# Presentation about Refrigeration: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 15, Test 4, Listening Part 3

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 15, Test 4, Listening Part 3. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 21 | B | insulating the blocks with straw or sawdust meant they didn't melt for months |
| 22 | A | both the ice and the snow were then sold |
| 23 | B | some people just dump old fridges in the countryside ... It's hard to see how they can be stopped unfortunately. |
| 24 | A | they're not expensive compared with some household appliances ... True. |
| 25 | A | And computers. I could do that. |
| 26 | A | Oh, all right then, I'll do you a favor, but you owe me, Jack. |
| 27 | B | I don't mind, it should be quite interesting. |
| 28 | B | OK, leave it to me then. |
| 29 | A | I wouldn't mind having a go at that. |
| 30 | C | You could investigate 19th and 20th century fridges, and I'll concentrate on what's available these days |

## Why these answers are right

**21. B.** Annie already knew where icehouses were built, but what she didn't realize was that insulating the ice with straw or sawdust stopped it melting for months. Not melting is the same as being kept frozen, so B is her discovery.

**22. A.** Annie explains that Roman ice and snow were sold, with ice costing more than snow. Selling a product for different prices shows that refrigeration had become a trade, which matches A, a commercial business.

**23. B.** Annie complains that some people simply dump old fridges in the countryside, and Jack agrees, saying unfortunately it is hard to stop them. Dumping fridges is disposing of them irresponsibly, a concern they share, so the answer is B.

The why and the trap for questions 24 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/presentation-about-refrigeration/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 3.

**Announcer:** You will hear two students of social history called Annie and Jack discussing their presentation about refrigeration.

**Announcer:** You have some time to look at questions 21 to 24.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 24.

**Annie:** OK, Jack.

**Annie:** Before we plan our presentation about refrigeration, let's discuss what we've discovered so far.

**Jack:** Fine, Annie.

**Jack:** Though I have to admit I haven't done much research yet.

**Annie:** Nor me.

**Annie:** But I found an interesting article about ice houses.

**Annie:** I'd seen some 18th- and 19th-century ones here in the UK, so I knew they were often built in a shady area.

**Annie:** Or underground, close to lakes that might freeze in the winter.

**Annie:** Then blocks of ice could be cut and stored in the icehouse.

**Annie:** But I didn't realize that insulating the blocks with straw or sawdust meant they didn't melt for months.

**Annie:** The ancient Romans had refrigeration too.

**Jack:** I didn't know that.

**Annie:** Yes, pits were dug in the ground, and snow was imported from the mountains.

**Annie:** Even though they were at quite a distance, the snow was stored in the pits.

**Annie:** Ice formed at the bottom of it, both the ice and the snow were then sold.

**Annie:** The ice cost more than the snow, and my guess is that only the wealthy members of society could afford it.

**Jack:** I wouldn't be surprised.

**Jack:** I also came across an article about modern domestic fridges.

**Jack:** Several different technologies are used, but they were too complex for me to understand.

**Annie:** You have to wonder what happens when people get rid of old ones.

**Jack:** You mean because the gases in them are harmful for the environment?

**Annie:** Exactly.

**Annie:** At least there are now plenty of organizations that will recycle most of the components safely, but of course some people just dump old fridges in the countryside.

**Jack:** It's hard to see how they can be stopped unfortunately.

**Jack:** In the UK, we get rid of 3 million a year altogether.

**Annie:** That sounds a lot, especially because fridges hardly ever break down.

**Jack:** That's right.

**Jack:** In this country, we keep domestic fridges for 11 years on average.

**Jack:** And a lot last for 20 or more.

**Jack:** So if you divide the cost by the number of years you can use a fridge, they're not expensive compared with some household appliances.

**Annie:** True.

**Annie:** I suppose manufacturers encourage people to spend more by making them different colors and designs.

**Annie:** I'm sure when my parents bought their first fridge, they had hardly any choice.

**Jack:** Yes, there's been quite a change.

**Announcer:** Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 25 to 30.

**Announcer:** Now listen and answer questions 25 to 30.

**Jack:** Right, let's make a list of topics to cover in our presentation, and decide who's going to do more research on them.

**Jack:** Then later we can get together and plan the next step.

**Annie:** OK, how about starting with how useful refrigeration is, and the range of goods that are refrigerated nowadays?

**Annie:** Because of course, it's not just food and drinks.

**Jack:** No, I suppose flowers and medicines are refrigerated, too.

**Annie:** And computers. I could do that.

**Annie:** Unless you particularly want to.

**Jack:** No, that's fine by me.

**Jack:** What about the effects of refrigeration on people's health?

**Jack:** After all, some of the chemicals used in the 19th century were pretty harmful.

**Jack:** But there have been lots of benefits too, like always having access to fresh food.

**Jack:** Do you fancy dealing with that?

**Annie:** I'm not terribly keen to be honest.

**Annie:** Hmm, nor me.

**Jack:** My mind just goes blank when I read anything about chemicals.

**Annie:** Oh, all right then, I'll do you a favor, but you owe me, Jack.

**Annie:** OK?

**Annie:** What about the effects on food producers, like farmers in poorer countries being able to export their produce to developed countries?

**Annie:** Something for you maybe?

**Jack:** I don't mind, it should be quite interesting.

**Annie:** I think we should also look at how refrigeration has helped whole cities, like Las Vegas, which couldn't exist without refrigeration, because it's in the middle of a desert.

**Jack:** Right.

**Jack:** I had a quick look at an economics book in the library that's got a chapter about this sort of thing.

**Jack:** I could give you the title if you want to do this section.

**Annie:** Not particularly to be honest.

**Annie:** I find economics books pretty heavy going as a rule.

**Jack:** OK, leave it to me then.

**Annie:** Thanks.

**Annie:** Then there's transport, and the difference that refrigerated trucks have made.

**Annie:** I wouldn't mind having a go at that.

**Jack:** Don't forget trains too.

**Jack:** I read something about milk and butter being transported in refrigerated railroad cars in the USA, right back in the 1840s.

**Annie:** I hadn't thought of trains. Thanks.

**Jack:** Should we have a separate section on domestic fridges?

**Jack:** After all, they're something everyone's familiar with.

**Annie:** What about splitting it into two?

**Annie:** You could investigate 19th and 20th century fridges, and I'll concentrate on what's available these days, and how manufacturers differentiate their products from those of their competitors.

**Jack:** OK, that suits me.

**Announcer:** That is the end of part 3.

**Announcer:** You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part 3.

[Practice Presentation about Refrigeration](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/presentation-about-refrigeration)