ACADEMIC LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 1

SECTION 1 Questions 1 - 10
Questions 1 - 5
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.
PAN ASIAN AIRWAYS
LOST PROPERTY REPORT FORM
Surname Allen
Address (1) ____________________ Windham Road
Richmond
Postcode (2) ____________________
Home tel. 020 8927 7651
Mobile tel. (3) ____________________
Flight Number (4) ____________________
Seat Number (5) ____________________
From New York
To London Heathrow
Page 1
Example Answer
First Name Kirsty
PRACTICE TEST 1
Academic Test 1; Page 1
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Questions 6 - 8
Circle THREE letters A - F.
What items did Kirstys bag contain?
A 17 pounds
B pens
C her passport
D a book

E 200 dollars
F her house keys
Questions 9 and 10
Choose a letter (A - D) that correctly answers questions 9 and 10.
9 What has Kirsty done regarding the loss of her credit card?
A Informed the police but not the credit card company.
B Informed the credit card company but not the police.
C Informed both the police and the credit card company.
D Informed neither the police nor the credit card company.

10 What must Kirsty do after the call regarding her lost handbag?
A Call back after 11 hours.
B Just wait for a call back.
C Call back after 11 hours if she has heard nothing.
D Call back the next day if she has heard nothing.
Academic Test 1; Page 2
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SECTION 2 Questions 11 - 20
Questions 11 - 14
Label the locations on the map below.
(14)
_______________
_______________
_______________
Main
Lecture
Hall
WE ARE
HERE
Car Park
(11)_______________
__________________
__________________
(13) ______________
__________________
__________________
Hall
of
Residence
(12)
____________
____________
____________
Refectory
Academic Test 1; Page 3
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Questions 15 - 20
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Notes on Student Facilities
Students Union Very cheap
Bookshop
Food and drink available
Parties!
Offces - travel, welfare etc.
Open 8am - 12 midnight
Library Must register
Tours every (15) ____________________ for 2 weeks.
Open 9am - 9pm (later during (16) ____________________)
Refectory Cheap meals
Lunch 12 noon - 3pm
Dinner (17) __________ - 8.30pm
Types of food - favourites
healthy
ethnic
(18) ____________________
vegan
Sports Hall Must join Athletic Union which - lets me use facilities
lets me play for teams
(19) ______________ me all year
Discount Card Costs (20) _______________
Gives me discounts on all uni. services
Academic Test 1; Page 4
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SECTION 3 Questions 21 - 30
Questions 21 - 25
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
John Jane
Day of Arrival Thursday (21) _______________________
Subjects Studying economics
maths
french
(22) _______________________
history
music
Mondays 9am lecture french history
Mondays 2pm lecture maths (23) _______________________
Wednesday afternoon sport
selected
(24) _______________________ volleyball
Location of Sport sports hall (25) _______________________
Questions 26 - 29
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.
26 Students can choose from how many essay titles for their frst assignment?
_________________________________________________________________________
27 Where did John travel during the summer?
_________________________________________________________________________
28 What is the word limit for the essays?
_________________________________________________________________________
29 When must the frst essay be handed in by?
_________________________________________________________________________
Question 30
Circle the correct letter A - C.
30 Where will John and Jane meet up later that day?
A the economics course offce
B the economics common room
C the campus cafeteria
Academic Test 1; Page 5
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SECTION 4 Questions 31 - 40
Questions 31 - 34
Choose the correct letters A - C.
31 Japan relies on oil tankers because...
A the country consists of islands.
B the country has no pipeline network.
C the country has no natural oil resources.
32 Professor Wilson says that oil tankers are...
A very safe.
B quite safe.
C quite unsafe.
33 According to Professor Wilson, the main cause of oil slicks is...
A accidents while loading and unloading oil.
B collisions.
C deliberate releases of oil.
34 According to Professor Wilson, slicks are rarely burned off nowadays because...
A the oil is refned.
B it usually doesnt work.
C it creates too much air pollution.
