# Enquiry about booking hotel room: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 14, Test 4, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 14, Test 4, 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 | 85 | that can seat 85 or hold over 100 if people are standing for a buffet. |
| 2 | roses | This has a beautiful display of pots of roses at that time of the year. |
| 3 | trees | you can see the area of trees within the grounds of the hotel. |
| 4 | stage | and it has the advantage of a stage |
| 5 | speech | I suppose they make a speech during the meal |
| 6 | support | and they're also your support. |
| 7 | cabins | But do you also have any other accommodation, like cabins, for example? |
| 8 | C | but it'll be closed throughout September for refurbishment |
| 9 | A | The gym will be available though, at no extra charge. |
| 10 | B | there is a small additional payment for those |

## Why these answers are right

**1. 85.** The gap asks how many guests can sit down to eat in the Adelphi Room. Andrew says the room can seat 85, while over 100 is the figure for a standing buffet, so the seated number for a meal is 85.

**2. roses.** The note describes something in pots that guests can see on the terrace. Andrew says the terrace has a beautiful display of pots of roses at that time of year, so the single word that fits before in pots is roses.

**3. trees.** You need what the terrace looks out on as a group. Andrew says that from the terrace you can see the area of trees in the hotel grounds, so a group of trees completes the note. The river is mentioned next but cannot be seen from the hotel.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1.

**Announcer:** You will hear a woman phoning a hotel about holding a party there.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 7.

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

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

**Andrew:** Good morning, Clare House Hotel, Andrew speaking, I'm the Events Manager.

**Announcer:** Andrew is the Events Manager, so Events has been written in the space.

**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 7.

**Andrew:** Good morning, Clare House Hotel, Andrew speaking, I'm the Events Manager.

**Samantha:** Good morning, Andrew.

**Samantha:** My name is Samantha.

**Samantha:** I'm arranging a party for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

**Samantha:** And I'm ringing to ask about hiring a room sometime next September, also my parents and several of the guests will need accommodation.

**Andrew:** OK, I'm sure we can help you with that.

**Andrew:** Will you be having a sit down meal or a buffet?

**Samantha:** Probably a sit down.

**Andrew:** And do you know how many people there'll be?

**Samantha:** Around 80, I think.

**Andrew:** Well we have two rooms that can hold that number.

**Andrew:** One is the Adelphi room, that can seat 85 or hold over 100 if people are standing for a buffet.

**Samantha:** Right.

**Andrew:** If you have live music, there's room for four or five musicians in the gallery.

**Andrew:** Overlooking the room, our guests usually appreciate the fact that the music can be loud enough for dancing, but not too loud for conversation.

**Samantha:** Yes, I really don't like it when you can't talk.

**Andrew:** Exactly.

**Andrew:** Now the Adelphi Room is at the back of the hotel, and there are French windows.

**Andrew:** Leading out onto the terrace.

**Andrew:** This has a beautiful display of pots of roses at that time of the year.

**Samantha:** Which direction does it face?

**Andrew:** Southwest, so that side of the hotel gets the sun in the afternoon and early evening.

**Samantha:** Very nice.

**Andrew:** From the terrace, you can see the area of trees within the grounds of the hotel.

**Andrew:** Or you can stroll through there to the river.

**Andrew:** That's on the far side, so it isn't visible from the hotel.

**Andrew:** OK, then another option is the Carlton room.

**Andrew:** This is a bit bigger.

**Andrew:** It can hold up to 110 people, and it has the advantage of a stage, which is useful if you have any entertainment.

**Andrew:** Or indeed a small band can fit onto it.

**Samantha:** Hmm. And can you go outside from the room?

**Andrew:** No, the Carlton room is on the first floor.

**Andrew:** But on one side, the windows look out onto the lake.

**Samantha:** Lovely.

**Samantha:** I think either of those rooms would be suitable.

**Andrew:** Can I tell you about some of the options we offer in addition?

**Samantha:** Please do.

**Andrew:** As well as a meal, you can have an mc, a master of ceremonies, who'll be with you throughout the party.

**Samantha:** What exactly is the MC's function?

**Samantha:** I suppose they make a speech during the meal, if we need one, do they?

**Andrew:** That's right.

**Andrew:** All our MCs are trained as public speakers, so they can easily get people's attention.

**Andrew:** Many guests are glad to have someone who can make themselves heard above the chatter, and they're also your support.

**Andrew:** If anything goes wrong, the MC will deal with it, so you can relax.

**Samantha:** Great, I'll need to ask you about food, but something else that's important is accommodation.

**Samantha:** You obviously have rooms in the hotel.

**Samantha:** But do you also have any other accommodation, like cabins, for example?

**Andrew:** Yes, there are 5 in the grounds, all self contained.

**Andrew:** They each sleep 2 to 4 people, and have their own living room, bathroom, and small kitchen.

**Samantha:** That sounds perfect for what we'll need.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 8 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 8 to 10.

**Samantha:** Now you have various facilities, don't you?

**Samantha:** Are they all included in the price of hiring the room?

**Samantha:** The pool for instance.

**Andrew:** Normally you'd be able to use it, but it'll be closed throughout September for refurbishment, I'm afraid.

**Andrew:** The gym will be available though, at no extra charge.

**Andrew:** That's open all day from 6 in the morning until midnight.

**Samantha:** Right.

**Andrew:** And the tennis courts but there is a small additional payment for those.

**Andrew:** We have four courts, and it's worth booking in advance if you possibly can, as there can be quite a long waiting list for them.

**Samantha:** Right, now could we discuss the food?

**Samantha:** This would be dinner around 7 o'clock...

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

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

[Practice Enquiry about booking hotel room](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/enquiry-about-booking-hotel-room)