# Advice on Surfing Holidays: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 17, Test 3, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 17, Test 3, Listening Part 1. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | family | I think it's the kind of holiday all the family can enjoy together. |
| 2 | fit | I've heard you need to be pretty fit. ... Yes, you'll certainly learn more quickly |
| 3 | hotels | Are there good hotels there? ... Yes, some very nice ones. |
| 4 | Carrowniskey | There's a good surf school at Carrowniskey beach. |
| 5 | week | 3 hours every day for a week. |
| 6 | bay | rent some kayaks to have a look around the bay |
| 7 | September | September's my favorite month, because the water is warmer then. |
| 8 | 19 | The average temperature is about 19 degrees |
| 9 | 30 | You can expect to pay a daily rate of about EUR 30 for the hire of a wetsuit and board |
| 10 | boots | and make sure you also get boots ... They keep your feet warm |

## Why these answers are right

**1. family.** Jack recommends surfing because it is the kind of holiday all the family can enjoy together. The note recommends surfing for ___ holidays, so the noun family works like an adjective here, giving family holidays.

**2. fit.** The woman says she has heard you need to be pretty fit, and Jack agrees, explaining that fit people learn faster and tire less. The note need to be quite ___ copies this, with quite replacing pretty, so fit is correct.

**3. hotels.** The note says Lahinch has some good quality ___ and surf schools. The woman asks whether there are good hotels and Jack says yes, some very nice ones, so hotels are the good quality places to stay in Lahinch.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/advice-on-surfing-holidays/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 1, you will hear a man called Jack giving advice to a friend about surfing holidays.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.

**Woman:** Jack, I'm thinking of taking the kids to the seaside on a surfing holiday this summer, and I wanted to ask your advice, as I know you're such an expert.

**Jack:** Well, I don't know about that.

**Jack:** But yes, I've done a bit of surfing over the years.

**Jack:** I'd thoroughly recommend it.

**Jack:** I think it's the kind of holiday all the family can enjoy together.

**Jack:** The thing about surfing is that it's great for all ages and all abilities.

**Jack:** My youngest started when he was only 3.

**Woman:** Wow!

**Woman:** But it's quite physically demanding, isn't it?

**Woman:** I've heard you need to be pretty fit.

**Jack:** Yes, you'll certainly learn more quickly, and won't tire as easily.

**Woman:** Well, that should be OK for us.

**Woman:** You've been surfing a few times in Ireland, haven't you?

**Jack:** Yes, there's some great surfing there, which people don't always realize.

**Woman:** And which locations would you recommend?

**Woman:** There seem to be quite a few.

**Jack:** Yes, there are loads.

**Jack:** Last year we went to County Donegal.

**Jack:** There are several great places to surf there.

**Woman:** What about in County Clare?

**Woman:** I read that's also really good for surfing.

**Jack:** Yes, it is.

**Jack:** I've been there a few times.

**Jack:** Most people go to Lahinch.

**Jack:** My kids love it there, the waves aren't too challenging, and the town is very lively.

**Woman:** Are there good hotels there?

**Jack:** Yes, some very nice ones.

**Jack:** And there are also a few basic hostels and camp sites.

**Jack:** It's great if you need lessons, as the surf schools are excellent.

**Woman:** Sounds good.

**Jack:** Yes, and there's lots to see in the area.

**Jack:** Like those well-known cliffs, I've forgotten the name of them.

**Woman:** Oh, don't worry, I can look them up.

**Jack:** I've also been surfing in County Mayo.

**Jack:** Which is less well known for surfing, but we had a really good time.

**Jack:** That was a few years ago, when the kids were younger.

**Jack:** There's a good surf school at Carrowniskey beach.

**Woman:** How do you spell that?

**Jack:** CARROWNISKEY.

**Woman:** OK.

**Jack:** I put the kids into the surf camp they run during the summer for 10 to 16 year olds.

**Woman:** Oh, right.

**Woman:** How long was that for?

**Jack:** 3 hours every day for a week.

**Jack:** It was perfect.

**Jack:** They were so tired out after that.

**Woman:** I can imagine.

**Jack:** One thing we did while the kids were surfing was to rent some kayaks to have a look around the bay, which is nearby.

**Jack:** It's really beautiful.

**Woman:** Oh, I'd love to do that.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

**Woman:** Now, the only time I went to Ireland, it rained practically every day.

**Jack:** Hmm. Yes, that can be a problem, but you can surf in the rain, you know.

**Woman:** It doesn't have the same appeal somehow.

**Jack:** Well, the weather's been fine the last couple of years when I've been there, but actually it tends to rain more in August than in the spring or autumn.

**Jack:** September's my favorite month, because the water is warmer then.

**Woman:** The only problem is that the kids are back to school then.

**Jack:** I know, but one good thing about Irish summers is that it doesn't get too hot.

**Jack:** The average temperature is about 19 degrees, and it usually doesn't go above 25 degrees.

**Woman:** That sounds all right.

**Woman:** Now what about costs?

**Jack:** Surfing is a pretty cheap holiday really, the only cost is the hire of equipment.

**Jack:** You can expect to pay a daily rate of about EUR 30 for the hire of a wetsuit and board, but you can save about EUR 40 if you hire by the week.

**Woman:** That's not too bad.

**Jack:** No, it's important to make sure you get good quality wetsuits.

**Jack:** You'll all get too cold if you don't, and make sure you also get boots.

**Jack:** They keep your feet warm, and it's easier to surf with them on too.

**Woman:** OK, well, thanks very much for that.

**Announcer:** That is the end of part 1.

**Announcer:** You now have half a minute to check your answers to part 1.

[Practice Advice on Surfing Holidays](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/advice-on-surfing-holidays)