Nadia and Fergus’s Course Feedback - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Listening Test 2 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–22 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 23–24 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 25–26 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 27–30 Flow Chart Completion
Complete the flow-chart below.
Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-F, next to Questions 27-30.
A. This was challenging but enjoyable. | B. This led to some disagreement. | C. This was easy to decide on.
D. This was helped by the guidelines provided. | E. This seemed like an unnecessary stage. | F. This involved selecting a new ingredient.
Student project: developing a new food product
Initial aim
27
Literature review
28
Product development
29
Product production
30
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | — | — | |
| Q22 | B / E | FERGUS: Yeah, that's been in the news a lot. But I hadn't realised that unsafe food causes more than 200 different diseases. NADIA: No, I'd no idea it was that many. And speaking of diseases, I knew resistance to antibiotics is on the increase, but I didn't know why FERGUS that it's partly because when animals are treated with antibiotics then consumed by humans, the antibiotics get into the food chain. I had no idea about that either |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Fergus saying he didn't know that food could cause so many different sicknesses. Nadia agrees and says she had no idea. Then, they talk about medicine resistance; Fergus explains that medicines used on animals enter the human food supply, and he admits this was also new information he did not know before. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Nadia and Fergus learned two specific new things: they learned about the high number of illnesses (more than 200) that come from unsafe food, and they learned how medicines given to farm animals can end up in human food. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B and E because both students say they did not know these facts before the course. Fergus mentions he was surprised that bad food causes over 200 types of sicknesses (diseases), and Nadia says she did not know the number was that high. Next, Nadia explains she did not know 'why' medicine resistance was growing. Fergus explains it is because medicines (antibiotics) for animals enter the human food chain when people eat those animals, and he says he had no idea about that either. They were already aware of other facts like obesity and plastic in the ocean, so those are not the new information. |
| Q23 | — | — | |
| Q24 | C / D | I thought it was really good to address a problem that's faced by so many different groups - people with special religious rules, as well as vegetarians and vegans But what the researchers succeeded in doing was to ensure that these tests were carried out at different stages in the food's journey from the producer to the consumer |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Fergus praising the project for two main reasons: it helped people who have specific rules about what they eat, and it successfully used DNA checks at several different times while the food was moving from the person who made it to the person who bought it. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that Fergus was impressed by the use of several tests during different parts of the food process and the inclusion of various groups of people with specific eating needs. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from Fergus's positive comments regarding a project about food fraud. First, he mentions that the project was good because it helped many different groups of people, such as those with religious rules or people who do not eat meat (vegetarians and vegans). This corresponds to dietary requirements. Second, he highlights that researchers were successful in performing tests at various points in time as a product travels from the maker to the customer, meaning multiple checks or tests were performed along the way. |
| Q25 | — | — | |
| Q26 | A / C | FERGUS: But we've already done quite a bit on that - but not so much on the seafood industry, where stocks are in danger of being overexploited as a food source unless we can find ways of keeping stocks up. NADIA: Yes, that'd be a good topic NADIA: OK. What about sessions on the variety of food and eating habits around the world? That's very relevant nowadays. FERGUS: Yes, I think the whole class would be interested in that |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows two separate parts where the students reach an agreement. In the first part, Fergus talks about the problem of using too many fish (overexploitation) and the need for sustainability in the seafood industry, and Nadia agrees. In the second part, Nadia suggests studying global food habits, and Fergus says it is a good idea for the whole class. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the two students agree that the class should learn about protecting fish numbers (sustainable fishing) and how food habits are different across the globe (global differences in consumption). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer identifies the only two topics that both Nadia and Fergus liked and agreed to include. First, Fergus mentions that the seafood industry needs to find ways to keep fish stocks up so we don't run out, and Nadia responds that it would be a good topic. Second, Nadia suggests learning about the variety of food and eating habits in different countries, and Fergus agrees that the whole class would be interested. Other topics, like technology or individual diets, were not agreed upon by both students. |
| Q27 | C | We made up our minds about that pretty quickly. I know some students found it a lot harder to choose, and wasted a lot of time | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the students chose their project idea very fast. Fergus notes that while other students struggled and took a long time, he and Nadia did not have that problem. Answer Explanation: The answer, which is letter C, means that the students did not spend much time or effort choosing the starting goal for their project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Fergus mentions that they decided on their goal 'pretty quickly.' He contrasts their experience with other students who found this part 'a lot harder' and 'wasted a lot of time.' This indicates that for Nadia and Fergus, the process of picking an initial aim was simple and fast, which matches the description 'easy to decide on.' |
| Q28 | D | NADIA: Then we had to do the literature review. We hadn't done one of these before so, the handout with advice for the project was very useful here. FERGUS: Yes, especially the advice on how to present the information | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the students found a paper (handout) with tips (advice) very helpful for their work. This confirms that they used provided instructions to help them with the review process. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the students received paper instructions or tips that helped them complete the literature review part of their project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because Nadia mentions that they were given a 'handout with advice' to help with the project. She says this handout was 'very useful' because they had never done a literature review before. This matches the idea of being 'helped by the guidelines provided.' Fergus agrees, specifically mentioning that the tips on how to show their findings were especially helpful. |
| Q29 | F | Then product development, actually deciding what we'd use to make the falafel, and for me the interesting thing about that was that we wanted it to be something a bit different from an ordinary falafel. NADIA: We really made the right choice when we finally decided to use jackfruit, even though it wasn't something that either of us had ever tasted before | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that during the 'product development' phase, the students decided to use jackfruit. Since Nadia says they had never tasted this food before, it confirm that they were selecting a new ingredient. Answer Explanation: The answer means that during the part of the project where the students were creating their food product, they chose to include a food item that was new to them. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Fergus and Nadia discuss the 'product development' stage of their project. Fergus explains that this stage was about 'deciding what we'd use' for their falafel. Nadia then notes that they chose to use 'jackfruit', which was an ingredient that neither of them had ever tasted before, making it a new ingredient. |
| Q30 | A | The product production, working out how to make the falafel, was harder than I expected because I'd never made them before we just moved on and kept adapting it and in the end it turned out fine and we had a lot of fun |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows through Fergus's words that making the food was not easy for him. In the second part, Nadia explains that despite the difficulties, the experience was positive and they enjoyed themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer means that this specific part of the project was difficult to do, but the students found it pleasant and they had a good time completing it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified by looking at how Fergus and Nadia describe the process of making their food product. Fergus uses the word 'harder' to describe the work, which means it was challenging. Nadia then explains that they often made mistakes but 'had a lot of fun' while doing it, which means it was enjoyable. The combination of these two points matches the description of being challenging but enjoyable. |
Transcript
TUTOR: Thanks for coming along, Nadia and Fergus. So this is a chance for you to give us some feedback about different aspects of your course. What would you like to begin with?
