IELTS Listening Practice Test 171
4 parts · 40 questions · about 31 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 public-health researcher and an interviewer about a national study of foodborne illness outbreaks.
Questions 1–7
Complete the form below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Foodborne Outbreak Study: Key Findings
Value of reporting
- High outbreak counts reflect greater allocation of and staff time.
- National data allow researchers to observe over time.
Reporting variation
- Best-performing state: over times the annual outbreaks of the weakest.
Contributing factors
- Strongest correlate of higher reporting: for the work.
- Investigations require personnel with specialist and extensive training.
Outbreak patterns
- Seafood-linked outbreaks cluster in areas.
Scale of dataset
- Outbreaks recorded in the system: .
Questions 8–10
Answer the questions below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Part 2: Questions 11–20
You will hear a discussion about how the field of health communication has developed.
Questions 11–15
Complete the notes below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Health Communication: Historical Notes
Early journal content
- Articles examined the attached to AIDS.
- The virus's routes were not yet fully understood.
Changing focus
- Attention shifted from the traditional dynamic.
Programme structure
- International work followed recurring of five years.
Communication context
- For many, making a was still unknown.
Questions 16–20
Look at the following items and the list of options below. Choose the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 16–20.
- A It was supported only by academic bodies.
- B It involved warnings about a biological hazard.
- C They were fewer than ten in total.
- D They attracted funding from several organisations.
- E It proceeded without external sponsorship.
- F It focused on lay understanding of health information.
- G It was linked to a revised messaging plan.
- H It supported messages about a vaccine-preventable disease.
Part 3: Questions 21–30
You will hear a radio interview about a research project on a tickborne virus.
Questions 21–26
Complete the summary below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
Background to the Investigation
Blood-donor screening in Missouri revealed in fewer than one percent of samples. Nevertheless, because diagnostic testing is not routine, the actual of the disease is still unclear, and the recorded cases are probably an . Common early symptoms include and fatigue. The study was prompted by Georgia's first human case and a colleague's interest; the team aimed to identify the virus's and ultimately to inform future development.
Questions 27–28
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Questions 29–30
Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Part 4: Questions 31–40
You will hear a researcher discussing environmental bacteria and a study of infection patterns in one region.
Questions 31–35
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Questions 36–40
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
About this listening test
| Part | Recording | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Variations in Outbreak Reporting | 1–10 | Form completion, Short-answer questions |
| 2 | Health Communication Through the Years | 11–20 | Note completion, Matching features |
| 3 | Investigating a Tickborne Virus | 21–30 | Summary completion, Multiple choice (choose more than one) |
| 4 | Environmental Bacteria and Infection | 31–40 | Sentence completion, Multiple choice |
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: Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Reported to National Surveillance, United States, 2009-2018 (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: Insights from the Past, Preparing for the Future (CDC podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)
- Part 3: Heartland Virus from Lone Star Ticks, Georgia, USA, 2019 (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: Spatial Epidemiologic Analysis and Risk Factors for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections, Missouri, USA, 2008-2019 (CDC, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emerging Infectious Diseases podcast (work of the US federal government, public domain)