# Self-Drive Tours in the USA: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 1, Listening Part 1

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 1, 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 | Ardleigh | ARDLEIGH Road. |
| 2 | newspaper | I read about you in the newspaper. |
| 3 | theme | there's plenty of time to visit some of the theme parks there. |
| 4 | tent | I don't like the idea of staying in a tent. |
| 5 | castle | Someone told me there's a really nice castle near Cambria. |
| 6 | beach | That's good for beaches ... We want some time for sunbathing and swimming. |
| 7 | 2020 | which lasts 12 days and covers 2,020 km. |
| 8 | flight | That includes accommodation, car rental, and a flight, but no meals. |
| 9 | 429 | it's GBP 429 per person |
| 10 | dinner | but these hotels offer dinner in the price. |

## Why these answers are right

**1. Ardleigh.** The gap is the street name in Andrea's address. She first says 24 Ardleigh Road and then, when Jamie asks her to spell it, gives it letter by letter, so Ardleigh is the word to write, with every letter in the right order.

**2. newspaper.** Jamie asks how Andrea heard about World Tours and suggests two sources, a friend or an advert. She answers no to both and says she read about the company in the newspaper, so newspaper is the source the form needs.

**3. theme.** This line of the notes is about what Andrea wants to do in Los Angeles. Jamie says the first tour leaves plenty of time to visit some of the theme parks there, and Andrea replies that they are on her children's list, so theme completes theme parks.

The why and the trap for questions 4 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/self-drive-tours-in-the-usa/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 1.

**Announcer:** You will hear a telephone conversation between a travel agent and a customer.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.

**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.

**Travel Agent:** Good morning, World Tours.

**Travel Agent:** My name is Jamie.

**Travel Agent:** How can I help you?

**Andrea:** Good morning. I want some information on self-drive tours in the USA.

**Andrea:** Could you send me a brochure?

**Travel Agent:** Of course.

**Travel Agent:** Could I have your name please?

**Andrea:** Andrea Brown.

**Announcer:** The customer's name is Andrea Brown, so Brown 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 6.

**Travel Agent:** Good morning, World Tours.

**Travel Agent:** My name is Jamie.

**Travel Agent:** How can I help you?

**Andrea:** Good morning, I want some information on self-drive tours in the USA.

**Andrea:** Could you send me a brochure?

**Travel Agent:** Of course.

**Travel Agent:** Could I have your name please?

**Andrea:** Andrea Brown.

**Travel Agent:** Thank you.

**Travel Agent:** And your address?

**Andrea:** 24 Ardleigh Road.

**Travel Agent:** Can you spell that?

**Andrea:** ARDLEIGH Road.

**Travel Agent:** Post code?

**Andrea:** BH52OP.

**Travel Agent:** Thanks, and can I have your phone number?

**Andrea:** Is a mobile all right?

**Travel Agent:** Fine.

**Andrea:** It's 07786643091.

**Travel Agent:** Thank you.

**Travel Agent:** And can I ask you where you heard about World Tours?

**Travel Agent:** From a friend, or did you see an advert somewhere?

**Andrea:** No, I read about you in the newspaper.

**Travel Agent:** OK, I'll get the brochures in the post to you, but can I give you some information over the phone?

**Travel Agent:** Uh. What kinds of things do you want to do on your holiday?

**Andrea:** I'm interested in going to California with my family.

**Andrea:** I've got two children, and we want to hire a car.

**Travel Agent:** OK, we have a couple of self-drive tours there, visiting different places of interest in California.

**Travel Agent:** The first one begins in Los Angeles, and there's plenty of time to visit some of the theme parks there.

**Andrea:** Uh. That's something on my children's list, so I'd want to include that.

**Travel Agent:** Good.

**Travel Agent:** Uh. Then you drive to San Francisco, from San Francisco you can drive to Yosemite Park, where you spend a couple of nights.

**Travel Agent:** You can choose to stay in a lodge or on the campsite.

**Andrea:** I don't like the idea of staying in a tent.

**Andrea:** It would be too hot.

**Travel Agent:** Right.

**Travel Agent:** And the tour ends in Las Vegas.

**Travel Agent:** OK, the other trip we can arrange is slightly different.

**Travel Agent:** It starts in San Francisco, then you drive south to Cambria.

**Andrea:** Someone told me there's a really nice castle near Cambria.

**Andrea:** Will we go near that?

**Travel Agent:** Hearst Castle is on that road, so you could stop there.

**Andrea:** Good, I'd like to do that.

**Andrea:** Does this trip also go into the desert?

**Travel Agent:** No, it continues to Santa Monica, where most people like to stop and do some shopping.

**Andrea:** We have enough of that at home, so that doesn't interest us.

**Travel Agent:** Ha ha, OK.

**Travel Agent:** Well you could go straight on to San Diego.

**Andrea:** That's good for beaches, isn't it?

**Travel Agent:** That's right.

**Travel Agent:** That's a good place to relax, and your children might like to visit the zoo before flying home.

**Andrea:** Uh. I don't think so.

**Andrea:** We want some time for sunbathing and swimming.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.

**Andrea:** So, how many days are the trips, and how much do they cost?

**Travel Agent:** The first one I told you about is a self-drive tour through California, which lasts 12 days and covers 2,020 km.

**Travel Agent:** The shortest journey is 206 kilometers, and the longest is 632 kilometers.

**Travel Agent:** The cost is GBP 525 per person.

**Travel Agent:** That includes accommodation, car rental, and a flight, but no meals.

**Travel Agent:** OK, and the other trip, that lasts nine days, but you spend only three days on the road.

**Travel Agent:** You cover about 980 km altogether.

**Andrea:** So is that cheaper then?

**Travel Agent:** Yes, it's almost GBP 100 cheaper, it's GBP 429 per person, which is a good deal.

**Andrea:** So that covers accommodation and car hire.

**Andrea:** What about flights?

**Travel Agent:** They aren't included, but these hotels offer dinner in the price.

**Andrea:** OK, well, thank you very much.

**Andrea:** I'll be in touch when I've had a chance to look at the brochure.

**Travel Agent:** I'm pleased to help.

**Travel Agent:** Goodbye.

**Andrea:** Goodbye.

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

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

[Practice Self-Drive Tours in the USA](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/self-drive-tours-in-the-usa)