Thursday, November 17, 2016

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test


IELTS Listening Practice Test 104

Posted: 17 Nov 2016 06:49 AM PST

SECTION 1

Questions 1-5

Complete the form below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

SOCIOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT SURVEY

Example                                                                            Answer

Survey on:                                                                         commuting center

Age:                                                                                    1 ___________________

Postcode:                                                                           2 ___________________

COMPUTER FACILITIES ALREADY USED

Where?                                                                             3 ___________________

SPORTS FACILITIES ALREADY USED

Where?                                                                            4 ___________________

EDUCATION FACILITIES ALREADY USED

Where?                                                                            5 ___________________

Questions 6-10

Complete the form below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTRE

New sports:                                                                 6_______________ and___________________.

Classes organized only for:                                        7_______________.

Education classes:                                                       8_______________ and __________________.

Willing to pay about:                                                  9£ ______________ for new classes.

Possible frequency of visits, if improvements made?

10 ______________ a week

SECTION 2

Questions 11-15

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

11. The Dark which makes up Hampstead Heath is

A. very large.
B. fairly large.
C. fairly small.

12. According the sPeaker. Hampstead underground station is

A. the shallowest in the system.
B. the deepest in the system.
C. the oldest in London.

13. The speaker suggests that after their walk people might want to •

A. have a meal in the famous restaurants.
B. avoid Hampstead village as it is very busy.
C. visit Hampstead village to look at the shops.

14. The houses in the Vale of the Heath are built

A. on the edge of the heath.
B. on the heath itself.
C. opposite the heath.

15. The speaker advises walkers to remove their headphones to

A. hear the silence away from the traffic.
B. ensure they are not being followed.
C. listen to the noises in the park.

Questions 16-20

Which activity can be done at each of the following locations on the heath?

Choose FIVE answers below and write the correct letter, A-G, next to questions 16-20.

Activities

A. have picnics
B. go fishing
C. view London
D. have a swim
E. attend concerts
F. watch plays
C. have snacks

Locations on the Heath

16. Kenwood House

17. grassy slopes

18. open-air stage

19. ponds

20. Parliament Hill

SECTION 3

Questions 21 -25

How do the speakers describe the green urban planning options?

Choose FIVE descriptions from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to questions 21-25.

Descriptions

A. dangerous
B. too expensive
C too many objections
D. disruptive
F. unpractical
G. unsuccessful

21. green belt

22. decentralization

23. newtowns

24. brownfield sites

25. pedestrianized zones

Questions 26-28

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

26 Which area is jack having the most problems with?

A. Understanding the statistics.
B. The lack of material.
C. The selection of statistics.

27 What has been central to Curitiba’s success?

A. Central government intervention.
B. Working together with residents.
C. Giving responsibility to strategists.

28 Why does the transport system work so well?

A. There are cheap fares for the poor and elderly.
B. Bicycles can use the bus lanes.
C. There is a low car ownership.

Questions 29 and 30 

Choose TWO letters, A-E.

Which does the tutor suggest are the TWO areas Jack needs to focus on?

A. the amount of parkland

B. the employment strategy

C. the pedestrianized zones

D. the recycling scheme

E. the suburban areas

SECTION 4

Questions 31-40

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

ECONOMICS COURSE GUIDELINES

During lectures

Students:

will receive information about economics and the 31 __________________ to concentrate on

will be provided with information about the subject will be provided with a framework for further study

will have an opportunity to be taught by a 32 ___________________ in the field

will take part in the learning culture in 33____________________.

Common problems students have with techniques used in lectures

may not develop 34 _________________: no immediate questions

newer techniques help improve 35 __________________ more than lectures

How to avoid problems and make learning easier

leave time to read 36____________________ on the booklist

test yourself with quizzes

if you have had a 37___________________, revise what you previously learned

use the web to do more 38____________________.

check the sources of information on the web are 39___________________.

40___________________ with your classmates

Answer keys:

Section 1

1. 59

2. HA87UP

3. (LOCAL) LIBRARY

4. SWIMMING POOL

5. (FURTHER EDUCATION) COLLEGE

6. BADMINTON, YOCA

7. PENSIONERS

8. ARTS AND CRAFTS

9. 2

10. 3 TIMES

Section 2

11. A

12. B

13. C

14. B

15. C

16. G

17. A

18. E

19. D

20. C

Section 3

21. E

22. F

23. B

24. A

25. D

26. C

27. B

28. A

29. C

30. D

Section 4

31. PRIORITIES

32. RESEARCHER

33. HIGHER EDUCATION

34. STUDENT UNDERSTANDING

35. LEARNING OUTCOMES

36. ALL ITEMS

37. CAP YEAR

38. BACKGROUND RESEARCH

39. RELIABLE

40. DISCUSS IDEAS

BONUS EXERCISE: GAP-FILLING 

The texts below are transcript for your IELTS Listening Practice Test. To make the most out of this transcript, we removed some words from the texts and replaced with spaces. You have to fill each space with the missing word by listening to the audio for this IELTS listening practice test.

