The Impact Of Technology On People’s Working Lives - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From IELTS Trainer 2 Academic Listening Test 5 · Part 3 · Questions 21–30
Audio
Questions
Questions 21–26 Multiple Choice (One Answer)
Write the correct letter, A, B, or C.
Questions 27–30 Matching
What impact might Artificial Intelligence (AI) have on each of the following professions?
Choose FOUR answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-F.
A. It will give them a greater sense of satisfaction.
B. It will encourage them to compete with one another.
C. It will reduce the level of stress they have.
D. It may eventually lead to their jobs disappearing.
E. It could prevent them from coming to harm.
F. It will enable them to do tasks they have not trained for.
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q21 | B | Finn: But anyway, the focus was always the changing nature of jobs – how it’s all happening so quickly.Kiara: Exactly. Every single article said we can forget the way things used to happen – like you started out as an apprentice, and then you stayed in the same company for years. That’s over | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Finn talking about how quickly jobs are changing, and Kiara agrees by saying that all the articles mention that the old way people used to work—staying at one company for many years—is now done. Answer Explanation: The answer means that the articles Finn and Kiara read say that the old way of having a career—where a person works at one company for a very long time—is ending. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Finn and Kiara describe how jobs are changing very fast. Finn notes the 'changing nature' of work, and Kiara agrees, stating that every article says the old method of starting as a beginner (apprentice) and staying at the same company for years is finished. This old-fashioned way of working is known as a 'traditional career path,' and the students agree that the articles they read say it is now 'over.' |
| Q22 | A | It looks like we’re moving away from the term ‘job title’. So, you know, instead, a lot of businesses are hiring people to ‘work on a project done’ or ‘lead a team’. But the contracts are temporary | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kiara saying that businesses are stopping the use of traditional job names. Instead of a permanent title, people now get hired for short periods to finish specific tasks, which means the old way of labeling jobs is disappearing. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Kiara believes the name or name-card description of a job (like "Manager") is not very important or common anymore. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is supported by Kiara's statement that society is "moving away from" the use of official job titles. She mentions that instead of having a fixed title that defines who they are, workers today are often hired for specific tasks or temporary projects. This indicates that the concept of a "job title" as a permanent marker of identity is no longer relevant in the modern way of working. |
| Q23 | B | Well, I haven’t started work myself, but according to all the articles I read, it’s more about the different rates of pay. If you have a good salary, you probably have enough to enjoy life, but if you’re only earning the minimum wage – how do you get by? That’s my biggest worry | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Finn talking about the variety in pay levels and specifically stating that the struggle of those on low wages compared to those on high salaries is his main concern. Answer Explanation: The answer means Finn is most worried about the big difference between how much money some people make and how little others make. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is identified because Finn mentions that his 'biggest worry' is the 'different rates of pay' among workers. He compares people who have a 'good salary' with those who earn only the 'minimum wage,' wondering how the latter group survives. This gap between high and low pay is known as income inequality. |
| Q24 | C | I wonder what the survey actually asked? Was it just ‘Will your work-life balance improve’ or did the interviewers break that down? I mean, did they actually ask the people who took part, ‘Do you enjoy spending more time at work than home?’ | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kiara questioning the survey's method. She expresses a need to know if the questions were basic or if they were more specific about people's feelings regarding work and home life. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Kiara wants to know the specific questions that were asked to the people in the study. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Kiara says she is unsure about the results of the survey because she doesn't know the exact questions that were used. She asks if the survey was very simple or if it included more detailed questions about how people spend their time. This shows she thinks knowing the actual questions is important to understand the results. Choice A is wrong because she says it is 'hard to say' if she is surprised, not that it was predictable. Choice B is wrong because she wonders about the questions asked, not about the jobs the people have. |
| Q25 | A | Finn: And think about it, if you were smart, you’d study things that would help you if you had to change companies. Kiara: I hadn’t thought about that. Yes, good thinking | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Finn explaining that it is clever to learn things that help you find a new job later. Kiara then says that his idea is good, meaning they both agree on this point. Answer Explanation: The answer means that both Finn and Kiara think it is wise for employees to learn skills that can help them get a job at a different company in the future. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Choice A because Finn suggests that smart employees should choose to study subjects that would be beneficial if they ever needed to work for a different business. Kiara responds by saying 'good thinking', which shows that she agrees with his idea. In the conversation, they use the word 'upskill' to talk about learning these new abilities and 'change companies' to mean getting a job somewhere else. |