Academic Test 1; Page 6
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Questions 35 - 39
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
Oil exploration clean-up techniques
Techniques Advantages Disadvantages
The Containment Boom Cheap and easy Only good when there are
(35) ________________
____________________
Chemical Detergents Good for treating (36) _________
___________________________
Chemicals remain in the water +
kill marine life.
The Sponge Oil remains permanently in the
sponge.
The sponge mats turn into
(37) _______________________
___________________________
Bacteria Cheap
Easy to administer
Totally (38) _________________
___________________________
(39) _______________________
Question 40
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
Optional essay question.
Remember to check out the facultys notice boards. You will fnd:
* reading lists
* essay questions
* (40) __________________________________________________
Academic Test 1; Page 7
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This recording is copyright.
IELTS HELP NOW listening practice tests. Test 1. In the IELTS test you hear some
recordings and you have to answer questions on them. You have time to read the
instructions and questions and check your work. All recordings are played only once. Now
turn to Section 1.
Section 1. You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman discussing the loss of
a bag on board a plane.
First you have some time to look at questions 1 5.
(20 second gap)
You will see that there is an example. This time only, the conversation relating to this will be
played frst.
Man Pan Asian Airways. John speaking. Can I help you?
Wom Yes please. I left something on one of your planes last night. I got this number from the
operator. Is this the right number to call?
M Yes, madam. This is the right number. I just need you tell me your name to start with so I
can fll out a lost property form.
W Kirsty Allen. Thats K-I-R-S-T-Y A-L-L-E-N.
So, Kirsty is the correct answer.
Now we begin. You should answer the questions as you listen, as the recording is not
played twice. Listen carefully to the conversation and answer questions 1 to 5.
Man Pan Asian Airways. John speaking. Can I help you?
Wom Yes please. I left something on one of your planes last night. I got this number from the
operator. Is this the right number to call?
M Yes, madam. This is the right number. I just need you to tell me your name to start with so I
can fll out a lost property form.
W Kirsty Allen. Thats K-I-R-S-T-Y A-L-L-E-N.
M Right. Ive got that. Now what happened last night?
W Well, I was on a fight last night from New York to London that landed at 12.30am. We were
delayed a while in New York so that when we eventually landed, I was so tired that I accidentally
left my handbag on the plane.
M Did you report this to anyone last night?
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W No, Im afraid not. I didnt notice until I got home and then it was really too late to phone.
M Very well madam. Let me take a few details for this form and Ill see what I can do. OK, so
the name was Kirsty Allen. And whats the address please?
W 48 Windham Road, Richmond.
M The postcode?
W RI6 GH7.
M Good. Ive got that. Now, your telephone number?
W Well, my home number is 020 8927 7651 and my mobile is 07754 897 432.
M Im sorry. I didnt catch the second one. What was the mobile again?
W 0 double 7 54 897 432.
M Thanks. Now, do you know the fight number of the plane that you were on last night?
W Oh yes, hang on a second. Ive got my boarding pass stub right here. Err; the fight number
was PA 356. No, Im sorry, PA365. Thats it: 365.
M And does the boarding card stub say what seat you had?
W Oh yes. It was E6.
M And you said that it was New York to London Heathrow. Is that right?
W Yes, thats right.
Before the conversation continues, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.
(20 second gap)
Now listen carefully and answer questions 6 to 10.
M OK then. Now I have to take some details about the bag that you lost. It was a handbag,
yes?
W Thats right.
M Can you describe it to me?
W Well, I guess it just looks like any regular handbag. Its very dark red with black handles and
the catch on the top is gold coloured.
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M Does it have any distinguishing marks?
W Not really. Its quite new you see so I havent scratched it or anything. Its got a brand name
but thats just inside the bag when you open it, under the catch.
M OK. Now, can you tell me what was inside the bag?
W Quite a few things actually. Not my passport of course or I would never have got out of the
airport. My purse is inside and thats got about 200 dollars and about 70 pounds cash. There is
also my credit card and some membership cards.
M Good. Ill just write that down. Anything else in the bag?
