Cambridge IELTS 3 · Listening · Test 1 · Part 4
Back Pain — IELTS Listening Answers
All 10 answers for Back Pain, Cambridge IELTS 3 Listening Test 1 Part 4, with the transcript evidence and an explanation for each.
← All Cambridge 3 Listening Test 1 answers
Back Pain answer key at a glance
Questions 32–41. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this part tests
This part is tested with One Choice (Q32–37). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 32–37: One Choice
Strategy: Read the question stem and predict the answer before looking at the options. Wrong options often repeat words from the audio while the correct one paraphrases them.
Options for Questions 32–37
- AStrongly recommended
- BRecommended in certain circumstances
- CNot recommended
“The most recent available figures show that about a quarter of a million people are incapacitated with back pain every day”
A — the scale of the problem, 'a quarter of a million people... every day', justifies the strongest recommendation.
“They are especially vulnerable because of pregnancy but also because of osteoporosis, which I personally believe to be the major cause of problems for women”
B — women are 'especially vulnerable because of pregnancy', so the advice applies only in that circumstance.
“Bed rest, giving up exercise and pain killers are traditional responses to back pain but, although there are many excellent drugs on the market, at our clinic we are beginning to realise the unique benefits of relaxation therapy”
B — relaxation therapy is offered instead of 'bed rest... and pain killers', so the recommendation is conditional.
“But the body’s response to back injury can be very counterproductive. When pain strikes, we attempt to keep the back as immobile as possible, which makes the muscles tense up. Research shows that they often go into spasm, which causes further twisting of the spine. A vicious circle is underway”
C — keeping the back 'as immobile as possible' tenses muscles and starts 'a vicious circle', so it is not advised.
“Although at the clinic we recognise that a short rest in bed can be helpful up to two days . . . any longer makes our back muscles become weaker and unable to hold up our spine”
A — 'a short rest in bed can be helpful up to two days', while any longer weakens back muscles.
“Anyone a stone or more overweight who already has back pain is not doing himself any favours: though it won’t actually set it off in the first place, the weight will increase the strain and make things worse”
B — excess weight 'won't actually set it off' but 'will increase the strain', so only conditionally advised.
Learn the question types in this part
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Back Pain listening section come from?
It is Part 4 of Cambridge IELTS 3 Listening Test 1, and it covers Questions 32–41.
What question types appear in Back Pain?
The part is tested with One Choice. Each type is explained on this page, alongside the answers.
Are these reading answers reliable?
Every answer is paired with the sentence that proves it, so you can check each one against the passage yourself. Use the page after a timed attempt, not instead of one.
Cambridge IELTS is published by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Band9Prep is not affiliated with Cambridge. This page is an independent study aid: it gives the answer key, the passage evidence and an explanation so you can review an attempt you have already made.