Test your skills in IELTS Listening with these practice questions focusing on daily life dialogues such as booking tickets, making inquiries, and handling phone calls. This quiz helps you get familiar with common scenarios and language patterns often found in IELTS Listening tests.
When calling to book two tickets for an evening show, the receptionist says, 'The 7:30 PM show is sold out, but seats are available for 9:00 PM.' What does this mean?
Explanation: The receptionist is informing you that the 7:30 PM show is fully booked, but there are still seats available for the 9:00 PM show, so only the later time can be booked. 'No seats are available at all' is incorrect because seats are open for the 9:00 PM show. 'Only the 7:30 PM show has tickets left' contradicts the information. 'Both shows are fully booked' is wrong because the 9:00 PM show still has tickets.
If a friend on the phone says, 'Take the first left after the post office, and you'll see the café beside the pharmacy,' where is the café located?
Explanation: The friend’s instructions mean you turn left after passing the post office, and the café is beside the pharmacy at that location. 'Directly across from the post office' ignores the suggestion of turning. 'On the right before the post office' reverses the sequence. 'Inside the pharmacy building' is not mentioned and is thus incorrect.
During a conversation at the station, if you ask, 'What time does the next train to Brighton leave?' and the attendant replies, 'At platform 3, departing in 15 minutes,' what information is being provided?
Explanation: The attendant gives the platform ('Platform 3') and the departure time ('in 15 minutes'), which directly answers your question. 'Ticket prices' are not mentioned. 'Arrival time at Brighton' is not provided in the reply. 'Train cancellation details' are entirely unrelated here.
If you mishear a booking reference and the agent says, 'Let me repeat: B for Bravo, 5, 2, C for Charlie,' what is the booking code?
Explanation: Using the phonetic alphabet, the agent clarifies the letters and numbers in the correct order, making the code B52C. 'B25C' switches the numbers. 'C52B' reverses both the letter and number sequence. 'BRAVO52C' incorrectly spells out the code in full.
While calling to order food, the staff says, 'We have run out of veggie burgers but can offer you grilled chicken or fish.' What should you understand from this?
Explanation: The phrase 'run out of veggie burgers' means they are unavailable, but they suggest grilled chicken or fish as options. 'Only veggie burgers can be ordered' contradicts the fact that veggie burgers are out. 'All menu items are available' overlooks the unavailability. 'Fish is not offered today' ignores the clear offer of fish.
If you ask, 'When does the last bus leave for the city centre?' and are told, 'The last one departs at 11:15 PM from stop A,' what can you conclude?
Explanation: The provided reply specifically states the departure time and location for the last bus. The option regarding hourly buses after midnight is not supported. No service to the city centre is contradicted by the answer itself. The next bus leaving at 10:15 PM is also not mentioned, making it incorrect.
During a phone call, you hear, 'We are open weekdays from 9 AM to 6 PM and Saturdays until 2 PM.' When can you visit on a Saturday?
Explanation: The store operates on Saturdays up to 2 PM, so visiting before that time is possible. 'Only after 6 PM' is incorrect because the store closes at 2 PM. 'Between 6 PM and 9 PM' is also outside business hours. 'At any time overnight' is entirely inaccurate as no overnight service is mentioned.
If someone says, 'I booked a table for four at 8:00 PM, but the restaurant has no record of it,' what issue is being described?
Explanation: The main issue is that the reservation made for a certain time and number is not listed in the restaurant system. 'An early arrival' is not mentioned at all. 'Extra guests at the table' has no reference, and 'ordering the wrong food' does not fit the context of the problem.
On a customer service call, if you say, 'My delivery was one day late and the package was damaged,' what are you doing?
Explanation: You are expressing dissatisfaction with the delivery time and the state of the package, which is a complaint. 'Ordering more packages' misconstrues the intent. 'Confirming the delivery time' is not the focus, and 'requesting a product brochure' is unrelated to the issue stated.
While calling a taxi company, the operator says, 'A ride to the airport will cost you fifteen pounds and will take about 25 minutes.' What information is provided?
Explanation: The operator gives both the cost (fifteen pounds) and the journey time (about 25 minutes), covering fare and duration. 'Driver's name' is not provided in this exchange. 'Return ticket price' is not mentioned, nor is 'pickup location only', which misses the details supplied.
If a clerk states, 'You’ll need photo ID to collect your parcel,' what should you bring?
Explanation: The request for 'photo ID' means you need an identification card with your picture, such as a passport or driver's license. 'Extra packaging materials' are unnecessary for collection. 'An envelope for sending parcels' is not relevant to collecting. A friend's presence is not requested by the clerk.
During a call, you are told, 'Your hotel booking is confirmed for July 12th. Check-in is from 2 PM.' What does this mean?
Explanation: The response states your booking is 'confirmed' and provides the earliest check-in time, so your stay is guaranteed for the specified date after 2 PM. Arriving before 2 PM may not be allowed. No reservation or pending status are both contradicted by the word 'confirmed.'
If you phone a theatre and they say, 'There are no tickets left for tonight, but Saturday’s show has seats available,' what action is possible?
Explanation: The theatre offers tickets for Saturday, so you can attend on that day. 'Tonight's performance' is already sold out. 'Book for yesterday’s show' is not possible as the date has passed. 'Waitlist for next month' is not offered in this response.
If you answer the phone at work and someone says, 'Could you ask Jane to call me back?' what should you do?
Explanation: You are requested to deliver a message to Jane so she can return the caller’s call. 'Call Jane immediately' is not requested. 'Transfer the call' assumes Jane is available, but the instruction is to pass on a message. Hanging up without action neglects your responsibility.
At a station, if the clerk responds, 'We have your umbrella at lost and found. Please bring identification to collect it,' what should you do next?
Explanation: You are instructed to visit the lost and found office and bring ID for collection. Waiting for delivery is not mentioned as an option. Buying a new umbrella is unnecessary since yours has been found. Reporting it online has already been resolved by the clerk’s answer.
If the secretary says on the phone, 'Your appointment has been moved from 3 PM to 5 PM on Friday,' when is your new appointment?
Explanation: The secretary clearly says your appointment is now at 5 PM on Friday. 3 PM on Friday is incorrect as that was the original time. 7 PM on Friday and 3 PM on Thursday are not mentioned in the conversation and do not reflect the new schedule.