Basement of Museum — Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic 2016 TEST 4 — IELTS Test

Cambridge IELTS 11 Academic 2016 TEST 4

Basement of Museum

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(0:00) Section 2. You will hear a guide at an art museum talking to a group of visitors. (0:10) First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16. (0:46) Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

(0:55) Good morning and welcome to the museum, one with a remarkable range of exhibits, (1:00) which I'm sure you'll enjoy. My name is Greg and I'll tell you about the various (1:05) collections as we go around. But before we go, let me just give you a taste of what we have here.

(1:11) Well, for one thing, we have a fine collection of 20th and 21st century paintings, (1:16) many by very well-known artists. I'm sure you'll recognise several of the paintings. (1:21) This is the gallery that attracts the largest number of visitors, (1:24) so it's best to go in early in the day before the crowds arrive.

(1:28) Then there are the 19th century paintings. The museum was opened in the middle of that century (1:33) and several of the artists each donated one work to get the museum started, as it were. (1:39) So they're of special interest to us.

We feel closer to them than to other works. (1:44) The sculpture gallery has a number of fine exhibits, (1:47) but I'm afraid it's currently closed for refurbishment. (1:51) You'll need to come back next year to see it properly, (1:53) but a number of the sculptures have been moved to other parts of the museum.

(1:58) Around the World is a temporary exhibition. (2:01) You've probably seen something about it on TV or in the newspapers. (2:05) It's created a great deal of interest because it presents objects from every continent and (2:10) many countries and provides information about their social context, why they were made, (2:16) who for, and so on.

(2:18) Then there's the collection of coins. This is what you might call a focused specialist collection (2:24) because all the coins come from this country and were produced between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago, (2:31) and many of them were discovered by ordinary people (2:34) digging their gardens and donated to the museum. (2:38) All our porcelain and glass was left to the museum by its founder when he died in 1878, (2:44) and in the terms of his will, we're not allowed to add anything to that collection.

(2:48) He believed it was perfect in itself, and we don't see any reason to disagree. (2:56) Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20. (3:23) Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

(3:31) Okay, that was something about the collections, (3:35) and now here's some more practical information in case you need it. (3:39) Most of the museum facilities are downstairs in the basement, (3:43) so you go down the stairs here. (3:45) When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you'll find yourself in a sitting area (3:49) with comfortable chairs and sofas (3:51) where you can have a rest before continuing your exploration of the museum.

(3:57) We have a very good restaurant which serves excellent food all day in a relaxing atmosphere. (4:03) To reach it, when you get to the bottom of the stairs, (4:06) go straight ahead to the far side of the sitting area, then turn right into the corridor. (4:13) You'll see the door of the restaurant facing you.

(4:17) If you just want a snack or if you'd like to eat somewhere with facilities for children, (4:21) we also have a cafe. (4:23) When you reach the bottom of the stairs, you'll need to go straight ahead, (4:28) turn right into the corridor, and the cafe is immediately on the right. (4:34) And talking about children, there are baby-changing facilities downstairs.

(4:39) Cross the sitting area, continue straight ahead along the corridor on the left, (4:44) and you and your baby will find the facilities on the left-hand side. (4:49) The cloakroom, where you should leave coats, umbrellas, and any large bags, (4:54) is on the left-hand side of the sitting area. (4:57) It's through the last door before you come to the corridor.

(5:02) There are toilets on every floor, but in the basement, (5:05) they're the first rooms on the left when you get down there. (5:09) Okay, now if you've got anything to leave in the cloakroom, (5:13) please do that now and then we'll start our tour. (5:19) That is the end of Section 2. (5:22) You now have half a minute to check your answers.

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