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 4 Listening Answers with Clear Explanations
Find all 40 Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 4 Listening answers with clear explanations. This answer key applies to both Academic and General Training candidates.
Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 4 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: Shopping in Broadbeach
Questions 1 to 10Part 2: Business Exhibition
Questions 11 to 20Part 3: Houses of the Future
Questions 21 to 30Part 4: Music Therapy for Surgical Patients
Questions 31 to 40Part 1: Shopping in Broadbeach
A survey asks about shopping habits in Broadbeach. The questions cover preferred shops, transport, spending and possible improvements.
1Name: Martyn ____
Answer: Leigh
The recording states that name: Martyn Leigh. This confirms Leigh as the missing answer.
2Today's journey to Broadbeach town centre: used his ____.
Answer: motorbike
The recording states that today's journey to Broadbeach town centre: used his motorbike. This confirms motorbike as the missing answer.
3Purpose of today's trip: has visited the ____.
Answer: hairdresser
The recording states that purpose of today's trip: has visited the hairdresser. This confirms hairdresser as the missing answer.
4Purpose of today's trip: looking for a new ____.
Answer: suit
The recording states that purpose of today's trip: looking for a new suit. This confirms suit as the missing answer.
5Purpose of today's trip: collecting a ____ after repair.
Answer: laptop
The recording states that purpose of today's trip: collecting a laptop after repair. This confirms laptop as the missing answer.
6Preferred day for shopping: ____.
Answer: Monday
The recording states that preferred day for shopping: Monday. This confirms Monday as the missing answer.
7He thinks there are too many places selling ____.
Answer: coffee
The recording states that he thinks there are too many places selling coffee. This confirms coffee as the missing answer.
8He would like more places to buy ____.
Answer: books
The recording states that he would like more places to buy books. This confirms books as the missing answer.
9At the new out-of-town Shopping Centre, he likes the ____ best.
Answer: plants
The recording states that at the new out-of-town Shopping Centre, he likes the plants best. This confirms plants as the missing answer.
10He believes the ____ is unnecessary.
Answer: cinema
The recording states that he believes the cinema is unnecessary. This confirms cinema as the missing answer.
Part 2: Business Exhibition
A presenter introduces a business exhibition. The talk explains available services, useful sessions and the locations of important facilities.
11In which TWO areas of the business exhibition did James Craig promote his company last year?
Answer: C or E
The recording links this point with the Breakout area or the Business Connections Zone. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
12In which TWO areas of the business exhibition did James Craig promote his company last year?
Answer: E or C
The recording links this point with the Business Connections Zone or the Breakout area. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
13Which TWO facts are given about discounts on popular brands available to exhibitors?
Answer: A or B
The recording links this point with They are available to all members of exhibiting companies. or They can be used for both food and clothing.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
14Which TWO facts are given about discounts on popular brands available to exhibitors?
Answer: B or A
The recording links this point with They can be used for both food and clothing. or They are available to all members of exhibiting companies.. The accepted choices may appear in either order.
15Jim Clowrie
Answer: C - Effects of an unexpectedly rapid expansion
The recording links this point with Effects of an unexpectedly rapid expansion. This makes C the correct choice.
16David France
Answer: G - Combining business success with contributions to charities
The recording links this point with Combining business success with contributions to charities. This makes G the correct choice.
17Oliver Stanton
Answer: D - A global range of business experiences
The recording links this point with A global range of business experiences. This makes D the correct choice.
18Francesca Heptonstall
Answer: A - Supporting job seekers
The recording links this point with Supporting job seekers. This makes A the correct choice.
19Salman Khan
Answer: F - Developing a company in response to changing markets
The recording links this point with Developing a company in response to changing markets. This makes F the correct choice.
20Annie Craven
Answer: B - Dealing with personal problems
The recording links this point with Dealing with personal problems. This makes B the correct choice.
