# The National Arts Centre: A Hub of Arts and Entertainment: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 3, Listening Part 2

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 8, Test 3, 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 | classical music | one of the major venues for classical music |
| 12 | bookshop | including 3 restaurants and a bookshop |
| 13 | planned | but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s |
| 14 | 1983 | and eventually opened to the public in 1983 |
| 15 | City Council | it's run by the City Council |
| 16 | 363 | the center is open 363 days of the year |
| 17 | Garden Hall | It's in the Garden Hall, and tickets start at only GBP 8 |
| 18 | Three Lives | And that's called Three Lives. |
| 19 | 4.50 | and tickets cost just GBP 4.50, which is a reduction on the usual price of GBP 5.50 |
| 20 | Faces of China | It's a collection of Chinese art called 'Faces of China'. |

## Why these answers are right

**11. classical music.** The notes ask what the arts center is well known for. Dave says it is famous throughout the world as one of the major venues for classical music, so classical music is what it is best known for, even though it offers much more.

**12. bookshop.** The list of facilities ends with restaurants followed by a gap after the article a. Dave names the service facilities as three restaurants and a bookshop, so bookshop is the last item in the complex and fits the space in two words or fewer.

**13. planned.** The note says the center was something and built during the 1960s and 1970s. Dave explains it was planned in the sixties and built in the seventies, so planned is the stage that pairs with built in this note about its history.

The why and the trap for questions 14 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-national-arts-centre-a-hub-of-arts-and-entertainment/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Section 2, you will hear a man talking on the radio about a national arts center.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

**Dave Green:** Hello, and welcome to Focus on the Arts.

**Dave Green:** I'm your host, Dave Green, and this is your very own local radio program.

**Dave Green:** Every Friday evening, we put the spotlight on different arts and culture facilities.

**Dave Green:** And look at the shows and events that are on offer in the coming week, and today the focus is on the National Arts Center.

**Dave Green:** Now, if you don't already know it yourself, I'm sure you've all heard of it.

**Dave Green:** It's famous throughout the world as one of the major venues for classical music.

**Dave Green:** But did you know that it's actually much more than just a place to hear concerts?

**Dave Green:** The center itself is a huge complex that caters for a great range of arts.

**Dave Green:** Under a single roof, it houses concert rooms, theaters, cinemas, art galleries, and a wonderful public library, as well as service facilities including 3 restaurants and a bookshop.

**Dave Green:** So, at any one time, the choice of entertainment there is simply enormous.

**Dave Green:** So, how did they manage to build such a big arts complex right in the heart of the city?

**Dave Green:** Well, the area was completely destroyed by bombs during the war in 1940.

**Dave Green:** So the opportunity was taken to create a cultural center that would be what they called: 'the City's Gift to the Nation'.

**Dave Green:** Of course, it took a while for such a big project to get started, but it was planned in the 60s, built in the 70s, and eventually opened to the public in 1983.

**Dave Green:** Ever since then, it has proved to be a great success.

**Dave Green:** It's not privately owned, like many arts centers, but is still in public hands - it's run by the City Council.

**Dave Green:** Both our National Symphony Orchestra and National Theatre Company were involved in the planning of the project.

**Dave Green:** And they're now based there, giving regular performances every week.

**Dave Green:** And as the center is open 363 days of the year, there are plenty of performances to choose from.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the broadcast, you have some time to look at question 17 to 20.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer question 17 to 20.

**Dave Green:** So, to give you some idea of what's on, and to help you choose from the many possibilities, we've made a selection of the star attractions.

**Dave Green:** If you're interested in classical music, then we recommend you go along to the National on either Monday or Tuesday evening at 7:30 for a spectacular production of The Magic Flute, probably the most popular of all Mozart's operas.

**Dave Green:** It's in the Garden Hall, and tickets start at only GBP 8, but you'll have to be early if you want to get them that cheap.

**Dave Green:** And remember, it's only on for those two evenings.

**Dave Green:** For those more interested in the cinema, you might like to see the new Canadian film, which is showing on Wednesday evening at 8 pm in Cinema 2.

**Dave Green:** And that's called Three Lives.

**Dave Green:** It's had fantastic reviews, and tickets cost just GBP 4.50, which is a reduction on the usual price of GBP 5.50.

**Dave Green:** So, it's really good value, especially for such a great movie.

**Dave Green:** But you can see the center's main attraction at the weekend, because on Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, they're showing a wonderful new exhibition that hasn't been seen anywhere else in Europe yet.

**Dave Green:** It's a collection of Chinese art called 'Faces of China'.

**Dave Green:** That's in Gallery 1, and it has some really fascinating paintings and sculptures by leading artists from all over China.

**Dave Green:** And the good news is that it's completely free, so don't miss it.

**Dave Green:** So why not go along to the National Arts Center next week for one or all of these great events?

**Dave Green:** And you can always pick up a program and check out all the other performances and exhibitions on offer or coming soon on almost every day of the year.

**Dave Green:** Next week, we'll be looking at the new Museum of Science.

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

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

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