NADIA: I've enjoyed the sessions on food safety. There was some information there that I found really surprising, although some was stuff I knew already, like the rise in rates of obesity.
FERGUS: Yeah, that's been in the news a lot. But I hadn't realised that unsafe food causes more than 200 different diseases.
NADIA: No, I'd no idea it was that many. And speaking of diseases, I knew resistance to antibiotics is on the increase, but I didn't know why ...
FERGUS: ...that it's partly because when animals are treated with antibiotics then consumed by humans, the antibiotics get into the food chain. I had no idea about that either.
NADIA: Then the sessions provided a lot of information about plastic pollution from food packaging in the ocean, but I think that most of us were already aware of that.
FERGUS: Yeah. But I thought we could have done more on how much food is thrown away unnecessarily through fear of it being out of date, that was only mentioned in passing.
TUTOR: OK, I'll bear that in mind. What did you think about the sessions from visiting lecturers, Fergus?
FERGUS: For me the most interesting one was about that project to prevent companies giving incorrect information to consumers about food.
TUTOR: Ah, food fraud, yes.
FERGUS: I thought it was really good to address a problem that's faced by so many different groups - people with special religious rules, as well as vegetarians and vegans.
NADIA: And those with allergies.
FERGUS: Yeah. And another thing, we've had effective ways of analysing DNA for some time now and these can easily be applied to analysing food. But what the researchers succeeded in doing was to ensure that these tests were carried out at different stages in the food's journey from the producer to the consumer. So they knew that the food actually came from the place it was supposed to, and had the ingredients it was meant to.
NADIA: Exactly. So customers can be confident about what they buy.
FERGUS: And the researchers had a good system for publicising their findings too.
NADIA: Well, I thought there were some problems with that, actually.
TUTOR: OK. And do you have any recommendations for new topics that we could include in the course?
NADIA: Well, I'm interested in how crop yields can be increased without damaging the environment.
FERGUS: But we've already done quite a bit on that - but not so much on the seafood industry, where stocks are in danger of being overexploited as a food source unless we can find ways of keeping stocks up.
NADIA: Yes, that'd be a good topic. And I'm interested in the idea of a personalised approach to diet, now we have the technology to analyse exactly what individuals need.
FERGUS: That sounds more like a medical topic than food science.
NADIA: OK. What about sessions on the variety of food and eating habits around the world? That's very relevant nowadays.
FERGUS: Yes, I think the whole class would be interested in that.
NADIA: Then there's technological stuff, things like 3D printing of food and smart packaging.
FERGUS: Mmm - maybe too specialist.
TUTOR: Now, I'm particularly interested in your project - the one where you developed a new food product. So talk me through the stages... first you had to decide on your initial aim.
FERGUS: We decided we wanted to create something people could eat on the go rather than in a restaurant.
NADIA: Yeah so we chose falafel, which was originally a Middle Eastern snack.
FERGUS: We made up our minds about that pretty quickly. I know some students found it a lot harder to choose, and wasted a lot of time.
NADIA: Then we had to do the literature review. We hadn't done one of these before so, the handout with advice for the project was very useful here.
FERGUS: Yes, especially the advice on how to present the information. Then product development, actually deciding what we'd use to make the falafel, and for me the interesting thing about that was that we wanted it to be something a bit different from an ordinary falafel.
NADIA: We really made the right choice when we finally decided to use jackfruit, even though it wasn't something that either of us had ever tasted before.
FERGUS: Yeah, like the name tells you, it's a fruit but actually it's really good in savoury dishes. The product production, working out how to make the falafel, was harder than I expected because I'd never made them before.
NADIA: It was mostly trial and error. We started off with the basic recipe and then experimented and when it went wrong...
FERGUS: ...which it did a lot of the time...
NADIA: ...we just moved on and kept adapting it and in the end it turned out fine and we had a lot of fun.
FERGUS: We did!
TUTOR: Thank you. Well, your project was a very good ....