Cambridge IELTS Book 12 Listening Test 3 Answers with Explanation / Cambridge 12 Listening Test 3 Answers with Explanation

Cambridge IELTS Book 12 Listening Test 3

Part - 1

Question No.	Answer (bold)	Keywords in the Question	Answer Quotation from Audio Script	Synonyms/Equivalent Expressions	Explanation of Answer Choice
1	travel	an expanded section for books on ___	"we’ve got a much larger section of the library devoted to travel books now"	expanded = larger	‘Travel’ is correct because the library added a larger section dedicated to travel books.
2	history	a new section on local ___	"a new section with materials on the history of the town and surrounding region"	local = of the town	‘History’ is correct as the section focuses on the town’s past and surrounding region.
3	study	possible to ___ in the community room	"people can use it to study"	study = read, work	‘Study’ is correct because the community room can be used for studying when not booked.
4	teenagers	a new section of books for ___	"a special section of fiction written specially for teenagers"	teenagers = adolescents, young adults	‘Teenagers’ is correct because the books in that section are specially written for that age group.
5	kitchen	experiments using things from your ___	"doing experiments with stuff that everyone has in the kitchen"	kitchen = home cooking area	‘Kitchen’ is correct because the experiments involve items commonly found in the kitchen, like sugar and flour.
6	crime	a novel based on a real ___	"she based the story on a crime that actually took place"	real = actually happened	‘Crime’ is correct because the author’s novel was based on an actual criminal incident.
7	appointment	IT support – no ___ is necessary	"they don’t need to make an appointment or anything"	appointment = booking, reservation	‘Appointment’ is correct because participants can attend IT support without prior scheduling.
8	sugar	check of blood ___ and cholesterol levels	"measure the level of sugar in your blood"	sugar = glucose	‘Sugar’ is correct as it’s one of the components measured during the health check-up.
9	stamps	library shop sells wall-charts, cards and ___	"shop with things like wallcharts and greetings cards, and also stamps"	stamps = postage	‘Stamps’ is correct because they are sold in the library shop alongside cards and charts.
10	parking	free ___ is available	"it’s free in the evening and at weekends"	parking = car space, vehicle spot	‘Parking’ is correct because the library offers free vehicle parking during evenings and weekends.

Part-2

BC Travel Listening – Section 2 (Table Format)

Q. No.	Answer (Bold)	Keywords in Question	"What We Hear in the Audio" (Answer Sentence)	Synonyms/Equivalent Words in Script	Explanation
11	D	55–64 years	"noticeable growth in the number of holidays taken by the 55 to 64-year-olds"	growth = increase	This group shows increasing number of holidays.
12	E	over 65 years	"the over-65s are an important market, and one that’s increasing steadily"	increasing steadily = rising	Indicates increasing holiday numbers with BC Travel.
13	A	make new friends	"it’s the chance to create lasting relationships with like-minded people"	lasting relationships = new friends	Making friends is a key reason for popularity.
14	C	different culture	"opportunity for clients to find out more about the local people and customs"	local people/customs = culture	Directly refers to learning about a different culture.
15	C	expand painting holidays	"five additional [artists] will be joining us this year"	additional artists = more teachers	More teachers = ability to offer more classes.
16	B	unusual cooking holidays	"we focus on dishes from a great many different [countries]"	different countries = international	International focus makes it unusual.
17	A	photography holidays	"clients can have one-on-one tuition"	one-on-one tuition = individual tuition	Direct statement that matches the correct answer.
18	stress	reduces _______	"clients find that they end up losing much of the stress"	losing stress = reduces stress	'Stress' is what is reduced.
19	weight	______ control	"clients who want to do something about their weight"	do something about = control	Weight is the main focus in Greece.
20	families	designed for ______	"We offer one [holiday] which is tailored to the needs of families"	tailored to needs = designed for	Specially designed for families.

