Cambridge IELTS 13 Listening Test 4 Answers

SECTION 1

1. Answer: finance

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• ALEX:  Well, now I work in the customer services department but I did my initial training in Finance. I stayed there for the first two years and then moved to where I am now.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (finance):
  • at first = initial
• Explanation:  The speaker says “I did my initial training in Finance”, which means he received his first training in finance.
• The answer is finance.

2. Answer: math(s)/mathematics

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• ALEX:  I was pretty nervous to begin with. I didn’t do well in my exams at school and I was really worried because I failed Maths. But it didn’t actually matter because I did lots of courses on the job.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (Maths):
  • didn’t have a qualification = failed
• Explanation:  The speaker says he failed Maths at school so obviously, he did not have a qualification in Maths.
• The answer is math(s)/mathematics.

3. Answer: business

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: Did you get a diploma at the end of your trainee period? I’m hoping to do the one in business skills.
• ALEX: Yes. That sounds good. I took the one on IT skills but I wish I’d done that one instead.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (business):
  • should have done = I wish I’d done
• Explanation:  In the recording, Martha says she’s hoping to get a diploma in business and then Alex replied that he wishes he’d done that one instead of IT. [“That one” here refers to “a business diploma”, which had previously been  mentioned by Martha].
• The answer is business.

4. Answer: 17/seventeen

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• ALEX:  There were about 20 of us who started at the same time and we were all around the same age – I was 18 and there was only one person younger than me, who was 17. The rest were between 18 and 20. I made some good friends.
• Explanation:  The speaker says “there was only one person younger than me, who was 17”.  It is clear that, among the other trainees, the youngest was 17.
• The answer is 17/seventeen.

5. Answer: holiday/vacation

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: What about pay? I know you get a lower minimum wage than regular employees.
• ALEX: That’s right – which isn’t great. But you get the same number of days’ holiday as everyone else. And the pay goes up massively if they offer you a job at the end of the training period.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (holiday):
  • receive = get
  • permanent staff = regular employees
  • the same number ~ the same amount
• Explanation:  Alex says that trainees get the same number of holidays (= the same amount of holiday) as everyone else, by which he means regular staff (permanent employees).
• The answer is holiday/vacation.

6. Answer: college

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: Do you have to spend any time in college?
• ALEX: Yes, one day each month. So you get lots of support from your tutor and your manager.
• Explanation:  Alex tells Martha that trainees go to college one day each/per month.
• The answer is college.

7. Answer: location

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: …And the company is easy to get to, isn’t it?
• ALEX: Yes, it’s very close to the train station, so the location’s a real advantage.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (location):
  • convenient = close to the train station = a real advantage
• Explanation:  The company is easy to get to, which means that it is easy to reach.  It is very close to the train station, so this is an advantage because it means that the company is in a convenient location.
• The answer is location.

8. Answer: jeans

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: I am not sure what I should wear. What do you think?
• ALEX: Nothing too casual – like jeans, for example. If you’ve got a nice jacket, wear that with a skirt or trousers.
• Explanation:  Alex advises Martha not to wear clothes which are too casual (informal).  He gives jeans as an example of the type of clothes which she should NOT wear.
• The answer is jeans.

9. Answer: late

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• MARTHA: OK. Thanks. Any other tips?
• ALEX: Erm, well I know it’s really obvious but arrive in plenty of time. They hate people who are late.
• Explanation:  Another piece of advice which Alex gives Martha is that she should “arrive in plenty of time”, because the company managers “hate people who are late”.  So she must not be late.
• The answer is late.

10. Answer: smile

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• ALEX: And one other useful piece of advice my manager told me before I had the interview for this job – is to smile.  Even if you feel terrified, it makes people respond better to you.
• Explanation:  Alex gives a final piece of advice to Martha.  He says that she should make sure to smile – people will like that.
• The answer is smile.

SECTION 2

11. Answer: A. get away from the regular trails

• Here’s what the speaker says:
•  Most visitors come here for the cross-country skiing, where you’re on fairly flat ground for most of the time, rather than going down steep mountainsides. There are marked trails, but you can also leave these and go off on your own and that’s an experience not to be missed. You can go at your own speed – it’s great aerobic exercise if you really push yourself, or if you prefer you can just glide gently along and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • get away from = leave
  • regular trails = marked trails
• Explanation:  The speaker says that if you want “you can just glide gently along and enjoy the beautiful scenery”.  However, this is an option but not something which she specifically recommends, and therefore B is incorrect.
• C is also incorrect, because “going at your own speed” means choosing how fast or how slow you want to go.
• “Marked trails” here means regular, signposted and visible ones which are visited by many people. The speaker suggests leaving those regular trails to be on your own, and “that’s an experience not to be missed”.  Therefore, the answer is A.

