# The Significance and Influence of Stoicism Throughout History: answers and explanations

Cambridge IELTS 16, Test 1, Listening Part 4

Source: Recording, questions and answer key from Cambridge IELTS 16, Test 1, Listening Part 4. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Used for educational practice. Explanations and evidence notes are written by Testmigo.

## Answer key

| Q | Answer | Proof |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 31 | practical | which in my opinion is the most practical of all philosophies |
| 32 | publication | despite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication. |
| 33 | choices | but the choices I make with regard to them |
| 34 | negative | which most of us would see as wholly negative. |
| 35 | play | And later put on a play based on the life of Cato to inspire his men. |
| 36 | capitalism | Adam Smith's theories on capitalism were significantly influenced by the Stoicism |
| 37 | depression | It's most commonly used to treat depression. |
| 38 | logic | that create our faulty thinking symptoms and behaviors by using logic instead. |
| 39 | opportunity | because Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity. |
| 40 | practice | and will require considerable practice. |

## Why these answers are right

**31. practical.** The lecturer calls Stoicism the most practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing. The notes link its continued relevance to its ___ appeal, so the adjective practical, which is the reason for that appeal, fills the gap.

**32. publication.** The speaker is amazed that Stoic ideas survive even though the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication. Not being intended for in the notes paraphrases never wrote down for, so publication is the noun required.

**33. choices.** Epictetus is quoted as saying he cannot control external events, but he does control the choices he makes with regard to them. The notes paraphrase with regard to them as in response, and the plural noun choices fits the verb make.

The why and the trap for questions 34 onwards are free with an account on the [answers page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/listening/the-significance-and-influence-of-stoicism-throughout-history/answers).

## Transcript

**Announcer:** Part 4, you will hear a professor of philosophy giving a talk on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.

**Announcer:** First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

**Announcer:** Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.

**Speaker:** Ancient philosophy is not just about talking or lecturing, or even reading long dense books.

**Speaker:** In fact, it is something people have used throughout history.

**Speaker:** To solve their problems and to achieve their greatest triumphs.

**Speaker:** Specifically, I am referring to Stoicism, which in my opinion is the most practical of all philosophies, and therefore the most appealing.

**Speaker:** Stoicism was founded in ancient Greece by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC, but was practiced by the likes of Epictetus.

**Speaker:** Cato, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius.

**Speaker:** Amazingly, we still have access to these ideas, despite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication.

**Speaker:** Cato definitely didn't, Marcus Aurelius never intended his Meditations to be anything but personal, Seneca's letters were, well, letters.

**Speaker:** And Epictetus' thoughts come to us by way of a note-taking student.

**Speaker:** Stoic principles were based on the idea that its followers could have an unshakable happiness in this life, and the key to achieving this was virtue.

**Speaker:** The road to virtue in turn lay in understanding that destructive emotions like anger and jealousy are under our conscious control.

**Speaker:** They don't have to control us, because we can learn to control them.

**Speaker:** In the words of Epictetus, external events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them, I do control.

**Speaker:** The modern day philosopher and writer, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, defines a Stoic as someone who has a different perspective on experiences,

**Speaker:** which most of us would see as wholly negative.

**Speaker:** A Stoic "transforms fear into caution, pain into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking". Using this definition as a model, we can see that throughout the centuries Stoicism has been practiced in more recent history by kings.

**Speaker:** Presidents, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs.

**Speaker:** The founding fathers of the United States were inspired by the philosophy.

**Speaker:** George Washington was introduced to Stoicism by his neighbors at age 17.

**Speaker:** And later put on a play based on the life of Cato to inspire his men.

**Speaker:** Thomas Jefferson kept a copy of Seneca beside his bed.

**Speaker:** Writers and artists have also been inspired by the Stoics, Eugène Delacroix, the renowned French Romantic artist, known best for his painting Liberty Leading the People, was an ardent Stoic, referring to it as his consoling religion.

**Speaker:** The economist Adam Smith's theories on capitalism were significantly influenced by the Stoicism that he studied as a schoolboy, under a teacher who had translated Marcus Aurelius' works.

**Speaker:** Today's political leaders are no different, with many finding their inspiration from the ancient texts.

**Speaker:** Former US President Bill Clinton rereads Marcus Aurelius every single year, and many have compared former President Obama's calm leadership style to that of Cato.

**Speaker:** Wen Jiabao, the former prime minister of China, claims that Meditations is one of two books he travels with, and that he has read it more than 100 times over the course of his life.

**Speaker:** Stoicism had a profound influence on Albert Ellis, who invented cognitive behavior therapy, which is used to help people manage their problems,

**Speaker:** by changing the way that they think and behave.

**Speaker:** It's most commonly used to treat depression.

**Speaker:** The idea is that we can take control of our lives by challenging the irrational beliefs

**Speaker:** that create our faulty thinking symptoms and behaviors by using logic instead.

**Speaker:** Stoicism has also become popular in the world of business.

**Speaker:** Stoic principles can build the resilience and state of mind required to overcome setbacks, because Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity.

**Speaker:** A lesson every business entrepreneur needs to learn.

**Speaker:** I would argue that studying Stoicism is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago, thanks to its brilliant insights into how to lead a good life.

**Speaker:** At the very root of the thinking, there is a very simple way of living.

**Speaker:** Control what you can, and accept what you can't.

**Speaker:** This is not as easy as it sounds, and will require considerable practice.

**Speaker:** It can take a lifetime to master.

**Speaker:** The Stoics also believed the most important foundation for a good and happy life is not money, fame, power or pleasure, but having a disciplined and principled character.

**Speaker:** Something which seems to resonate with many people today.

**Announcer:** That is the end of part 4.

**Announcer:** You now have one minute to check your answers to part 4.

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