Cambridge 20 Test 2 Listening Answers & Explanations

This post provides complete answers and clear explanations for Cambridge IELTS 20 Academic Listening Test 2.

Each answer includes:

• Strategy
• Keywords
• Exact transcript location
• Explanation
• Correct answer

> Location note: Each answer includes the relevant listening part, transcript page and exact source lines so you can quickly find the evidence.

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How This Guide Is Structured

Strategy

The strategy explains the best approach for each IELTS Listening question type.

Keywords

Keywords are the important words and phrases you should identify before the recording begins.

Exact Transcript Location

Each answer shows the listening part, transcript page and exact lines containing the evidence.

Explanation

The explanation shows how the recording matches or paraphrases the question and highlights important distractors.

Correct Answer

The final answer appears after the explanation.

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Listening Part 1

Practical Support for People Caring for Elderly Relatives

Questions 1–10: Note Completion

Strategy

For note-completion questions:

1. Read the notes before listening.
2. Predict whether each blank needs a noun, verb or number.
3. Follow the conversation in order.
4. Listen for examples and paraphrases.
5. Do not add unnecessary words.
6. Check spelling carefully.

The instruction says:

Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

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Question 1

Council support can give the carer time for other responsibilities and a ______.

Keywords

carer, other responsibilities, need, support

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 178–180

Explanation

The speaker says carers need time for responsibilities apart from caring and sometimes simply need a break.

So, the answer is: break

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Question 2

The assessment discusses how much ______ the caring involves.

Keywords

assessment, amount, caring, every day

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 182–184

Explanation

The council wants to know the amount of time the carer spends looking after her mother each day.

Here:

• how much = amount of
• The missing word is time.

So, the answer is: time

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Question 3

One task is helping her have a ______.

Keywords

tasks, morning, helping mother

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 186–190

Explanation

The woman says she helps her mother get into the shower every morning.

So, the answer is: shower

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Question 4

Another task is dealing with ______.

Keywords

shopping, meals, cope using

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 189–191

Explanation

The man asks whether the mother is still able to cope with using money.

The woman says this is becoming difficult.

So, the answer is: money

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Question 5

A particularly difficult aspect is loss of ______.

Keywords

difficult, forget, day, problems

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 193–195

Explanation

The woman says her mother has developed serious problems with her memory and sometimes forgets basic things.

So, the answer is: memory

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Question 6

Another difficulty is ______ her.

Keywords

physical difficulties, heavy, back

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, lines 196–198

Explanation

The man asks about physical difficulties such as lifting her mother.

The woman confirms that this is difficult because her mother is heavy.

So, the answer is: lifting

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Question 7

The carer may need advice on preventing a ______.

Keywords

preventing, mother, physical safety

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 10, lines 202–203

Explanation

The council can give advice about reducing the possibility of the mother having a fall.

So, the answer is: fall

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Question 8

Transport costs may include the cost of a ______.

Keywords

transport costs, appointment

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 10, lines 205–206

Explanation

The man gives the example of paying for a taxi to take the mother to an appointment.

So, the answer is: taxi

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Question 9

Car-related costs can include fuel and ______.

Keywords

car, petrol, claim

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 10, lines 207–208

Explanation

The woman asks about claiming petrol expenses.

The man confirms this and adds that insurance can also be claimed.

So, the answer is: insurance

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Question 10

The council may offer help to reduce ______.

Keywords

look after yourself, under quite a bit, minimise

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 10, lines 210–214

Explanation

The man says the woman appears to be under considerable stress.

He tells her the council may provide advice on how to minimise it.

So, the answer is: stress

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Listening Part 2

Community Volunteering and Local Festival Events

Questions 11–16: Matching

Strategy

For matching questions:

1. Read all activities and options before listening.
2. Identify the main purpose of each activity.
3. Match meaning rather than individual words.
4. Be careful when several activities involve helping people.
5. Use each letter according to the instructions.

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Question 11

Walking around the town centre

Keywords

town centre, tourists, directions, recommendations

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 221–223

Explanation

Volunteers walk around the town and help tourists find shops or decide what places to visit.

This means they are giving advice to visitors.

