Answers to Mole Listening Practice

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Below you will find the answers and transcript to the Multiple Choice Listening Practice about Moles.

If you haven’t completed this lesson yet, please do so before you look at the answers. Click here for the lesson: MOLES Listening Practice

Transcript and Audio

Listen again to the audio and read the transcript at the same time. It will help you to check your answers and also improve your pronunciation. The actual answers are listed below.

Transcript: Moles and Mole Hills. The earliest species of mole was found more or less 55 million years ago. Since then, they have developed into 42 species all of which are categorised as insectivores. Nowadays, most people in the UK come across moles when they discover mole hills on their lawns. It is from these mole hills that the idiom “making a mountain out of a mole hill” was formed. This is a very common idiom used by most native English speakers and means exaggerating something that is in fact quite small and trivial. Mole hills are created by the mole digging out earth to create tunnels and throwing the earth outwards into the garden which creates little mounds of earth on the surface. These mole hills do not cause the garden much damage but many people think they are unsightly. Moles can carry rabies which can cause serious illness if someone is bitten, but as most people rarely come into contact with a living mole, they are hardly considered a health risk. As people, particularly in the UK, are very proud of their gardens, the unsightly mole hills result in them laying down traps which kill the moles. Some people think moles are blind which is why they live underground in the dark. However, this is a myth. Although, it’s true that their eyes are very small and play little role in their life underground. They rely mostly on their sense of smell and hearing which they use to find food, such as worms. They are particularly sensitive to vibrations in the soil. A mole is capable of digging upward of 200 yards in a day, which considering that a mole only grows to about 15cm is a great achievement. They often use their tunnels as highways to travel from one place to another. They can run down their tunnels, go backwards and even do little somersaults all inside their tunnels. Their tunnel systems are also used to connect subterranean living chambers such as bedrooms and birthing chambers. The birthing chamber is about the size of a football and the female mole lines it with dry grass and leaves for the young. It’s easy to spot the breeding chamber because the mole hill above it is the biggest. She is the only adult mole who is responsible for taking care of the young. Moles are sweet looking creatures with massive hands, short limbs and strong claws all designed as excellent digging tools. Unfortunately, for moles, their skins used to be prized highly by British High Society for clothing which meant that many moles died for the vanity of people.

Audio

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Answers

  1. The mole hill idiom means …
    • Answer: A
    • To exaggerate mean to make something small appear bigger than it is. Such as acting like a small spot on your face, it is huge tumour.
    • Also note, IELTS listening never tests your understanding of idioms. But in this question the meaning as given so it tested only your listening.
    • This isn’t a realistic question for IELTS listening because many of you could guess the answer. This isn’t normal for IELTS listening questions. But I thought you’d all enjoy the question anyway 🙂 
  2. Most people are worried that mole hills ….
    • Answer: B
    • The recording says “mole hills don’t cause much damage”. This means option A is wrong. Just because you hear the word “damage” which is also found in the question doesn’t mean it is the answer. Don’t try to match words.
    • The recording says “many people think they are unsightly”. The word “unsightly” means ugly. 
    • The recording says “Moles can carry rabies which can cause serious illness if someone is bitten, but as most people rarely come into contact with a living mole, they are hardly considered a health risk” This means that while moles can carry disease, they aren’t actually a risk.
  3. Moles …
    • Answer: C
    • The recording says that blind moles “are a myth”. This means it is not true.
    • The recording says they eat worms. But it does not say they eat “ONLY” worms. Pay attention to the word “only”. It means they eat worms and nothing else. 
    • The answer is found here “They are particularly sensitive to vibrations in the soil. ” This means they can feel movement in the earth.
  4. Moles can dig …
    • Answer: A
    • The recording says “A mole is capable of digging upward of 200 yards in a day”. The word “upward of” means “over”.
  5. Moles give birth ….
    • Answer: B
    • The recording says “Their tunnel systems are also used to connect subterranean living chambers such as bedrooms and birthing chambers. “. 
    • This was a difficult question. The birthing chamber is where moles give birth and the recording shows it is also one of the “subterranean living chamber”. This means “underground”.
    • You could also arrive at this answer by process of elimination. This means to delete the wrong answers. They don’t give birth in a bedroom, but in a birthing chamber and definitely not in a tunnel.
  6. The birthing chamber is …
    • Answer: A
    • the recording says “The birthing chamber is about the size of a football and the female mole lines it with dry grass and leaves for the young. It’s easy to spot the breeding chamber because the mole hill above it is the biggest. She is the only adult mole who is responsible for taking care of the young.”. This shows it is not specifically larger than a football and the “she mole” (not the males) cares for the young. This provides the only answer which is 100% accurate: “the mole hill above is the biggest” which means the chamber is below the biggest mole hill.
  7. Moles are equipped with …
    • Answer: C
    • The recording showed that moles have “massive hands, short limbs and strong claws all designed as excellent digging tools. “
    • Limbs are said to be short, no mention about strength. So, answer A is wrong.
    • Claws (nails) are strong, but no mention of being curved. So, answer B is wrong.
    • The word “immense” is the same as: huge, very big, massive.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed this listening test and have learned some new aspects of how to spot correct answers. For more free listening lessons, click here: LISTENING – Tips & Lessons

All the best

Liz 

PS: I’ve been asked when I will make videos again. I’m still sick, but I hope to start again this year if I can gain more strength. Wish me luck 🙂

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Comments

  1. Poorvi says
    April 9, 2024 at

    Your videos and tips are useful for us even after 10 years. Wish you would come back and teach more.

