Gyroscopes - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Succeed in IELTS Academic Listening Test 9 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–25 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
- Gyroscopes are used in laser devices and are found in many consumer 21 .
- The purpose of the project is to design a functional, 22 and beneficial consumer product.
- The gyroscopic exercise ball can be set in motion by movements of the 23 and wrist together in synch.
- The gyroscopic ball could help people in 24 who have lower-arm injuries.
- The product could also be aimed at 25 for whom lower-arm strength is very important.
Questions 26–30 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
| PROTOTYPE DESIGN | TESTING | |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated Cost: | £3,000 | 26 |
| Numbers of Weeks: | 27 | 6 |
| Numbers of test subjects: | 28 | |
| Breakdown of test subjects: | 5 professional athletes | |
| 29 | ||
| 5 30 |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | appliances | Gyroscopes are used in laser and optical devices and can be found in many consumer appliances, too | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that gyroscopes are used in laser tools and are also present in many household machines bought by regular consumers. Answer Explanation: The answer "appliances" refers to electrical machines or equipment that people use in their homes, such as washing machines, toasters, or refrigerators. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by Maeve's statement about gyroscopes. The sentence asks what gyroscopes can be found in. Maeve explains that they are used in laser and optical tools and "can be found in many consumer appliances, too." Therefore, the missing word that completes the phrase "consumer ..." is "appliances". |
| Q22 | practical | The aim of the assignment is to create something practical, functional and beneficial for consumers | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor stating the three requirements for the student's project: it must be practical, functional, and helpful for buyers. Answer Explanation: The answer "practical" means useful, sensible, and suitable for everyday life. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "practical" because the tutor directly states the goal of the project. In the audio, the phrase "The aim of the assignment" corresponds to "The purpose of the project", and "to create" matches "to design". The tutor explains that the item must be "practical, functional and beneficial for consumers", meaning "practical" correctly fills the blank between "functional" and "beneficial". |
| Q23 | lower arm | This gyroscope can be set in motion by movements of the lower arm and wrist together in synch | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the device begins to move when the user moves both their lower arm and wrist together. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the part of the arm between the elbow and the wrist. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "lower arm" because Maeve explains how the device works: the gyroscope starts moving when a person moves their lower arm and wrist at the same time. The sentence in the task asks what moves together with the wrist to start the ball. |
| Q24 | rehabilitation | it could also be beneficial to people in rehabilitation who have suffered serious lower-arm injuries | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the device can help individuals in medical recovery who have hurt their lower arms. Answer Explanation: The answer means the medical process of helping someone recover their health and strength after an injury or illness. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "rehabilitation" because Jenny mentions that the product could help individuals recovering from arm damage. In the audio, she states it would be "beneficial to people in rehabilitation who have suffered serious lower-arm injuries." In the task sentence, "could help" matches the transcript's "could also be beneficial to." |
| Q25 | high-performance athletes | We see the product being marketed towards high-performance athletes, like tennis and golf players, for whom lower-arm strength is vital, too | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the device can be advertised and sold to top-level sports players, such as tennis or golf players, who really need strong lower arms. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to elite sportspeople who train and compete at an advanced or top level. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by Jenny when she talks about who the product can be sold to. In the sentence, the phrase 'aimed at' matches 'marketed towards' in the talk, and 'very important' matches 'vital'. Jenny specifically mentions that they see the item being marketed towards 'high-performance athletes'. |
| Q26 | £1 500 / £1,500 | Maeve: Right, well we estimate that around £3,000 will be required for product development. Tutor: You mean to build the prototype? Maeve: Exactly. And we'll need half of that again to carry out some product testing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that creating the prototype costs £3,000, and carrying out the testing requires half of that amount, which is £1,500. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the estimated cost for testing the product is 1,500 British pounds (£1,500). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is £1,500 because the table asks for the estimated cost of product testing. In the conversation, Maeve mentions that product development (building the prototype) requires £3,000, and they will need 'half of that' for product testing. Calculating half of £3,000 gives £1,500. |
