Listening Practice for IELTS: Plastic Straws

This listening practice is about the current world issue of plastic straws and how they affect the environment. This is the type of listening you are likely to hear in section 4 of the listening test.  Furthermore, the ideas are useful to learn for your writing and speaking test. It is also something I feel very strongly about. We all know about the problems of plastic straws, but how many of us are choosing not to use them? Hopefully this listening practice will remind us all about the importance of not using such pollutants. 

In the IELTS listening test, you can listen only once. For this lesson, read the questions and make a note of keywords before you listen to the audio. You will always have time to do this in the real test.

Listening Practice Lesson for IELTS

 

Listening Questions 1- 6

Complete the sentences with words from the recording. Use no more than two words and/or a number.

  1. Plastic straws have a limited ……………… owing to their predominantly single usage.
  2. These straws do not …………….. and can pollute the environment for hundreds of years.
  3. ……………….. straws are thought to be used annually in the UK.
  4. Kasey Turner found ………… straws during her 20-minute ………………
  5. One plastic straw was even found in the airway of a …………………
  6. Understanding the relationship between what we do and the negative ……………. can be a motivation for ………..

Recording

Source: This article was adapted from 1millionwomen.com.au and also bbc.co.uk/news

Answers:

Post your answers in the comments box below.

I will post the answers on Saturday.

All the best

Liz

Raising Awareness of Plastic Straws

If you would like to learn about about the effects of plastic straws, watch the video footage of the endangered sea turtle mentioned above. Click here: Effect of Straws on a Sea TurtleThe video is distressing to watch – be warned!!

More Listening Practice

If you would like more listening practice lessons created by myself, please go to my main listening page for tips and lessons: IELTS Listening Main Page

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Comments

  1. Chikelu Augustina Nneka says

    (1) life span
    (2) biodegrade
    (3) 8.5 billion
    (4) 319, snorkel
    (5) outcome, change

  2. Yusufganya says

    1. Life span
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4.319
    5. Sea turtle
    6. Outcome/change

  3. 1. lifespan
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319/ snorkle
    5. sea turtle
    6. impact/change

  4. 1)once
    2)biodigradable
    3)A plastic
    4)319
    6)outcomes ,change

  5. 1. Life span
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319 , walk
    5. Sea Turtle
    6. Outcome, change

  6. 1 lifespan
    2 biodegrade
    3.8.5 billion
    4. 319 snorkel
    5
    6outcomes
    7 change

  7. Omoniyi Muhammed says

    1 Short lifespan
    2 degrade
    3 8.5billion
    4 319 snorkel
    5 sea turtle
    6 outcome change

  8. kwaku duah says

    1. Lifespan
    2.Biodegrade
    3. 8.5billion straws
    4. 319
    5. Sea turtle
    6.

  9. 1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billions
    4. 319, snorkel
    5. Parasite Worm
    6. Iutcomes, change

  10. Chinelo Oraedu says

    Answers to the listening practice on plastic straws
    1 LIFESPAN
    2 BIODEGRADE
    3 8.5BILLION
    4 319, SNORKEL
    5 SEA TURTLE
    6 OUTCOMES, CHANGE

  11. 2. recycle 3. 8.5 billion 4. 319 5 sea turtle 6

  12. lifespan
    biodegrade
    Plastic
    319 snorkel
    costarica
    devastation environment

  13. Srikanth S says

    1. life span
    2. degrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snow walks
    5. sea trutle
    6. actions, devastating outcomes

  14. Joseph Kanja says

    Thank you for the good guidance

  15. BHANSARATHY LANKAPALLI says

    lifespan
    biodegrade
    8.5 Bn
    319
    Snorkle
    Sea turtle
    outcomes
    change

  16. Shilpa Shukla says

    1.life span
    2.Degrade
    3.8.5 billion
    4.319 ,snorkling
    5.parasitic worm
    6.Outcomes,Change

  17. 1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5billion
    4. 319, snow c
    5. Sea turtle
    6. Actions
    7. Change

  18. 1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. Plastic
    4. 319 billion straws
    5. Sea turtle
    6. Outcomes, change

  19. 1. lifespan
    2. breakdown
    3. 8.5billion
    4. 319 & snowcall – not sure about this
    5. turtle
    6. outcome & change

  20. ANSWERS
    1. LIFE SPAN
    2. BIODEGRADE
    3. 8.5 BILLION
    4. 319/ SNOW BALLS
    5. COASTAL RICA
    6. OUTCOMES/ CHANGE

