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IELTS Practice Listening: Note/Summary Completion ID: #57349 Medium Southoe village
Instructions ›

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

You will hear a conversation about voluntary work in Southo Village. Now listen carefully and answer the questions. Hello, Jane Fairbanks speaking. Oh, good morning. My name's Frank Pritchard. I've just retired and moved to Southo. I'd like to become a volunteer, and I gather you coordinate voluntary work in the village. That's right. What sort of thing could I do? Well, we need help with the village library. We borrow books from the town library, and individuals also donate them. So, one thing you could do is get involved in collecting them, if you've got a car, that is. Yes, that's no problem. The times are pretty flexible, so we can arrange it to suit you. Oh, another thing is the records that we keep of the books we're given. and those we borrow and need to return to the town library. It would be very useful to have another person to help keep them up to date. Right. I'm used to working on a computer. I presume they're computerized. Oh, yes. Is the library purpose-built? I haven't noticed it when I've walked around the village. No, we simply have the use of a room in the village hall, the west room. It's on the left as you go in. I must go and have a look inside the hall. Yes, it's a nice building. Do you run a lunch club in the village for elderly people? I know a lot of places do. Yes, we have a very successful club. I could help with transport, if that's of any use. Oh, definitely. People come to the club from neighbouring villages, and we're always in need of more drivers. And does the club have groups that focus on a particular hobby, too? I could get involved in one or two, particularly if there are any art groups. Excellent. I'll find out where we need help and get back to you. Fine. What about help for individual residents? Do you arrange that at all? Yes, we do it as a one-off. Oh, in fact, there's Mrs. Carroll. She needs a lift to the hospital next week, and we're struggling to find someone. When's her appointment? On Tuesday. It would take the whole morning. I could do that. Oh, that would be great. Thank you. And also next week, we're arranging to have some work done to Mr. Salisbury's house before he moves, as he isn't healthy enough to do it himself. We've got some people to decorate his kitchen, but if you could do some weeding in his garden, that would be wonderful. OK, I'd enjoy that. And presumably the day and time are flexible. Oh yes, just say when would suit you best and we'll let Mr Salisbury know. Good. Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 8 to 10. Now listen and answer questions 8 to 10. The volunteers group also organises monthly social events, which is a great way to meet other people, of course. So next month, on the 19th of October, we're holding a quiz. A couple of residents are great at planning unusual ones, and we always fill the village hall. That sounds like fun. Can I do anything to help? Well, because of the number of people, we need plenty of refreshments for halfway through. So if you could provide any, we'd be grateful. I'm sure I could. I'll think about what to make and let you know. Thank you. Then on November the 18th, We're holding a dance, also in the village hall. We've booked a band that specialises in music of the 1930s. They've been before, and we've had a lot of requests to bring them back. I'm not really a dancer, but I'd like to do something to help. Well, we sell tickets in advance, and having an extra person to check them at the door as people arrive would be good. It can be quite a bottleneck if everyone arrives at once. Okay, I'm happy with that. We're also arranging a New Year's Eve party. We're expecting that to be a really big event. So instead of the village hall, it'll be held in the Mountfort Hotel. The? Mountfort. M-O-U-N-T-F-O-R-T Hotel. It isn't in Southo itself, but it's only a couple of miles away. The hotel will be providing dinner, and we've booked a band. The one thing we haven't got yet is a poster. That isn't something you could do by any chance, is it? Well, actually, yes. Before I retired, I was a graphic designer, so that's right up my street. Oh, perfect. I'll give you the details, and then perhaps you could send me a draft. Of course.
10 blanks 1 word max

Opportunities for voluntary work in Southoe village

Library

  • Help with  books (times to be arranged)
  • Help needed to keep  of books up to date
  • Library is in the  Room in the village hall

Lunch club 

  • Help by providing 
  • Help with hobbies such as 

Help for individuals needed next week

  • Taking Mrs Carroll to 
  • Work in the  at Mr Selsbury’s house

Village social events

Date 
Event 
Location 
Help needed
19 Oct


Village hall
providing refreshments
18 Nov
danceVillage hall

checking 

31 Dec
New Year’s Eve party
Mountfort Hotel

designing the 

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Synonym match - summary says 'Help with books' but the speaker explains the specific activity

Correct Answer: collecting

Why this is correct: The speaker explains one task in the library is collecting books from the town library and donations. The summary shortens this to 'Help with ___ books', so you need the action word from the recording.

Passage Reference: So, one thing you could do is get involved in collecting them, if you've got a car, that is.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write borrowing or donating, but those describe where books come from, not the volunteer's job. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'get involved in collecting them' = Summary: 'Help with ___ books'

Tips: Listen for verbs after phrases like 'one thing you could do is...'

Key Vocabulary:

  • collecting = picking up and bringing
  • donate = give for free

Question Focus: Synonym match - summary uses shorter wording for what is kept up to date

Correct Answer: records

Passage Reference: Oh, another thing is the records that we keep of the books we're given. and those we borrow and need to return to the town library. It would be very useful to have another person to help keep them up to date.

Why this is correct: The speaker clearly says they need help keeping records of the books. The notes shorten this to 'keep ___ of books up to date'.

