Drinking Water - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 4 · Questions 31–40
Audio
Questions
Questions 31–37 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer
Drinking Water
Introduction
- Drinking water is essential for human life.
- The ‘8 glasses a day’ rule is a myth, except for the 31 .
Some effects of water on the body
- Drinking before 32 may assist weight loss.
- Dr. Amaldi’s study shows that water speeds up 33
- A US research study showed that dehydrated bodies cannot control 34 so well
- There is no evidence that drinking water results in better 35
The brain
- Women who drank lots of water had fewer 36
- Men suffered more 37 with insufficient water.
Questions 38–40 Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Too much water?
Drinking too much water is not a common problem. Australian research has shown that people have difficulty 38 when they have drunk enough. But occasionally people have become sick from too much water, particularly groups of 39 . This may be because they have high levels of 40 in their blood. The best advice is to drink when you are thirsty.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q31 | elderly / old | The only group for whom the rule is useful seems to be the elderly, because they don’t always feel thirsty, even when their bodies are actually short of water | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that older people (the elderly) are the only group who should use the 8-glasses rule because they sometimes do not feel thirsty even when their bodies need more water. Answer Explanation: The answer is old people or the elderly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "elderly" or "old" because the speaker mentions that while the "8 glasses a day" rule is usually a myth (not true), it is actually helpful for older people. This specific group may not realize they are thirsty even when they need water, so having a rule to follow helps them. |
| Q32 | meals / food / eating | But actually, there is some evidence from studies to show that subjects who drank a lot of water, and then had their meals, lost more weight | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that some scientific studies show that people who drank plenty of water before eating their food lost more weight than others. Answer Explanation: The answer means that drinking water before you eat can help you lose weight. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on research mentioned in the talk. The speaker explains that while many ideas about weight loss and water are not proven, there is actual evidence that people who drink water before eating their meals lost more weight. This happens because the water makes them feel full, so they eat less. Keywords like 'weight loss' and 'drank a lot of water' lead us to the fact that this happens before people eat. |
| Q33 | digestion | In particular, it seems to increase the rate at which digestion takes place, which overall has a number of health benefits | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that water helps your body break down food faster, which is good for your health. Answer Explanation: The answer is the process where your body breaks down food in your stomach so you can use it for energy. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "digestion" because the transcript mentions a study by Dr. Amaldi about the stomach. The study found that water increases the "rate," which is a synonym for "speed," of this process. Therefore, drinking water speeds up digestion. |
| Q34 | temperature | And what the US study indicated was that when a subject was low on water, their body’s ability to regulate its own temperature was compromised, compared to a properly hydrated subject | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that a study done in the United States showed that when a person had very little water in their system, their body's capacity to control (regulate) its heat (temperature) was negatively affected (compromised). Answer Explanation: The answer 'temperature' refers to how hot or cold a person's body is. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'temperature' because the transcript mentions a study from the US that looked at dehydration (not having enough water). The speaker explains that when people didn't drink enough water, their bodies could not 'regulate' their heat levels correctly. In this context, 'regulate' is a synonym for 'control', and 'compromised' means it was not working as well as it should. |
| Q35 | skin / complexion | But in my reading anyway I could find no evidence at all to support the idea that hydration improves or enhances the skin in any specific way | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that while people often say water is good for your skin, the student found zero scientific data to prove that drinking water actually makes it better. Answer Explanation: The answer means the outer layer of your body. The speaker found no proof that drinking water changes how it looks. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'skin' because the speaker mentions that they could not find any scientific proof to show that drinking water helps make the surface of your body look better or healthier. In the transcript, the speaker uses the words 'no evidence' and 'hydration' (drinking water) to explain that this common belief is likely not true. |
| Q36 | headaches | And the less hydrated group were affected more frequently by headaches compared to those who drank more water | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the group of women who did not drink as much water felt pains in their heads more often than the women who drank plenty of water. Answer Explanation: The answer means a pain in the head. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'headaches' because the speaker discusses a research study where the participants were women. The study found that women who drank less water (the less hydrated group) experienced head pains more often than those who drank more water. This implies that drinking more water leads to having fewer headaches. |
| Q37 | anxiety | In the second study, the research subjects were all male. And this time, a lack of water in the body was associated with a number of findings. In particular, the subjects in this group reported increased feelings of anxiety when dehydrated | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that in a study with only men, not having enough water (lack of water/dehydrated) led to humans feeling more worried or nervous (anxiety). Answer Explanation: The answer 'anxiety' refers to a feeling of worry or nervousness that men in a research study felt when they did not have enough water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'anxiety' because the speaker discusses a research study specifically focused on men. The study looked at what happens when there is a 'lack of water' (insufficient water) in the body. The speaker notes that these men reported 'increased feelings of anxiety' when they were dehydrated. Therefore, 'anxiety' is the specific condition men suffered more from when they didn't drink enough water. |