  21. Naheed Sami says

    Here are the answers:
    1. Life span
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319 / Snorkeling
    5. Sea turtle
    6. outcome / change

  22. Adeoti Adeyinka Adeyinka says

    1 life span
    2 Biodegradable
    3 8.5 billion
    4.319. snow cold
    5.sea turtle
    6.effect. change

  23. Amandeep Kaur says

    Hello Liz
    My name is Amandeep Kaur and I’m attempting this test for the very first time.I came across your site as many friends of mine recommended your site for preparation. I’d never attended any class. I know I need a lot of improvement and I’m just posting the answers. Fingers crossed 🤞

    1. Life span
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billuon.
    4. i. 310 ii. Snow Squall
    5. Sea turtle, Stop Using.

  24. Manjot Singh says

    Answers:
    1) lifespan
    2) biodegrade
    3) 8.5 billion
    4) 319, snorkel
    5) sea turtle
    6) outcomes, change

  25. 1. Life span
    2. Degraded
    3. 8.5 billions
    4. 319 straws
    5. Sitertor
    6a reaction
    6b change

  26. Adeoti Adeyinka Adeyinka says

    Plz where am i to post the answers.

  27. 1. Lifespan
    2.biodegrade
    3. 8.5billion
    4. 319
    5. Snorkeling
    6.outcomes
    7.Change

  28. Adeoti Adeyinka Adeyinka says

    Thanks Liz, your lessons has improved my English in such a short time.

  29. Pooja Saini says

    1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 Billion
    4. 319, Snorkil
    5. Turtle
    6. Outcome, Change

  30. Joseph Kanja says

    1 use life
    2 decompose
    3 8.5 billlions
    4 319, walk
    5 sea turtle
    6 impact ,action

  31. Kanaka Kumari says

    1) lifespan
    2) degrade
    3) 8.5 billion
    4) 319
    5) sea turtle
    6) outcomes; change

    I am not able to catch the second answer for the fourth question.

  32. 1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319
    5. Snorkeling, sea turtle
    6. Outcome, change

  33. 1. Plastic straws have a limited LIFE-SPAN owing to their predominantly single usage.
    2. These straws do not BREAK DOWN and can pollute the environment for hundreds of years.
    3. SINGLE-USE straws are thought to be used annually in the UK.
    4. Kasey Turner found 319 straws during her 20-minute SNORKEL.
    5. One plastic straw was even found in the airway of a SEA TURTLE.
    6. Understanding the relationship between what we do and the negative OUTCOME can be a motivation for CHANGE.

  34. Adeoti Adeyinka Adeyinka says

    Thanks very much Mrs Liz. Have been enjoying your lessons and I believe, I can make my desire band score soon

  35. Thin Eaindray says

    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billions
    4. sea turtle
    5. 30019,snow core
    6. ,environment

  36. Zakir Hosain says

    1. Short lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4.319, snorkol
    5. Costa Rica
    6. Outcomes, change

  37. Thin Eaindray says

    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billions
    4. sea turtle
    5. 30019,snow core
    6. ,environment

  38. 1. Once
    2. Biodegrad
    3. 1.5 billion
    4. 3,19 straws
    5. Plastic straw
    6. Stop using

  39. 1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, circle
    5. seaturtle
    6. Connections, change

  40. Life spane
    Degree
    8.5billion
    390
    Sink
    Catalist. Change

  41. 1. life span
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snow crawling
    5. sea turtle
    6. actions, change

  42. Rahimunisa Mohammed says

    hello liz,
    Thanks for the listening practice lesson
    let me give answers for the topic
    1. life span
    2.Biodegrade
    3.8.5 billion
    4.319, snow kill
    5. sea turtle
    6. outcomes, stop using them

  43. 1. lifespan
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319
    snorkel
    5. sea turtle
    6. outcome
    change

  44. life wspan
    Biodegredate
    3.9 million
    319 straws
    Snowcore
    Sea turtle
    Outcome
    Change

  45. Pamela Afagha says

    1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. a)319 , b) knuckle
    5. Sea turtle
    6. a) outcome b) change

  46. Thanks for this educative practice. I do enjoy your teaching.

  47. Nwamara Thompson says

    Listening practice answer.
    1: Lifespan
    2: Biodegrade
    3: 8.5 billion
    4: 319, snowcats
    5: Sea turtle
    6 Outcome, change

  48. erdachew yitagesu says

    1.life-span
    2.bio-degrade
    3.8.5 billion
    4.390 … snow cool
    5.sea tortole
    6.negative …change

