900153. A: No problem. Let me read that back: 07700 900153. Got it. Now, which part of town would you prefer to live in? Most students choose the South area because of the shops, but we also have hosts in the East and North. B: Well, my college is in the North, so I would definitely prefer the North area to save on travel time. A: Perfect, North it is. We have a great homestay option there with the Miller family. It includes a private bathroom, and they have a lovely garden you can use. Let me tell you about the costs. Usually, the deposit for our premium rooms is 200 pounds, but for this specific host, the required deposit is 150 pounds. B: Okay, 150 pounds is very reasonable. I can manage that. Are there any particular rules I should know about? A: Yes, the Millers are very friendly, but they do have one house rule. They ask that there is no cooking in the kitchen after 8 pm. B: That's fine, I usually eat earlier anyway. What about laundry? A: They have a washing machine you can use, but you must only do laundry on weekends, not during weekdays. B: Alright, that works. What's the public transport like around there? A: There is a bus stop right outside their house, which is very convenient. Alternatively, you can walk about ten minutes to the train station. Most students find the bus is much faster to get to the city centre though. B: Excellent. I think I'd like to book this one. What's the next step? A: I'll need to send you the official agreement. Please read it carefully. Once you sign it and pay the deposit, the room is yours. Oh, and you will also need to provide a copy of your passport for our records. B: Great, I'll send that copy over today. Thanks so much for your help, Amara! [Q1] Surname: ________

(Shared with Q1.) [Q2] Contact number: ________

(Shared with Q1.) [Q3] Preferred area of town: ________

(Shared with Q1.) [Q4] Required deposit for the host family: £________

(Shared with Q1.) [Q5] No cooking in the kitchen is allowed after ________

(Shared with Q1.) [Q6] Which facility is available for Tomas to use at the homestay?

(Shared with Q1.) [Q7] When is Tomas allowed to do his laundry?

(Shared with Q1.) [Q8] What is the fastest mode of public transport from the house to the city centre?

(Shared with Q1.) [Q9] What document must Tomas provide for the homestay records?

(Shared with Q1.) [Q10] Which TWO features of the Miller family's homestay are mentioned?

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Oceanside Crafts Hub; my name is Priscilla, and I’ll be guiding you through our safety briefing and layout today. As you enter through the main doors, we are standing in the central foyer. If you look immediately to your left, right next to the entrance, you'll find the Tool Library, where you must sign in first to obtain your safety goggles. Now, if you walk straight ahead down the central corridor, you might expect to reach the Exhibition Gallery, but we've actually relocated that upstairs; instead, that spacious area at the very end of the hall is our dedicated Woodworking Bay. On your way down that corridor, about halfway along on the right side, there's a small room that many mistake for the storage lockers, which are actually outside, but this indoor space is our First Aid Station. Back near the entrance, on your right-hand side—directly opposite the tool library—is a room filled with natural light; we originally planned a cafe corner here, but due to plumbing needs, it is now our Pottery Studio. Just behind the pottery studio, there's an L-shaped space; people often think it's part of the clay-drying area, and we did consider putting the glassblowing workshop there before moving it to the courtyard, but that L-shaped space is currently serving as our Exhibition Gallery. Now for some safety protocols: you absolutely must wear fully enclosed shoes—no exceptions—so sandals are a firm no, even if you wear thick woolen socks. If you're working and you notice a tool is damaged, please do not try to fix it yourself, nor should you throw it in the discontinued red recycling bin; instead, report it immediately to a supervisor. For high-demand equipment like the laser cutter, you must reserve a session through our online portal up to seven days in advance, as our receptionists cannot book these over the phone. Regarding visitors, guests are welcome to look through the lobby glass partition, but they are strictly prohibited from entering the active work zones or using any tools. Finally, before you leave, you are responsible for wiping down your individual workbenches and sweeping the shared floor areas around your station, though you should leave the sawdust extraction bags and machinery blades to our specialized maintenance team. [Q11] Position 1 — the room immediately on your left as you enter through the main doors

(Shared with Q11.) [Q12] Position 2 — the large area at the far end of the corridor, straight ahead from the entrance

(Shared with Q11.) [Q13] Position 3 — the small room on the right-hand side, halfway down the corridor

(Shared with Q11.) [Q14] Position 4 — the room in the front-right corner of the building, near the entrance

(Shared with Q11.) [Q15] Position 5 — the L-shaped space tucked behind the Pottery Studio

(Shared with Q11.) [Q16] What is the main safety rule regarding footwear in the workshop?

