New Devices for Use in The Home - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 2 · Questions 11–20
Audio
Questions
Questions 11–20 Table Completion
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
For the recommendation column, write
A You must buy this.
B Maybe you should buy this.
C You should never buy this.
| Name | Advantage(s) | Disadvantage(s) | Recommendation |
| Unbreakable Vacuum Flask | • Contains no 11
• Steel guaranteed for 20 years • Keeps warm for 12 |
• Expensive
• Leaves 13 |
B |
| Whistle Key Holder | • Press-button light - useful for finding keyhole
• 14 |
• Unpleasant noise
• Doesn't work through 15 |
16 |
| Army Flashlight (squeeze light) | • Useful for 17
• Works 18 |
• Has 19 | C |
| Decoy Camera (to trick burglars) | • Realistic 20 | • Difficult to fix onto wall | A |
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q11 | glass | most of all is the fact that it contains no glass and is therefore unbreakable to all intents and purposes | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the most important feature of the flask is that it does not have glass inside, making it very hard to break. Answer Explanation: The answer 'glass' refers to the material that is not used in making the vacuum flask. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'glass' because the resident expert, Liz Shearer, states that the main advantage of the vacuum flask is that it contains no glass. This characteristic is what makes the product 'unbreakable,' which is a major benefit mentioned in the table. |
| Q12 | eighteen hours / 18 hours | and it’s true what the manufacturer claims - that it does maintain heat for 18 hours | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Liz confirming that the bottle keeps the heat inside for a duration of eighteen hours. Answer Explanation: The answer means the container can keep a drink hot for 18 hours. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 18 hours because in the transcript, the expert Liz Shearer reviews a vacuum flask used for keeping drinks hot. She mentions several good points (advantages) about it, including that it is unbreakable and made of steel. Specifically, she confirms that the bottle successfully keeps liquid warm for 18 hours, just as the maker says. |
| Q13 | a strange taste / a taste / strange taste / taste | On the down side, it really works out to be quite expensive and, much more surprisingly, it unfortunately leaves a strange taste . . . you know when you’ve drunk from it | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that one of the bad things about this product is that it makes the user experience an unusual flavor after drinking from it. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to an unpleasant flavor that is left behind in a drink after it is poured from the flask. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section where the expert discusses the negative points of the vacuum flask. She mentions that it costs a lot of money and, more importantly, it causes the liquid inside to have a weird or 'strange' flavor. This is why 'taste' or 'strange taste' is listed as a disadvantage in the table. |
| Q14 | the small size / small size / small / the size / size | I also felt the small size was a real advantage | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the speaker's opinion that the gadget's small size is a positive quality. Answer Explanation: The answer means that being little or having a small size is a positive feature of the product. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the expert's review of the Whistle Key Holder. In the transcript, Liz Shearer lists the benefits of this gadget. After mentioning the useful light, she specifically states that the 'small size' is another 'real advantage' or benefit for the user. These terms confirm that being small is a positive point to include in the table. |
| Q15 | metal | And I found that it didn’t work through metal, so it’s mainly useful for finding in coat pockets, cushions, etc | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the key finder's sound or light signal does not work if it is blocked by metal. Therefore, it is good for finding keys in soft places like pockets or cushions, but not through metal. Answer Explanation: The answer is the type of material that blocks the key holder's signal when you try to find it. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'metal' because the expert explains that the Whistle Key Holder has a weakness: its signal cannot pass through metal objects. This limits its use to finding keys in places like pockets or between cushions, but not if they are inside a metal box or similar container. This information is listed under the 'weak side' or disadvantages of the product. |
| Q16 | A | However, burglary is such a major problem these days that it is worth the effort, so this gets my strong recommendation | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that because house theft is a big issue, the speaker thinks the gadget is very useful and she highly suggests that people buy it. Answer Explanation: The answer 'A' means that according to the expert's advice, this product is something 'You must buy'. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'A' because Liz Shearer ends her talk about the Decoy Camera by saying it gets her 'strong recommendation'. In the beginning of the audio, she categorizes gadgets into 'Must buys', 'Maybe buys', and 'Never buys'. A strong recommendation corresponds to a 'Must buy', which is labeled as option 'A' in the instructions. |
