Advice for the “Investment in Knowledge” Presentation - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Expert on Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.
- Karen is planning to use an 21 for her presentation.
- Karen is also going to prepare a power-point presentation as a 22.
- Karen wants a few websites to obtain more 23.
Questions 24–28 Matching
What recommendations does Dr. Owen make about the websites?
Choose your answers from the box and write the letters A-G next to questions.
A. must read
B. read recent articles
C. look at abstracts quickly
D. check links
E. scan references
F. useful
G. limited value
Questions 29–30 Two Choices
Choose TWO letters A-E.
Which TWO things should be avoided in the presentation?
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | electronic whiteboard | Karen: I am going to use to be electronic whiteboard as suggested and do a blend of graphs, pictures, text and podcasts to illustrate my presentation | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Karen explaining that she will use an electronic whiteboard to display different types of media for her talk. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a digital screen or interactive board that connects to a computer to show information. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Karen's explanation of how she plans to present her work. When Dr Owen asks how she is going to present the material, she directly states that she plans to use an "electronic whiteboard" along with pictures, graphs, and podcasts. |
| Q22 | back-up | Let's hope the whiteboard works, but I'm also going to have a Power Point presentation for a back-up – just to cover myself | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Karen explaining that she will make a PowerPoint presentation as an extra safety option in case the electronic whiteboard has technical problems. Answer Explanation: The answer means an extra plan or copy prepared to help if the first plan fails. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by Karen when she discusses how she will show her work. While she hopes to use the whiteboard, she clearly states that she will also prepare a PowerPoint presentation as a "back-up" in case the whiteboard does not work. |
| Q23 | specific background material | could you give me the names of a few websites I should look at for more specific background material | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Karen asking her teacher for website names so she can find detailed information about her topic. Answer Explanation: The answer means detailed information that gives context or extra basic knowledge about the topic. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Karen's request to Dr Owen. She asks him to recommend "a few websites" that she can check in order to find "more specific background material". In the sentence to complete, "obtain" matches "look at for" in the conversation. |
| Q24 | C | Dr Owen: And there's a site, which is hosted by Pollock, it's investment IT.com. All you need to do is skim the abstracts of the articles on the site; they'll give you a general idea about the effects of investment in knowledge | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. Owen telling Karen that on the website investment IT.com, she only needs to quickly read the summaries (abstracts) of the articles. Answer Explanation: The answer "C" means you should read through the article summaries very fast instead of reading every word. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Dr. Owen talks about "investment IT.com" and advises Karen that she only needs to "skim the abstracts". In English, "skim" means to read or look at something quickly, and "abstracts" are short summaries of articles. Therefore, "skim the abstracts" directly corresponds to choice C, "look at abstracts quickly". |
| Q25 | G | If I remember it's not that useful. I would say that there are very few things that you need to read there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. Owen explaining that this website is not very helpful and has hardly anything that Karen actually needs to read. Answer Explanation: The answer G means that the website has limited value, which means it is not very useful or helpful. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is G because Dr. Owen describes the website "knowledge journal.com" as "not that useful" and says there are "very few things that you need to read there." The phrase "limited value" means that something is of low importance or only a little bit useful, which matches Dr. Owen's comment. |
| Q26 | B | Then there's IT knowledge review.com. It's got loads of articles, but it's probably best just to read those that have come out in the last term or so | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. Owen explaining that while the website has many articles, it is best for Karen to focus on the ones published very recently (in the last term). Answer Explanation: The answer "B" means that the student should read only the newer or newly published articles on that website. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Dr. Owen tells Karen about "IT knowledge review.com" and suggests that she only read the articles that "have come out in the last term or so." The phrase "come out in the last term or so" means they were published recently, which matches the option "read recent articles." |
| Q27 | F | And another free journal on line is ITonline.com. I wouldn't say it's essential to read it, but it is beneficial and so I think it is worth a look | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr. Owen explaining that reading ITonline.com is not strictly required, but it is helpful (beneficial) and a good idea to check out. Answer Explanation: The answer "F" means that the website is helpful or good to read (useful). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Dr. Owen describes the website "ITonline.com" by saying "it is beneficial and so I think it is worth a look." The word "beneficial" is a synonym for "useful." Karen also confirms this by responding, "If you think it's useful, there is no harm in looking at it." |
