IELTS Listening Practice Test 166
4 parts · 40 questions · about 32 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 a conversation between a researcher and a podcaster about illness among wild songbirds.
Questions 1–6
Complete the form below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Wild Songbird Mortality Notes
Songbird Salmonella Research
- Published outbreaks in people linked to songbirds:
- Earlier human cases involved handling infected carcasses or touching surfaces bearing
- California public reports were almost times greater than in the preceding winter event
- Quantity of infirm or lifeless birds documented in those reports:
- Species constituting roughly half the affected individuals:
- Feeder design that heightens contamination and transmission risk:
Questions 7–10
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear an excerpt from a public-health podcast about research into viral infections in bats.
Questions 11–15
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Questions 16–20
Complete the summary below.
Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Research findings
Luis et al. compared viral burdens in bats and rodents and linked the former's greater viral richness to specific conditions. Zhang et al. connected the emergence of flight with genetic modifications affecting immunity. Baker et al. argued that bats may restrain viral by means of their built-in defences. Their review also notes that bats possess pattern recognition receptors, several , and complement activity. In mammals, fever begins with a high metabolic rate that supports immune reactions.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a researcher discussing a study of influenza among seals on the Atlantic coast.
Questions 21–26
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 21–26.
- A It has a long-established history of viral detection.
- B It accounted for most of the positive cases.
- C It showed no evidence of infection.
- D It provided biological material for testing.
- E It defines the period examined in the report.
- F It was outside the main area but still monitored.
- G It made up a smaller proportion of infections.
- H It is recovering after historical exploitation.
Questions 27–30
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a talk about the investigation of a community illness.
Questions 31–40
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Investigation Notes
Initial survey
- Questionnaires were disseminated via online platforms, electronic messaging and .
- Completed forms received:
Demographic and exposure findings
- Approximate number of residents in the town:
- The sole exposure with a statistically meaningful connection was .
Typical causes and environmental testing
- The majority of incidents are ultimately attributed to .
- Analysis of the supply indicated the presence of .
Source identification
- The approach identifies markers specific to people, avian species and .
Infrastructure inspection and response
- The remote aerial survey was described as .
- A specialist subsequently conducted an of the tower.
- The authorities introduced as an interim measure.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wild Bird Disease Investigation | 1–10 | Form completion, Short-answer questions |
| 2 | Viral Tolerance in Bats | 11–20 | Multiple choice, Summary completion |
| 3 | Investigating Influenza in Coastal Seals | 21–30 | Matching features, Multiple choice |
| 4 | Investigating a Waterborne Outbreak | 31–40 | Note 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: Human Salmonellosis Outbreak Linked to Salmonella Typhimurium Epidemic in Wild Songbirds, United States, 2020-2021 (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 2: Bat Flight and Zoonotic Viruses (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 3: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Outbreak in New England Seals, United States (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 4: Campylobacteriosis Outbreak Linked to Municipal Water, Nebraska, USA, 2021 (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)