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    IELTS Listening · Practice test

    Greystone: IELTS Listening practice test

    Renting a storage unit, a climbing centre, a structural model project and a lecture on earthquakes.

    • 4 parts
    • 40 questions
    • About 35 minutes
    • Challenging
    Sit this test with the recording

    Part 1 · Questions 1–10

    Renting a storage unit

    You will hear a conversation between a woman and an adviser at a self-storage company.

    Questions 1–6

    Complete the form below.

    Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

    Storage Enquiry

    Name
    Vera 1
    To store
    the contents of a 2-bedroom house
    Unit size
    3 square feet
    Price
    £4 a month; 14 days' notice to leave
    Moving in on 5
    Note
    the 6 must be drained from the lawnmower

    Questions 7–10

    Complete the notes below.

    Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

    Before and after moving in

    Either buy the company's cover or prove that your own 7 covers storage
    The site is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
    Bring your own 9; the company holds no key
    Stand boxes on a pallet rather than on the 10

    Part 2 · Questions 11–20

    A climbing centre

    You will hear a member of staff introducing new members to a climbing centre.

    Questions 11–15

    Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

    1. 11What does the speaker say beginners get wrong?
      • AThey rely on their arms rather than their legs.
      • BThey climb too slowly.
      • CThey choose routes that are too easy.
    2. 12Why should newcomers avoid the training area?
      • ATendons strengthen far more slowly than muscles.
      • BIt is reserved for members.
      • CIt is usually too crowded.
    3. 13What does she advise about choosing a grade?
      • ABegin with the easiest colour.
      • BAsk a coach to assess you.
      • CTry several colours in the first session.
    4. 14The commonest injury at the centre is caused by
      • Aputting out a hand when landing.
      • Bclimbing without warming up.
      • Cfalling from the roped walls.
    5. 15Loose chalk is discouraged because it
      • Ais harmful to breathe in.
      • Bmakes the holds slippery.
      • Cis more expensive.

    Questions 16–20

    What does the speaker say about each of the following? Choose the correct letter, A–F, next to questions 16–20.

    Comments

    • AIt is a single session that leads to nothing further.
    • BEvery session must be attended.
    • CIt exists because of what a survey revealed.
    • DThere is a long wait for a place.
    • EAn earlier course must be completed first.
    • FIt is run by an outside organisation.
    1. 16the taster session
    2. 17the rope course
    3. 18the women's session
    4. 19the youth club
    5. 20the outdoor days

    Part 3 · Questions 21–30

    A structural model

    You will hear two engineering students, Anouk and Ravi, discussing a shake-table model with their supervisor.

    Questions 21–25

    Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

    1. 21Why does the supervisor reject the students' original plan?
      • AIt would demonstrate rather than test anything.
      • BIt would be too expensive to build.
      • CIt has been done by a previous group.
    2. 22What must be scaled as well as the model itself?
      • Athe timing of the input motion
      • Bthe height of each storey
      • Cthe strength of the joints
    3. 23How can the students check the model's natural frequency?
      • Aby tapping it and recording how it vibrates
      • Bby consulting a design code
      • Cby asking the technician to test it
    4. 24What does he say about using a phone to measure movement?
      • AIt is entirely adequate.
      • BIt should be a last resort.
      • CIt needs a special application.
    5. 25Why does he reject acrylic for the model?
      • AIt breaks and its behaviour cannot be calculated.
      • BIt is too heavy for the table.
      • CIt is difficult to obtain.

    Question 26

    Answer the question below.

    Write ONE NUMBER ONLY.

    1. 26How many runs should be made at each setting?

    Questions 27–30

    What does the supervisor advise about each of the following? Choose the correct letter, A–F, next to questions 27–30.

    Advice

    • AReserve more than you need straight away.
    • BDo it before the physical work, not after.
    • CIt is not worth the trouble it would cause.
    • DThe students may please themselves.
    • EA technician must carry it out.
    • FIt should be repeated at the end.
    1. 27booking the shake table
    2. 28the computer model
    3. 29fitting strain gauges
    4. 30demonstrating at the open day

    Part 4 · Questions 31–40

    Buildings and earthquakes

    You will hear part of a lecture about designing buildings to survive earthquakes.

    Questions 31–40

    Complete the notes below.

    Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

    Buildings and earthquakes

    What happens

    the ground moves sideways; the upper part of the building resists through its 31
    forces are generated inside the building by its own 32 being accelerated
    unreinforced 33 is the most dangerous material of all

    Resonance

    a framed building's period is roughly a tenth of a second per 34
    in Mexico City in 1985 the old lake 35 shook at about two seconds
    buildings of six to fifteen storeys were destroyed; others nearby were not

    Three approaches

    ductility: concrete columns are confined by closely spaced 36 of steel
    isolation: the building sits on bearings of rubber and steel, cutting forces by about 37%
    damping: a tuned mass near the top moves out of 38 with the building

    Two things to avoid

    a 39 storey, where an open ground floor takes all the deformation
    an irregular plan, which makes the building 40 as well as sway

    Question types in this test

    Next step

    Hear the recording once, on the clock, and get every mark explained

    Sit this Listening test