Cambridge 21 Test 3 Listening Answers & Explanations

30 July 2026

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Cambridge 21 Test 3 Listening Answers & Explanations

This post provides the complete answers and clear explanations for Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic Listening Test 3.

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Each answer includes:

Strategy
Keywords
Exact transcript location
Explanation
Correct answer

> Location note: The locations refer to the relevant part and transcript page. A short dialogue or sentence cue is also provided so that the answer can be found quickly.

How This Guide Is Structured

Strategy

The strategy explains the most effective method for answering each IELTS Listening question type.

Keywords

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

Exact Transcript Location

The location identifies the listening part, transcript page and exact section of the conversation or lecture containing the answer.

Explanation

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

Correct Answer

The answer appears only after the location and explanation.

Listening Part 1

Ferry to the Shetland Islands

Questions 1–10: Note Completion

Strategy

For note-completion questions:

Read the heading and notes before the recording begins.
Predict whether each blank requires a name, noun, number or place.
Listen for corrections and alternative information.
Check singular and plural forms.
Follow the word limit carefully.

The instruction says:

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

Question 1

Name of ferry company: ______ Ferries

Keywords

ferry company, name, Ferries

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, Paul’s reply after Tammy asks which ferry company he used.

Explanation

Paul says that there is only one ferry company and names it Northern Ferries.

The word Ferries is already printed in the notes, so only the first word is needed.

So, the answer is: Northern

Question 2

Ferries depart seven times per ______ in summer.

Keywords

seven times, summer, frequency

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, Paul’s reply about how frequently the ferries run.

Explanation

Paul explains that one ferry leaves every evening during summer and that the service operates seven days a week.

Here:

one every evening
seven days a week
seven times per week

The winter schedule is mentioned afterwards, but it is not relevant to the question.

So, the answer is: week

Question 3

Cost for four people with a car: a little less than £______

Keywords

cost, four people, car, little less than

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, the exchange about ticket prices.

Explanation

Paul says that tickets for four people and a car cost just under £250.

Here:

just under = a little less than
The currency symbol is already included in the notes.

The figure of £400 is Tammy’s incorrect expectation and is a distractor.

So, the answer is: 250

Question 4

Cancellation policy: receive a ______ if cancelled a month in advance.

Keywords

cancellation, month in advance, receive

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, Paul’s explanation of the cancellation policy.

Explanation

Paul says the company does not normally provide a refund. Instead, passengers receive a voucher that can be used later, provided they cancel one month in advance.

Here:

refund = distractor
voucher = what the customer actually receives

So, the answer is: voucher

Question 5

Book a cabin with a ______.

Keywords

cabin, book, more comfortable

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, Paul’s advice about choosing a cabin.

Explanation

Paul says they booked too late to get a cabin with a window. He adds that these cabins cost more but are much nicer than the inner cabins.

The luxury cabins and television are mentioned separately, but the advice is to book a cabin with a window.

So, the answer is: window

Question 6

Bring snacks and ______ for the children.

Keywords

bring, children, snacks, Wi-Fi

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 8, the final exchange about Wi-Fi and activities for the children.

Explanation

Paul first recommends bringing snacks because the food selection is limited.

When Tammy asks about Wi-Fi, Paul says it is not very good and recommends bringing books for the children.

Here:

Wi-Fi = reason for the advice
books = the item they should bring

So, the answer is: books

Question 7

A ______ is required for the dog kennels.

Keywords

dog, kennels, required, provide

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, Paul’s first reply about taking a dog on the ferry.

Explanation

Paul says the kennels are large enough, but passengers need to provide a blanket for their dog.

Here:

need to provide = is required

So, the answer is: blanket

Question 8

Try to see ______ in the morning.

Keywords

see, morning, sea, children

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, Paul’s description of the children looking out to sea.

Explanation

Paul says the children enjoyed being at sea during the night and looked out for dolphins in the morning.

He adds that they saw many of them.

So, the answer is: dolphins

Question 9

If there is time, visit ______ Castle.

Keywords

visit, castle, Aberdeen, spare time

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, Paul’s answer after Tammy asks where they went before the ferry departed.

Explanation

Paul says they visited Drum Castle because they arrived in Aberdeen several hours before the ferry was due to leave.

The question already includes the word Castle, so only Drum is needed.

So, the answer is: Drum

Question 10

The ______ restaurant in a nearby village is recommended.

