All answers on this page include the question number, correct answer and a brief explanation of where to find it in the passage or audio. Use these alongside the original Cambridge IELTS books for the best practice experience.
Test 3 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations
Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 3 Listening answers with clear explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.
Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 3 Listening Answer Key
Use this answer key for quick marking. Accepted alternatives are shown with a slash. Read each part below for a clear explanation.
Part 1: Ferry to the Shetland Islands
Questions 1 to 10Part 2: Starting a Street Food Business
Questions 11 to 20Part 3: Sustainable Fashion
Questions 21 to 30Part 4: Invasive Species
Questions 31 to 40Part 1: Ferry to the Shetland Islands
A caller plans a ferry journey to the Shetland Islands. The conversation covers sailing times, cabin choices, prices and travel arrangements.
1Name of ferry company: ____ Ferries
Answer: Northern
The recording states that name of ferry company: Northern Ferries. This confirms Northern as the missing answer.
2Ferries depart seven times per ____ in summer.
Answer: week
The recording states that ferries depart seven times per week in summer. This confirms week as the missing answer.
3Cost for four people with car: a little less than £____.
Answer: 250
The recording states that cost for four people with car: a little less than £250. This confirms 250 as the missing answer.
4Cancellation policy: receive a ____ if cancelled a month in advance.
Answer: voucher
The recording states that cancellation policy: receive a voucher if cancelled a month in advance. This confirms voucher as the missing answer.
5Cabins: book one with a ____, luxury cabins have a TV.
Answer: window
The recording states that cabins: book one with a window, luxury cabins have a TV. This confirms window as the missing answer.
6Bring snacks and ____ for the children.
Answer: books
The recording states that bring snacks and books for the children. This confirms books as the missing answer.
7A ____ is required for the dog kennels.
Answer: blanket
The recording states that a blanket is required for the dog kennels. This confirms blanket as the missing answer.
8Try to see ____ in the morning.
Answer: dolphins
The recording states that try to see dolphins in the morning. This confirms dolphins as the missing answer.
9If time, visit ____ Castle.
Answer: Drum
The recording states that if time, visit Drum Castle. This confirms Drum as the missing answer.
10The ____ restaurant in a nearby village is recommended.
Answer: Italian
The recording states that the Italian restaurant in a nearby village is recommended. This confirms Italian as the missing answer.
Part 2: Starting a Street Food Business
A speaker explains how to start a street food business. The advice covers preparation, legal duties, equipment and suitable trading locations.
11Which TWO explanations for the popularity of street food are given?
Answer: C or E
The recording links this point with freshly made or unusual food. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
12Which TWO explanations for the popularity of street food are given?
Answer: E or C
The recording links this point with unusual food or freshly made. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
13Which TWO places are recommended for new street food businesses?
Answer: B or E
The recording links this point with food markets or parks. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
14Which TWO places are recommended for new street food businesses?
Answer: E or B
The recording links this point with parks or food markets. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
15What does the speaker say about getting equipment for a street food business?
Answer: B - It's best to buy second-hand equipment.
The recording links this point with It's best to buy second-hand equipment.. This makes B the correct choice.
16What advice is given about creating a product for a street food business?
Answer: C - The presentation is an important factor.
The recording links this point with The presentation is an important factor.. This makes C the correct choice.
17Thai Basil
Answer: F - They worked very long hours.
The recording links this point with They worked very long hours.. This makes F the correct choice.
18Basque
Answer: A - Some ingredients were too expensive.
The recording links this point with Some ingredients were too expensive.. This makes A the correct choice.
19Lou's kitchen
Answer: B - The meals took a long time to prepare.
The recording links this point with The meals took a long time to prepare.. This makes B the correct choice.
20Chip Chop
Answer: D - It was difficult to get a permit to sell food.
The recording links this point with It was difficult to get a permit to sell food.. This makes D the correct choice.
Part 3: Sustainable Fashion
Two students plan work about sustainable fashion. They discuss research findings, clothing choices and the environmental effects of production.
21Which TWO points do the speakers make about the terms 'ethical' and 'sustainable' fashion?
