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 1 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations
Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 20 Test 1 Listening answers with clear explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.
Cambridge IELTS 20 Test 1 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: Restaurant Recommendations
Questions 1 to 10Part 2: Pottery and Kilns
Questions 11 to 20Part 3: Loneliness and Mental Health
Questions 21 to 30Part 4: Reclaiming Urban Rivers
Questions 31 to 40Part 1: Restaurant Recommendations
A caller asks for restaurant suggestions. The conversation covers dietary needs, customer reviews, locations, prices and booking details.
1The Junction is good for people who are especially keen on ____.
Answer: fish
The recording states that the Junction is good for people who are especially keen on fish. This confirms fish as the missing answer.
2At The Junction, the ____ is a good place for a drink.
Answer: roof
The recording states that at The Junction, the roof is a good place for a drink. This confirms roof as the missing answer.
3Paloma serves ____ food that is good for sharing.
Answer: Spanish
The recording states that paloma serves Spanish food that is good for sharing. This confirms Spanish as the missing answer.
4Paloma has a limited selection of food for ____ on the menu.
Answer: vegetarians / vegetarian
The recording states that paloma has a limited selection of food for vegetarians on the menu. The accepted forms include vegetarians or vegetarian.
5The name of the third restaurant is The ____.
Answer: Audley
The recording states that the name of the third restaurant is The Audley. This confirms Audley as the missing answer.
6The third restaurant is at the top of a ____.
Answer: hotel
The recording states that the third restaurant is at the top of a hotel. This confirms hotel as the missing answer.
7All the ____ of the third restaurant are very good.
Answer: reviews / review
The recording states that all the reviews of the third restaurant are very good. The accepted forms include reviews or review.
8The third restaurant only uses ____ ingredients.
Answer: local
The recording states that the third restaurant only uses local ingredients. This confirms local as the missing answer.
9The set lunch costs £____ per person.
Answer: 30 / thirty / £30 / £ 30 / £thirty / £ thirty
The recording states that the set lunch costs £30 per person. The accepted forms include 30 or thirty or £30 or £ 30 or £thirty or £ thirty.
10The portions are probably of ____ size.
Answer: average
The recording states that the portions are probably of average size. This confirms average as the missing answer.
Part 2: Pottery and Kilns
A speaker introduces pottery production and kiln use. The talk explains materials, firing methods, practical work and workshop arrangements.
11Heather says pottery differs from other art forms because
Answer: A - it lasts longer in the ground.
The recording links this point with it lasts longer in the ground.. This makes A the correct choice.
12Archaeologists sometimes identify the use of ancient pottery from
Answer: B - the marks that are on it.
The recording links this point with the marks that are on it.. This makes B the correct choice.
13Some people join Heather's pottery class because they want to
Answer: C - make something that will outlive them.
The recording links this point with make something that will outlive them.. This makes C the correct choice.
14What does Heather value most about being a potter?
Answer: A - its calming effect
The recording links this point with its calming effect. This makes A the correct choice.
15Most of the visitors to Edelman Pottery
Answer: B - have never made a pot before.
The recording links this point with have never made a pot before.. This makes B the correct choice.
16Heather reminds her visitors that they should
Answer: C - take off their jewellery.
The recording links this point with take off their jewellery.. This makes C the correct choice.
17Which TWO things does Heather explain about kilns?
Answer: A or E
The recording links this point with what their function is or what some people use instead of one. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
18Which TWO things does Heather explain about kilns?
Answer: E or A
The recording links this point with what some people use instead of one or what their function is. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
19Which TWO points does Heather make about a potter's tools?
Answer: C or E
The recording links this point with Some are essential items. or Some are available for use by participants.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
20Which TWO points does Heather make about a potter's tools?
Answer: E or C
The recording links this point with Some are available for use by participants. or Some are essential items.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
Part 3: Loneliness and Mental Health
Two students discuss research into loneliness and mental health. They compare findings, methods, social factors and possible support.