Keywords

restaurant, nearby village, recommended

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 1, transcript page 9, Paul’s final reply before Listening Part 2 begins.

Explanation

Paul explains that Drum Castle only has a coffee shop. They therefore searched for restaurants nearby and found an Italian restaurant in a village.

Here:

coffee shop = distractor
Italian restaurant = recommended place

So, the answer is: Italian

Listening Part 2

Starting a Street Food Business

Questions 11–12: Multiple Selection

Strategy

For questions requiring two answers:

Read all five options before listening.
Listen for the speaker’s main explanations.
Do not choose an option simply because it is mentioned.
Match the speaker’s meaning with the options.
Select exactly two letters.

Questions 11–12

Which TWO explanations for the popularity of street food are given?

Keywords

popularity, street food, reasons, customers

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 9, the second paragraph of the street-food talk.

Explanation

The speaker gives two main reasons.

First, people enjoy trying food that they cannot find anywhere else.

Here:

something different
cannot get anywhere else
This matches unusual food.

Second, customers like watching food being prepared in front of them rather than receiving something taken directly from a freezer.

Here:

prepared in front of them
not straight out of a freezer
This matches freshly made.

Low price is discussed in relation to fast food, not street food.

So, the answers are: C and E — freshly made and unusual food

Questions 13–14: Multiple Selection

Strategy

Pay attention to whether a place is:

recommended;
described as expensive;
suitable only for experienced businesses;
presented as a future opportunity.

Mentioning a place does not automatically make it an answer.

Questions 13–14

Which TWO places are recommended for new street food businesses?

Keywords

recommended places, new businesses, sell street food

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 9, the paragraph discussing possible locations.

Explanation

The speaker recommends food markets because the customers are interested in food and provide useful feedback.

He also recommends local parks because they are relaxed and usually have many people passing through.

The other options are less suitable for beginners:

Music festivals can be expensive and highly competitive.
Parties can be challenging.
Weddings require everything to be perfect.

So, the answers are: B and E — food markets and parks

Questions 15–16: Multiple Choice

Strategy

For multiple-choice questions:

Read the question before focusing on the options.
Listen for the speaker’s final recommendation.
Identify negative language about the rejected choices.
Select the option that matches the complete meaning.

Question 15

What does the speaker say about getting equipment for a street food business?

Keywords

equipment, buy, rent, second-hand

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the first paragraph.

Explanation

The speaker recommends buying basic equipment such as hobs and refrigerators second-hand.

Better-quality equipment can be purchased later if the business becomes successful.

He warns that renting equipment can ultimately cost more rather than save money.

Option Analysis

A: He does not recommend buying expensive equipment immediately.
B: Correct — second-hand equipment is recommended.
C: Renting is described as more expensive, not cheap.

So, the answer is: B — It is best to buy second-hand equipment.

Question 16

What advice is given about creating a product for a street food business?

Keywords

product, serve, appearance, customers

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the second paragraph.

Explanation

The speaker says business owners often think about competitors and food allergies but forget to consider how the food will be served.

The food must be:

easy to eat;
served appropriately;
attractively presented.

Otherwise, customers may not return.

Option Analysis

A: Allergies are mentioned, but this is not the main advice.
B: Researching similar products is mentioned, but originality is not the final point.
C: Correct — presentation and serving method are important.

So, the answer is: C — The presentation is an important factor.

Questions 17–20: Matching Problems

Strategy

For matching questions:

Read the business names and all possible problems.
Listen for the central difficulty faced by each owner.
Ignore background details that do not answer the question.
Match paraphrases carefully.
Use each selected letter once.

Question 17

Thai Basil

Keywords

Thai Basil, work-life balance, restaurant jobs, markets

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the paragraph beginning with Thai Basil.

Explanation

The owners managed the street food business while continuing their restaurant jobs.

They worked until midnight during the week and operated their food truck on their days off.

Here:

work-life balance was non-existent
They were working extremely long hours.

So, the answer is: F — They worked very long hours.

Question 18

Basque

Keywords

Basque, fish, price, profit

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the paragraph beginning with Basque.

Explanation

The owners found it difficult to make a profit because fish, which was essential for several dishes, was very expensive.

They could not simply increase their prices enough to cover the cost.

So, the answer is: A — Some ingredients were too expensive.