W A small paperback that I was reading, some makeup, my work keys, but not my house
keys thank God and a couple of pens.
M Have you informed the police about the loss of the card?
W Yes and Ive also cancelled the card with the credit company.
M Right. Now what Ill do is to contact the lost property, which is where your bag will have
gone if it was found. Ill give you a call back within an hour and tell you what the situation is. If you
havent had a call within an hour and a half, call back this number and ask for me. My name
is John. OK?
W Yes, thats great John. Ill speak to you later. Goodbye.
M Goodbye.
That is the end of section 1. You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
(30 second gap)
Now turn to section 2.
Section 2. You will hear a man giving a welcome speech to new students at the University
of Westley. First you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
(20 second gap)
Now listen carefully to the welcome speech and answer questions 11 to 14.
Hello and good afternoon. My name is John Walker and Id like to welcome you new students
to the University of Westley. What I am going to do today is just explain to you about some of
thefacilities that you will fnd here on our main campus and where you will fnd them.
If you look at the map on the overhead projector, let me talk you through some of the locations
before describing some of them in more detail. Well, at present we are in the Universitys main
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lecture hall. If you go out of the main front entrance then you will see opposite across the
car park the entrance for the focal point of a lot university life for most students. This is
of course the Students Union. About 150 yards on the left of the Union, as you look at it
from here, is another focal point for the students (though not as popular as the Union), the
University library. Behind the library is the main University refectory where many students eat
both lunch and dinner. On the other side of the Union is the college chapel and behind that there is
a small hall of residence. There are three other halls of residence behind the Students Union.
Behind the hall that we are in now is the sports hall and grounds and either side of us are
academic departments with lecturers offces, lecture halls and various labs. You will fnd it all a bit
confusing at frst but youll get to know your way around fairly quickly.
You now have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
(20 second gap)
Now listen to the rest of the welcome speech and answer questions 15 to 20.
Id like now to talk about a few important places on the Campus.
All students must belong to the Students Union if they wish to use any of its services. It is very
cheap and we certainly recommend that you join. The Union provides a bookshop covering all
the course books at the university plus lots of other titles for a range of interests. You can eat and
drink at the Union. There is a Fat Phillips on the ground foor serving a wide range of fast foods
and drinks. Then there is the main Union bar up on the First Floor. This is where the Union parties,
dances and balls are held and theres a pizza corner where cheap and large pizzas can be served
up in a few minutes. Other areas that will be of interest to students are the Welfare Offce, the
Travel Offce and the Clubs Offce. The Clubs offce will get you in touch with all the Clubs that are
part of the Students Union. These clubs vary from football to drama to potholing to beer drinking.
There really is something for everyone. The Union opens up at 8 am every day and closes at 12
midnight unless there are any functions going on later.
Id like to move onto the library now. This is where a lot of you will, I hope, be spending a lot of time
over the next three or four years working and doing research. Of course this isnt as exciting as
the social aspects of university life but of course it really is the main reason that you are all here. I
therefore urge you to get over there as soon as you can as you have to register and then you can
have a look around. During the frst two weeks of the academic year, that is, now, there are tours
every two hours aimed at familiarising new students to all the services that the library offers. The
librarys open from 9am to 9pm though it stays open later during fnal exams.
As I said earlier, the refectory is behind the library. The refectory offers a range of cheap meals at
lunchtime and in the evenings. It is open from 12 noon to 3 pm for lunch and from 6 pm to 8.30
pm for dinner. They try to offer a variety of food from favourites to healthy options to ethnic foods
and there is always a choice for vegetarians and vegans.
The University Sports Hall is one of the most used buildings at the University. To use the hall or the
grounds you must be a member of the Athletic Union, which is part of the Students Union. Again
this costs very little and will allow you to use all University sports facilities, represent University
teams and it fully insures you during your membership of the Athletic Union. This is really
excellent value.
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For departments and academic facilities, there isnt enough time to go through all of them but your
respective departments should furnish you with maps and information that will satisfy your needs.
