Questions, Answers & Transcript: Blue-footed Bird Listening Practice
Do not look at the answers until you have finished the listening lesson.
If you have not finished this listening lesson, please click here: Blue-footed bird listening practice
Transcript:
These boobies live off the western coasts of Central and South America. The Galápagos Islands population includes about half of all breeding pairs of blue-footed boobies. They are aptly named, and males take great pride in their fabulous feet. During mating rituals, male birds show off their feet to prospective mates with a high-stepping strut. The bluer the feet, the more attractive the mate.
All half-dozen or so booby species are thought to take their name from the Spanish word “bobo.” The term means “stupid,” which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds when they saw them on land—their least graceful environment.
Like other boobies, blue-foots nest on land at night. When day breaks, they take to the air in search of seafood, sometimes fishing in cooperative groups. They may fly far out to sea while keeping a keen eye out for schools of small fish, such as anchovies. When their prey is in sight, these seabirds utilize the physical adaptations that make them exceptional divers. They fold their long wings back around their streamlined bodies and plunge into the water from as high as 80 feet. Blue-footed boobies can also dive from a sitting position on the water’s surface.
Blue-footed boobies also use their webbed feet to cover their young and keep them warm. When a typical brood of one to three chicks hatch, both parents feed and care for them.
It is a good idea to read the transcript and listen to the recording at the same time. Below:
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Questions: No more than two words and/or a number.
- Strutting and showing off feet is part of the mating …………
- When a male boobie has very blue feet, he is considered ……………..
- Their name comes from the Spanish word for …………..
- On land, blue-footed boobies move in a ………. manner.
- Blue-footed boobies fish in ……………….
- They eat small fish, for example ………….
- Their bodies are ……….. which is advantageous when diving.
- Adult boobies warm their chicks with their ……………….
- They usually have a maximum of ………. young.
Answers:
- RITUAL / RITUALS
- You can have either plural or singular for this answer. It isn’t common that you can have both – usually in IELTS you must choose carefully and writing the wrong one will mean it is marked wrong.
- ATTRACTIVE
- STUPID
- You cannot have the word “bobo” because the word “for” means you are looking for a translation. You need the English word, not the Spanish word.
- CLUMSY
- GROUPS / COOPERATIVE GROUPS
- Some people had difficulty with the pronunciation of “in cooperative groups”. This is due to the pronunciation features of linking sounds.
- ANCHOVIES
- STREAMLINED
- FEET / WEBBED FEET
- THREE / 3
- Notice that the question asks for the maximum number. Always underline key words in the question on your listening question paper.
I got 7/10 correct .is this a good score?
Hi Liz,
Thanks a lot.
Your lession is very useful and worthy. However I would like to have your support on following my few concerns,
1 Shall speaker spell some of hard words such as answer 6 – Anchovies?
2 Time will be given to read questions before audio starts?
Thank you in advance.
1. Yes, usually difficult words are spelled out.
2. You always have time to read the questions first. Go to the BC IELTS website where you can find one full practice test for free. This will give you an idea of the speed of the audio and the time you have to prepare questions etc.
amazing stuff to prepare.
It’s quite tricky when comets words you haven’t heard before like the number 6 answer “anchovies’ I scored 8/9. I was equally skeptical about the number 3 answer between bobo and stupid. I had bobo first my gut chose “stupid”. All the same this is really helpful.
Thanks Liz!
Are your lessons more difficult than the real ielts test ? Because I just started entertaining and I get everything wrong 🙁
You should be using my lessons to develop skills and awareness, and using real IELTS tests to get used to the real IELTS level while you practise at home. Get the IELTS Cambridge test books, number 14 is the most recent – they are real IELTS tests published by IELTS for you to use.
It was told they are clumsy on the land so they are clumsy to move.
Hi Liz,
I am still not able to relate to the answer of question#4. In the audio they never said anything similar to “Boobies move in clumsy manner”. Please help me to understand.
Thanks,
Deepali
The audio says “…their name from the Spanish word “bobo.” The term means “stupid,” which is how early European colonists may have characterized these clumsy and unwary birds”
I got only 3/9 how I can improve please mam help me
Answers came quickly for this one, I got 6/9 for this one.