Question 19

Lou’s Kitchen

Keywords

Lou’s Kitchen, complicated dishes, queue, preparation

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the paragraph beginning with Lou’s Kitchen.

Explanation

Lou’s Kitchen prepared complicated salads individually for customers.

People had to wait in a queue for more than 15 minutes, and some lost patience.

Here:

complicated dishes
long queues
The meals took too long to prepare and serve.

So, the answer is: B — The meals took a long time to prepare.

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Question 20

Chip Chop

Keywords

Chip Chop, beach, licence, permission

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 2, transcript page 10, the paragraph beginning with Chip Chop.

Explanation

The owners found a suitable location near a beach but later discovered that they needed a special licence.

The process was complicated, and they eventually abandoned the plan.

Here:

special licence = permit
complicated process = difficulty obtaining permission

So, the answer is: D — It was difficult to get a permit to sell food.

Listening Part 3

Ethical and Sustainable Fashion

Questions 21–22: Multiple Selection

Strategy

For questions asking what both speakers say:

Identify the views clearly accepted by both people.
Listen for agreement phrases such as:
- “I know”
- “Yes”
- “I agree”
- “Exactly”
Separate general discussion from the final shared conclusions.
Select exactly two answers.

Questions 21–22

Which TWO points do the speakers make about the terms “ethical” and “sustainable” fashion?

Keywords

ethical, sustainable, terms, meaning, use

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript pages 10–11, the opening discussion about the meaning and use of the terms.

Explanation

Maddy says most people use ethical and sustainable interchangeably, although they have different meanings.

Here:

People often treat the terms as if they mean the same thing.
This matches B.

She also says companies use the terms vaguely and do not explain clearly how their products are made.

Here:

deliberately vague
not enough information
This matches D.

The speakers do not recommend replacing the terms with eco-friendly; Ryan actually calls that term meaningless.

So, the answers are: B and D

Questions 23–24: Multiple Selection

Strategy

The question asks which claims the speakers disagree with.

Listen for expressions such as:

“I wasn’t convinced”
“I couldn’t find any evidence”
“That is not true”
“I disagree”

Do not select claims they accept as true.

Questions 23–24

Which TWO claims about wool production do the speakers disagree with?

Keywords

wool, disagree, chemicals, environmental damage

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, the discussion about wool production.

Explanation

Ryan rejects the claim that wool production involves very few chemicals. He points to fungicides and insecticides used in sheep farming.

This matches:

D — Wool production involves few chemicals.

Maddy says she found no evidence that sheep farming is better for the environment than cattle farming. Ryan agrees that both cause serious environmental damage.

This matches:

E — Sheep do less environmental damage than other livestock.

They accept that wool lasts a long time and can be recycled.

So, the answers are: D and E

Questions 25–30: Matching Fabrics with Comments

Strategy

For matching questions:

Read the names of all six fabrics.
Underline the key idea in each answer option.
Listen for numbers, comparisons and strong evaluative language.
Match each fabric with its main advantage or disadvantage.
Use each answer only once.

Question 25

Lyocell

Keywords

Lyocell, dissolving agents, manufacturing process

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, the Lyocell exchange.

Explanation

Ryan says more than 99% of the dissolving agents used in manufacturing Lyocell are used again.

Here:

used again = reused
The chemicals required for manufacturing can be recycled within the process.

So, the answer is: G — Chemicals required for production can be reused.

Question 26

Cupro

Keywords

Cupro, pollution, compare, sustainable fabrics

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, the Cupro exchange.

Explanation

Cupro is made from by-products of cotton production, but Ryan mentions reports of pollution from its manufacturing process.

Maddy says it compares unfavourably with all the other sustainable fabrics they examined.

Here:

does not compare favourably
It is the least sustainable option among those discussed.

So, the answer is: B — It is the least sustainable of the alternative fabrics.

Question 27

Bamboo

Keywords

bamboo, organic, truly sustainable, manufacturing

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, the Bamboo exchange.

Explanation

Ryan says only organic bamboo is truly sustainable.

Maddy adds that producing much of the bamboo fabric available involves an intensive chemical process.

Therefore, bamboo must be grown and manufactured in the correct way to be sustainable.

So, the answer is: F — It needs to be produced in a certain way to be sustainable.

Question 28

EcoVero

Keywords

EcoVero, energy, emissions, manufacturing

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 11, the EcoVero exchange.