| Q28 | D | Dr Owen: But National statistics.com is worth looking at and trying out the links that it gives | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr Owen advising Karen to visit the website and test the links that are provided on it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the student should test or look at the links on the website. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Dr Owen recommends visiting National statistics.com and exploring the links found on the site. The phrase "check links" matches Dr Owen's recommendation of "trying out the links that it gives". |
| Q29 | — | — | |
| Q30 | A / B | Avoid crowding the screen, if you have lots of information at one time, people will not be able to follow it and will just switch off. Karen: That's worth remembering. I've been in lectures where there was too much detail on the screen and it was impossible to read quickly. But what about visuals? Do you think it's okay to mix visuals and text? Dr Owen: Visuals are very useful, but they must be relevant or else people will get confused about what they mean and why they are there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Dr Owen warning Karen not to fill the screen with too much data all at once because the audience will lose track. He also says that any pictures or graphics she uses must clearly relate to the topic so people do not get confused. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the speaker should not show too much information at one time, and should not use pictures or charts that are not related to the topic. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A and B because Dr Owen gives two clear pieces of advice on what not to do. First, he tells Karen to avoid putting "lots of information at one time" on the screen so listeners do not stop paying attention, which matches "Too much information at once" (Option A). Second, he explains that "visuals" (pictures and graphs) must be "relevant" (connected to the topic), meaning she should not use visuals that do not belong, which matches avoiding "Irrelevant visuals" (Option B). The other options (small font, colours, talking fast) are never mentioned as things to avoid. |
Transcript
Karen: Excuse me, Dr Owen, I ...
Dr Owen: Oh, hello Karen.
Karen: Have you got a few moments?
Dr Owen: Yeah, sure. How can I help you?
Karen: Well, I've had difficulty finding data on the original question and I was wondering if I could change my paper to "Investment in knowledge" comparing some European countries with the United States and then with others throughout the world including the OECD average. I've found lots of data by way of graphs, etc.
Dr Owen: Where did you get the data from?
Karen: From various sources, books and journals.
Dr Owen: How are you going to present the material?
Karen: I am going to use to be electronic whiteboard as suggested and do a blend of graphs, pictures, text and podcasts to illustrate my presentation.
Dr Owen: It sounds very impressive.
Karen: Yes. Let's hope the whiteboard works, but I'm also going to have a Power Point presentation for a back-up – just to cover myself.
Dr Owen: A back-up is a good idea, but it's a lot of work doing everything twice.
Karen: It is, but at least I'll have experience of both. Before we talk about how to use the data I've selected, could you give me the names of a few websites I should look at for more specific background material? When you type in anything to do with knowledge there are millions of sites listed.
Dr Owen: Let's see ... I'll print you off this list... There we go.
Karen: Right. Do I really need to study everything on these?
Dr Owen: No. I suggest there are five or six you can look at. The one you have to go through is the IT department section on the university site, which is www.kmul.org. It has articles by all of us in the department and has links to useful information. So I think it is essential to look at this.
Karen: Okay. I've already been on it, but I'll tick that one as a must read.
Dr Owen: And there's a site, which is hosted by Pollock, it's investment IT.com. All you need to do is skim the abstracts of the articles on the site; they'll give you a general idea about the effects of investment in knowledge.
Karen: Yes. That sounds good. It cuts our having to read everything. What about this one knowledge journal.com?
Dr Owen: If I remember it's not that useful. I would say that there are very few things that you need to read there. Then there's IT knowledge review.com. It's got loads of articles, but it's probably best just to read those that have come out in the last term or so.
Karen: Do you have to subscribe?
Dr Owen: No. It's free from the university library. And another free journal on line is ITonline.com. I wouldn't say it's essential to read it, but it is beneficial and so I think it is worth a look.
Karen: If you think it's useful, there is no harm in looking at it.
Dr Owen: But National statistics.com is worth looking at and trying out the links that it gives. I think these are probably enough to be getting on with.
Karen: I think so. There's another thing I want to ask about. How much material should I use in my presentation?
Dr Owen: Avoid crowding the screen, if you have lots of information at one time, people will not be able to follow it and will just switch off.
Karen: That's worth remembering. I've been in lectures where there was too much detail on the screen and it was impossible to read quickly. But what about visuals? Do you think it's okay to mix visuals and text?
Dr Owen: Visuals are very useful, but they must be relevant or else people will get confused about what they mean and why they are there. And they won't pay attention to what you are saying. So be careful. From what I can see, you have the makings of a very good presentation.
Karen: Thank you!