  49. Divya Rejo says

    Hi Liz,.
    Here are my answers
    1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319
    5. Snorkel
    6. Sea turtle
    7. Outcomes
    8. Change

  50. 1 lifespan
    2 bio-degrade
    3 8.5 million
    4 319 simulation
    5 Sea turtle
    6 outcome change

  51. I really to improve all the four skills with the help of your lessons

  52. Hoàng Nguyễn says

    1. lifespan
    2. break down
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319 / …
    5. sea turtle
    6. outcomes / change

  53. 1. Life span
    2. Biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snooker
    5. Sea turtle
    6. Outcomes, change

  54. 1. Life span
    2. Biodegradable
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snorkel
    5. Sea turtle
    6. Outcomes, change

  55. Lucy Maina says

    Short span
    Bio degradable
    8.4 billion
    319 million
    Sea turtle

  56. 1] life span
    2]degrade
    3]8.5 million
    4]390 straws, snow cold
    5] parasitic worm
    6]action, change

  57. Malikakhon Khasanboeva says

    1.life span
    2.biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snorkel
    5.sea turtle
    6.outcome, change

  58. Life span
    Degrade
    8.56 billion390
    Stockholm
    Sea turtle
    Use
    Action

  59. Madhabi Sarkar says

    1) usage
    2) degrade
    3)8.5 billion
    4) 319, scuba diving
    5)sea turtle

  60. 1. life spin
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319 , snorkel
    5. sea turle
    6. outcomes , change

  61. 1 life span
    2 biodegrade
    3 8.5 billion
    4 319, snorkel
    5 sea turtle
    6 actions, change

  62. 8.1. lifespan
    2. biodegrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319 , snorkel
    5. sea turtle
    6. outcome , change

  63. iftakhar ahmad says

    thanks a lot

  64. LIFESPAN/LIFE SPAN
    BIODEGRADE
    8.5 BILLION
    319 – ?
    SEA TURTLE
    OUTCOMES-CHANGE

  65. Irene Wangari says

    Hi Liz,my answers on straws listening test
    Use
    Biodegrade
    8.5billion
    319
    Snowfall
    Sea turtle
    Actions
    Change

  66. 1.once
    2.breakdown
    3.8,5 billion
    4.319
    snowcall
    5.sea turtle,,,outcome
    6.change

  67. Simar Bajwa says

    1. Lifespan
    2. Biodegrade
    3. Plastic
    4. 319 smoko
    5. Sea-turtle
    6. Outcomes Catalyst

  68. short life
    biodegradable
    8.5 billions
    319
    Nico
    environment
    outcomes
    chnage

  69. hutoxi antia says

    1)life-span
    2)biodegrade
    3)8.5 billion
    4)319 snorkel
    5)sea turtle
    6) actions change

  70. 1.single
    2.degrade
    3.8.5bilion
    4.319,circle dive
    5.sea turtle
    6.devastating,change

  71. 1 LOW
    2 BIODEGRADE
    3 8.5 BILLION
    4 319, SUNCORE
    5 SEA TURTLE
    6 OUTCOMES
    7 CHANGE

  72. 1) lifespan
    2) biodegrade
    3) 8.5 billion
    4) 319, snowker
    5) Sea turtle
    6) Outcomes, change

  73. Precious Ndukauba says

    1; life span
    2; downgrade
    3; 8.5billions
    4; 319 & Snorkel
    5; Sea turtle
    6; outcome & Change

  74. Lifespan
    Biodegrade
    8.5 Billion
    319
    Parasitic worm
    Outcome
    Change

  75. PLASTIC STRAWS

    1. life span
    2. degrade
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snorkel
    5. Sea Turtle
    6. outcomes, change

  76. 1. life
    2. recycled
    3. 8.5 billion
    4. 319, snorkel
    5. sea turtle
    6. outcome, change

  77. 1. LIFESPAN
    2.DEGRADE
    3.8.5 BILLION
    4.319,SNORKEL
    5.SEA TURTLE
    6.OUTCOMES,CHANGE

  78. Lifespan
    Biodegrade
    8.5 billion
    319
    Snorkel
    Sea turtle
    Outcome
    Change

  79. Lifespan
    Biodegrade
    8.5 Billiion
    319
    Parasitic worm
    Outcome
    Change

  80. Life spam
    Biodegrade
    8.5 billion
    319
    Snorkel
    Sea turtle
    Impact
    Change

  81. Amit Kumar says

    1. LIFESPAN
    2. DEGRADE
    3. 8.5 BILLION
    4. 390, WALK
    5. SEA TURTLE
    6. OUTCOMES, CHANGE

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