SECTION 1

(K = Katie; R = resident)

K: Hi, good afternoon sir, er … excuse me! Could you spare a minute please?

R: Oh, hello. Sorry, I was in a world of my own … I didn't hear you there.

K: No problem. My name’s Katie and I’m a second year [……………………….]student. We’re doing a research project on the [……………………….]of community centres to local [……………………….]. May I ask, are you a resident of Molton?

R: Yes, I am.

K: That’s perfect. Would you mind answering some questions about the [……………………….]you use? It won’t take very long…

R: Of course, I’d be happy to answer any questions you have. [……………………….]!

K: Great! OK. the first questions are to do with you. So can I ask how old you are? We need to know for [……………………….]purposes later.

R: Well, I’d like to say 16 but I’m 59, 60 next week in fact.

K: Congratulations for next week! Now I just need your postcode, and then we’ll get started.

R:        Right, well that’s an easy one. It’s [……………………….].

K:        7-A-8 … H-Q-P, was that right?

R:        No my dear, it’s H-A-8-7-U-P.

K:        Right… OK. Sorry for the confusion.

R:        That’s quite alright. Now what about these questions?

K: Yes, let’s get started … So one of the most important things we need to know is which of the facilities you already use.

R: Right OK.

K: OK, what about computer facilities? Do you currently use public computers anywhere in town?

R:        Yes. I do. I go to my [……………………….].

K:        Great,… just jotting that down. OK, what about local sports facilities?

R:        Yes, I get down to the [……………………….]at least twice a week.

K:        And education facilities? Are you currently attending any courses?

R: Yes, I go to Spanish classes every Friday at the further [……………………….]college.

K- That’s great! I must say, you're very active.

K: OK, we’re halfway through. The next bit is all about how the [……………………….]centre could be [……………………….], if at all, that is.

R: I see. Well, I’ll give it a go!

K: Well firstly, I’d like to find out your views on sports facilities. Which sports do you think the community centre should offer that it doesn’t already?

R: Mmm… Well, I’m not going to say swimming as there's no point having two pools in a town of this size. Let me think … um, what, about [……………………….]? I know it’s very popular these days. Yes, yoga and [……………………….]. 1 used to play you know.

K: Really?

R: Yes, and 1 was quite good though I’m probably a bit [……………………….]now. It’s been years.

K: OK, do you think the classes should be split into groups?

R: Yes, that’s a good idea. I know that if there were classes only for [……………………….]. I’d definitely be more likely to play. I’m not a fast as I once was, you know.

K: OK, I'll just write that, down … Great! Now, we’re nearly done. I just need to ask you some questions about [……………………….]. What kind of classes do you think the centre should offer that it doesn’t already?

R: Well, I [……………………….]the kind of thing that's no longer [……………………….]at the local college, em … things like arts and crafts. Those kinds of classes have now closed as they weren’t financially [……………………….], apparently.

K: Yes, I heard about that. It was such a [……………………….]. Those kinds of classes are so important for the [……………………….]well-being of those most [……………………….]in a community. OK, I’ve written that down. Now, I need to ask you whether you would be willing to pay for any of the [……………………….]we were just talking about.

R: Umm, as long as it wasn’t too much, I have nothing against [……………………….]. Something like two pounds per class seems like a [……………………….]rate for an old man like me!

K: OK, era … and lastly then, I just need to know how regularly you think you will use the new facilities if the community centre makes the changes you have suggested.

R: Well, T’d say three times a week, which is more than I go at the moment. I only bother on [……………………….]and [……………………….], as there’s nothing else on during the week that interests me. But I would [……………………….]get out of the house more if they were to make those kinds of changes.

SECTION 2

Hi and welcome to the walking audio tour service, which offers [……………………….]audio tours of over 30 walks around London. The full list of the walks is [……………………….]on our website. You have chosen the [……………………….]Heath Tour Part 1, which was, in fact, the first, of the walking tours that were recorded. Your walk takes you through part of the heath, a huge, wild, open [……………………….]where Londoners and [……………………….]to the city can come and enjoy some [……………………….]and refreshing exercise. The heath is one of the gems of north London. When you enter the parkland, you will feel as if you are walking in the wild [……………………….], but you are actually still in an [……………………….].