(Shared with Q11.) [Q17] What should members do if they notice a damaged tool?

(Shared with Q11.) [Q18] How can members book a session on the high-demand laser cutter?

(Shared with Q11.) [Q19] What is the policy regarding bringing guests into the workshop?

(Shared with Q11.) [Q20] Which TWO items are members responsible for cleaning at the end of their session?

A: Come in, Tomas! Take a seat. I'm glad we could meet today to finalize your module options for the second semester of your Sustainable Planning degree. Have you had a chance to look at the elective list? B: Thanks, Dr. Ingrid. Yes, I've been pouring over them. It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest. There are so many paths to choose from, and I want to make sure they align with my dissertation plans. A: That's very sensible. Let's go through them one by one. What were your thoughts on 'Urban Transport Systems'? B: I'm really keen on that one. It seems directly relevant to urban design, which is my main area of interest. A: Oh, absolutely. I'd say it's highly recommended for you. It covers exactly the kind of network analysis you'll need, so I'd definitely put that down as a yes. Now, what about 'Coastal Zone Management'? B: Well, it sounds fascinating, especially with climate change. But I noticed it has a heavy focus on marine biology and hydrodynamic modeling. A: Yes, and to be frank, given your background in human geography rather than physical sciences, you'd likely struggle with the advanced quantitative models they use. I'd strongly advise you to avoid that one; it's really designed for engineering majors. B: Right, that makes sense. I'll steer clear of it. I was also looking at 'Smart Cities Infrastructure'. Is that open to everyone? A: Not quite. Because of the limited lab space, it's a restricted module. You can't just sign up online. You actually need to get special permission from the module coordinator, Dr. Vance, before you can register. I can email him to introduce you, if you'd like. B: That would be brilliant, thank you! I'll definitely pursue that. Now, 'Historical Preservation' also caught my eye. I know there's a practical component. A: Ah, yes. But there's a catch there. You can't just jump into the seminar. The department rules state that you must complete the preliminary architectural mapping project over the winter break before they'll let you register for the course itself. B: Oh, I see. I thought I could do that concurrently. But if it has to be done beforehand, I'll need to get started on that mapping project right away. What about 'Agricultural Economics'? I'm interested, but my schedule is already packed. A: Well, since you're already at your credit limit, you wouldn't be allowed to take it for credit anyway. But why not just audit it? You can sit in on all the lectures and get the reading lists, but you won't have to do the assessments. It's a great way to learn without the extra pressure. B: That's a relief! I'll do that then. Speaking of assessments, how is 'Urban Transport Systems' graded? I heard there was an exam. A: Actually, they changed it this year. It used to be a traditional three-hour written exam, and they did consider weekly quizzes at one point, but they've scrapped both. It's now assessed entirely on a single collaborative group report that you work on throughout the term. B: Oh, a group report? That's great, I prefer collaborative work. That fits well with my dissertation preparation, too. A: Yes, how is the dissertation coming along? Last time we spoke, you were focusing on cycling lanes. B: Yes, but after talking to my advisor, I realized that was a bit too narrow. I was going to switch to waste management, but we decided that was a bit off-track. So, I've settled on public transit accessibility, specifically looking at how low-income neighborhoods connect to major rail networks. A: An excellent topic, Tomas. Looking at your academic progress so far, your essays are incredibly detailed and meticulously researched. However, if there's one thing you need to work on, it's being less descriptive. Your writing is highly thorough, but it sometimes lacks critical analysis. You need to challenge the existing models more rather than just explaining them. B: I appreciate that feedback. I'll try to be more critical in my next papers. Oh, before I forget, there's an internship with the regional planning council. It's unpaid and requires a long commute, but I'm really tempted. A: It's a wonderful opportunity, but do think about the workload. B: Yes, the money doesn't bother me, and I can study on the long train ride, so the distance isn't the issue. My main worry is that it'll take up twenty hours a week, and I'm really concerned it will interfere with my study schedule and overall academic performance. A: That is a very real risk. Perhaps hold off until you finish your exams. Now, remember you have some paperwork due to the department office by next Friday. B: Right, is that the dissertation funding request? And the recommendation letter from my advisor? A: No, the funding request isn't due until the end of the month, and we don't need your advisor's letter until next term. But you must hand in your official module selection form by Friday. And because your research involves interviewing people, you must also submit your signed ethics clearance draft by then. Don't forget those two! B: Got it. Module selection form and ethics clearance draft by next Friday. Thanks so much for your help, Dr. Ingrid! [Q21] Urban Transport Systems

