Research into loneliness: listening answers and explanations
Two students, Tamara and Dev, review their research into loneliness before a presentation. They discuss why it's increasing, which health risks are well proven, the evolutionary theory, mental health, and how to open and shape their talk.
Answers come in order. Q21-22 cover causes, Q23-24 health risks, Q25-26 the evolutionary theory ('What did you think about the evolutionary theory'), then 'Should we look at the relationship between loneliness and mental health now?' leads into Q27-30. Most answers need both speakers to agree.
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: The question says 'both believe', so an idea one student raises and the other rejects doesn't count. Listen for agreement words ('I think you're right', 'it's true') after each suggestion.
Question 21-22
Answer: C and E (in either order)After Dev asks what the reasons for the increase are
Which two causes of rising loneliness do both students accept?
loneliness has a lot to do with the way cities are designed. … I think you're right. … people are having to move around for work and often end up living miles away from their family and friends. … Yeah, it's true.
Question says → You hear
urban designthe way cities are designed
a mobile workforcehaving to move around for work
Why: C: Tamara blames the way cities are designed and Dev says 'I think you're right'. E: Tamara's 'more plausible explanation' is moving around for work, and Dev says 'it's true'.
The trap: B, smaller families, is raised by Tamara but Dev rejects it: that changed decades ago, and loneliness is recent. Longer lifespans and social media are both dismissed early on.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 23-24
How to attack this block: You need the risks with solid evidence. Every option is mentioned, so sort them as you go: supported ('supported by other studies', 'the data on that is sound') versus doubtful ('not exactly reliable', 'hard to reach a judgment').
Question 23-24
Answer: A and C (in either order)From 'Looking at the studies on health risks' to the end of that discussion
Which two health risks do both students say have solid evidence?
loneliness increased the risk of cancer by about 10%. And those findings have been supported by other studies, too. … You're right about that one. … loneliness contributes to a weakened immune system. … Unquestionably the data on that is sound.
Question says → You hear
based on solid evidencesupported by other studies / the data on that is sound
Why: C: the Finnish cancer study was 'supported by other studies' and Dev agrees. A: Dev says there's 'no doubt' about the weakened immune system and Tamara calls the data 'sound'.
The trap: E, cardiovascular disease, was researched a lot, but it was 'hard to reach a judgment'. B, dementia, had mixed results: 'Not exactly reliable'. Obesity only appears as a comparison.
Multiple choice (choose TWO)
Questions 25-26
How to attack this block: Tamara finds part of the theory convincing, which tempts you towards 'should be more widely accepted'. Focus on the criticisms both students make: more evidence needed, and not useful for today's problem.
Question 25-26
Answer: A and B (in either order)After Dev asks what she thought about the evolutionary theory
Which two views do both students share about the evolutionary theory?
There are a few studies which support the theory, but not conclusively enough. More evidence is needed. … this theory is not really useful when it comes to solving the problem of loneliness today. … True.
Question says → You hear
needs further investigationMore evidence is needed
little practical relevancenot really useful when it comes to solving the problem
Why: B: Tamara says there isn't enough evidence and Dev agrees more is needed. A: Tamara says the theory doesn't help solve loneliness today, and Dev says 'True'.
The trap: D is tempting because Tamara finds the basic idea 'quite convincing'. But that's one student on one part of it, and they both say the evidence is weak, so neither says it should be more widely accepted.
Multiple choice
Questions 27-30
How to attack this block: Each question is one short exchange. In Q29 and Q30 one student offers an idea and the other doesn't accept it, so wait for the point both of them sign up to.
Question 27
Answer: ARight after 'Should we look at the relationship between loneliness and mental health now?'
What do the students conclude when they compare loneliness with depression?
There's no available diagnosis or effective treatments, and that's not likely to change. … I don't think so either.
Question says → You hear
doubt that there will ever be a medical cureno available diagnosis or effective treatments, and that's not likely to change
Why: No effective treatments, and 'that's not likely to change', means they doubt a medical cure will appear. The second student agrees.
The trap: B is wrong because they say loneliness and depression are 'clearly related', not that the link is overstated. C sounds right, but governments have recognised the link, and nobody complains it isn't taken seriously.
Question 28
Answer: BWhen Tamara suggests starting with their own experience
Why will they open the presentation with a personal example?
I'd like to talk about how lonely I was when I started university … Good idea. Everyone will be able to relate to that.
Question says → You hear
a situation that most students will recogniseEveryone will be able to relate to that
Why: Starting university and being away from home is something 'everyone will be able to relate to', which means most students will recognise it.
The trap: A is tempting because she was lonely, but the reason given is that the audience will relate to it, not to show how hard loneliness is. Men and women are never compared.
Question 29
Answer: AWhen Tamara suggests discussing ways of dealing with loneliness
Why do they agree talking to strangers helps with loneliness?
Loads of studies have shown that interactions with shop assistants and bar staff make people feel more optimistic and relaxed. … I don't know about that, but it must make people feel more connected with their community. … True.
Question says → You hear
a sense of belongingmore connected with their community
Why: Feeling 'more connected with their community' is a sense of belonging. Tamara says it and Dev answers 'True', so it's the point they agree on.
The trap: C, feeling more positive, matches Dev's 'more optimistic and relaxed', but Tamara says 'I don't know about that'. One student only, so it isn't agreed.
Question 30
Answer: CWhen Tamara says being alone and being lonely aren't the same thing
What do they find hard to understand about solitude?
It's strange the way some people can't stand being by themselves while others love it. … being alone isn't something I actually like. … Me neither.
Question says → You hear
difficult to understandIt's strange
an enjoyable experienceothers love it
Why: Tamara finds it strange that some people love being alone, and neither student likes it themselves. So what puzzles them is solitude being enjoyable.
The trap: B: Dev accepts the research that some solitude is 'beneficial for well-being', so that's not what they find hard to understand. A is wrong because they say being alone and being lonely aren't the same thing.
Five risks, all named. Smoking and obesity are only comparisons, dementia is 'not exactly reliable', and cardiovascular disease was 'hard to reach a judgment'. Only cancer and the immune system are called solid.
Dev says talking to strangers makes people more optimistic, which matches 'more positive'. But Tamara says 'I don't know about that' and offers 'more connected with their community' instead, and Dev agrees with that.
Dev says solitude is beneficial for well-being, so 'necessary for mental health' is tempting. What they find strange is that some people love being alone, and neither of them likes it.
Words from this recording worth keeping
eye opener(Opening)
something that shows you a surprising truth
downside(Causes of loneliness)
a disadvantage
plausible(Causes of loneliness)
reasonable and likely to be true
subjective(Health risks)
based on personal feelings, not facts
conclusively(Evolutionary theory)
in a way that proves something
relate to(Planning the presentation)
understand from your own experience
strike up a conversation(Talking to strangers)
start talking to someone
solitude(Solitude)
the state of being alone
Sit this test on Langujet, then come back
The full Cambridge 20 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 20, Test 1, 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.
