Cambridge IELTS 8 Listening Test 2 Answers

SECTION 1

1. Answer: Milperra

2. Answer: First Class Movers

3. Answer: 28 November

4. Answer: screen

5. Answer: bathroom

6. Answer: door

7. Answer: 140

8. Answer: leg

9. Answer: plates

10. Answer: 60

SECTION 2

11. Answer: B. research and education.

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• Our remit is to give educational opportunities to the wider public as well as to offer research sites for a wide variety of agriculturists and other scientists.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • purpose = remit
• Explanation: According to the speaker, their “remit” (meaning “the task or area of activity officially assigned to an individual or organization”, which can be considered “purpose” in this circumstance) is to give “educational” and “research” opportunities.
• The answer must be B.

12. Answer: (the) Forest

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– As you can see here on our giant wall plan, we are now situated in the Reception Block…here.  As you walk out of the main door into the park there is a path you can follow.  If you follow this route you will immediately come into the Rare Breeds Section, where we keep a wide variety of animals….Next to this…moving east…is the large Grazing Area for the rare breeds.  Then further east…in the largest section of our Park is the Forest Area.

• Explanation:starting from the Reception Block, follow the instructions, passing the Rare Breeds Section and Grazing Area, then we reach the Forest Area.
• The answer is (the)Forest.

13. Answer: Fish Farm(s).

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– South of the Grazing Area and in fact just next to the Reception Block is our Experimental Crops Area.  In the middle of the Park…this circular area is our lake…These two small rectangular areas here…are the Fish Farms where we rear fish for sale.

• Explanation:the speaker mentions the Reception Block and the lake, and then refers to two small rectangles on the plan.  These are the Fish Farms.
• The answer is Fish Farm(s).

14. Answer: Market Garden.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– To the east of those is the Marsh Area, which attracts a great many migrant birds.  In the south-eastern corner, beyond the Marsh, is our Market Garden Area, growing vegetables and flowers.

• Explanation:the speaker finally refers to the Marsh and then to the south-eastern part of the plan, which is the Market Garden Area.
• The answer is Market Garden.

15. Answer: C. a short time every year

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– All these areas can be visited by the general public for almost all the year . . . although please take note of the large signs at the entrance to each area which tell. . . which tell you when certain areas are being used for particular controlled experiments andare therefore temporarily out of bounds to the public.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • closed = out of bounds
  • short time = temporarily
• Explanation: It is said that certain areas will be temporarily “out of bounds”, meaning “forbidden”, to the public when they are used for experimental activities, otherwisethey are open almost all the year. From this we know that the time when they are “closed” will only be temporary, or to say, “short”.
• The answer has to be C.

16. Answer: A. by tram, walking or bicycle

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– Well you have a choice of means . . . all environmentally friendly. . . cars are banned in the park. We have bicycles which you can hire behind the Reception Block . . . here . . . the healthy ones of you can go on foot and finally there’s our electric tram, powered from solar cells.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • walking = go on foot
• Explanation: It is said that cars are banned in the park, so B is clearly wrong (do not mistake solar car with solar-powered tram which is mentioned in the recording).
• There is no mention made of any bus so C is incorrect.
• The speaker only names the following means to move around, including “bicycles”, “electric tram” and “going on foot” (thesame as “walking”).
• Hence A is the correct answer.

17. Answer: C. goats and hens.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– A good place to start on your tour is the Rare Breeds section. We keep goats, sheep and hens and other kinds of poultry. We are also thinking of bringing in cows and horses but we do not, as yet, have facilities for these bigger animals.

• Explanation: The speaker clearly states that they currently keep goats and hens in the Rare Breeds section, so the answer is C.
• However, stay alert when cows and horses are also mentioned, because the park is “thinking of bringing them in”, so that could be the future but not now.
• The answer is C.

18. Answer: B. to keep a variety of breeds

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– These are very popular with the public but of course we mustn’t lose sight of the main purpose of having this section, not as such to preserve rare animals but to maintain the diversity of breeds to broaden the gene pool for agricultural development.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • save = preserve
  • unusual = rare
  • keep = maintain
  • variety = diversity
• Explanation: The section is popular with the public, but it is not mentioned that it aims to educate the public, thus C is not given.
• Be careful with answer A because the speaker clearly says that it is not the section’s main purpose to “preserve rare animals” (the same as “save unusual animals”), but to “maintain the diversity of breeds” (the same as “keep a variety of breeds”).
• Therefore the answer must be B.