So, the answer is: D — giving advice to visitors

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Question 12

Helping at concerts

Keywords

concerts, audience, right place

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 224–226

Explanation

Volunteers help audience members reach the correct section of the concert venue.

So, the answer is: I — helping people find their seats

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Question 13

Getting involved with community groups

Keywords

community groups, sports clubs, help each other

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 226–229

Explanation

Volunteers encourage different local groups to cooperate and share resources.

So, the answer is: H — encouraging cooperation between local organisations

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Question 14

Helping with a magazine

Keywords

magazine, events, opinions, suggestions

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 229–233

Explanation

Volunteers collect people's opinions about events and suggestions for future activities.

They then send a summary to the magazine editors.

So, the answer is: E — collecting feedback on events

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Question 15

Participating at lunches for retired people

Keywords

retired people, lunch, songs, plays

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 233–236

Explanation

After lunch, some volunteers perform songs and short plays for the guests.

So, the answer is: A — providing entertainment

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Question 16

Helping with the website

Keywords

website, residents, know about it

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, lines 237–238

Explanation

Volunteers help make residents aware of the council website and encourage them to use it.

So, the answer is: B — providing publicity about a council service

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Questions 17–20: Multiple Choice

Strategy

For multiple-choice questions:

1. Read all options before listening.
2. Listen for comparisons.
3. Watch for words such as more, even more, essential, and forthcoming.
4. Select the final meaning, not the first detail mentioned.

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Question 17

Which festival needs the largest number of volunteers?

Keywords

largest number, music festival, science festival, book festival

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 11, lines 243–246

Explanation

The book festival needs many volunteers.

The music festival needs more.

However, the speaker says even more help is required for the science festival.

So, the answer is: B — the science festival

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Question 18

What is the most important requirement for volunteers?

Keywords

essential, volunteers, get on well, behaving badly

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 11, lines 247–251

Explanation

Interest and flexibility are useful, but the speaker says the essential requirement is being able to get on well with other people and handle difficult behaviour.

This refers to interpersonal skills.

So, the answer is: A — interpersonal skills

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Question 19

New volunteers will start working in the week beginning ______.

Keywords

training, start working, September

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 11, lines 252–254

Explanation

Training starts on September 2.

Actual duties begin the following week, from September 9.

The question asks when volunteers start working, not training.

So, the answer is: B — 9 September

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Question 20

What is the next annual event for volunteers?

Keywords

annual event, forthcoming, canal

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 11, lines 255–257

Explanation

Previous events included a party and a barbecue.

The upcoming event is a trip along the canal to Dewhurst and back.

That corresponds to the boat-trip option.

So, the answer is: A — a boat trip

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Listening Part 3

Urban Development and Human Geography

Questions 21–25: Matching Opinions

Strategy

For this type of matching:

1. Identify each geography topic.
2. Listen for the students' final shared opinion.
3. Watch for uncertainty or corrections.
4. Match the meaning with the option list.

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Question 21

Population

Keywords

population, facts, statistics, internet

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, lines 263–265

Explanation

Although population would involve many facts and statistics, Colin says the information would be straightforward to find online.

So, the answer is: D — It will be easy to find facts about this.

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Question 22

Health

Keywords

health, geography, cholera, fascinating

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, lines 266–269

Explanation

Rosie says she had not previously considered the relationship between geography and health.

Colin describes the example from the lecture as fascinating.

So, the answer is: G — The information provided about this was interesting.

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Question 23

Economies

Keywords

economies, syllabus, avoid

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, lines 269–274

Explanation

Rosie thinks the topic may have been removed from the syllabus and suggests avoiding it.

So, the answer is: B — This may not be relevant to their course.

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Question 24

Culture

Keywords

culture, general, useful examples

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript pages 11–12, lines 275–282

Explanation

Rosie says the lecture was too general and did not provide useful examples.

This means the information was too vague.

So, the answer is: A — The information given about this was too vague.

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Question 25

Poverty

Keywords

poverty, figures, manipulated, political reasons

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, lines 283–287

Explanation

Rosie explains that figures about poverty may sometimes be deliberately manipulated for political reasons.