| Q26 | B | The media often focusses on the negatives, but as far as I’m concerned, having a tablet I can carry with me means I can manage my studies and my family commitments more easily. I actually think that in the future, mobile technology will reduce employees’ stress | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kiara talking about her own life. She mentions that 'as far as I'm concerned' (her own opinion or situation), having a tablet helps her handle 'my studies' and 'my family.' This is a description of how she personally uses the technology rather than just observing others. Answer Explanation: The answer is B because Kiara talks about how having a tablet helps her personally with her own schoolwork and family responsibilities. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because after Finn mentions how mobile technology is 'great,' Kiara shares her own story. She uses the words 'as far as I’m concerned' and 'I can manage,' which show she is describing her own personal experience. She explains that having a tablet helps her balance her school work ('my studies') and her 'family commitments' (tasks she must do for her family). By talking about her own use of the device, she is sharing a personal example. |
| Q27 | B | As soon as one architect starts to use AI, all the rival architects in the same area will have to use AI too. That’s the only way they’ll manage to keep their clients | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript explains that if one person in the business uses AI, other people doing the same job will have to use it as well so they don't lose their work to their competition. Answer Explanation: The answer means that architects will feel the need to use AI because other architects are using it to win or keep customers. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is B because Kiara mentions that if one architect uses AI, their competitors (rivals) will feel forced to do the same to make sure they do not lose their customers (clients). This shows that the technology will make them compete with each other to stay in business. |
| Q28 | F | Imagine if they had to give urgent medical attention to someone, but they weren’t qualified to do it? A hospital specialist could use AI and virtual reality to guide a doctor through, like, a complex procedure | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript describes a scenario where a doctor needs to perform a difficult medical task that they aren't fully trained for ("weren’t qualified"), but they can do it by following the guidance provided by AI technology. Answer Explanation: The answer means that AI will help doctors perform medical tasks or surgeries that they have not yet been fully trained to do by themselves. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is F because Finn describes a situation where doctors might have to help a patient in an emergency even if they are not fully trained for the specific problem. He mentions that AI and virtual reality can "guide" a doctor through a "complex procedure" when they are not "qualified" (which means they have not been fully trained for it). |
| Q29 | C | Well the lawyers I know are always anxious about the amount of work they have to get through. But AI could help them with a whole lot of routine tasks, and that should make some of that anxiety go away | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kiara explaining that lawyers are currently very nervous about their big workload. She believes AI can handle simple, daily duties for them. This will help them stop feeling so much pressure and worry. Answer Explanation: The answer means that using AI (Artificial Intelligence) will help lawyers feel less worried or unhappy about their work. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is C because Kiara mentions that lawyers are often 'anxious' (very worried) because they have too much work to finish. She explains that AI can help by doing 'routine tasks' (simple, regular work). Doing this will make their 'anxiety go away,' which is the same as reducing their stress. |
| Q30 | D | Kiara: I can imagine that, one day, AI might do away with the need for human referees.Finn: I think so too | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Kiara explaining that in the future, technology (AI) could make human referees unnecessary. Finn says he agrees with this thought. Answer Explanation: The answer means that people who work as sports referees might lose their jobs in the future because Artificial Intelligence (AI) will do the work instead. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is D because the students discuss how AI technology could eventually replace human referees. Kiara uses the phrase 'do away with the need for human referees,' which is a synonym (another way to say) that their jobs might disappear. Finn agrees with her point. |
Transcript
You will hear a university tutor talking to two social science students about a project they are doing on the impact of technology on people’s working lives.
Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
Tutor: OK Kiara and Finn. Can you tell me how your project is going? Your general topic was the future of work, wasn’t it?
Finn: Yes. We’ve read a lot of articles on it. Some were more interesting than others. There were a couple of writers that just made some strong statements without really backing them up.
