Cambridge IELTS 9 · Listening · Test 1 · Part 4
Mass Strandings of Whales and Dolphins — IELTS Listening Answers
All 10 answers for Mass Strandings of Whales and Dolphins, Cambridge IELTS 9 Listening Test 1 Part 4, with the transcript evidence and an explanation for each.
← All Cambridge 9 Listening Test 1 answers
Mass Strandings of Whales and Dolphins answer key at a glance
Questions 31–40. Tap an answer to see the evidence.
What this part tests
This part is tested with Note Completion (Q31–40). Each section below gives the strategy for that question type, the answers, and the sentence that proves them.
Questions 31–40: Note Completion
Strategy: Predict the word class from the note, find the paraphrase of the note's keyword in the transcript, then copy the answer exactly within the word limit.
“Unfortunately, this type of event is a frequent occurrence in some of the locations that you’ll be travelling to, where sometimes the tide goes out suddenly, confusing the animals”
Natural cause: 'the tide goes out suddenly, confusing the animals', so the noun 'tide' names what strands them.
“For instance, a type of worm is commonly found in the ears of dead whales. Since marine animals rely heavily on their hearing to navigate, this type of infestation has the potential to be very harmful”
The sense affected is hearing: marine animals 'rely heavily on their hearing to navigate', and the worm in the ears blocks it.
“Many toxins, as I’m sure you’re aware, originate from plants, or animals”
Toxins 'originate from plants, or animals', so the gap needs 'plants' — the first source listed.
“However, this idea does not seem to hold true for the majority of mass strandings because examination of the animals’ stomach contents reveal that most had not been feeding as they stranded”
Stomach contents revealed most animals 'had not been feeding as they stranded', ruling out the feeding theory.
“Noises such as those caused by military exercises are of particular concern and have been pinpointed as the cause of some strandings of late”
Sound is the trigger: 'noises such as those caused by military exercises' have been pinpointed as a cause of strandings.
“For one, all the stranded animals were healthy”
Adjective needed after 'were': 'all the stranded animals were healthy', so illness is not the explanation.
“In addition, the animals were spread out along 38 kilometres of coast, whereas it’s more common for the animals to be found in a group when mass strandings occur”
Normally the animals are found 'in a group', but these were spread over 38 kilometres of coast — the contrast.
“This is a particularly interesting theory since the whales that are thought to be most social – the toothed whales – are the group that strand the most frequently”
The theory fits because 'the whales that are thought to be most social – the toothed whales' strand most often.
“Examination of the dead animals revealed that apart from the leader, all the others had been healthy at the time of their death”
One animal differed: 'apart from the leader, all the others had been healthy', so the leader is the exception.
“I recommend John Connor’s Marine Mammals Ashore as an excellent starting point if you’re interested in finding out more about these networks, or establishing one yourself”
The book is a starting point for learning about 'these networks' or 'establishing one yourself', so 'network' completes it.
Learn the question types in this part
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Mass Strandings of Whales and Dolphins listening section come from?
It is Part 4 of Cambridge IELTS 9 Listening Test 1, and it covers Questions 31–40.
What question types appear in Mass Strandings of Whales and Dolphins?
The part is tested with Note Completion. 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.