IELTS FOUNDATION 2

UNIT 6
LEISURE TIME

D. LISTENING.
Exercise 1. In this unit, you will learn about IELTS Listening Sections 3 and 4 and practise the
skills you need to answer three-option multiple choice questions and a map labelling task. The
topic of this unit is university life. Complete the table with the words and phrases in the box.

A lecturer a campus a tutor an accommodation officer

An administration block a seminar an interview a lecture

Hall of residence

People Places Events

Exercise 2. Read the information. Then look at the plan of a university campus and label the features
1–5 with the words in the box.

In the IELTS Listening test, you may have to label a plan or map, which may include one or more
of the following:
 places that are already labeled, e.g. café, reception, main entrance, etc.
 features that are not labeled but can be seen in the drawing, e.g. a statue, a forest, a hill,
etc.
 buildings or other places that are a particular size (e.g. small, large) or shape (e.g.
 round, square)
 compass directions, i.e. some plans and maps may include north, south, east and west.
Before you listen, it is a good idea to look carefully at the plan or map to identify the objects you
can already see.

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bridge fence
river sma

1. ______________

2. ______________

3. ______________

4. ______________

5. ______________

Exercise 3. Listen to a guide describe where different places are on a university

campus plan. Write the correct letters next to the locations. (²Track 6.1)

1. the Browning Lecture Hall___

2. the Dining Hall ___

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Exercise 4. For an IELTS Listening labelling task, it’s a good idea to learn adjectives that
describe shapes. Label the shapes with the correct adjectives in the box.

L-shaped circular rectangular semi- circular square

1 2 3

4 5

Exercise 5. Listen to the recording. Write the correct letters next to the locations.
(²Track 6.2)

1. Halls of Residence ________

2. Seminar Rooms ________
3. Art Society ________

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Exercise 6. Read the information. Then listen to a conversation between two

students on a university campus. Choose the correct answers. (²Track 6.3)

Remember that:
- Cues (key words) in the question tell you when you should listen carefully for the answer
- The words in each option will probably be expressed in different words in the recording
(i.e. they will be paraphrased).

In an IELTS three- option multiple choice task, the questions follow the same order as the
recording. For example, in the questions you will hear the women explain why she has come
to the university before you hear her talk about painting in the 19th century.
However, the options A, B, C may not follow the same order as recording. For example, you
may hear words or phrases connected to an interview (option C) before words or phrases
connected to books (option A) or a new job (option B).

1. Why is the woman at the university?

o A to borrow some books
o B to start a new job
o C to have an interview
2. According to the woman, 19th-century paintings
o A developed in an interesting way.
o B were as popular as photographs.
o C became an affordable hobby for the average person

Exercise 7. Listen and answer questions 1–2 (²Track 6.4)

University Life
1. How long is the man’s course?
o A one year
o B three years
o C four years
2. How did the man feel about his first week at university?
o A He was confused by all the information he was given.
o B He was impressed by the friendliness of other people.
o C He was worried about the amount of work he had to do.
Exercise 8. Follow the instructions and answer questions 1 – 10: (²Track 6.5)
Questions 1 – 3: Multiple choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
1. Dr Deacon’s talk is on
A. The newest London street markets.
B. Current changes in London street markets.
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C. The history of London street markets.

2. Dr Deacon aims to show
A. The benefits of street markets.
B. The dangers of street markets.
C. The differences between street markets.
3. Dr Deacon conducted a survey of
A. One hundred people.
B. Under one hundred people.
C. More than a hundred people.
Question 4 – 6: Completing notes
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Survey results
Advantages
Beneficial for the __________
Helped the local community by creating work and encouraging __________
Fresh produce
A reduction in waste and packing
Cultural benefits
Main disadvantage
Fewer people as a result of __________

Question 7 – 10: Map labelling

Label the map below. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

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E. SPEAKING
Exercise 1. Match the activities with the correct photos.
Camping computer games cooking gardening hiking jogging
Listening to music playing the harmonica swimming taking photos

__________ __________ __________ __________

__________ __________ __________ __________

__________ __________
Exercise 2. In the IELTS Speaking test you can use and, so, or, but and because to
explain your answer. Read the examiners’ questions and choose the correct words
to complete the students’ answers.
and because but or so

1. Examiner: Generally students and young people, what do they like to do?
Student: Activities like playing music and sport, _____________ learning a language
______________ nowadays language is very important.

2. Examiner: What do you like most about your hometown?

Student: The thing I like most about my hometown is the beach. There are lots of beaches
_____________ , in summer, a lot of people go to the beach.

3. Examiner: Do you spend much time in places where there are a lot of trees and plants?
Student: Yes of course, ______________ I need to relax after studying. I usually go
somewhere afterwards to relax. _____________ I spend time in the garden with my
friends.

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4. Examiner: What do you like doing in your free time?

Student: Well, I usually play the harmonica in the park, _______________ now, in winter,
it’s too cold.

5. Examiner: Is your hometown a popular place for tourists?

Student: Yes, _______________ my hometown is in the south of South Korea. It’s the
hottest city in South Korea _______________ lots of people come to enjoy the nice
weather.

Exercise 3. Match the two halves to complete the sentences.

My father likes reading. Or I run in the park.

