Cambridge IELTS 18 · Listening · Test 3 · Part 2

Listening Test 3, Part 2: answers explained

The recording and its 10 questions (11–20). Every answer is explained with the words that give it away.

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Part 2 recording

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

Questions 11–20

Multiple choice (several answers)
11 Which TWO warnings does Dan give about picking mushrooms?
12 Which TWO warnings does Dan give about picking mushrooms?
13 Which TWO ideas about wild mushrooms does Dan say are correct?
14 Which TWO ideas about wild mushrooms does Dan say are correct?
Multiple choice
15 What advice does Dan give about picking mushrooms in parks?
16 Dan says it is a good idea for beginners to
17 What does Dan say is important for conservation?
18 According to Dan, some varieties of wild mushrooms are in decline because there is
19 Dan says that when storing mushrooms, people should
20 What does Dan say about trying new varieties of mushrooms?

Answers explained

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

Question 11

B

What you hear

mushrooms growing beside busy roads

Why

Beside roads is a place to avoid, 'for obvious reasons', so the warning is don't pick mushrooms near busy roads, B. Old mushrooms are mentioned only to say shop ones are past their best, which is not a warning about picking, so E is wrong.
Question 12

C

What you hear

never consume mushrooms picked by friends or neighbours

Why

Dan says you should never consume mushrooms picked by friends or neighbours, because poisonous ones look like edible ones and people get confused. That means don't eat mushrooms given to you, C. Eating while picking and mixed varieties are never mentioned.
Question 13

B

What you hear

just because deer or squirrels eat a particular mushroom doesn’t mean that you can

Why

Dan warns that just because deer or squirrels eat a mushroom doesn't mean you can, so a mushroom eaten by animals may be unsafe, B. The ideas about peeling and smell are both dismissed, and cooking is only his preference, not a claim about toxins.
Question 14

D

What you hear

Some edible mushrooms are bright red

Why

He tells the audience not to believe that only pale or dull mushrooms are safe, adding that some edible ones are bright red. Brightly coloured mushrooms can be edible, D. Option E is false, as some deadly mushrooms have no smell at all.
Question 15

C

What you hear

you need to be there first thing in the morning

Why

For parks, Dan says you must be there first thing in the morning because of competition, from people and wildlife. That is get there early, C. Woods and playing fields are just habitats he lists, and he never asks listeners to avoid disturbing wildlife.
Question 16

B

What you hear

you should go with a group led by an expert

Why

Beginners shouldn't go alone or rely on photos in a book, even Dan's own, and a phone app can fail without a signal in the woods. He recommends a group led by an expert, B. Both A and C are specifically warned against.
Question 17

B

What you hear

collect only enough for your own needs

Why

The conservation rule is never to pick all the mushrooms in one area and to collect only enough for your own needs. That is a limited amount, B. Young mushrooms shouldn't be trampled, which is not the same as picking only mature ones, and he asks not to pick protected species, not to avoid areas.
Question 18

C

What you hear

the biggest problem is that so many new houses have been built in this area

Why

Restaurants' growing interest in local food is mentioned, but Dan says the biggest problem is the many new houses built locally, which has destroyed habitats. So the cause is a rise in building developments, C, not demand (A). Water is taken from rivers, but rainfall isn't discussed.
Question 19

A

What you hear

They’ll be fine for a couple of days

Why

At home, mushrooms go straight into the fridge and will be fine for a couple of days. That translates as no more than two days, A. The brown bag is for collecting, not for a dark room, and he says to wash them only before cooking, not to leave them afterwards.
Question 20

A

What you hear

They’re great in so many dishes – stir fries, risottos, pasta

Why

On new varieties Dan says be adventurous: they're great in stir fries, risottos and pasta. That is experimenting with recipes, A. His warning is about not eating large quantities of unfamiliar ones, and he never mentions strong tastes or long cooking.

Part 2 audioscript

Part 2 · audioscript

PRESENTER

This evening we’re delighted to welcome Dan Beagle, who’s just written a book on looking for and finding food in the wild. He’s going to tell us everything we need to know about picking wild mushrooms.

DAN

Thank you very much. Well, I need to start by talking about safety. You really need to know what you’re doing because some mushrooms are extremely poisonous. Having said that, once you know what to look for, it’s really worth doing for the amazing variety of mushrooms available – which you can’t get in the shops. But of course, you have to be very careful and that’s why I always say you should never consume mushrooms picked by friends or neighbours – always remember that some poisonous mushrooms look very similar to edible ones and it’s easy for people to get confused. The other thing to avoid is mushrooms growing beside busy roads for obvious reasons. But nothing beats the taste of freshly picked mushrooms – don’t forget that the ones in the shops are often several days old and past their best.

There are certain ideas about wild mushrooms that it’s important to be aware of. Don’t listen to people who tell you that it’s only OK to eat mushrooms that are pale or dull – this is completely untrue. Some edible mushrooms are bright red, for example. Personally, I prefer mushrooms cooked but it won’t do you any harm to eat them uncooked in salads – it’s not necessary to peel them. Another thing you should remember is that you can’t tell if a mushroom is safe to eat by its smell – some of the most deadly mushrooms have no smell and taste quite nice, apparently. Finally, just because deer or squirrels eat a particular mushroom doesn’t mean that you can.

Of course, mushroom picking is associated with the countryside but if you haven’t got a car, your local park can be a great place to start. There are usually a range of habitats where mushrooms grow, such as playing fields and wooded areas. But you need to be there first thing in the morning, as there’s likely be a lot of competition – not just from people but wildlife too. The deer often get the best mushrooms in my local park.

If you’re a complete beginner, I wouldn’t recommend going alone or relying on photos in a book, even the one I’ve written! There are some really good phone apps for identifying mushrooms, but you can’t always rely on getting a good signal in the middle of a wood. If possible, you should go with a group led by an expert – you’ll stay safe and learn a lot that way.

Conservation is a really important consideration and you must follow a few basic rules. You should never pick all the mushrooms in one area – collect only enough for your own needs. Be very careful that you don’t trample on young mushrooms or other plants. And make sure you don’t pick any mushrooms that are endangered and protected by law.

There’s been a decline in some varieties of wild mushrooms in this part of the country. Restaurants are becoming more interested in locally sourced food like wild mushrooms, but the biggest problem is that so many new houses have been built in this area in the last ten years. And more water is being taken from rivers and reservoirs because of this, and mushroom habitats have been destroyed.

Anyway, a word of advice on storing mushrooms. Collect them in a brown paper bag and as soon as you get home, put them in the fridge. They’ll be fine for a couple of days, but it’s best to cook them as soon as possible – after washing them really carefully first, of course.

So everybody knows what a mushroom tastes like, right? Well, you’ll be surprised by the huge variety of wild mushrooms there are. Be adventurous! They’re great in so many dishes – stir fries, risottos, pasta. But just be aware that some people can react badly to certain varieties so it’s a good idea not to eat huge quantities to begin with.

OK, so now I’m going to show you...

Part 2 recording

Questions 11–20

Answers explained

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20

Part 2 audioscript