| Q17 | outside / outdoor activities / outdoors | Its advantages are that it can be used for outside activities, and also and this is one of the surprising features it does work underwater |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that one of the good things about this light is that people can use it when they are doing things away from their homes or buildings. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the flashlight is good to use for things you do in the open air, like camping or hiking. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the expert's description of the Army Flashlight. When she talks about its good points (its advantages), she specifically says it is useful for things done out of the house, which she calls 'outside activities'. This matches the 'Advantage(s)' column in the table. |
| Q18 | underwater / beneath water | Its advantages are that it can be used for outside activities, and also and this is one of the surprising features it does work underwater |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript identifies the "Army Flashlight" and lists stay-dry use and use in water as its two main benefits. The speaker explicitly mentions that it works when it is underwater. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the flashlight can still turn on and function properly when it is submerged below the surface of the water. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found by listening to the section where Liz Shearer describes the third gadget, the Army Flashlight. When listing its positive points (advantages), she highlights a "surprising feature" which is its ability to operate while submerged. This confirms that one of its benefits is that it works underwater. |
| Q19 | a weak light / weak light | My main objection to it though was although it did work in these conditions, this model gave off a weak light | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that even though the flashlight can turn on in different situations, the light it creates is not powerful or bright enough. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the lamp or bulb in the flashlight does not produce a bright or strong light. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in the section where Liz Shearer talks about the Army Flashlight. While she mentions it has some benefits, she states her main problem or "objection" with the device is that it only produces a weak light. This lack of brightness is its primary disadvantage. |
| Q20 | flashing light | The advantage of this model is something which makes it look very realistic its flashing light |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the fake camera has a light that blinks on and off, and this feature is a good thing because it makes the camera look real. Answer Explanation: The answer is 'flashing light,' which refers to a light on the fake camera that turns on and off quickly to make it look like it is actually working. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is derived from the speaker's description of the decoy camera. She mentions that the advantage of this specific model is its flashing light, which serves to make the device look more realistic to potential burglars. The word 'realistic' in the table directly corresponds to her explanation about how the light makes the fake camera look like a real one. |
Transcript
PRESENTER: Good evening. Tonight s show comes to you from the Good Home Exhibition in Duke’s Court, where we’ve been trying out some of the latest gadgets on show here and getting our resident expert - Liz Shearer - to tell us which ones are worth buying and which will die a death.
LIZ SHEARER: Well, hello. Yes, John, I’ve been investigating four new household gadgets and sorting out the advantages and disadvantages and then really deciding what are ‘Must buys’, what are ‘Maybe buys’ and what are ‘Never buys’. Let’s start with this vacuum flask for keeping drinks hot. Well... I felt this had quite a lot going for it, most of all is the fact that it contains no glass and is therefore unbreakable to all intents and purposes. It’s made of stainless steel which is guaranteed for 20 years .. . hope that’s long enough . .. and it’s true what the manufacturer claims - that it does maintain heat for 18 hours. So that’s pretty good. On the down side, it really works out to be quite expensive and, much more surprisingly, it unfortunately leaves a strange taste . . . you know when you’ve drunk from it... so all in all, my recommendation would be it’s got plenty of advantages, but it is rather expensive so I’d say you should maybe buy it. Moving on to a natty little device .. . the Whistle Key Holder. Basically this is where you whistle and the key holder gives off a high pitched noise and flashes light so you can find it. One advantage of this model is that it also has a small light. You press the button and this means you can find keyholes easily. I also felt the small size was a real advantage. On the weaker side, I did find the noise unpleasant. Which I m sure the designers could have done something about. And I found that it didn’t work through metal, so it’s mainly useful for finding in coat pockets, cushions, etc. But taken as a whole I thought it was a masterpiece of design and would highly recommend it.
The third gizmo is called the Army Flashlight because it was developed initially for military use. It works by squeezing the handle to generate the power. Its advantages are that it can be used for outside activities, and also ... and this is one of the surprising features... it does work underwater. My main objection to it though was although it did work in these conditions, this model gave off a weak light. So my recommendation I’m afraid would have to be to avoid this one. The decoy camera was last on my list. This is a fake video camera which you fix to your wall to scare off burglars. The advantage of this model is something which makes it look very realistic ... its flashing light. On the down side, it was quite difficult to fix to the wall. However, burglary is such a major problem these days that it is worth the effort, so this gets my strong recommendation.
PRESENTER: OK. Thanks for that, Liz.