IELTS Listening Practice Test 18 with Audio and Answer Key

Step up your preparation with IELTS Listening Practice Test 18. Test your listening skills, then explore the transcript and answer key to understand your results.

IELTS Listening Practice Test 18 is designed to give you a real exam-style experience. This practice test includes four sections that help you become familiar with common IELTS Listening question types while improving your ability to understand different English accents, tones, and speaking patterns.

In this test, you will listen to 4 Sections and answer Questions 1–40 based on the information you hear. Each section reflects a typical situation you may encounter in the actual IELTS Listening exam.

• Part 1: You will hear part of a presentation by an urban planning student about the role of rivers in cities around the world

• Part 2: Introduction to Pottery at Edelman Pottery

• Part 3: Sociology Students' Research on Loneliness

• Part 4: The Role of Rivers in Global Cities

By completing this practice test, you can strengthen your listening skills, understand spoken English more effectively, and prepare yourself confidently for the IELTS exam.

IELTS Listening Practice Test 18

Part 1

Questions 1–10

Complete the table below.

Part 2

Questions 11–16

Choose the correct letter A, B or C.

11. Heather says pottery differs from other art forms because

A. It lasts longer in the ground.

B. It is practised by more people.

C. It can be repaired more easily.

12. Archaeologists sometimes identify the use of ancient pottery from

A. the clay it was made with.

B. the marks that are on it.

C. the basic shape of it.

13. Some people join Heather's pottery class because they want to

A. Create an item that looks very old.

B. Find something that they are good at.

C. Make something that will outlive them.

14. What does Heather value most about being a potter?

A. Its calming effect

B. Its messy nature

C. Its physical benefits

15. Most of the visitors to Edelman Pottery

A. Bring friends to join courses.

B. Have never made a pot before.

C. Try to learn techniques too quickly.

16. Heather reminds her visitors that they should

A. Put on their aprons.

B. Change their clothes.

C. Take off their jewellery.

Questions 17 and 18

Choose TWO letters, A–E.

17–18
Which TWO things does Heather explain about kilns?

A. What their function is

B. When they were invented

C. Ways of keeping them safe

D. Where to put one in your home

E. What some people use instead of one

Questions 19 and 20

Choose TWO letters A–E.

19–20
Which TWO points does Heather make about a potter's tools?

A. Some are hard to hold.

B. Some are worth buying.

C. Some are essential items.

D. Some have memorable names.

E. Some are available for use by participants.

Part 3

Questions 21 and 22

Choose TWO letters A–E.
Which TWO things do the students both believe are responsible for the increase in loneliness?

A. Social media

B. Smaller nuclear families

C. Urban design

D. Longer lifespans

E. A mobile workforce

Questions 23 and 24

Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO health risks associated with loneliness do the students agree are based on solid evidence?

A. A weakened immune system

B. Dementia

C. Cancer

D. Obesity

E. Cardiovascular disease

Questions 25 and 26

Choose TWO letters, A–E.
Which TWO opinions do both students express about the evolutionary theory of loneliness?

A. It has little practical relevance.

B. It needs further investigation.

C. It is misleading.

D. It should be more widely accepted.

E. It is difficult to understand.

Questions 27–30

Choose the correct letter A, B or C.

Loneliness and mental health

27. When comparing loneliness to depression, the students

A. Doubt that there will ever be a medical cure for loneliness.

B. Claims that the link between loneliness and mental health is overstated.

C. Expresses frustration that loneliness is not taken more seriously.

28. Why do the students decide to start their presentation with an example from their own experience?

A. To explain how difficult loneliness can be

B. To highlight a situation that most students will recognise

C. To emphasise that feeling lonely is more common for men than women

29. The students agree that talking to strangers is a good strategy for dealing with loneliness because

A. It creates a sense of belonging.

B. It builds self-confidence.

C. It makes people feel more positive.

30. The students find it difficult to understand why solitude is considered to be

A. Similar to loneliness.

B. Necessary for mental health.

C. An enjoyable experience.

Part 4

Questions 31–40

Complete the notes below.

Reclaiming Urban Rivers

Historical background

Nearly all major cities were built on a river.
Rivers were traditionally used by city dwellers for transport, fishing and recreation.

Industrial development and rising populations later led to:

• More sewage from houses is being discharged into the river

• Pollution from 31. …………… on the riverbank.

In 1957, the River Thames in London was declared biologically 32. ………………..

Recent improvements

Seals and even a 33. …………….. have been seen in the River Thames.
Riverside warehouses are converted to restaurants and 34. …………………….

In Los Angeles, there are plans to:

• Build a riverside 35. …………..

• Display 36. ………………. projects.

In Paris, 37. ……………….. are created on the sides of the river every summer.

Transport Possibilities

Over 2 billion passengers have already travelled by 38. …………………. in cities around the world. Changes in shopping habits mean the number of deliveries that are made is increasing. 

Instead of road transport, goods could be transported by large freight barges and electric 39. …………………….. or, in future, by 40. …………………………

Answers

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