Self-regulatory focus theory and leadership: listening answers and explanations
A lecture on self-regulatory focus theory, the idea that people are driven either to approach pleasure or to avoid pain. The speaker explains promotion and prevention goals, what decides which one we focus on, how each changes our thinking, and how transformational and transactional leaders push followers towards one or the other.
Ten gaps in order, following the headings. The theory and its two factors give questions 31-34, 'how people's focus affects them' gives 35, and 'Now that I have talked about the two focuses' moves you to the leadership section (36-39). 'In conclusion' brings the last gap.
Answer key and self-check
Type what you wrote and hit mark. Hide the key first if you haven't done the part yet. Every question number jumps to its explanation.
How to attack this block: Abstract academic vocabulary, but the notes stay close to the speaker's words. Most gaps need a noun, and question 33 needs an adjective to match 'Chronic'. The lecture defines each term before giving examples, so the answer usually comes in the definition, not the example.
Question 31
Answer: achievementWhen the speaker first defines the two kinds of goal
Also accepted: achievements
What do promotion goals focus on?
Promotion goals in different life situations emphasise achievement. Prevention goals are oriented towards the avoidance of punishment.
Question says → You hear
Promotion goals focus onPromotion goals in different life situations emphasise achievement
Why: 'Emphasise' becomes 'focus on', and the thing emphasised is achievement. Achievements is also accepted.
The trap: Pleasure is in the line above, as the basic motivation. The gap needs the word linked to promotion goals specifically.
Question 32
Answer: personality'First, there is a chronic factor'
Also accepted: character
Where does the chronic factor come from?
This factor is connected to a person's personality and says that each person has a basic tendency
Question says → You hear
comes from one'sconnected to a person's personality
Why: The chronic factor is part of a person's personality, their natural tendency. Character is also accepted.
The trap: Tendency comes straight after, but it's what the personality gives you, not where the factor comes from.
Question 33
Answer: situational'Second, there is a ...'
What is the second factor called?
situational factor which means that the context we are in can make us more likely to focus on one set of goals or the other.
Question says → You hear
The ... Factorsituational factor
Why: The second factor is the situational factor: the situation you're in changes your focus. It's an adjective, like 'Chronic'.
The trap: Context is used to explain it, but 'the context factor' isn't the name the speaker gives.
Question 34
Answer: friendThe example of the situational factor
Who are we with when we focus on promotion goals?
we are more likely to be thinking about pleasure and to have promotion goals when we are spending time with a friend.
Question says → You hear
more likely to focus on promotion goals when with ato have promotion goals when we are spending time with a friend
Why: Spending time with a friend makes us think about pleasure, so promotion goals. Singular friend, after 'a'.
The trap: Boss is the other example, for prevention goals, and is already in the next line.
Question 35
Answer: aspirations'Research has shown that the goals we are focusing on ... affect the way we think'
Also accepted: ambitions
Besides their ideal self and gains, what do promotion-focused people think about?
when focusing on promotion goals, people consider their ideal self, their aspirations and gains.
Question says → You hear
think about an ideal version of themselves, their ... and their gainspeople consider their ideal self, their aspirations and gains
Why: The note follows the speaker's list: ideal self, aspirations, gains. Aspirations are hopes and ambitions (ambitions is also accepted). Plural.
The trap: 'Inspired' comes a little later and sounds similar, but it's an adjective and doesn't fit 'their ...'.
Question 36
Answer: style'Now that I have talked about the two focuses'
Besides behaviour, what about leaders affects people's focus?
the way leaders behave, or their style of leading, can affect the focus.
Question says → You hear
Leadership behaviour and ... affects people's focusthe way leaders behave, or their style of leading
Why: 'The way leaders behave' is the printed behaviour, and 'their style of leading' gives you style.
The trap: Situation is at the end of the same sentence, but it's the situation followers are in, not something about the leader.
Question 37
Answer: developmentWhen the speaker defines transformational leaders
What do transformational leaders pay attention to in their followers?
Transformational leaders, when, interacting with their followers, focus on their development.
Question says → You hear
pay special attention to the ... of their followersfocus on their development
Why: 'Focus on' becomes 'pay special attention to', and the thing they focus on is their followers' development.
The trap: Change comes next ('highlight change'), but that's what leaders emphasise in their words, not what they notice in their followers.
Question 38
Answer: visionStraight after 'highlight change'
What do transformational leaders communicate passionately?
Their speech is passionate and conveys a definitive vision.
Question says → You hear
passionately communicate a clearTheir speech is passionate and conveys a definitive vision
Why: 'Conveys' is 'communicate' and 'definitive' is 'clear', so the gap is vision.
The trap: Speech is said in the same sentence, but you communicate a vision through your speech, so speech isn't the answer.
The gap is the name of the second factor, and it has to be an adjective like 'Chronic'. The speaker says 'a situational factor'. Context is the explanation, not the name.
Transactional leaders develop 'clear structures'. The note says 'create ... to make expectations clear', so clear is already used. Write structures, plural.
Words from this recording worth keeping
motivations(The theory)
reasons that drive us to act
oriented towards(The theory)
aimed at or directed at
tendency(The chronic factor)
a natural habit of behaving in a certain way
aspirations(Promotion focus)
hopes and ambitions for the future
obligations(Prevention focus)
things you must do because of duty
anxiety(Prevention focus)
a feeling of worry and nervousness
conveys(Transformational leaders)
communicates or expresses
cautiously(Conclusion)
carefully, trying to avoid risks
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 10 Test 3 listening paper with the real audio: all four parts, played once, marked the moment you finish. Already done it? Take it again and listen for the traps this page showed you.
Cambridge IELTS 10, Test 3, Listening Part 4. The recording, transcript and questions belong to Cambridge University Press and are not reproduced here. We quote short extracts of the transcript only as evidence for our own commentary, and the answers are published for self-marking. Get the book for the full material, or sit the test on Langujet.
