Population studies assignment: listening answers and explanations
Melanie, a population studies student, goes to see her lecturer, Dr Johnson, because she is behind with her second assignment. They talk about getting an extension, which journal articles she should read, and a bar chart in the assignment question whose labels are missing from her photocopy.
Three blocks in order. Questions 21-22 come from the talk about the extension. Questions 23-27 follow the reading list article by article, in the same order as the box of names. Questions 28-30 come after 'let's deal with the assignment question', as Dr Johnson goes through the bars one by one.
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: Both questions turn on a contrast. Melanie mentions a big assignment and the library, and Dr Johnson mentions planning and medical reasons. Listen for which detail actually answers the question stem, not just which words you recognise.
Question 21
Answer: AAfter Dr Johnson says she should have borrowed books earlier
Why hasn't Melanie started this assignment?
Well, I had a really big assignment due in for another course, and I've been spending all my time on that
Why: She has spent all her time on an assignment for a different course. That is option A.
The trap: B uses her exact words 'really big assignment', but that big assignment belongs to the other course, not this one. C is the opposite of what she said: she has been to the library several times, the books were just out.
Question 22
Answer: CWhen Melanie asks if she might get an extension
What does the lecturer count as a good reason for an extension?
extensions are normally given only for medical or compassionate reasons
Why: 'Medical' covers illness, and 'compassionate reasons' covers personal problems such as an accident or a family crisis. That matches C.
The trap: Planning is mentioned straight after, but as a bad excuse: lecturers don't like giving extensions to students who didn't plan their work. A is the reason Dr Johnson rejects.
Matching (A-G)
Questions 23-27
How to attack this block: Dr Johnson goes through the articles in the same order as the list, and gives each one a verdict. Some verdicts are direct ('I wouldn't bother'), others are hidden in a description ('just look at the last part'). Turn each comment into one of the seven options as you go, and remember some options are never used.
Question 23
Answer: ERight after the Anderson and Hawker example
What does Dr Johnson say about the Jackson article?
You should also read the article by Jackson, but just look at the part in the research methodology, how they did it.
Question says → You hear
read research methodsjust look at the part in the research methodology
Why: She should read only the methodology section, the part about how the research was done. That is 'read research methods', E.
The trap: 'You should also read' sounds like 'must read', A. But Dr Johnson limits it straight away with 'but just look at the part', so it isn't the whole article.
Question 24
Answer: BAfter Jackson, beginning 'And if you have time'
What does Dr Johnson say about the Roberts article?
if you have time, the one by Roberts says very relevant things, although it's not essential
Question says → You hear
usefulsays very relevant things, although it's not essential
Why: Relevant but not essential, and read it if you have time: that is a useful article, B. Melanie even replies 'If it's useful'.
The trap: 'Very relevant' might push you to 'must read', but 'not essential' rules that out.
Question 25
Answer: GAfter Roberts, 'Now, the one by Morris'
What does Dr Johnson say about the Morris article?
Now, the one by Morris. I wouldn't bother with that at this stage, if I were you.
Question says → You hear
don't readI wouldn't bother with that at this stage
Why: 'I wouldn't bother with that' means don't read it. Melanie confirms: 'I won't bother with Morris.' That's G.
The trap: 'At this stage' might suggest limited value, C. The verdict isn't that it's weak: it's an instruction to skip it.
Question 26
Answer: FWhen Melanie says someone told her Cooper is important
What does Dr Johnson say about the Cooper article?
But just look at the last part, where he discusses the research results.
Question says → You hear
read conclusionjust look at the last part, where he discusses the research results
Why: The last part of an article, where the results are discussed, is the conclusion. So she should read the conclusion only, F.
The trap: 'Research' appears again, which pulls people towards E, read research methods. Methods is how the study was done; results come at the end. 'The last part' also rules out D, read first section.
Question 27
Answer: CThe last article, after 'And, lastly, there's Forster'
What does Dr Johnson say about the Forster article?
I can't think why I included that one. It's not bad, and could be of some help, but not that much.
Question says → You hear
limited valuecould be of some help, but not that much
Why: 'Some help, but not that much' is a small amount of value, which is C. Dr Johnson even wonders why it's on the list.
The trap: 'Not bad' and 'some help' can sound like B, useful. The 'but not that much' at the end is what decides it.
Chart labelling (A-H)
Questions 28-30
How to attack this block: Dr Johnson explains every bar from one to six, but you only label bars 2, 4 and 6. Count the bars as they come so you don't attach a reason to the wrong column. The box uses short labels, so you need to match a description ('the owner is not helpful') to a label.
Question 28
Answer: DWhen Melanie asks 'what about the next bar?'
What reason does bar 2 show?
Bar two is to do with the people living nearby, disturbing them. So, they chose to move away to somewhere quieter.
Question says → You hear
noisy neighboursthe people living nearby, disturbing them … somewhere quieter
Why: People living nearby are neighbours, and moving 'somewhere quieter' tells you the problem was noise. So bar 2 is D, noisy neighbours.
The trap: Bar 3 follows straight after and is about being closer to the city. If you lose count, you might give bar 2 the wrong label.
Question 29
Answer: AAfter 'Proximity to the city is an issue'
What reason does bar 4 show?
bar number four refers to problems when the owner of the property won't help fix things that go wrong. In other words, the owner is not helpful
Question says → You hear
uncooperative landlordthe owner of the property won't help fix things … the owner is not helpful
Why: The owner of a rented property is the landlord, and an owner who won't help fix things is uncooperative. That's A.
The trap: 'Tenants move out' might make you think of rent, H. But nothing is said about money; the problem is the owner.
Question 30
Answer: BThe last bar, introduced as 'interesting'
What reason does bar 6 show?
People moving because they wanted to be in a more attractive neighborhood.
Question says → You hear
environmenta more attractive neighborhood
Why: Wanting a more attractive neighbourhood means wanting nicer surroundings, so the label is environment, B.
The trap: Transport is bar 5, just before: people who need a bus or train into the city. Work location and space are also nearby in the list, but space is bar 1.
Dr Johnson never says 'conclusion'. The advice is to look only at the last part, where Cooper discusses the research results. The end of an article where results are discussed is the conclusion, so F.
'It's not bad, and could be of some help, but not that much' sounds half positive, so people pick useful. The weight is on 'not that much', which makes it limited value.
'A really big assignment' is said out loud and is also option B. But the big assignment was for another course, which is exactly what option A says.
Words from this recording worth keeping
extension(Asking for more time)
extra time allowed after a deadline
compassionate reasons(Asking for more time)
serious personal or family problems that deserve sympathy
submit(Asking for more time)
hand in work officially
references(Asking for more time)
books and articles used as sources
research methodology(Journal articles)
the methods used to carry out a study
essential(Journal articles)
absolutely necessary
proximity(The bar chart)
nearness to a place
tenants(The bar chart)
people who pay rent to live in a property
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The full Cambridge 4 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 4, 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.