12. Answer: B. anyone has the chance to drive a team of dogs

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• – This afternoon, you’ll be going on a dog-sled trip. You may have seen our dogs TV recently racing in the winter sled festival.  If you want, you can have your own team for the afternoon and learn how to drive them, following behind our leader on the trail. Or if you’d prefer, you can just sit back in the sled and enjoy the ride as a passenger.
• Explanation:  Annie refers only to the race in a recent dog-sled festival, and she does not invite the group members to take part in a race, so A is incorrect.

C is also incorrect, because she talks about “our leader on the trail”,  so the leader will not be a group member.

However, you “can have your own team for the afternoon and learn how to drive them”, so B is the answer.

13. Answer: A. all participants receive a medal

• Here’s what the speaker says:
•  At the weekend, we have the team relay event, and you’re all welcome to join in. We have a local school coming along, and a lot of the teachers are taking part too. Participation rather than winning in the main focus, and there’s a medal for everyone who takes part. Participants are in teams of two or four, and each team must complete four laps of the course.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • all participants = everyone who takes part
• Explanation:  The speaker does not mention the length of the course, but each team must complete four laps (= go round the course 4 times), so B is incorrect.

Although a lot of teachers are taking part, it is not stated whether or not each team is led by a teacher, so C is also incorrect.

However, everyone who takes part will receive a medal, so the answer is A. 

14. Answer: C. climb to the top of a mountain

• Here’s what the speaker says:
•   For your final expedition, you’ll head off to Mount Frenner wearing a pair of special snow shoes…This is an area where miners once searched for gold, though there are very few traces of their work left now. When the snow melts in summer, the mountain slopes are carpeted in flowers and plants. It’s a long ascent, though not too steep, and walkers generally take a couple of days to get to the summit and return.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • the top of a mountain = summit
• Explanation:  The speaker says that they will visit Mount Frenner, which is “an area where miners once searched for gold”.  However, they will not visit an old gold mine, because these mines no longer exist: “there are very few traces of their work left now”, so A is incorrect.
• The mountain slopes are covered in flowers, but there is no mention of unusual flowers, so B is incorrect.
• It’s a long climb to the top of the mountain, and it generally takes a couple of days to go there and return, and that is where they will go in their snow-shoes.
• Therefore, the answer is C.

15. Answer: A. a supply of drinking water

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• You’ll spend the night in our hut half-way up the mountain. That’s included in your package for the stay. It’s got cooking facilities, firewood and water for drinking… We can take your luggage up on our snowmobile for you for just ten dollars a person. The hut has cooking facilities so you can make a hot meal in the evening and morning, but you need to take your own food.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • drinking water = water for drinking
• Explanation:  Visitors’ luggage can be taken up (= transported), but it costs 10 dollars, so it is not included in the cost of accommodation,  so B is incorrect.
• You have to take your own food if you want to cook a hot meal, using the cooking facilities in the hut.  Cooked food is not provided, therefore, and C is incorrect.
• Included in the package is drinking water, so the correct answer is A.

16. Answer: B. wait until the weather improves

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• –  The weather on Mount Frenner can be very stormy. In that case, stay in the hut – generally the storms don’t last long. Don’t stress about getting back here to the centre in time to catch the airport bus – they’ll probably not be running anyway. We do have an emergency locator beacon in the hut but only use that if it’s a real emergency, like if someone’s ill or injured.
• Explanation:  The speaker tells the visitors that they should not worry if a storm forces them to stay in the mountain hut.  The airport bus from the centre will probably not be running anyway if the weather is bad.  So, A is incorrect.
• The hut has an emergency locator beacon, but that is only to be used in case of a serious emergency, for example if someone is ill or injured.  So, C is incorrect.
• The speaker advises them to “stay in the hut”.  The storms do not last long, which means that the weather soon improves, so they should simply wait.
• The correct answer is B.

17. Answer: B

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• –  Highland Trail’s directly accessible from where we are now. This trail’s been designed to give first-timers an experience that they’ll enjoy regardless of their age or skill, but it’s also ideal for experts to practise their techniques.
• Explanation:  Annie says that the trail is suitable for both first-timers (to give them an enjoyable experience) and experts (“to practise their techniques”), meaning it’s suitable for all abilities.
• The correct answer is B.

