IELTS Listening Sentence Completion | Example 1

Today technology is proving important in other ways as well as in transportation. In the past, people went to travel agents to find and book their holiday. Now many of these people are bypassing the High Street travel agents and booking their holidays themselves on the internet. Airlines have been keen to encourage this direct approach as it keeps down their costs and increasingly High Street travel agents are finding their businesses disappearing these days. There may be more tourists to go around but there is also more competition among destinations as cities, countries, and continents all compete for tourist Revenue. But becoming a tourist destination is not quite as straightforward as it may seem, for example, Ireland used to sell itself as a place to enjoy the beautiful countryside. However, it soon discovered that it was attracting young student backpackers without any money. So, how did Ireland set about increasing revenue from tourism? Well, the Irish tourist board came up with the idea of promoting the country’s literature using the names of writers such as Oscar Wilde and James Joyce to appeal to older, richer tourists who would spend their money in the hotels and restaurants of the country.

5. The cities, countries, and continents are throwing their hat into the ring to generate more ___________.

1. Today, Aviation has opened up the world to sustain Mass tourism and stands as the second factor in the growth of Tourism.
2. From the dawn of the 19th century, cheaper and efficient transports have been developed for mass tourism.
3. Railways helped Cook’s business prosper and become one of the world’s largest tour operators.
4. The travel agents find it challenging to manage their business as many people make arrangements for holidays through the internet.
5. The cities, countries, and continents are throwing their hat into the ring to generate more tourist revenue.

• For the first question, we understand that the second factor in the growth of Tourism is Air travel, which sustains mass tourism today and has opened up the world. So, the correct answer is Mass tourism. Here, Air Travel means Aviation.
• For the second question, it is given in the passage that from the beginning in Britain in the 19th century, cheaper and more efficient transports have been behind the development of mass tourism. So, the answer is cheaper and efficient. Here, beginning means dawn.
• For the third question, it is mentioned in the passage that it was the Railways that helped Thomwe Cook’s business to flourish, and his company subsequently became one of the world’s largest tour operators. So, the answer is Railways.
• For the fourth question, we understand that the high street travel agents are finding their business disappearing as many people are booking their holidays via the internet. So, the correct answer is the internet. Here, booking refers to making arrangements.
• For the fifth question, it is clearly mentioned in the passage that there’s high competition among the destinations as cities, countries, and continents all compete with each other for tourist revenue. So, the correct answer is tourist revenue. Here, throwing one’s hat in the ring means express willingness to take up a challenge/ compete.