Research In Preparation For Writing Final Essay - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 3 Academic Listening Test 4 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 27–30 Matching
What do the students decide about the following parts of the project?
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, next to questions 27-30.
A. Jane will do
B. Douglas will do
C. They will do together
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | A | No, ideally I would like you to form one or two focus groups, and interview them | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the professor recommending that the students gather small groups of people and talk to them to get information for their study. Answer Explanation: The answer is interview, which is a research method where you ask people questions directly to learn from their answers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the professor explicitly states that focus groups and interviews are the best way for the students to collect information. While Douglas suggests using a questionnaire, the professor explains that it would be too difficult and time-consuming for an individual student. The professor uses the word 'ideally' to describe the interview method, which means it is the preferred or best choice for the research. |
| Q22 | C | No, I'm afraid not. This will be a strictly Australian study; however, you can choose which angle you'd like to take, so long as it remains within the realm of anthropology | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the professor tells the students that they cannot use an old study. Instead, the upcoming project must focus on Australia, although they can choose their own specific topic within the field of anthropology. Answer Explanation: The answer is that the project must be a study about Australia. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified when Jane asks the professor if they can choose a topic from a previous study. The professor says no and clarifies that the project will be a strictly Australian study. The students can choose their own 'angle' or focus, but the overall subject must be related to anthropology within Australia. Therefore, the project is based on an Australian study. |
| Q23 | B | I'd say you need no more than five children per group, and no more than three groups, so fifteen children altogether. You definitely need to control the group size in order to generate a meaningful dialogue | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the professor telling Douglas that he only needs a maximum of five children in each group and only three groups in total. He says this small number is important to make sure the talk between the children is high quality. Answer Explanation: The answer means the professor recommends that Douglas should use a smaller number of children in his focus groups. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Douglas mentioned he had found over 200 children for his research, which is a very large number. The professor explained that having that many people is not necessary and advised him to limit or reduce the amount to no more than five children per group. This helps to manage or control the size so the discussion is more useful. |
| Q24 | B | My advice for you is don't be too ambitious, and try to include as much information about various people or sectors | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the professor giving direct advice to the students, suggesting they avoid making the project too complicated and focus on including information from different groups instead. Answer Explanation: The answer means the professor thinks the students should keep their project simple and manageable instead of trying to do something too large or difficult. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the professor specifically uses the word 'advice' to tell the student not to make the project larger than necessary. When Douglas suggests involving over two hundred children, the professor explains that such a large number isn't needed and explicitly tells the students 'don't be too ambitious.' This matches the idea that students should set realistic goals for their research to succeed. |
| Q25 | C | Moreover, you should try to practice using the data table provided in your course handbook | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the professor tells Jane (and other students) that she should try to use the table for information (the data table) that is inside her student handbook. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the professor suggests Jane should try working with the specific table for information found in her book. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because when Jane asks for advice on how to collect original information for the first time, the professor gives several tips. One of the main pieces of advice he gives is for students to practice with the table for data that is included in their course materials. In the context of the talk, utilizing this table is a step toward learning how to manage the information they gather. |
| Q26 | A | Professor, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm having trouble reading the books. I had a really big assignment for another course and I've been spending all my time on that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Douglas saying that a big project for a different class took up all his time, which is why he could not read the books. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Douglas did not finish reading the books because he was too busy doing other work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Douglas explicitly states that he had a large assignment for a different course which took up all of his time. He explains that he is having difficulty reading because his schedule was full of other tasks. The phrase 'spending all my time' indicates that he had no extra time left for the reference books. |
| Q27 | C | Jane: If you like, we can work together on the research and data-collection side of the project, and doing the final write-up?Douglas: Cool. That sounds good | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jane asking if they can work together on the final report (write-up), and Douglas agrees by saying it sounds like a good plan. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that both students, Jane and Douglas, will work on the final report as a team. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Jane proposes that they collaborate on the 'final write-up,' which is another term for 'final report.' Douglas accepts this offer by saying 'Cool. That sounds good.' This shows that the task is something they will do together. |
| Q28 | B | But I should be able to prepare some sheets and a list of questions that can be used during the focus group sessions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Douglas saying he can make the sheets and a list of questions for the group meetings. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Douglas is the one who will be responsible for creating the materials or sheets needed for the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because during the conversation about splitting the project tasks, Douglas offers to take on this specific task. He mentions that since he hasn't read all the course material, he can still help by making the sheets and the list of questions for the focus groups. Jane agrees with his suggestion, which confirms that Douglas will be the one doing this part. Key phrases to look for include 'prepare some sheets' and 'Douglas' as the speaker. |
| Q29 | A | Douglas: Do you think we'll need to write a letter to send to the participants, telling them the time and place for the interviews? Jane: Positive. I can take care of that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Douglas asking if they should write a letter to tell the people in the study when and where to meet. Jane answers "Positive," which is like saying "yes" or "definitely," and then says she will handle the job herself. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Jane is the person who will be responsible for writing and sending the letter. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is choice A because Jane explicitly offers to handle this task. When Douglas asks if a letter is needed for the study participants, Jane says "Positive" (meaning yes) and says she will "take care of that." In English, to "take care of" something means you will do the work or be responsible for it. |
| Q30 | C | Douglas: Oh yes, of course. I forgot about the transcript. That'll likely be a big job, so let's do half each, I'll do one of the groups and you can do the other. Okay?Jane: Sounds like a plan | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Douglas suggesting they share the work because it is a big job. He says they should do "half each." Jane agrees with the suggestion, showing they will do it together. Answer Explanation: The answer C means that both Jane and Douglas will work together to complete the transcript of the interviews. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Douglas identifies that writing down the speech from the interviews (the transcript) will be a very large task. He suggests that they divide the work in half, with each student taking responsibility for one group. Jane agrees to this arrangement. This indicates that the task is a shared responsibility, performed by both students. |
Transcript
Professor: For next week, I'd like you to undertake a piece of research in preparation for writing your final essay. In order to gain top marks, you must include a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Are there any questions?