● ●
I didn’t take any photos on holiday Because she says I make a mess
● ● in the kitchen.
I like to exercise each day. I either go But I can play the piano.
swimming ● ●
My mother doesn’t like it when I cook Because Iforgot my camera.
● ●
We have a really big garden And cooking.
● ●
Do you prefer watching TV And both my parents love
● ● gardening.
I can’t play the guitar Or playing computer games?
● ●
My sister’s favorite bobies are So I always buy him a book for
listening to music ● ● his birthday.

Exercise 4. Read the information. Then choose the correct words or phrases to
complete the sentences.
In the IELTS Speaking test you can give examples by using for example, for instance, like and
such as. You can compare two things by using but, while, whereas and on the one hand …, on
the other hand.

1. On the one hand, most people think having a lot of free time is a good thing. On the other
hand/For example some people would rather have less free time.
2. I enjoy sports that you play in teams, whereas /like football, rugby, hockey and basketball.
3. Most girls at my college like listening to music, while/for instance most boys prefer playing
computer games.
4. My family regularly eat together at the weekend. Such as/For example , last weekend, my
grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins all came to my house for lunch.
5. We live on a farm where we keep a lot of different kinds of animals, such as/whereas horses,
sheep, goats, chickens and ducks.
6. My brother likes swimming but/for instance I prefer playing football.
7. In my country, people who are the same age as my parents have enough money to go on
holiday, for example/whereas a lot of young people don’t have money to travel.
8. My father has expensive hobbies. For instance/While , he likes horse riding and sailing.

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Exercise 5. In the IELTS Speaking test you can explain your answers by giving an example or
by comparing two things. Read the conversations and choose what the student is doing in each
one.

1. Examiner: Who usually has more free time – young people or older people?
Student: Older people have more free time because they are already retired and have lots of free
time. For example, my grandparents have lots of time every day.

o This student gives an example.

o This student compares two things.

2. Examiner: Who usually has more free time – young people or older people?
Student: I’m not sure. I suppose that maybe young people don’t have much free time because they
spend a lot of time studying and doing activities. On the other hand, old people have a lot of free
time because they’re not very active.

o This student gives an example.

o This student compares two things

Exercise 6. Another way that you can explain your answer in the IELTS Speaking test is by
talking about the past or the future. Do the phrases below give an example from the past or
give an opinion about the future? Choose the correct answers.

1. One time, a few years ago, I was …

o The past
o The future
2. I think that next year it might …
o The past
o The future
3. In the past, people from my hometown used to …
o The past
o The future
4. In my country, people didn’t …
o The past
o The future
5. In my opinion, it will definitely become a problem if …
o The past
o The future
6. When my mother was a child, it was normal to …
o The past
o The future
7. I doubt that will happen because …
o The past
o The future
8. If you ask me, it will probably get better …
o The past
o The future

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Exercise 7. Watch the video of the student answering a question in IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Then choose the correct answers to complete the sentences. ( Unit 6_Video 1)

1 . The examiner asks the student about the past/ the future .

2. The student explains his answer by giving an opinion about the future/ giving an example from the
past

Exercise 8. Read the information. Then complete the phrases using the words in the box.

In the IELTS Speaking test, phrases like That’s a good question … can give you
more time to think of an answer.
Example:
Examiner: Have the types of shop you like going to changed over the years?
Student: That’s a good question, …

good moment question see sure think what

1. That’s a very interesting ___________

2. Hmm … that’s a ___________question.
3. I’m afraid I’m not ___________, but …
4. Let’s ___________, that’s a hard one.
5. ___________an interesting question!
6. Let me think about that for a ___________.
7. You know, I would have to ___________about that.

Exercise 9. Put the words in the correct order to complete the phrases.

1. a question very interesting That’s .

2. question That’s good a .

3. I’m afraid I’m not sure not .

4. one Let’s that’s hard see, a .

5. interesting an question What .

6. Let think for a moment me about that .

7. You know, have would to think about that I .

Exercise 10. You are going to do IELTS Speaking Part 2. You will need some paper and a
pencil.

1. Tell me about your hometown.

2. Is your hometown a popular place for tourists to visit?
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3. Has your hometown changed much in recent years?

4. Do you have a lot of free time?
5. What do you like doing when you have free time?
6. Do you think you’ll have more free time in the future than you do now?
7. How important is it for you to have free time?

Well, my hometown is Tay Ninh city, located in the Southeast of Vietnam. In my

opinion, it is an ideal city to live in thanks to its unique culinary culture and beautiful
natural landscape.

When you come here, you will be amazed by the beautiful natural landscape and the
friendliness of the people here. My city is known to many people as a place blessed by
nature. We have mountains surrounding the city in the northeast and beautiful fields in
the west, giving tourists many choices for sightseeing and fun. Besides, I believe that
cuisine will never disappoint anyone. Tourists visiting my city can rent motorbikes and
feel the peace and fresh air here for themselves. My hometown is truly a perfect
choice for enjoying a peaceful trip away from the noise of developed cities.

The town changed quite a lot, mainly with high-rise buildings appearing and roads
being better built. There are some new buildings that have been built, mainly
commercial centers and apartment buildings. There is a complex of housing, parks
and shopping centers built in the city center, it has become quite famous and attracts
people.

To be honest, I have a lot of homework and I also have to study online in the evening and
work part-time. Therefore, I rarely have time for myself. But I try to set aside some
leisure time every day to balance my life

Music is my best healer, so whenever I have free time, I play guitar and sing by myself or
put on headphones and enjoy my favorite tunes.

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