Therefore, the facts may not always be trustworthy.

So, the answer is: E — The facts about this may not be reliable.

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Questions 26–30: Multiple Choice

Question 26

Rosie says the main problem in her own city is ______.

Keywords

own city, serious issue, jobs

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, lines 292–296

Explanation

Rosie mentions crime but says it is linked to a more serious issue: many people do not have jobs.

So, the answer is: C — unemployment

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Question 27

Which recent development on the outskirts of their cities are both students happy about?

Keywords

outskirts, both cities, new development

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, lines 297–305

Explanation

Shopping centres are mentioned, but Colin notes they can damage city-centre businesses.

Sports facilities are not being developed in either student's area.

Both cities, however, have new conference centres.

So, the answer is: A — conference centres

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Question 28

Developing disused industrial sites may ______.

Keywords

industrial sites, dangerous materials, cost

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, lines 306–312

Explanation

Old industrial sites may contain dangerous chemicals or materials that need to be removed.

Colin points out that making the site safe could cost a lot and may not have been included in the budget.

So, the answer is: A — have unexpected costs

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Question 29

Masdar City is an example of an attempt to achieve ______.

Keywords

Masdar City, renewable energy, green city

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 13, lines 316–322

Explanation

Masdar City was designed to depend entirely on renewable energy.

Although transport and recycling are also mentioned, the students decide to focus on power sources.

So, the answer is: B — sustainable energy use

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Question 30

Regarding Greenhill Abbotts, Colin is uncertain about ______.

Keywords

Greenhill Abbotts, uncertain, how far

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 13, lines 323–325

Explanation

Colin knows its objectives and knows that some people opposed the plans.

What he does not know is how much progress has actually been made.

So, the answer is: C — how much of it has actually been built

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Listening Part 4

Developing Food Trends

Questions 31–40: Note Completion

Strategy

For Part 4 note completion:

1. Read the notes before listening.
2. Predict the missing word type.
3. Follow the lecture in order.
4. Pay attention to examples and brand case studies.
5. Write only one word.
6. Check singular and plural forms.

The instruction says:

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

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Question 31

Interest in food fashions started with ______ of food being shared on social media.

Keywords

smartphone, food, shared, social media

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 328–330

Explanation

The speaker says interest grew when people started taking photos of their food and instantly sharing them online.

Acceptable answers include photos, photographs, or pictures.

So, the answer is: photos / photographs / pictures

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Question 32

Sales of ______ food brands have grown rapidly through influencers.

Keywords

influencers, food brands, rapid growth

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 332–336

Explanation

Companies selling vegan products were among the first to increase sales rapidly through social-media influencers.

So, the answer is: vegan

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Question 33

Famous ______ are influential in creating food trends.

Keywords

supermarkets, menus, well-known

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 336–339

Explanation

Supermarkets monitor what well-known chefs are putting on their menus.

Acceptable answers include chefs or cooks.

So, the answer is: chefs / cooks

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Question 34

For the avocado campaign, ______ were invited to visit growers in South Africa.

Keywords

avocado, South Africa, visit farmers

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 340–343

Explanation

A PR company paid for a group of journalists to visit avocado farmers in South Africa.

So, the answer is: journalists / reporters

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Question 35

Advertising focused on the avocado's ______ benefits.

Keywords

avocado, superfood, nutrients, beneficial

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 343–346

Explanation

The avocado was promoted as a nutrient-rich superfood that was beneficial for health.

So, the answer is: health

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Question 36

Oat milk was promoted in the USA through ______ shops.

Keywords

USA, oat milk, chains, advertising

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 347–353

Explanation

Instead of launching widely through retailers, the brand introduced oat milk through coffee chains.

So, the answer is: coffee

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Question 37

Oat milk appealed to consumers concerned about the ______.

Keywords

oat milk, water, carbon footprint, impact

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, lines 353–356

Explanation

Consumers preferred oat milk because it had less environmental impact, requiring less water and producing a relatively low carbon footprint.

So, the answer is: environment

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Question 38

Norwegian skrei has helped strengthen the ______ of Norwegian seafood.