Douglas: Yes, Professor, I have a question. We haven't yet covered how to undertake this sort of research in much depth, and I'm a little unsure of what you want us to do. In telling us to include primary sources, do you mean you want us to design and distribute a questionnaire, analysing the results?
Professor: You could design a questionnaire, but you'll soon find that distributing a questionnaire on such a large scale is somewhat troublesome. We couldn't possibly expect you to do it effectively as an individual university student without the necessary resources. No, ideally I would like you to form one or two focus groups, and interview them. This will provide you with a more qualitative approach. If your strengths lie in mathematics, please by all means take a more quantitative approach, but this will be more strenuous and time consuming, and isn't entirely necessary for the purpose of this study.
Jane: Professor, you haven't told us what our project is about. Do we get to choose our own topic based on the previous study?
Professor: No, I'm afraid not. This will be a strictly Australian study; however, you can choose which angle you'd like to take, so long as it remains within the realm of anthropology. Does anyone have any questions specifically about the formation of the focus groups? I've had several emails about this, and I'd like to address it now.
Douglas: My study is related to growing up in Australia, and the question of nature versus nurture. I've gathered more than two hundred school children who would be happy to participate in a focus group. Do you think we'll need to include that many participants in a focus group?
Professor: Blimey, Douglas, well done for finding that many willing children, but you definitely don't need that many for the study you're going to undertake. I'd say you need no more than five children per group, and no more than three groups, so fifteen children altogether. You definitely need to control the group size in order to generate a meaningful dialogue.
Douglas: OK, if it's useful, I'll try and do it...
Professor: I appreciate your enthusiasm for the project, but there are plenty of different ways to gather data, and I'm sure that if you look hard enough, you'll find someone who has conducted almost the exact same research in the past. My advice for you is don't be too ambitious, and try to include as much information about various people or sectors.
Jane: For those who haven't ever collected original data before, what do you suggest we do?
Professor: I would suggest that you read accounts from other people who have undertaken such research to see what advice they can give. I would also encourage you to read Chapter Eight in the course textbook, which should give you a good introduction to collecting data. Moreover, you should try to practice using the data table provided in your course handbook. By now you should have read at least six or seven books giving quite detailed instruction on how to go about collecting data.
Douglas: Professor, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm having trouble reading the books. I had a really big assignment for another course and I've been spending all my time on that. Jane, have you read all the books the professor mentioned?
Jane: Well, my trouble is getting hold of the books. I've been to the library several times, but all the books are out.
Professor: Sounds like you should have started borrowing books a bit earlier.
Jane: Yes, I should have. But I got several ones from my friend a couple of days ago. I just skimmed through them, and don't remember a lot of the information.
Jane: But now let's look at these things. We'll need to start thinking about which ones we'll definitely want to do for the project.
Douglas: Okay. The first one here is the final report.
Jane: If you like, we can work together on the research and data-collection side of the project, and doing the final write-up?
Douglas: Cool. That sounds good. I'm not sure how much I'd be able to contribute considering I haven't had a chance to read the course material. But I should be able to prepare some sheets and a list of questions that can be used during the focus group sessions.
Jane: That sounds appropriate. I think so too.
Douglas: Do you think we'll need to write a letter to send to the participants, telling them the time and place for the interviews?
Jane: Positive. I can take care of that.
Douglas: Well, that's great.
Jane: I should also include a document for them to sign saying that they're happy to be voice-recorded.
Douglas: Oh yes, of course. I forgot about the transcript. That'll likely be a big job, so let's do half each, I'll do one of the groups and you can do the other. Okay?
Jane: Sounds like a plan!