19. Answer: C. a demonstration of fishing

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– May will be perhaps our most spectacular month with the arrival of the Canada geese and when our fruit trees will be in full blossom, but there are interesting events on all year round . . . for example John Havers, our expertfly fisherman, is currently giving displays on the lake.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • at the present time = currently
  • demonstration = displays
  • fishing = fisherman
• Explanation: The arrival of Canada geese, which can be considered “wild birds”, and the blossom of fruit trees will happen in May, meaning you CANNOT see these things at the present.
• On the other hand, a fisherman is “currently giving displays” which is the same as giving a “demonstration”, so it is clear that the answer is C.
• The answer is C.

20. Answer: A. animals.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

… there is a wide selection of books on wildlife, some of them written by local authors, and the history of farming, including organic farming, something which the park will be diversifying into in the coming months.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • animals = wildlife
• Explanation: There are books on wildlife, which includes wild “animals”, so A is correct.
• Note that there are also books about the history of farming (NOTthe history of the park) and written by the locals, but we do not know for sure if the books are about local traditions, therefore B and C are not correct.
• The answer is A.

SECTION 3

21. Answer: A. Queensland

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  Anyway, my current research involves trying to find a particular type of bee, the Asian Honey Bee, and finding out whether there are any of them around in various states of Australia.  We discovered a few of them in Queensland onceand eradicated them. Now, we’re pretty keen to make sure that there aren’t any more getting in, particularly to New South Wales and other states.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • found = discovered
• Explanation:In the past, Asian honey bees were discovered, or found, in Queensland, so A is the correct answer.
• The speaker says that they want to make sure “there aren’t any more getting in, particularly to New South Wales and other states”,  so the bees haven’t been to New South Wales and other states yet, hence B and C are incorrect.
• The answer is A.

22. Answer: B. carry parasites.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– Well, in fact, they look almost the same, but they are infested with mites – microscopic creatures which live on them, and which can seriously damage our own home-grown bees, or could even wipe them out.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • parasites = creatures which live on them
  • native = home grown
• Explanation: The Asian honey bees “are infested with mites”, meaning they carry mites in large numbers. So these mites can be considered “parasites” that live on another organism – Asian honey bees. There is no reference to the Asian bees attacking the native bees, so A is not correct.  It is the mites which are the problem.
• Also, crops are not mentioned in the recording, thus C is not given.
• The correct answer is B.

23. Answer: C. They are sold to customers abroad.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– Well, the honey from Australian bees is of excellent quality, much better than the stuff the Asian bees produce. ln fact, Australia exports native Queenbees to a large number of countries because of this. When the European Honey Bee was first discovered out in the bush, we found they made really unpleasant honey and they were also too big to pollinate many of our native flowers here in Australia.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • sold abroad = export
• Explanation: Australian bees’ honey is of excellent quality, so A cannot be true.
• In addition, the bees that are too big to pollinate some flowers (meaning their size is the problem) are European honey bees, NOT Australian, so B is the wrong answer.
• The speaker says that Australian Queen bees are exported, indicating that they are sold abroad, hence C is the correct answer.

24. Answer: A. the country’s economy would be affected.

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  No, we managed to get them under control before that happened but if Asian bees got in there could be other consequences. We could lose a lot of money because you might not be aware, but it’s estimated that native bees’ pollination of flower and vegetable crops is worth 1.2 billion dollars a year. So in a way they’re the farmers’ friend. Oh, and another thing is, if you’re stung by an Asian Honey Bee, it can produce an allergic reaction in some people; so they’re much more dangerous than native bees.
• Explanation: Although certain areas of agriculture (flower and vegetable crops) are mentioned, they will be harmed NOT benefited by the arrival of Asian bees. Thus, C is completely wrong.
• Also, we only know that Asian honey bees may cause allergies, but there is no reference to whether they will help the study of allergies or not, so B is incorrect as well.
• What we do know from the recording is that Asian bees can cause theloss of a lot of money, meaning the economy would be affected.
• So the correct answer is A.

25. Answer: insects

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• PROFESSOR:  How will you know if Asian bees have entered Australia?
• GRANT:  We’re looking at the diet of the bird called the Rainbow Bee Eater.  The Bee Eater doesn’t care what it eats, as long as they’re insects.
• Explanation:  these birds will eat any type of insect, but they will only eat insects = they will eat anything “as long as they’re insects”.
• The answer is insects.

