Kira and Paul’s Academic Review - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 09 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–22 One Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 23–25 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
- Kira says that lecturers are easier to 23 than those in her home country.
- Paul suggests that Kira may be more 24 than when she was studying before.
- Kira says that students want to discuss things that worry them or that 25 them very much.
Questions 26–30 Short Answers
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | A | Yes. And, as I'd already finished a course in it in my country, I thought it would be easier if I studied something I already knew | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kira saying she 'already finished' her studies in her home country before starting the pharmacy course at the new university. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Kira finished a full program of study in her own country before she came to this university. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Kira explicitly says she finished a course in her country. In English, the word 'finished' means the same thing as 'completed'. Because she had already finished this course, she was given credit for two years of study when she started her new school. While the university gave her credit for two years (choice B), the reason they did so was that she had finished the entire course back home. |
| Q22 | C | People expect you to have problems with the process of reading and writing but, in fact, it is more a question of altering your viewpoint towards academic study | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although people think reading and writing are the main problems, it is actually more about changing your perspective or the way you think about university study. Answer Explanation: The answer means that to do well on her homework tasks (assignments), Kira had to change the way she thought about her university work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Kira mentions that the biggest challenge was learning to be 'critical' of other people's research, which was a new concept for her. She explains that while many people assume the difficulty lies in reading or writing, the real issue for her was 'altering your viewpoint,' which means changing her perspective or way of thinking about academic study. 'Altering' is a synonym for 'changing' and 'viewpoint' is a synonym for 'way of thinking'. |
| Q23 | approach | KIRA: Well actually, no. Here, they're much easier to approach | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kira explaining that the teachers at her current school are much easier to talk to than the ones she had before. Answer Explanation: The answer means to go and speak to someone, especially to ask for help or to ask a question. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is correct because Kira compares the university teachers (lecturers) in her new country to those in her home country. She says that in this new university, she can go and talk to the teachers after class or make a meeting to talk about her studies. She uses the word "approach" to describe how easy it is to go and talk to them. |
| Q24 | mature | Maybe you found them different because you're a more mature student now, whereas when you were studying in your country you were younger and not so assertive | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Paul giving a reason for Kira's new experience; he thinks that because she is older now than she was before, she might find the teachers easier to talk to. Answer Explanation: The answer 'mature' refers to being older, having more life experience, or behaving like a grown-up person. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer 'mature' is used because Paul is trying to understand why Kira finds it easier to talk to teachers in the new country. He suggests that the change might not be the school system, but rather that Kira herself has grown up and become an older, more confident student since her previous studies. |
| Q25 | interest | usually to talk about something in the course that's worrying them, but sometimes just about something that might really interest them, something they might want to specialise in | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that students go to see their teachers to talk about problems they have or about subjects they like very much and want to focus on deeply. Answer Explanation: The answer "interest" means to make someone feel curious or want to pay attention to something because they like it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "interest" because Kira describes why students meet with their teachers during appointments. She explains that they talk about two kinds of topics: things that make them feel worried or anxious, and things that they find very exciting or important. She uses the word "interest" to describe those exciting topics that students want to learn more about. |
| Q26 | groups / small groups / in small groups | Apart from lectures, we had practical sessions in a lot of subjects. We did these in small groups | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kira saying that besides listening to teachers talk, they had classes where they practiced subjects. She says they did this practice work by working in small sets of people. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when students had classes to practice what they learned, they worked together in small teams. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Kira's description of her busy schedule and the way her university classes were organized. When talking about her study workload, she specifically mentions that for many subjects, they had 'practical sessions' and that these were done in 'small groups'. This explains the format of those specific classes. The word 'groups' is the key part of how the sessions were organized. |
| Q27 | every 2 days / every second day / every two days | Then in second semester, we had to get experience in hospital dispensaries, so every second day we went to one of the big hospitals and worked there | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that during her second semester of study, Kira went to work at a large hospital every other day (every second day). Answer Explanation: The answer means that Kira went to a hospital to work one time every two days. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer comes from Kira's explanation of her busy second semester. She says that she had to get experience in hospital dispensaries and went to a hospital to work 'every second day'. In English, 'every second day' is the same as saying 'every 2 days'. |
| Q28 | 2 weeks / two weeks | Oh, I nearly forgot, between first and second semesters, we had to work full-time for two weeks in a hospital | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that Kira had a job at a hospital where she worked all day for two weeks during the time between her first and second semesters. Answer Explanation: The answer is 2 weeks, which is the total time Kira spent working a full daily schedule during her school break. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 2 weeks because Kira explicitly states she had to work full-time for that duration in a hospital. While she had other part-time duties, this was the only part she described as 'full-time', which matches the requirement of the question. |
| Q29 | confident | Yeah, I do feel much more confident, which I suppose is the most important thing | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kira saying that she feels a lot more sure of herself now that she has completed the course. Answer Explanation: The answer means Kira feels sure of herself and her abilities after finishing the school year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed when Kira reflects on finishing her difficult year of study. When Paul asks if she feels achievement, she says she feels more confident. This word describes her positive feelings about her hard work and success. Synonyms for confident include being sure or certain. |
| Q30 | education system | Well, as I said before, the biggest problem for me was a lack of familiarity with the education system here | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kira explaining that her main difficulty was not being used to the way people teach and learn at the university in that country. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students from other countries need to understand how schools and teaching work in the country where they are studying. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Kira's response to Paul's question about recommendations for overseas students. After discussing the importance of language, Paul asks if there is anything else. Kira replies that her biggest difficulty was not being used to the 'education system'—the way the university operates and expects students to work. Keywords like 'familiarity' and 'problem' highlight that this is the specific area students need to learn about. |
Transcript
PAUL: Hello, Kira, how are you?
