Cambridge 17 Listening Test 3 - Answers With Explanation

1. "recommends surfing for ___ holidays" needs a noun modifying "holidays"; "family" is the type of holiday recommended for summer surfing trips.

2. "Need to be quite ___" needs an adjective describing physical condition; "fit" is advice about the physical demands of surfing.

3. "good quality ___ and surf schools" needs a plural noun for accommodation; "hotels" is the amenity paired with surf schools in Lahinch.

4. "good surf school at ___" needs a proper noun naming a place; "Carrowniskey" is the specific location of a recommended surf school in County Mayo.

5. "lasts for one ___" needs a singular time-unit noun; "week" is the duration of the surf camp.

6. "explore the local ___ by kayak" needs a singular noun for a body of water; "bay" is the coastal feature explorable by kayak.

7. "best month to go" needs a month name; "September" is recommended for the best weather conditions.

8. "approx. ___ degrees" requires a number; "19" (nineteen) is the average summer temperature figure.

9. "___ euros per day" requires a number; "30" (thirty) is the daily rental cost for a wetsuit and surfboard.

10. "advisable to hire ___ for warmth" needs a plural noun for cold-weather surf gear; "boots" is the extra equipment recommended.

11–12. The two correct facts are B (more children attend after school than before) and E (the maximum is 70 children) — attendance patterns and capacity. The other options (recent start, a morning average of 50, exclusivity between sessions) are plausible but incorrect distractors.

13. The correct fee, C (£7.20), is the full afternoon session cost; the lower figures (A, B) are distractors, likely partial-session or per-hour rates mentioned elsewhere.

14. The answer, C, confirms a proper meal is provided at 5 p.m., rather than the alternative arrangements about bringing snacks (B) or allergy accommodations (A), both distractors.

15. The answer, A, identifies broader eligibility (children from other schools) as the holiday-specific change, rather than age range (B) or capacity (C), both distractors.

16. Spanish is matched to E — this activity requires help from parents, suggesting a take-home or practice component.

17. Music is matched to D — this activity involves an additional fee, likely for instrument use or specialist tuition.

18. Painting is matched to G — this activity was requested by the children themselves, reflecting pupil interest driving its inclusion.

19. Yoga is matched to F — this is a newly introduced activity at the childcare service.

20. Cooking is matched to C — this activity is restricted to children over 8, likely due to safety around kitchen equipment.

21. The answer, B, identifies the outdoor nature of the placement as Holly's reason for choosing it, rather than involvement with children (A) or general appeal (C), both distractors.

22. The answer, A, highlights keeping children within the stadium as the top safety priority, over equipment checks (B) or changing-room hazards (C), secondary distractors.

23. The answer, A, reflects a challenge (spectators being hard to manage), rather than a positive framing (B, useful volunteers) or a rule (C, no photographs), both distractors.

24. The answer, B (an injury), is the specific past disruption to the schedule, rather than weather (A) or extra playing time (C), both plausible sporting-event distractors.

25. Communication is matched to C, "having a smart appearance" — presentation is treated as part of communicating professionally with others.

26. Organisation is matched to A, "being flexible" — good organisation includes adapting plans as circumstances change.

27. Time management is matched to D, "hiding your emotions" — staying composed under time pressure is framed as important to managing time well.

28. Creativity is matched to B, "focusing on details" — attention to detail is highlighted as necessary even in creative work.

29. Leadership is matched to F, "trusting your own views" — confidence in one's own judgement is identified as central to leading others.

30. Networking is matched to H, "thinking of the future" — building relationships with an eye on future opportunities is the aspect emphasised here.

31. "birds hibernated underwater or buried themselves in ___" needs an uncountable noun for a substance; "mud" fits the old hibernation-theory belief.

32. "redstarts experience the loss of ___" needs a plural noun for a bird body part; "feathers" fits the transmutation theory's observation.

33. "the two species of birds had a similar ___" needs a singular noun for a physical characteristic; "shape" explains why Aristotle's mistaken assumption seemed logical.

34. "birds fly to the ___ in winter" needs a singular noun for a destination; "moon" is the fanciful 17th-century idea popularised by Charles Morton.

35. "an African spear in its ___" needs a singular noun for a body part; "neck" is where the spear was found on the German stork, key evidence for migration.

36. "there had been no ___ that storks migrate to Africa" needs an uncountable noun for proof; "evidence" fits, since the speared stork provided the first such proof.

37. "Little was known about the ___ and journeys" needs a plural noun paired with "journeys"; "destinations" fits what ringing later revealed.

38. "incapable of travelling across huge ___" needs a plural noun for a geographic feature; "oceans" fits the old belief about small birds' limits.

39. "depended on what is called the ___ of dead birds" needs a singular noun for retrieving something; "recovery" fits — ringing relied on dead, ringed birds being found and reported.

40. "the first ___ to show the migration of European birds" needs a singular noun for a book of maps; "atlas" is the 1931 publication described.