26. Answer: feeding/eating.

• Here’s what the speakers say:
• GRANT:  Because insects have their skeletons outside their bodies, so the Bee Eaters digest the meat from the inside.  Then they bring up all the indigestible bits of skeleton and, of course, the wings in a pellet – a small ball of waste material which they cough up.
• PROFESSOR:  That sounds a bit unpleasant.  So, how do you go about it?
• GRANT:  In the field we track down the Bee Eaters and find their favouritefeeding spots, you know, the places where the birds usually feed.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (feeding):
  • locations = spots/places
  • like to = favourite
• Explanation:  Grant explains that researchers examine the pellets of the Bee Eaters, and first they must go to the places where they know the Bee Eaters feed.  These are the feeding spots/locations of the birds.
• The answer is feeding/eating.

27. Answer: laboratory

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  It’s here that we can find the pellets.  We collect them up and take them back to the laboratory to examine the contents.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (laboratory):
  • for analysis = to examine
• Explanation:  at the feeding locations, the researchers collect the pellets and then they examine/analyse them at the laboratory.
• The answer is laboratory.

28. Answer: water

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  The pellets are really hard, especially if they have been out in the sun for a few days so, first of all, we treat them by adding water to moisten them and make them softer.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (water):
  • soften = make softer
• Explanation:  at the laboratory, the researchers put the pellets in water = moisten them.  This makes the pellets softer, and the researchers are then ready to start examining them.
• The answer is water.

29. Answer: wings

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  Then we pull them apart under the microscope.  Everything’s all scrunched up, but we’re looking for the wings so we just pull them all out and straighten them.  Then we identify them to see if we can find any Asian bee wings.
• Explanation:  the soft pellets are then examined, and any wings in the pellets are identified, removed and then researchers look to see if any of these wings are the wings of Asian bees.
• The answer is wings.

30. Answer: reliable

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• GRANT:  So far our research shows that Asian bees have not entered Australia in any number – it’s a good result and much more reliable than trying to find live ones as evidence of introduced insects.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (reliable):
  • searching for = trying to find
• Explanation:  the speaker explains how this method is much more reliable/accurate than trying to find live Asian bees.  The result is that not many Asian bees have yet been introduced.
• The answer is reliable/accurate.

SECTION 4

31. Answer: B. help from students in other countries.

• Here’s what the speaker says:
• … Now I had to set up my programme of research in three different countries, so I approached postgraduates in my field in overseas departments, contacting them by email, to organise things for me at their end. I thought I would have trouble recruiting help but in fact everyone was very willing and sometimes their tutors got involved too.
• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • students = postgraduates
  • other countries = overseas
• Explanation: Shona got postgraduates in her field in overseas departments to organize things for her, so we can understand that she got help, NOT advice from these people. Additionally, these students are not her personal friends, they just studied in the same field, so A is wrong.
• And she did not have their contacts through her tutor (do not get
• misled by the word “tutor” in the recording, this refers to the tutors of the overseas students),  so C is also wrong.
• The correct answer is B.

32. Answer: B. men who were working

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– I decided that people under 18 should be excluded because most of them are students or looking for their first job, and also I decided at this stage just to focus on men who were in employment, and set up something for people who didn’t have jobs and for employed women later on as a separate investigation.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • working = in employment
• Explanation: Shona says that people under 18, or young people, were excluded so A is wrong.
• She didn’t include those who didn’t have jobs or employed women either (they will be investigated separately later on), so C is incorrect.
• Shona wanted to focus on “men who were in employment”. The phrase “in employment” means that the person is currently working.
• The correct answer must be B.

33. Answer: A. to get a wide range of data.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– With the questionnaire, rather than limiting it to one specific point, I wanted to include as much variety as possible. I know questionnaires are a very controlled way to do things but I thought I could do taped interviews later on to counteract the effects of this.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • wide range = variety
  • guide = controlled
• Explanation: Shona specifically states that she didn’t want to limit the questionnaire to one point, so we can see that B is wrong.
• Also, she wanted to counteract the effects of questionnaires being too controlled, thus it can be inferred that she didn’t want this to happen, so she didn’t want to control or guide people through her questionnaires or interviews. Thus, C is wrong too.
• Meanwhile, Shona wanted to include variety (the same as “wide range”).
• So A is the correct answer.