KIRA: Fine thanks, Paul, how are you?
PAUL: Well, thanks. It's good to see you. It must be twelve months since you did our course?
KIRA: That's right. It's nice to come back and say hello.
PAUL: What course did you enrol in?
KIRA: Actually, I went straight into third year Pharmacy. They credited me with two years, which probably made it more difficult for me.
PAUL: On the other hand, you were lucky to be granted credits. Is that why you chose the course?
KIRA: Yes. And, as I'd already finished a course in it in my country, I thought it would be easier if I studied something I already knew.
PAUL: I didn't realise you went into third year. I thought you started in first year. No wonder it was so hard! And what do you think is one of the big differences between studying at a university here and studying in your country?
KIRA: Well, I've found it very difficult to write assignments, because I wasn't familiar with that aspect of the system here. The main problem is that the lecturers expect you to be critical. That made me feel really terrible. I thought "How can I possibly do it? How can I comment on someone else's research when they probably spent five years doing it?" I think a lot of people who come from overseas countries have similar problems. But after a while it became easier for me. People expect you to have problems with the process of reading and writing but, in fact, it is more a question of altering your viewpoint towards academic study.
PAUL: How was the content of the lectures? Was it easy for you?
KIRA: I didn't really have many problems understanding lectures. The content was very similar to what I'd studied before.
PAUL: And what about the lecturers themselves? Are they essentially the same as lecturers in your country?
KIRA: Well actually, no. Here, they're much easier to approach. After every lecture you can go and ask them something you didn't understand. Or you can make an appointment and talk to them about anything in the course.
PAUL: Maybe you found them different because you're a more mature student now, whereas when you were studying in your country you were younger and not so assertive.
KIRA: No, I don't think that's the difference. Most of the students here do it. In my faculty, they all seem to make appointments - usually to talk about something in the course that's worrying them, but sometimes just about something that might really interest them, something they might want to specialise in. The lecturers must set aside certain times every week when they're available for students.
PAUL: That's good to hear.
PAUL: And how was your timetable? Was it a very busy year?
KIRA: Very, very busy. They make you work very hard. Apart from lectures, we had practical sessions in a lot of subjects. We did these in small groups. I had to go and work four hours every week in a community pharmacy. Actually, I enjoyed this very much - meeting new people all the time. Then in second semester, we had to get experience in hospital dispensaries, so every second day we went to one of the big hospitals and worked there. And on top of all that we had our assignments, which took me a lot of time. Oh, I nearly forgot, between first and second semesters, we had to work full-time for two weeks in a hospital.
PAUL: That does sound a very heavy year. So are you pleased now that you did it? Do you feel some sense of achievement?
KIRA: Yeah, I do feel much more confident, which I suppose is the most important thing.
PAUL: And have you got any recommendations for people who are studying from overseas?
KIRA: Well, I suppose they need very good English. It would be much better if they spent more time learning English before they enter the university, because you can be in big trouble if you don't understand what people are saying and you haven't got time to translate.
PAUL: Anything else?
KIRA: Well, as I said before, the biggest problem for me was a lack of familiarity with the education system here.
PAUL: It sounds as if it was a real challenge. Congratulations, Kira.
KIRA: Thanks, Paul.