Childcare - Marvel Education

Loading question...

You are in free guest mode. Timed Practice Revision List Attempt History Progress Tracking Create a free account to unlock these tools

Prev Next

IELTS Practice Listening: Choose Single Answer ID: #56979 Hard Childcare

Instructions ›

Choose the correct option for the following.

Transcript:

You will hear a talk by a woman who runs a before and after school child care service, explaining how the service operates and what it offers. Now listen carefully and answer the questions. Good afternoon. My name's Mrs. Carter, and I run the before and after school extended hours child care service. I hope you've had a chance to have a good look around the school and talk to staff and pupils. I know that many of you are interested in using our childcare service when your child joins the school, and perhaps you already know something about it. But for those that don't, I'll go through the main details now. We offer childcare for children from the ages of 4 to 11, both before and after school. I know that many parents who work find this service invaluable. You can leave your child with us safe in the knowledge that they will be extremely well cared for. We are insured to provide care for up to 70 children, although we rarely have this many attending at any one session. I think we generally expect around 50 to 60 children for the afternoon sessions and about half that number for the breakfast sessions. Although we currently do have 70 children registered with us, not all of these attend every day. It's 10 years since we began offering an extended hours service, and we've come a long way during that time. When we first opened, we only had about 20 children attending regularly. We try to keep our costs as low as we can, and we think we provide very good value for money. For the afternoon sessions, which run from 3:30 until 6:00 PM, it's 7 pounds 20. But if you prefer, you can pay for one hour only, which costs 3 pounds 50, or two hours, which costs 5 pounds 70. The cost of the childcare includes food and snacks. They'll be given breakfast in the morning, and in the afternoon, a healthy snack as soon as they finish school. At 5pm, children are given something more substantial, such as pasta or a casserole. Please inform us of any allergies that your child might have, and we'll make sure they're offered a suitable alternative. As you may know, the childcare service runs through the school holidays from 8am to 6pm. We offer a really varied and exciting programme to keep the children entertained. We don't want them to feel as if they are still at school. It will also feel different because they'll get the chance to make new friends with children from other schools. Spaces are available for them because a lot of our term time children don't always attend during the holiday. In the past, parents have asked if children over the age of 11 are allowed to come with their younger brothers and sisters, but I'm afraid we're unable to do this because of the type of insurance we have.

How much does childcare cost for a complete afternoon session per child?

£3.50 £5.70 £7.20

What does the manager say about food?

Children with allergies should bring their own food. Children may bring healthy snacks with them. Children are given a proper meal at 5pm.

What is different about arrangements in the school holidays?

Children from other schools can attend. Older children can attend. A greater number of children can attend.

A.I. Explanation:

Question Focus: Detail question - asks for the full price of an afternoon session
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: for the afternoon sessions and about half that number for the breakfast sessions. Although we currently do have 70 children registered with us, not all of these attend every day. It's 10 years since we began offering an extended hours service, and we've come a long way during that time. When we first opened, we only had about 20 children attending regularly. We try to keep our costs as low as we can, and we think we provide very good value for money. For the afternoon sessions, which run from 3:30 until 6:00 PM, it's 7 pounds 20.
Why this is correct: The answer is £7.20 because the speaker clearly gives the full price for a complete afternoon session. She says this amount before explaining the cheaper prices for shorter sessions.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'for the afternoon sessions ... it's 7 pounds 20' = Option: 'cost for a complete afternoon session'
Tips: When you hear several prices, listen carefully for time words like one hour, two hours, or full session.
Why the other options are wrong:
A: Students may choose £3.50 because they hear this number clearly. However, the speaker says this is the cost for one hour only, not a full afternoon. This is a partial truth trap.
B: Students may choose £5.70 because it sounds like a reasonable session price. But the speaker explains this is for two hours, not the complete session. This is a context shift trap.
Key Vocabulary:
session = time period
complete = whole
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what the speaker says about food
Correct Answer: C
Passage Reference: At 5pm, children are given something more substantial, such as pasta or a casserole.
Why this is correct: The answer is children are given a proper meal at 5pm. The speaker says they receive something more substantial, which clearly means a proper meal.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'something more substantial' = Option: 'a proper meal'
Tips: Listen for examples like pasta or casserole - examples often explain the meaning clearly.
Why the other options are wrong:
A: Students may think this because allergies are mentioned. However, the speaker says parents should inform us of any allergies, not that children bring their own food. This is a paraphrase trap.
B: Students may choose this because snacks are discussed. But the speaker says the childcare provides food and snacks, not that children bring them. This is a distractor trap.
Key Vocabulary:
substantial = filling
snack = small amount of food
Question Focus: Detail question - asks what is different during school holidays
Correct Answer: A
Passage Reference: It will also feel different because they'll get the chance to make new friends with children from other schools.
Why this is correct: The answer is children from other schools can attend. The speaker explains that during holidays, children can meet children from other schools, which is different from term time.
Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'children from other schools' = Option: 'children from other schools can attend'
Tips: Be careful when the speaker explains reasons. The difference is who attends, not how many.
Why the other options are wrong:
B: Students may choose this because older children are mentioned later. However, the speaker clearly says children over the age of 11 are not allowed. This is a negation trap.
C: Students may think this because spaces are available. But the speaker says this is because some children do not attend, not because more children are allowed overall. This is a partial truth trap.
Key Vocabulary:
term time = school term period
attend = go to
General Tips:
Multiple choice questions follow the order of the recording. Use the previous answer to know when the next one is coming.
When you hear numbers, wait until the speaker finishes explaining. The first number is often not the final answer.
Listen for signpost words like but, although, or however. These often introduce corrections.
Only choose answers that are clearly stated by the speaker, not what seems logical in real life.
You hear the recording once only, so stay calm and keep listening even if you miss one detail.

With a free account: Retry and compare every attempt.

Saving...