Radio Interview About An Expedition Across The Attora Mountains - IELTS Listening Sample Answer

IELTS Listening section comprises four sections to test the candidate’s listening skills. Each IELTS listening topic contains a conversation or monologue. This topic - A radio interview about an expedition across the Attora Mountains is an IELTS Listening topic part 2. This section contains the following question types:

• Sentence completion
• Multiple choice questions
• Short answer questions

Audio Transcript

You will hear a radio interview about an expedition across the Attora mountains. First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15.

Now listen carefully to the interview and answer questions 11 to 15.

Interviewer: Our dream came true in 1995 when over 96 days of the spring and summer, an expedition of four men undertook what they believed to have been the first and only complete end-to-end crossing of Morocco's Attora mountains. I talked to Charles Owen, the leader of the expedition group about the trip. Charles, how much planning went on beforehand?

Charles: Well as you know, I’ve run these walking trips across the mountains for tourists and over the years, I've collected maps and other data to prepare what I call a route book for this trip, and this book basically shows the route across the mountains that we took.

Interviewer: You actually broke records while you were out there, didn't you?

Charles: mmm. Yes. It was 900 miles in total and we managed to climb 32 peaks that were over 3,000 meters high including Toubkal which is of course the highest in North Africa. We weren't actually out to make a name for ourselves. It just happened. Really.

Interviewer: What was the weather like?

Charles: Oh! It got us right from day one and we were pretty taken aback really, to find that it rained on quite a number of days and so we were forced to start replanning our route almost from the outset. One of the obvious problems is the heavy snow which blocks the mountain passes. So you have to make considerable detours. When we are on the way to Imilchil, for example, the snow forced us into a northern bypass which was new to us. But anyway, either way we would have been rewarded because we fell upon amazing high meadows, huge, gorgeous and wonderful snow-capped mountains. The scenery was as fine as any we saw on the trip and that was how it was every time. Having to take another pass was never, a disappointment.

You now have some time to look at questions 16 to 20.

Now listen to the rest of the interview and answer questions 16 to 20.

Interviewer: It was in many ways a social trip. Wasn't it?

Charles: Yes. Yes. We'd arranged to meet up with friends at various points on the journey. I mean, this was actually one of the purposes of the trip and we managed to keep all these dates which, well, it's amazing really considering the details we made. An old friend acted as a sort of Transport organizer for everyone and the hotel Alley in Marrakesh was a good social base. I'd really recommend it, although I can't remember who runs it. Anyway, groups of friends actually joined us for three week stints and others whom we haven't met before the trip at all, tagged on for short bursts. People from the area who just came along for the ride. But outside the major visitor areas like Tubkal, we only met one other group of travelers like ourselves in the whole 96 days.

Interviewer: Were there any bad moments?

Charles: Well, we took two, I must say long-suffering donkeys with us to help transport water and tents and things. I suppose if we were to do it all again we'd probably hire donkeys along the way. Tarzan and Tamre as we called them after the last places in the trip, well, they made quite a unique journey between them but it was continuously demanding for them. On both the really high summits they took diversions that were quite out of character and I can only assume that it must have been due to tiredness.

Interviewer: Well, thank you.

Interviewer: And Charles has put together a video about this journey and continues to lead groups to the Attora mountains. So if you want further information

Section 2

Questions 11-20

17. 11-13

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Expedition Across Attora Mountains

Leader: Charles Owen

Prepared a 11 ____________ for the trip

Total length of trip 12 ____________

Climbed the highest peak in 13 ____________

Question 11:

Answer: route book

Explanation: The interviewer was interviewing Charles Owen who prepared a route book of the 96 days trip across the Attora Mountain range including three other men.

Also check:

Question 12:

Answer: 900 miles

Explanation: Charles Owen, who was the leader of the expedition trip stated that they crossed around 900 miles and made a record of the same. They crossed 32 high peaks of around 3000 meters.

Question 13:

Answer: North Africa

Explanation: When discussing how they made a record, Charles Owen told that they crossed around 900 miles and crossed the highest peak in North Africa, namely, Toublak.

17. 14 and 15

Choose the correct answers A-C and write them next to 14-15 on your answer sheet

14. What took the group by surprise?

1. the amount of rain
2. the number of possible routes
3. the length of the journey

Answer: A

Explanation: The thing which took the group by surprise is the amount of rain they received on the way. This is why they started replanning the route.

15. How did Charles feel about having to change routes?

1. He reluctantly accepted it.
2. He was irritated by the diversion.
3. It made no difference to the enjoyment.

Answer: C

Explanation: Charles stated that they had to change my routes, and that made many changes to their plan but that didn’t cause any difference to their enjoyment.
Q. 16—18

Write THREE letters A-F.

What does Charles say about his friends?

1. He met them at one stage on the trip.
2. They kept all their meeting arrangements.
3. One of them helped arrange the transport.
4. One of them owned the hotel they stayed in.
5. Some of them travelled with him.
6. Only one group lasted the 96 days.

Questions 16, 17, and 18:

Answer: B, C, and E

Explanation: Charles stated how they previously planned out their meeting arrangements before getting onto the expedition. In fact, meeting old friends was one of the main reasons behind this expedition. He said that one of the trip members, who was an old friend helped them arrange the transports. Then he also added that some of the people traveled with him at some points in the trip.

Write TWO letters, A-E

What does Charles say about the donkeys?

1. He rode them when he was tired.
2. He named them after places.
3. One of them died.
4. They behaved unpredictably.
5. They were very small.

Questions 19 and 20:

Answer: B and D (in any order)

Explanation: About the donkeys, Charles said that he named two of them Tarzan and Tamre, which were after the places. The donkeys behaved unpredictably because they were very tired.