Cambridge IELTS Book 18 Listening Test 2 Answers with Explanation /

Cambridge IELTS Book 18 Listening Test 2

Part - 1 Working at Milo’s Restaurants

Question No.	Answer in bold	Keywords of the question	What we hear in the audio means answer (containing sentence in quotation marks)	Synonyms/Equivalent words used in the audio	Explanation
1	Training	Training	"For example, all employees get training – even temporary staff."	Training, education	All staff, including temporary ones, receive training.
2	Discount	Discount	"But another benefit of working for a big company like this is that you can get a discount at any of their restaurants."	Reduced price, offer	The company offers discounts to its staff.
3	Taxi	Taxi	"But if you have to do a late shift and finish work after midnight, the company will pay for you to get a taxi home."	Transport, cab	The company covers taxi fares for staff working late shifts.
4	Service	Service	"It’s really important that you can fit in and get on well with everyone. [...] That will be equally important at Milo’s."	Quality, standard	Milo's values staff who maintain a high service standard.
5	English	Qualification	"So the only other thing that’s required is good communication skills, so you’ll need to have a certificate in English."	Language, communication	A certificate in English is required for the position.
6	Wivenhoe	Location	"The first one is in Wivenhoe Street."	Wivenhoe Street	The job location is Wivenhoe Street.
7	Equipment	Responsibilities	"Obviously checking that all the portions are correct, etc., and then things like checking all the procedures for cleaning the equipment are being followed."	Tools, apparatus	Ensuring the equipment is clean is part of the responsibilities.
8	9.75	Pay	"Well, to begin with, you’d be getting £9.75 but that goes up to £11.25 after three months."	Pay rate, wage	The starting salary is £9.75 per hour.
9	Deliveries	Responsibilities	"And you’d be responsible for making sure there’s enough stock each week – and sorting out all the deliveries."	Shipments, stock	The role involves handling stock and deliveries.
10	Sunday	Conditions	"You do get one Sunday off every four weeks."	Day off, free day	The employee will have one Sunday off every month.

Part-2

Question No.	Answer in bold	Keywords of the question	What we hear in the audio means answer (containing sentence in quotation marks)	Synonyms/Equivalent words used in the audio	Explanation
11 & 12	B, E (in either order)	Reasons for site selection	"Because of the new industrial centre in Nunston, there’s a lot of demand for housing for employees in the region..." "We were more interested in the fact that there’s an excellent hospital just 15 kilometres away, and a large secondary school even closer than that."	Industrial centre = workers, hospital = local facilities	B is correct because the site has easy access to local facilities like a hospital and school. E is correct because the site is convenient for workers. C is incorrect as the airport wasn’t a major reason. A is incorrect due to the steep slope. D is incorrect because the land is currently used for farming.
13 & 14	B, C (in either order)	Positive feedback about development	"We were particularly pleased that so many people liked the designs for the layout of the development..." "The majority of people said it generally made a good impression and blended in well with the natural features of the landscape, with provision made for protecting trees and wildlife on the site." "The overall feedback has been that the design and facilities of the development make it seem a place where people of all ages can live together happily."	Protecting trees = impact on the environment, living together happily = good relations	B is correct because people liked the environmental considerations. C is correct because people appreciated the design promoting community relations. A is incorrect as people requested more cycling facilities. D is incorrect as not all accommodations are low-cost. E is incorrect since people liked access to rural areas but not necessarily the location itself.
15	G	School location	"The school will be on that road, at the corner of the second turning to the left."	Corner, turning, road	The school is placed at the specified location based on the given description.
16	C	Sports centre location	"A large sports centre is planned with facilities for indoor and outdoor activities. This will be on the western side of the development, just below the road that branches off from London Road."	Western side, below road	The sports centre's placement matches the western location described.
17	D	Clinic location	"Can you see the lake towards the top of the map? The clinic will be just below this, to the right of a street of houses."	Below, near lake	The clinic is correctly identified as being below the lake, to the right of houses.
18	B	Community centre location	"The community centre will be adjoining the row of specially designed houses for residents over 65 on the northeast side."	Northeast, next to senior housing	The community centre is placed next to senior residences as described.
19	H	Supermarket location	"There’ll be a supermarket between the two entrances to the development, just to the south of the three large trees near London Road."	Near entrances, south of trees	The supermarket is positioned as per the audio's description.
20	A	Playground location	"The playground will be in that curve, with nice views of the lake."	Curve, view of lake	The playground is correctly located based on the curve near the lake.

