IELTS Mock Test 2020 May
Listening Practice Test 2
HOW TO USE
You have 2 ways to access the listening audio
1. Open this URL https://link.intergreat.com/ZwoaF on your computer
2. Use your mobile device to scan the QR code attached
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Questions 1-5
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer
Transport form Highgate Village
Example Answer
Destination ..........Camden Town...........
• Fast train leaves at 1 from platform 9.
• Nearest station is 2
• Number 999 bus goes to Gower Street 3
• The train leaves the railway station from platform 4
• There is a train every 5
Questions 6-10
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AN DIOR A NUMBER for each answer.
Means of transport Normal fare Discounted fare
Bus £2 ₤6
Train (busy time) ₤7
Train (off-peak hours) £11 ₤8
Regular Thames boat trip £6 ₤9
Half-day sightseeing boat tour £45 -
Whole-day sightseeing boat tour ₤ 10 -
Questions 11-16
Label the table below.
Write NO MOKE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
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Services offered For individuals For groups
• your decision when to allocate
email counselling time to your issues -
• 11 and reflect
• talk In person
face-to-face individual
• 50-minute session -
counselling
• 12 time
• how to function
13 to others
group therapy -
• 14 personal
development
• find out more about your issues
self-help resources • 15 24/7 -
• links to a range of resources
• similar specific issues
specific issue
- • develop helpful
workshops
16
Questions 17-20
Which counsellor should you see?
Write the correct letter: A, B or C, next to questions 17-20.
A Deirdre Blythe
B Bobby Foyle
C Samantha Stewart
17
if you have not made an appointment
18
if you have never seen a counsellor before
19
if you suffer from stress or anxiety
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20
if you are not able to see a counsellor during normal office hours
Questions 21-30
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
HOW TO WRITE AN ENGLISH LITERATURE ESSAY
Introductory Points
• Number one criterion for a good essay is 21
• Avoid writing an essay that is a regurgitation of facts, 22 or other people’s
opinions.
• The second important thing to keep in mind is 23
• Write 24 and ideas down before you start.
• Look at the 25 before you start writing.
• Know 26 . Do not make the mistake of writing for yourself.
Essay Structure
• Absolute maximum paragraph size is an 27
Flow
• One thought should 28 another in your English Literature essay.
• To make the transition between paragraphs smoother, you can use 29 and
phrases.
Argument
• Every English Literature essay should have a clear argument. This should not be
30 but rather, it should include several possible sides of the discussion.
Questions 31-35
Complete each sentence with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
Red is a potent colour. It brings to mind many 31
It is frequently used to imply or refer to 32
Our faces become red when we are very angry, hence the expression to
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33
When 34 , we become suddenly red in the face from embarrassment or
shame, modesty or guilt.
Finally, red is the colour most often used to symbolise love, the most common
example of which is, of course, 35
Questions 36-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
36 According to colour psychology, wearing red clothing may influence
A our visual perception.
B our bank balance.
C our bodily processes.
D our interest in sport.
37 A surprising number of non-primate mammals
A have a new cell in their retina.
B are dogs.
C are colour-blind.
D cannot survive in the tropics.
38 Russell Hill and Robert Barton's experiments showed that humans react to red
A with humility and arrogance.
B in the same way as mandrill monkeys.
C only 5% of the time.
D as if they are footballers trying to score a penalty.
39 Which is NOT mentioned as a reason for the effect of wearing red in sport?
A Wearing red helps the athlete rise to a higher level of self-confidence.
B Wearing red makes people domineering and controlling.
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C The opponent of an athlete wearing red feels threatened.
D Umpires tend to be partial towards athletes wearing red.
40 Colour psychology is
A studied by very young scientists.
B an old-fashioned branch of science.
C considered to use controversial experimental methods.
D interested in how colour can be used to improve work performance.
