# Volunteering at a City Half Marathon: answers and explanations

Testmigo Practice Test 1, Listening Part 2

Source: Written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 11 | C | we've added a three-kilometre fun run for families |
| 12 | B | Be here at a quarter to seven |
| 13 | B | every one of you will get a voucher for a hot lunch |
| 14 | C | phone race control straight away |
| 15 | C | sign out at the volunteer tent before you head home |
| 16 | B | right by the Station Road gate |
| 17 | H | we've moved it out onto Mill Lane, just outside the park |
| 18 | E | on the side of the pond nearest Mill Lane |
| 19 | D | The meeting point is just in front of it. |
| 20 | A | will end up at the café, in the top left-hand corner |

## Why these answers are right

**11. C.** Hana says the difference this year is a new three-kilometre fun run for families, held an hour after the main race, which needs its own team. A fun run on the same morning is the extra event in option C.

**12. B.** Marshals are told they need not come as early as the water station teams and should be there at a quarter to seven. A quarter to seven is 6.45 in the morning, which is option B.

**13. B.** After the T-shirt, Hana says every one of the helpers will get a voucher for a hot lunch from the food stalls in the park. A voucher for a hot lunch is a voucher for a meal, so B is correct.

The why and the trap for questions 14 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/volunteering-at-a-city-half-marathon/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 2. You will hear a volunteer coordinator giving a briefing to people who are helping at a city half marathon.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 15.

**Coordinator:** Morning, everyone, and thanks for coming. I'm Hana Reid, and I look after the volunteers for the Calderwick Half Marathon.

**Coordinator:** For anyone who's new to running, a half marathon is twenty-one point one kilometres, or just over thirteen miles.

**Coordinator:** Now, a few of you have asked why we've put out such a big call for helpers this year.

**Coordinator:** You might assume it's because more people have entered the main race, but the numbers there are about the same as last year.

**Coordinator:** What's different is that we've added a three-kilometre fun run for families, which starts an hour after the main race, and that needs its own team.

**Coordinator:** The course itself hasn't changed, so if you helped last year, you'll know the route.

**Coordinator:** Right, timings. The main race starts at eight, but most of you need to be here well before that.

**Coordinator:** If you're on a water station, please arrive by a quarter past six, because there are tables to put up and thousands of cups to fill.

**Coordinator:** Course marshals don't need to be quite so early. Be here at a quarter to seven, which leaves time for your briefing before the roads close at half past seven.

**Coordinator:** So, what do you get for giving up your Sunday morning? Everyone gets a bright orange volunteer T-shirt, which you're welcome to keep.

**Coordinator:** In past years volunteers also got a free place in the next year's race, but sadly our sponsor has stopped paying for that.

**Coordinator:** Instead, every one of you will get a voucher for a hot lunch from the food stalls in the park once your shift's over.

**Coordinator:** A few of you asked about rain jackets. We've only got a handful, for the marshals on the exposed harbour bridge, so do bring your own.

**Coordinator:** Now, the most important rule is about runners who look unwell.

**Coordinator:** Your first instinct might be to walk them to a first-aid point yourself, but please don't leave your position, because the runners behind them still need you.

**Coordinator:** And don't offer them food or drink unless a medic tells you to. What you should do is phone race control straight away.

**Coordinator:** The number's printed on the back of your ID badge, and they'll send out one of our cycling medics.

**Coordinator:** Finally, the end of your shift. I was going to ask you to hand back your high-vis vests, because they belong to the city council.

**Coordinator:** But actually, the council told us this week that they're getting new ones, so you can keep yours.

**Coordinator:** A crew will clear up litter after the race, so don't worry about that either.

**Coordinator:** The one thing I do need is for everyone to sign out at the volunteer tent before you head home, so we know nobody's been left out on the course.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 16 to 20.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.

**Coordinator:** OK, if you could all look at the map I've handed out. We're standing at the volunteer tent, which is marked 'You are here', just inside the main gate on Harbour Road.

**Coordinator:** The runners start on Harbour Road down at the Station Road end, and they finish further along, at the Mill Lane end.

**Coordinator:** So, the bag drop. From the main gate, turn left and follow the path that runs along the fence.

**Coordinator:** The bag drop is in the corner of the park, right by the Station Road gate, so runners can leave their bags there and walk straight out to the start.

**Coordinator:** Next, the first-aid tent. Last year it was inside the park, in the bottom right-hand corner, near the finish.

**Coordinator:** This year, though, we've moved it out onto Mill Lane, just outside the park, so ambulances can get to it without driving through the crowds.

**Coordinator:** Medals will be handed out beside the pond. The runners come in from the finish, so the medal table is on the side of the pond nearest Mill Lane.

**Coordinator:** Then there's the family meeting point, where runners can find their friends after the race.

**Coordinator:** Go straight up the main path from here, past the pond, and you'll see the bandstand at the top of the park. The meeting point is just in front of it.

**Coordinator:** And lastly, lost property. Anything runners drop or leave behind will end up at the café, in the top left-hand corner of the park.

**Coordinator:** Please don't send people to the playground in the top right-hand corner, though. It's shut on race day.

**Coordinator:** Right, that's everything. Your team leaders will come and find you shortly.

**Announcer:** That is the end of Part 2. You now have 30 seconds to check your answers.

[Practice Volunteering at a City Half Marathon](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/volunteering-at-a-city-half-marathon)