A Conversation Between a Woman and a Police Officer Interrogating About an Incident - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

The IELTS Listening section contains four sections and a total of forty questions. The IELTS listening section tests a candidate’s ability to listen to different types of audio and question types. This topic is section one of IELTS listening and contains ten questions. The best way to prepare for IELTS listening is practicing from IELTS listening practice papers. This section contains three question types:

• Label the map
• Choose the correct answer
• Complete the table

Audio Transcript

A woman called Mrs. Reynolds is being interviewed by a police officer about an incident. She saw the previous evening. First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5

Officer: Well, if you can just tell me everything you remember, it doesn't matter how trivial it seems or may seem unimportant to you may not be unimportant to us.

Mrs. Reynolds: Okay, I'll do what I can, officer. Well, as I said, I just came out of the cinema on High Street. So it was about eight o'clock, just before 8:00. In fact, I'd been to see a film with a friend and he had just gone home. So, I was just standing there wondering what to do, whether to go and have a cup of coffee somewhere or not. I was just standing there minding my own business when suddenly I heard someone shouting directly opposite me outside the library not screaming just shouting. It sounded like the voice of an elderly woman. “They've got my bag, they've got my bag,” she was shouting. These two men raced past me going like the wind straight down the street and around the corner into West Street. It all happened so quickly. I think they must have had a car waiting for them there because I heard one drive off at top speed. Well, I didn't know what on Earth to do, whether to try and chase them, whether to ring the police or whether to go and see if she was all right. Another woman was running up behind me. So, I shouted back at her to go and call the police. Anyway, when I got to the woman she seemed to be alright. Thank goodness, a bit shaken. But okay, I think I was much more upset than she was, all in all, she was pretty calm. I don't think I would have been but apparently it had happened to her once before so maybe that's why, you know, I've got a friend who refuses to go out alone anywhere after six o'clock. Now, what's this town coming to?

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

Mrs. Reynolds: Anyway, she just kept saying I didn't see a thing. I didn't see a thing. One of them had pushed her from behind and as she put out a hand to steady herself. The other one had just taken the bag from under her arm and then he raised it across the road. I asked her what she'd had in it, and she said she'd had her purse with about 15 pounds in it. But no cheque books or cards, or things like that and luckily she had a front door key in her pocket and she had a bus pass taken too.

Officer: Let's get back to the two men if we can just tell me everything you can remember about them.

Mrs. Reynolds: Well, there was a younger one and an older one.

Officer: Well, let's start with the younger ones. Shall we?

Mrs. Reynolds: Well, the first thing he only looked about 17 not more. He was neither very tall nor small, sort of slim build not anybody would notice anything particularly special about him and then an ordinary-looking sort of bloke. He had curly black hair which was quite long but apart from that as I say not someone you'd notice in a crowd nothing really distinct about him at all. But the older one was different, yes different, I feel as if I'd know him anywhere. Again, I got more of a look at him because he ran across the road more slowly than the younger man. I remember being surprised because he was quite a bit older than the other one. I'd say about 35. Funny because you don't think of people of that age snatching handbags in broad daylight like that. Do you? He was quite a bit smaller than the other man and medium build.

Officer: What did he look like, you didn't give the officer much information last night.

Mrs.Reynolds: Well, I did get quite a good look at his face. No beard or mustache, clean-shaven and quite smart looking really. He had light brown hair cut very short, sort of an army haircut, and there was another thing. Thinking about it all last night over and over again. I'm almost sure he had a small scar on his chin. Now, I didn't tell the other policeman that last night but in my mind each time, I see his face. I can see one.

Officer: A scar on his chin. Thank you. Mrs. Reynolds. You've been really helpful. If you really think you'll recognize him again, then what we'd like you to do. Later this morning. If you can , come down to the police station and look at a few photographs for us to see if any of those ring a bell.

That is the end of Section 1.

Question 1-2

Label the map below.

Write the correct letter A-H next to questions 1-2.

1_______________ Elderly woman

2_______________ Thieves’ car

Question 1.

Answer: G

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds tells the officer that she heard someone “outside the library”, and “it sounded like the voice of an elderly woman”.

Also, check:

Question 2.

Answer: C

Explanation: As stated by Mrs. Reynolds, “Then these two men raced past me, going like the wind, straight down the street and around the corner into the west street.” Therefore the answer is C.

Question 3-5

Choose the correct letter, A-C, and write answers next to 3-5 on your answer sheets.

3. When Mrs. Reynolds saw the thieves, she

1. ran after them.
2. telephoned the police.
3. went to help the elderly woman.

Answer: C

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds states “When I got to the woman, she seemed to be alright, thank goodness” this means that she went to help the elderly woman.

4. The elderly woman was

1. badly hurt.
2. unhurt.
3. very upset.

Answer: B

Explanation: The elderly woman was “all right”, “OK”, which means that she was unhurt. Therefore, the answer is B.

5. Which woman had once had her bag stolen in the past?

1. the elderly woman
2. Mrs. Reynolds
3. Mrs. Reynolds’ friend

Answer: A

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds told the officer, “All in all, she was pretty calm. I don’t think I would have been, but apparently, it had happened to her once before so maybe that’s why you know.” This means that woman had faced a similar incident in the past hence the answer is A.

Question 6

Choose TWO letters, A-F, and write your answer next to Question 6 on your answer sheet.

The bag contained

1. a purse.
2. £50.
3. a cheque-book.
4. a cheque card.
5. a bus pass.
6. a door key.

Question 6.

Answer 1: A

Explanation: While narrating the incident Mrs. Reynolds told the officer that the elderly woman had her purse with about £15 in it. Therefore, option A is correct.

Answer 2: E

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds says that the woman had her bus pass taken, so the bus pass was in the bag. Therefore, option E is correct.

Questions 7-10

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Question 7.

Answer: Slim

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds explains the physique of the younger man, she states “Sort of slim build”. Therefore, the answer is slim.

Question 8.

Answer: Black

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds describes the younger man’s hair in detail. She mentions that he had black hair. Hence, the answer is black.

Question 9.

Answer: 35

Explanation: As stated by Mrs. Reynolds, “I remember being surprised because he was quite a bit older than the other one. I’d say about 35.” Therefore the age of the older man is 35.

Question 10.

Answer: (small) scar

Explanation: Mrs. Reynolds tells that the older man had a small scar on his chin. Therefore, the answer is (small) scar.