IELTS Listening: Section 4 Practice

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IELTS Listening Section 4 is an educational lecture below are tips and a practice lesson to help you prepare. All candidates take the same listening test so this is the same for Academic and GT candidates. This is the most difficult section of the listening test. The listening exercise below is based on section 4 and it focuses on short answer questions. It is possible to get any question type in section 4.

IELTS Listening Section 4 Tips

  1. Section 4 is an academic talk by one speaker, a lecture.
    • Please note, for candidates taking the General Training IELTS Test, you will be taking the same listening test and the same speaking test as the Academic candidates.
  2. Academic lectures are usually structured:
    • Introduction – what the talk main points will be
    • Middle
      • Main Points with Detailed and Examples
    • Conclusion – a summary
    • This logical organisation of information will help you.
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  3. Signposts:
    • As the speaker moves from one point to another, they will say things like:
      • Looking at X
      • Moving on to Y
      • Another interesting point is …
    • You need to pay attention to these words.
  4. Linking words
    • Talks will also use linking words to add information, give an opposite point or give an example. All these words will help you understand the information and follow the points. Example words:
      • Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly
      • Also, in addition, moreover, furthermore
      • by contrast, conversely, on the other hand
      • for example, such as, like, namely
    • You can find a list of common linking words on this page: Linking Words. Although the page is for writing task 2, they are formal linking words used for formal talks as well.
  5. Academic talks contain vocabulary relevant to the topic. Such vocabulary often isn’t paraphrased, which can be very useful in navigating the recording.
  6. Don’t try to understand everything. Focus on listening for answers only
  7. Predict the type of answer you need to listen for.
  8. Listen out for paraphrases of common words.
  9. For the listening practice below, answers will come in order
  10. Section 4 usually has 10 questions. The lesson below is a practice lesson rather than a test. The aim is for you to get used to the language and layout of listening section 4.

When you finish your listening practice, listening again and read the transcript at the same time. Answers are given below.

Practice for IELTS Listening Section 4

Section 4 Practice Lesson

Dolphin Intelligence

Questions 1-6: Write no more than three words and/or a number.

1. The lecture will concentrate on tools, communication, sonar and what other aspect of dolphin intelligence?
2. How big is the brain of the bottle-nosed dolphin?
3. What other species use tools?
4. What can dolphins copy from other species?
5. Can dolphins see out of the water?
6. What does a dolphin hear through?

RECORDING:

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TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS

Click below to reveal the transcript and answers:

Transcript
Today I’m going to talk to you about dolphin intelligence and in particular their use of tools, methods of communication, sonar and also their sensory capacity.
But first let’s look at how the dolphin brain compares to the brains of other species in terms of size. The largest brain in the world belongs to the sperm whale. Weighing some 9,000 grams, it is six to seven times larger than the human brain. The second largest brain in the world is the killer whale (or orca) at 6,000 grams. The next largest brain among the marine mammals is the bottlenosed dolphin at 1,500 grams, followed by human brains at approximately 1,200 grams. Strong connections between the sensorial and motive areas of a dolphin’s brain to the body indicate that it is very much sensitive to pain and stress.
Looking at the way dolphin’s use tools, while many believe that primates, such as chimpanzees, are the only species who use tools for activities, dolphins studied in the wild have been seen using sea sponges to protect their snouts from getting scratches as they scavenge for food on the ocean floor. Dependent calves, young baby dolphins, are also provided with sponges from their mothers, as research in the wild has seen infant dolphins wearing tiny sponges on their snouts while swimming close to their mothers.
With regards to dolphin communication, dolphins utilize “signature whistles” to identify themselves to others. In other words, these whistles can be seen as representing their names. Furthermore, dolphins also mimic movements, of both humans and other animals.
Another interesting point about dolphins is of course their sonar. It has been suggested by several noted scientists that dolphins may be able to create acoustical holographic images from the interlacing of their sonic output. It is well known that dolphins can see inside the bodies of their fellow dolphins, and other animals in the water. This is because dolphin sonar evolved to pass through water and does not reflect until it hits something like bone or air sacs. Since animal bodies are more than 50% water, their sonar enables them to literally “see” inside other animals.
And finally, dolphins have fantastic sensory capacity. They have the ability to focus their eyesight due to the curvy characteristics of their lenses, thus they are able to see both in and out of water. Moreover, dolphins have little more than a small hole for hearing, as having larger ears would severely affect the creature’s ability to swim. Rather, studies show that sounds are obtained through tiny bones, and then are transferred to the inner ear through the fatty material that surrounds the eardrum. Adapted from Bluevoice.org
Answers
1. sensory capacity
2. 1500 grams / 1500g
3. primates / chimpanzees
4. movements
5. yes
6. (a) small hole

note: when you see brackets in an answer key, it means the word in brackets is optional. Your answer is right with or without it. You can’t use brackets in your test.

Vocabulary
  • capacity = ability
  • indicate = show / point to
  • primate = monkey
  • snouts = noses (for dolphins and pigs)
  • scavenge = hunt / forage
  • infant = new born / child
  • mimic = copy

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IELTS Listening Table Completion: Practice and Tips

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Table completion questions in IELTS listening are quite common and can appear in any section of the listening test. Spend time preparing the headings and the predict the missing content of the table. Pay attention to the number of words possible for the answers. This listening exercise is a similar level to section 4 of the listening IELTS test.

Essential Tips for IELTS Listening Table Questions

Read the points below to learn how to tackle Table Questions in IELTS Listening. These questions are known as “Table Completion” questions.