18. Answer: D

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• –  Then, there’s Pine Trail… if you’re nervous about skiing, leave this one to the experts! You follow a steep valley looking right down on the river below – scary! But if you’ve fully mastered the techniques needed for hills, it’s great fun.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (D):
  • skill = techniques
• Explanation:  Annie says that this trail is only for experts.  If you have the skills (= “if you’ve fully mastered the techniques”), then this trail is fun.
• The answer is D.

19. Answer: A

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• –  Stony Trail’s a good choice once you’ve got a general idea of the basics. There are one or two tricky sections, but nothing too challenging. There’s a shelter half-way where you can sit and take a break and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • stop and rest = sit and take a break
• Explanation:  Annie mentions a shelter half-way along the trail where visitors can “sit and take a break and enjoy the afternoon sunshine”, meaning that the shelter is a good place to stop and rest.
• The answer is A.

20. Answer: E

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• –  And finally, Loser’s Trail. This starts off following a gentle river valley but the last part is quite exposed so the snow conditions can be challenging – if it’s snowing or windy, check with us before you set out to make sure the trail’s open that day.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (E):
  • bad weather = snowing or windy
• Explanation:  Annie asks the guests to check with the centre before they set out to make sure the trail’s open that day.  Part of the trail is exposed to snow and wind, so it may sometimes be closed.
• The answer is E.

SECTION 3

21. Answer: A. He didn’t read everything on them

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• JACK: Well, I’ve always had to check labels for traces of peanuts in everything I eat because of my allergy. But beyond that I’ve never really been concerned enough to check how healthy a product is.
• Explanation:  Jack has always checked food labels, because he cannot eat food which contains even very small amounts of peanuts.  So, we can say that he considered the food labels to be important, therefore B is incorrect.
• C is also incorrect, because Jack does not say if he thinks the labels are complicated or not.
• However, although Jack read food labels, he did not check to see how healthy the food product was.  Therefore, he did not read everything on the labels.
• Thus, the correct answer is A.

22. Answer: A. she was unaware of what certain foods contained

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• ALICE: This project has actually taught me to read the labels more carefully. I tended to believe claims on the packaging like ‘low in fat’. But I now realize that the ‘healthy’ yogurt I’ve bought for years is full of sugar and that’s actually high in calories.
• Explanation: Alice used to read food labels, although she now reads them more carefully, so B is incorrect.
• She gives the example of her ‘healthy’ yogurt, to show that she only used to pay attention to the claims on the packaging.  She mentions calories, but only in order to give this example.  So, C is also incorrect.
• Because Alice did not read the food labels carefully enough, she did not know that her ‘healthy’ yogurt in fact contained lots of sugar.  She was unaware of this.
• Therefore, the answer is A.

23. Answer: C. the nutritional label is misleading

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• JACK: Ready meals are the worst…comparing the labels on supermarket pizzas was a real eye-opener. Did you have any idea how many calories they contain? I was amazed.
• ALICE: Yes, because unless you read the label really carefully, you wouldn’t know that the nutritional values given are for half a pizza.
• JACK:  When most people eat the whole pizza.  Not exactly transparent is it?
• Explanation:  Jack and Alice are shocked by the number of calories in pizza. They are not shocked by the list of ingredients, so A is wrong.

Jack tells Alice that he will certainly not stop eating pizza!  So, B is incorrect.

Alice says that you have to read the label carefully on pizza brands, because the supermarkets given the nutritional values are for only half a pizza.  Therefore, Jack agrees that the labels are not transparent, by which he means that the nutritional label is not clear – it is misleading.

• The answer is C.

24. Answer: C. more comprehensive

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• JACK: I liked the traditional daily value system best – the one which tells you what proportion of your required daily intake of each ingredient the product contains. I’m not sure it’s the easiest for people to use but at least you get the full story. I like to know all the ingredients in a product – not just how much fat, salt and sugar they contain.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • comprehensive = the full story
• Explanation:  Jack thinks that the daily value system is not very easy for people to use, so it is not more accessible compared with other systems.  So, A is incorrect.

While Jack thinks that all supermarkets should consistently use the same labelling system, and this would be more logical, he does not say whether the daily value system is more logical than other systems or not, so B is incorrect.

Jack prefers the daily value system because it gives more information about each ingredient in the product.  You “get the full story” – it is more comprehensive.

• The correct answer is C.

