Senior Thesis - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 2 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–23 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 24–30 Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
- There is no need for 24 with many people.
- Pay attention to the 25 of the final report.
- Prepare 26, one for the teacher, another for the students themselves.
- The deadline of the final paper is 27.
- The students can 28 their topics before the beginning of April.
- Students deciding to change topics must deliver a 29 to the teacher in advance.
- At the beginning of the report, the hypothesis and an outline of the 30 are needed.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | C | No, next week's due date will not be counted towards your final grade. The teachers are just going to read your topic and give you feedback | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that the work due next week is not used to calculate a grade. Instead, the teachers will look at the topic chosen by the student and provide helpful information or advice back to them. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the teacher will look at the student's work and give them advice or comments on it, rather than just giving a score. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because the tutor states that the topic submission (the proposal) will not count for a grade yet. Instead, the purpose of handing it in next week is so that teachers can read the student's ideas and provide feedback, which helps the student know if they are on the right track before they continue. |
| Q22 | B | The methods will be the main part of your paper | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that the research methods will be the most important and largest piece of the student's writing assignment. Answer Explanation: The answer B means that the research methods are the largest or most significant section of the student's project work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because the tutor explicitly identifies this section as the primary focus of the assignment. When discussing what the students need to decide on and write, the tutor mentions that the ways they choose to study their topic—the research methods—will make up the bulk of their work. Keywords like 'main part' signify that this section will take up most of the paper's contents. |
| Q23 | A | Read the information, and then take 25 minutes to summarise a results and conclusion section. That's really important - pay attention to the time limit | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher giving the students exactly 25 minutes to complete the task. The teacher emphasizes that watching the clock is a very important part of the exercise. Answer Explanation: The answer A means that the teacher told the students it is very important to watch their clocks and finish their work within the set number of minutes. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because the teacher specifically says that following the time limit is 'really important.' While the students ask about the word count being 6,000 words or the danger of going off-topic, the teacher tells them not to worry about those details for this practice task. The only thing the teacher explicitly commands them to 'pay attention to' is the 25-minute deadline. |
| Q24 | interviews | No, there's no need to conduct lots of interviews or anything like that | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor saying that students do not have to do many formal meetings where they ask people questions. Answer Explanation: The answer 'interviews' means talking to people and asking them questions to collect information for a project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'interviews' because in the transcript, Mark asks if he should do 'lots of interviews' with different people for his paper. The tutor answers by saying there is 'no need' to do that. The sentence in the task uses the phrase 'with many people,' which matches the idea of doing 'lots of' or many interviews. |
| Q25 | format | Don't worry about it for now, but on your final paper, make sure to pay attention to the format. It should follow the guidelines exactly | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor warning the students that they must be careful with how they arrange their final paper to make sure it follows the official rules. Answer Explanation: The answer 'format' refers to the way a document is organized or how it looks, such as the font size, margins, or the order of different sections. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'format' because the tutor explicitly uses this word when discussing the requirements for the final paper. The tutor tells Mark that while they don't need to worry about it for the practice exercise, they must follow the specific rules or guidelines for how the final report is arranged. |
| Q26 | 2 copies | make sure you provide two copies - one for your teacher of course, but one for yourself as well | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the teacher telling the students to bring two copies of their report. This ensures that the teacher can grade one, and the student can keep one for themselves. Answer Explanation: The answer "2 copies" means that students must make two exact sets of their final paper. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on the tutor's instruction about small details for the project. The tutor clearly states that students need to provide "two copies" of their work. One copy is for the teacher, and the other is for the student to keep. The sentence in the task asks for the amount and type of items to prepare, matching this instruction perfectly. |
| Q27 | May 11 | JANE: What? No! It's May 11. Right? TUTOR: Yes. The due date is May 11. Write it down | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jane asking if the date is May 11, and the tutor confirms that "The due date is May 11" and tells the students to write it down to remember it. Answer Explanation: The answer is the date (the month and day) when the students must finish and hand in their final research paper. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is May 11 because in the conversation about the project schedule, Jane corrects Mark's mistake about the date. The tutor then confirms Jane is right by saying, "Yes. The due date is May 11." In this context, a "due date" is a synonym for a "deadline." |
