Practical Tips for Conducting Experiments - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Road to IELTS Academic Listening Test 2 · 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.
- Students must follow 21 to prevent accidents in the lab.
- The students have not been using 22 while in the lab.
- Students cannot eat or drink until 23 is finished and they have washed their hands.
- Tessa should tie her hair back to avoid danger when she is working with a 24 or chemicals.
- Students must wear long sleeves and shoes made of 25 in the lab.
Questions 26–28 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter A, B or C.
Questions 29–30 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | safety procedures / directions / safety rules | But we must all abide by certain safety procedures – the last thing we want is for one of our students to get hurt It is if you always use good judgement, observe safety rules and follow directions |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor explaining that students must 'abide by' (follow) 'safety procedures' to avoid injury. He also confirms that accidents are easy to prevent if they 'observe' (follow) 'safety rules' and 'follow directions'. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to the different names for the sets of rules or instructions (safety procedures, directions, or safety rules) that students need to obey to avoid having accidents in the lab. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer includes 'safety procedures', 'directions', or 'safety rules' because the tutor explicitly states that following these is necessary to prevent students from getting hurt and to keep the laboratory safe. He uses words like 'abide by' and 'observe' as synonyms for 'follow'. |
| Q22 | eye protection / safety glasses / goggles | And yet last week you were seen working in the lab without eye protection | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher telling the students that someone saw them working in the science room without wearing anything to protect their eyes. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to special glasses or goggles that students wear to keep their eyes safe while they work in a science room. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the tutor's comment about the students' behavior in the lab last week. He says they were working without 'eye protection'. He also uses the terms 'safety glasses' and 'goggles' to explain exactly what they should have been wearing instead of just their regular glasses. |
| Q23 | clean-up / clean up / cleanup | Not even water – at least not until after clean-up. Then, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry them on a clean towel first | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher telling the students that they cannot drink anything, not even water, until after they finish the clean-up and wash their hands well with soap. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students must finish the cleaning process in the laboratory before they are allowed to eat or drink anything. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'clean-up' because the tutor explains that no food or water is allowed until after this specific task is done. The tutor uses the word 'after' to show that 'clean-up' is the necessary step that must happen first. |
| Q24 | naked flame | Still, it poses a hazard when you’re working with chemicals or a naked flame | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher explaining that long hair can be dangerous if the student is using chemicals or an open fire. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to an open fire used in experiments, such as the flame from a Bunsen burner. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer comes from the tutor's warning to Tessa about her hair being loose. He explains that even if her hair is not very long, it still creates a 'hazard' (a danger) when she is using chemicals or fire that is not covered. Therefore, she needs to tie it back to stay safe. |
| Q25 | leather | The rules clearly state that long-sleeved shirts and leather shoes must be worn | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the official rules for the science lab tell students they have to wear shirts that cover their arms and shoes produced from leather. Answer Explanation: The answer "leather" refers to a strong, thick material made from animal skins that is often used to make sturdy shoes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "leather" because when the tutor corrects Vincent for wearing trainers (soft sports shoes), he reminds him that the lab rules require specific types of clothing for safety. These rules mention that students must wear shirts with long sleeves and shoes that are made of leather. |
| Q26 | C | TESSA: I use a spiral notebook. VINCENT: And I use a large note pad. TUTOR: That won’t do. A book with binding ensures the pages are not easily removed or lost | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Tessa and Vincent describing the notebooks they use. However, the teacher immediately tells them 'That won’t do,' meaning their notebooks are wrong. The teacher wants a notebook that has a strong binding so that the papers do not get lost. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that neither Vincent nor Tessa is using the correct type of notebook for their lab work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor wants the students to use a 'bound notebook' where the pages are permanently attached. Tessa says she uses a 'spiral notebook,' and Vincent says he uses a 'large note pad.' The tutor responds by saying, 'That won’t do,' which means their current choices are not acceptable or appropriate. He explains that pages must not be easily removed, and spiral notebooks or pads allow pages to be torn out and lost. |
| Q27 | B | You might think so but brief notes can be hard to decipher at a later date, whereas with full sentences you are less likely to misinterpret data | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor saying that short notes are hard to read later, but using full sentences helps you stay away from making mistakes when reading your data again. Answer Explanation: The answer means that using full sentences helps you understand your notes correctly when you look at them again in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor explains that short notes are often difficult to read or understand clearly after some time has passed. By using full sentences, a student can avoid getting the wrong idea about their own information later. The tutor uses the word 'decipher' to mean 'to understand' and warns against 'misinterpreting,' which means understanding something in the wrong way. |
| Q28 | C | TUTOR: Yes, every sketch and every entry must be dated | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher saying that all drawings (sketches) and all written notes (entries) in the notebook must have a date on them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students must write the date next to every drawing and every written note they put in their lab books. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor explains that all types of records in the notebook need a date. First, the tutor tells Vincent to date his drawings, which he calls 'sketches.' Then, the tutor adds that 'every entry' must also be dated. In this context, an 'entry' refers to a written section or a piece of data recorded in the book. Therefore, both drawings and written parts must have dates. Important words to know are 'sketch' (synonym for drawing) and 'entry' (synonym for a written record). |
| Q29 | — | — | |
| Q30 | C / E | Just write your own ideas or feelings about the experiment as the conclusion. Oh and remember to sign it |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher explaining that the conclusion section should be used for the student's personal reflections and must be finished with their signature. Answer Explanation: The answer means that students need to include their personal opinions or feelings about the work they did and also sign their name at the end. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the tutor's specific instructions for the final part of the lab report. The tutor tells the students that the conclusion should contain their own "ideas or feelings," which matches the choice for personal thoughts. Additionally, the tutor gives a final instruction to "sign it," which refers to the student's signature. |
Transcript
Section 3
You will hear a conversation between a science tutor and two first-year students who are being given some practical tips for conducting experiments. First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
[20 seconds]
Listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
TUTOR: Now Vincent and Tessa, I’ve asked the two of you to come and see me because I’m a bit concerned after that incident in the science lab last week. I realise that neither of you have had much experience in a laboratory before …
VINCENT: Well, we mostly just studied theory at high school …
TESSA: and we rarely got the opportunity to carry out any experiments.