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Solution:
Part 1: Question 1 - 10
1 8.30 2 King's Cross
3 Underground Station 4 6
5 5 minutes 6 1.40
7 11 8 6.05
9 4.80 10 75
Part 2: Question 11 - 20
11 write down 12 pre-scheduled appointment
13 in relation 14 long-term
15 accessible 16 strategies
17 B 18 A
19 C 20 A
Part 3: Question 21 - 30
21 readability 22 lecture notes
23 planning 24 key points
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25 whole picture 26 your reader
27 A4 page 28 seem to follow
29 connective words 30 one-sided
Part 4: Question 31 - 40
31 powerful associations 32 danger and warning
33 see red 34 we blush
35 the red rose 36 C
37 C 38 B
39 B 40 D
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Audio Script:
Part 1
You will hear a conversation between a clerk at the help desk of a transport and travel agency
and a woman who is asking for travel information. First you have some time to look
at questions 1-5. [Pause 30 seconds]
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.
Woman; Good morning!
Man: Good morning, madam. How can I help you?
Woman: Well, I'd like to get to Camden Town from Highgate Village tomorrow, before 10 am.
Man: Did you say Highgate Park or Highgate Village?
Woman: I said Highgate Village, from Camden Town.
Man: Are you sure?
Woman: Yes, I should know where I'm going.
Man: Right. So, Highgate Village from Camden Town.
Woman: No, sorry. I should have said Camden Town from Highgate Village.
Man: That's what I thought you said. And how are you planning to get there? By bus or train?
Narrator: The woman wants to go to Camden Town, so 'Camden Town' 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 1-5.
Woman: Good morning!
Man: Good morning, madam. How can I help you?
Woman: Well, I'd like to get to Camden Town from Highgate Village tomorrow, before 10 am.
Man: Did you say Highgate Park or Highgate Village?
Woman: I said Highgate Village, from Camden Town.
Man: Are you sure?
Woman: Yes, I should know where I'm going.
Man: Right. So, Highgate Village from Camden Town.
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Woman: No, sorry. I should have said Camden Town from Highgate Village.
Man: That's what I thought you said. And how are you planning to get there? By bus or train?
Woman: Oh, it doesn't bother me which way I travel, as long as I get there sooner rather than
later.
Man: Well, if you take a fast train, you'll get there In under an hour. Now there's a King's Cross
express train leaving the station at Q1 8.30 from platform 9. How does that sound?
Woman: Great. Which station does that leave from?
Man: Q2 King's Cross. It's the railway station nearest to you.
Woman: Did you say Kings Crossed?
Man: No, King's Cross. That's C-R-O-S-S. Are you not from around here?
Woman: No, it's my first time in England, I'm afraid. So, could you point out the best way to get
to King's Cross station?
Man: Yes, of course, I could. Just give me a second to look it up. Right, well, it looks like you have
two options. You could take the 999 bus from the Highgate Village Central Square to Gower
Street Q3 Underground Station. At Gower Street take a train to King's Cross. Alternatively, you
could walk to Gower Street and get straight on the train going to King's Cross. Go to platform
Q4 6 on the Northern line.
Woman: How long would the walk take?
Man: About half an hour or so.
Woman: Oh, no, that's too long. I don't want to be walking around streets I don't know for half
an hour.
Man: Actually, the walk there is not complicated. Just go down
Holloway Road until you come across Gower Street - the road, not the station - on your right.
The station is about 5 minutes' walk up the road on your left.
Woman: That does sound easy. It'll be better for me to get some exercise as well. What time do
I catch the Tube?
Man: There are trains every Q5 five minutes, so it doesn't really matter what time you get there
from that point of view. However, it might be very busy at that time in the morning, so you may
want to get there early, just in case. Sometimes the trains are too full to take everyone waiting
on the platform. If I were you, I'd get there for 7 o'clock.
Woman: 7 o'clock. OK. Well, thank you very much. You've been most helpful.
Narrator: Before listening to the rest of the conversation you have some time to look at
questions 6-10. [Pause 30 seconds] Now listen and answer questions 6-10.
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Man: You're welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Woman: Actually, yes. How much will it cost me?
Man: Well, you can get a ticket on the bus for £2 and you'll need £ Q7 11 each way for the
train. Unless, that is, you have an International Student Travel Card.
Woman: No, I haven't but I can probably get one before tomorrow.
