Listening Section 2: Matching & Map/Plan Labelling: Question 8

Transcript-based practice (no audio).

Garden Guide: Good morning, and welcome to Thornbury Botanic Gardens. Before we set off, I always like to give visitors a quick verbal map, because the paths can be a little confusing on your first visit, especially once you're past the formal beds.

We're standing right now at the Visitor Centre, next to the ticket kiosk. That's your starting point, so if you ever get turned around, just head back towards this building and you'll be on familiar ground again.

Directly ahead of us, through the archway, is the Rose Garden. It's the first thing every visitor sees, four formal beds arranged around a central sundial, and it's usually in full bloom from June through to September.

If you carry on past the roses and bear right, you'll come to the Glasshouse, that's our tropical house, home to the orchid collection and a small pond full of koi. It backs directly onto the old walled garden, so the two areas sit right next to each other.

Speaking of which, behind the Glasshouse, still inside that same walled garden, is the Herb Garden. It's a working kitchen garden, really. Everything grown there gets used in the café kitchen, so do have a look at the labels if you're curious what's on today's menu.

Now, if instead of turning right at the Rose Garden you bear left, you'll reach the Lily Pond, roughly in the centre of the whole site. It's home to some enormous koi as well, and in July the water lilies themselves are extraordinary.

Carry on past the pond and the ground starts to rise, that's where you'll find the Alpine Rockery, built into the natural slope on the western side of the gardens. It's planted with species from mountain regions all over the world, and it's at its best in early spring.

The last area I want to mention is the Arboretum, which isn't really a single spot on the map. It's a path that loops all the way around the northern and eastern edge of the whole garden, taking in some of our oldest oak and cedar specimens as it goes. It's a good half-hour walk if you follow it all the way round.

Oh, and one more thing. Just a short walk east of here, right next to the café, we've got a small Sensory Garden, planted especially with scented and textured plants for visitors with visual impairments, though everyone is welcome to explore it.

Right, let's begin, follow me towards the Rose Garden first.

The plan shows Thornbury Botanic Gardens, viewed from above. The Visitor Centre, beside the ticket kiosk, is marked D. Directly ahead of the Visitor Centre, the first bed you reach is marked A. To the right of A, backing onto the old walled garden, is marked F, and directly behind F, still inside the walled garden, is marked C. To the left of A, roughly in the centre of the whole site, is marked H. Beyond H, on rising ground on the western side of the gardens, is marked B. A path loops all the way around the northern and eastern edge of the whole garden; that path is marked G. A short walk to the east of the Visitor Centre, next to the café, is marked E.

Where is each of the following located? Write the correct letter, A–H.

1. Visitor Centre
2. Rose Garden
3. Glasshouse (Tropical House)
4. Herb Garden
5. Lily Pond
6. Alpine Rockery
7. Arboretum walk
8. Sensory Garden