IELTS Listening: mobile phones

Watch the first minute of the video and complete the text below.

In 2000 there were 700 million ______ ______ ______, three quarters of which were in the ______ ______. Yet by the end of 2008 there were around 4 billion, three quarters of them in the ______ ______. What was once a yuppie toy has become a tool of ______ ______, even in the world's poorest places.

Developing countries are now ______ the market's ______. In the 12 months to the end of March 2009, the number of ______ ______ in India increased by 128 million, or 52%. In Western Europe, by contrast, the number of subscribers increased by 27 million, or 5%.

Note:
If you can't see the video properly, click here to watch it on the Economist site.

Comments

[Sachin]

handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving/ growth
mobile subscribers

[bahare]

hi simon
my answers are:
handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
broading
goals
mobile subscribers

[Choung]

handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving growth
mobile subscribers

[Asselkz]

handset in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving/groups
mobile subscribers

[Sara]

Hi Simon,

1- handset in circulation
2- developed world
3- developing world
4- economic empowerment
5- driving
6- growth
7- mobiles subscribe

Sara

[Marya]

Hi Simon,
Here are my answers:
1-handsets in circulation
2-developed world
3-developing world
4-economic environment
5-driving
6-growth
7-mobile subscribers

Thank you
Marya

[ahmedtawfik13@yahoo.com]

hi,simon;
1-handsets in circulation
2-developed world
3-developing world
4-economic empowerment
5-driving
6-growth
7-mobile subscribers

cheers

[Agnes]

handset in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving
growth
mobile subscribers

[Jay]

HI Simon,
I have quastion on writting task 2. Recently a topic was asked in China, here is topic " How younger generation's behaviour influenced by their peers? what are the advantages and disadvantages?"
I tried your E book and I got some ideas but I am not clear about this what I have to write in disadvantages?
So can you please help me in this matter?

Thanks
Jay

[Cuong La]

1. hand set in-circulation
2. developed world
3. developing world
4. economic empowerment
5. driving...growth
6. mobi subscribers

[Jay]

HI Simon my answers as followed,
1. HANDSETS IN CIRCULATION
2. DEVELOPED WORLD
3. DEVELOPING WORLD
4. AN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
5. DRIVING
6. GROWTH
7. MOBILE SUBSCRIBERS

THANKS...
JAY

[Dana]

Hi Simon

I have tried to go to the Economist web site but I could not find the same report. I am just wondering if I have to subscribe to see similer videos.

Could you tell me if there is a link for that video. Thank you
My answer are :
handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving/ growth
mobile subscribers

[Josh JS]

Hello everybody

handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving / growth
mobile subscribers

[Shelley]

Hi, Simon:
handsets in circulation
developed world
developing world
economic empowerment
driving/growth
mobile subscribers

Thank you. :)

[mhatab]

Hi Simon;
1- Handsets in circulation.
2- Developed world.
3- Developing world.
4- Economic empowerment.
5- Driving.
6- GroWth.
7- Mobile subscribe.
THANKS

[Simon]

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

- handsets in circulation
- developed world
- developing world
- economic empowerment
- driving... growth
- mobile subscribers

This video is really useful for writing task 1 too.

...

Hi Jay,

I don't think you have the full question (maybe you didn't remember the exact words), but there are many examples of how young people influence each other negatively: starting to smoke, missing school, doing dangerous things to show off. Young people are influenced by their friends because they want to be accepted by them, so they sometimes make the wrong choices.

...

Hi Dana,

I didn't have to sign up. Try doing a Google search for "economist video".

Simon

[Jay]

HI Simon,
Thanks for your reply. But the the question is same. Again I just copy it from the link, "Write an essay on how young people’s behavior is influenced by their peers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?"

Any ways I got some ideas about disadvantage side. Once again Thanks for this.
Jay

[Simon]

Ok, no problem Jay.

[Anuar]

I think it's impossible to complete the text from the first attempt!!even to native English speakers!!

[Simon]

Hi Anuar,

You're probably right. My exercises aren't really tests. Try to use them for both listening practice and as a means to improve your vocabulary knowledge. It's good to listen to them several times.

[UT]

Hi Simon,

In this video, i heard the word "dominant" when the speaker compares using fixed phone and mobile phone of subscribers, but i don't make sure how to use this word in wring task 1.
Would you like explain it to me? and please give me example.

Thanks & Regards,
UT

[Simon]

Hi UT,

"Mobile broadband will be the dominant form of broadband."

This means that it will be the 'main' or 'most popular' type of broadband Internet (i.e. the market leader).

Be careful when using 'dominant' in writing task 1. You can only use it when comparing things in the same area or field. If you're not sure, don't use it.

PS. Try searching on Google for more examples of 'dominant' - this will help you to see how it can be used.

[UT]

Thanks very much for your help.

[benjamin]

I can't watch it. Please use another useful link. Thank you Simon.

[Simon]

I think it's working now.