# Inquiry about the West Bay Hotel's Temporary Staff Advertisement: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 4, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 8, 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 | waiter | We are looking for waiters at the moment. |
| 2 | day off | You get one day off, and I think you can negotiate which one you want. ... But it has to be the same one every week. |
| 3 | break | You get GBP 5.50 an hour. ... And that includes a break. |
| 4 | meal | you can get a meal in the hotel if you want to, and there's no charge for it |
| 5 | dark | and dark trousers, you know, not green or anything like that. ... And we don't supply those. |
| 6 | jacket | You have to wear a jacket, but the hotel lends you that. |
| 7 | 28 June | I think it's some time around the end of June. ... Yes, the 28th in time for the summer. |
| 8 | Urwin | Her name's Jane Urwin, that's URWIN. |
| 9 | midday | She usually starts checking the rooms at midday, so before then |
| 10 | reference | she will ask you for a reference |

## Why these answers are right

**1. waiter.** The notes need the kind of vacancy the West Bay Hotel has. The woman says they are looking for waiters at the moment. A cook's post was also advertised, but she adds that it has already been taken, so waiters is the only open vacancy.

**2. day off.** The gap is something staff can choose that must stay the same each week. The woman explains that you get one day off and can negotiate which day, but it has to be the same one every week. So the missing words are day off.

**3. break.** The notes give the hourly pay of GBP 5.50 and ask what that rate includes. Right after stating the figure, the woman adds that it includes a break, so paid rest time is already part of the hourly amount. Break fits the one-word gap.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/inquiry-about-the-west-bay-hotels-temporary-staff-advertisement/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1, you will hear a man telephoning to ask about a job in a hotel.

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

**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.

**Woman:** Hello, West Bay Hotel.

**Woman:** Can I help you?

**Man:** Oh, good morning.

**Man:** I'm ringing about your advertisement in the Evening Gazette.

**Woman:** Is that the one for temporary staff?

**Man:** That's right.

**Announcer:** The advertisement is for temporary staff, so temporary 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 4.

**Woman:** Hello, West Bay Hotel.

**Woman:** Can I help you?

**Man:** Oh, good morning.

**Man:** I'm ringing about your advertisement in the Evening Gazette.

**Woman:** Is that the one for temporary staff?

**Man:** That's right.

**Woman:** Yes, I'm afraid the person who's dealing with that isn't in today, but I can give you the main details if you like.

**Man:** Yes, please.

**Man:** Could you tell me what kind of staff you're looking for?

**Woman:** We are looking for waiters at the moment.

**Woman:** There was one post for a cook, but that's already been taken.

**Man:** Oh, right.

**Man:** Um. What are the hours of work?

**Woman:** There are two different shifts.

**Woman:** There is a day shift from 7 to 2, and a late shift from 4 to 11.

**Man:** And can people choose which one they want to do?

**Woman:** Not normally, because everyone would choose the day shift, I suppose.

**Woman:** You alternate from one week to another.

**Man:** OK, uh, I'm I'm just writing all this down.

**Man:** What about time off?

**Woman:** You get one day off, and I think you can negotiate which one you want.

**Woman:** It's more or less up to you.

**Woman:** But it has to be the same one every week.

**Man:** Do you know what the rates of pay are?

**Woman:** Yes, I've got them here.

**Woman:** Uh. You get GBP 5.50 an hour.

**Woman:** And that includes a break.

**Man:** Do I have to go home to eat or?

**Woman:** You don't have to, you can get a meal in the hotel if you want to, and there's no charge for it, so you might as well.

**Man:** Oh, good.

**Man:** Yes, so let's see.

**Man:** I'd get er, two hundred and twenty one, no, no, two hundred and thirty one pounds a week.

**Woman:** You'd also get tips.

**Woman:** Our guests tend to be quite generous.

**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.

**Man:** Is there a uniform?

**Man:** What about clothes?

**Woman:** Yes, I forgot to mention that.

**Woman:** You need to wear a white shirt, just a plain one, and dark trousers, you know, not green or anything like that.

**Woman:** And we don't supply those.

**Man:** That's OK, I've got trousers.

**Man:** I just have to buy a couple of shirts.

**Man:** What about anything else?

**Man:** Do I need a waistcoat or anything?

**Woman:** You have to wear a jacket, but the hotel lends you that.

**Man:** I see.

**Man:** Uh. One last thing.

**Man:** I don't know what the starting date is.

**Woman:** Hmm. Just a minute.

**Woman:** I think it's some time around the end of June.

**Woman:** Uh. Yes, the 28th in time for the summer.

**Man:** That's great, I'm available from the 10th.

**Woman:** Oh, good.

**Woman:** Well, if you can call again, you need to speak to the service manager.

**Woman:** Her name's Jane Urwin, that's URWIN.

**Woman:** And she'll probably arrange to meet you.

**Man:** OK, and when's the best time to ring?

**Woman:** Could you call tomorrow?

**Woman:** Um. She usually starts checking the rooms at midday, so before then, if you can, so she'll have more time to chat.

**Woman:** I'll just give you her number, because she's got a direct line.

**Man:** Thanks.

**Woman:** It's 832009.

**Man:** 823009.

**Woman:** 832.

**Man:** Oh, OK, uh, yes, I'll do that.

**Woman:** And by the way, she will ask you for a reference, so you might like to be thinking about that, you know, just someone who knows you and can vouch for you.

**Man:** Yes, no problem.

**Man:** Well, thanks very much for your help.

**Woman:** You're welcome.

**Woman:** Bye.

**Man:** Bye.

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

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

[Practice Inquiry about the West Bay Hotel's Temporary Staff Advertisement](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/inquiry-about-the-west-bay-hotels-temporary-staff-advertisement)