IELTS PREDICTION TEST

<h3 data-path-to-node="2">SECTION 1: BEACHHEADS TRAVEL CUSTOMER REQUEST</h3>
Pam: Beachheads Travel, Pam speaking.
Duncan: Hi, my name is Duncan. I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me organise a trip to Beachheads.
Pam: Sure. Let me just fill in our customer request sheet while I’m speaking to you. Could you tell me your name again, please?
Duncan: Yes, it’s Duncan. Duncan White.
Pam: OK. And is the trip just for yourself?
Duncan: No, there’s three adults—myself, my wife and my mother—and our two daughters, Chloe and Eden.
Pam: So when are you thinking of travelling?
Duncan: During the next school holidays. So they start on October 12th, don’t they?
Pam: Yes, but we’ll be arriving on the 15th and we want to stay for a fortnight.
Pam: Right, got all that. Now I’ll just take a few notes about the type of holiday you want so I can make the bookings for you. Have you thought about where you want to stay while you’re here in the first week?
Duncan: We’d like a bit of luxury, and we’re planning on staying in a (1) hotel on the beach. If possible, that’ll be so much better than a campsite. We usually stay in a tent when we go away, but we’re going to treat ourselves this time.
Pam: And do you have a figure in mind for how much you’d like to spend? Are we likely to get anything for under $150 a night?
Duncan: Hmm, not really. You’d have to spend at least (2) 175 for a big enough room.
Pam: Okay, we can stretch to that. I’ll just have to stop myself thinking that when we go camping, we only pay about $200 for a whole week! Well, I’m sure it will be worth it. I can also organise some activities for your first week. Is there anything your daughters would particularly like to do?
Duncan: They want to try (3) sailing this year. Last year it was surfing—they were mad about it.
Pam: Kids change their minds a lot, don’t they? Mine are into cycling at the moment. I know someone who can teach them to sail. Would you like me to organise a (4) class for them?
Duncan: Wonderful. We’re bringing our own boat with us.
Pam: And what about your wife and your mother?
Duncan: Well, my mother Susan goes bowling when she’s in Brisbane, but my wife Jenny doesn’t really like it. She loves bush walking, but obviously my mother can’t manage that.
Pam: Can I suggest (5) golf for them both? It’s a gentler kind of walk. There’s a beautiful course here with magnificent views of the sea.
Duncan: Sounds perfect. OK, I’ll organise a time. Thanks. Could you send me some leaflets about (6) fishing in the area? I’d like to take the boat out myself.
Pam: Sure, there are some good spots around. Great.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="26">WEEK TWO: NATIONAL PARK (Questions 8–10)</h3>
Pam: Okay, so let’s think about the second week. Now we want something totally different. We’d like to stay up in the mountains in the National Park.
Duncan: Very nice. And what kind of accommodation are you thinking of? There are some beautiful houses you can rent.
Pam: Yes, we did think about renting a house, but I’m worried about the cost. Is there anything a bit cheaper, say a caravan or even a cabin?
Duncan: It’ll have to be a (7) caravan because they don’t have cabins at the campground, but the standard is very high.
Pam: How much does it cost?
Duncan: $100 a night, but they’re very roomy with all mod cons. The campground’s also in a really good spot. What activities are you thinking of doing in that second week?
Pam: Well, it’s actually going to be my wife’s birthday, so I’d like to do something a bit special for her.
Duncan: I can book a really nice (8) massage for her after lunch on that day.
Pam: Lovely. Or would she rather try something more adventurous, like a walk in the treetops? It’s really exciting—you go along a really high wooden bridge.
Duncan: Oh no, she’d be terrified! Stick with your first idea. Are there any nice places to eat near the campground?
Pam: Yes, there’s a fantastic wood-fired pizza restaurant called Marco’s.
Duncan: Oh good! I’ve got two very fussy daughters. Could you send me their (9) menu so we can check?
Pam: It’ll be OK, no problem, Duncan. Now while I remember…

