Presentation about refrigeration: listening answers and explanations
Two students, Annie and Jack, are preparing a presentation on refrigeration. They share what they've read about icehouses, ancient Rome and modern fridges, then go through a list of topics and decide who will research each one.
21-24 come in order: icehouses, ancient Rome, getting rid of old fridges, the value of domestic fridges. Jack's 'let's make a list of topics to cover' starts 25-30, which follow the list order: goods, health, food producers, cities, transport, domestic fridges.
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: Annie often says what she already knew before what she learned, and offers her own guesses. For 23 and 24 the question says both speakers, so listen for the second speaker agreeing ('I wouldn't be surprised', 'True', 'That's right').
Question 21
Answer: BAnnie's first turn, about the article on icehouses
What new fact did Annie learn about icehouses?
But I didn't realise that insulating the blocks with straw or sawdust meant they didn't melt for months.
Question says → You hear
how the ice was kept frozeninsulating the blocks with straw or sawdust meant they didn't melt
Why: 'I didn't realise' marks the discovery: insulating the ice stopped it melting. That's how it was kept frozen, B.
The trap: C, where they were located, comes up first in detail, but with 'so I knew'. She already knew it from visiting them.
Question 22
Answer: AWhen Annie says the ancient Romans had refrigeration too
What does Annie say about refrigeration in ancient Rome?
Both the ice and the snow were then sold. The ice cost more than the snow
Question says → You hear
became a commercial businessBoth the ice and the snow were then sold
Why: Selling ice and snow, at different prices, is a commercial business. That's A.
The trap: B is the reverse of what she says: the snow came from mountains 'at quite a distance'. C is wrong because she only guesses that the wealthy bought the ice.
Question 23
Answer: BWhen Annie wonders what happens to old fridges
What worries both of them about modern fridges?
some people just dump old fridges in the countryside. … It's hard to see how they can be stopped unfortunately.
Question says → You hear
disposed of irresponsiblyjust dump old fridges in the countryside
Why: Annie raises dumping and Jack shares the concern with 'unfortunately'. Dumping is disposing of fridges irresponsibly, B.
The trap: A: only Jack mentions the complex technology, and he's confused, not worried. C: Annie says fridges 'hardly ever break down'.
Question 24
Answer: AWhen Jack gives the average life of a fridge
What do they agree about domestic fridges?
So if you divide the cost by the number of years you can use a fridge, they're not expensive, compared with some household appliances. … True.
Question says → You hear
good value for moneythey're not expensive
Why: Fridges last many years, so the cost per year is low. Jack says that and Annie agrees with 'True'. That's A.
The trap: B: colours and designs are mentioned, but as a way manufacturers get people to spend more, not as useful variations. C uses 'other appliances', but the comparison is about cost, not usefulness.
Matching (A-C)
Questions 25-30
How to attack this block: Who suggests a topic is not who takes it. Each topic goes back and forth: one offers it, the other declines or accepts. Wait for the final decision ('I'll do you a favour', 'leave it to me, then'), and watch for the last topic, which they split.
Question 25
Answer: AThe first topic, when Annie suggests starting with how useful refrigeration is
Who will research the goods that are refrigerated?
I could do that, unless you particularly want to. … No, that's fine by me.
Question says → You hear
AnnieI could do that
Why: Annie offers, and Jack accepts. So Annie, A.
The trap: Jack adds flowers and medicines to the list, but that's an idea, not taking on the topic.
Question 26
Answer: AWhen Jack asks 'Do you fancy dealing with that?'
Who will research the effects on health?
I'm not terribly keen, to be honest. … Nor me. … Oh, all right then, I'll do you a favour. But you owe me, Jack.
Question says → You hear
Annieall right then, I'll do you a favour
Why: Neither wants it, but Annie gives in as a favour to Jack. So Annie, A.
The trap: Jack suggests the topic, and both refuse at first, which can sound like nobody or both. The final word is Annie's.
Question 27
Answer: BRight after Annie says 'you owe me'
Who will research the impact on food producers?
Something for you, maybe? … I don't mind. It should be quite interesting.
Question says → You hear
JackI don't mind
Why: Annie offers it to Jack and he accepts. So Jack, B.
The trap: Annie introduces the topic, but she's passing it to Jack in return for the favour.
Question 28
Answer: BWhen Annie mentions Las Vegas
Who will research the impact on cities?
Not particularly, to be honest. I find economics books pretty heavy going, as a rule. … OK, leave it to me, then.
Question says → You hear
Jackleave it to me, then
Why: Annie doesn't want to read the economics book, so Jack takes it on. So Jack, B.
The trap: Annie suggests the topic and gives the example, so it sounds like hers. She then turns it down.
Question 29
Answer: AWhen Annie says 'Then there's transport'
Who will research refrigerated transport?
Then there's transport, and the difference that refrigerated trucks have made. I wouldn't mind having a go at that.
Question says → You hear
AnnieI wouldn't mind having a go at that
Why: Annie volunteers for transport. So Annie, A.
The trap: Jack adds the railway example, so C (both) is tempting. But Annie just says 'Thanks': he gives her a tip, not a share of the work.
Question 30
Answer: CThe last topic, when Jack suggests a separate section
Who will research domestic fridges?
What about splitting it into two? You could investigate 19th-and 20th-century fridges, and I'll concentrate on what's available these days
Question says → You hear
both Annie and Jacksplitting it into two
Why: They split the topic: Jack takes the older fridges, Annie the modern ones. So both, C.
The trap: Jack proposes the section, so B is tempting, but Annie divides it between them and Jack agrees.
Jack suggests the health topic and both say they're not keen. Then Annie gives in: 'I'll do you a favour'. So Annie does it, even though Jack raised it.
Jack adds an idea about trains, which makes it sound shared. But Annie volunteered for transport and just thanks him for the tip. It's Annie's section.
Shady areas, underground, near lakes: Annie gives a lot of detail about location. But that's what she already knew. 'But I didn't realise' introduces what she discovered: how the ice stayed frozen.
Words from this recording worth keeping
insulating(Icehouses)
covering something to stop heat getting in or out
imported(Ancient Rome)
brought in from another place
domestic(Modern fridges)
used in the home
components(Getting rid of fridges)
the parts that make up a machine
household appliances(Value of fridges)
electrical machines used in the home
heavy going(Choosing topics)
difficult and tiring to read or do
having a go(Choosing topics)
trying something
differentiate(Choosing topics)
show how something is different from others
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The full Cambridge 15 Test 4 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 15, Test 4, Listening Part 3. 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.
