Shadowing Practice: Cambridge IELTS 11 | Listening Test 3 Section 2 | Audio, Questions, Answer Key and Transcript - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Section 2.
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You will hear a talk given by a woman called Shona Ferguson, about changes in a town called Barford.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 15.
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Now listen carefully.
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and answer questions 11 to 15.
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First of all, let me thank you all for coming to this public meeting to discuss the future of our town.
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Our first speaker is Shona Ferguson from Barford Town Council.
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Shona.
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Thank you.
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First, I'll briefly give you some background information.
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Then I'll be asking you for your comments on developments in the town.
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Well, as you don't need me to tell you, Barford has changed a great deal in the last fifty years.
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These are some of the main changes.
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Fifty years ago, buses linked virtually every part of the town and the neighbouring towns and villages.
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Most people used them frequently.
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But not now, because the bus companies concentrate on just the routes that attract most passengers.
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So parts of the town are no longer served by buses.
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Even replacing old, uncomfortable buses with smart new ones has had little impact on passenger numbers.
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It's sometimes said that bus fares are too high, but in relation to average incomes, fares are not much higher than they were 50 years ago.
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Changes in the road network are affecting the town.
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The centre was recently closed to traffic on a trial basis, making it much safer for pedestrians.
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The impact of this is being measured.
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The new cycle paths separating bikes from cars in most main roads are being used far more than was expected.
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reducing traffic and improving air quality.
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And although the Council's attempts to have a bypass constructed have failed, we haven't given up hope of persuading the Government to change its mind.
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Shopping in the town centre has changed over the years.
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Many of us can remember when the town was crowded with people going shopping.
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Numbers have been falling for several years, despite efforts to attract shoppers for instance by opening new car parks.
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Some people combine shopping with visits to the town's restaurants and cafes.
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Most shops are small, independent stores, which is good.
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But many people prefer to use supermarkets
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and department stores in nearby large towns as there are so few well -known chain stores here.
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Turning now to medical facilities.
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The town is served by family doctors in several medical practices.
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Fewer than fifty years ago, but each catering for far more patients.
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Our hospital closed 15 years ago, which means journeys to other towns are unavoidable.
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On the other hand, there are more dentists than there used to be.
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Employment patterns have changed along with almost everything else.
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The number of schools and colleges has increased, making that the main employment sector.
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Services such as website design and accountancy have grown in importance,
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and surprisingly perhaps, manufacturing hasn't seen the decline that has affected it in other parts of the country.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk, You have some time to look at questions 16 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 16 to 20.
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Now I'll very quickly outline current plans for some of the town's facilities.
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before asking for your comments.
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As you'll know if you regularly use the car park at the railway station, it's usually full.
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The railway company applied for permission to replace it with a multi -storey car park, But that was refused.
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Instead, the company has bought some adjoining land, and this will be used to increase the number of packing spaces.
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The Grand, the old cinema in the high street, will close at the end of the year and reopen on a different site.
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You've probably seen the building under construction.
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The plan is to have three screens with fewer seats rather than just the one large auditorium in the old cinema.
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I expect many of you shop in the indoor market.
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It's become more and more shabby looking, and because of fears about safety, it was threatened with demolition.
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The good news is that it will close for six weeks to be made safe and redecorated, and the improved building will open in July.
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Lots of people use the library, including school and college students who go there to study.
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The Council has managed to secure funding to keep the library open later into the evening, Twice a week.
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We would like to enlarge the building in the not too distant future, but this is by no means definite.
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There's no limit on access to the nature reserve on the edge of town, and this will continue to be the case.
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What will change, though, is that the Council will no longer be in charge of the area.
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Instead, it will become the responsibility of a national body that administers most nature reserves in the country.
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OK, now let me ask you if you have...
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That is the end of Section 2.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.

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Context & Background

The recent talk presented by Shona Ferguson at a public meeting focused on the changes affecting Barford, a town that has undergone significant transformation over the last fifty years. Ferguson discussed various aspects, such as public transportation, local shopping habits, medical facilities, and employment patterns, while also inviting feedback from the audience. By outlining these changes, she highlighted how community dynamics and local infrastructure have evolved and posed questions regarding future developments in the town. This context provides valuable insight for learners interested in understanding the nuances of local government discussions and community engagement.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Let me thank you all for coming” – A polite way to express appreciation in gatherings.
  • “I’ll briefly give you some background information” – A phrase to indicate you will summarize information.
  • “It’s sometimes said that…” – A diplomatic way to introduce a common opinion or belief.
  • “On the other hand” – Useful for presenting contrasting information or perspectives.
  • “I haven’t given up hope” – A motivational expression to indicate persistence and optimism.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To maximize your english speaking practice and improve your English pronunciation, here’s a step-by-step guide to tackle this video effectively using the shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Attentively: Play the audio while paying close attention to Shona Ferguson's tone, pace, and pronunciation. This helps you understand the rhythm and intonation patterns in natural speech.
  2. Choose Short Segments: Break the transcript into small sections. For example, start with her introduction and gradually move to each topic discussed, such as transportation changes or shopping habits.
  3. Repeat and Imitate: After listening to a small segment, pause and try to repeat what you heard. Focus on mimicking her pronunciation and expression as accurately as possible. This is a fundamental part of the shadowspeak method.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your imitation. Listening back will help you identify areas for improvement in your intonation and pronunciation.
  5. Review and Adjust: Compare your recording to the original audio. Make note of differences and practice particularly challenging words or phrases until you attain greater proficiency.

Using this shadow speaks approach, learners can enhance their communication skills, effectively navigating the complexities of discussions like those shared by Shona Ferguson while gaining confidence in various conversational topics. By regularly practicing this technique, you will not only improve your English speaking skills but also deepen your understanding of community issues and public speaking dynamics.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas changed · has had · have failed
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itbeing measured · was expected · is served
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingstores, which is · ago, which means · students who go

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →