Summer Course - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Recent Actual Test 3 Academic Listening Test 6 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–24 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 25–26 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 27–28 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Questions 29–30 Multiple Choice (Two Answers)
Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | A | Since we were regulated by law last month, we are now able to hugely enhance our efforts | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that because new laws were put in place last month, the group is now capable of doing much more work to help the environment. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the course's positive impact on nature increased after it started following official legal rules. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Mr. Thompson mentions that their ability to 'hugely enhance' (greatly increase) their environmental work began after they were 'regulated by law' (which means following official government rules) last month. While they want more students and more tree species in the future, the change that has already allowed them to do more work is the legal regulation. |
| Q22 | C | Over the years we have received funding from private investors and from selling shares, but the biggest improvement in our research came from a government fund that we received in the first year | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that although the organization got money from different sources like private people and selling parts of the company (shares), the help from the government in their first year was the main reason they became much better. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies that the most significant factor in the organization's progress was the financial support provided by the government at the beginning of the project. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is confirmed by Mr. Thompson's statement regarding the organization's growth. While he mentions receiving money from private investors and selling shares, he specifically highlights the government fund from the 첫 year as the source of the 'biggest improvement.' He notes that this specific funding helped the group organize better and win awards. Therefore, it was the most important reason for their success compared to other types of funding. |
| Q23 | B | but from reports taken of our studies we have found that teachers and students have greatly benefitted from field trips to the tree plantation | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that based on the reports from their research, they discovered that both teachers and students got a lot of value out of visiting the trees. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the reports show that both teachers and students found the educational trips to the trees to be helpful. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Mr. Thompson specifically mentions what was learned from the official documents or "reports." He explains that these reports show that teachers and students have "benefitted," which means they gained something positive or useful, from their visits to the work site. The words "reports" and "found" connect the information directly to what is suggested in the study results. |
| Q24 | A | Due to the educational facilities that we have carefully structured, I know that the visits are useful and engaging for students and that their experience is particularly special | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript states that because of the way the program is organized, the students find the trip very helpful and their time there is truly special. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies students as the people who have a very special experience during the field trip. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is A because Mr. Thompson mentions several groups who visit, including teachers and researchers, but he specifically uses the words 'particularly special' to describe the 'experience' of the students. The word 'particularly' means 'especially,' which matches the idea of a 'special experience' in the question. |
| Q25 | — | — | |
| Q26 | B / D | I am personally very interested in soil erosion, so I knew that I definitely wanted to focus some of the report on this area. Before I set up the organisation, I looked up information on what areas were currently being researched and I found that there were already studies into air pollution and water pollution. I obviously wanted to find a unique area to research and so these were no good. I was tempted to look into the background of overgrazing, but the impacts of forest exploitation are far more devastating and very little research has been carried out on this subject, so I decided that this should also form some focus for the report | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that Mr. Thompson chose soil erosion because it is a topic he likes. He chose forest exploitation because it causes a lot of damage and needs more study. He rejected air and water pollution because they were already being studied, and he picked forest exploitation over overgrazing. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies soil erosion and forest exploitation as the two main environmental issues that the organization's report studies. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is chosen because Mr. Thompson explicitly states that he wanted the report to focus on these two specific areas. He mentions his personal interest in soil erosion and his decision to include forest exploitation because it is a very harmful problem that has not been researched much. While he mentions air pollution, water pollution, and overgrazing, he explains that he decided not to focus the report on those topics. |
| Q27 | — | — | |
| Q28 | A / B | Students who have partaken in the summer course have massively enhanced their confidence, which will prove invaluable for the rest of their lifetime. The people who partake in the summer course already know the importance of environmental protection, so it is not important that we spend time teaching them this. Students instead benefit from learning the importance of punctuality, as each day they have to wake up early to make sure that they are not late for their practical experience sessions | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the professor explaining that the students improve their self-confidence and also learn how necessary it is to be punctual (to not be late) for their morning activities. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies two specific improvements in the students because of the course: they learn to arrive on time (punctuality) and they gain more belief in themselves (confidence). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in Mr. Thompson's response when asked about the benefits of the activities. He explains that students gain valuable life lessons rather than just academic knowledge. He specifically notes that their confidence is 'massively enhanced' and that they learn the 'importance of punctuality' because the daily schedule requires them to wake up early to avoid being late. Although the sessions provide 'practical experience', he labels confidence and punctuality as the primary personal benefits for the students. |
| Q29 | — | — | |
| Q30 | C / D | We offer a range of fun hobbies, such as games and painting, for students to participate in outside of their classes so you could participate in one of these activities. We do not offer tutorials outside of the scheduled classes, however you are free to interview teachers and ask them any questions you may have about the research | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript says that the school provides fun activities (hobbies) for students when they are not in class. It also says that students are allowed to talk to (interview) teachers if they want to ask about the research work. Answer Explanation: The answer means that when there are no classes, the woman can talk to the teachers to ask questions and join in fun activities like games or painting. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found in Mr. Thompson's response about what students do in their free time. He mentions two specific options: participating in 'fun hobbies' and being free to 'interview teachers.' He also clearly states what they cannot do: they cannot use a library (making option B wrong) and they cannot join extra tutorials (making option E wrong). By using words like 'hobbies' and 'interview,' the transcript directly points to choices C and D. |
Transcript
JONES: Hello, Mr Thompson. May I speak to you for a minute?