TUTOR: Fair enough. But we must all abide by certain safety procedures – the last thing we want is for one of our students to get hurt.
TESSA: We understand that.
TUTOR: Our priority is to make sure that the chemistry laboratory is a safe place and, actually, accidents can easily be prevented if you just think about what you’re doing at all times.
TESSA: It sounds simple enough.
TUTOR: It is if you always use good judgement, observe safety rules and follow directions.
VINCENT: We’ve read the rules on the poster inside the lab.
TUTOR: And yet last week you were seen working in the lab without eye protection.
TESSA: What do you mean? I was wearing my glasses.
TUTOR: Prescription glasses are not safety glasses – you must always wear the goggles provided – you’ll find they fit quite comfortably over your ordinary glasses.
VINCENT: Oh, I see.
TUTOR: Just make a habit of putting them on before you start and keep them on until you are finished. And another thing, never eat or drink while in the laboratory.
TESSA: What – not even water?
TUTOR: Not even water – at least not until after clean-up. Then, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water and dry them on a clean towel first. And Tessa, your hair should be tied back when you’re in the lab.
TESSA: It’s not that long.
TUTOR: Still, it poses a hazard when you’re working with chemicals or a naked flame. If you can’t tie it back or pin it up, see if you can tuck it into a cap or something.
TESSA: Yes, I can do that.
TUTOR: Thank you. Now, Vincent, last week you wore a tee-shirt and trainers in the lab. The rules clearly state that long-sleeved shirts and leather shoes must be worn.
VINCENT: Oh, yes, I remember – I was late getting back from sports practice and I didn’t have time to change.
TUTOR: Well, it mustn’t happen again.
VINCENT: Okay, I’ll see that it doesn’t.
TUTOR: Good. As for the rest of the safety precautions, refer to the safety poster inside the lab and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
[20 seconds]
Now listen and answer questions 26 to 30.
TUTOR: Now, before you go, a word about record-keeping.
VINCENT: Oh, good – I was going to ask you about that.
TESSA: What’s the best way to keep track of what we’re doing in the lab?
TUTOR: Well, obviously, all your observations should be written down – I know you think you won’t forget stuff and you’ll be able to recall it later but generally this turns out not to be the case. Written data, however, are a permanent record. And you must be thorough. Organise and record everything in a bound notebook.
TESSA: I use a spiral notebook.
VINCENT: And I use a large note pad.
TUTOR: That won’t do. A book with binding ensures the pages are not easily removed or lost. Oh, and be sure to write your entries in complete sentences.
TESSA: Isn’t that a waste of time?
VINCENT: Surely notes are good enough.
TUTOR: You might think so but brief notes can be hard to decipher at a later date, whereas with full sentences you are less likely to misinterpret data.
VINCENT: I make sketches, you know, simple drawings.
TUTOR: That’s a good idea, Vincent, but be sure to date them.
TESSA: You want us to write the date next to each drawing?
TUTOR: Yes, every sketch and every entry must be dated.
TESSA: What about headings?
TUTOR: Use the title of the experiment as your first entry. When you have completed your observation entries, answer any questions that have been posed and then, finally, write your conclusion.
VINCENT: How do we write a conclusion? Do we need to repeat things like the questions and our findings, or the time it all took?
TUTOR: Just write your own ideas or feelings about the experiment as the conclusion. Oh … and remember to sign it! Well, that’s all I have time for today. If you have any questions, ask the lab assistant or come back to me.
Narrator:
That is the end of section 3. You now have half a minute to check your answers.
[30 seconds]
Now turn to section 4.