Answer: B or D
The recording links this point with People think they mean the same thing. or They are often used imprecisely.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
22Which TWO points do the speakers make about the terms 'ethical' and 'sustainable' fashion?
Answer: D or B
The recording links this point with They are often used imprecisely. or People think they mean the same thing.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
23Which TWO claims about wool production do the speakers disagree with?
Answer: D or E
The recording links this point with Wool production involves few chemicals. or Sheep do less environmental damage than other livestock.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
24Which TWO claims about wool production do the speakers disagree with?
Answer: E or D
The recording links this point with Sheep do less environmental damage than other livestock. or Wool production involves few chemicals.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
25Lyocell
Answer: G - Chemicals required for production can be reused.
The recording links this point with Chemicals required for production can be reused.. This makes G the correct choice.
26Cupro
Answer: B - It is the least sustainable of alternative fabrics.
The recording links this point with It is the least sustainable of alternative fabrics.. This makes B the correct choice.
27Bamboo
Answer: F - It needs to be produced in a certain way to be sustainable.
The recording links this point with It needs to be produced in a certain way to be sustainable.. This makes F the correct choice.
28EcoVero
Answer: A - The production process is fuel efficient.
The recording links this point with The production process is fuel efficient.. This makes A the correct choice.
29Cork
Answer: H - This is from a wholly sustainable source.
The recording links this point with This is from a wholly sustainable source.. This makes H the correct choice.
30Hemp
Answer: D - It provides additional health benefits.
The recording links this point with It provides additional health benefits.. This makes D the correct choice.
Part 4: Invasive Species
A lecture explains how invasive species spread. It covers ecological harm, control methods and examples from different habitats.
31An invasive species can be a problem when it introduces a new ____.
Answer: disease
The recording states that an invasive species can be a problem when it introduces a new disease. This confirms disease as the missing answer.
32An invasive species can threaten an entire ____.
Answer: ecosystem
The recording states that an invasive species can threaten an entire ecosystem. This confirms ecosystem as the missing answer.
33Invasive species spread accidentally, e.g. via people returning from their ____ or on cargo ships.
Answer: holiday / holidays
The recording states that invasive species spread accidentally, e.g. via people returning from their holiday or on cargo ships. The accepted forms include holiday or holidays.
34They may be spread intentionally, e.g. for pest control, or as ____.
Answer: pets
The recording states that they may be spread intentionally, e.g. for pest control, or as pets. This confirms pets as the missing answer.
35Rhinella marina toads were introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 to eat an insect damaging ____ plantations.
Answer: sugar
The recording states that rhinella marina toads were introduced to Australia from Hawaii in 1935 to eat an insect damaging sugar plantations. This confirms sugar as the missing answer.
36Rhododendron plants prevent ____ from reaching native plants.
Answer: light
The recording states that rhododendron plants prevent light from reaching native plants. This confirms light as the missing answer.
37Grey squirrels from North America spread a ____ that kills red squirrels.
Answer: virus
The recording states that grey squirrels from North America spread a virus that kills red squirrels. This confirms virus as the missing answer.
38Monitoring helps us to understand the ____ of invasive species and the impact they have.
Answer: behaviour / behavior
The recording states that monitoring helps us to understand the behaviour of invasive species and the impact they have. The accepted forms include behaviour or behavior.
39Setting up a national ____ makes it easier to track them.
Answer: database
The recording states that setting up a national database makes it easier to track them. This confirms database as the missing answer.
40Asking the public to ____ and report them helps with monitoring.
Answer: photograph
The recording states that asking the public to photograph and report them helps with monitoring. This confirms photograph as the missing answer.
Academic and General Training Listening Answers
Are the Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic and GT Test 3 Listening Answers the Same?
Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 3 Listening recording, questions and answer key. The Reading and Writing tests are different.
Can I Use This Page for Cambridge IELTS 21 General Training Test 3?
Yes. Every answer and explanation on this page applies to the General Training Listening test.
Are Alternative Answers Included?
Yes. We show alternatives only when they are accepted for this test. Examples include holiday or holidays, and behaviour or behavior.
What to Do After Marking
Label each error as a listening error, spelling error, distractor error, or instruction error. Replay only the difficult part after completing one full timed attempt.