Man: Well, that's good because that'll cut the cost of travelling right down. The bus will
cost £ Q6 1.40 each way, and the train to Camden Town... Actually, I'm sorry, I was mistaken.
There's no discount offered when travelling during morning peak time so I'm afraid it'll still cost
you £11. But you'll probably want to return after peak hours, won't you? So your return train
ticket might cost you considerably less...
Woman: What are off-peak hours, then?
Man: Either before 5 o'clock in the afternoon or after 8 o'clock in the evening.
Woman: Oh good! I've no intention of coming back until long after 9 so that'll work out nicely.
So, what discount will I get?
Man: Your return train journey would only cost you £ Q8 6.05 with your card. But do make sure
you don't forget to buy an International Student Travel Card before 7 am tomorrow.
Woman: Oh, I won't forget. In fact, I'll get one today as soon as possible.
Man: Good for you. Is there anything else I can help you with?
Woman: Actually, there is. Do you know if I can use my International Student Card on boats?
Man: If you're thinking of the regular Thames boats that go back and forth between the east
and west banks, then the answer is 'yes'. But you can't use it on the tourist ferries linking the
north and south banks, I'm afraid. A one-way trip east or west of the Thames costs £6 but with
your card you'd make a 20% saving and pay only £ Q9 4.80.
Woman: So, £4.80 for the regular ferry... Do the ferries linking the north and south banks offer
sightseeing tours?
Man: Yes, but, like I said, there's no discount offered on those.
And you can only book using cash or credit card. But I can't book them for you. We don't work
with them.
Woman; Oh, I see. You wouldn't happen to know the cost of a tour by any chance, would you?
Man: In actual fact, I do, because I took my girlfriend on the trip three weeks ago. We bought
the half-day tour and that was £45 each but I am told that you can do the whole day for
£ Q10 75.
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Woman: Well, thank you again. You really have been most helpful.
Man: Don't mention it. Have a nice day now.
Narrator: That's the end of Part 1. You have half a minute to check your answers. [Pause 30
seconds]
Now turn to Part 2.
Part 2
You will hear a university counsellor talking to a group of students. First you will have some
time to look at questions 11-16. [Pause 30 seconds]
Now listen carefully and answer questions 11-16.
Speaker:
Hello everyone. I'm the counselling administrator here at King's College and I've been asked to
come and talk to you about our counselling team and the services that we offer, The
University Counselling Service is available to all our students and it is free of
charge. It is our belief that if you can function well psychologically, then you will find it easier to
fulfil your potential, both personally and academically.
Our services include:
• email counselling: we believe it is helpful to be able to Q11 write down your issues and see
your own words so you can reflect on them, and do so in your own time.
• face-to-face individual counselling: we believe it is beneficial to talk about your issues in
person, at a Q12 pre-scheduled appointment time, for 50 minutes.
• group therapy: particularly valuable If you want to consider how you function Q13 in
relation to others and if you are keen to invest in Q14 long-term personal development.
• self-help resources: helpful if you are interested in finding out more about your issues and
seeking strategies to help yourself, Q15 accessible 24/7 and with links to a range of resources.
• specific issue workshops: suitable if you want to learn about specific issues in a supportive
learning environment with a small group of others who are interested in
developing Q16 strategies to help manage similar concerns.
I must stress at this point that you can only register for ONE of these options at any one time.
Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the discussion you have some time to look at questions
17-20. [Pause 30 seconds]
Now listen and answer questions 17-20.
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Speaker;
We have three professional counsellors here at King's College: Deirdre Blythe, Bobby Foyle and
Samantha Stewart.
Deirdre Blythe specialises in seeing new students and Q18 offers an introductory session
during which she explains the counselling process and what you can expect to achieve through
counselling. This can be particularly helpful for those who are concerned about the counselling
process. During that first session she also establishes what it is that's led you to seek
counselling. Q20 Deirdre is also the only counsellor available outside office hours. She's
usually available early Monday morning, before classes begin, and late Tuesday evening after
class.
Q17 Bobby is available all day long during term time. If you feel the need to drop in and talk to
someone then see Bobby about it. Bobby will either see you himself or place you with the next
available counsellor. If you want to be sure to see the same counsellor on each visit, then we
strongly recommend that you make an appointment ahead of time.