The walking tour begins here at the exit to Hampstead underground station, which is the [……………………….]station on the London Underground [……………………….]. We hope that you enjoy your experience, whether you are on your own or sharing your walk with a [……………………….]… So let’s begin your tour. We hope you enjoy it!

If you turn right as you exit Hampstead [……………………….], and stay on the right hand side of the road, the main [……………………….], Heath Street, will take you up the hill to the heath itself. You are now walking away from the main shops and cafes in Hampstead village, but you can return to visit, these after vour walking tour for some window shopping. The village is busy during the [……………………….]and the evenings.

Now back to Heath Street. As the road winds [……………………….]up Heath Street, you will pass some shops and [……………………….]on your way to the heath. When you reach the top, the first part of the heath that you will see on your right is the Vale of the Heath, which has some [……………………….]houses, built on the Heath itself beside a large [……………………….]. If you go along a little further you will come to a fork in the road, where one road – North End Way – turns to the left and goes northwest away from the heath; and on your right is [……………………….]Road, which turns north-east, cutting through the parkland. Walk along this latter road a little way and look for the first opening on your right, where a path [……………………….]you down into the wild parkland.

As you descend along the [……………………….], you will find that the noise of the [……………………….], that is just on your left, disappears completely. You might want, to take off your headphones to eniov the [……………………….]of the sounds of the parkland. Don’t imagine that there is only silence! There is the noise of the trees and the [……………………….]that hves there. As you walk along the path, you will come across [……………………….]paths coming from the right to join the path that you are on, but keep going until you come to the first fork in the path. Now take the path that goes to your left, which will bring you shortly to the open spaces around Kenwood House.

You can either walk through the woods and enjoy being among the trees, or you can [……………………….]the other [……………………….]the heath has to offer. You are now at Kenwood House, which is a [……………………….]open to the public. It has been used as the setting for [……………………….]well-known films, and is used as a venue for a wide range of [……………………….]. For some fight [……………………….], there is the cafe at Kenwood House. Below Kenwood House itself, you can see the [……………………….], which are an ideal place for picnics and for children to run around and play games. Just beyond this picnic area is an open air [……………………….]where music concerts are held in the summer months. You might even see the stage being prepared for a concert while you are there.

You might want to explore this part of the heath at your [……………………….]. But before you leave the heath altogether there are two other [……………………….]features that are worth visiting. On the east side of the heath are several large ponds for [……………………….]and mixed bathing. And if you woidd like a view of London, you can visit [……………………….]Hill, which gives you a good [……………………….]of London that is in fact protected by law.

SECTION 3

(J – Jack; T – tutor)

J: Hi! Am I bothering you? Is it OK to see you now?

  1. Hi Jack! No bother. Please come in. As your tutor this year, it's my [……………………….]to oversee your assignments. Now, where are my notes? Oh yes, here they are. OK. I see that we were going to look at your case study on the [……………………….]of urban planning in the [……………………….]and how to make it as ‘green’ as possible. How’s it all going?

J: Actually, I’m pretty happy with it. Can I talk you through it to make sure I’m on the right track?

T: Of course, please do. I’ll stop you if I have any questions.

J: OK, well I started by giving an overview of what ‘green’ urban planning has been up until now. Firstly, there’s the idea of a green belt. This is the one that everyone’s heard of. but I found that while it. was [……………………….]for a short time and in limited cases, it grossly over [……………………….]things.

T: Well that’s a good and practical start. What else did you look at? I hope that you also considered the idea of [……………………….]?

J: Yes, that was really interesting, as although there were no [……………………….]to it and it looked good on paper, it just, didn’t work in practice.

T: Yes, a conundrum indeed. However, I think you’ll find that there are many fads that come and go in this area. It isn’t the first and it won’t be the last to simply [……………………….]off the face of the planet. Well this is all very good so far. What did you look at next?

J: I then researched the [……………………….] fad of building new towns on new sites, but I found that although there are [……………………….]cases of success, they [……………………….]to cost too much time and monev to build.

T: Keeping to that theme, have you [……………………….]the idea of brownfield sites? That is sites that [……………………….]had another use, being converted into [……………………….]areas?

J: Like the idea of buildings that were once banks being turned into restaurants? That kind of thing?

T: Yeah, that’s right.

J: No, I hadn’t thought of that.

T: WTell. I'd sav it’s a pretty important option in most, urban areas today • Even though there have been [……………………….]with safety, if the land were [……………………….]in any way, at least it. tends to [……………………….]no objections from local residents.

