Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Listening Answers and Explanations

12 min read Academic & General Training

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.

Cambridge IELTS 18 | Academic and GT Listening

Test 2 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations

Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Listening answers with clear explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.

40Answers Explained
4Listening Parts
1 markFor Each Answer
AC + GTSame Listening Test
Complete the test before checking. Try the full recording once. Then use these explanations to understand every mistake.
Answers and scripts verified. IELTSBeacon checked the live Academic and GT tests, accepted answers, and Cambridge IELTS 18 audioscripts.

Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 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: Working at Milo's Restaurants

Questions 1 to 10
1training
2discount
3taxi
4service
5English
6Wivenhoe
7equipment
89.75
9deliveries
10Sunday

Part 2: Planned housing development

Questions 11 to 20
11B or E
12E or B
13B or C
14C or B
15G
16C
17D
18B
19H
20A

Part 3: The Laki eruption of 1783

Questions 21 to 30
21C
22A
23B
24B
25A or B
26B or A
27D
28A
29C
30F

Part 4: Pockets

Questions 31 to 40
31convenient
32suits
33tailor
34profession
35visible
36string / strings
37waist / waists
38perfume
39image
40handbag

Part 1: Working at Milo's Restaurants

A caller asks about jobs and employment conditions at Milo's Restaurants.

Completion StrategyPredict the missing word type. Follow the recording order and keep to the answer limit.

1Benefit provided for all staff: ____

Answer: training

The recording states that benefit provided for all staff: training. This confirms training as the missing answer.

2Benefit during weekdays at all Milo’s Restaurants: ____

Answer: discount

The recording states that benefit during weekdays at all Milo’s Restaurants: discount. This confirms discount as the missing answer.

3Benefit provided after midnight: ____

Answer: taxi

The recording states that benefit provided after midnight: taxi. This confirms taxi as the missing answer.

4Applicants must care about maintaining a high standard of ____.

Answer: service

The recording states that applicants must care about maintaining a high standard of service. This confirms service as the missing answer.

5Applicants must have a qualification in ____.

Answer: English

The recording states that applicants must have a qualification in English. This confirms English as the missing answer.

6Breakfast supervisor location: ____ Street

Answer: Wivenhoe

The recording states that breakfast supervisor location: Wivenhoe Street. This confirms Wivenhoe as the missing answer.

7Breakfast supervisor must make sure ____ is clean.

Answer: equipment

The recording states that breakfast supervisor must make sure equipment is clean. This confirms equipment as the missing answer.

8Breakfast supervisor starting salary: £____ per hour

Answer: 9.75

The recording states that breakfast supervisor starting salary: £9.75 per hour. This confirms 9.75 as the missing answer.

9Junior chef maintains stock and organises ____.

Answer: deliveries

The recording states that junior chef maintains stock and organises deliveries. This confirms deliveries as the missing answer.

10Junior chef has no work on a ____ once a month.

Answer: Sunday

The recording states that junior chef has no work on a Sunday once a month. This confirms Sunday as the missing answer.

Part 2: Planned housing development

A speaker describes the location and facilities of a planned housing development.

Choice and Matching StrategyListen for the speaker's final meaning. Do not choose an option because you hear one matching word.

11What are the TWO main reasons why this site has been chosen for the housing development?

Answer: B or E

The recording links this point with There is easy access to local facilities. or It will be convenient for workers.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

12What are the TWO main reasons why this site has been chosen for the housing development?

Answer: E or B

The recording links this point with It will be convenient for workers. or There is easy access to local facilities.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

13Which TWO aspects of the planned housing development have people given positive feedback about?

Answer: B or C

The recording links this point with the impact on the environment or the encouragement of good relations between residents. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

14Which TWO aspects of the planned housing development have people given positive feedback about?

Answer: C or B

The recording links this point with the encouragement of good relations between residents or the impact on the environment. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

15School

Answer: G

The relevant detail supports choice G. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

16Sports centre

Answer: C

The relevant detail supports choice C. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

17Clinic

Answer: D

The relevant detail supports choice D. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

18Community centre

Answer: B

The relevant detail supports choice B. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

19Supermarket

Answer: H

The relevant detail supports choice H. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

20Playground

Answer: A

The relevant detail supports choice A. This matches the accepted answer for the question.