    Reply
    • Liz says
      April 9, 2024 at

      I am planning to come back. I’ve just filmed a personal update video which I’m currently editing, and hope to release this week or next week, certainly very soon. After that, if my health remains stable, I’ll try making an new IELTS video lesson for Youtube, which I’ll also post on this website. I’m really glad you are enjoying my lessons so far 🙂

      Reply
  2. Julius says
    March 15, 2024 at

    I wish you speedy recovery Madam. Thanks a bunch for your lessons.

    Reply
  3. gaffar says
    March 13, 2024 at

    Get well soon

    Reply
  4. yesri says
    March 12, 2024 at

    Get well soon, Lovely Liz.
    God be with you.

    Reply
  5. Ebelechukwu Okechukwu says
    February 28, 2024 at

    Liz please get well soon.

    Reply
  6. Adewumi says
    February 21, 2024 at

    I hope you are well now. May God grant you sound health and everlasting recovery.

    Reply
  7. Maggie Tran says
    January 27, 2024 at

    1. a
    2. b
    3. c
    4. a
    5. c
    6. c
    7. c

    Reply
  8. Akila says
    November 18, 2023 at

    Hi thank you very much for your lesson. In the questions, answers are mentioned in simple letters but in the answer sheet you have write down in Capital letters. Is it ok?

    Reply
  9. Laleh says
    November 10, 2023 at

    Hi Liz,
    I wish you gain more strength. Best wishes for health and every things.

    Reply
  10. ABDUR RAHMAN SOJIB ,BD says
    November 4, 2023 at

    LIZ MAM,
    -you are great !

    Reply
  11. samuel says
    September 9, 2022 at

    I wish you a quick recovery, please Liz. I will be praying for you

    Reply
  12. purity psinen says
    May 4, 2022 at

    Thanks Liz for the efforts you are making.May The Lord heal you.Praying for you my Mentor

    Reply
  13. Patrick Anosike says
    May 1, 2022 at

    Hello Liz, I do sincerely hope you are getting better. you’re a wonderful resource and role model. I pray that you recover quickly and fully.
    All the best.

    Reply
  14. Sajib says
    April 30, 2022 at

    Thanks a ton dear mentor.

    Reply
  15. Kofi says
    April 29, 2022 at

    Get well soon dear

    Reply
  16. Laura Teveness says
    April 26, 2022 at

    Thank you Liz…wishing a quickest recovery…# hugs

    Reply
  17. Fatma says
    April 23, 2022 at

    Your lessons are exstremely helpful
    I am so impressed on you

    Reply
  18. Razak Musah says
    April 22, 2022 at

    I pray for your speedy recovery and more grease to your elbows

    Reply
  19. Miniver says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Your lessons are helpful

    Reply
  20. Farial Rawji says
    April 22, 2022 at

    What you are doing is truly remarkable – giving of yourself without constraints
    I have been using your lessons to teach ESL to teachers in Syria and I am so impressed by the content
    May you stay well
    Farial Rawji

    Reply
  21. Uloma says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Thank you for the answers. I wish you a very quick recovery. Best wishes

    Reply
  22. Johana says
    April 22, 2022 at

    I wish you a quick recovery. God bless you Lizz.🙏

    Reply
  23. Richy says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Get well soon Liz.🤗

    Reply
  24. Rosecollete says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Get well soon dear. I love you!

    Reply
  25. Omeje, Martha Nkechinyere says
    April 22, 2022 at

    I wish you quick recovery ma, may the good Lord lay His healing hands on you.

    Reply
  26. Jessy Dugad says
    April 22, 2022 at

    You are the best teacher. God bless you with good health and long life.

    Reply
  27. Ohakwe carmelita says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Oh so sorry about your health, wishing you quick recovery Liz

    Reply
  28. Bindu says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Good luck and get well soon. all prayers are with you

    Reply
  29. Blessing says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Please I need help. Got 3 out 4.I want to test next month. Please ma,I need all the help to get 7 in all the modules. Help me please.

    Reply
    • Liz says
      April 22, 2022 at

      Go to the RED Navigation BAR at the top of the website and open each section to learn about IELTS. It’s all free, except for my Advanced Lessons.

      Reply
  30. Hannah says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Thanks for the correction s.I had 5 in all

    Reply
  31. Hannah says
    April 22, 2022 at

    I wish you a very speedy recovery and all the best in your endeavors.We are all behind you.

    Reply
  32. Boon says
    April 22, 2022 at

    Get well soon Liz!

    Reply

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