Explanation

Maddy says EcoVero manufacturing creates 50% fewer emissions and uses half as much energy as conventional fabric production.

Here:

uses half as much energy = fuel or energy efficient
Lower energy use also reduces production costs.

So, the answer is: A — The production process is fuel efficient.

Question 29

Cork

Keywords

cork, renewable, recyclable, biodegradable

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, the opening discussion about cork.

Explanation

Maddy says cork is the only fabric discussed that is fundamentally sustainable.

The trees are renewable, while the product is recyclable and biodegradable.

Ryan adds that harvesting cork benefits the trees and has no disadvantages.

So, the answer is: H — This is from a wholly sustainable source.

Question 30

Hemp

Keywords

hemp, sun, antibacterial, health

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 3, transcript page 12, the Hemp exchange.

Explanation

Ryan says hemp clothing protects the wearer from the sun and also has antibacterial properties.

These are benefits for the wearer in addition to the material’s environmental advantages.

So, the answer is: D — It provides additional health benefits.

Listening Part 4

Invasive Species

Questions 31–40: Note Completion

Strategy

For lecture note-completion questions:

Read the headings and subheadings before listening.
Predict the type of word required in each blank.
Follow the organisation of the lecture.
Listen for definitions, examples and cause-and-effect relationships.
Copy the exact word used by the speaker.
Check spelling and singular or plural forms.

The instruction says:

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

Question 31

An invasive species can be a problem when it introduces a new ______.

Keywords

introduces, new, native species, no defences

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 12, the paragraph explaining how invasive species cause harm.

Explanation

The speaker says an invasive species may bring a disease that native species have never experienced and cannot defend themselves against.

Here:

bring = introduce
The new threat is a disease.

So, the answer is: disease

Question 32

An invasive species can threaten an entire ______.

Keywords

threatens, entire, survival, damage

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 12, the end of the paragraph explaining environmental harm.

Explanation

The speaker says species invasions are one of the greatest causes of damage within an ecosystem and may put its survival at risk.

Here:

puts its survival at risk = threatens
The thing being threatened is the ecosystem.

So, the answer is: ecosystem

Question 33

Invasive species may spread accidentally through people returning from their ______.

Keywords

accidentally, people returning, another country

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 12, the paragraph explaining accidental spread.

Explanation

The speaker gives the example of people returning from a holiday in another country with plant seeds attached to their clothes or shoes.

Both singular and plural forms may be accepted depending on the answer key.

So, the answer is: holiday / holidays

Question 34

Invasive species may be introduced intentionally for pest control or as ______.

Keywords

intentionally, pest control, animals, deliberately move

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 12, the paragraph explaining intentional movement of species.

Explanation

The speaker says humans sometimes deliberately transport animals and plants to control agricultural pests or to keep them as pets.

The blank follows as, so the plural noun fits naturally.

So, the answer is: pets

Question 35

The toads were introduced to protect ______ plantations.

Keywords

toads, plantations, insect, crops

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 12, the paragraph about Rhinella marina.

Explanation

The toads were introduced to eat grey-backed beetles that were destroying sugar crops on plantations.

Here:

crops of sugar
sugar plantations

So, the answer is: sugar

Question 36

Rhododendron plants prevent ______ from reaching native plants.

Keywords

rhododendrons, prevent, native plants, grow beneath

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, the paragraph about Japanese knotweed and rhododendrons.

Explanation

The speaker says rhododendrons block so much light that native wildflowers cannot grow underneath them.

Here:

block out = prevent from reaching
The missing noun is light.

So, the answer is: light

Question 37

Grey squirrels spread a ______ that kills red squirrels.

Keywords

grey squirrels, spread, kills, red squirrels

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, the paragraph about grey and red squirrels.

Explanation

Grey squirrels compete with red squirrels for food and also carry a type of virus that is deadly to them.

Here:

deadly to red squirrels = kills red squirrels

So, the answer is: virus

Question 38

Monitoring helps us understand the ______ of invasive species.

Keywords

monitoring, understand, new species, controlling

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, the final paragraph about tackling invasive species.

Explanation

The speaker says the first step in controlling invasive species is learning about the behaviour of new species entering the country.

Monitoring helps authorities understand what the species do and whether they are causing harm.

Both British and American spellings may be accepted.

So, the answer is: behaviour / behavior

Question 39

Setting up a national ______ makes invasive species easier to track.

