Cambridge IELTS 20 · Listening · Test 1 · Part 3

Listening Test 1, Part 3: answers explained

Loneliness and mental health

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 (several answers)
21 Which TWO things do the students both believe are responsible for the increase in loneliness?
22 Which TWO things do the students both believe are responsible for the increase in loneliness?
23 Which TWO health risks associated with loneliness do the students agree are based on solid evidence?
24 Which TWO health risks associated with loneliness do the students agree are based on solid evidence?
25 Which TWO opinions do both the students express about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?
26 Which TWO opinions do both the students express about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?
Multiple choice
27 When comparing loneliness to depression, the students
28 Why do the students decide to start their presentation with an example from their own experience?
29 The students agree that talking to strangers is a good strategy for dealing with loneliness because
30 The students find it difficult to understand why solitude is considered to be

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

loneliness has a lot to do with the way cities are designed

Why

Tamara states that loneliness has a lot to do with the way cities are designed, citing people in high flats who rarely speak to neighbours, and Dev agrees: "I think you're right". Both therefore blame urban design. Social media and longer lifespans are rejected by Dev, and Tamara dismisses the age theory.
Question 22

E

What you hear

people are having to move around for work

Why

The second shared cause comes when Tamara calls it more plausible that people move around for work and end up miles from family and friends. Dev answers "That's true". Smaller families (B) were raised by Tamara but Dev dismissed it because that change happened decades ago.
Question 23

A

What you hear

no doubt that loneliness contributes to a weakened immune system

Why

A weakened immune system is the one point both accept without reservation. Dev says there's no doubt loneliness contributes to it, and Tamara answers "Unquestionably", adding the data is sound. Dementia and cardiovascular disease are doubted for inconsistent studies and subjective definitions.
Question 24

C

What you hear

loneliness increased the risk of cancer by about 10%

Why

Cancer is the second. Tamara cites the Finnish study, which found about a 10% rise in risk and was supported by other studies, and Dev concedes "You're right about that one". He had doubted claims in general, such as obesity, but yields here, unlike with dementia.
Question 25

A

What you hear

this theory’s not really useful when it comes to solving the problem of loneliness today

Why

Dev says the theory is not really useful for solving loneliness today, and Tamara simply replies "True". That is the opinion that it has little practical relevance. Option D is excluded because Dev doesn't think the evidence supports the neuron claim, so neither wants it more widely accepted.
Question 26

B

What you hear

I don think there is enough evidence

Why

Dev says there isn't enough evidence for the neuron claim, and Tamara notes the few supporting studies are not conclusive: "More evidence is needed." Both therefore say it needs further investigation. C and E don't appear: neither calls it misleading or hard to grasp, as Tamara even finds it convincing.
Question 27

A

What you hear

There’s no available diagnosis or effective treatment and that’s not likely to change

Why

Dev says there is no available diagnosis or effective treatment and that this isn't likely to change, and Tamara adds "I don't think so either". That equals doubting a medical cure will ever exist. B is wrong because they say the link to depression is recognised, and C isn't voiced.
Question 28

B

What you hear

Everyone will be able to relate to that

Why

Dev welcomes Tamara's idea of opening with her university loneliness: "Everyone will be able to relate to that". That's a situation most students will recognise. A is not their stated reason, and C is never raised, since nothing in the discussion contrasts men with women.
Question 29

A

What you hear

it must make people feel more connected with their community

Why

Dev praises studies showing optimism and relaxation, but Tamara says "I don't know about that", so C isn't agreed. What she adds, that it makes people feel more connected with their community, equals a sense of belonging. Dev says "True", and confidence is never discussed.
Question 30

C

What you hear

being alone isn’t something I actually like

Why

Tamara notes that some people love being alone, while Dev admits that, although research shows solitude is beneficial, being alone is not something he likes and he would never holiday alone. Tamara agrees. So they struggle with the idea that solitude is enjoyable. Neither queries solitude being similar to loneliness.

Part 3 audioscript

Part 3 · audioscript

TAMARA Shall we go through the notes we've made from our research into loneliness now, Dev?

DEV OK, Tamara. It's been a real eye-opener. I had no idea that loneliness has been increasing steadily for the last 20 years.

TAMARA I know. And it's the same all over the world. The downside of a modern lifestyle, I guess.

DEV Did you come to any conclusions about what the reasons for the increase are?

TAMARA Well, I'd assumed it was mainly an issue for the elderly, but in fact it's something which affects young people just as much.

DEV So nothing really to do with longer lifespans. What about social media? In my case, far from

making me feel isolated, it actually does the opposite. it?

TAMARA It definitely does more good than harm. I'd say loneliness has a lot to do with the way cities are designed. People living in high flats with not much opportunity to speak to their neighbours

DEV I think you right

TAMARA Another possible reason is that people are having fewer children and don live in large extended family groups.

DEV But in this country anyway, that all changed decades ago. And yet loneliness is a more recent problem.

TAMARA I suppose so. A more plausible explanation is that people are having to move around for work and often end up living miles away from their family and friends.

DEV That's true.

TAMARA Looking at the studies on health risks and loneliness, there are claims that loneliness has as much impact as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

DEV Or similar to the risks caused by obesity. But I'm not sure there's enough evidence for some of these claims.

TAMARA Well, what about that one in Finland, which showed that loneliness increased the risk of cancer by about 10%? And those findings have been supported by other studies too.

DEV You're right about that one. I was actually thinking of the studies on dementia. Some found no association between loneliness and dementia, and others found the opposite.

TAMARA Not exactly reliable, then. There's been a lot of research on cardiovascular disease and whether loneliness contributes to that.

DEV Yes, I read that it was hard to reach a judgment, as the definition of loneliness varied quite a lot, and the responses from participants were too subjective. But there's no doubt that loneliness contributes to a weakened immune system.

TAMARA Unquestionably. The data on that is sound.

DEV What did you think about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?

TAMARA Well I thought the idea that loneliness evolved because it motivated people to be with other people is quite convincing. Survival often depended on group cooperation.

DEV But I don think there is enough evidence to claim that there must be a group of neurons in our brains which influence social behaviour by making us feel bad when we're alone.

TAMARA There are a few studies which support the theory, but not conclusively enough. More evidence is needed.

DEV And anyway, this theory's not really useful when it comes to solving the problem of loneliness today.

TAMARA True.

Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.

DEV Should we look at the relationship between loneliness and mental health now?

TAMARA OK. So, loneliness and depression are clearly related and that's been recognised by various governments around the world. But unlike depression, loneliness has no recognised clinical form.

DEV There's no available diagnosis or effective treatment and that's not likely to change.

TAMARA I don't think so either I was thinking we should start our presentation with an example from our own experience I like to talk about how lonely I was when I started university being away from home for the first time and all that

DEV Good idea. Everyone will be able to relate to that although a lot of students were probably too embarrassed to admit to it.

TAMARA Yeah. We could discuss ways of dealing with loneliness as well, like just talking to strangers.

DEV Loads of studies have shown that interactions with shop assistants and bar staff make people feel more optimistic and relaxed.

TAMARA I don't know about that, but it must make people feel more connected with their community.

DEV True, although you need to be a certain kind of person to be able to just strike up a conversation.

TAMARA Good point. We should say something about solitude and how being alone and being lonely aren't the same thing. It's strange the way some people can't stand being by themselves while others love it.

DEV Yeah, the research shows a certain amount of solitude is beneficial for wellbeing, which I appreciate, but being alone isn't something I actually like. I'd never choose to go on holiday alone, for example.

TAMARA Me neither.

DEV Well, let's not... you

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