| Q27 | 2 | Jenny: The prototype should be ready a fortnight after work on the design starts and we'll need another 6 weeks for testing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the prototype will be finished a fortnight (which means two weeks) after starting, and they will then need 6 weeks to test it. Answer Explanation: The answer means that it will take 2 weeks to design the prototype. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 2 because Jenny explains that the prototype will be ready a "fortnight" after they begin the design work. A "fortnight" is a common British English term meaning a period of two weeks (14 days). Therefore, the number of weeks for the prototype design stage is 2. |
| Q28 | 15 | We want to enlist the help of 15 people to test the prototype | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the team plans to get 15 people to try and test their model. Answer Explanation: The answer "15" is the total number of people chosen to test the new device. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "15" because Maeve clearly states the exact number of participants needed for the product trials. In the discussion, "test subjects" corresponds directly to the "people to test the prototype". |
| Q29 | 5 recovery patients | Ideally, we want 5 professional athletes to try it out, 5 recovery patients and the remainder of the subjects will be gym members - our three target markets | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that five of the people chosen to try out the new product will be patients who are currently recovering. Answer Explanation: The answer means a group of five people who are healing or getting better after an illness or injury. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed because Maeve details how the 15 test subjects will be divided among their target groups. Along with five athletes and gym members, she specifies that they want "5 recovery patients" to test the prototype. |
| Q30 | gym members | Ideally, we want 5 professional athletes to try it out, 5 recovery patients and the remainder of the subjects will be gym members - our three target markets | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that among the people testing the device, 5 are athletes, 5 are patients recovering from injuries, and the rest are gym members. Answer Explanation: The answer means people who go to the gym to work out and exercise. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by Maeve's explanation of who will test the product. She mentions three target groups: 5 professional athletes, 5 recovery patients, and the rest of the group will be "gym members". |
Transcript
Tutor: So have you chosen a product yet?
Jenny: I think so. We'd like to build a gyroscopic exercise aid.
Tutor: Sounds interesting. Tell me more.
Maeve: Well, we did some research and were amazed to discover the sheer range of applications for gyroscopic technology. Gyroscopes are used in laser and optical devices and can be found in many consumer appliances, too.
Tutor: Right, tell me about this product specifically though. The aim of the assignment is to create something practical, functional and beneficial for consumers. Justify your decision.
Jenny: Well, we believe we can design and build a cheap and effective muscle-strengthening aid by taking advantage of the inertial forces created by a gyroscope.
Maeve: Yes, what we want to do is design a ball which can be held in the palm. Within the ball, there will be a simple gyroscope. This gyroscope can be set in motion by movements of the lower arm and wrist together in synch. The device will not require any external power source because it will be sustained by the movements of the arm and wrist. This will create considerable resistance and an excellent lower-arm strengthening aid. It will be simple to design and cheap to produce, yet extremely effective.
Tutor: This all sounds very good. I'm impressed!
Jenny: Thanks Mark, we're glad you like it. I think we're really onto something here. Our research has told us there's nothing comparable in the market and that a product like this would have multiple uses. Not only could it be used as an everyday toning and exercise device, it could also be beneficial to people in rehabilitation who have suffered serious lower-arm injuries. We see the product being marketed towards high-performance athletes, like tennis and golf players, for whom lower-arm strength is vital, too.
Narrator: Before you hear the rest of the discussion you have some time to look at questions 26-30.
Now listen and answer questions 26-30.
Tutor: I've heard enough to give your project the go ahead. Now, let's talk costs.
Maeve: Right, well we estimate that around £3,000 will be required for product development.
Tutor: You mean to build the prototype?
Maeve: Exactly. And we'll need half of that again to carry out some product testing.
Tutor: And what's your timeline for the project?
Jenny: The prototype should be ready a fortnight after work on the design starts and we'll need another 6 weeks for testing.
Maeve: We want to enlist the help of 15 people to test the prototype. Ideally, we want 5 professional athletes to try it out, 5 recovery patients and the remainder of the subjects will be gym members - our three target markets.
Tutor: Okay. Well, you have a lot of work to do, but you've certainly made a good start. Let's meet again on Monday to get the ball rolling.