For all services offered at the university, I recommend that you purchase a discount plus card. This
card costs 50 and lasts for the academic year. It will then give you discounts on all services at
the university. For instance, a 4 meal at the refectory would be reduced to 2.50. It will also give
free usage of the late night mini bus that the university runs to places off campus, which normally
costs a pound. You can see that it wouldnt take very long to make it worthwhile. The cards can be
bought at the Students Union.
Well, thats what I have to say for the moment. Now, are there any questions?
That is the end of section 2. You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
(30 second gap)
Now turn to section 3.
Section 3. You will hear 2 students discussing the new term at their university. First you
have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
(20 second gap)
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
Jane Hey John. I didnt know you were here at the University yet. When did you get here?
John Oh just yesterday; Thursday. Ive got some stuff to get sorted out for the start of my second
year as Ive just got some new subjects. Today Ive had to sort out my timetable. It seems like Ive
got quite a lot to do this year. When did you get here?
Jane Ive been here since Tuesday. What classes are you doing this year then?
John Well, Im continuing economics of course as thats my major but Im taking an extra
maths class and Im dropping Spanish so I can take up French. What about you?
Jane My majors the same as yours of course but Im going to continue the same classes as
last year as I liked them so much. Theyre history and music. Whats your Monday timetable like?
John Well at 9, it looks like Ive got French for 3 hours. Thats going to be a tough start to the
week!
Jane Yeah. I cant imagine it worse. Ive got history for three hours which will kill me. The good
thing for me is that Ive got a free in the afternoon which will relax me after that morning.
John No such luck for me though. Ive got that extra maths class starting then so Ill be hard at
work all day on Mondays.
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Jane Yeah, I dont envy you that. Still the extra maths will really help your economics in the long
run.
John I know. Thats why Im taking it this year. Last year I really struggled with all the maths that I
didnt understand in the economics but hopefully, this year, that will all change.
Jane What about sport? What have you chosen to do on the Wednesday sports afternoons? Are
you sticking with rowing?
John Id love to but the rowing club storeroom got broken into and the boats were damaged so
its not possible till the club can get enough money to repair or replace the boats. Theyre really
expensive so thatll take quite a long time. So, as I cant do that, Im going to try out squash.
What about you?
Jane Im going to the same as last year. Volleyball.
John Thats good as its in the main sports hall like the squash. Ill be able to see you a lot
this year.
Jane Yeah, it looks like that. You can help me with the maths that I dont understand.
John (laughs) Maybe. For a small fee of course.
You now have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
(20 second gap)
Now listen to the rest of the discussion and answer questions 26 to 30.
Jane I know its early but do you know anything about the frst assignment that we have to do?
John Yes, its already up on the economics faculty notice board. Theres a choice of essays up
there. I think there are about 10 you can choose from. I cant remember any of the titles though
apart from the one that I think Im going to write about.
Jane Whats that one then?
John Its about the short-term future of third world economies.
Jane Ooh. I dont like the sound of that. It seems very wide-ranging.
John It is but remember that I spent some of the summer vacation travelling in Africa and Asia
so that has made me more interested in the subject and Ive also got some frst hand ideas on the
subject.
Jane Does the essay list mention how long the essays have to be and the deadlines?
John Yes. You remember that last year all the essays had to be 3000 words in length?
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Well, thats gone up by a thousand words!
Jane Oh no! Theyll take ages.
John I know. I was hoping that theyd stay at 3000 words or only go up to 3500, but no luck Im
afraid.
Jane What about the deadline?
John The frst one has to be in by the 30
th
October and the second by the 30
th
November. It
looks like one essay a month like last year.
Jane Well at least that hasnt changed but as its the end of September now, that leaves only a
month to get the frst one done. Im going to have get onto that straight away.
John Yes, youd better. If you want to talk about it, Im going to be at the campus cafeteria at
1.30 for lunch. We could go over some questions.
Jane I cant then, as Ill be in the sports hall working out. How about 3 this afternoon at the
economics common room?
