IELTS Listening &. Reading

peter: Hello? jan: Oh hello. My name’s Jan. Are you the right person to talk to about the Buckworth Conservation Group? peter: Yes, I’m Peter. I’m the secretary. jan: Good. I’ve just moved to this area, and I’m interested in getting involved. I was in a similar group where I used to live. Could you tell me something about your activities, please? peter: Of course. Well, we have a mixture of regular activities and special events. One of the regular ones is trying to keep the beach free of litter. A few of us spend a couple of hours a month on it, and it’s awful how much there is to clear. I wish people would be more responsible and take it home with them. jan: I totally agree. I’d be happy to help with that. Is it OK to take dogs? peter: I’m afraid not, as they’re banned from the beach itself. You can take them along the cliffs, though. And children are welcome. jan: Right. peter: We also manage a nature reserve, and there’s a lot to do there all year round. For example, because it’s a popular place to visit, we spend a lot of time looking after the paths and making sure they’re in good condition for walking. jan: I could certainly help with that. peter: Good. And we have a programme of creating new habitats there. We’ve just finished making and installing nesting boxes for birds to use, and next we’re going to work on encouraging insects – they’re important for the biodiversity of the reserve. jan: They certainly are. peter: Oh, and we’re also running a project to identify the different species of butterflies that visit the reserve. You might be interested in taking part in that. jan: Sure. I was involved in something similar where I used to live, counting all the species of moths. I’d enjoy that. peter: Another job we’re doing at the reserve is replacing the wall on the southern side, between the parking area and our woodshed. It was badly damaged in a storm last month. jan: OK. peter: Then as I said, we have a programme of events as well, both at the weekend, and during the week. jan: Right. I presume you have guided walks? I’d like to get to know the local countryside, as I’m new to the area. peter: Yes, we do. The next walk is to Ruston Island, a week on Saturday. We’ll be meeting in the car park at Dunsmore Beach at low tide – that’s when the sands are dry enough for us to walk to the island without getting wet. jan: Sounds good. peter: The island’s a great place to explore. It’s quite small, and it’s got a range of habitats. It’s also an ideal location for seeing seals just off the coast, or even on the beach. jan: OK. And is there anything we should bring, like a picnic, for instance? peter: Yes, do bring one, as it’s a full-day walk. And of course it’ll be wet walking across and back, so make sure your boots are waterproof. jan: I must buy a new pair – there’s a hole in one of my current ones! Well, I’d definitely like to come on the walk. peter: Great. Then later this month we’re having a one-day woodwork session in Hopton Wood. jan: I’ve never tried that before. Is it OK for beginners to take part? peter: Definitely. There’ll be a couple of experts leading the session, and we keep the number of participants down, so you’ll get as much help as you need. jan: Excellent! I’d love to be able to make chairs. peter: That’s probably too ambitious for one day! You’ll be starting with wooden spoons, and of course learning how to use the tools. And anything you make is yours to take home with you. jan: That sounds like fun. When is it? peter: It’s on the 17th, from 10 a.m. until 3. There’s a charge of £35, including lunch, or £40 if you want to camp in the wood. jan: I should think I’ll come home the same day. Well, I’d certainly like to join the group.

So, hello everyone. My name’s Lou Miller and I’m going to be your tour guide today as we take this fantastic boat trip around the Tasmanian coast. Before we set off, I just want to tell you a few things about our journey. Our boats aren’t huge as you can see. We already have three staff members on board and on top of that, we can transport a further fifteen people – that’s you – around the coastline. But please note if there are more than nine people on either side of the boat, we’ll move some of you over, otherwise all eighteen of us will end up in the sea! We’ve recently upgraded all our boats. They used to be jet black, but our new ones now have these comfortable dark red seats and a light-green exterior in order to stand out from others and help promote our company. This gives our boats a rather unique appearance, don’t you think? We offer you a free lunchbox during the trip and we have three types. Lunchbox 1 contains ham and tomato sandwiches. Lunchbox 2 contains a cheddar cheese roll and Lunchbox 3 is salad-based and also contains eggs and tuna. All three lunchboxes also have a packet of crisps and chocolate bar inside. Please let staff know which lunchbox you prefer. I’m sure I don’t have to ask you not to throw anything into the sea. We don’t have any bins to put litter in, but Jess, myself or Ray, our other guide, will collect it from you after lunch and put it all in a large plastic sack. The engine on the boat makes quite a lot of noise so before we head off, let me tell you a few things about what you’re going to see. This area is famous for its ancient lighthouse, which you’ll see from the boat as we turn past the first little island. It was built in 1838 to protect sailors as a number of shipwrecks had led to significant loss of life. The construction itself was complicated as some of the original drawings kept by the local council show. It sits right on top of the cliffs in a very isolated spot. In the nineteenth century there were many jobs there, such as polishing the brass lamps, chopping firewood and cleaning windows, that kept lighthouse keepers busy. These workers were mainly prison convicts until the middle of that century when ordinary families willing to live in such circumstances took over. Some of you have asked me what creatures we can expect to see. I know everyone loves the penguins, but they’re very shy and, unfortunately, tend to hide from passing boats, but you might see birds in the distance, such as sea eagles, flying around the cliff edges where they nest. When we get to the rocky area inhabited by fur seals, we’ll stop and watch them swimming around the coast. They’re inquisitive creatures so don’t be surprised if one pops up right in front of you. Their predators, orca whales, hunt along the coastline too, but spotting one of these is rare. Dolphins, on the other hand, can sometimes approach on their own or in groups as they ride the waves beside us. Lastly, I want to mention the caves. Tasmania is famous for its caves and the ones we’ll pass by are so amazing that people are lost for words when they see them. They can only be approached by sea, but if you feel that you want to see more than we’re able to show you, then you can take a kayak into the area on another day and one of our staff will give you more information on that. What we’ll do is to go through a narrow channel, past some incredible rock formations and from there we’ll be able to see the openings to the caves, and at that point we’ll talk to you about what lies beyond.

1. What did you study in history lessons at school? At school, we studied a mix of national and world history. For example, we learned about ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Rome, and also about more recent events like the World Wars. The focus was often on political leaders, battles, and important discoveries. Sometimes we also discussed how historical events influenced culture and daily life. 2. Did you enjoy studying history in school, why or why not? I would say I enjoyed history to some extent, but not completely. On one hand, I found the stories about ancient cultures fascinating, because they gave me a new perspective on human progress. On the other hand, I didn’t like memorizing dates and names, which felt a bit boring and repetitive. Overall, I appreciated history more when it was presented in a story-like way rather than as just facts to remember. 3. How often do you watch TV programs about history now? I don’t watch them very frequently, maybe once or twice a month. Most of the time, I prefer documentaries on streaming platforms rather than traditional television. If the topic is presented in an engaging way, like with visuals and personal stories, I can watch for hours. But if it’s too academic, I usually lose interest quickly. 4. What period in history would you like to learn more about? I’d really like to learn more about the Renaissance period in Europe. It was a time of great progress in art, science, and philosophy, and many ideas from that era still influence us today. I find it fascinating how people moved from medieval traditions to more modern ways of thinking. Exploring that period could help me understand the roots of today’s culture and innovation.