# Lost Property Inquiry: A Suitcase: answers and explanations

The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Test 5, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, Test 5, 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 | white | Sort of grey, actually no, they're white now I think about it. |
| 2 | office | Yes, I had a big bunch of keys in there. ... So they're for your office? |
| 3 | camera | Is a camera I just bought. |
| 4 | umbrella | I had an umbrella. ... It was black, no, blue |
| 5 | 13th May | So that would be May the 13th. |
| 6 | airport | So you were coming from the airport, I presume. |
| 7 | taxi | so I decided to take a taxi eventually. |
| 8 | Docherty | Yes, it's Lisa Docherty. ... It's DOCHERTY. |
| 9 | River | It's number 15A, River Road, and that's Highbury, as I said. |
| 10 | 07979605437 | It's 07979605437. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. white.** The gap needs the color of the thin stripes on the black suitcase. The woman first says the stripes are sort of grey, then corrects herself and says they are white, so her final choice, white, is the word that goes in the notes.

**2. office.** The notes need a word describing which keys were in the case. The woman mentions a big bunch of keys, the official asks whether they are for her office, and she confirms it, adding that her house keys were safely in her pocket.

**3. camera.** You need the item that was still in its box. The woman says the thing she is really worried about has not even been taken out of the box yet, and then names it as a camera she just bought, which fits "a ___ in a box".

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** You will hear a phone conversation in which a woman talks to a public transport official about something she has lost.

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

**Staff Member:** Hello, City Transport Lost Property.

**Staff Member:** How can I help you?

**Woman:** Oh, hello.

**Woman:** Yes, I'm calling about a suitcase I lost yesterday.

**Woman:** I don't suppose I'll get it back, but I thought I'd try.

**Staff Member:** Well, some people do hand lost items in, so you might be lucky.

**Staff Member:** Let's put the details into the computer.

**Woman:** OK.

**Staff Member:** Right, so let's start with a description of the suitcase.

**Woman:** OK, well it's small, and it's the type you can pull along on wheels.

**Staff Member:** How about the color?

**Woman:** Yes, uh, it's black, uh, but not exactly plain black.

**Woman:** It has some narrow stripes down it.

**Woman:** Sort of grey, actually no, they're white now I think about it.

**Staff Member:** OK, I'll just add that information.

**Staff Member:** Now, were there any items inside it?

**Woman:** Yes, I had a big bunch of keys in there.

**Woman:** Luckily my assistant manager has an identical set, so she's going out this morning to get some copies made.

**Staff Member:** So they're for your office?

**Woman:** That's right.

**Woman:** My house keys were in my pocket, thank goodness.

**Staff Member:** Anything else?

**Woman:** Um. There were a lot of documents, but they're saved on my laptop anyway.

**Woman:** So they don't matter so much, but the thing I'm really worried about, I mean I haven't even taken it out of the box yet.

**Woman:** Is a camera I just bought.

**Woman:** That's really why I'm calling.

**Woman:** I can't believe I've lost it already.

**Staff Member:** I see.

**Staff Member:** Well, let's hope we can find it for you.

**Staff Member:** Was there anything else?

**Woman:** I don't think so.

**Staff Member:** Any credit cards?

**Woman:** They were in my handbag, and I had my passport inside my jacket pocket.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you will have some time to look at the questions 5 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.

**Staff Member:** Money, clothing, any personal items?

**Woman:** Uh. Let me think.

**Woman:** I had an umbrella.

**Woman:** It was black, no, blue, but obviously that isn't as important as the other things.

**Staff Member:** Uh. No, but it all helps us identify your property and get it back to you.

**Staff Member:** Anyway, I just need to ask you for some basic details about your journey.

**Staff Member:** So, it was yesterday, was it?

**Woman:** That's right.

**Woman:** In the afternoon, around 2 pm, maybe 2:30.

**Staff Member:** OK.

**Staff Member:** So that would be May the 13th.

**Woman:** Yes, I was heading to Highbury.

**Woman:** That's where I live.

**Staff Member:** All right, and you mentioned a passport, I think.

**Staff Member:** So you were coming from the airport, I presume.

**Woman:** Yes, and I was looking forward to getting home so much, and what with being tired and everything.

**Woman:** I think that's why I just forgot about the case.

**Staff Member:** And how were you traveling when you lost your property?

**Staff Member:** I mean what kind of transport were you using?

**Woman:** I thought about getting the train, but that would have meant a bus journey as well, and I couldn't be bothered, so I decided to take a taxi eventually.

**Woman:** That's where I must have left it.

**Staff Member:** Well, that's good news in a way.

**Staff Member:** It's more likely that a driver would have found it and handed it in.

**Woman:** I hope so.

**Staff Member:** Well, I need your personal details now.

**Staff Member:** Can I have your full name please?

**Woman:** Yes, it's Lisa Docherty.

**Woman:** I'll spell that for you.

**Woman:** It's DOCHERTY.

**Staff Member:** Thank you.

**Staff Member:** And next, if I could have your address, the best address to send you the property, if we managed to locate it.

**Woman:** Sure.

**Woman:** It's number 15A, River Road, and that's Highbury, as I said.

**Staff Member:** Thank you.

**Staff Member:** Just a moment, there's just one final thing.

**Staff Member:** That's your phone number.

**Woman:** I guess my mobile would be best.

**Woman:** Uh. Hang on, I can never remember my own number.

**Woman:** OK, I've got it.

**Woman:** It's 07979605437.

**Staff Member:** Well, I think that's everything we need at this end.

**Staff Member:** I'll have a look at the data on.

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

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

[Practice Lost Property Inquiry: A Suitcase](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/lost-property-inquiry-a-suitcase)