25. Answer: B. The products did not contain any meat

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• ALICE: Mmm. The labels on the different brands of chicken flavour crisps were quite revealing too, weren’t they?
• JACK: Yeah. I don’t understand how they can get away with calling them chicken flavour when they only contain artificial additives.
• ALICE: I know. I’d at least have expected them to contain a small percentage of real chicken.
• JACK: Absolutely.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • meat = real chicken
• Explanation:The speakers talk about chicken flavour crisps.  They don’t say if they think the list of artificial additives is incorrect on the label, although the name on the packet is misleading.  So A is incorrect.

They also do not mention whether the labels list all the ingredients or not, so C is also incorrect.

Jack and Alice are surprised that chicken flavour crips contain no meat (chicken).

• Therefore, the answer is B.

26. Answer: A. It did not produce clear results

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• ALICE:  I think having nutritional food labelling has been a good idea, don’t you?  I think it will change people’s behaviour and stop mothers, in particular, buying the wrong things.
• JACK: But didn’t that study kind of prove the opposite? People didn’t necessarily stop buying unhealthy products.
• ALICE: They only said that might be the case. Those findings weren’t that conclusive and it was quite a small-scale study. I think more research has to be done.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • produce clear results = conclusive
• Explanation:  Although the study showed that people did not necessarily stop buying unhealthy products, Jack and Alice do not talk about whether the study focused on the wrong people, nor do they talk about its recommendations.  Therefore, B and C are incorrect.

Alice says that the study was not conclusive and more research needs to be done to obtain clear results.

• Thus, the answer is A.

27-28. Answer: B. The fact that it is voluntary for supermarkets, C. How little research was done before its introduction

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• JACK: What do you think of the traffic-light system?
• ALICE: I think supermarkets like the idea of having a colour-coded system – red, orange or green – for levels of fat, sugar and salt in a product.
• JACK: But it’s not been adopted universally. And not on all products.Why do you suppose that it is?
• ALICE: Pressure from the food manufacturers. Hardly surprising that some of them are opposed to flagging up how unhealthy their products are.
• JACK: I’d have thought that it would have been compulsory. It seems ridiculous it isn’t.
• ALICE: I know. And what I couldn’t get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation – a lot of experts had deep reservations about it.
• JACK: That is a bit weird. I suppose there’s an argument for doing the research now when consumers are familiar with this system.

Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answers (B, C):

• surprised = couldn’t get over
• introduction = brought in
• little research = without enough consultation
• Explanation:  Jack says that the traffic light system has “not been adopted universally” or on all products, so it is not widespread.  A is incorrect.

Alice says that the system has not been adopted by all supermarkets, probably because manufacturers don’t want their products to be considered unhealthy.  However, Alice is NOT surprised that it is unpopular with manufacturers, so D is incorrect.

Alice only explains the idea of the colour codes – to indicate levels of fat, sugar and salt.  The speakers are not surprised about how different colours are used, so E is also incorrect.

Jack does not know why the system is voluntary for supermarkets to adopt: “I’d have thought that it would have been compulsory. It seems ridiculous it isn’t”.  He is therefore surprised, and asks Alice why she thinks that not all supermarkets  are using it.  Therefore, B is correct.

C is also correct.  Alice says that a lot of experts had doubts about the system when it was introduced, and there was a lack of consultation.  This also surprised the students, who expected that more research would have been done.

• The answers are B and C.

29-30. Answer: D. They were from all socio-economic groups, E. They were interviewed face-to-face

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• JACK: The participants in the survey were quite positive about the traffic-light system.
• ALICE: Mmm. But I don’t think they targeted the right people. They should have focused on people with low literacy levels because these labels are designed to be accessible to them.
• JACK: Yeah, but it’s good to get feedback from all socio-economic groups. And there wasn’t much variation in their responses.
• ALICE: No. But if they hadn’t interviewed participants face-to-face, they could have used a much bigger sample size. I wonder why they chose that method?
• JACK: Dunno. How were they selected? Did they volunteer or were they approached?
• ALICE: I think they volunteered. The thing that wasn’t stated was how often they bought packaged food – all we know is how frequently they used the supermarket.
• Explanation:  The survey did not target people with low literacy levels, although Alice thinks this would have been a good idea.  Therefore, A is incorrect.

Alice also says that in the survey people did not state how often they consumed packaged food, so B is also incorrect.

The participants were not selected – on the contrary, they volunteered, so C is incorrect.

