Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 4 Listening Answers with Explanation

Cambridge IELTS 17 Test 4 Listening Answers & Detailed Explanations

Looking for clear, step-by-step explanations for Cambridge IELTS 17 Listening Test 4? Below you will find the complete answer key alongside comprehensive explanations, audio keywords, and transcripts to help you identify distractors and boost your IELTS band score.

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Quick Answer Key

Q#	Answer	Q#	Answer
1	floor / floors	21	C / E (in any order)
2	fridge	22	C / E (in any order)
3	shirts	23	A / D (in any order)
4	windows	24	A / D (in any order)
5	balcony	25	B
6	electrician	26	F
7	dust	27	D
8	police	28	A
9	training	29	E
10	review	30	C
11	A	31	golden
12	A	32	healthy
13	A	33	climate
14	C	34	rock / rocks
15	A	35	diameter
16	C	36	tube
17	B	37	fire
18	C	38	steam
19	B	39	cloudy
20	A	40	litre / liter

Part 1: Easy Life Cleaning Services

Question 1: floor / floors

Keywords: basic cleaning, throughout apartment

CLIENT: "No, I don't have any carpets, but the floor would need cleaning." / JACINTA: "...we'd do a thorough clean of that in each room."

Explanation: The client confirms they do not have carpets, but the floor needs cleaning across all rooms.

Question 2: fridge

Keywords: every week, additional service

CLIENT: "Actually, I hardly ever use that, but can you do the fridge? ... Would you like that done every week? CLIENT: Yes, definitely."

Explanation: The client asks for the fridge to be cleaned on a weekly basis.

Question 3: shirts

Keywords: ironing clothes, work

CLIENT: "It wouldn't be much, just my shirts for work that week."

Explanation: The client requires ironing only for work shirts.

Question 4: windows

Keywords: every month, inside

JACINTA: "So for example, if the inside of your windows need cleaning, we could do that."

Explanation: Monthly cleaning includes the inside of windows.

Question 5: balcony

Keywords: washing down

JACINTA: "We can also wash down the balcony."

Explanation: Another monthly option discussed is washing down the balcony.

Question 6: electrician

Keywords: organize, plumber, necessary

JACINTA: "They can organize a plumber or an electrician if necessary."

Explanation: Beside plumbers, the company can send an electrician if required.

Question 7: dust

Keywords: allergic, special vacuum cleaning system

JACINTA: "...capturing up to 99% of all the dust in the air."

Explanation: The system is beneficial for people sensitive or allergic to dust in the air.

Question 8: police

Keywords: background check, hired

JACINTA: "...they have to undergo a security check with the police..."

Explanation: Cleaners undergo a security check via the police force.

Question 9: training

Keywords: two weeks, given

JACINTA: "...they get two weeks of training before they start work."

Explanation: Newly hired staff complete two weeks of training.

Question 10: review

Keywords: send, after each visit

JACINTA: "...we ask all our clients to complete a review of their performance after every visit..."

Explanation: Clients fill out and submit a performance review following each visit.

Part 2: Hotel Staff Turnover

Question 11: A (a lack of training)

Explanation: Managers assume low pay or long hours cause staff to leave, but they fail to realize that the lack of training is the main hidden factor.

Question 12: A (an increased workload)

Explanation: Managers have to cover duties and spend extra time recruiting, which directly increases their daily workload.

Question 13: A (failing to treat staff equally)

Explanation: The speaker emphasizes that treating staff fairly across shift allocations is crucial to keep morale up and avoid resentment.

Question 14: C (a rise in spending per customer)

Explanation: Retaining experienced staff led to higher customer satisfaction, which unexpectedly increased average customer spend.

Questions 15–20: Matching Strategies

• 15. The Sun Club: A (Improving relationships and teamwork)
• 16. The Portland: C (Providing career opportunities)
• 17. Bluewater Hotels: B (Offering incentives and financial benefits)
• 18. Pentlow Hotels: C (Providing career opportunities)
• 19. Green Planet: B (Offering incentives and financial benefits)
• 20. The Amesbury: A (Improving relationships and teamwork)

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Part 3: Sporting Activities & Equipment

Questions 21–22: C, E (in any order)

Explanation: Thomas notes he could have put in more effort (C: worked harder) and mentions that his peers respected and looked up to him (E: fellow students admired him).

Questions 23–24: A, D (in any order)

Explanation: While in Kenya, Thomas expressed feeling stunned and unable to believe the situation initially (A: disbelief) alongside deep appreciation (D: gratitude) for the opportunity.

Questions 25–30: Equipment Development Comments

• 25. Table tennis bat: B
• 26. Cricket helmet: F
• 27. Cycle helmet: D
• 28. Golf club: A
• 29. Hockey stick: E
• 30. Football: C

Part 4: Maple Syrup Production

Question 31: golden

Transcript: "...its color is often described as golden."

Question 32: healthy

Transcript: "...considered much healthier compared to refined white sugar."

Question 33: climate

Transcript: "...ideal growing conditions and climate are found in North America."

Question 34: rock / rocks

Transcript: "...they placed hot rocks directly into the sap to boil it."

Question 35: diameter

Transcript: "...trees must reach a suitable diameter before tapping, which takes 40 years."

Question 36: tube

Transcript: "...a tube is inserted into the trunk to funnel sap into buckets."

Question 37: fire

Transcript: "...large pans are heated over an open fire."

Question 38: steam

Transcript: "...vast amounts of steam are released during evaporation."

Question 39: cloudy

Transcript: "...sugar sand is filtered out because it makes the syrup cloudy."

Question 40: litre / liter

Transcript: "...it takes 40 litres of sap to yield just one litre of syrup."

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