Cambridge IELTS 20 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 20 | Academic and GT Listening

Test 2 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations

Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 20 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 20 audioscripts.

Cambridge IELTS 20 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: Practical Support for Carers

Questions 1 to 10
1break
2time
3shower
4money
5memory
6lifting
7fall
8taxi
9insurance
10stress

Part 2: Town Volunteers

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

Part 3: Human Geography

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

Part 4: Developing Food Trends

Questions 31 to 40
31photos / photographs / pictures
32vegan
33chefs / cooks
34journalists / reporters
35health
36coffee
37environment
38reputation
39price / cost
40soil

Part 1: Practical Support for Carers

A caller asks about practical help for carers. The conversation covers available services, appointments, costs and ways to access support.

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

1Practical support can give the carer time for other responsibilities and a ____.

Answer: break

The recording states that practical support can give the carer time for other responsibilities and a break. This confirms break as the missing answer.

2The assessment may discuss how much ____ the caring involves.

Answer: time

The recording states that the assessment may discuss how much time the caring involves. This confirms time as the missing answer.

3Tasks may include helping the mother have a ____.

Answer: shower

The recording states that tasks may include helping the mother have a shower. This confirms shower as the missing answer.

4Tasks may include dealing with ____.

Answer: money

The recording states that tasks may include dealing with money. This confirms money as the missing answer.

5A difficult aspect of caring may be loss of ____.

Answer: memory

The recording states that a difficult aspect of caring may be loss of memory. This confirms memory as the missing answer.

6Another difficult aspect may be ____ her.

Answer: lifting

The recording states that another difficult aspect may be lifting her. This confirms lifting as the missing answer.

7Another difficult aspect may be preventing a ____.

Answer: fall

The recording states that another difficult aspect may be preventing a fall. This confirms fall as the missing answer.

8Transport costs may include the cost of a ____.

Answer: taxi

The recording states that transport costs may include the cost of a taxi. This confirms taxi as the missing answer.

9Car-related costs may include fuel and ____.

Answer: insurance

The recording states that car-related costs may include fuel and insurance. This confirms insurance as the missing answer.

10Support may include help to reduce ____.

Answer: stress

The recording states that support may include help to reduce stress. This confirms stress as the missing answer.

Part 2: Town Volunteers

A speaker explains local volunteering opportunities. The talk covers community roles, training, schedules and suitable placements.

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

11walking around the town centre

Answer: D - giving advice to visitors

The recording links this point with giving advice to visitors. This makes D the correct choice.

12helping at concerts

Answer: I - helping people find their seats

The recording links this point with helping people find their seats. This makes I the correct choice.

13getting involved with community groups

Answer: H - encouraging cooperation between local organisations

The recording links this point with encouraging cooperation between local organisations. This makes H the correct choice.

14helping with a magazine

Answer: E - collecting feedback on events

The recording links this point with collecting feedback on events. This makes E the correct choice.

15participating at lunches for retired people

Answer: A - providing entertainment

The recording links this point with providing entertainment. This makes A the correct choice.

16helping with the website

Answer: B - providing publicity about a council service

The recording links this point with providing publicity about a council service. This makes B the correct choice.

17Which event requires the largest number of volunteers?

Answer: B - the science festival

The recording links this point with the science festival. This makes B the correct choice.

18What is the most important requirement for volunteers at the festivals?

Answer: A - interpersonal skills

The recording links this point with interpersonal skills. This makes A the correct choice.

19New volunteers will start working in the week beginning

Answer: B - 9 September.

The recording links this point with 9 September.. This makes B the correct choice.

20What is the next annual event for volunteers?

Answer: A - a boat trip

The recording links this point with a boat trip. This makes A the correct choice.

Part 3: Human Geography

Two students discuss a human geography course. They compare topics, assignments, research methods and their planned work.

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

21Population

Answer: D - It will be easy to find facts about this.

The recording links this point with It will be easy to find facts about this.. This makes D the correct choice.

22Health

Answer: G - The information provided about this was interesting.

The recording links this point with The information provided about this was interesting.. This makes G the correct choice.

23Economics

Answer: B - This may not be relevant to their course.

The recording links this point with This may not be relevant to their course.. This makes B the correct choice.

24Culture

Answer: A - The information given about this was too vague.

The recording links this point with The information given about this was too vague.. This makes A the correct choice.

25Poverty

Answer: E - The facts about this may not be reliable.

The recording links this point with The facts about this may not be reliable.. This makes E the correct choice.

26Rosie says that in her own city the main problem is

Answer: C - unemployment.

The recording links this point with unemployment.. This makes C the correct choice.

27What recent additions to the outskirts of their cities are both students happy about?

Answer: A - conference centres

The recording links this point with conference centres. This makes A the correct choice.

28The students agree that developing disused industrial sites may

Answer: A - have unexpected costs.

The recording links this point with have unexpected costs.. This makes A the correct choice.

29The students will mention Masdar City as an example of an attempt to achieve

Answer: B - sustainable energy use.

The recording links this point with sustainable energy use.. This makes B the correct choice.

30When discussing the Eco town of Greenhill Abbots, Colin is uncertain about

Answer: C - how much of it has actually been built.

The recording links this point with how much of it has actually been built.. This makes C the correct choice.

Part 4: Developing Food Trends

A lecture explores how food trends develop. It covers consumer choices, production, marketing and changes in eating habits.

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

31The growth in interest in food fashions started with ____ of food being shared on social media.

Answer: photos / photographs / pictures

The recording states that the growth in interest in food fashions started with photos of food being shared on social media. The accepted forms include photos or photographs or pictures.

32Sales of ____ food brands have grown this way.

Answer: vegan

The recording states that sales of vegan food brands have grown this way. This confirms vegan as the missing answer.

33Famous ____ are influential.

Answer: chefs / cooks

The recording states that famous chefs are influential. The accepted forms include chefs or cooks.

34For an avocado campaign, ____ were invited to visit growers in South Africa.

Answer: journalists / reporters

The recording states that for an avocado campaign, journalists were invited to visit growers in South Africa. The accepted forms include journalists or reporters.

35Advertising for avocados focused on their ____ benefits.

Answer: health

The recording states that advertising for avocados focused on their health benefits. This confirms health as the missing answer.

36Promotion of oat milk in the USA through ____ shops reduced the need for advertising.

Answer: coffee

The recording states that promotion of oat milk in the USA through coffee shops reduced the need for advertising. This confirms coffee as the missing answer.

37Oat milk appealed to consumers who are concerned about the ____.

Answer: environment

The recording states that oat milk appealed to consumers who are concerned about the environment. This confirms environment as the missing answer.

38Norwegian skrei has helped strengthen the ____ of Norwegian seafood.

Answer: reputation

The recording states that norwegian skrei has helped strengthen the reputation of Norwegian seafood. This confirms reputation as the missing answer.

39Quinoa's success led to an increase in its ____.

Answer: price / cost

The recording states that quinoa's success led to an increase in its price. The accepted forms include price or cost.

40Overuse of resources resulted in poor quality ____.

Answer: soil

The recording states that overuse of resources resulted in poor quality soil. This confirms soil as the missing answer.

Academic and General Training Listening Answers

Are the Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic and GT Test 2 Listening Answers the Same?

Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 20 Test 2 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 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 photos or photographs, and chefs or cooks.

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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