  1. Tables can appear in any section of the IELTS Listening Test.
    • However, they are most common in section 2 and section 4.
      • Section 2 is based on social situations and is one person talking about a place, a service – something specific.
      • Section 4 is based on an educational lecture. This is one person speaking who is giving a lecture. All lectures have introduction, middle (with main points and examples) and a conclusion.
      • Both of these sections are often very structured in content which is why table questions are so suitable.
    • However, tables can appear in Section 1 and 3 – but they are less common in those sections.
  2. The table will usually have a title.
      1. This is useful because you will know what the table questions relate to.
      2. Table questions do not cover all questions for one single listening section. They will only cover about 5 questions out of 10 for that section.
      3. This means during the recording you might have to listen carefully to the information to know when to move to the table questions. The title will help you with this because it will tell you what the questions relate to.
  3. Tables are organised logically and labelled with either rows, columns or both.
    1. You must read those headings carefully because they tell you the content of each question.
  4. The questions will come in order in the recording.
  5. Notice which direction the question take in the table – do the questions follow the rows or the columns? Notice this quickly so that you do not get lost during the listening.
  6. The recording will follow the organisation that exists within the table.
  7. Notice how the other answers are given already in the table. It shows you the type of answers you will need to write down. Often the answers do not require “a” or “the”. You can usually see this by the examples of information already given in the table. 
  8. Always pay attention to how many words you can have for the answer. If it asks for no more than two words, it means you can have one word, two words but not three words.
  9. Spelling counts. You’ll lose marks if you spell the word incorrectly.

Practice Lessons for IELTS Listening Table

These practice lessons are at various levels of difficulty so that you have realistic practice for the difficult in different sections of the listening test. You can only listening once in the real test and you can’t pause the recording in your actual test. You will always have a short amount of time to read through questions and get familiar with the table before the recording starts.

Listening Table:  Practice Lesson 1 

The level of this listening table practice lesson is similar to a section 4  of the IELTS listening test.

Introduced species of the British Isles

Questions 1-5: Write no more than three words for each answer.

IELTS Listening Table Question

RECORDING:

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TABLE ANSWERS & TRANSCRIPT

Click below to read the transcript and see the answers.

The transcript is to be used for checking your answers and also reviewing the recording word for word after you complete the lesson to see precise why you got an answer right or wrong.

TRANSCRIPT

Islands, such as the British Isles, can be adversely affected by the introduction of non-native species. Many species have been introduced to Britain during historical times. Some species have been introduced with no adverse consequences. However, others have had a severe impact both economically and ecologically.

One good example of an invasive species is the gray squirrel which, at the turn of the 20th century, was introduced into South Africa, Ireland, and England from North America. On mainland Britain, it has almost entirely displaced the populations of native red squirrels. Schemes have been introduced to control the population in Ireland to encourage the native red squirrels. In the wild, gray squirrels can be found living in large areas of mature, dense woodland. These forests usually contain large amounts of dense understory vegetation that provides them sufficient amount of food sources and favorable shelters. On very rare occasions, when their usual food sources are scarce, gray squirrels will eat insects and small birds. However, in general gray squirrels exist mainly on nuts and seeds. They even have a high enough tolerance for humans to inhabit residential neighborhoods and are known to raid bird feeders.
Among those species which have been introduced with little harm to the local ecosystem is the rainbow trout which is native only to the rivers and lakes of North America but its value as a hard-fighting game fish and tasty meal has led to its introduction throughout the world. Rainbow trout are gorgeous fish, with coloring and patterns that vary widely depending on habitat, age, and spawning condition. They are members of the salmon family and, like their salmon cousins, can grow quite large. They prefer cool, clear rivers and lakes and survive on insects and small fish.
Adapted from the following sources:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_gray_squirrel, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introduced_species_of_the_British_Isles

ANSWERS
  1. gray squirrel / grey squirrel
    • you can have either US or UK spelling
  2. (mature) (dense) woodland  / forest
    • either word is fine
  3. seeds (and) nuts
    • you can either have the word “and” or not. It isn’t common that the word and is included in an answer for IELTS listening.
  4. rivers (and) lakes
  5. insects (and) fish / insects small fish
    • you could have:
    • insects fish
    • insects and fish
    • insects small fish

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Listening Table: Practice Lesson 2

The level of this table listening lesson is similar to a section 2 of the IELTS Listening Test.

London Attractions

Questions 6-10: Write no more than two words and / or numbers for your answer.

IELTS Table Listening Questions

RECORDING

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TRANSCRIPT & ANSWERS

Click below to reveal the transcript and answers.

Transcript

London has uncountable attractions for first time visitors but for those of you looking for interest and history, Hampton Court Palace and Madame Tussauds are unmissable. Hampton Court Palace, which was the favourite royal residence of Henry VIII, boasts 60 acres of formal gardens as well as the famous maze and Great Vine. For adults the price for an entry ticket is 16.50 but a child’s ticket is 8.25 although if your child is under 5, it’s free. If you are only interested in the gardens rather than entering the court itself, then you can get a garden ticket only. It opens daily at 10 in the morning, last admissions are at 5pm and closing time is at 6.

Another popular favourite place to put on your London itinerary is Madame Tussauds. Filled with life size wax models of celebrities, there are 14 interactive zones as well as the amazing Marvel Super Heroes 4D movie experience. Why don’t you take a walk down the red carpet and strike a pose next your favourite film star. Tickets are 28.00 for an adult and 22.50 for all children. That may sound like a steep price but it really is a once-in-a-life-time experience. Doors open at 9.30 each morning and close at 5.30pm.

Answers
6. free
7. 10am   6pm (you need both answers correct)
8. 28
9. 22.50
10. 5.30pm

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