Monologue Given by a College Principal - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

IELTS Listening section comprises audio of conversations and monologues. This topic - A monologue given by a college principal is IELTS listening section part four. Candidates will get audio based on academic and social contexts.

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In this section, candidates will receive the following IELTS Listening question types:

• Multiple-choice questions
• Fill in the blanks

Audio Transcript:

You will hear a talk by a college principal first.

You have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

Listen to the talk and answer questions 31 to 40.

Well, perhaps I can start this evening by welcoming you all to the college. Some of you of course, I know well ready, but the parents are mostly unfamiliar to me. We are very proud to have you here tonight to present the awards for this year's students, but also to celebrate our Centenary and celebrate the achievements of the college over that time. Before we go on to the main business of tonight ‘The achievement awards’. I should like to say a few words to remind you why this college has such a unique reputation in this country. Oh, because it is well-known for what it is, which is quite simply the best engineering Institute in the United Kingdom. This is not just my opinion which might well be biased. It is based on government figures which consistently show that year after year, we provide the highest levels of Education engineering research and pastoral care in the UK, as most of you know, this is the college's Centenary year and it is important I feel to reflect on the origins of the college. A hundred years ago the traditional industries of this area weaving, pottery making and agriculture were in sharp decline and when they went and in came that scourge of the past unemployment and poverty. Our College was founded in which to provide for some of the poorest but brightest boys of the town and surrounding area a way out of the poverty of the time. It was an immediate success. Thanks in no small part to the first generation of teaching staff including Frank Harris, a future president of the Aeronautics society. And Dr. Bart Hardley whose name is surely known to you all as a Nobel Prize Laureate and major contributor to the creation of the first atomic bomb. By 1917 the college was turning out 300 highly skilled highly qualified graduate Engineers a year. Former student at this time include Frederick Cantor who became a researcher at the atomic research station in Minnesota in America and the paint illusion. Doodly R.A who famously didn't complete his studies because of illness. After the end of hostilities in 1918, the college was formerly attached to the Northern University and Colton and has remained a part of that institution ever since the achievements of the graduates and staff of the college in the years since then are too numerous to list here. But I must mention the invention of the Bell Racing Engine, which has been such a powerful force in Automotive Engineering.

Attention earring. These days the focus of our research has changed to keep pace with the changes in modern technology. And while many of you will know that we are particularly well known for our expertise in Bridge Building Technology. You may be surprised to hear that none of us has ever actually built a bridge in our lives. These days it is all done by computer models. So, when worked on the changes of the Millennium bridge over the Thames which wobbles so badly the first, we saw the bridge was when we walked on it after the completion of the changes.

In the dozen or so years that I've been principal that is probably one of my most fulfilling moments - to be able to undertake this work through theoretical modeling rather than trial and error is surely the goal of engineering research.

Section 4
Questions 31-40
Questions 31-32

Circle the correct answer A-D. Write answers next to 31-32 on your answer sheet.

31. Tonight’s ceremony is mainly

1. to celebrate the centenary of the college.
2. to celebrate the achievements of the college over 100 years.
3. to present a prize to the college.
4. to present prizes to the students.

Answer: D

Explanation: According to the monologue, that night’s ceremony was majorly to present prizes to the students.

Also check:

32. Government figures show that the college’s main strengths are

1. teaching, research and care for students.
2. research and engineering.
3. teaching and engineering.
4. engineering research and care for students.

Answer: A

Explanation: According to the monologue, the government figures show that the college’s main strengths are itching, research, and caring for students.

Questions 33-36

Complete each sentence in NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

33. In 1900, the area’s traditional industries were_______________________________ and agriculture.

Answer: weaving and cutlery/agriculture and cutlery/weaving and agriculture

Explanation: Around 1900, the area mentioned in the monologue had traditional industries like weaving, cutlery, and agriculture.

34. The college originally wanted to help ____________________________________ from the town and local area.

Answer: the poorest boys/the brightest boys

Explanation: The main aim of the college was to help the poor but bright boys.

35. Dr. Bart Hardley is_____________________________ for winning the Nobel Prize.

Answer: famous/known

Explanation: Dr. Bart Hardley was famous for winning the Nobel Prize and was also the major contributor to the creation of the first atomic bomb.

36. By 1917 it was producing__________________________a year.

Answer: 300 graduates

Explanation: By the year 1917, the college was producing around 300 graduates in a year.

Questions 37-40

Write a short answer to these questions using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

37. Why didn’t Doodley finish his studies?_____________________________________

Answer: because of illness

Explanation: Doodley coulldnt finish his studies because of illness.

38. What invention brought fame to the college?___________________________________

Answer: (Bell) racing engine

Explanation: The college became famous because of the bell racing engine.

39. In which other areas have the college become renowned?____________________________________

Answer: bridge building (technology)

Explanation: The other areas in which the college became renowned was bridge building.

40. How long has the speaker been Principal of the College?_____________________________________

Answer: 12 years

Explanation: The speaker or the College Principal has been holding the post for 12 yers.