| Q28 | change | It's alright to change your topic. Just make sure to do it before the beginning of April | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor explicitly giving permission to select a different topic, provided that this decision is made before April begins. Answer Explanation: The answer 'change' means that students are allowed to switch or pick a new subject for their project if they need to. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by the tutor's response to Mark's concern about not finding enough information. The tutor explains that it is okay to switch to a different topic as long as the student does it before the start of April. This means 'change' fits the sentence describing what students can do with their topics before that deadline. |
| Q29 | note | Just make sure to write a note to your teacher letting him or her know | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that the tutor tells the students that if they decide to change their research topic, they must provide a written message—a note—to their teacher. Answer Explanation: The answer "note" refers to a short written message or letter used to inform someone about something. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "note" because the tutor explains that while changing a topic is allowed before April, the student must inform their teacher of the change. The specific instruction given is to write a "note" to notify the teacher about the decision to switch topics. |
| Q30 | procedure | Well, you need to start with your hypothesis – what you think will happen – and then describe your procedure | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor's instructions on how to organize the report: start with a guess about what will happen (the hypothesis) and then explain the steps taken (the procedure). Answer Explanation: The answer 'procedure' refers to the set of steps or the method used to conduct an experiment. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is 'procedure' because near the end of the conversation, Jane asks how to start writing the sample paper. The tutor explains the structure, stating that after the hypothesis, the student must describe their procedure. This matches the sentence in the task which asks what is needed at the beginning along with the hypothesis. |
Transcript
TUTOR: So you were both given your project assignments for your senior thesis today, right?
JANE: Yes, and we already have to submit our topics next week!
MARK: But how could they give us a grade this soon?
TUTOR: No, next week's due date will not be counted towards your final grade. The teachers are just going to read your topic and give you feedback.
JANE: Oh, I see. So first we should come up with our topics, and then what?
TUTOR: Well, once you know what you want to study, you need to think about how you'll study it. You need to decide on your research methods. The methods will be the main part of your paper.
MARK: What about the results section?
TUTOR: Well, I can give you feedback on that, but you will be the one carrying out an experiment and thus will have to produce the results on your own. What I would like to do today is practice writing research papers before you even begin your report. I'll give you samples of old data from past experience, and you can practice writing results and drawing conclusions.
JANE: I think that would be really helpful.
MARK: Yeah, it sounds like a lot of extra work, but I'm sure it will make our actual project easier.
TUTOR: You are exactly right. So let's get started. First, let's try this simple experiment on fruit flies. Read the information, and then take 25 minutes to summarise a results and conclusion section. That's really important - pay attention to the time limit.
JANE: OK, does it still have to be 6,000 words?
TUTOR: No, don't worry about that.
MARK: What if we get off topic?
TUTOR: I wouldn't worry too much – you will have so much information to write about that it should be easy to stay on topic.
JANE: But what about other sources?
TUTOR: Well for this assignment, you can use the one from your textbook. In your actual paper, you should find old experiments that support your topic.
MARK: So do we need to find different types of sources? For instance, should I be conducting lots of interviews to use in my paper?
TUTOR: No, there's no need to conduct lots of interviews or anything like that.
MARK: OK, I'm ready to get started. I'm still a little confused though, on how we should format our paper.
TUTOR: Don't worry about it for now, but on your final paper, make sure to pay attention to the format. It should follow the guidelines exactly.
JANE: Oh man, I'm starting to understand why they give us all semester to do this. Are there any other small details like that that we should know about?
TUTOR: Not a whole lot, make sure you provide two copies - one for your teacher of course, but one for yourself as well. And of course, you know the due date, right?
MARK: Uh, it's April 11, right?
JANE: What? No! It's May 11. Right?
TUTOR: Yes. The due date is May 11. Write it down!
MARK: Oh wow. Yeah, I need to note it. Also, I'm having trouble finding information on my topic. What if I can't find enough good sources?
TUTOR: It's alright to change your topic. Just make sure to do it before the beginning of April.
MARK: Oh really? Wow, I'm definitely going to change it then.
TUTOR: Just make sure to write a note to your teacher letting him or her know.
JANE: Okay. So getting back to writing this sample paper, where do we start? Should I just explain the experiment and what happened?
TUTOR: Well, you need to start with your hypothesis – what you think will happen – and then describe your procedure. Then you can write up the results and your conclusions.
JANE: Oh boy, I don't know if I can handle any more instructions...