Jack says that the survey obtained answers from all socio-economic groups, therefore D is true.

In addition, Alice tells Jack that the participants were interviewed face-to-face, which meant that the sample size of the survey was small.  Thus, E is also true.

• The answers are D and E.

SECTION 4

31. Answer: destruction

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  • –  …and in 1623 the ruler of Constantinople demanded the destruction of all coffee houses in the city…
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (destruction):
  • ordered = demanded
• Explanation:  the speaker says that the ruler of Constantinople demanded that all the coffee houses in the city must be destroyed.
• The answer is destruction.

32. Answer: universities/university

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  •  In the seventeenth century, coffee drinking spread to Europe, and here too coffee shops became places where ordinary people, nearly always men, could meet to exchange ideas. Because of this, some people said that these places performed a similar function to universities.
• Explanation:  Coffee shops were places where men often met and exchanged ideas – and in this way they were similar to universities.  So, some people made this comparison.
• The answer is universities/university.

33. Answer: political

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  • The opportunity they provided for people to meet together outside their own homes and to discuss the topics of the day had an enormous impact on social life, and many social movements and political developments had their origins in coffee house discussions.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (political):
  • played an important part in = had an enormous impact on
  • changes = developments
• Explanation:  the speaker says that the coffee shops had an important role to play in many social movements and political developments which first started from discussions within the coffee shops.
• The answer is political.

34. Answer: port(s)

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  • Different types of coffee were produced in different areas and it’s interesting that the names given to these different types like Mocha or Java coffee were often taken from the port they were shipped to Europe from.
• Explanation:  the speaker says that the names of different types of coffee were adopted from ‘the port they were shipped to Europe”.  To put it simply, they were named according to the ports they came from.
• The answer is port(s).

35. Answer: slaves/slavery

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  •  In Brazil and the various Caribbean colonies, coffee was grown in huge plantations and the workers there were almost all slaves.
• Explanation:  in these places coffee was cultivated (“grown”) on large plantations, and this work was done by slaves.  This system was slavery.
• The answer is slaves/slavery.

36. Answer: taxation

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  •   …in Java, which had been colonized by the Dutch, the peasants grew coffee and passed a proportion of this on to the Dutch, so it was used a means of taxation.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (taxation):
  • form = means
• Explanation:  the speaker says that peasants in the Dutch colony of Java passed a percentage of the coffee that they grew to the Dutch in order to pay their taxes.
• The answer is taxation.

37. Answer: sugar

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  •  Coffee was grown in ever-increasing quantities to satisfy the growing demand from Europe, and it became nearly as important as sugar production.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (sugar):
  • almost = nearly
• Explanation:  as demand for coffee grew in Europe, its production became almost as important as the production of sugar
• The answer is sugar.

38. Answer: tea

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  •  In Britain, however, a new drink was introduced from China, and started to become popular, gradually taking over from coffee, although at first it was so expensive that only the upper class could afford it. This was tea, and by the late 1700s it was being widely drunk. However, when the USA gained independence from Britain in 1776, they identified this drink with Britain, and coffee remained the preferred drink in the USA, as it still is today.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (tea):
  • the move towards = taking over from
• Explanation:  the speaker mentions the move towards the consumption of tea in the late 1700s.Because tea was “widely drunk” in Britain,  the independent Americans “identified this drink with Britain”, so it was not the favourite drink in the USA. We can say the shift to tea consumption did not also take place in the USA.
• The answer is tea.

39. Answer: transportation

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  • So, by the early nineteenth century, coffee was already being widely produced and consumed. But during this century, production boomed and coffee prices started to fall. This was partly because new types of transportation had been developed which were cheaper and more efficient.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (transportation):
  • prices dropped = prices started to fall
  • improvements = more efficient
• Explanation:  according to the speaker, the coffee prices dropped as a result of improvements in transportation (“this was partly because new types of transportation had been developed which were cheaper and more efficient”).
• The answer is transportation

40. Answer: night

• Here’s what the speaker says:
  • So now, working people could afford to buy coffee – it wasn’t just a drink for the middle classes.  And this was at a time when large parts of Europe were starting to work in industries. And sometimes this meant their work didn’t stop when it got dark; they might have to continue throughout the night. So, the use of coffee as a stimulant became important – it wasn’t just a drink people drank in the morning, for breakfast.
• Explanation:  the speaker says that because coffee was cheaper, people working in industry could afford to buy it.  Because it was a stimulant, it helped industrial workers to work at night.
• The answer is night.