IELTS Listening Short Answer Questions | Example 3

Section 1 is about a police detective questioning Mrs. Jones about a crime

Detective Smith: Hi, I’m detective Smith. I can see you’re upset, but I must ask you a few questions about the robbery.

Mrs. Jones: Yes, I understand. I’ll try to control myself. It was so sudden.

Detective Smith: I understand. Why don’t we sit down and get a cup of tea.

Mrs. Jones: Yes. Thank you. It’s okay, I’m a bit better now.

Detective Smith: Good. These things can be very disturbing, but we’ll take our time. First, I need a few particulars. Let me see. Today is January 7 th . Now, may I have your name?

Mrs. Jones: Yes, Mrs. Mary Susan Jones.

Detective Smith: Thank you. Age?

Mrs. Jones: 38

Detective Smith: and your home address Mrs. Jones.

Mrs. Jones: Yes. It’s 39, Rose Garden Terrace.

Detective Smith: Telephone numbers?

Mrs. Jones: I only have a home number, 48346290

Detective Smith: Okay.

Mrs. Jones: I only came out to buy some milk. I never dreamed…

Detective Smith: Yes, now, try to relax. What time did you come into the shop?

Mrs. Jones: It was exactly 11:15. I looked at my watch just before coming into the shop. I was worried I might not get home in time to make my husband’s lunch.

PAUSE

Detective Smith: and before you entered the shop, can you remember seeing anything unusual?

Mrs. Jones: No, but as soon as I came in, this man walked out very quickly. Nearly pushed me over. Then I saw poor Williams, the owner. I’m so glad he is not badly hurt.

Detective Smith: No, just a bump on the head. Now, this man you saw, could you say how tall he was?

Mrs. Jones: Well, I only came up to his shoulder and I’m 5ft 4”. So he must be about, I don’t know, 6ft.

Detective Smith: and you’re not wearing high heel shoes. So, yes, that’s about right. But we have to use the metric system now. So that makes him about 180 centimeters. Did you see his face?

Mary: Not really. I didn’t look up. I was so annoyed. But, I do know he was wearing a black hat. I saw it as he was walking out of the door. One of those things cowboys wear.

Detective Smith: Did you notice what color hair he had?

Mrs. Jones: I didn’t really see it, with his hat and me trying to keep my balance.

Detective Smith: What about the rest of his clothes?

Mrs. Jones: He had a jacket on. I think it was dark blue. No grey. Oh dear, I can’t really say for sure. It all happened so quickly. Oh, I do know he was wearing those big basketball shoes. Red and white ones. Like so many young men wear nowadays.

Detective Smith: What about his trousers?

Mrs. Jones: Grey. Oh dear, I can’t really say. I just know they were dark.

Detective Smith: Was he fat, thin, average?

Mrs. Jones: Very thin. Skinny.

Detective Smith: That’s very useful information Mrs. Jones. With a bit of luck, he is still around, but I expect he is gone off the street by now.

Mrs. Jones: I do hope you catch him. It’s terrible.

PAUSE

1. Her husband’s lunch
2. Five feet four inches
3. Metric
4. Black 

“It was exactly 11:15. I looked at my watch just before coming into the shop. I was worried I might not get home in time to make my husband’s lunch.”

For the second question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus:

“Well, I only came up to his shoulder and I’m 5ft 4”. So he must be about, I don’t know, 6ft. ”

For the third question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus:

“and you’re not wearing high heel shoes. So, yes, that’s about right. But we have to use the metric system now. So that makes him about 180 centimeters. Did you see his face?”

For the fourth question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus:

“Not really. I didn’t look up. I was so annoyed. But, I do know he was wearing a black hat. I saw it as he was walking out of the door. One of those things cowboys wear.”