Keywords

national, track, authorities, share information

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, the final paragraph after the discussion of monitoring.

Explanation

The speaker recommends creating a database for the whole country.

This allows authorities and agencies to share information and take appropriate action.

Here:

keep track of = monitor
for the whole country = national

So, the answer is: database

Question 40

The public should ______ harmful species and report them.

Keywords

public, report, identification, harmful species

Exact Transcript Location

Listening Part 4, transcript page 13, the final lines of the lecture.

Explanation

The speaker says members of the public should be encouraged to photograph harmful species because photographs help with identification.

They should then report when and where the species were observed.

The answer must be a verb after to.

So, the answer is: photograph

Cambridge 21 Test 3 Listening Answer Key

Listening Part 1

Northern
week
250
voucher
window
books
blanket
dolphins
Drum
Italian

Listening Part 2

11–12. C and E — freshly made and unusual food
13–14. B and E — food markets and parks
15. B
16. C
17. F
18. A
19. B
20. D

Listening Part 3

21–22. B and D
23–24. D and E
25. G
26. B
27. F
28. A
29. H
30. D

Listening Part 4

disease
ecosystem
holiday / holidays
pets
sugar
light
virus
behaviour / behavior
database
photograph

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 AND/OR A NUMBER

Writing extra words will make a correct answer incorrect.

For example:

Correct: Northern
Incorrect: Northern Ferries

The word Ferries is already included in the question.

Expect Distractors

Speakers often mention an incorrect possibility before giving the answer.

Examples from this test:

Tammy expects the tickets to cost £400, but the actual cost is just under £250.
Paul says the company does not give a refund; it gives a voucher.
The castle has a coffee shop, but the recommended nearby restaurant is Italian.
Music festivals are mentioned, but food markets and parks are recommended for beginners.

Listen for Corrections and Contrasts

Words such as these often introduce the real answer:

but
however
instead
actually
on the other hand
only
rather than

For example:

> Renting equipment is possible, but it will cost more rather than save money.

This confirms that second-hand equipment is the better option.

Identify Paraphrases

IELTS Listening questions rarely repeat the recording word for word.

Question wording	Recording wording
a little less than	just under
cancellation policy	policy to give refunds or a voucher
required	need to provide
unusual food	something they cannot get anywhere else
freshly made	prepared in front of customers
very long hours	work-life balance was non-existent
expensive ingredients	the price of fish was very high
permit	special licence
used imprecisely	deliberately vague
chemicals can be reused	dissolving agents are used again
wholly sustainable source	renewable, recyclable and biodegradable
introduces	brings with it
threatens	puts survival at risk
national database	database for the whole country

Read All Options Before Listening

For multiple-selection and matching questions, read all the choices before the recording begins.

This helps you recognise:

synonyms;
positive and negative opinions;
rejected ideas;
changes of mind;
final decisions.

Do Not Choose an Option Just Because It Is Mentioned

Several locations are mentioned in Questions 13–14:

music festivals;
food markets;
parks;
parties;
weddings.

However, only food markets and parks are recommended for a new business.

Always decide whether the speaker is recommending, rejecting or simply mentioning an option.

Focus on the Main Problem

For Questions 17–20, each business experienced several events, but only one main problem matched an option.

For example:

Lou’s Kitchen made complicated dishes.
This created long queues.
The central problem was slow preparation.

Therefore, the answer is B.

Listen for Agreement and Disagreement

In Part 3, identify whether the speakers agree with or challenge a claim.

Useful phrases include:

I wasn’t convinced
I couldn’t find any evidence
Good point
Me neither
That’s true

These phrases are particularly useful for questions asking what both speakers believe.

Check Singular and Plural Forms

Look carefully at the grammar around the blank.

Examples:

a new disease
an entire ecosystem
as pets
sugar plantations

The surrounding words help show whether the answer should be singular or plural.

Check Spelling

Common spelling errors can cause lost marks.

Review words such as:

voucher
dolphins
Italian
ecosystem
behaviour
database
photograph

Both behaviour and behavior may be accepted, but use one spelling consistently.

Review Every Incorrect Answer

After completing the test, identify why each mistake happened.

Common reasons include:

missing a distractor;
exceeding the word limit;
selecting an option simply because it was mentioned;
failing to notice a contrast;
confusing agreement with disagreement;
writing the wrong singular or plural form;
spelling the answer incorrectly.

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