Part - 3 Talk on jobs in fashion design

Question No.	Answer	Keywords of the Question	What We Hear in the Audio (Answer-Containing Sentence in Quotation Marks)	Synonyms of the Keywords Used in Question (Equivalent Words/Expression in the Audio Script)	Explanation
21	C	Important, Laki eruption, 1783	"But what I found more significant was how it impacted directly and indirectly on political events, as well as having massive social and economic consequences."	Impacted directly and indirectly → Profound effect on society	The correct answer is C because the conversation highlights the extensive impact on society. Option A is incorrect because the eruption is not described as the most severe in modern times. Option B is incorrect as the discussion focuses more on social and political effects rather than the formal study of volcanoes.
22	A	Surprised, observations, time	"Yeah. I was surprised there were so many weather stations established by that time – so, you know, you can see how the weather changed, often by the hour."	Weather stations → Places producing observations	The correct answer is A because Adam expresses surprise at the number of places recording observations. Option B is incorrect because no contradictions are mentioned. Option C is incorrect as scientific data is discussed, but its absence is not the main focus.
23	B	Contemporary sources, Laki haze	"Reports from the period blamed the haze for an increase in headaches, respiratory issues, and asthma attacks."	Health issues → Headaches, respiratory issues, asthma attacks	The correct answer is B because the discussion emphasizes health problems associated with the haze. Option A is incorrect as people recognized the haze was unusual. Option C is incorrect as there is no mention of the sun being blocked for weeks.
24	B	Benjamin Franklin, claim	"It was Benjamin Franklin who realised that before anyone else."	First to identify → Realised before anyone else	The correct answer is B because Michelle claims Franklin was the first to identify the haze's cause. Adam confirms this but notes that a French naturalist discovered it slightly earlier. Option A is incorrect because Franklin did not come to the wrong conclusion. Option C is incorrect because Franklin did not merely support others' views.
25 & 26	A, B	Issues, Laki eruption, surprised	"Or that two years after the eruption, strange weather events were being reported as far away as North America and North Africa."	Widespread effects → Far-reaching impact; Long-lasting effects → Two years later	The correct answers are A and B because the conversation highlights the widespread and long-lasting impact. Options C, D, and E are incorrect because they are not mentioned as surprising.
27	D	Iceland, impact	"One of the most dramatic things there was the effect on livestock as they grazed in the fields. They were poisoned because they ate vegetation that had been contaminated with fluorine as a result of the volcanic fallout."	Animals suffered → Livestock poisoned	The correct answer is D because the discussion focuses on the poisoning of livestock in Iceland.
28	A	Egypt, impact	"It’s so far from where the eruption happened and yet the famine there led to more people dying than any other country. It was worse than the plague."	Severe loss of life → More people dying than any other country	The correct answer is A because Egypt experienced the highest loss of life due to famine.
29	C	UK, impact	"According to one report it was about double the usual number and included an unusually high percentage of people under the age of 25."	Significant increase in deaths of young people → High percentage under 25	The correct answer is C because the mortality rate among young people in the UK was unusually high.
30	F	USA, impact	"Yes, and there was ice floating down the Mississippi, which was unprecedented."	Harsh winter → Ice floating down the Mississippi	The correct answer is F because extreme cold weather in the USA is mentioned.

Part - 4 Pockets

Question No.	Answer (Bold Face)	Keywords of the Question	What We Hear in the Audio (Answer Containing Sentence in Quotation Mark)	Synonyms of the Keywords (Equivalent Words/Expression in the Audio Script)	Explanation (Why This Answer Is Correct, Why Other Options Are Incorrect)
31	Convenient	Overlooked by consumers and designers	"Nothing is quite as convenient as being able to pop your phone or credit card into your pocket."	Convenient = Handy, Useful	The speaker states that pockets are convenient because they allow easy access to small items.
32	Suits	Men started to wear (clothing item)	"That was the time when suits became popular."	Suits = Formal wear, attire	The sentence confirms that men started wearing suits in the 18th century.
33	Tailor	Sewed pockets into the lining of garments	"Pockets were sewn into this cloth by whichever tailor the customer used."	Tailor = Dressmaker, Clothier	The tailor is responsible for sewing pockets into the lining of garments.
34	Profession	Bigger pockets for men of a certain type of (occupation)	"They were often larger but plainer if the wearer was someone with a profession who needed to carry medical instruments – a doctor or physician, for example."	Profession = Occupation, Trade	Bigger pockets were made for professional men who needed to carry tools.
35	Visible	Women’s pockets were less (adjective) than men’s	"For one thing, they weren’t nearly as visible or as easy to reach as men’s."	Visible = Noticeable, Seen	Women’s pockets were hidden compared to men’s, making "visible" the correct answer.
36	String(s)	Pockets were produced in pairs using (material) to link them	"So – what they did was to have a pair of pockets made that were tied together with string."	String = Cord, Thread	The sentence explicitly states that women’s pockets were tied together with string.
37	Waist(s)	Pockets hung from the women’s (body part)	"Women tied the pockets around their waist so that they hung beneath their clothes."	Waist = Midsection, Torso	The pockets were fastened around the waist, confirming the correct answer.
38	Perfume	Items such as (object) could be reached through a gap in the material	"They would have an opening in the folds of their skirts through which they could reach whatever they needed, like their perfume."	Perfume = Fragrance, Scent	The sentence mentions perfume as an example of an item stored in pockets.
39	Image	Hidden pockets had a negative effect on the (appearance) of women	"The pairs of pockets became very noticeable – they stood out too much and detracted from the woman’s image."	Image = Appearance, Look	The pockets affected how women looked, making "image" the correct answer.
40	Handbag	Bags called ‘pouches’ became popular before women carried a (item)	"That was when small bags, or pouches as they were known, came into fashion and, of course, they inevitably led on to the handbag of more modern times."	Handbag = Purse, Satchel	The sentence explicitly states that pouches evolved into handbags, making this the correct answer.