SpeakMetry
    Start free

    IELTS Listening · Practice test

    Yarrow: IELTS Listening practice test

    Taking a market stall, a country show, a beekeeping study and a lecture on how bees communicate.

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

    Part 1 · Questions 1–10

    Taking a market stall

    You will hear a conversation between a man and the organiser of a farmers' market.

    Questions 1–6

    Complete the form below.

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

    New Trader

    Name
    Luca 1
    Produce
    jams, marmalades and 2
    Must first register with 3 health, 28 days in advance
    Pitch
    4 metres, at £32 a day
    One-off joining fee
    £5
    First market
    the 6 of the month

    Questions 7–10

    Complete the notes below.

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

    On market day

    Vehicles must leave the square by 7
    Bring a gazebo with 8, as the paving cannot be pegged
    Labels must show ingredients, allergens, weight, address and a 9
    Bring fewer jars and plenty of 10

    Part 2 · Questions 11–20

    A country show

    You will hear a show secretary describing a country show on local radio.

    Questions 11–16

    Complete the notes below.

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

    Yarrow Show, Saturday 10 August

    Gates open at 8.30; the main ring finishes at 11
    Tickets: £14 on the day, £12 in advance until Thursday midnight
    Children under 13 enter free
    Parking is free but the field is difficult after 14
    Dogs must be on a short lead, except in the livestock lines and the 15 tent
    Competition entries close on 1 August; each class costs 16 pence

    Questions 17–20

    What does the speaker say about each of the following? Choose the correct letter, A–F, next to questions 17–20.

    Comments

    • AIt cannot be entered until later in the morning.
    • BIt begins before most people arrive.
    • CNo advance entry is required.
    • DIt is indoors and gets very busy.
    • EIt has been moved to a new part of the field.
    • FTickets for it must be bought separately.
    1. 17the produce and baking tent
    2. 18the sheepdog trials
    3. 19the children's fancy dress
    4. 20the beekeeping tent

    Part 3 · Questions 21–30

    A beekeeping study

    You will hear two students, Ida and Marcus, discussing a study of honeybee colonies with their supervisor.

    Questions 21–26

    Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

    1. 21Why does the supervisor reject honey yield as a measure?
      • AIt reflects how each hive is managed.
      • BIt cannot be measured accurately.
      • CIt varies too little between colonies.
    2. 22What does he recommend measuring instead?
      • Athe weight of the hive over time
      • Bthe number of bees leaving each day
      • Cthe temperature inside the hive
    3. 23What determines how many hives they can study?
      • Athe equipment available
      • Bthe time they have
      • Cthe number of beekeepers willing to help
    4. 24Why is a small number of hives acceptable here?
      • AThe result is a seasonal pattern, not an average.
      • BColonies vary very little.
      • CPrevious studies used the same number.
    5. 25Why must a temperature logger be placed at every hive?
      • Ato separate the effect of warmth from that of flowers
      • Bto warn of frost damage
      • Cto check that the scales are working
    6. 26What does he advise about identifying pollen?
      • AIdentify it only as far as genus.
      • BSend the samples to a specialist.
      • CRecord only the colour.

    Questions 27–30

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

    Advice

    • AIt has to be done and is not negotiable.
    • BUse an existing source instead of collecting it.
    • CLook at it before designing anything else.
    • DThe students may choose for themselves.
    • EA technician will carry it out.
    • FIt should wait until the second season.
    1. 27counting varroa mites
    2. 28surveying the flowers near each site
    3. 29the association's old hive records
    4. 30presenting at the open day

    Part 4 · Questions 31–40

    How honeybees communicate

    You will hear part of a lecture about communication in honeybee colonies.

    Questions 31–40

    Complete the notes below.

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

    Communication in honeybee colonies

    The dance

    worked out by von Frisch, who received a 31 Prize in 1973
    within about 32 metres the bee performs a round dance, giving no direction
    beyond that, the waggle dance: direction is the angle of the straight run from 33
    vertically upwards stands for the direction of the 34
    distance is given by the 35 of the waggling, about one second per kilometre
    the dancer adjusts the angle as the day passes, using an internal 36

    How the dance is read

    mainly by 37 and by sound, since the comb is dark

    The stop signal

    a vibration that 38 a dancer who is advertising a dangerous site

    Choosing a new home

    scouts dance in proportion to the 39 of the site they found
    the swarm leaves once the number of scouts at one site passes a 40

    Question types in this test

    Next step

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

    Sit this Listening test