I missed and put Bobo but it really wanted the English translation and i missed two answers
Hi Liz
Please will there be transcript for us in the real test?because if not for the transcript I wouldn’t have gotten anything.
Of course there is no transcript in the test. IELTS listening is a listening test, not a reading test. The transcript is given above so you can understand how to improve, so you can develop vocabulary, build awareness etc. My lessons are not tests, they are lessons for learning.
Hi Ms Liz,
Amazing test prepared by you and not so easy to answer. It really helped. keep up the good work. Thanks
Hi Liz. Is there time allotted for reading the questions in each section of the listening test or all the questions have to be read before the recording is played? How many minutes in each case?
My test is on January 19. Thanks.
Get the IELTS Cambridge Test Books which are real IELTS tests published by IELTS for you to practice at home. That way you will get used to the time allowed and how the test works. You should be doing at least 4 FULL practice tests at home before you do the actual test.
Yes mam, can u tell me which book is preferable among these – Cambridge ielts academic 11 or 12 or 13.
Thanks.
There is no such thing as “which is preferable”. They are in order of date. Number 13 is the latest. The test hasn’t changed and they are all relevant.
Do Ielts tests also include spanish words which we need to translate in english?
Just as the word bobo
As you see, you do not need to translate. You require NO knowledge of Spanish to provide the English answer. You require only to understand English to answer that question.
Hi Liz, Thanks for your helpful site. my concern regarding to this bobo translation to english, how does ielts anticipate candidate to know the English meaning of spanish word. since candidates are not tested on translation. Thanks
You are not required to know the translation. You are required to listen to the recording and answer questions. The translation is given in the recording.
Thanks a lot. I find your lessons very helpful. Is it okay to write “very attractive” in question 2?
You don’t need to write intensifiers when you write the answer for short answer questions. Just the simple information is enough.
Its quite difficult isn´t it? I know we have some easier and some harder listenning but acctually Listening is the wrost test for me 🙁
Thank you so much Liz for the good work you are doing. May God continue to bless you as you touch more lives. I just started practicing from your blog.
Thanks Liz, I just started my listening practice and have found these really helpful. Thanks once again. I scored 7 points
Thanks you so much for your valuable time sharing such an effective tips and plenty of essential lessons for us to practices before taking the IELTS test.
Hi liz.. 🙂
I am just new here and today i am going to start my prepartion of ielts from your listeniing excersise its lil bit difficult but i will try my best… once again thanks for the tips. 😊
Hi Liz,
thank you very much for all these useful lessons.
I would ask you do I have to memorize the name of fishes like “anchovies” ?.
thanks in advance,
No. Most answers in the listening test will be more simple words. However, spelling will always be important.
Great practical experience Liz! Awesome
HI Liz i find your website very useful and facinatig for me.thanks o lot 😙
But i m preparing only by myself using internet materials and your website what do you think can i manage without a teacher
Each person is different and requires a different amount of help. Use the free materials and then see if your practice score is increasing. If it is not, then possibly think of a teacher. Also make sure you use authentic tests published by IELTS for your preparation – IELTS Cambridge test books from 1 to 13. You can buy the online or in educational shops. I also offer Advanced Lessons to buy for writing task 2: http://subscriptions.viddler.com/IELTSLizStore
Thanks 🙂
Hi Ms. Liz,
I would like to let you know that I am preparing hard for my upcoming test in two weeks. I am learning a lot through your informative website. Thanks loads for all your efforts. I have a question please with regards to writing the answers of the Listening test, and I would deeply appreciate it if you could give me the accurate answer to avoid such mistakes in the real test:
I was practicing a Listening test, and the speaker mentioned the date – First of February.
The instructions given were – write no more than two words.
Which one would be the correct answer:
1st of February (is it considered two or three words) OR
February 1st OR
1st February
Thanks in advance
I’m sure you know that in English we never write “1st of February”. That isn’t correct in English. Although we say the word “of” it is never written. You can write the number before or after the month – one is US and the other is UK English.
Hi Liz,
I took very first test of Boobies today and realized how good exercise was. I mean because of your Qs I understood that we need to read question thoroughly because small words like ‘For'(Q3) and ‘Maximum'(Q.9) can make us loose our marks.
Thank you once again.