Part - 3

Question No.	Answer (in bold)	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms/Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
21	C	noting key information and also ...	"Did you remember to keep a record of where you got the information from?"	sources = where you got the information	The speaker emphasizes keeping a record of where information was obtained, which refers to sources.
22	E	site ... (people)	"The people who work there"	employees = people who work at the site	It clearly refers to interviewing site employees, matching E.
23	H	city ... (people)	"...like administrators involved in overseeing tourism."	officials = administrators	The term "administrators" relates to city officials, so H is correct.
24	B	whether ... can be used	"...whether we can identify them in our case study, or whether they want to be anonymous."	names = identify them	The decision to use names or keep them anonymous means names, making B the answer.
25	A	identify ...	"...to find out if we can identify any trends or regularities."	patterns = trends or regularities	They're looking for patterns, trends, or regularities—so A is the correct match.
26	F	Do NOT end with ...	"...in a case study we end up with a question... rather than suggestions..."	solutions = suggestions	The case study ends with questions, not solutions, so F is right.
27	A	reason why so few people visit	"...you’d never realise it from the castle website – maybe that’s the problem."	poor publicity = bad website	Both agree the website is dull and unhelpful, indicating poor publicity. A is correct. B is outdated and C is contradicted.
28	C	greatest problem with visitor centre	"...it’d need to get special planning permission... That might be hard."	planning restrictions = special permission	They agree planning permission is the hardest issue, so C is correct. A and B are mentioned but not agreed as the biggest issue.
29	B	conditions in the town	"...the only people left are children and those who’ve retired."	few people of working age = mostly old/young left	Describes the lack of working-age people, so B is correct. A and C are not supported.
30	B	prevent damage	"...there might have to be some restrictions, like sticking to marked ways."	keep to the paths = marked ways	They mention restricting visitors to paths to reduce damage, so B is right. A and C are not chosen as the main solution.

Part - 4

The effects of environmental change on birds" (Questions 31–40):

Question No.	Answer (bold)	Keywords in the Question	Answer Quotation from Audio Script	Synonyms / Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
31	insects	feed on	"those that eat insects can also be affected"	feed on = eat	It was recently discovered that birds feeding on insects can also be affected by mercury, not just fish-eating birds.
32	behaviour	effects on birds’ ___ or mental processes	"these may be to do with the behaviour of the birds, or with the effect... on the way their brain works"	mental processes = brain function	The researcher is studying mercury's impact on behaviour and cognitive functions like memory.
33	father	learned from a bird’s ___	"a young bird seems to acquire this skill by listening to the songs produced by its father"	learned from = listening to	Young birds learn songs by listening to their fathers rather than other birds, making “father” the correct answer.
34	complex	songs learned... are less ___	"the songs they produce aren’t as complex"	less complex = simpler	Birds exposed to mercury produce simpler, less complex songs.
35	reproduction	negative effect on birds’ ___	"it can affect their chances of reproduction"	reproduction = breeding	Simpler songs may reduce male birds' attractiveness to females, lowering reproductive success.
36	control	allow more ___ for the experimenter	"so the experimenter has a much higher level of control"	more control = better management or regulation	Laboratory settings give researchers more control over experimental variables, unlike the natural environment.
37	ducks	migrating birds such as ___	"ducks who’d been feeding at a contaminated site were later shot... and presumably eaten"	migrating birds = ducks	Ducks, as migratory birds, can carry mercury long distances and be consumed by humans, raising concerns.
38	language	problems in learning ___	"mercury causes developmental delays in the acquisition of language"	learning = acquisition	Mercury exposure in humans affects brain regions involved in language learning, similar to birds learning songs.
39	food	mercury in a mother’s body from ___	"if the food eaten by its mother contains high levels of mercury"	from food = eaten food	Mercury-contaminated food can affect the unborn child if consumed by a pregnant woman.
40	costs	affect everyone’s energy ___	"these will need billions of dollars to implement, and increase costs for everyone"	energy = electricity; costs = bills, prices	Regulations to reduce mercury emissions will result in increased energy costs for everyone.