# Hiring a public room: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 11, Test 1, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 11, Test 1, 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 | Charlton | The Charlton Room, CHARLTON. |
| 2 | 115 | So from 6 pm to midnight, that would be GBP 115 that's the weekend price. |
| 3 | cash | But we do insist that this is paid in cash. |
| 4 | parking | And what about parking? ... Yeah, that's all included. |
| 5 | music | you'll have to see about getting a license if you're planning to have any music during the meal. |
| 6 | entry | To make the arrangements for entry, he'll sort that out with you. |
| 7 | stage | they should park their van round the back, and use the stage door there. |
| 8 | code | and you'll be informed of the code you need to open that. |
| 9 | floor | Sweep the floors, I suppose. ... Well, actually they have to be washed, not just swept. |
| 10 | decoration | I presume we can have decorations in the room. ... Yes, but you must take them down afterwards. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. Charlton.** The note needs the name of the smaller room that seats up to 100. After describing the Main Hall, the official mentions the Charlton Room and, when the woman asks her to repeat it, spells the name out letter by letter, so write Charlton.

**2. 115.** The gap asks what the Main Hall costs on a Saturday evening. The official says that from 6 pm to midnight the price would be GBP 115 and calls it the weekend price, so 115 is the figure that goes before the deposit.

**3. cash.** The note says a particular kind of payment is required for the GBP 250 deposit. The official says the deposit is returnable but insists it is paid in cash and adds that cards are not taken for it, so cash is the required payment.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1.

**Announcer:** You will hear a telephone conversation between an official at a village hall and a woman who wants to hire a public room.

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

**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.

**Official:** Hello?

**Woman:** Oh hello, I wanted to inquire about hiring a room in the village hall for the evening of September the first.

**Official:** Let me just see.

**Official:** Uh. Yes, we have both rooms available that evening.

**Official:** There's our Main Hall, that's got seating for 200 people.

**Official:** Or there's the Charlton Room.

**Announcer:** The Main Hall seat's 200, so 200 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 6.

**Official:** Hello?

**Woman:** Oh hello, I wanted to inquire about hiring a room in the village hall for the evening of September the first.

**Official:** Let me just see.

**Official:** Uh. Yes, we have both rooms available that evening.

**Official:** There's our Main Hall, that's got seating for 200 people.

**Official:** Or there's the Charlton Room.

**Woman:** Sorry?

**Official:** The Charlton Room, CHARLTON.

**Official:** That's got seating for up to 100.

**Woman:** Well, we're organizing a dinner to raise money for a charity, and we're hoping for at least 150 people.

**Woman:** So, I think we'll go for the Main Hall.

**Woman:** How much would that cost?

**Official:** Let's see, um, you wanted it for the evening of September the first.

**Woman:** Yes, that's a Saturday.

**Official:** So from 6 pm to midnight, that would be GBP 115 that's the weekend price.

**Official:** It's GBP 75 on weekdays.

**Woman:** That's all right.

**Official:** And I have to tell you there's also a deposit of GBP 250 which is returnable of course, as long as there's no damage.

**Official:** But we do insist that this is paid in cash.

**Official:** We don't take cards for that.

**Official:** You can pay the actual rent of the room, however you like though.

**Official:** Cash, credit card, cheque...

**Woman:** Oh, well, I suppose that's OK.

**Woman:** So does the charge include use of tables and chairs and so on?

**Official:** Oh, yes.

**Woman:** And what about parking?

**Official:** Yeah, that's all included.

**Official:** The only thing that isn't included is... you said you were organizing a dinner.

**Woman:** Yeah.

**Official:** Well, you'll have to pay extra for the kitchen if you want to use that.

**Official:** It's GBP 25.

**Official:** It's got very good facilities, good quality cookers and fridges and so on.

**Woman:** OK, well I suppose that's all right.

**Woman:** We can cover the cost in our entry charges.

**Official:** Right, so I'll make a note of that.

**Official:** Now, there are just one or two things you need to think about before the event.

**Official:** For example, you'll have to see about getting a license if you're planning to have any music during the meal.

**Woman:** Oh, really?

**Official:** It's quite straightforward.

**Official:** I'll give you the details later on.

**Official:** And about a week or 10 days before your event, you'll need to contact the caretaker, that's Mr Evans.

**Official:** Uh. To make the arrangements for entry, he'll sort that out with you.

**Woman:** And do I give him the payment as well?

**Official:** No, you do that directly with me.

**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:** Right, now is there anything I need to know about what happens during the event?

**Official:** Well, as you'll be aware, of course, the building is no smoking throughout.

**Woman:** Of course.

**Official:** Now are you having a band?

**Woman:** Yes.

**Official:** Well, they'll have a lot of equipment, so rather than using the front door, they should park their van round the back, and use the stage door there.

**Official:** You can open that from inside, but don't forget to lock it at the end.

**Woman:** OK.

**Official:** And talking of bands, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but you must make sure that no one fiddles about with the black box by the fire door.

**Official:** That's a system that cuts in when the volume reaches a certain level, it's a legal requirement.

**Woman:** Sure.

**Woman:** Anyway, we want people to be able to talk to one another.

**Woman:** So we don't want anything too loud.

**Woman:** Oh, that reminds me, we'll be having speeches.

**Woman:** Are there any microphones available?

**Official:** Yeah.

**Official:** Just let the caretaker know, he'll get those for you.

**Official:** Right, now when the event is over, we do ask that the premises are left in good condition.

**Official:** So there's a locked cupboard, and you'll be informed of the code you need to open that.

**Official:** It's got all the cleaning equipment, brushes and detergent and so on.

**Woman:** Right, so what do we need to do after everyone's gone?

**Woman:** Uh. Sweep the floors, I suppose.

**Official:** Well, actually they have to be washed, not just swept.

**Official:** Then you'll be provided with black plastic bags, so all the rubbish must be collected up and left outside the door.

**Woman:** Of course, we'll make sure everything's left tidy.

**Woman:** Oh, and I forgot to ask.

**Woman:** I presume we can have decorations in the room.

**Official:** Yes, but you must take them down afterwards.

**Woman:** Sure.

**Official:** And the chairs and tables should be stacked up neatly at the back of the room.

**Woman:** I'll make sure I've got a few people to help me.

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

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

[Practice Hiring a public room](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/hiring-a-public-room)