Marine renewable energy: listening answers and explanations
A lecturer explains why we need new energy sources and then introduces marine renewable energy, the power of the oceans. The talk covers wave energy, tidal energy with a planned lagoon at Swansea in Wales, and begins on ocean thermal energy conversion.
Ten gaps in order. Each section is clearly signposted: 'First, wave energy', 'The second category ... is tidal energy', and 'the third category'. Question 31 is in the introduction, 32-34 in wave energy, and 35-40 all in tidal energy, mostly about the Swansea lagoon.
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: Only one word per gap, so no articles and no two-word phrases. The notes keep the lecture's order and many words are said exactly, but some are turned into a different form, so check the gap needs a noun or an adjective. Use the headings to keep your place when the details pile up around the Swansea lagoon.
Question 31
Answer: industryThe opening lines, when the lecturer explains why demand is rising
Besides population, what growth is pushing up energy demand?
Demand is rising rapidly, because of the world's increasing population and expanding industry.
Question says → You hear
growth in population andincreasing population and expanding industry
Why: 'Increasing' and 'expanding' become 'growth' in the notes, and the second thing that's growing is industry. The gap is a noun after 'growth in ... and'.
The trap: Fossil fuels come straight after, but they're a problem with supply, not a reason demand is rising.
Question 32
Answer: constantRight after the names of wave devices like the Penguin
What kind of energy source do waves provide?
This form of energy has plenty of potential, as the source is constant, and there's no danger of waves coming to a standstill.
Question says → You hear
waves provide a ... sourcethe source is constant
Why: The gap needs an adjective before 'source', and the lecture says 'the source is constant'. 'No danger of waves coming to a standstill' backs it up.
The trap: Efficient is said just before, but about the method researchers want to find, not the source.
Question 33
Answer: directionWhen you hear 'But the problem with ocean waves'
What can waves move in, causing a problem?
But the problem with ocean waves is that they're erratic, with the wind making them travel in every direction.
Question says → You hear
waves can move in anytravel in every direction
Why: 'Travel in every direction' is 'move in any direction'. The note already has 'any', so the gap is the singular noun direction.
The trap: Erratic is the key idea, but it's an adjective and doesn't fit after 'in any'. Directions is wrong too: the lecture uses the singular.
Question 34
Answer: floorWhen you hear 'Another drawback'
Where in the ocean might the flow of sand be affected?
Another drawback is that sand and other sediment on the ocean floor might be stopped from flowing normally
Question says → You hear
movement of sand, etc. on the ... of the oceansand and other sediment on the ocean floor
Why: 'Ocean floor' turned round becomes 'floor of the ocean'. Sediment is the 'etc.', and stopped from flowing is the movement being affected.
The trap: Bed or bottom mean the same but aren't the word you hear. Write floor.
Question 35
Answer: predictableWhen the second category, tidal energy, begins
How are tides better than waves?
One major advantage of using the tide, rather than waves, as a source of energy is that it's predictable
Question says → You hear
Tides are more ... than wavesthe tide, rather than waves … it's predictable
Why: The gap follows 'more' and comes before 'than', so it's an adjective. Predictable is the advantage, explained by knowing the times of high and low tides for years ahead.
The trap: Effective comes up just after ('For tidal energy to be effective'), but it's a condition, not a comparison with waves.
Question 36
Answer: bayWhen the lecturer introduces the plan for a lagoon on the coast of Wales
Where at Swansea will the lagoon be created?
This will be an area of water within a bay at Swansea, sheltered by a U-shaped breakwater
Question says → You hear
will be created in a ... at Swanseawithin a bay at Swansea
Why: 'Within a bay at Swansea' gives you the noun after 'in a'. It's said once, quickly, so it's easy to miss.
The trap: Coast and lagoon are both in the same sentence, but the lagoon is what's being created and the coast is too general. The note wants the place: bay.
Question 37
Answer: gatesAfter the water is held back for three hours as the tide goes out
What is the stored water released through?
Then, in order to release the stored water, gates in the breakwater are opened.
Question says → You hear
stored water is released throughin order to release the stored water, gates in the breakwater are opened
Why: The water is released by opening gates in the breakwater. Gates is plural in the recording, so keep the s.
The trap: Turbines and breakwater are in the same sentence, but the turbines are what the water drives, and the note already mentions them.
Question 38
Answer: fuelIn the list of what the system 'has in its favour'
What isn't needed to make the system work?
the turbines are operated without the need for fuel, so it doesn't create any greenhouse gas emissions
Question says → You hear
no ... is required to make it workthe turbines are operated without the need for fuel
Why: 'Without the need for' is 'no ... is required', and 'operated' is 'make it work'. The gap is fuel.
The trap: Emissions and maintenance are in the same list. Emissions are a result, not a requirement, and maintenance is 'very little', not none.
Question 39
Answer: jobsRight after the electricity is called relatively cheap
What is the lagoon likely to create a number of?
manufacturing the components would create more than 2,000 jobs, a big boost to the local economy
Question says → You hear
likely to create a number ofwould create more than 2,000 jobs
Why: 'More than 2,000' becomes 'a number of', and create is said in both. The gap needs a plural noun: jobs.
The trap: Writing 2,000 loses the mark: the note already says 'a number of', so it wants the noun. Homes (150,000) is another plural said earlier, but those get electricity, not created.
Question 40
Answer: migrationWhen you hear 'On the other hand, there are fears'
How might the lagoon harm fish and birds, apart from silt?
there are fears that lagoons might harm both fish and birds, for example by disturbing migration patterns, and causing a build-up of silt
Question says → You hear
by affectingby disturbing migration patterns
Why: 'Disturbing' is 'affecting', and silt matches the note, so the gap is what gets disturbed: migration.
The trap: Patterns is part of the phrase but there's only room for one word, and migration is the meaning word. Ecosystems comes at the end of the sentence but is affected by the silt.
The notes say 'on the ... of the ocean'. The lecture says sediment 'on the ocean floor', so you have to see that ocean floor and floor of the ocean are the same thing. Bed is a natural guess but isn't said.
The lecture says 'without the need for fuel' and then mentions greenhouse gas emissions. People write emissions or gas, but the note asks what isn't needed to make it work: fuel.
The lecturer says 'migration patterns', and patterns is the tempting second word. With ONE WORD ONLY, 'affecting migration' is the answer.
Words from this recording worth keeping
renewable(Introduction)
able to be replaced naturally and not run out
harnesses(Introduction)
controls and uses a natural force to make energy
erratic(Wave energy)
irregular and unpredictable
sediment(Wave energy)
sand, mud and small stones that settle on the bottom
breakwater(Tidal energy)
a wall built out into the sea to hold back waves
greenhouse gas emissions(Tidal energy advantages)
gases released that warm the planet
a big boost(Tidal energy advantages)
a strong improvement or encouragement
silt(Tidal energy problems)
fine sand or mud carried by water
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The full Cambridge 14 Test 1 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 14, Test 1, 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.
