# Minster Park: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 15, Test 2, Listening Part 2

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 15, 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 | C | Minster was some waste land, which people living nearby started planting with flowers in 1892 |
| 12 | A | Diane Gosforth was one of those people, and she organized petitions and demonstrations |
| 13 | B | most of the park was dug up and planted with vegetables |
| 14 | C | The changes finally got going in 2016 |
| 15 | E | it's now immediately to the north of the lily pond |
| 16 | C | where the path from the east gate makes a sharp bend |
| 17 | B | that's between the river and the path that leads from the pond to the river |
| 18 | A | That's near the west gate. ... And then turn left to reach it. |
| 19 | G | They're still in the south-west corner of the park. ... Where there's a right-angle bend in the path. |
| 20 | D | This is right next to the lily pond, on the same side as the west gate. |

## Why these answers are right

**11. C.** Mark explains that Minster began as waste land that people living nearby started planting with flowers in 1892. Local residents creating a garden together is what option C means by a shared area set up by the local community.

**12. A.** Diane Gosforth was one of the local people who wanted the park kept open to everyone, and she organized petitions and demonstrations that changed the council's mind. Organizing a protest is a paraphrase of helping to lead a campaign, so A is correct.

**13. B.** During the war, most of the park was dug up and planted with vegetables that were sold locally. The question asks what the park was mainly used for, and the word most in the recording signals the main use, which is B.

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

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 2.

**Announcer:** You will hear part of a talk to a gardening club about a local park.

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

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

**Woman:** I'm very pleased to welcome this evening's guest speaker, Mark Logan, who's going to tell us about the recent transformation of Minster Park.

**Woman:** Over to you, Mark.

**Mark:** Thank you.

**Mark:** I'm sure you're all familiar with Minster Park.

**Mark:** It's been a feature of the city for well over a century, and has been the responsibility of the city council for most of that time.

**Mark:** What perhaps isn't so well known is the origin of the park.

**Mark:** Unlike many public parks that started in private ownership, as the garden of a large house for instance, Minster was some waste land, which people living nearby started planting with flowers in 1892.

**Mark:** It was unclear who actually owned the land.

**Mark:** And this wasn't settled until 20 years later, when the council took possession of it.

**Mark:** You may have noticed the statue near one of the entrances.

**Mark:** It's of Diane Gosforth, who played a key role in the history of the park.

**Mark:** Once the council had become the legal owner, it planned to sell the land for housing.

**Mark:** Many local people wanted it to remain a place that everyone could go to, to enjoy the fresh air and natural environment.

**Mark:** Remember, the park is in a densely populated residential area.

**Mark:** Diane Gosforth was one of those people, and she organized petitions and demonstrations, which eventually made the council change its mind about the future of the land.

**Mark:** Soon after this, the First World War broke out, in 1914,

**Mark:** and most of the park was dug up and planted with vegetables,

**Mark:** which were sold locally, at one stage, the army considered taking it over for troop exercises, and got as far as contacting the city council, then decided the park was too small to be of use.

**Mark:** There were occasional public meetings during the war, in an area that had been retained as grass.

**Mark:** After the war, the park was turned back more or less to how it had been before 1914 and continued almost unchanged until recently.

**Mark:** Plans for transforming it were drawn up at various times, most recently in 2013, though they were revised in 2015 before any work had started.

**Mark:** The changes finally got going in 2016 and were finished on schedule last year.

**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:** OK, let me tell you about some of the changes that have been made, and some things that have been retained.

**Mark:** If you look at this map.

**Mark:** You'll see the familiar outline of the park, with the river forming the northern boundary, and a gate in each of the other three walls.

**Mark:** The statue of Diane Gosforth has been moved.

**Mark:** It used to be close to the south gate, but it's now immediately to the north of the lily pond, almost in the center of the park, which makes it much more visible.

**Mark:** There's a new area of wooden sculptures, which are on the river bank, where the path from the east gate makes a sharp bend.

**Mark:** There are two areas that are particularly intended for children.

**Mark:** The playground has been enlarged and improved, and that's between the river and the path that leads from the pond to the river.

**Mark:** Then there's a new maze, a circular series of paths separated by low hedges.

**Mark:** That's near the west gate.

**Mark:** You go north from there towards the river.

**Mark:** And then turn left to reach it.

**Mark:** There have been tennis courts in the park for many years, and they've been doubled from four to eight.

**Mark:** They're still in the south-west corner of the park.

**Mark:** Where there's a right-angle bend in the path.

**Mark:** Uh. Something else I'd like to mention is the new fitness area.

**Mark:** This is right next to the lily pond, on the same side as the west gate.

**Mark:** Now, as you're all gardeners, I'm sure you'll like to hear about the plants that have been chosen for the park.

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

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

[Practice Minster Park](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/minster-park)