Part 3: Houses of the Future
Two students prepare a presentation about future homes. They discuss design ideas, construction methods and how technology may change daily living.
21Which aspect of their presentation are Mia and Leo both concerned about?
Answer: B - finding suitable examples
The recording links this point with finding suitable examples. This makes B the correct choice.
22The students decide to focus their assignment on housing for
Answer: A - family groups.
The recording links this point with family groups.. This makes A the correct choice.
23The students agree that demand for accommodation in urban areas should be met by
Answer: B - constructing tall buildings.
The recording links this point with constructing tall buildings.. This makes B the correct choice.
24use of roof space for gardens
Answer: B - This would be especially beneficial for city residents.
The recording links this point with This would be especially beneficial for city residents.. This makes B the correct choice.
25shared working spaces
Answer: E - This could encourage creativity.
The recording links this point with This could encourage creativity.. This makes E the correct choice.
26moveable internal walls
Answer: I - This would suit both existing and new members of a household.
The recording links this point with This would suit both existing and new members of a household.. This makes I the correct choice.
27smart mirrors in bathrooms
Answer: A - This could cause unnecessary anxiety.
The recording links this point with This could cause unnecessary anxiety.. This makes A the correct choice.
28bike sheds with charging points
Answer: D - This would have environmental benefits.
The recording links this point with This would have environmental benefits.. This makes D the correct choice.
29restriction of cars to certain areas
Answer: H - This would help some people but cause problems for others.
The recording links this point with This would help some people but cause problems for others.. This makes H the correct choice.
30communal vegetable plots
Answer: G - This could enable retired people to share a project.
The recording links this point with This could enable retired people to share a project.. This makes G the correct choice.
Part 4: Music Therapy for Surgical Patients
A lecture reviews music therapy around surgery. It explains research methods, patient responses and possible effects on recovery.
31Surgery impacts patients because they may experience discomfort or unwelcome changes to their ____.
Answer: routine
The recording states that surgery impacts patients because they may experience discomfort or unwelcome changes to their routine. This confirms routine as the missing answer.
32A study reviewed data from about 100 ____ and found that listening to music improved hospital patients' sense of wellbeing and reduced the length of their stay.
Answer: trials
The recording states that a study reviewed data from about 100 trials and found that listening to music improved hospital patients' sense of wellbeing and reduced the length of their stay. This confirms trials as the missing answer.
33The patients in the study all listened to music with a ____ effect.
Answer: calming
The recording states that the patients in the study all listened to music with a calming effect. This confirms calming as the missing answer.
34The music was mostly played through music ____.
Answer: pillows
The recording states that the music was mostly played through music pillows. This confirms pillows as the missing answer.
35Patients reported an absence or low levels of ____.
Answer: anxiety
The recording states that patients reported an absence or low levels of anxiety. This confirms anxiety as the missing answer.
36Medical records confirmed that patients who were played music in hospital needed less ____ than those who weren't played music.
Answer: medication
The recording states that medical records confirmed that patients who were played music in hospital needed less medication than those who weren't played music. This confirms medication as the missing answer.
37The best results were achieved when patients were played music while they were ____.
Answer: awake
The recording states that the best results were achieved when patients were played music while they were awake. This confirms awake as the missing answer.
38The study concluded that playing music was effective because it served as a ____.
Answer: distraction
The recording states that the study concluded that playing music was effective because it served as a distraction. This confirms distraction as the missing answer.
39The researchers recommend playing either music or sounds from ____ to all surgical patients.
Answer: nature
The recording states that the researchers recommend playing either music or sounds from nature to all surgical patients. This confirms nature as the missing answer.
40A future study will investigate the best ____ for the music.
Answer: volume
The recording states that a future study will investigate the best volume for the music. This confirms volume as the missing answer.
Academic and General Training Listening Answers
Are the Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic and GT Test 4 Listening Answers the Same?
Yes. Academic and General Training candidates use the same Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 4 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 4?
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 the forms shown in the answer key.
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.