Q19 Anyone who is trying to deal with examination stress or any type of anxiety should
see Samantha Stewart. Sam has an extensive background in stress management and
relaxation techniques and her repertoire includes a full range of techniques to help you cope,
such as body awareness, time management and positive reinforcement.
Well, that's it, thanks for your time. If you have any questions or want more, information about
our services, do come and see us at the Counselling Service.
Narrator: That's the end of Part 2. You have half a minute to check your answers. [Pause 30
seconds]
Now turn to Part 3.
Part 3
You will hear a conversation between a tutor and two students about how to write an English
Literature essay. First you have some time to look at questions 21-26. [Pause 30 seconds]
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21-26.
Tutor: Hello Alfred and Alice. Glad you could make it. So the two of you think you need help
with essay writing, correct?
Alfred: Yes, we do. I mean, all the lecturers expect us to write essays but no one has bothered
to explain what's required in an English Literature essay.
Tutor: Right, well, let's get started, shall we? Now, how basic do you want this tutorial to be?
Alice: As basic as possible. Different people - I mean different fellow students, of course - seem
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to disagree on what makes a good essay, so I am very confused,
Tutor: Well, your number one priority is Q21 readability.
Alfred: But what Is it that makes an essay readable?
Tutor: Well, it's got to be interesting and enjoyable to read and easy to understand. Write an
essay that you yourself would want to read. If you wouldn't want to read your own essay, you
can rest assured that no one else will. No one wants to read an essay that is a mere reiteration
of facts, Q22 lecture notes or other people's opinions. The second important point to bear in
mind when writing your English Literature essay is Q23 planning. Don't start writing without
a goal or an idea of the Q24 key points to cover.
• Make a list of all the key points and ideas before you start writing.
• Plan your paragraphs.
• Look at the Q25 whole picture before you begin.
• Give yourself a deadline for the first 300 words.
Alice: One moment, could I write this down, please?
Tutor: Yes, of course. So, I'll start again.
1. When should you aim to have the first 300 words written by?
2. Make a list of all the key points and ideas before you start writing.
3. Plan your paragraphs.
4. Consider the whole picture before you begin.
5. Decide what your argument is going to be.
6. Who is Q26 your reader?
Alfred: That's a tough one. I never know who my reader is supposed to be. I usually write for
myself.
Tutor: A lot of students make that mistake. And because they know what they mean to say,
they do not bother to explain it clearly. No. Your reader is the person who is actually going
to read it, that is, your lecturer and fellow students. In your case, it's me and Alice.
Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the discussion you have some time to look at questions
27-30 [Pause 30 seconds]
Now listen and answer questions 27-30.
Tutor: The next thing to talk about is paragraph size. Rather basic to writing a good essay I
would say. If you have re-read a paragraph and got lost on the way then it is probably time
to consider dividing it into two paragraphs. Paragraphs are there to help you and your reader
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make sense of the text: they divide up your thoughts neatly and section each part of your
argument into readable chunks. Remember, you should never have a paragraph that is longer
than an Q27 A4 page.
Alice: I'm usually OK with most of the things you mentioned but the problem with my essays is
that they usually lack flow.
Alfred: Same here.
Tutor: Well, what you need to do is make sure that the transition between your paragraphs and
sentences makes sense. Each thought should Q28 seem to follow on effortlessly from each
previous thought.
Alice: And it is at this point that we might want to use Q29 connective words and phrases
such as 'in addition', 'in spite of this', 'however', 'on the other hand' and so on,
Tutor: Well, yes, but you need to be very careful when using connectives. Don't just use them
for the sake of using them, as many students often do. Use them only when it makes sense to
use them. Otherwise you're better off not using them at all.
Last but not least, your argument should be perfectly clear. Instead of offering a Q30 one-
sided rant, however, make sure you include several possible sides of the discussion. A great
English Literature essay on the set text is a lively and thought provoking conversation.
Narrator: That's the end of Part 3. You have half a minute to check your answers. [Pause 30
seconds]
Now turn to Part 4.
