A Library That Listens

Key words

• vindicate — to show that a decision or belief was right
• caveat — a warning or limitation that affects a statement
• tentative — not yet certain or final

Tip: Listen for contrasts and qualifications. Words like “although” and “rather” can reveal the speaker’s real position more clearly than an initial positive statement.

Listen

Questions

1. 1. Why does the speaker hesitate to say that the attendance figures vindicate the decision?

   The figures exclude families who visit without borrowing books.The trial has attracted fewer evening visitors than colleagues predicted.The increase partly reflects existing visitors changing when they come.Staff have been recording afternoon visits as evening visits.

2. 2. What does the speaker imply about the families visiting during music lessons?

   They should be encouraged to borrow before attending activities.Their visits are unlikely to continue once the trial ends.Their growing familiarity with the library could be valuable despite limited borrowing.They are the main reason the attendance figures have risen.

3. 3. What kind of evidence does the speaker want staff to collect?

   Detailed questionnaires completed by every evening visitor.Personal information that allows families' visits to be tracked.Informal observations that add context to the numerical data.Borrowing statistics to replace the visitor totals entirely.

4. 4. Which statement best captures the speaker's overall position?

   End the trial because it mainly benefits existing visitors.Make the longer hours permanent because the figures prove success.Suspend judgment until borrowing increases among visiting families.Continue the trial, but assess whether it provides meaningful benefits.