Cambridge IELTS 12 · Listening · Test 2 · Part 3

Listening Test 2, Part 3: answers explained

Scandinavian Studies

The recording and its 10 questions (21–30). Every answer is explained with the words that give it away.

Take the whole test, timed Show the answers

Part 3 recording

Play it once, as in the exam, and answer the questions below as you listen.

Questions 21–30

Multiple choice
21 James chose to take Scandinavian Studies because when he was a child
22 When he graduates, James would like to
23 Which course will end this term?
24 They agree that James’s literature paper this term will be on
25 Beth recommends that James’s paper should be
Flow-chart completion
26 He’ll read a ______ and choose his topic.
27 He’ll borrow a ______ from Beth.
28 He’ll plan the ______ of the paper.
29 He’ll read some source material and write ______
30 He’ll write the paper using ______

Answers explained

Answer the questions first: finding the evidence yourself teaches more than reading it. The answers stay folded until you ask.

Question 21

C

What you hear

We hardly ever did, though

Why

James says his mother talked about Denmark but they hardly ever went, and that her relations and friends always came to see them when in England. So several Danish visitors is C. The visits to Denmark option fails because it was usually his mother alone, and speaking Danish at home is never claimed.
Question 22

B

What you hear

I’m interested in journalism

Why

James is interested in journalism and likes the idea of writing for magazines in Scandinavia, which is working in the media. A master's is what Beth says many students do, but he thinks four years is enough. Translating is what most graduates do, and he finds it less creative.
Question 23

C

What you hear

the one on Scandinavian literature that’s running at the moment will be replaced

Why

Beth says the Scandinavian literature course running now will be replaced by more specialised ones, so it ends this term. Swedish cinema continues next term, and the Danish television course is not due until the term after next, so neither ends now.
Question 24

A

What you hear

modern novels or 19th century playwrights

Why

James's first choice, the Icelandic sagas, is discouraged because many people choose it and books are hard to find. Beth then suggests modern novels or 19th century playwrights, and he says plays would be a good idea, after which she puts him down for that topic. Novels were offered but not agreed.
Question 25

C

What you hear

the literature in the context of the society in which it was produced

Why

Beth advises understanding the literature in the context of the society that produced it: who it was written for and how it was published. She also says this is more fruitful than placing it in the history of the genre, and warns against a detailed study of one writer.
Question 26

E

What you hear

an assignment a student wrote last year

Why

The advice is to read an assignment that a student wrote last year, kept in the library, because it is short and well focused. That is a student paper, option E. Textbooks are the wrong pick: they are criticised for covering so many topics that choosing just one is difficult.
Question 27

G

What you hear

I’ve got a recording of a documentary that you should watch

Why

Beth has a recording of a documentary that makes provocative points to help James focus his topic, so she will lend it. The film on DVD is the distractor: she tells him to ignore it because it is more fantasy than reality.
Question 28

D

What you hear

should I work out an outline

Why

An outline made of headings for the different sections is the first stage, so the structure of the paper is planned before anything else. Bullet points are a later step, once notes have been sorted under those headings, which makes option A the neighbouring wrong choice.
Question 29

C

What you hear

take notes which you organise according to those headings

Why

Notes are taken while reading: once the outline exists, the advice is to find suitable articles and books and take notes organised under the headings. Bullet points arrive only at the next stage, when short phrases are placed under each heading, so they belong to Q30.
Question 30

A

What you hear

put short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading

Why

Short phrases and sentences go in as bullet points under each heading, forming a skeleton, and only after checking that it flows is the paper written in full. So the paper is written using bullet points. Notes belong to the previous stage, which is why they tempt.

Part 3 audioscript

Part 3 · audioscript

BETH

Oh good morning. You must be James. I’m Beth Cartwright - please call be Beth.

JAMES

Thank you.

BETH

Now as this is your first tutorial since you started on the Scandinavian Studies course, I’d like to find out something about you. Why did you decide to take this course?

JAMES

Well, my mother is Danish, and although we always lived in England, she used to talk about her home a lot, and that made me want to visit Denmark. We hardly ever did, though - my mother usually went on her own. But whenever her relations or friends were in England they always came to see us.

BETH

I see. So I assume you already speak Danish, one of the languages you’ll be studying.

JAMES

I can get by when I talk to people, though I’m not terribly accurate.

BETH

Now you probably know that you’ll spend the third year of the course abroad. Have you had any thoughts about that?

JAMES

I’m really looking forward to it. And although Denmark seems the obvious place to go, because of my family connections, I’d love to spend the time in Iceland.

BETH

Oh, I’m sure it can be arranged. Do you have any plans for when you graduate? A lot of students go on to take a master’s degree.

JAMES

I think the four years of the undergraduate course will be enough for me. I’m interested in journalism, and I quite like the idea of moving to Scandinavia and writing for magazines. I’d find that more creative than translating, which I suppose most graduates do.

BETH

OK. Now how are you finding the courses you’re taking this term, James?

JAMES

Well, I’m really enjoying the one on Swedish cinema.

BETH

That’ll continue next term, but the one on Scandinavian literature that’s running at the moment will be replaced by more specialised courses. Oh, and by the way, if you’re interested in watching Danish television programmes - there’s going to be a course on that the term after next.

JAMES

That sounds good.

BETH

Have you started thinking about the literature paper that you have to write in the next few weeks?

JAMES

Yes, my first choice would be to do something on the Icelandic sagas.

BETH

Hmm. The trouble with that is that a lot of people choose that topic, and it can be difficult to get hold of the books you’ll need. Why not leave that for another time?

JAMES

Right.

BETH

You might find modern novels or 19th century playwrights interesting.

JAMES

I’ve read or seen several plays in translation, so that would be a good idea.

BETH

Fine. I’ll put you down for that topic.

JAMES

Right. So what would you advise me to aim at in the paper?

BETH

First I suggest you avoid taking one writer and going into a great deal of detail. That approach certainly has its place, but I think you first need to get an understanding of the literature in the context of the society in which it was produced - who it was written for, how it was published, and so on. I also think that’s more fruitful than placing it within the history of the genre.

JAMES

OK, that sounds reasonable.

JAMES

Could I ask for some advice about writing the paper I’m working on about the Vikings? I have to do that this week, and I’m a bit stuck.

BETH

Of course. Have you decided yet what to write about?

JAMES

No, I haven’t. There’s so much that seems interesting - Viking settlement in other countries, trade, mythology …

BETH

Well, what I suggest is that you read an assignment a student wrote last year, which is kept in the library. It’s short and well focused, and I’m sure you’ll find it helpful. I’ll give you the details in a moment. Textbooks usually cover so many topics, it can be very difficult to choose just one.

JAMES

OK. I’ve got a DVD of the film about the Vikings that came out earlier this year. Should I watch that again?

BETH

If it’s the one I am thinking of, hmm, I’d ignore it - it’s more fantasy than reality. But I’ve got a recording of a documentary that you should watch. It makes some interesting and provocative points, which I think will help you to focus your topic.

JAMES

Right.

BETH

So then should I work out an outline?

JAMES

Yes. Just headings for different sections, at this stage. And then you should start looking for suitable articles and books to draw on, and take notes which you organise according to those headings.

BETH

I see.

JAMES

Then put short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading. Make sure that this skeleton makes sense and flows properly, before writing up the paper in full.

BETH

OK. Thanks, that’s very helpful.

Part 3 recording

Questions 21–30

Answers explained

Question 21

Question 22

Question 23

Question 24

Question 25

Question 26

Question 27

Question 28

Question 29

Question 30

Part 3 audioscript