Cambridge 14 Listening Test 3 - Answers With Explanation

1. 'The ___ room for talks' needs a proper-noun room name. 'Tesla' is the capitalised name used for this conference room.

2. '(projector and ___ available)' needs an equipment noun paired with 'projector'. 'Microphone' is the single-word answer, a standard AV item for talks.

3. 'Area for coffee and an ___' needs a noun for another type of area/event. 'Exhibition' completes the phrase — a space combining refreshments and displays.

4. 'Free ___ throughout' needs a noun for a hotel amenity. 'Wifi' is the single-word answer for internet access.

5. 'A standard buffet lunch costs $___ per head' needs a number. '45' is the price per person.

6. 'Rooms will cost $___ including breakfast' needs a number for the room rate. '135' is the nightly price quoted.

7. 'The hotel also has a spa and rooftop ___' needs a noun for another hotel facility. 'Pool' completes the list of amenities.

8. 'A free shuttle service to the ___' needs a destination noun. 'Airport' is the single-word destination served by the shuttle.

9. 'Wilby Street (quite near the ___)' needs a noun for a nearby geographic feature. 'Sea' explains the hotel's coastal location.

10. 'Near to restaurants and many ___' needs a plural noun for another nearby amenity type. 'Clubs' completes the list of nearby venues.

11–12. Among five possible volunteer activities (decorating, cleaning, delivering meals, shopping, childcare), the two confirmed are A ('decorating') and E ('childcare') — the other three are equally plausible volunteer tasks, so this item tests whether you can isolate the exact pair named.

13–14. Among five possible benefits to volunteers (teamwork skills, sense of purpose, realising how lucky they are, time management, employment prospects), the two confirmed are B ('having a sense of purpose') and E ('boosting their employment prospects') — both personal/career gains rather than the skills-based benefits offered as distractors.

15. 'Habib' is matched to F, 'remember past times' — the person he helps is being supported in recalling their past.

16. 'Consuela' is matched to A, 'overcome physical difficulties' — her volunteering is linked to helping with a physical challenge.

17. 'Minh' is matched to E, 'escape isolation' — his help addresses loneliness rather than a skill or physical need.

18. 'Tanya' is matched to G, 'start a new hobby' — she helps someone take up something new.

19. 'Alexei' is matched to D, 'solve problems independently' — he helps build the person's own problem-solving ability rather than solving things for them.

20. 'Juba' is matched to C, 'improve their communication skills' — his help focuses on how the person communicates.

21. 'It consists of around ___ students' needs a number for the band's size. '50' gives the approximate headcount.

22. 'It is due to play in a ___ band competition' needs an adjective describing the competition's scope. 'Regional' fits — a competition above local but below national level.

23. 'It has been invited to play in the town's ___' needs a noun for a town event. 'Carnival' is the single-word event name.

24. 'They have listened to a talk by a ___' needs a noun for the speaker's role. 'Drummer' names the musician who gave the talk.

25. 'Joe will discuss a ___ with the band' needs a noun for what's being discussed. 'Film' is the single-word topic.

26. 'Joe hopes the band will attend a ___ next month' needs a noun for an upcoming event. 'Parade' is the answer — another public performance opportunity.

27. The 'flautist' is matched to D, 'misses too many rehearsals' — an attendance issue rather than a performance or social one.

28. The 'trumpeter' is matched to B, 'keeps making unhelpful suggestions' — a behavioural issue about how they participate in discussions, not their playing.

29. The 'trombonist' is matched to E, 'has a health problem' — a physical/medical issue affecting participation.

30. The 'percussionist' is matched to F, 'doesn't mix with other students' — a social issue distinct from the attendance, suggestion, or health problems attributed to the others.

31. 'Studied piano and ___ before turning to composition' needs a second instrument noun. 'Violin' completes the pair of instruments she studied.

32. 'Show a great deal of ___ and are drawn from various cultural sources' needs an abstract noun describing the quality of her music. 'Energy' is the single-word descriptor.

33. 'Very expressive and also ___' needs an adjective paired with 'expressive'. 'Complex' describes the other defining quality of her music.

34. 'The festival will include her ___ called The Oresteia' needs a noun for the type of musical work. 'Opera' names the genre.

35. 'Lim described the sounds in The Oresteia as ___' needs an adjective describing the sound quality. 'Disturbing' is the word used to characterise it.

36. 'Performed by piano and ___' needs another instrument noun. 'Clarinet' completes the instrumentation for this piece.

37. 'Ross Edwards celebrates Australia's cultural ___' needs an abstract noun. 'Diversity' names what his music celebrates.

38. 'Carl Vine studied ___ before studying music' needs a subject noun for his earlier academic focus. 'Physics' is the single-word subject.

39. 'He became well known as composer of music for ___' needs a noun for the art form his music accompanies. 'Dance' names this.

40. 'The festival will include his music for the 1996 ___' needs a proper noun for a 1996 event. 'Olympics' names the specific event his music was written for.