Giải đề Achieve IELTS – Test 3 – Listening Part 2

You will hear a man giving some information about transport in London.

Man: Hello, can I help you‘?

Student: Yes, I was wondering what the best way was for me to get around London.

Man: Well, there are a lot of possibilities. As you probably realise, the main ways to get around are bus, train and tube — the underground. It depends how much you want to spend. All forms of transport offer special tickets, such as cheap day returns on the trains and so on. Overall,  you’ll spend less on the bus as it operates on a basic flat fare for each journey. But, of course, it may not go to where you need to travel to. The mainline trains only operate in the outlying areas, though a few cross London, whereas the tube has stations which are placed in central areas of the city close to the main sights and shops. Obviously there are more bus stops but you will probably have to change buses to get where you want, which can be inconvenient. You will find that the buses are mainly in the central areas but some tube lines go quite a long way out of London so you could use this for longer journeys. Having said that, the tubes do get very crowded so you should use the train if you want to sit down. It does depend where you’re travelling to.

Student: Well, I’m living on the outskirts but I have to travel into London to college everyday and then around London when I’m here.

Man: OK, so time is going to be an issue for you. The tube should be fast crossing London, but quite honestly, there are so many delays that it’s not very efficient. Again, the train has fewer stops so is probably you quickest option to get to and from college. Of course, which service you use might depend on how frequent it is. I mean, the trains might only be every twenty minutes or whatever, but a timetable is published to save you hanging around. There are a lot of tube trains at busy times of day, but fewer at other times whereas the buses run every five minutes though most the day and there are night buses. But you’ll need to check out your route first.

Student: OK, thanks. How can I get from here to Hackney, then?

Man: Right, well you can choose. We’re here at the information office, OK? Now, next to us, on the corner of the high street and Sweet Street is the bus stop, opposite the bank. The bus goes all the way to Hackney but it is a very indirect route so it could take ages. If you want to take the train, walk down the high street towards the city, go past the bank and on your left is the station, just before you get to the post office. There’s a mainline service to Hackney Wick so, if you need to get into the centre of Hackney, you may need to pick up a bus when you get there. Opposite the post office, on the corner of Heart Lane is the tube entrance —  you’ll see the big signs. That’s probably the best way to get there, though you may have to change. It’s probably best if you go and get a travel card first. To get to the ticket office, you go out of here onto the high street. Then turn into South Street and the ticket office is on your right opposite the cinema. Of course, you may decide it’s quicker to take a taxi. But, it’s a long way so I think it’ll be very expensive. If you do want to get a cab, then the rank is outside here just opposite the office.