John That seems OK. Well be right by the economics course offce where the questions are, so
thatll be convenient for checking up on them.
Jane OK. See you then. Bye.
John Bye.
That is the end of section 3. You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
(30 second gap)
Now turn to section 4.
Section 4. You will hear part of an environmental sciences lecture. First you have some
time to look at questions 31 to 40.
(20 second gap)
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
Good morning everyone. My name is Professor Wilson and I am lecturing you today as part of
your environmental sciences course. Part of this course is concerned with pollution issues in our
world today and part of this lecture will look at some of ways that the oil industry has developed to
deal with oil spills around the world.

Oil tankers are the largest ships to sail in the ocean. For countries such as Japan that have no
oil deposits of their own, tankers are the only way that the oil needed to power their economies
can be moved. They are designed to hold millions of barrels of crude or refned oil in reasonable
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safety and without damage to the environment. When oil is released from these ships, the oil
spreads out over the surface of the water in a large slick. These oil slicks can cover hundreds of
miles and they cause huge environmental damage. Oil is released for varying reasons. Accidents
while loading and unloading and deliberate spills account for many slicks today, but it is ships
hitting other ships or rocks, which is the major cause of slicks. Because oil slicks are so
damaging to the environment, numerous ways of containing them and cleaning them up have
been developed. In previous years, slick cleaners would sometimes try to set fre to the slicks and
burn them off but this is rarely done nowadays because, surprisingly, nearly all oil slicks
consist of compounds that arent fammable; combustibility comes after refning.
The four ways of cleaning up oil spills that well look at today are as follows:
The Containment Boom.
Chemical Detergents.
The Sponge.
Bacteria.
The containment boom is the most common method of cleaning up after an oil spill. Barriers are
erected in the water and the oil is then sucked up. Basically a containment boom is just a large
foat that surrounds and contains the slick. This method is cheap and straightforward however it
only functions in very calm seas.
Another method to clean slicks is to spray detergent solution from airplanes or boats directly onto
the spill. Depending on the detergent, two things can happen. One possible result is that the
oil can break up into clumps, which sink to the bottom of the ocean. Although these clumps are
themselves hazardous, the problems caused by the clumps are much easier to deal with than
the problems caused by oil slicks. The other possibility is that the oil then breaks down into tiny
droplets, which are soon spread and become harmless. This method is well suited to dealing
with the larger slicks. A negative aspect is that often the chemicals remain in the water and they
can kill fsh and other marine life.
A Berlin-based company has developed an alternative method for cleaning up oil spills.
Eco.carbon has invented a giant sponge made of lignite resin that sucks up the oil, preventing it
from harming the environment. The sponge comes as a mat, which contains crushed coal, whose
small granules can soak up large amounts of oil. The process is safe and cheap. The sponges
have so far withstood small-scale testing in pools of water with miniature oil slicks. A unique
advantage is that once the oil is absorbed into the mat, it remains fxed there permanently. The
downside, however, is that the mats become toxic waste.
Scientists are also trying to improve other methods to fght oil spills. At the scenes of oil spills
around the world, theyve found bacteria that seem to have an appetite for the toxic black
sludge. Now, the scientists are breeding these bacteria and studying them to determine which
is most effective at reducing oil levels. Eventually, they hope to put the best bacteria to work in
helping clean up after oil spill disasters. The bacteria actually use the oil as food. As the bacteria
reproduce, they eat more and more of the slick until it fnally vanishes. Eventually this method
should be cheap, easy to administer and be completely eco-friendly as when the slick is gone,
the bacterias food source is gone and they die, leaving nothing behind at all. So far this method
has no discernable drawbacks.
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Well, thats the end of the section of the lecture on cleaning up spills. This subject is an optional
question for your course. Youll fnd the reading lists and essay questions on the faculty notice
boards along with the deadline for submission. If you choose it, seminars will be held at a later
date.
That is the end of section 4. You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
(30 second gap)
That is the end of listening test 1. In the IELTS test you would now have 10 minutes to
transfer your answers to the listening answer sheet.
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