# Arranging Homestay Accommodation for Sara: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 4, Test 3, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 4, 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 | 1 1/2 years | A year in Adelaide and 6 months in Sydney. |
| 2 | Forest | Flat 1539, Forest Road, Canterbury. |
| 3 | Academic | and now I'm doing academic English |
| 4 | Thursday | so I'd better be out on Thursday. |
| 5 | B | Can I share a room with someone else? ... I've always shared with my sister, and I like that. |
| 6 | B | Do you have any women living alone, retired women? ... I have some really lovely retired ladies living by themselves. |
| 7 | A | My aunt lives in a flat too, remember? ... I'm not used to a big house with a garden |
| 8 | deposit | You'll have to pay me $320 as a deposit. |
| 9 | monthly | You'll need to pay monthly to me by cash or cheque |
| 10 | telephone | but you will need to pay your proportion of the phone bill. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. 1 1/2 years.** The form asks how long Sara has been in Australia. She says she spent a year in Adelaide and 6 months in Sydney, so you add the two stays together to get one and a half years, which fits within three words and numbers.

**2. Forest.** The address line already prints Flat 1, 539 and the word Road, so only the street name is missing. Sara gives her aunt's address as Forest Road in Canterbury, which makes Forest the single word you need for this gap.

**3. Academic.** The notes ask for her present course, with English already printed after the gap. Sara says she was studying general English in Adelaide but is now doing academic English, so her current course is Academic English and the gap takes Academic.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1.

**Announcer:** You'll hear a student talking to the accommodation coordinator at her school.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.

**Announcer:** You'll see that there is an example which has been done for you.

**Announcer:** On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.

**Lynda:** Sara, I've heard that you want to move into a homestay family.

**Lynda:** Is that correct?

**Sara:** Yes, that's right.

**Sara:** I've been staying with my aunt, and now my cousin is arriving from Singapore.

**Sara:** And my aunt needs the room for him.

**Lynda:** Oh, that's bad luck.

**Lynda:** Well I'll need to get some particulars first.

**Lynda:** Um, Sara, what's your full name?

**Sara:** Sara Lim.

**Sara:** And that's Sara without the 'h' at the end.

**Announcer:** Linda asks for Sara's full name, Sara Lim.

**Announcer:** So this has been written in the notes.

**Announcer:** Now we shall begin.

**Announcer:** You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.

**Announcer:** Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.

**Lynda:** Sara, I've heard that you want to move into a homestay family.

**Lynda:** Is that correct?

**Sara:** Yes, that's right.

**Sara:** I've been staying with my aunt, and now my cousin is arriving from Singapore.

**Sara:** And my aunt needs the room for him.

**Lynda:** Oh, that's bad luck.

**Lynda:** Well, I'll need to get some particulars first.

**Lynda:** Um, Sara, what's your full name?

**Sara:** Sara Lim.

**Sara:** And that's Sara without the 'h' at the end.

**Lynda:** Hmm. How old are you Sara?

**Sara:** 23 only just.

**Sara:** It was my birthday on the 21st of August.

**Lynda:** Ah. Happy birthday for yesterday.

**Lynda:** How long have you been in Australia?

**Sara:** A year in Adelaide and 6 months in Sydney.

**Sara:** I prefer Sydney.

**Sara:** I've got more friends here.

**Lynda:** What's your address at your aunt's house?

**Sara:** Uh. Flat 1539, Forest Road, Canterbury.

**Sara:** And the post code is 2 0 3 6.

**Lynda:** OK, what are you studying now?

**Sara:** I was studying general English in Adelaide, and now I'm doing academic English, because I'm trying to get into medicine next year.

**Lynda:** That sounds good, but it'll take you a long time.

**Lynda:** When would you like to move out from your aunt's?

**Sara:** My cousin arrives on Friday morning, so I'd better be out on Thursday.

**Lynda:** What, the seventh of September?

**Sara:** Yes, that's right.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.

**Lynda:** That doesn't leave us much time. Right.

**Lynda:** OK. I need to know what kind of accommodation you'd like, so I can get you something suitable.

**Sara:** Can I share a room with someone else?

**Sara:** I've been alone in my room at my aunt's, and I've always shared with my sister, and I like that.

**Lynda:** Yes, fine.

**Lynda:** That'll save you money too.

**Lynda:** Would you like to live with a family, or do you think that a single person would be better for you?

**Lynda:** I have lots of very nice single people on my books.

**Sara:** Do you have any women living alone, retired women?

**Lynda:** Yes, I have quite a few whose children have grown up and left home.

**Lynda:** In fact, I have some really lovely retired ladies living by themselves.

**Lynda:** Who just love the company of students.

**Lynda:** Most of them live in flats, but that's not a problem for you, is it?

**Sara:** Not at all.

**Sara:** I'm used to that.

**Sara:** My aunt lives in a flat too, remember?

**Sara:** Hmm.

**Sara:** I'm not used to a big house with a garden, swimming pool, pets and all that.

**Lynda:** OK, fine.

**Lynda:** I know quite a bit about what you want now.

**Lynda:** I should let you know that your rent will be $160 per week.

**Lynda:** You'll have to pay me $320 as a deposit.

**Lynda:** Before you move in, the deposit is as insurance, in case you break something.

**Lynda:** You'll need to pay monthly to me by cash or cheque, I don't mind.

**Lynda:** You don't need to pay for gas, electricity or water, but you will need to pay your proportion of the phone bill.

**Lynda:** Most families do that on an honor system.

**Lynda:** But you'll have to wait and see.

**Lynda:** Hmm. Have you got any more questions for me?

**Sara:** Uh. When will you know where I can go?

**Lynda:** I'll work on it now.

**Lynda:** So, come and see me tomorrow, and I should have some news for you then.

**Sara:** Thanks a lot.

**Lynda:** Goodbye.

**Lynda:** See you tomorrow, after lunch would be better for me.

**Sara:** OK.

**Sara:** See you then.

**Sara:** Bye.

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

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

[Practice Arranging Homestay Accommodation for Sara](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/arranging-homestay-accommodation-for-sara)