Hi Liz,
In blue foot bird listening exercise i got confused and written a wrong answer for this question “THERE NAMES COMES FROM SPANISH WORD FOR _________”. Actually i have written “BOBO” but you explained that we have to translate it into English. How could i know Spanish, I thought this is an International English test. Please revert back to me.Thanks for your Lectures.
Cheers,
Neelesh Reddy
The audio very clearly explains which word is English and which word is a Spanish name:
“take their name from the Spanish word “bobo.” – it states clearly that the word “bobo” is a Spanish word.
“The term means “stupid,” ” – it then clearly states the translation of the word.
This is an English language test and the recording very clearly explains in English the name of the bird from the Spanish word to the English translation.
It is very important that you read the transcript very carefully to see why you didn’t understand the English explanation. Every time you do a practice lesson or a practice test, you MUST read through the transcript and check each answer – it is up to you to learn.
VERY IMPORTANT SUGGESTION – Hi Liz, would be so good if you could add time in the start of all audio to read questions just like in real IELTS test. Thanks.
Sure, I can try to make a lesson like that.
Hi Liz
I am so confused with this question
Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night .The amount of sleep a person needs varies .While most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night ,some people do well with less ,and some need more
T&F&NG
Some who only gets four hours sleep a night must be suffering from insomnia .?
Try thinking this one out for yourself. However, my advice is based on the information you provided – you have not presented the whole paragraph and often the answer can relate to more than one sentence.
A true answer = the statement is correct. A false answer = the statement is opposite or wrong. A NG answer = we have no idea if it is wrong or right because there is nothing in the passage about it.
Passage: Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night.
Statement: Some who only gets four hours sleep a night must be suffering from insomnia.
Thank you so much, Liz, it is a really helpful lesson.
Dear Liz,
Thanks a lot for proving Free preparation materials. I looked at different IELTS websites , they are all not detailed or well organised the same as yours.
Please Liz, could you tell me what is the idea of using all answers in Reading and Listening in Capitals is it just to be in a safe side?
How about using all Lowercase or use Capitals just in the beginning of the names?
The idea of my question is writing in all capitals take longer time also, I tried using them but there’s no enough space in answer sheet particularly with sentence completion listening questions.
I checked the other student’s comments and your comments regarding that but didn’t find an answer to my specific question.
Wish you all the best Liz because you deserve it.
I usually recommend using all capital letters because it’s easy to read. If your answer can’t be easily read, it could be marked wrong. If you don’t want to use them, just use all lower case.
Thanks mam,ur lessons are so wonderful.it is very helpful tip to listen the recording as well as reading the same script.
I’m glad you tried that. It’s a great way to hear the way sounds and words link together. You can also use it to improve your own pronunciation.
Dear Liz, thank you so much. I need to know if this will be applicable in the real ielst test. I mean the recording and the script together?
It is not a listening and reading test together. The script is for practising at home. Of course you can’t see the script in a listening test.
Thank you,I took the speaking test on Tuesday in Lagos and I was asked the kind of job I will like to take it,why,the qualities required
I was asked if I do put on a wrist watch
If I get to a place on time
Why I do get there on time
What skills are required for students in secondary school in other to be successful when they get a job
And many more questions.
I am preparing for the reading,listening and writing test. And also hoping I get over a band 7 because what is required of me is a band score 7.Thank you ma for your help
God bless you.
Thanks for sharing 🙂 See this page for “on the day” tips: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-exam-tips-on-the-day/
Thank you for your free open lessons They were very useful and educative .
I was able to obtain my required band score.
God bless you.
Well done 🙂
THanks for posting answers Liz ! It was a tough but good exercise and I scored 8/9. Question # 6 was tough cause I never heard of such species and I was unable to think of the spellings as well. I am looking forward for more such practice exercises 🙂
I’m glad the lesson was useful 🙂 If you want more practice lessons, go to my main listening page = click on the RED BAR at the top of the website.
Hi Ma’am,
Thanks for the above listening chapter.
But why can’t we write “bobo”?
That means if there’ll be any such kind of questions we need to write the meaning but not the name?
This has been explained on the page above. The grammar in the question statement CLEAR asks for a translation of the word. The preposition “for” means you need the English word. ALL IELTS listening questions are not just about listening – they are about grammar – understanding prepositions and the type of answer needed. So, this isn’t about guessing, it’s about knowing your grammar.