How often do you use the 'audioscripts' at the back of the Cambridge IELTS books to analyse listening test answers in more detail?
Here's an example question from Cambridge IELTS 13:
Which TWO things surprised the students about the traffic-light system for nutritional labels?
A its widespread use
B the fact that it is voluntary for supermarkets
C how little research was done before its introduction
D its unpopularity with food manufacturers
E the way that certain colours are used
Here's the relevant section of the audioscript:
What do you think of the traffic-light system?
I think supermarkets like the idea of having a colour-coded system - red, orange or green - for levels of fat, sugar and salt in a product.
But it's not been adopted universally. And not on all products. Why do you suppose that is?
Pressure from the food manufacturers. Hardly surprising that some of them are opposed to flagging up how unhealthy their products are.
I'd have thought it would have been compulsory. It seems ridiculous it isn't.
I know. And what I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation - a lot of experts had deep reservations about it.
Tasks:
- Which two answers do you think are correct, and why?
- Which phrases show that the speakers are surprised?
Hello Simon,
I am in Manchester and was wondering if you run onsite IELTS classes. I am a Chinses student, who is going to study a postgraduate course at MMU. If you do, please let me know how to enrol.
Many thanks
Yiping Yang
Posted by: Yiping Yang | April 02, 2019 at 15:44
Hi,
I think the answers are C and D.
Because 'little research was done' = 'it was brought in without enough consultation'
And 'its unpopularity with food manufacturers' = 'the food manufacturers..some of them are opposed to flagging up how unhealthy their products are.'
- surprised phrases are : 'Hardly surprising' and 'opposed to flagging up'
- Flag up means to draw attention to.
Thanks
Posted by: arch1001face | April 02, 2019 at 17:00
The correct options are C and D
Why the first one is C?
I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation (little research was done).
here, without enough consultation( research) = how little( not enough) research was done.
Why the next one is D?
Hardly surprising that some of them ( Food Manufacturers) are (opposed to flagging up)( unpopularity with manufacturers) how unhealthy their products are.
some of them (manufacturers) opposed to flagging up = its unpopularity( opposed to) with food manufacturers.
flag up = demostrate
Posted by: Akter | April 02, 2019 at 18:58
B and C are the answers.
D cannot be correct because it's hardly surprising for the speakers that the food manufacturers oppose.
B is correct because the speakers thought that it would have been compulsory.
C is correct because it was brought in without enough consultation.
Couldn't get over and it seems ridiculous are the phrases that show that the speakers are surprised.
Posted by: Prasad Gandham | April 02, 2019 at 20:38
C E is correct
I could not get over, I think supermarkets like the idea: these are the phrases which show that the speaker is surprised
Posted by: Iqra | April 02, 2019 at 23:22
B and c
Posted by: Polo | April 03, 2019 at 01:30
B. the fact that it is voluntary for supermarkets
I'd have thought it would have been compulsory.
"It seems ridiculous it isn't." --> surprised as it is voluntary while it should be compusory.
C. how little research was done before its introduction
I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation
couldn't get over --> surprised because of not enough consultation WHILE a lot of experts had deep reservations about it.
Hope them may be true :)
Posted by: LongVH | April 03, 2019 at 03:48
B
-> It seems ridiculous it isn't
C
-> I couldn't get over is the fact that
Posted by: niuxiufeng | April 03, 2019 at 07:44
I choose B and C
Posted by: Luu | April 04, 2019 at 07:45
C, D
Posted by: Tinh | April 05, 2019 at 03:38
I choose B&C.
B - I'd have thought it would have been compulsory. It seems ridiculous it isn't.
C - what I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation.
Posted by: PT | April 05, 2019 at 04:36
Hi, I choose B & C
- surprised = It seems ridiculous it isn't./what I couldn't get over is the fact that
- how little research was done before its introduction = without enough consultation
- the fact that it is voluntary for supermarkets = I'd have thought it would have been compulsory
Posted by: Jerry | April 05, 2019 at 07:42
CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:
B
I'd have thought it would have been compulsory. It seems ridiculous it isn't.
C
what I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation
Phrases showing surprise:
- it seems ridiculous
- what I couldn't get over is
Posted by: Simon | April 05, 2019 at 10:25
B and C are correct answers for me .
This is because in B, the speaker was surprised about making them compulsory as they are not yet.
C is the second one cuz he stressed the word
'couldn't get over' means surprise.
Posted by: Awtsan | May 03, 2019 at 12:44
C how little research was done before its
introduction
(what I couldn't get over is the fact that it was brought in without enough consultation).
B the fact that it is voluntary for supermarkets
(I'd have thought it would have been compulsory).
The ANSWERS are B and C
Posted by: Ejiro | May 21, 2019 at 13:41
Hi Simon,
Here's my answer.
D and E.
its means of the letter D its unpopularity with food manufacturers. because it says, They hardly surprising that some of foods are opposed to flagging up how unhealthy their products are.
then, the letter E the way that certain colours are used. its says, they having a colour-coded system like red, orange or green - for levels of fat, sugar and salt in a product.
Posted by: Leslie Grafil | May 30, 2019 at 09:45