11 What was the Azure Coast Sculpture Park site used for originally?
A a private garden
B a limestone quarry
C a public park
12 How often do the rotating exhibitions in the park change?
A every month
B every three months
C every six months
13 Which sculpture are visitors allowed to climb on?
A the Iron Giant
B all sculptures
C none of the sculptures
14 What equipment is strictly prohibited in the park?
A digital cameras
B drones
C mobile phones
15 What does the speaker say about the Grand Fountain?
A It is the newest piece in the park.
B It is a useful meeting point.
C It was designed by Diane Thorne.
Questions 16-20
Label the map below.
Write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions 16-20.
16 Grand Fountain ………………..
17 Mirror Maze ………………..
18 Sound Garden ………………..
19 Artist’s Workshop ………………..
20 Glasshouse Cafe ………………..
Keys
11 B
12 C
13 A
14 B
15 B
16 D
17 G
18 C
19 E
20 B
Transcript
Part 2: You will hear a tour coordinator giving an introductory talk to a group of visitors at a modern sculpture park located on the coast.
GUIDE: Good morning everyone, and a very warm welcome to the Azure Coast Sculpture Park. I will be your lead coordinator for today’s tour. Before we set off to explore the grounds, I would like to give you a bit of background about this unique site.
The park officially opened its gates in 1992, but the land itself has a much longer history. Long before it became an art destination, this area was a working limestone quarry. When the quarry closed in the late 1970s, the land sat derelict for over a decade until it was purchased by a local philanthropist, Diane Thorne. She had a vision to blend contemporary art with the rugged, natural beauty of the coastline. Today, the park spans over 40 hectares and houses more than 60 permanent sculptures, along with several rotating exhibitions that change every six months.
One of the most frequent questions I get is about the rules regarding the artworks. While we want you to get as close as possible to experience the textures and scales, we must ask that you do not climb on any of the sculptures. The only exception is the Iron Giant near the woods, which was specifically designed for children to play on. Also, feel free to take as many photographs as you like for personal use, but please leave your tripods and drones in your vehicles, as they can disturb other visitors and the local birdlife. Before we move on, it is worth remembering that the Grand Fountain is often used as the main meeting point if anyone in your group gets separated.
Now, let us look at your maps so you can get your bearings. We are currently standing at the Visitor Center, which is at the southern entrance of the park. If you look directly to the North, you will see a large, paved area. This is the Grand Fountain, which serves as our central landmark.
To the East of the fountain, tucked away behind a row of pine trees, is the Mirror Maze. This is a fan favorite, consisting of several high-gloss steel panels that reflect the surrounding forest. Just a word of caution: the floor there can be quite slippery when wet.
If you head West from the fountain, you will find the Sound Garden. This is a very peaceful area where the sculptures are designed to create music when the wind blows through them. It is the perfect spot for some quiet reflection.
For those of interest in the creative process, the Artist’s Workshop is located in the far Northeast corner of the park. On most weekends, you can actually watch resident artists working on new pieces. It is a bit of a trek from here, but well worth the walk.
Finally, if you are feeling a bit peckish, our Glasshouse Cafe is located just to the West of the main entrance. It offers a stunning 180-degree view of the ocean. They serve excellent local pastries and organic coffee.
