# Planning the Office Christmas Party: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 3, Test 3, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 3, Test 3, 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 | Rajdoot | that new Indian restaurant in Wetherfield is supposed to be excellent, the Rajdoot. ... RAJDOOT. ... let's put that down as the first choice |
| 2 | Park View | What about the Park View Hotel as a second choice? ... Yes, that's always reliable. |
| 3 | London Arms | And the London Arms in case. |
| 4 | 208657 | 777192, and London Arms, 208657. |
| 5 | non-smoking section | And we'd better make sure there's good vegetarian food. ... And a non-smoking section |
| 6 | Lentil curry | Roast dinner or lentil curry, ... Hmm, lentil curry, that's unusual. |
| 7 | 50 | they'd like a 50 pound deposit. ... Oh, 50 is normal. |
| 8 | choose the menu | Oh, and they say with such large numbers. ... We have to choose the menu in advance. |
| 9 | 4th of November | When did you say they wanted confirmation by? ... the fourth of November. |
| 10 | the Newsletter | Hardly anyone looks at that. ... the Newsletter is probably your best bet. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. Rajdoot.** The first-choice venue is the new Indian restaurant in Wetherfield that Joan has heard is excellent. Peter asks how to write the name, and she spells it out letter by letter as R-A-J-D-O-O-T, so the answer is Rajdoot.

**2. Park View.** The notes need the second-choice venue. After settling on the Rajdoot as the first option, Joan suggests the Park View Hotel as a second choice, and Peter agrees because it is always reliable. Its phone number, 777192, also matches the printed notes.

**3. London Arms.** This gap asks for the backup venue in third place. Joan adds the London Arms "in case" the first two fall through, and Peter repeats the name as he writes it down, so London Arms fills the third-choice line.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/planning-the-office-christmas-party/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1.

**Announcer:** You will hear two colleagues, Joan and Peter, organizing a Christmas dinner for their office staff.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

**Announcer:** You will see that there is an example which has been done for you.

**Announcer:** On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.

**Joan:** Right, let's try and get it sorted out today, so we don't have it hanging over us, OK?

**Peter:** Good idea.

**Peter:** I'll take notes.

**Joan:** First thing, numbers.

**Joan:** Have we got anything definite?

**Peter:** Well, I've been working it out, and I think 40 to 43.

**Joan:** Shall we put 45 to be on the safe side?

**Peter:** Yep.

**Peter:** Fine.

**Announcer:** Joan and Peter agree that 45 is a safe number to book for.

**Announcer:** So, 45 is written as the answer.

**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 to the first part of the conversation, and answer questions 1 to 5.

**Joan:** Right, let's try and get it sorted out today, so we don't have it hanging over us, OK?

**Peter:** Good idea, I'll take notes.

**Joan:** First thing, numbers.

**Joan:** Have we got anything definite?

**Peter:** Well, I've been working it out, and I think 40 to 43.

**Joan:** Shall we put 45 to be on the safe side?

**Peter:** Yep.

**Peter:** Fine.

**Joan:** Dates...

**Joan:** Well, that's straightforward.

**Peter:** The last working day before Christmas... which is...

**Joan:** ...which is December the 21st.

**Peter:** ...which is going to be pretty difficult to book at Christmas,

**Peter:** so we'd better think of 2 or 3 places, just to be on the safe side.

**Joan:** Well, last year's was hopeless.

**Peter:** The Red Lion, wasn't it?

**Joan:** Yep, we ought to go for something more expensive, cos you...

**Peter:** ...you get what you pay for.

**Joan:** Hmm, that new Indian restaurant in Wetherfield is supposed to be excellent, the Rajdoot.

**Peter:** Oh, how do you spell that?

**Joan:** RAJDOOT.

**Peter:** It's bound to be packed.

**Joan:** Well, let's put that down as the first choice, and have some backups.

**Joan:** What about the Park View Hotel as a second choice?

**Peter:** Yes, that's always reliable.

**Peter:** Park View Hotel...

**Joan:** And the London Arms in case.

**Peter:** London arms...

**Joan:** I'll call them now if you want.

**Peter:** No, I'll do it, Joan.

**Peter:** You're really busy.

**Peter:** Oh, have you got the numbers?

**Joan:** Not for the Rajdoot, but right, Park View hotel.

**Joan:** 777192, and London Arms, 208657.

**Peter:** Great. Before I ring, we'd better just make sure they're within the price range.

**Joan:** Up to GBP 15 a head?

**Peter:** I think you'll find some people won't be able to go that high.

**Joan:** Well, you can't get anything decent under 10 pounds.

**Peter:** OK, we'll say 12.

**Joan:** OK.

**Peter:** And we'd better make sure there's good vegetarian food.

**Joan:** And a non-smoking section, you know what the boss is like.

**Peter:** Hmm. Don't remind me.

**Peter:** Uh. I'll let you know as soon as I get anything.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

**Peter:** Good news, I found Rajdoot's number straight away, and they can fit us in.

**Peter:** Their Christmas menu sounds great.

**Joan:** What is it?

**Peter:** Uh. French onion soup or fruit juice.

**Joan:** Uh huh.

**Peter:** Roast dinner or lentil curry,

**Peter:** sounds ordinary, but my friend said it was really tasty.

**Joan:** Hmm, lentil curry, that's unusual.

**Peter:** And then for dessert, there's traditional plum pudding or apple pie, plus coffee.

**Joan:** That sounds really good for GBP 12. Did you book it?

**Peter:** Well, I said I'd check with the staff first, but they did say they'd hold the booking until next Wednesday anyway.

**Peter:** Oh, and if we go ahead, they'd like a 50 pound deposit.

**Joan:** Oh, 50 is normal.

**Joan:** That's fine.

**Peter:** And they want a letter.

**Joan:** Right to confirm.

**Peter:** Oh, and they say with such large numbers.

**Peter:** We have to choose the menu in advance.

**Joan:** Oh, that won't be a problem.

**Joan:** I'll put up a notice with details of the restaurant and the menu.

**Joan:** When did you say they wanted confirmation by?

**Peter:** It was oh, let's see, uh, the fourth of November.

**Joan:** Where do you think I should put up the notice, where everyone's guaranteed to see it?

**Peter:** On the cafe notice board, I should think.

**Joan:** Hmm. Hardly anyone looks at that.

**Peter:** Hmm. Well, the Newsletter is probably your best bet.

**Joan:** Oh, good idea.

**Joan:** I'll go and do that now.

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

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

[Practice Planning the Office Christmas Party](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/planning-the-office-christmas-party)