# Students' Suggestions for the Design of the New Union Building: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 4, Test 3, Listening Part 4

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 4, Test 3, Listening Part 4. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 31 | questionnaire | These suggestions then provided the basis for the design of a questionnaire |
| 32 | approximately 2,000 | which was completed by approximately 2,000 of the college students |
| 33 | Education | 1 in the city center near the faculty of Education |
| 34 | halls of residence | and site 3 out of town near the halls of residence. |
| 35 | traffic and parking | Site 1 was unpopular because of traffic. ... And parking problems. |
| 36 | lecture rooms | mainly because it was close to most lecture rooms |
| 37 | facilities | the larger site would allow more room for a choice of facilities. |
| 38 | D, F | We would like the current table games room to be replaced with a small gym ... There was a large number of respondents in favor of a travel agent |
| 39 | B | a largish minority were strongly against it, claiming that it is elitist and a waste of funds. |
| 40 | A, C | at least video surveillance, and security personnel who would check student union cards on request. |

## Why these answers are right

**31. questionnaire.** The notes say the written suggestions informed the design of something. The speaker says these suggestions provided the basis for the design of a questionnaire, which students later completed, so questionnaire is the one word missing here.

**32. approximately 2,000.** The gap in brackets needs the number of respondents. The speaker says the questionnaire was completed by approximately 2,000 college students over three weeks. A figure such as 2,000 counts as one number, so approximately 2,000 fits the limit.

**33. Education.** The table places site one in the city center near the Faculty of something. When the speaker lists the three options, the first is in the city center near the faculty of Education, so Education completes the location in one word.

The why and the trap for questions 34 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/students-suggestions-for-the-design-of-the-new-union-building/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 4.

**Announcer:** You'll hear a student union representative presenting the views of college students about the design of a new building.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

**Speaker:** We're very grateful that the committee has agreed that a representative for the Students' Union can present students' suggestions about the design for the proposed new union building.

**Speaker:** Uh. We appreciate that some of our ideas may not be feasible in the circumstances, uh, but we do feel that it is important that the ultimate beneficiaries of the facilities should have some say in its design.

**Speaker:** If I could start by briefly explaining what steps were taken to find out student opinion, and how we have arrived at conclusions.

**Speaker:** Uh. Firstly, a meeting was held in the current union for our SU Committee to explain the options.

**Speaker:** Then we invited all students to submit written suggestions for the design, placing cards in a suggestion box.

**Speaker:** These suggestions then provided the basis for the design of a questionnaire which was completed by approximately 2,000 of the college students over a period of three weeks.

**Speaker:** Uh. Finally, the SU Committee collated the results and drew up a report.

**Speaker:** If I can just hand around a copy of that report.

**Speaker:** Uh. This presentation is essentially a summary and discussion of the key points of this report.

**Speaker:** So in broad terms, the consensus was as follows.

**Speaker:** Firstly, regarding the crucial matter of the site, we presented the three options that you have proposed.

**Speaker:** 1 in the city center near the faculty of Education, 2 on the outskirts of the city near the park, and three out of town near the halls of residence.

**Speaker:** We asked students to cite reasons for and against these sites, and there was remarkable agreement on all three.

**Speaker:** Uh. Site 1 was unpopular because of traffic.

**Speaker:** And parking problems.

**Speaker:** Site 2 had a number of supporters, mainly because it was close to most lecture rooms, and site 3 out of town near the halls of residence.

**Speaker:** Was clearly the most popular because of access from living quarters.

**Speaker:** It was clear that the union was mainly to be used after lectures.

**Speaker:** It was also felt that the larger site would allow more room for a choice of facilities.

**Speaker:** Our second area of interest was obviously the facilities.

**Speaker:** There was minimal interest in having a library on the premises, but one option seemed to be a reading room instead, more useful.

**Speaker:** We would like the current table games room to be replaced with a small gym, and if possible a small swimming pool, uh, not of course Olympic sized.

**Speaker:** There was a large number of respondents in favor of a travel agent and an insurance center.

**Speaker:** We also request that there be the offices of the Student Counseling Center.

**Speaker:** Moving this from the refectory.

**Speaker:** There was however much disagreement about whether to build a drama theater.

**Speaker:** Just over 40% of the respondents were in favor.

**Speaker:** But a largish minority were strongly against it, claiming that it is elitist and a waste of funds.

**Speaker:** Essentially the jury is out on that.

**Speaker:** Finally, given the number of unfortunate incidents in the current union over the past few months, a strong point was repeatedly made about security.

**Speaker:** The recommendations would be at least video surveillance, and security personnel who would check student union cards on request.

**Speaker:** We doubt if it would be feasible to have a check at reception of all people coming in.

**Speaker:** Well, uh, this is the summary of the views of the student population.

**Speaker:** As I say, fuller details are given in our report, but I'm happy to take any questions if you have them.

**Announcer:** That is the end of Section 4.

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

[Practice Students' Suggestions for the Design of the New Union Building](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/students-suggestions-for-the-design-of-the-new-union-building)