J: OK, thanks. I'll make sure I put that in.

T: Anything else?

J: Well, I’m not sure about this last one, but 1 thought the idea of [……………………….]central areas was an interesting [……………………….]. Do you think it’s valid here?

T: Oh, it’s certainly not a bad idea. The only thing is that it would probably [……………………….]the problem of [……………………….]in inner city areas and would [……………………….]local residents' sleep, if the construction work were to happen during the night. The use of loud [……………………….]to re-pave the area would be inevitable.

J: Yes, I take your point, but in some older cities, I think it’s one of the few viable [……………………….].

T: Well as long as you state that, then it can definitely be included.

J: OK, so that’s my introduction to urban planning [……………………….], but now I come to the main part, which is the case study. It was really difficult to choose as there are so many good examples, but in the end I settled on [……………………….], which is the capital of the south [……………………….]state of Parana.

T: Ah, yes. Nice choice. How’s the research coming along?

J: Well, to be honest, I’m finding the amount of [……………………….]a bit too much. There’s such a diverse range of [……………………….]that it makes it almost impossible to be [……………………….].

T: Well, tell me a bit more about what you've [……………………….], and then we'll see if we can come up with a plan to tackle the problem.

J: Well, it’s fascinating. Local authorities managed to achieve so much since the [……………………….], principally because rather than waiting for central [……………………….]initiatives they chose a cohesive [……………………….]where residents were consulted. Then they took their ideas and [……………………….]them into local government planning to come up with a plan everybody was happy with.

T: A ha! A bottom-up [……………………….]. Do go on …

J: Well, the transport system is a real example of the town’s [……………………….]image. Even though they have one of the highest number of cars per person in the country, they also have the highest number of people using [……………………….]. This is because poor and elderly residents are able to benefit from a [……………………….]that allows them to use the system for less. This has led to low levels of pollution which also encourages [……………………….]to use bicycles more.

T: Well, that's really [……………………….]Jack. Well done. But I do have some suggestions to help you with [……………………….]your case study.

J: Please…

T: If you are going to prove Curitiba's success, you need to refer to [……………………….]. You mentioned [……………………….]only areas in your introduction, how about that,?

J: Yes, OK.

T: And what about the amount of parking for all of those cars?

J: I didn’t come [……………………….]that in my research, but I can look it up.

Yeah, I think it's important.

J: And what about considering where people live in [……………………….]to their place of work? If they live in the [……………………….], how about mentioning how far they need to travel in order to get to work?

T: And don't forget about their recycling [……………………….], including how easy it is and how much they recycle, making sure you include statistics to back it up.

J: OK, got it.

T All in all Jack, you've really done your [……………………….]and I very much look forward to receiving your final draft.

J: Thanks professor. You’ve been a great help.

SECTION 4

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Stanley University School of [……………………….]. I will be one of your [……………………….]on the course and my name is Professor Whitefield. Before the [……………………….]year really gets underway, I would like to take you through some of what you can [……………………….]and to give you some general course information.

Firstly, you'll be attending lectures during which you will receive information about [……………………….]and the [……………………….]that you will need to focus on. The. lectures will provide you with information about the subject in a relatively [……………………….]format. In addition, they should also provide a suitable [……………………….]for further study. Typically, this is also the first time that students get the chance to meet a researcher at the [……………………….]of the discipline. Traditionally, lectures are seen as an [……………………….]part of the learning culture for higher education, in which [……………………….]study is viewed as an induction into academic [……………………….]and a way of viewing the world.

However, although all I have said until now is true, every year undergraduate students experience problems with the [……………………….]used in lectures. Being [……………………….]will hopefully help you with [……………………….]to these issues. The first problem is that there is little [……………………….]for the development of student understanding. That is, if you misunderstand something, there is no [……………………….]opportunity to ask. Secondly, when newer teaching [……………………….]are used, such as problem -solving, learning outcomes are improved. However, these will still not replace the validity of listening and learning from an [……………………….].