(Shared with Q21.) [Q22] Coastal Zone Management

(Shared with Q21.) [Q23] Smart Cities Infrastructure

(Shared with Q21.) [Q24] Historical Preservation

(Shared with Q21.) [Q25] Agricultural Economics

(Shared with Q21.) [Q26] What is the main focus of Tomas's upcoming dissertation?

(Shared with Q21.) [Q27] How is the "Urban Transport Systems" module assessed this year?

(Shared with Q21.) [Q28] What is Tomas's main concern about taking the regional planning internship?

(Shared with Q21.) [Q29] What advice does Dr. Ingrid give Tomas regarding his academic writing?

(Shared with Q21.) [Q30] Which TWO items must Tomas submit to the department office by next Friday?

Good afternoon, everyone. Today we're exploring environmental conservation, specifically looking at peatland restoration, a crucial weapon against climate change. Peat bogs are unique wetlands that accumulate partially decayed organic matter, storing massive amounts of carbon. Now, a recent project in the northern wetlands, directed by environmental scientist Ingrid, has shed new light on how we can restore these damaged ecosystems. When her team first surveyed the Valda bog, they initially projected that the degraded site was releasing around fifteen thousand tons of carbon annually—actually, wait, that was just for the southern sector—the total for the whole site was fifty thousand tons. To halt this emission, Ingrid's team implemented a series of interventions across different sectors of the wetland. Initially, they focused on blockades, which were made from local timber rather than imported plastic sheets, to keep costs low and minimize the environmental footprint. They also introduced sphagnum moss, a key plant that acts like a sponge, holding up to twenty times its weight in water, which helps maintain the high water table required for peat formation. However, the success of these techniques varied across the four management zones they established. In the Inner Core zone, the main priority was strict hydrological isolation, preventing any water runoff. Then we have the Transition Zone, which focused on establishing native plant nurseries to encourage biodiversity. Next, the Boundary Zone was designed to absorb agricultural runoff from neighboring fields before it could contaminate the sensitive inner wetland. And lastly, the small Experimental Plot was dedicated entirely to generating solar energy for local research equipment. Interestingly, Ingrid's research revealed that local community involvement, which many scientists previously dismissed as secondary to engineering solutions, was actually the most decisive factor in preventing vandalism of the dams. Looking ahead, the team hopes this integrated model will be adopted globally, not just for carbon storage, but also to mitigate local flood risks. So, let's look closer at the specific data her team collected over the five-year trial period. [Q31] What did Ingrid's team discover about the annual carbon emissions from the Valda bog?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q32] Why did the researchers choose local timber for the blockades?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q33] What is stated about the role of sphagnum moss in the restoration project?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q34] What did Ingrid's team find was the most critical factor in protecting the physical dams?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q35] According to the lecturer, what is a secondary benefit of the peatland restoration model?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q36] Which TWO of the following challenges did the lecturer mention regarding the Valda bog restoration?

(Shared with Q31.) [Q37] Inner Core zone

(Shared with Q31.) [Q38] Transition Zone

(Shared with Q31.) [Q39] Boundary Zone

(Shared with Q31.) [Q40] Experimental Plot