A lecture on Stoicism, the ancient Greek philosophy. The speaker explains its main principles, then traces its influence on figures from George Washington and Adam Smith to modern politicians, therapists and business people, and ends by arguing it is still relevant today.
One ten-gap note block in order. Gap 31 is in the opening, 32 in the section on the ancient Stoics, 33-34 in the principles, and 35-39 in a run of examples of Stoicism's influence. The last gap, 40, comes from the closing argument about why it still matters.
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: Strict one-word limit, and most answers are abstract nouns (publication, capitalism, logic, practice). Watch the word form: the notes need a noun after 'for', 'on' and 'of', and an adjective for 31 and 34. The influence section is a fast list of names, so keep the name in each note as your anchor.
Question 31
Answer: practicalThe second paragraph of the lecture, when the speaker names Stoicism
What kind of appeal does Stoicism have?
Stoicism, which, in my opinion, is the most practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing
Question says → You hear
its ... appealthe most practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing
Why: Stoicism is appealing because it is practical, so its appeal is practical. The gap sits before a noun, so it needs an adjective.
The trap: Appealing is the word right next to the cue, but 'its appealing appeal' repeats the note. The opening also mentions solving problems; ignore it.
Question 32
Answer: publicationWhen the speaker says 'Amazingly, we still have access to these ideas'
What weren't the Stoics' writings intended for?
despite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication
Question says → You hear
despite not being intended fordespite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication
Why: 'Despite' appears in both, and 'never wrote anything down for publication' becomes 'not being intended for publication'.
The trap: Marcus Aurelius's Meditations were 'personal', which fits the meaning, but the note needs what they weren't meant for. Letters and a student's notes are examples, not the answer.
Question 33
Answer: choicesWhen the speaker quotes Epictetus
What can people control, according to Epictetus?
external events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them, I do control
Question says → You hear
the ... people make in responsethe choices I make with regard to them
Why: The quote contrasts events you can't control with 'the choices I make'. The note keeps 'make', so the gap is choices, in the plural.
The trap: Emotions, anger and jealousy come just before, as things we can learn to control. But the note follows the quotation, where the noun is choices.
Question 34
Answer: negativeWhen the speaker introduces Nassim Nicholas Taleb's definition
How would most people see the experiences that a Stoic sees differently?
someone who has a different perspective on experiences which most of us would see as wholly negative
Question says → You hear
a different view on experiencesa different perspective on experiences
others would considermost of us would see as wholly negative
Why: 'Different perspective' matches 'different view', and 'most of us would see as' matches 'others would consider'. The adjective after that is negative.
The trap: Wholly is an adverb, and the one-word limit means you can't write 'wholly negative'. Fear, pain and mistakes follow, but they are examples of negative experiences.
Question 35
Answer: playWhen the speaker moves on to the founding fathers of the United States
What did George Washington put on to inspire his men?
George Washington was introduced to Stoicism by his neighbours at age seventeen, and later, put on a play based on the life of Cato to inspire his men.
Question says → You hear
organised a ... about Catoput on a play based on the life of Cato
to motivate his mento inspire his men
Why: 'Put on a play' means organised a play, and 'to inspire his men' is 'to motivate his men'.
The trap: Neighbours comes earlier in the same sentence, as the people who introduced him to Stoicism. Don't confuse Washington with Jefferson, who kept a book of Seneca by his bed.
Question 36
Answer: capitalismRight after the artist Delacroix
Which of Adam Smith's ideas were shaped by Stoicism?
The economist Adam Smith's theories on capitalism were significantly influenced by the Stoicism that he studied as a schoolboy
Question says → You hear
ideas on ... were influencedtheories on capitalism were significantly influenced
Why: 'Theories on capitalism' becomes 'ideas on ...', and 'were influenced' is the same in both. The answer is capitalism.
The trap: Economics fits the meaning (he's described as an economist) but it isn't the word in the theories phrase. Write the word you hear: capitalism.
Question 37
Answer: depressionWhen the speaker introduces Albert Ellis and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
What condition is CBT mainly used to treat?
It's most commonly used to treat depression.
Question says → You hear
the treatment forused to treat depression
Why: The verb 'treat' becomes the noun 'treatment for'. The condition is depression.
The trap: 'Problems' is said just before, as what CBT helps people manage in general. The note wants the specific condition.
Question 38
Answer: logicThe end of the CBT section, 'The idea is that ...'
What do people learn to base their thinking on in CBT?
challenging the irrational beliefs that create our faulty thinking, symptoms and behaviours by using logic instead
Question says → You hear
base their thinking onby using logic instead
Why: Instead of irrational beliefs, people use logic. So their thinking is based on logic.
The trap: Beliefs is the word right next to 'thinking', but the beliefs are irrational: they are what CBT replaces, not the new basis.
Question 39
Answer: opportunityWhen the speaker says Stoicism is popular in the world of business
What do Stoics in business see obstacles as?
Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity
Question says → You hear
identifying obstacles asturning obstacles into opportunity
Why: 'Turning obstacles into opportunity' becomes 'identifying obstacles as ...'. The word is opportunity; the key gives it in the singular, as heard.
The trap: Setbacks and resilience come just before. Setbacks are another word for the obstacles, not what they become.
Question 40
Answer: practiceIn the closing argument, after 'control what you can and accept what you can't'
Also accepted: practise
What does Stoicism require a lot of?
This is not as easy as it sounds and will require considerable practice - it can take a lifetime to master.
Question says → You hear
requires a lot ofwill require considerable practice
Why: 'Considerable practice' matches 'a lot of'. The key accepts both spellings, practice and practise.
The trap: Lifetime comes right after and fits loosely, but 'a lot of lifetime' isn't English. The final point about character is already printed in the last note.
The speaker calls Stoicism 'the most practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing'. The note already has 'appeal', so the gap is the adjective practical, not appealing.
'Considerable practice' matches 'a lot of'. Lifetime comes right after and fits the meaning loosely, but practice is the noun that follows the quantity.
Words from this recording worth keeping
dense(Introduction)
difficult to read because full of ideas
virtue(Stoic principles)
good moral behaviour and character
unshakable(Stoic principles)
firm and impossible to weaken
perspective(Stoic principles)
a way of looking at something
ardent(Influence: Delacroix)
very enthusiastic and committed
irrational beliefs(Influence: CBT)
ideas not based on reason or facts
resilience(Influence: business)
the ability to recover quickly from difficulties
resonate with(Relevance today)
feel meaningful or familiar to someone
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The full Cambridge 16 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 16, 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.