Keywords

skrei, Norway, fisheries, excellent seafood

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 14, lines 361–363

Explanation

Marketing skrei helped build the reputation of Norway's fisheries and encouraged consumers to associate Norway with high-quality seafood.

So, the answer is: reputation

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Question 39

The success of quinoa caused an increase in its ______.

Keywords

quinoa, demand, soared, unaffordable

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 14, lines 365–367

Explanation

As demand for quinoa increased, its price rose dramatically and it became difficult for local people to afford.

Acceptable answers include price or cost.

So, the answer is: price / cost

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Question 40

Overuse of resources resulted in poor-quality ______.

Keywords

quinoa, land, fertility, decreased

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 14, lines 368–370

Explanation

Farmers began using the land continuously to produce more quinoa.

As a result, the fertility of the soil decreased dramatically.

So, the answer is: soil

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Cambridge 20 Test 2 Listening Answer Key

Listening Part 1

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

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Listening Part 2

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

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Listening Part 3

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

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Listening Part 4

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

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Bonus IELTS Listening Tips

Follow the Word Limit

Always check whether the instruction says:

• ONE WORD ONLY
• ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER
• NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS

For example:

• Correct: insurance
• Incorrect: car insurance

when only one word is allowed.

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Listen for Distractors

IELTS often mentions several possible answers.

For Question 19:

• Training begins on 2 September
• Work begins on 9 September
• Individual reviews happen in the week beginning 23 September

The question asks when volunteers begin working.

Therefore, the answer is 9 September.

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Pay Attention to Comparison Words

Question 17 is a good example.

The speaker says:

• many volunteers are needed for the book festival;
• more for the music festival;
• even more for the science festival.

The words even more identify the correct answer.

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Listen for Paraphrases

Question wording	Recording wording
a break	need a break
how much time	amount of time
loss of memory	problems with her memory
preventing a fall	avoid the possibility of a fall
reduce stress	minimise it
giving advice	recommendations about what to visit
cooperation	groups can help each other
collecting feedback	find out what people think
providing entertainment	put on a show
interpersonal skills	get on well with other people
easy to find facts	straightforward to find on the internet
unreliable facts	deliberately manipulated
unemployment	people don't have jobs
unexpected costs	not budgeted for
sustainable energy	renewable energy
food pictures	photos of their food
health benefits	beneficial for health
concern about environment	less impact on the environment
strengthened reputation	build the reputation
increased price	price soared

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Listen for the Final Opinion

In conversations, one speaker may suggest an idea and the other may reject or modify it.

For Question 27:

• Shopping centres are mentioned.
• But Colin says they cause city-centre shops to close.
• Sports centres would be nice, but neither area has them.
• Both cities have conference centres.

Therefore, conference centres is correct.

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Use Grammar to Predict the Answer

Before listening, examine the words around the blank.

Example:

> an increase in its ______

A noun is required.

Answer: price

Another example:

> ______ were invited

A plural noun is required.

Answer: journalists

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Watch for Acceptable Alternatives

Some answers may have more than one accepted form.

Examples:

• photos / photographs / pictures
• chefs / cooks
• journalists / reporters
• price / cost

Use one accepted answer only in the actual exam.

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Separate Training Dates from Working Dates

IELTS frequently uses dates as distractors.

Always identify exactly what the question asks:

• registration date;
• training date;
• starting date;
• review date;
• event date.

One wrong date can easily cost a mark.

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Listen for Agreement in Part 3

When two students discuss a topic, the correct answer often depends on whether both agree.

Useful signals include:

• “Yeah.”
• “You’re right.”
• “Same in my area.”
• “Good idea.”
• “Let’s stick to…”

These signals help confirm the final answer.

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Check Spelling

Review words such as:

• insurance
• journalists
• environment
• reputation

Correct listening with incorrect spelling can still lose the mark.

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Review Every Wrong Answer

After finishing, identify the reason for every mistake.

Common causes include:

• choosing the first answer mentioned;
• missing a correction;
• confusing training and working dates;
• exceeding the word limit;
• missing a paraphrase;
• overlooking agreement between speakers;
• spelling the answer incorrectly.