Questions 1–10

Part 1

<h3 data-path-to-node="2">SECTION 2: CANADIANA FESTIVAL THEATRE SEASON</h3>
Host: Michael McKay, the executive director of the Canadiana Festival Theatre is here with us to talk about the season starting in June. Welcome!
Michael: Thank you. We have an amazing season this year with some great deals for our clients. You know, we have a lot of regular theater-goers who will be happy to know that we have some great specials for the upcoming season. For example, (11) if you order two tickets to any play performed at the theater, you can get 50% off the price of the next play [Answer: A – second play at reduced price] we put on. This replaces the special offer we had last season, which was for 50% off all performances on Mondays.
It is good to get youth interested in theater, so many schools arrange class trips to our theater. This year, we will send a special study guide to each class so the students can familiarize themselves with the play beforehand. Having some background information always makes the experience of watching the actors perform the play more enjoyable. (12) Each guide has suggestions for classroom discussion [Answer: C] after seeing the show, which teachers find useful for a follow-up activity.
Also, we mustn’t forget the “Bring a Friend” special for our senior citizens on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Everyone over 60 can buy one ticket and get one free. (13) The offer includes all the musicals plus the plays [Answer: B – a number of productions], so there is lots of choice. We also include $5 off any gift shop purchase for those clients who spend more than $30 there.
So, what would you say is the best play you have this year?
Michael: Ha! All the plays are great, but the “must-see” play is called Something to Say. It stars the amazing actor Christopher Plunkett. (14) This likely will be the last year we see him perform [Answer: A – retire soon] as he has been on stage for over 60 years. Actually, for the first time, he helped write this play, and it really is a commentary on his amazing career as an actor. You may have seen him in supporting roles in movies, but acting on stage is his first love.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="10">THE SEASON’S MUSICALS (Questions 15–20)</h3>
Michael: Now let’s talk about the season’s musicals.
The first one is called The Climb. Of course, the best part is that we have that really amazing singer Justin McDonald playing the part of the hero. It is an inspiring story of a man called Steven who starts working for a newspaper in a very junior job in the mail room. (15) After many years and many promotions, he finally gets to the top position [Answer: B – achieving success]. He becomes editor-in-chief of the newspaper.
Then we have that wonderful classic that we show every two years because it is so popular: The Voyagers. It is a wonderful story of a (16) Canadian farming family in the late 1800s [Answer: A – different century], and how they settled their land near Kingston, Ontario. The musical gives a good description of the times, the struggles and the way of life in that period.
The next musical, Joey Brown, is a comical story of a piano player who writes songs for kids’ TV shows. However, he ends up having a terrible time when he gets a new boss who always criticizes him and makes his life difficult. (17) Poor Joey has to learn how to win over the boss [Answer: H – handling conflict]. The show has a couple of funny twists and a surprise ending.
In Main Street, Karen Heinz stars in the true story of a young woman whose dream is to compete in the Olympics. She is such a powerful actress in this role. It is about a gymnast who is (18) crushed when, during a practice session, she breaks her ankle just one week before the games [Answer: E – experiencing disappointment].
Now for Milly and Mike, what a story this is. Stephanie James and Peter Doomis are only 10 years old, but they star in the musical as the twins Milly and Mike. They have a wonderful (19) upbringing with their grandmother, who teaches them life’s lessons [Answer: D – growing up] through song.
The final must-see is so whimsical. In Windswept, (20) a land of imaginary creatures, the flowers and trees dance and the enchanted animals talk [Answer: F – magical place]. It is delightful and we even have a very talented actor who is amazing as he travels with us through the world of make-believe. Kids love this one.
Michael: That all sounds wonderful. Now, tell me about the restaurants in the theater district…

Questions 11 – 14

Musicals
 
The Climb {managing to achieve success}
 
The Voyagers {living in a different century}
 
Joey Brown {handling conflict}
 
Main Street {experiencing disappointment}
 
Millie and Mike {growing up}
 
Windswept {living in a magical place}

Questions 15 – 20

Part 2

<h3 data-path-to-node="2">SECTION 3: PERFORMANCE ARTS COURSE FEEDBACK</h3>
Charlie: So Gina, we’ve got to give our tutor some feedback on how we feel about the course, now we’ve come to the end of our second year. Is it okay with you if we have a chat together before we go and see him?
Gina: Sure, Charlie.
Charlie: So, did you choose this university to do Performance Arts because it’s got such a good reputation? That’s what hooked me in.
Gina: Well, there are other good places which I also considered, but when I looked into things further, (21) I was impressed by the connections this course has with a whole range of theatres of different types [Answer: B]. So even though I was tempted to go and study abroad, I decided to come here in the end.
Charlie: And you don’t regret it?
Gina: No, it’s been brilliant, especially the options this year. The Body and Dance option I did for this term has been particularly stimulating.
Charlie: Hmm, I’m sorry I didn’t go for that one too, but I did Dance and Drama which was brilliant too. I think (22) the most valuable option I’ve done was the Movement Analysis course we did in the first year [Answer: A].
Gina: Absolutely. It’s provided a great foundation for all our other work since then. So let’s talk about our work experience. Last summer you went to Finland, didn’t you?
Charlie: That’s right. I was at their National Ballet Theatre. I didn’t get the chance to go on stage, but (23) I helped out with sewing clothes for current productions and even with designing some for future shows [Answer: A – costume department]. It was brilliant. I got to know a lot of students studying at the local dance school, and I may get the chance to go back there next summer.
Gina: Hmm, I’ve been offered more work at the place where I was working in Canada.
Charlie: Great! So, what do you think you gained most from the experience? I think I’ve got much better at controlling my stress levels.
Gina: For me, it was probably (24) the fact that I learned a lot about collaborating with others rather than working independently [Answer: B – work better in a team]. I was lucky to be able to do that in a situation that wasn’t too stressful. Also, I had to organize my time well, but I’ve always been reasonably good at that.
Charlie: That’s good. So, we’ve got quite a few things ready to say to our tutor. It would be a good chance to ask him any questions we have too.
Gina: Of course. I also think it could be helpful to discuss our future plans, for example, what we’re planning to do our dissertations on.
Charlie: Sure. I was unsure about whether to focus on globalisation in dance or on stage design. I did an essay on globalisation in my first year and really enjoyed it, but then (25) I saw a spectacular production at the Royal Opera House and that settled me on stage design [Answer: C]. I know another student who’s planning to work on that too, so we can discuss things together a bit.
Gina: OK, that could be useful. I’m planning to do something on current trends in contemporary dance for my dissertation.
Charlie: That sounds pretty challenging. It’s a big topic. It might not be easy to organize in a coherent way.
Gina: I’ve thought about it quite a lot and I think that’ll be OK, and I feel confident about how to write a longer piece of work. (26) I’m in a bit of a panic though about how I’ll get through all the literature. There seems to be so much [Answer: B – background reading]. Hopefully, it won’t all be relevant.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="22">CAREER PLANS (Questions 27–30)</h3>
Charlie: So have you made any career plans yet?
Gina: I’m still undecided. I’ve thought about performance, of course.
Charlie: Yes, I think lots of graduates from here take that route. But it’s a hard life involving lots of tough repetitive practice as well as actually appearing on stage.
Gina: Yes, but (27) the performers I’ve met know that’s essential for the job and say they wouldn’t change what they do for the world [Answer: E].
Charlie: I know lots of graduates go into education, teaching at various levels.
Gina: But (28) that means doing some kind of post-grad certificate [Answer: C], but I think it would be interesting, rewarding work.
Charlie: I was wondering about theatre management as a possible option. That’s what our tutor did before he got into teaching, isn’t it?
Gina: Yes, but he said he quickly realized it wasn’t for him. (29) He wasn’t earning enough to live on [Answer: A]. I can imagine his communication skills are better than his business skills as well.
Charlie: Marketing’s a possibility, of course.
Gina: Sure. I’ve read something saying it can be an interesting career, though (30) I don’t think many graduates go for this [Answer: F], but that might mean there’s not so much competition as in many other fields of dance.
Charlie: Right, so now should we make a list…