Part 4
You will hear a lecture on the topic of 'colour psychology'.
First you have some time to look at questions 31-40.
[Pause 1 minute]
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31-40.
Speaker:
Today I'm going to talk about red. Red is a strong colour that stands out particularly well from
background colours. It carries many Q31 powerful associations. It often infers Q32 danger
and warning, and is used internationally as the colour for stop signs and traffic lights. In
addition, red is the colour our face turns when we are angry - when we ' Q33 see red', but also
when we are feeling guilty, shy or embarrassed, in other words, when Q34 we blush. Red is
also the colour most associated with love, for example, the Q35 red rose.
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Recently, however, a new branch of science called 'colour psychology' has found that wearing
red clothing can have a considerable impact on our mood, perceptions and actions, as well as
others' perceptions of us. Q36 Dressing in red can even change vour physiology and balance
of hormones and alter your performance in sporting contests.
Given the powerful impact of the colour red on humans, Q37 it is perhaps a little surprising
that many mammals, like dogs, are unable to differentiate between red and green. However,
when early primates were striving to adapt to life in tropical rain forests, a new kind of cell
evolved in their retina. This cell enabled them to identify red fruit in the green foliage easily.
The ability to distinguish red objects soon led to new forms of social signalling. For many
primates, red skin - caused by blood pumping near the surface of the skin - is an important
sign of social dominance. With vivid markings on their face and bottom, mandrill monkeys are
perhaps the most famous example. The strength of the red colour indicates the position that
the monkey occupies in the strict social hierarchy of its group; in fitter and more dominant
individuals, the red is much stronger. By recognising other monkeys' strength and fitness,
lower-ranking and weaker monkeys are able to avoid coming into conflict with these
much stronger rivals.
In 2004, two psychologists at the University of Durham in the UK decided to investigate
whether humans might react in a similar way to red. Q38 Russell Hill and Robert Barton
decided to test how humans might respond to red clothing. Perhaps the sight of red clothes
could carry associations of aggression, seen in the red faces of angry people, and dominance,
just like a mandrill.
For a while, Hill and Barton were unable to work out a good experiment to test the idea.
However, the 2004 Olympics in Athens gave them the perfect opportunity to do so. And so, in
combat sports, such as boxing and tae kwon do, the two competing athletes were randomly
assigned either red or blue kits to wear. This enabled Hill and Barton to compare the same
athletes' performances when they were wearing different colours.
By tracking the athletes' progress through the games, they found that those wearing the red
kits were about 5% more likely to win their contest than those wearing blue. So, although
wearing red could not, of course, change the athlete physically, it did seem to give them a small
competitive advantage. Later studies showed that the effect of wearing red was an advantage
in other sports, too. In football penalty taking, for example, they are less likely to score if the
goalkeeper is wearing red.
Although the effect of wearing red in sport is well established, the exact reason for it remains a
matter of debate. There are three possibilities, of which one, two, or even all three have a
significant impact. Q39 The first is that people who wear red feel themselves to be more
dominant, which boosts their confidence as well as triggering physiologicalchanges, like an
increased heart rate and higher testosterone levels, all of which could improve their
performance. Another possibility is that the red colour might intimidate the competitor. So, in
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just the same way that the less dominant mandrill monkeys tend to avoid competing with
the higher ranking monkeys with crimson faces, the individual may feel socially inferior to a
competitor wearing red. Q39 The third possibility is that it might have something to do with
the referees who score combat sports. In one experiment, the colours of outfits in videos of tae
kwon do contests were changed, and then the videos were shown to experienced professional
referees. Simply changing the colours of the contestants', clothing changed the way the
referees scored them; whoever was wearing red was favoured.
Although these early results are fascinating, colour psychology is still a very young science, and
many of its findings are still at a very early stage of development, The experimental results
need to be confirmed by further studies. Q40 However, in the future the hope is that colour
psychology will help in the production of more produc; tive working environments.
Narrator: That is the end of Part 4. You now have half a minute to check your answers. [Pause
30 seconds]
That Is the end of the listening test. You now have ten minutes to transfer your answers to the
Listening Answer Sheet.
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