Cambridge IELTS Book 12 Listening Test 2 Answers with Explanation / Cambridge 12 Listening Test 2 Answers with Explanation

Cambridge IELTS Book 12 Listening Test 2

Part - 1

Section 1: Events during Kenton Festival – Questions 1–10

Question No.	Answer (in bold)	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms/Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
1	2.45	Starting time of opening ceremony	"The events will start at 2.45."	starting = begin, events = ceremony	The exact starting time is clearly stated as 2.45 in the audio.
2	band	Performer at the opening ceremony	"Then there’ll be a performance by a band."	performer = band; perform = musical group playing	A band (not a choir) is performing this year.
3	play	Performance about Helen Tungate	"A community group... will perform a play."	performance = play	The town group performs a play they wrote.
4	scientist	Helen Tungate's profession	"She was a scientist years ago."	profession = occupation = scientist	Her profession is clearly mentioned.
5	river	Location of the evening fireworks display	"The display takes place on the opposite side of the river."	situated = takes place; across = opposite side	Fireworks are across the river, which is the correct location.
6	grandparents	Relationship focus in a video	"Videos… connected with relationships between children and their grandparents."	relationships = connection; children = kids	The focus is on grandparents, not parents or others.
7	Handsworth	Venue of the video screenings	"The videos are being shown in Handsworth House."	venue = place = building = House	The exact name of the venue is provided with spelling.
8	traditional	Type of dances performed	"Demonstration of traditional dances from all round the country."	kind = type = traditional	Not ballet—traditional dances are the focus.
9	outdoor	Venue of the dances	"It’s in the market... the outdoor one, not the covered market."	venue = market = location	Outdoor is correct; the distinction from covered market confirms this.
10	logo	Shops where tickets are available	"From any shops displaying our logo in the windows."	symbol = sign = logo	Logo in the window indicates ticket availability.

Part-2

Question No.	Answer (in bold)	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms / Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
11	B	When the group meet at the airport	"I suggest we meet there for coffee at 10"	meet = gather, coffee = coffee	Coffee is explicitly mentioned. Breakfast is ruled out because they'll have it at home, and lunch is too late for the flight schedule.
12	C	Who will meet the group at Munich Airport	"we’ll be met at the airport by Claus Bauer. Claus works for a tour operator"	met = greeted, tour operator = tour company representative	Claus is described as a tour operator, not part of the theatre. A and B are therefore incorrect.
13	A	Cost per night for a double room	"I’ve been able to negotiate a rate of 110"	rate = cost, double room = same in audio	The final negotiated rate is €110. Options B (€120) and C (€150) are rejected as they were considered but not chosen.
14	B	Type of restaurant on Tuesday evening	"I decided to book a Lebanese one"	Lebanese restaurant = Lebanese one	Lebanese is the final choice after considering and rejecting Italian and typical local restaurants.
15	C	Who will they meet on Wednesday afternoon	"the director of the play ... will talk to us"	meet = talk to, director = director	They will meet the director. The actor and playwright are mentioned in context but are not the ones they are meeting.
16	F	Play on Wednesday	"we’re going to the premiere"	premiere = first performance	Premiere directly means the first performance, making F the correct choice.
17	B	Play on Thursday	"commissioned to mark a hundred years since the birth"	anniversary = mark 100 years	It celebrates the 100th anniversary of a scientist's birth, which makes B the best answer.
18	E	Play on Friday	"it’ll be in the garden of a palace"	performed outdoors = in the garden	The performance is clearly outdoors in a garden, fitting answer E.
19	G	Play on Saturday	"the mayor and all the other dignitaries of the town will be attending"	officials = mayor and dignitaries	Attendance by local officials (mayor and dignitaries) matches G perfectly.
20	C	Play on Monday	"in the stunning setting of the old Town Hall"	historic building = old Town Hall	The old Town Hall is explicitly described as historic, which aligns with answer C.