MR THOMPSON: Of course. Please come in.
JONES: I'm Alexandra Jones. I'm studying Sustainability here at the university and I heard about the summer course that you offer every year. I was considering joining the course and wanted to ask you some questions about it.
MR THOMPSON: Yes, of course, please fire away.
JONES: Has the course been effective in improving the environment?
MR THOMPSON: Yes, absolutely. We have seen great results. Last year we planted a small field of trees and we have been measuring their oxygen outputs to see the benefits that they have provided to the environment. Since we were regulated by law last month, we are now able to hugely enhance our efforts. Our current goal is to introduce a lot more tree species to the plot so that we can establish a complex habitat and compare the benefits of each species. In order to do this we need to get a lot more students involved in the project, so I am very pleased to hear about your interest.
JONES: Well, the project sounds fascinating. I would definitely like to be involved.
MR THOMPSON: Absolutely. Over the years we have received funding from private investors and from selling shares, but the biggest improvement in our research came from a government fund that we received in the first year. This has greatly improved the organisation and we have since won prizes for our research.
JONES: Wow, how impressive!
MR THOMPSON: Yes, it is of the utmost importance to our organisation that we find a way to repair the terrible damage that has been done to the environment by the human species. This is no small undertaking and our resources still need management, but from reports taken of our studies we have found that teachers and students have greatly benefitted from field trips to the tree plantation.
JONES: Yes, I visited the plantation myself on a field trip two years ago and I found myself greatly impressed by it.
MR THOMPSON: We have received a lot of feedback from visiting groups telling us how impressed teachers, researchers and students alike have been during their visits. Due to the educational facilities that we have carefully structured, I know that the visits are useful and engaging for students and that their experience is particularly special.
JONES: So what is the particular focus of the organisation and the reports that it provides?
MR THOMPSON: I am personally very interested in soil erosion, so I knew that I definitely wanted to focus some of the report on this area. Before I set up the organisation, I looked up information on what areas were currently being researched and I found that there were already studies into air pollution and water pollution. I obviously wanted to find a unique area to research and so these were no good. I was tempted to look into the background of overgrazing, but the impacts of forest exploitation are far more devastating and very little research has been carried out on this subject, so I decided that this should also form some focus for the report.
JONES: Yes, that makes sense. What have you found to be the greatest benefits of the activities carried out by the organisation?
MR THOMPSON: I have found that the greatest benefits are not the ones that anyone can learn from a book, like how to collect data, but more importantly are life lessons that one can gain only from experience. Students who have partaken in the summer course have massively enhanced their confidence, which will prove invaluable for the rest of their lifetime. The people who partake in the summer course already know the importance of environmental protection, so it is not important that we spend time teaching them this. Students instead benefit from learning the importance of punctuality, as each day they have to wake up early to make sure that they are not late for their practical experience sessions.
JONES: If I decide to attend the summer course, what will I be doing for the rest of the time when no activities are going on?
MR THOMPSON: Well, we unfortunately don't yet have a library on site, so you would be unable to read reference books although you are obviously welcome to bring some books of your own with you. We offer a range of fun hobbies, such as games and painting, for students to participate in outside of their classes so you could participate in one of these activities. We do not offer tutorials outside of the scheduled classes, however you are free to interview teachers and ask them any questions you may have about the research.
JONES: Well, the course sounds fantastic. I would definitely like to participate during the summer. Thank you so much for your help.
MR THOMPSON: No problem at all, here is a form with all of the details. I look forward to seeing you there.