Kiara: The problem is, it’s such a big topic. Some of the articles were aimed at graduates, and some of them were targeting people who’ve been in work for years. We should’ve narrowed down our topic before we started searching.
Finn: But anyway, the focus was always the changing nature of jobs – how it’s all happening so quickly.
Kiara: Exactly. Every single article said we can forget the way things used to happen – like you started out as an apprentice, and then you stayed in the same company for years. That’s over.
Tutor: I see that you’ve highlighted ‘job title’ in your notes. Why’s that?
Kiara: I think for some people, a job title used to define them. It was their identity. They worked their way up from the bottom, and eventually, one day they became ‘Manager’ or ‘Head of Department’. And even in their social circle, outside of work, they wanted other people to know how long they’d been in a job.
Tutor: And now?
Kiara: It looks like we’re moving away from the term ‘job title’. So, you know, instead, a lot of businesses are hiring people to ‘work on a project done’ or ‘lead a team’. But the contracts are temporary.
Tutor: Finn – do you think that’s a big issue for young people?
Finn: Having to move on once a project’s finished? Not necessarily. It can be interesting to work in different places. People aren’t always looking for a job that pays really well – it’s more about gaining experience and creating a network.
Tutor: So money’s not important?
Finn: Well, I haven’t started work myself, but according to all the articles I read, it’s more about the different rates of pay. If you have a good salary, you probably have enough to enjoy life, but if you’re only earning the minimum wage – how do you get by? That’s my biggest worry.
Kiara: I looked at that Richards-Greeves survey on work-life balance.
Tutor: Oh good.
Kiara: Only 48% of people believe that their work-life balance will improve.
Tutor: Is that a statistic that surprises you?
Kiara: It’s hard to say. I wonder what the survey actually asked? Was it just ‘Will your work-life balance improve’ or did the interviewers break that down? I mean, did they actually ask the people who took part, ‘Do you enjoy spending more time at work than home?’
Tutor: Good point. See if you can find out more. Um, Finn, what else have you been researching?
Finn: Learning new skills. The general view is that employers are just going to want their workers to constantly upskill. And apparently, employers will expect them to attend courses at weekends or after work – not as part of the working day.
Tutor: I don’t think that’s a bad thing. As long as the company pays for it.
Finn: And think about it, if you were smart, you’d study things that would help you if you had to change companies.
Kiara: I hadn’t thought about that. Yes, good thinking.
Tutor: What about mobile technology? How might employees be affected now that phones and tablets make it possible to stay connected to work at all times?
Finn: It’s great. You can use mobile technology - your device - to work where you like – on the way to class or the office.
Kiara: The media often focusses on the negatives, but as far as I’m concerned, having a tablet I can carry with me means I can manage my studies and my family commitments more easily. I actually think that in the future, mobile technology will reduce employees’ stress.
Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
Tutor: So, let’s focus on the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs. To what extent do you think it’ll help people in their professions, or be a threat?
Finn: I was reading about architects using AI in the future. The writer was saying that one day, architects will use holograms. Then their clients could see a three-dimensional house rather than just looking at a flat plan.
Kiara: As soon as one architect starts to use AI, all the rival architects in the same area will have to use AI too. That’s the only way they’ll manage to keep their clients.
Finn: True. How about doctors? Imagine if they had to give urgent medical attention to someone, but they weren’t qualified to do it? A hospital specialist could use AI and virtual reality to guide a doctor through, like, a complex procedure.
Kiara: Yes, in an emergency situation, AI could really make the difference.
Finn: And what about the law?
Kiara: Well the lawyers I know are always anxious about the amount of work they have to get through. But AI could help them with a whole lot of routine tasks, and that should make some of that anxiety go away.
Finn: Yes, it probably could. Also – if you’re a sports referee – that could be a job that’s affected.
Tutor: In what way?
Finn: Using AI would mean there were no mistakes. It would know for sure if a ball was out, for example.
Kiara: And you can’t accuse AI of bias.
Finn: No.
Kiara: I can imagine that, one day, AI might do away with the need for human referees.
Finn: I think so too.
Tutor: All right, let’s move...