# Housing Development: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 2, Listening Part 2

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 18, Test 2, Listening Part 2. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 11 | B, E | there's a lot of demand for housing for employees in the region ... many employees are having to commute long distances at present |
| 12 | B, E | there's an excellent hospital, just 15 km away, and a large secondary school, even closer |
| 13 | B, C | blended in well with the natural features of the landscape ... provision made for protecting trees and wildlife on the site |
| 14 | B, C | a place where people of all ages can live together happily |
| 15 | G | at the corner of the second turning to the left |
| 16 | C | just below the road that branches off from London Road |
| 17 | D | The clinic will be just below this, to the right of a street of houses. |
| 18 | B | the community center will be adjoining this |
| 19 | H | There'll be a supermarket between the two entrances to the development. ... it'll be just to the south of these |
| 20 | A | the playground will be in that curve with nice views of the lake |

## Why these answers are right

**11. B, E.** Mark explains that the new industrial center has created strong demand for housing for employees, many of whom currently commute long distances. Homes close to their jobs would be convenient for workers, so E is one of the two reasons, together with B.

**12. B, E.** The planners were more interested in the excellent hospital 15 km away and a large secondary school that is even closer. A hospital and a school nearby are local facilities that are easy to reach, so B is the second reason, paired with E.

**13. B, C.** People liked how the layout blended in well with the natural landscape and protected trees and wildlife. Respecting nature in this way is a positive impact on the environment, which makes B one of the two aspects praised in the feedback, alongside C.

The why and the trap for questions 14 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/housing-development/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 2, you will hear a talk to members of the public about plans for a new housing development near a town called Nunston.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

**Mark Reynolds:** Hello everyone, it's good to see that so many members of the public have shown up for our presentation on the new housing development planned on the outskirts of Nunston.

**Mark Reynolds:** I'm Mark Reynolds, and I'm Communications Manager at the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** I'll start by giving you a brief overview of our plans for the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** So, one thing I'm sure you'll want to know is why we've selected this particular site for a housing development.

**Mark Reynolds:** At present, it's being used for farming.

**Mark Reynolds:** Like much of the land around Nunston, but because of the new industrial center in Nunston, there's a lot of demand for housing for employees in the region.

**Mark Reynolds:** As many employees are having to commute long distances at present.

**Mark Reynolds:** Of course, there's also the fact that we have an international airport.

**Mark Reynolds:** Just 20 minutes drive away, but although that's certainly convenient, it wasn't one of our major criteria for choosing the site.

**Mark Reynolds:** We were more interested in the fact that there's an excellent hospital, just 15 km away, and a large secondary school, even closer than that.

**Mark Reynolds:** One drawback to the site is that it's on quite a steep slope, but we've taken account of that in our planning.

**Mark Reynolds:** So it shouldn't be a major problem.

**Mark Reynolds:** We've had a lot of positive feedback about the plans.

**Mark Reynolds:** People like the wide variety of accommodation types and prices.

**Mark Reynolds:** And the fact that it's only a short drive to get out into the countryside from the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** We were particularly pleased that so many people like the designs for the layout of the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** With the majority of people saying it generally made a good impression, and blended in well with the natural features of the landscape.

**Mark Reynolds:** With provision made for protecting trees and wildlife on the site.

**Mark Reynolds:** Some people have mentioned that they'd like to see more facilities for cyclists, and we'll look at that, but the overall feedback has been that the design and facilities of the development make it seem a place where people of all ages can live together happily.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

**Mark Reynolds:** OK, so I'll put a map of the proposed development up on the screen.

**Mark Reynolds:** You'll see it's bounded on the south side by the main road, which then goes on to Nunston.

**Mark Reynolds:** Another boundary is formed by London Road.

**Mark Reynolds:** On the western side of the development, inside the development, there'll be about 400 houses and three apartment blocks.

**Mark Reynolds:** There'll also be a school for children up to 11 years old.

**Mark Reynolds:** If you look at the south entrance at the bottom of the map, there's a road from there that goes right up through the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** The school will be on that road, at the corner of the second turning to the left.

**Mark Reynolds:** A large sports center is planned with facilities for indoor and outdoor activities.

**Mark Reynolds:** This will be on the western side of the development, just below the road that branches off from London Road.

**Mark Reynolds:** There'll be a clinic where residents can go if they have any health problems.

**Mark Reynolds:** Can you see the lake towards the top of the map?

**Mark Reynolds:** The clinic will be just below this, to the right of a street of houses.

**Mark Reynolds:** There'll also be a community center for people of all ages.

**Mark Reynolds:** On the northeast side of the development, there'll be a row of specially designed houses, specifically for residents over 65 and the community center will be adjoining this.

**Mark Reynolds:** We haven't forgotten about shopping.

**Mark Reynolds:** There'll be a supermarket between the two entrances to the development.

**Mark Reynolds:** We're planning to leave the three large trees near London Road, and it'll be just to the south of these.

**Mark Reynolds:** It's planned to have a playground for younger children.

**Mark Reynolds:** If you look at the road that goes up from the south entrance, you'll see it curves round to the left at the top.

**Mark Reynolds:** And the playground will be in that curve with nice views of the lake.

**Mark Reynolds:** OK, so now does anyone have any quest...

**Announcer:** That is the end of part 2.

**Announcer:** You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part 2.

[Practice Housing Development](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/housing-development)