IELTS Listening Practice Test 81

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.

Ready to take this test?The recordings, answers, band score and transcript are in your free dashboard.

Part 2: Questions 11–20

You will hear a radio programme about the cultural significance and idiomatic expressions associated with roses.

Questions 11–15

Answer the questions below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

What kind of plants can have thorns?

What can a prick from a thorn make you do?

According to the saying, what can even a very pleasant thing have?

What did game show winners have to pay on their prizes?

What size of problem is 'a thorn in your side'?

Questions 16–20

Complete the summary below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Certain floral expressions carry contrasting connotations. The phrase 'a bed of thorns' characterises a predicament, whereas 'a bed of roses' denotes a that is highly agreeable. Nevertheless, the latter expression can be applied negatively to depict an . In the subsequent dialogue, the speaker first confesses to being before eventually expressing relief at being .

Part 3: Questions 21–30

You will hear a discussion between a host and two research specialists about organising scientific studies.

Questions 21–26

Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A–H, next to Questions 21–26.

What the speaker says about each aspect

A do not always combine well
B puts individual ideas before teamwork
C tries to copy every part of an environment
D means fitting many separate studies together
E copies only one or two key features
F is mainly a matter of paperwork
G is to turn individuals into one team
H come from many different areas

Managing the researchDrop or choose answer

The people involvedDrop or choose answer

Good ideas from different groupsDrop or choose answer

The coordinator's main jobDrop or choose answer

A simulationDrop or choose answer

The other type of test settingDrop or choose answer

Questions 27–30

Complete the flowchart below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Research Procedure

Select a key feature, for instance the of confinement

Replicate this feature within an setting

Assess the on participants

Extrapolate findings to missions

Part 4: Questions 31–40

You will hear a radio report about a powerful natural event and the problems it can create for modern systems.

Questions 31–35

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Alert and Physical Details

Aspect	Details
Alert category
Composition of plasma	composed of
Velocity of a flare	equal to the
Flare's journey to Earth	approximately
Ejection's arrival period	between one and

Questions 36–40

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

The forecasting centre characterised the disturbance as unusual, even .

Major power operators and officials from the space agency were about the disturbance.

Disruption may extend to the grid, radio and satellites as well as systems.

Intense coloured displays in the night sky are referred to as .

In 2003, Sweden experienced a blackout while South African electrical were damaged.

Answer these questions while you listenFree account · speed control · band score · transcript of every answer

About this listening test

Part	Recording	Questions	Question types
1	Leading a Control-Room Team	1–10	Form completion, Multiple choice
2	Roses and Their Idioms	11–20	Short-answer questions, Summary completion
3	Coordinating Research Teams	21–30	Matching features, Flow-chart completion
4	Protecting Power Grids From Magnetic Disturbances	31–40	Table completion, Sentence 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: Artemis Flight Directors (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: The Bad Side of Roses. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain
Part 3: Making It Work 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 4: Severe Solar Storm Hits Earth, Causing Colorful Light Shows. VOA Learning English (learningenglish.voanews.com), public domain

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