Questions 21–26

Types of careers
 
Performance {People with experience feel very positive about it}
 
Education {An additional qualification is required}
 
Theatre management {The pay can be low}
 
Marketing {It is a relatively unpopular choice}

Questions 27–30

Part 3

<h3 data-path-to-node="2">PART 4: FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS</h3>
Lecturer: Good morning everyone. In today’s lecture, I’m going to talk about food safety and the factors involved in setting standards for the food industry, with particular reference to the situation here in Australia.
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Now, before anyone can decide what kind of standards need to be set for ensuring that any specific food product is safe, scientists have to carry out a risk assessment. And in doing this, they have to consider several potential problems.
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Firstly, they have to consider the (31) ingredients of the product. They have to decide whether any of these might make the finished product more susceptible to harmful bacteria. Then they have to consider the process used in the preparation of the food, and whether or not it includes a step designed to eliminate unwanted microorganisms.
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After that, they’ve got to consider the way products are (32) stored, for instance in warehouses or cold stores, and distributed to retailers. And it doesn’t end there—the analysts even have to be aware of problems that might occur after the food has reached the supermarket, things like frozen foods being defrosted and then refrozen because the (33) temperature fluctuated, or foods being kept past their expiry date.
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And finally, any assessment of the overall risk has to take into account the way the end users—consumers—normally handle food at home. So as you see, the risk assessment is quite complicated.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="9">FACTORS AFFECTING FOOD CONSUMPTION</h3>
Lecturer: Now, there are several factors affecting what kind of food we eat. Only one of which is legislation. Another is the attitudes of consumers. A good example of this is the dislike that many Australians have for additives in their food, even when these additives are considered safe. This has led to the phenomenal expansion of the market for (34) organic food in Australia.
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Another important influence on what we eat is the food industry itself. In some large supermarkets, low prices are the main strategy for attracting customers, while for more upscale marketers, (35) image is more important. But we should bear in mind for all of them, the key consideration is profitability.
Finally, there is the influence of the mass media, which is the most important source of (36) information for most people. Unfortunately, this has a rather negative effect because, in general, they are not very objective. For one thing, the prime motivation of the media, as with the food industry, is (37) sales, and this has a major influence on the way in which the topic is dealt with.
A further problem is that news is regarded as a type of (38) entertainment. Often the issues that get top billing are those that are sensational or controversial, so it’s not at all surprising if the public ends up with a rather distorted understanding of food and food safety.
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<h3 data-path-to-node="15">PERSONAL OPINION AND EDUCATION</h3>
Lecturer: On top of that, up till now, food safety and (39) nutrition have never been considered a really interesting topic for the public. Very few TV or radio shows address the issues, and even those shows that are devoted to cooking or eating generally ignore them.
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At this point, I’ll just offer a personal opinion on this subject. I firmly believe in food safety education starting at primary schools. We know that many children who have been taught about the benefits of exercise come home and lecture their (40) parents about it. So the same could be done for food and food preparation.
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And at the same time, the countless educational television shows…

Listening Test 29

IELTS Listening Exam

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