34. Answer: A. Current concerns are misrepresented by the press.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– At the moment it looks as if, in the UK, despite the fact that newspapers continually report that people are unhappy with medical care, in fact it is mainly the third level of care, which takes place in hospitals, that they are worried about. Government reforms have been proposed at all levels and although their success is not guaranteed, long-term hospital care is in fact probably less of an issue than the media would have us believe.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (A):
  • press = newspapers = the media
  • concern = issue
  • medical = hospital
• Explanation: According to Shona, the newspapers may exaggerate the level of concern that British people have about medical or hospital care (“less of an issue than the media would have us believe”). Also, people are mainly worried about the third level of care, UNLIKE the exaggerated reports of the press. Therefore, it can be understood that the press has “misrepresented” (meaning “have given a false or misleading presentation of”) the British people’s concerns or worries. So the correct answer is A.
• The recording does not mention anything related to “financial issues” so B is irrelevant, and although the success of hospital reforms “is not guaranteed”, it does not mean they have been unsuccessful, hence C is incorrect.
• The answer is A.

35. Answer: C. identify the preferences of the public.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– Certainly I will need to do more far-reaching research than I had anticipated in order to establish if people want extra medical staff invested in the community, or if they want care to revert to fewer, but larger, key medical units. The solution may well be something that can be easily implemented by those responsible in local government, with central government support of course.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • identify = establish
  • the public = people
• Explanation: Shona wants to establish, or to know and identify, what people want to improve in medical care (“if people want extra medical staff invested in the community, or if they want care to revert to fewer, but larger, key medical units”).  She wants to identify which of these people prefer.
• This means that she wants to “identify the preferences of the public” so C is correct.
• She also says something about the government and the solution, but it is not mentioned that she will present her work to the government, so A is not the answer. Neither is B, since securingextra funding is not her purpose for further research.
• The answer is C.

36. Answer: C. colleagues do not always agree.

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– I was surprised by how willing most of the subjects were to get involved in the project – I had expected some unwillingness to answer questions honestly. But I was taken aback and rather concerned that something I thought I’d set up very well didn’t necessarily seem that way to everyone in my own department.

• Explanation: Shona realized that most subjects were willing to answer her questions, which is the opposite of B, so that’s incorrect.
• However, those in her own department (who can be called “colleagues”) did not see her work the way she did. This means that meanwhile Shona thought she had done well with the set up and planning, her colleagues did not agree.
• Hence, the correct answer is C.

37. Answer: B

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– There were odd cases that threw me – one of the subjects who I had approached while he was out shopping in town, decided to pull out when it came to the second round.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (B):
  • street = town
  • stop participating = pull out
• Explanation: The person whom Shona interviewed on the street decided to “pull out”, which has the same meaning as “stop participating”  when she was moving to the second part, in which the person is interviewed on tape (recorded) in more detail.
• So the answer must be B.

38. Answer: F

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– And one of the first-year students I interviewed wanted reassurance that no names would be traceable from the answers. I was so surprised, because they think nothing of telling you about themselves and their opinions in seminar groups!

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (F):
  • undergraduate = first-year student
• Explanation: A first-year student is also called an undergraduate, and the one Shona interviewed wanted to make sure that his/her name could not be traceable, meaning that he/she wanted his/her name to be “confidential” (means “kept secret or private”).
• Therefore, F is the correct answer.

39. Answer: D

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– Then, one of the people that I work with got a bit funny. The questions were quite personal and one minute he said he’d do it, then the next day he wouldn’t, and in the end he did do it. It’s hard not to get angry in that situation but I tried to keep focused on the overall picture in order to stay calm.

• Explanation: One of the people whom Shona worked with, referring to a colleague, “kept changing his mind” about whether he would participate in the interview or not.
• So the answer is D.
• Be careful when you hear the word “angry” though, because in fact he didn’t get mad at Shona. In fact, it was Shona who almost got angry – although in the end she stayed calm.

40. Answer: C

• Here’s what the speaker says:

– The most bizarre case was a telephone interview I did with a teacher at a university in France. He answered all my questions in great detail – but then when I asked how much access he had to dangerous substances he wouldn’ttell me exactly what his work involved.

• Here are some key words that help you to get the correct answer (C):
  • tutor = teacher
  • job = work
• Explanation: The teacherat a French university, who can also be referred to as “a tutor in a foreign university”, wouldn’t tell Shona what his work involved, indicating he refused to say something about his job/work.
• Hence, C is correct.