# Introduction to Pottery at Edelman Pottery: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 1, Listening Part 2

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 20, Test 1, 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 | A | it stands the test of time ... don't survive in the earth in the same way that pots do |
| 12 | B | by examining the impressions on the clay, the scratches from tools |
| 13 | C | They hope that something they create will also last longer than they do. |
| 14 | A | what I love most is the concentration you need to make a good pot ... That focus takes you away from the stresses of everyday life. |
| 15 | B | I'm sure this is the first time you will have tried the art |
| 16 | C | please remove any watches, necklaces, et cetera |
| 17 | A, E | Basically, a kiln removes the water from clay. |
| 18 | A, E | Some people fire pottery in a fire pit outside |
| 19 | C, E | there are some basic tools that you will need to handle the clay on the wheel |
| 20 | C, E | We can provide these. |

## Why these answers are right

**11. A.** Heather contrasts pottery with baskets and pictures, which don't survive in the earth the way pots do. Surviving in the earth is reworded in option A as lasting longer in the ground, which is what makes pottery different.

**12. B.** Archaeologists can tell whether pots were used for storage or cooking by examining the impressions on the clay and the scratches from tools. Impressions and scratches are the marks on the pot in option B, and storage or cooking is the use.

**13. C.** Heather says some students hope that something they create will last longer than they do and say something about humanity after their death. Outlive them in option C is a compact paraphrase of last longer than they do.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 2.

**Announcer:** You will hear a potter, Heather McCallum speaking to a group of people who are visiting a pottery, a place where people make pots and other objects from clay.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

**Heather Mccallum:** Hello, and welcome.

**Heather Mccallum:** My name's Heather McCallum, and I'm one of the potters who work here at Edelman Pottery.

**Heather Mccallum:** Before we go into the workshop, I just want to say a bit about the craft of pottery.

**Heather Mccallum:** Then we'll have a look at the equipment, and you can try making a pot of your own.

**Heather Mccallum:** Like many people, I'm sure you know that pottery as an art form is tens of thousands of years old, and we know this because it stands the test of time.

**Heather Mccallum:** Things like baskets and pictures don't survive in the earth in the same way that pots do.

**Heather Mccallum:** And even if ancient pots are found in small pieces, they still provide a lot of information about the past.

**Heather Mccallum:** There's no doubt that pottery has given archaeologists a fascinating insight into how ancient humans lived.

**Heather Mccallum:** The shape of an artifact may have been lost.

**Heather Mccallum:** But archaeologists can tell whether the pots were for, say, storage or cooking by examining the impressions on the clay, the scratches from tools.

**Heather Mccallum:** And the clay itself can reveal where the pots came from.

**Heather Mccallum:** When I ask people why they want to take a pottery class with me, they sometimes talk about these things, like our ancestors.

**Heather Mccallum:** They hope that something they create will also last longer than they do.

**Heather Mccallum:** That their work, whether it is good or not, might say something about humanity many years after their death.

**Heather Mccallum:** Of course, you will all have your own reasons for coming here.

**Heather Mccallum:** As far as I'm concerned, what I love most is the concentration you need to make a good pot.

**Heather Mccallum:** That focus takes you away from the stresses of everyday life.

**Heather Mccallum:** If you're elderly, it's also good exercise for hands and wrists.

**Heather Mccallum:** And helps with arthritis, and of course, it's a fun activity for children, because it's so messy.

**Heather Mccallum:** Here at Edelman Pottery we show you some of the basic pottery techniques, so that you can use these to create whatever you wish, a gift for a friend perhaps, like nearly everyone who comes here.

**Heather Mccallum:** I'm sure this is the first time you will have tried the art, so we'll keep things simple today.

**Heather Mccallum:** Now, before we move on, can I just say a word about what you're wearing?

**Heather Mccallum:** As we said in our email, please remove any watches, necklaces, et cetera.

**Heather Mccallum:** And put them somewhere safe.

**Heather Mccallum:** If you have long hair, do tie it back now.

**Heather Mccallum:** We'll provide aprons later, but I trust your clothes are old but comfortable.

**Heather Mccallum:** Not your favorite T-shirt or jeans.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

**Heather Mccallum:** So now we're in the workshop.

**Heather Mccallum:** Have a look around.

**Heather Mccallum:** There's a lot going on.

**Heather Mccallum:** To make pottery that will last, you need a Potter's wheel.

**Heather Mccallum:** A kiln, which is basically a very hot oven where you fire the pottery, and some tools.

**Heather Mccallum:** So first the kiln.

**Heather Mccallum:** If you look over in the far corner, you'll see one of ours.

**Heather Mccallum:** Since their invention kilns have changed very little.

**Heather Mccallum:** Though in the past 20 years, a lot of progress has been made in temperature control.

**Heather Mccallum:** Basically, a kiln removes the water from clay.

**Heather Mccallum:** At temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius.

**Heather Mccallum:** This allows anything you've made to set permanently in shape.

**Heather Mccallum:** It's a pretty ugly, heavy object that's hard to keep in a house or flat, so most people don't have one.

**Heather Mccallum:** You may think, 'can't I use my oven?'

**Heather Mccallum:** Well, that's possible, but domestic ovens don't really get hot enough, and eventually the clay will crack and fall apart.

**Heather Mccallum:** Some people fire pottery in a fire pit outside, but bear in mind that can be dangerous.

**Heather Mccallum:** You also need to know about safety procedures for kilns.

**Heather Mccallum:** As they release toxic compounds into the air.

**Heather Mccallum:** Every Potter needs a Potter's wheel.

**Heather Mccallum:** This machine is used to shape the clay into an object with circular walls or sides, such as a bowl.

**Heather Mccallum:** Its invention revolutionized the pottery industry, allowing multiple items to be produced in a day.

**Heather Mccallum:** Lastly, there are a number of different tools that potters use, depending on what they want to make.

**Heather Mccallum:** When you start, your hands can make all kinds of shapes and curves without relying on a sculpting tool.

**Heather Mccallum:** However, there are some basic tools that you will need to handle the clay on the wheel.

**Heather Mccallum:** Some look very strange and have even odder names.

**Heather Mccallum:** That you may find hard to remember.

**Heather Mccallum:** Rather than go through them all now, I'll just name a few tools as we go along.

**Heather Mccallum:** We can provide these.

**Heather Mccallum:** And I wouldn't recommend spending money on them yet.

**Heather Mccallum:** So, let's try making a pot of your own...

**Heather Mccallum:** If you sit down...

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

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

[Practice Introduction to Pottery at Edelman Pottery](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/introduction-to-pottery-at-edelman-pottery)