Part 3: The Laki eruption of 1783

Two students discuss historical research into the Laki volcanic eruption and its international effects.

Choice and Matching StrategyListen for the speaker's final meaning. Do not choose an option because you hear one matching word.

21Why do the students think the Laki eruption of 1783 is so important?

Answer: C - It had a profound effect on society.

The recording links this point with It had a profound effect on society.. This makes C the correct choice.

22What surprised Adam about observations made at the time?

Answer: A - the number of places producing them

The recording links this point with the number of places producing them. This makes A the correct choice.

23According to Michelle, what did the contemporary sources say about the Laki haze?

Answer: B - It was associated with health issues.

The recording links this point with It was associated with health issues.. This makes B the correct choice.

24Adam corrects Michelle when she claims that Benjamin Franklin

Answer: B - was the first to identify the reason for the haze.

The recording links this point with was the first to identify the reason for the haze.. This makes B the correct choice.

25Which TWO issues following the Laki eruption surprised the students?

Answer: A or B

The recording links this point with how widespread the effects were or how long-lasting the effects were. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

26Which TWO issues following the Laki eruption surprised the students?

Answer: B or A

The recording links this point with how long-lasting the effects were or how widespread the effects were. The accepted choices may appear in either order.

27Iceland

Answer: D - Animals suffered from a sickness.

The recording links this point with Animals suffered from a sickness.. This makes D the correct choice.

28Egypt

Answer: A - This country suffered the most severe loss of life.

The recording links this point with This country suffered the most severe loss of life.. This makes A the correct choice.

29UK

Answer: C - There was a significant increase in deaths of young people.

The recording links this point with There was a significant increase in deaths of young people.. This makes C the correct choice.

30USA

Answer: F - It caused a particularly harsh winter.

The recording links this point with It caused a particularly harsh winter.. This makes F the correct choice.

Part 4: Pockets

A lecture about the history and design of pockets in men's and women's clothing.

Completion StrategyPredict the missing word type. Follow the recording order and keep to the answer limit.

31Pockets are ____ but can be overlooked by consumers and designers.

Answer: convenient

The recording states that pockets are convenient but can be overlooked by consumers and designers. This confirms convenient as the missing answer.

32Men started to wear ____ in the 18th century.

Answer: suits

The recording states that men started to wear suits in the 18th century. This confirms suits as the missing answer.

33A ____ sewed pockets into the lining of the garments.

Answer: tailor

The recording states that a tailor sewed pockets into the lining of the garments. This confirms tailor as the missing answer.

34Bigger pockets might be made for men who belonged to a certain type of ____.

Answer: profession

The recording states that bigger pockets might be made for men who belonged to a certain type of profession. This confirms profession as the missing answer.

35Women’s pockets were less ____ than men’s.

Answer: visible

The recording states that women’s pockets were less visible than men’s. This confirms visible as the missing answer.

36Pockets were produced in pairs using ____ to link them together.

Answer: string / strings

The recording states that pockets were produced in pairs using string to link them together. The accepted forms include string or strings.

37Pockets hung from the woman’s ____ under skirts and petticoats.

Answer: waist / waists

The recording states that pockets hung from the woman’s waist under skirts and petticoats. The accepted forms include waist or waists.

38Items such as ____ could be reached through a gap in the material.

Answer: perfume

The recording states that items such as perfume could be reached through a gap in the material. This confirms perfume as the missing answer.

39Hidden pockets had a negative effect on the ____ of women.

Answer: image

The recording states that hidden pockets had a negative effect on the image of women. This confirms image as the missing answer.

40Bags called “pouches” became popular before women carried a ____.

Answer: handbag

The recording states that bags called “pouches” became popular before women carried a handbag. This confirms handbag as the missing answer.

Academic and General Training Listening Answers

Are the Cambridge IELTS 18 Academic and GT Test 2 Listening Answers the Same?

Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Listening recording, questions and answer key. The Reading and Writing tests are different.

Can I Use This Page for Cambridge IELTS 18 General Training Test 2?

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 string or strings, and waist or waists.

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.

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