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IELTS Listening Practice Test 24: Part 1

Joining a running club. A man who has just moved to a new town phones a running club to find out about group runs, membership and his first session.

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Audio

You hear the recording once, as in the real test.

Questions 1–10

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Hartwell Harriers Running Club

The club

Membership

First session

Show the answers and explanations
  1. Thursdays / ThursdayTrap: the club used to run on Wednesdays as well, but the park locks early that night, so it is now Thursdays.
  2. café / cafeTrap: the club used to meet at the main gates, but it got too crowded, so they now meet outside the café.
  3. 5 / fiveThe beginners do about five kilometres. Eight and ten are the distances for the middle and fastest groups.
  4. 40 / forty / £40 / 40 poundsTrap: twenty pounds is social membership, which does not include races. Full membership is forty pounds.
  5. AprilTrap: people expect January, but all memberships are renewed on the first of April.
  6. vestTrap: free jackets have stopped because they were too expensive. New members get a club vest.
  7. trainersThe discount is only on trainers, not on running clothes.
  8. padlockHe does not need a water bottle. He needs a padlock because the café lockers have no locks.
  9. BranniganThe coach's surname is spelled letter by letter: B-R-A-N-N-I-G-A-N (note the double N).
  10. quizThe dinner is only at Christmas, and the film night has stopped. The monthly event is a quiz.
Show the transcript

Narrator: Part 1. You will hear a man phoning a running club to ask about becoming a member.

Narrator: First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

Narrator: You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.

Narrator: Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

Membership secretary (Karen): Hello, Hartwell Harriers Running Club, Karen speaking.

Caller (Luis): Oh, hi. My name's Luis. I found your number on the club's website. I've just moved to Hartwell, and I'm thinking about joining a running club. Are you the right person to talk to?

Membership secretary (Karen): I am. I'm the membership secretary, so ask me anything you like. Have you run with a club before?

Caller (Luis): Not really. I've been running on my own for about a year, but I think I'd stay more motivated in a group. How big is the club?

Membership secretary (Karen): We've got about two hundred members at the moment, so it's a nice friendly size. And we have people of all ages and abilities.

Caller (Luis): That sounds good. When do you meet?

Membership secretary (Karen): There are group runs twice a week. Tuesday evenings, and then, er, it used to be Wednesdays as well, but the park started locking the gates early that night, so now it's Thursdays.

Caller (Luis): Tuesdays and Thursdays. That suits me fine. What time do you start?

Membership secretary (Karen): Seven o'clock on both nights. In the winter, when it's dark, we stick to the paths that have street lights, so it's quite safe.

Caller (Luis): That's good to know. And where do you start from?

Membership secretary (Karen): From Victoria Park. People sometimes wait for us at the main gates, because that's where we used to meet, but it got too crowded there, so now we meet outside the café, next to the lake. They're happy for us to use their toilets, too, which is a big help.

Caller (Luis): Great. Now, I should say I'm not especially fast. Is there a group for beginners?

Membership secretary (Karen): Yes, we split into three groups, depending on speed. The beginners' group usually does about five kilometres. The middle group does eight, and the fastest group does at least ten, sometimes a lot more.

Caller (Luis): Five sounds about right for me, at least to start with. And how much does it cost to join?

Membership secretary (Karen): There are two kinds of membership. Social membership is twenty pounds a year, but that doesn't let you enter races as a club member. Most people go for full membership, which is forty pounds, because that includes your registration with the national athletics association.

Caller (Luis): Oh, I'd definitely like to do a few races, so I'd better go for the full one. But can I try a couple of runs with you before I pay anything?

Membership secretary (Karen): Of course. Everyone can come along twice for free before deciding whether to join. When you're ready, you can pay on our website. We stopped taking cash last year, because it was too much work for our treasurer. And it's worth knowing that all memberships run from the same date, so everyone renews at the same time. A lot of people expect that to be January, but it's actually the first of April.

Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.

Narrator: Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

Caller (Luis): And do you get anything when you join?

Membership secretary (Karen): You do. Every new member gets a club vest, in our colours, which are green and white. We used to give out a free jacket as well, but they were so expensive that we had to stop. You can still buy one, though.

Caller (Luis): Oh, nice. Green and white, so I'll be easy to spot, then. And are there any discounts at sports shops? I'm going to need some new kit before long.

Membership secretary (Karen): Yes, we have an arrangement with Stride Sports on the high street. Members get ten per cent off trainers there. Not running clothes, unfortunately, just trainers. But that's where most of your money goes anyway.

Caller (Luis): That's true. So, if I wanted to come along this Tuesday, what would I need to bring?

Membership secretary (Karen): Just yourself, really. You don't need a water bottle, because we're only out for about an hour. But do bring a padlock. There are lockers in the café where you can leave your bag and keys, but they don't come with locks.

Caller (Luis): OK, a padlock. And who should I ask for when I get there?

Membership secretary (Karen): Ask for Stella. She's our beginners' coach. Her surname's Brannigan, B-R-A-N-N-I-G-A-N. I'll email her to let her know you're coming.

Caller (Luis): Thanks. And is it all running, or are there social events as well?

Membership secretary (Karen): Oh, there's plenty going on. We have a big dinner at Christmas, and on the last Friday of every month there's a quiz at the Red Lion. We did try a film night for a while, but hardly anyone came, so the quiz has taken over.

Caller (Luis): That sounds like a good way to meet people. Well, thanks very much, Karen. I'll see you on Tuesday.

Membership secretary (Karen): Lovely. See you then.

Narrator: That is the end of Part 1. You now have half a minute to check your answers to Part 1.

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