21Which TWO things do the students both believe are responsible for the increase in loneliness?
Answer: C or E
The recording links this point with urban design or a mobile workforce. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
22Which TWO things do the students both believe are responsible for the increase in loneliness?
Answer: E or C
The recording links this point with a mobile workforce or urban design. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
23Which TWO health risks associated with loneliness do the students agree are based on solid evidence?
Answer: A or C
The recording links this point with a weakened immune system or cancer. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
24Which TWO health risks associated with loneliness do the students agree are based on solid evidence?
Answer: C or A
The recording links this point with cancer or a weakened immune system. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
25Which TWO opinions do both the students express about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?
Answer: A or B
The recording links this point with It has little practical relevance. or It needs further investigation.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
26Which TWO opinions do both the students express about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?
Answer: B or A
The recording links this point with It needs further investigation. or It has little practical relevance.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
27When comparing loneliness to depression, the students
Answer: A - doubt that there will ever be a medical cure for loneliness.
The recording links this point with doubt that there will ever be a medical cure for loneliness.. This makes A the correct choice.
28Why do the students decide to start their presentation with an example from their own experience?
Answer: B - to highlight a situation that most students will recognise
The recording links this point with to highlight a situation that most students will recognise. This makes B the correct choice.
29The students agree that talking to strangers is a good strategy for dealing with loneliness because
Answer: A - it creates a sense of belonging.
The recording links this point with it creates a sense of belonging.. This makes A the correct choice.
30The students find it difficult to understand why solitude is considered to be
Answer: C - an enjoyable experience.
The recording links this point with an enjoyable experience.. This makes C the correct choice.
Part 4: Reclaiming Urban Rivers
A lecture examines projects that restore rivers in cities. It covers former industrial use, public spaces, wildlife and transport options.
31Industrial development led to pollution from ____ on the river bank.
Answer: factories / factory
The recording states that industrial development led to pollution from factories on the river bank. The accepted forms include factories or factory.
32In 1957, the River Thames in London was declared biologically ____.
Answer: dead
The recording states that in 1957, the River Thames in London was declared biologically dead. This confirms dead as the missing answer.
33Seals and even a ____ have been seen in the River Thames.
Answer: whale
The recording states that seals and even a whale have been seen in the River Thames. This confirms whale as the missing answer.
34Riverside warehouses are converted to restaurants and ____.
Answer: apartments / apartment
The recording states that riverside warehouses are converted to restaurants and apartments. The accepted forms include apartments or apartment.
35In Los Angeles, there are plans to build a riverside ____.
Answer: park
The recording states that in Los Angeles, there are plans to build a riverside park. This confirms park as the missing answer.
36In Los Angeles, there are plans to display ____ projects.
Answer: art
The recording states that in Los Angeles, there are plans to display art projects. This confirms art as the missing answer.
37In Paris, ____ are created on the sides of the river every summer.
Answer: beaches / beach
The recording states that in Paris, beaches are created on the sides of the river every summer. The accepted forms include beaches or beach.
38Over two billion passengers already travel by ____ in cities round the world.
Answer: ferry / ferries
The recording states that over two billion passengers already travel by ferry in cities round the world. The accepted forms include ferry or ferries.
39Instead of road transport, goods could be transported by large freight barges and electric ____.
Answer: bikes / bike / bicycles / bicycle
The recording states that instead of road transport, goods could be transported by large freight barges and electric bikes. The accepted forms include bikes or bike or bicycles or bicycle.
40In future, goods could be transported by ____.
Answer: drone / drones
The recording states that in future, goods could be transported by drone. The accepted forms include drone or drones.
Academic and General Training Listening Answers
Are the Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic and GT Test 1 Listening Answers the Same?
Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 20 Test 1 Listening recording, questions and answer key. The Reading and Writing tests are different.
Can I Use This Page for Cambridge IELTS 20 General Training Test 1?
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 vegetarians or vegetarian, and reviews or review.
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.