IELTS Listening: synonyms and opposites

Often you don't hear the exact words given in the question. Instead, you hear a synonym, a similar word, or an opposite. For example, if the question contains the word difficult, you might hear too hard or not easy.

Try the following exercise (from Cambridge IELTS 4, page 85). The speaker explains the problems involved with 4 different school science experiments.

Listen and choose the correct problem for the 4 experiments.

Click here to listen

A) too messy
B) too boring
C) too difficult
D) too much equipment
E) too long
F) too easy
G) too noisy
H) too dangerous

Experiment 1: ______
Experiment 2: ______
Experiment 3: ______
Experiment 4: ______

Comments

[Tereza]

Experiment 1:H
Experiment 2:B
Experiment 3:E
Experiment 4:C

[Annie]

H
B
E
C

[Sakina]

H
B
E
C

[Mahshad]

H
B
E
C

[gloria]

1. H
2. B
3. E
4. C (Don't you think this is a bit ambitious of this age group.)

[semenchu]

H, B, E, C

[sabah]

1-H
2-B
3-E
4-A

[Amin]

H Too risky-some one can get hurt =Too Dangerous
B Need something more interesting =Too Boring
E We have to wait up to = Too Long
C is bit Ambitious = Too difficult

[gangchil]

Hi all,
I am preparing for IELTS.if anyone like to discuss the speaking ,can join with me in Skype.I am looking for a serious and motivated person preparing for the exam.i think speaking needs a lot of practice.
pls add me on skype
my id::TAHERDR2010.

[emran]

1 H
2 B
3 E
4 C

thanks alot simon ..

[ARZU]

H,B,E,C

[dolly]

need a female speaking partner on skype.. if interested pls do respond..

[chopstix]

I think its
1- H (a bit more risky)
2- B (it needs to be a bit more active and
interesting than that)
3- E (wait upto four nights)
4- C ( a bit more ambitious for this age group)

[Charles Wang]

1. H
2. B
3. E
4. C

Thanks Simon!

[thong]

Hi!
My Answers are:
1-H
2-B
3-E
4-C

[Pham Quynh Hoa]

1. H ( risky)
2. B ( not interesting)
3. E ( too long)
4. C ( too ambitous)

[Linh]

1. Don't you think it is a bit risky to get group of 8 year old pusing each other around the classroom like that. Some one could get hurt.
2. I think it needs to be a bit more active and interesting than that.
3. When we did it at highschool, we have to wait up to fortnights before we saw any hopeful about halfway decent result
4. Don't you think it is a bit ambition for this age-group

[umm Omar]

Dolly , give me your name in the skype ,please
I'll ready to contact you if you want

[khairia]

1-H
2-B
3-E
4-C

[Simon]

CORRECT ANSWERS FROM SIMON:

H = risky is the synonym of too dangerous

B = needs to be more active and interesting (opposite of boring)

E = had to wait a fortnight (2 weeks) i.e. too long

C = ambitious is the synonym of difficult

[mashiheaven]

i very happy if someone can talk with me on skype, i want to improve my speaking skill. My skype is Mashiheaven, but i'm not good at english so i appreciate if u can sympathy for me.

[Nirmal]

- H
- B
- E
- C

[GÖZDE]

H
B
G FALSE E :(
C

very interesting exercises :)))

Thanks Simon :)))

[DuongThi]

too dangerous
too boring
too long
too difficult

[cameli82]

H
B
E
C
thank Simon!

[Kofo]

H
B
E
C

[Tanveera sheikh]

B
F
C
D

[venky]

I do need a speaker to get a good band in speaking
If any one interested plz do help on skype
my skype id:venkyprankster