Part - 3

📘 Section 3 – Scandinavian Studies Listening Answers

Question No.	Answer	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms / Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
21	C	Why James chose Scandinavian Studies	"Whenever her relations or friends were in England they always came to see us."	Danish people visited = relations/friends came	He wasn’t taken to Denmark often, and his mother didn’t speak to him in Danish regularly – but they were often visited by Danish people.
22	B	What James wants to do after graduating	"I'm interested in journalism... writing for magazines."	journalism = media, magazines = media	He clearly says he wants to work in journalism and finds it more creative than translating.
23	C	Which course will end this term	"Scandinavian literature... will be replaced by more specialised courses."	end = be replaced	The literature course will end; the Swedish cinema one continues, and Danish TV is in the future.
24	A	Topic of James’s literature paper	"You might find modern novels or 19th century playwrights interesting." – "So that would be a good idea."	19th-century playwrights = plays from the 1800s	James agrees to write about 19th-century playwrights after ruling out the sagas and modern novels.
25	C	Beth’s recommendation for the paper	"You first need to get an understanding of the literature in the context of the society..."	social background = context of the society	Beth advises against focusing on one writer or a history of the genre. Instead, she suggests focusing on the social context.

📝 Flow-Chart: How James Will Write His Paper on the Vikings

Question No.	Answer	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms / Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
26	E	What he’ll read first	"Read an assignment a student wrote last year... it’s kept in the library."	student paper = assignment from last year	He’ll begin by reading a student paper to get a clear and focused example.
27	G	What he’ll borrow from Beth	"I’ve got a recording of a documentary that you should watch."	borrow = get from Beth, documentary = factual film	Beth discourages watching a film but gives him a helpful documentary instead.
28	D	What he’ll plan next	"Then should I work out an outline?" – "Yes. Just headings for different sections."	outline = structure, plan	After the documentary, he’s advised to create a structured outline with headings.
29	C	What he’ll write after reading sources	"Start looking for suitable articles... and take notes."	notes = brief written points from reading	He’ll read articles and books, then write notes organized by the structure.
30	A	What he’ll use to organise ideas before full writing	"Put short phrases and sentences as bullet points under each heading."	bullet points = structured short notes	Before writing the full paper, he’s told to convert his notes into bullet points organized under each section.

Part - 4

Question No.	Answer (Bold)	Keywords of the Question	Quotation from Audio	Synonyms/Equivalent Expressions	Explanation
31	bullying	general category of conflict behaviour	“Much of this is covered by the term bullying...”	behaviour = actions; bullying = abusive or aggressive acts	The speaker defines workplace conflict as including bullying, making this the most fitting answer.
32	superiority	people wanting to prove their…	“...someone who feels the need to show their superiority over someone else...”	wanting to prove = show; superiority = higher status	The speaker links conflict to proving superiority over others, confirming the answer.
33	personality	differences in… between people	“...on the basis that the personality of one is in some way incompatible...”	differences = incompatibility; personality = character	The speaker clearly attributes some conflict to personality differences.
34	structural	'_____’ conflicts (team over company)	“These conflicts are called ‘structural’...”	structural = related to team/company structure	Structural conflicts arise when teams prioritise themselves over the company.
35	absence	conflict-related stress can cause…	“...resulting in their absence from work, possibly for months.”	stress = pressure; absence = time off work	Stress from conflict can lead to long-term absence, making this the correct answer.
36	confidence	many CEOs have both… and anxiety	“Many CEOs combine... confidence... with a high level of anxiety.”	confidence = belief in abilities	The speaker describes CEOs as having both confidence and anxiety.
37	visions	conflict between people with different…	“...trying to achieve their own visions.”	visions = strategic goals; ideas	Disagreement over company direction (visions) leads to conflict.
38	democratic	structure that may create uncertainty	“...a company with a more democratic business model, can suffer more...”	democratic = shared power structure; uncertainty = unclear reporting lines	A democratic structure can lead to confusion and conflict.
39	respect	bosses need to gain…	“...make efforts to earn the respect of the people...”	gain = earn; respect = regard, trust	Managers should gain respect to reduce the risk of conflict.
40	mediator	outsider given the role of…	“...an external mediator might be able to help.”	outsider = external; mediator = neutral conflict resolver	A mediator helps resolve disputes because they are independent.