| Q38 | swallowing | Australian researchers discovered that when subjects were fully hydrated, they actually found swallowing problematic — their bodies just wouldn’t allow it so easily | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that scientists in Australia found that when people's bodies already have enough water, it becomes difficult for them to swallow more water because their bodies try to stop them. Answer Explanation: The answer 'swallowing' means the movement of food or drink from your mouth down into your stomach. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'swallowing' because the text mentions a study from Australia about what happens when people drink a lot of water. It says that when people are 'fully hydrated' (which means they have had enough to drink), they found it 'problematic' or hard to move the water down their throats. This matches the summary sentence saying people have difficulty doing this action when they have drunk enough. |
| Q39 | athletes | So, I mean, there are recorded instances of illness among athletes who have been encouraged to drink a lot, for example | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that some people who do sports have become sick after they were told to drink a lot of water. Answer Explanation: The answer is sports players. These are people who play sports or exercise a lot. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is athletes because the speaker mentions that while it's rare for people to get sick from drinking too much water, it has happened to this group of people. In the transcript, the speaker uses the word 'athletes' as an example of people who might get sick because they are told to drink a large amount of water. |
| Q40 | salt / sodium | Basically, this means that the make-up of their blood has changed and it now contains such a high proportion of salt that they suffer an adverse effect | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that when people drink too much water, the balance of their blood changes and the amount of salt becomes too high, which causes a bad reaction. Answer Explanation: The answer is salt or sodium, which is a mineral found in the blood that helps the body work correctly. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is salt or sodium because the speaker explains how drinking too much water changes the blood. The transcript mentions that the blood then contains a 'high proportion' (meaning a large amount or high level) of salt. The summary asks for a word to describe what there are 'high levels' of in the blood, so salt (or the scientific name, sodium) is the correct fit. |
Transcript
Student: Hi everyone. My presentation today is looking at drinking water. Now, we know that water is a vital nutrient for human life. But exactly how much of it do we need to drink? Well, today I’m going to review some of the research.
So, for example, there’s a common idea that we should drink 8 glasses of water every day. But researchers say that the 8-glasses-a-day rule is a myth. Some people might need more than 8 glasses, some a lot less. The only group for whom the rule is useful seems to be the elderly, because they don’t always feel thirsty, even when their bodies are actually short of water. So for them 8 glasses a day might be a good rough guide.
OK, let’s look next at what effects water has on the body. One issue of interest is weight loss. And there are lots of theories about this. It’s been claimed that dieters should drink more at night time, or drink when they first wake up, but there’s no research to back this up. But actually, there is some evidence from studies to show that subjects who drank a lot of water, and then had their meals, lost more weight. But that may only be because the water filled them up and reduced their appetites.
I also read some of the research done by Dr Amaldi, who’s looked in depth at this whole issue of drinking water. And one of his studies does support the common claim that water is good for the stomach. In particular, it seems to increase the rate at which digestion takes place, which overall has a number of health benefits.
Another interesting study I read about took place in the US. And this one was investigating the effects of dehydration – that is, not having enough water in the body. And what the US study indicated was that when a subject was low on water, their body’s ability to regulate its own temperature was compromised, compared to a properly hydrated subject.
Now there’s another frequent claim about water that I was interested in looking into. But in my reading anyway I could find no evidence at all to support the idea that hydration improves or enhances the skin in any specific way. So that claim may be a bit of a myth as well.
Another interesting aspect of this concerns the brain. And I read about a couple of research studies investigating how water intake may affect brain function. In the first study, the research subjects were female. And the less hydrated group were affected more frequently by headaches compared to those who drank more water.
In the second study, the research subjects were all male. And this time, a lack of water in the body was associated with a number of findings. In particular, the subjects in this group reported increased feelings of anxiety when dehydrated.
So, in summary we can see that, yes, there are some health benefits from drinking plenty of water. But in many of these studies, the benefit was quite small. And it’s probably true that in general, on the internet and so on, the benefits of drinking lots of water are overstated.
But what about the opposite – can you drink too much water? Well, it’s possible, but it’s not a common problem. Actually, the human body kind of prevents us drinking too much. Australian researchers discovered that when subjects were fully hydrated, they actually found swallowing problematic – their bodies just wouldn’t allow it so easily. So that’s an interesting finding.
It is true that people do occasionally become sick from drinking too much water, although it is rare. So, I mean, there are recorded instances of illness among athletes who have been encouraged to drink a lot, for example.
According to doctors, people who have drunk too much water, too quickly, have become what’s called ‘hyponatremic’. Basically, this means that the make-up of their blood has changed and it now contains such a high proportion of salt that they suffer an adverse effect. But it’s very rare for this sort of hyponatremia to be a dangerous condition.
So, based on the reading I’ve done, the best advice is to trust your body. Drink water when you’re thirsty, but you probably don’t need to drink more often than that.