# Booking a Shore Excursion: answers and explanations

Testmigo Practice Test 1, Listening Part 1

Source: Written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Whitcombe | W, H, I, T, C, O, M, B, E |
| 2 | 4162 | This time we're in four one six two. |
| 3 | Lighthouse | let's go for the Lighthouse Trail |
| 4 | 2 | So just the two of us. |
| 5 | 8.45 | I'll put you on the eight forty-five departure |
| 6 | dairy | he can't have dairy |
| 7 | binoculars | if you've got binoculars, take them |
| 8 | theatre | this group meets in the theatre, on Deck Five |
| 9 | 65 | sixty-five dollars per person |
| 10 | winds | if there are strong winds |

## Why these answers are right

**1. Whitcombe.** The assistant guesses the surname has two Ts, and the passenger corrects him: one T, with an H after the W. She then spells the full name, Whitcombe, letter by letter, ending with an E.

**2. 4162.** The passenger first says four one two six, then realises that was her cabin on an earlier cruise. She corrects it to four one six two, and the assistant repeats that number to confirm it.

**3. Lighthouse.** Three tours are offered: snorkelling, a glass-bottom boat and the Lighthouse Trail. Because her husband gets seasick in small boats, the passenger chooses the Lighthouse Trail. The form already prints Trail, so write Lighthouse.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 1. You will hear a conversation between a passenger on a cruise ship and an assistant at the ship's excursions desk.

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

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

**Callum:** Morning! Welcome to the excursions desk. What can I do for you?

**Joanne:** Hi there. We're stopping at Port Ardell on Thursday, and I was hoping to book a tour for the day, if there's still room.

**Callum:** There's space on most of them. I'll just take your details first, and then we can look at what's on offer.

**Callum:** Could I have your surname, please?

**Joanne:** Yes, it's Whitcombe.

**Callum:** Is that with two Ts? W, I, T, T?

**Joanne:** No, just one T, but there's an H after the W. So it's W, H, I, T, C, O, M, B, E.

**Joanne:** Everyone forgets the E on the end, so don't feel bad.

**Callum:** Thanks, I've got that. And what's your cabin number?

**Joanne:** Four one two six. Oh, hang on, no, that was our cabin on the last cruise we did.

**Joanne:** This time we're in four one six two. Sorry about that.

**Callum:** No problem at all. Four one six two, yes, that matches the name on my screen.

**Callum:** Right. In Port Ardell there are three tours that still have places: a snorkelling trip, a glass-bottom boat ride, and the Lighthouse Trail, which is a guided walk along the cliffs.

**Joanne:** The snorkelling sounds like fun, but my husband gets terribly seasick in small boats, so that's out.

**Joanne:** And I suppose the glass-bottom boat would give him the same problem?

**Callum:** I'm afraid it might. The water round that headland can get quite rough, especially later in the day.

**Joanne:** Then we'd better stay on dry land. My husband and I do a lot of hiking at home, so let's go for the Lighthouse Trail.

**Callum:** Lovely, I think you'll enjoy it. How many people shall I put down?

**Joanne:** Four, please. Me, my husband, my sister and her partner.

**Joanne:** Actually, no, wait. My sister told me at breakfast she wants a quiet day by the pool, and her partner's staying with her. So just the two of us.

**Callum:** OK, two adults. The walk runs twice that day, once in the morning and once after lunch.

**Callum:** The morning group leaves at eight forty-five, and the afternoon group at one fifteen.

**Joanne:** The afternoon one would mean we could have a lie-in, but it'll be boiling hot by then.

**Joanne:** We'll take the early one, I think.

**Callum:** Very sensible. I'll put you on the eight forty-five departure.

**Callum:** Lunch is included, by the way. It's a picnic at the top of the cliffs. Do either of you have any special dietary needs?

**Joanne:** I'm fine with anything. My husband can eat bread and pasta, so gluten's not a problem, which is what people usually ask about.

**Joanne:** But he can't have dairy. Even a little bit of cheese makes him ill.

**Callum:** Thanks for telling me. I'll note no dairy for him, and the kitchen will make up a separate box.

**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.

**Callum:** Now, a few things you should know before Thursday. The walk is about six kilometres, mostly on gravel, so wear proper walking shoes, not sandals.

**Joanne:** What do we need to take with us? Should we pack our raincoats?

**Callum:** You can leave those behind. The guide carries rain ponchos for the whole group.

**Callum:** Just bring water and a hat. Oh, and if you've got binoculars, take them, because there's a huge colony of seabirds nesting on the cliffs.

**Joanne:** Perfect, we packed a pair, so I'll dig them out. Where do we meet on the day?

**Callum:** Most tour groups gather in the atrium, but it gets very crowded on port days.

**Callum:** So this group meets in the theatre, on Deck Five, and please be there ten minutes before departure.

**Joanne:** The theatre on Deck Five. Got it. And what's the cost? The screen in our cabin said fifty-nine dollars each.

**Callum:** Ah, that's the price without the picnic. With lunch it comes to sixty-five dollars per person.

**Callum:** It goes straight onto your cabin account, so there's nothing to pay today.

**Joanne:** That's fine. Is there anything else we ought to know?

**Callum:** Just one warning. The last part of the path runs very close to the cliff edge near the lighthouse.

**Callum:** The tour still goes ahead in rain, but if there are strong winds, the guide closes that section and the group turns back early.

**Joanne:** Fair enough. I'd rather miss the view than get blown off a cliff!

**Callum:** Exactly. Here's your confirmation slip. Have a wonderful day in Port Ardell.

**Joanne:** Thanks so much, Callum. You've been really helpful.

**Announcer:** That is the end of Part 1. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers.

[Practice Booking a Shore Excursion](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/booking-a-shore-excursion)