Common Mistake: Some students write lists or details, but these words are not spoken. You must copy the exact word. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'the records that we keep of the books' = Summary: 'keep ___ of books up to date'

Tips: Always write the exact noun you hear, not a similar word.

Key Vocabulary:

  • records = stored information
  • up to date = current

Question Focus: Specific detail - room location

Correct Answer: west

Passage Reference: No, we simply have the use of a room in the village hall, the west room. It's on the left as you go in.

Why this is correct: The speaker explains the library is in the west room of the village hall. The notes already include the word 'Room', so only 'west' is needed.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write left, but that describes direction, not the room name. This is a paraphrase trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'the west room' = Summary: 'the ___ Room in the village hall'

Tips: Room names are often capitalised in notes but spoken normally in audio.

Key Vocabulary:

  • west = direction
  • hall = large public building

Question Focus: Synonym match - helping people get there

Correct Answer: transport

Passage Reference: I could help with transport, if that's of any use. Oh, definitely. People come to the club from neighbouring villages, and we're always in need of more drivers.

Why this is correct: Frank offers help with transport, and Jane agrees this is needed for the lunch club. The summary uses the same key word.

Common Mistake: Some students write driving, but the speaker uses the noun transport. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'help with transport' = Summary: 'Help by providing ___'

Tips: When the same word is repeated clearly, use it.

Key Vocabulary:

  • transport = taking people by car
  • drivers = people who drive

Question Focus: Specific example of a hobby

Correct Answer: art

Passage Reference: particularly if there are any art groups.

Why this is correct: Frank says he is interested in helping with art groups. The notes shorten 'art groups' to just the activity.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write groups, but the gap asks for the hobby itself. This is a grammar fit trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'art groups' = Summary: 'hobbies such as ___'

Tips: After 'such as', listen for examples.

Key Vocabulary:

  • art = drawing or painting
  • hobby = free-time activity

Question Focus: Specific destination

Correct Answer: hospital

Passage Reference: She needs a lift to the hospital next week, and we're struggling to find someone. When's her appointment? On Tuesday. It would take the whole morning.

Why this is correct: Jane says Mrs Carroll needs a lift to the hospital. The notes ask where she is being taken.

Common Mistake: Some students write appointment, but that is the reason, not the place. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'a lift to the hospital' = Summary: 'Taking Mrs Carroll to ___'

Tips: Listen carefully to prepositions like 'to' to know you need a place.

Key Vocabulary:

  • lift = car ride
  • appointment = scheduled meeting

Question Focus: Specific location of the work

Correct Answer: garden

Passage Reference: but if you could do some weeding in his garden, that would be wonderful.

Why this is correct: Jane asks if Frank can do weeding in Mr Salisbury's garden. The notes summarise this as 'Work in the ___'.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write kitchen, but that work is already covered by others. This is a distractor trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'weeding in his garden' = Summary: 'Work in the ___ at Mr Salisbury's house'

Tips: Be careful when two places are mentioned. Only one matches the task.

Key Vocabulary:

  • weeding = removing unwanted plants
  • decorate = paint or improve

Question Focus: Event type

Correct Answer: quiz

Passage Reference: So next month, on the 19th of October, we're holding a quiz. A couple of residents are great at planning unusual ones, and we always fill the village hall.

Why this is correct: Jane says that on 19 October they are holding a quiz. The table asks for the event name.

Common Mistake: Some students write event or social, which are too general. This is a partial truth trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'we're holding a quiz' = Table: 'Event'

Tips: Dates often signal the next answer. Be ready.

Key Vocabulary:

  • quiz = question game
  • hold = organise

Question Focus: Specific task at the event

Correct Answer: tickets

Passage Reference: Well, we sell tickets in advance, and having an extra person to check them at the door as people arrive would be good.

Why this is correct: Jane explains they need someone to check tickets at the door. The notes shorten this to 'checking ___'.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write people, but it is the tickets that are checked. This is a context shift trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'check them at the door' = Summary: 'checking ___'

Tips: Listen carefully to pronouns like 'them' and think what they refer to.

Key Vocabulary:

  • ticket = entry pass
  • bottleneck = delay

Question Focus: Missing item needed for the event

Correct Answer: poster

Passage Reference: The one thing we haven't got yet is a poster. That isn't something you could do by any chance, is it? Well, actually, yes.

Why this is correct: Jane says the only thing missing for the New Year's Eve party is a poster. Frank offers to design it.

Common Mistake: Some students write advert or flyer, but those words are not spoken. This is a synonym trap.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'is a poster' = Summary: 'designing the ___'

Tips: When the speaker says 'the one thing', the next noun is usually the answer.

Key Vocabulary:

  • poster = printed notice
  • draft = first version

General Tips:

  • FIB answers follow recording order. Use the previous answer to predict where the next one is coming.
  • Always check the word limit. One extra word makes the answer wrong.
  • Copy the exact word you hear. Synonyms are not accepted.
  • Listen for signpost phrases like 'another thing is' or dates. They often introduce answers.
  • Use grammar clues in the notes. Articles and prepositions tell you what type of word you need.

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