Nowr, before you start [……………………….]there are several things that you can do in order to make the learning process, and [……………………….]your student life at the university, easier. First and [……………………….], be prepared! You will be given a reading list. Don’t just throw it away or forget about it; make sure you leave enough time to go through all items on it. Once you've done that, an ideal thing to do would be to test yourself on the [……………………….]. Prepare a mini [……………………….]w’hile reading, and go back to it before the lecture and just check you knowr the answers. Now for most of you, this won't be the first time that you're studying economics, but you may have taken a gap year or had a [……………………….]of time working. If this is so, and even if it isn't in fact, it always makes sense to go back and refresh your memory on those [……………………….]theories you learned about, before, as we’ll [……………………….]be referring to them.There’re just a couple more ideas I’d like to [……………………….]before I’ll take any questions you may have. We are lucky enough to be living in a [……………………….], so use resources like the web to do some extra background research. There's no shortage of information nowadays, but just be sure that, you’re using [……………………….]. Finally, and this is an important one: make sure you discuss ideas with your peers. They are in the same boat as you after all, and you will probably find that it helps make your learning more [……………………….]. All in all, take charge of your learning and you will find that you [……………………….]. Now, do you have any questions before we go on to…

Practice every day to improve your IELTS listening skills. Don’t forget to visit IELTS Material website on a daily basis to find more practice tests for every skill in the IELTS Test.

Wingspan – Word Of The Day For IELTS

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 10:19 PM PST

Wingspan – Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

Wingspan: (Noun) /ˈwɪŋspæn/

Definition:

The distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other

Example:

For IELTS Speaking:.
“His wingspan is huge and so is his shadow on the earth.”
“The other plane continued its turn its wingspan widening.”
“The plane had a wingspan of eighty feet and broke all records for altitude and range.”

For IELTS Writing:
“A small brownish butterfly with a lifespan of less than a week and a wingspan shorter than your little finger.”

Exercise:

Choose the following words to fill in the blank: concentrations, grant, parameters, wingspan. statistically, attitude, obviously, integrated, undertakes, projections.

  1. In February of 1996, Princess Diana of Wales announced that she would _______________ Prince Charles a divorce.
  2. This eight-engined monster is made of spruce and has a ____________ of almost 100 metres.
  3. She really changed her _______________ once she understood how the others felt.
  4. Emile Durkheim hypothesized that the more _______________ individuals are into their society, the less likely they are to kill themselves.
  5. She is _______________ in love with him; she stares at him all the time.
  6. The Serengeti National Park has among the greatest _______________ of wildlife on the African continent.
  7. A Dutch proverb notes that he who _______________ many things at once seldom does anything well.
  8. _______________, travelling by air is the safest means of transportation.
  9. The head office is responsible for defining the _______________ which guide policy decisions at the local level.
  10. Our sales _______________ for the next year anticipate a steady growth of at least 5%.

Answer keys:

  1. grant
  2. wingspan
  3. attitude
  4. integrated
  5. obviously
  6. concentrations
  7. undertakes
  8. statistically
  9. parameters
  10. projections

Check out Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking & Writing on IELTS Material website to improve your vocabulary for IELTS and get a high score in IELTS.Me

IELTS Writing Actual Test in July 2016 & Band 8.0+ Sample Argumentative Essay

Posted: 16 Nov 2016 09:34 PM PST

IELTS Writing Task 2 Topic

Nowadays, most large companies operate multi-nationally. To what extent those companies should have responsibility towards local communities in which they operate?

Band 8.0 Sample Essay 

In the globalisation process, a variety of organisations run on an international scale. However, I believe that these firms should not forget to place more of an emphasis on contributing to the development of the local societies where they are located in several aspects.

The first responsibility that the multinational companies should take is to preserve the local environment. Companies of any size would exert negative influence on the region’s air and water quality by running factories, disposing of waste to the waterworks or simply using airconditioners. Therefore, it is encouraged that they are active in placing restrictions on the level of the contaminants released and endeavouring to operate on an environmentally friendly basis.

Second of all, paying tax on schedule is also an obligation. The tax money is used to upgrade the public constructions and regulate the socio-economic activities, thus facilitate people’s life. Accordingly, not paying tax properly, the companies not only violate the national laws, but also indirectly deprive the inhabitants of a wide range of benefits they are well-deserved to reap.

Finally, the major global companies can support the regional communities by creating jobs. Provided with career opportunities at a firm near their homes, the workers can not only save time and money for traveling but also find it easier to take care of their family. In a broader view, this action helps reduce the unemployment rate at the area, which boosts the local economic development in the long run.

In conclusion, I believe that helping the local communities thrive should be considered a must for the international organisations, and there are many ways to implement the task.

(273 words – Thành Nguyễn)

Useful Expressions

  • Place (more of) an emphasis on smth (V)
  • Exert influence (collocation)
  • Waterworks (N
  • Dispose of N (V)
  • Place restriction on (collocation) = limit
  • Endeavour = Strive = Exert effort (v)
  • On schedule
  • Regulate (V)
  • Socio-economic (Adj)
  • Violate (V)
  • Reap benefits (Collocation)
  • Boost the economic development
  • Thrive
  • An obligation = a must
  • Implement = Execute = Perform

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