IELTS Listening Practice Test 136
4 parts · 40 questions · about 30 minutes of audio. Below are all the questions. Take the test in your free dashboard to play the recordings, answer as you listen, and get your band score with the transcript of every answer.
Part 1: Questions 1–10
You will hear an interview with a medical researcher about how the body responds to changes in position.
Questions 1–10
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Notes on Circulation
Initial observations
- Researchers study a form of dizziness known as .
- Blood pooling in the legs may produce a decline in .
- Without support, the individual may .
- Skeletal contractions assist circulation through a mechanism termed a .
- Low fluid intake can diminish .
- Fluid leaking into tissue is referred to as .
Countermeasures
- Early suits used inflatable .
- Pressure was regulated by a dial calibrated in .
- The Russian alternative is adjusted using along its side.
- This garment also features a component placed over the .
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a radio programme about the origins and usage of a common English expression.
Questions 11–15
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Etymology and Media Presence
| Element | Information |
|---|---|
Core meaning | Denotes individuals who are exceptionally and often engage in joint ventures. |
Historical usage | May originally have referred to genuine . |
Notable literary example | Agatha Christie's short-story collection appeared in . |
Adaptation history | The stories were adapted for before television. |
Later televised version | A less renowned US television programme appeared in . |
Questions 16–20
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Related Expressions and Synonyms
The speaker introduces an alternative idiom, 'thick as thieves', for friends who exchange and secrets. A constant companion can be termed a . If this person assists in romantic or social encounters, they may be called a wingman or wingwoman—a term which, in talk, denotes a pilot flying behind the leader. More official alternatives include collaborator and , though the latter should be used cautiously because it can denote someone involved in activity.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a researcher and a project founder discussing marine restoration and local seafood supply.
Questions 21–26
Choose the correct letter, A–G, next to Questions 21–26.
- A They have already regained their former abundance.
- B They are helped by wild young entering the area.
- C They act as a refuge that sustains overall numbers.
- D They caused lasting damage by shifting sediment.
- E They are being reinforced with captive-bred animals.
- F They were covered by displaced deposits.
- G They have shown minimal signs of returning.
Questions 27–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a researcher describing how an ocean sampling trip was modified during nearby wildfires.
Questions 31–35
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 36–40
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Questions 36–40
Noelle learned from wildfire specialists that the fire was unusual because its fuel was not vegetation but mainly . This meant the smoke contained hazardous substances such as heavy metals and . The scientists emphasised the importance of understanding the of these materials—how they move and where they end up—and whether they enter the . They also warned that a substance toxic to humans is not necessarily harmful to other organisms, so it is essential to determine its .
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintaining Blood Flow | 1–10 | Note completion |
| 2 | Exploring a Common Idiom | 11–20 | Table completion, Summary completion |
| 3 | Rebuilding Shellfish Stocks and Local Catch | 21–30 | Matching features, Multiple choice |
| 4 | Adapting a Marine Survey | 31–40 | Multiple choice, Summary completion |
How to use it
- Open the test in your dashboard. Each part has its own track with the spoken instructions and the time to read the questions, as in the real exam.
- For exam practice, play each part once at 1× speed. To train your ear, slow it down or replay sections.
- Select words in a question to highlight the keywords you are listening for.
- After submitting, use “Show in transcript” to see exactly where each answer was said.
Audio sources
The recordings are real, copyright-free audio. The questions are written by Sprechify, and the spoken instructions use a synthetic voice.
- Part 1: Humans in Space (NASA Houston We Have a Podcast). NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston We Have a Podcast (NASA audio is generally not subject to copyright in the US)
- Part 2: Partners in Crime. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
- Part 3: Partnership Profiles: A Queen Conch Hatchery and the Local Fish Initiative (NOAA Fisheries, Dive In podcast). NOAA Fisheries, Dive In with NOAA Fisheries podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 4: Could the LA Wildfires Harm Marine Life in California? (NOAA Fisheries, Dive In podcast). NOAA Fisheries, Dive In with NOAA Fisheries podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)