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LanguageCert C1 Expert study materials
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LanguageCert C1 Expert practice questions

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Question 1Listening

In the LanguageCert C1 Expert Listening test, how many times is each recording played to the candidate?

  1. Once Correct answer.
  2. As many times as the candidate requests
  3. Twice
  4. Three times

Explanation

The C1 Expert listening paper is delivered as a single-play test, so candidates must extract the key information on the first hearing. This mirrors real academic and professional listening, where repetition is not normally available. Preparing by listening once under timed conditions is therefore the most useful practice.

Question 2Listening

A candidate hears: 'The scheme was meant to cut costs, but in the end it merely shifted the burden onto regional offices.' What does the speaker imply about the scheme?

  1. It did not deliver the intended saving overall. Correct answer.
  2. It reduced costs only in the regional offices.
  3. It achieved its original financial objective.
  4. It was abandoned before it was implemented.

Explanation

The contrast marker 'but in the end' plus 'merely shifted the burden' signals that the intended cost reduction did not materialise; the expense was relocated rather than removed. Recognising concessive and contrast structures is central to C1 inference items. The word 'merely' further downgrades the achievement.

Question 3Listening

Which feature most reliably signals that a speaker is about to concede a point in a formal discussion?

  1. A rising intonation on the final word of a clause
  2. A sudden increase in speaking speed
  3. An expression such as 'admittedly' or 'I take your point, but' Correct answer.
  4. The use of the present perfect tense

Explanation

Concession in formal spoken English is typically flagged by discourse markers such as 'admittedly', 'granted', 'to be fair' or 'I take your point, but'. These prepare the listener for a partial agreement followed by a counter-argument. Prosodic and tense features are far less consistent indicators.

Question 4Listening

A lecturer says: 'These figures should be treated with a certain caution.' What is the speaker doing?

  1. Rejecting the figures as entirely false
  2. Hedging the reliability of the data Correct answer.
  3. Asking the audience to recalculate
  4. Confirming the data are definitive

Explanation

'Should be treated with a certain caution' is a hedge: the speaker signals limited confidence in the figures without dismissing them outright. C1 listening frequently tests the ability to distinguish hedging from outright rejection. The qualifier 'a certain' softens the warning further.

Question 5Listening

In a listening task, a speaker says: 'It's not so much a question of funding as one of political will.' What is the speaker's main point?

  1. Both funding and political will are equally problematic.
  2. Funding is the more serious problem.
  3. Political will matters more than funding here. Correct answer.
  4. Neither funding nor political will is relevant.

Explanation

The construction 'not so much X as Y' downgrades X and foregrounds Y, so the speaker prioritises political will over funding. This comparative frame is a common C1 paraphrase trap because the first noun mentioned is not the emphasised one. Listening for the whole frame, not the first content word, is essential.

Question 6Listening

Which listening sub-skill is being tested when a candidate must identify the attitude of a speaker who says 'Well, that's one way of looking at it' with a flat, slow delivery?

  1. Recognising implied disagreement through tone and formulaic language Correct answer.
  2. Predicting the next section of the talk
  3. Listening for specific numerical detail
  4. Distinguishing British and American accents

Explanation

The formula 'that's one way of looking at it', delivered flatly and slowly, conventionally signals polite scepticism rather than agreement. The item tests pragmatic inference: combining formulaic language with prosody to recover an unstated attitude. Neither numbers nor accent features are at issue.

Question 7Listening

A candidate hears a speaker list three drawbacks and then say 'Having said that, the benefits are considerable.' What is the function of the underlined phrase?

  1. It introduces a summary of the drawbacks.
  2. It marks the end of the speaker's turn.
  3. It signals a shift to a contrasting positive evaluation. Correct answer.
  4. It repeats the previous point for emphasis.

Explanation

'Having said that' is a concessive discourse marker that pivots from the preceding negatives to a contrasting positive assessment. Recognising such pivots prevents candidates from answering according to the first part of the utterance only. The marker introduces new, opposing content rather than summarising.

Question 8Listening

In the C1 Expert listening paper, what is the most effective strategy during the short pause before each recording?

  1. Reading the questions to predict likely content and vocabulary Correct answer.
  2. Checking answers with the person beside you
  3. Writing down everything from the previous recording
  4. Waiting for the audio before looking at the questions

Explanation

The pre-listening pause exists so candidates can skim the questions, anticipate the topic and predict paraphrases or synonyms that may appear. This priming improves recognition of answers during single playback. Using the pause for unrelated activity wastes the only preparation window.

Question 9Listening

A speaker says: 'The council's proposal was broadly welcomed, though reservations were voiced about the timetable.' Which statement best captures the meaning?

  1. Nobody expressed any opinion about the proposal.
  2. Overall approval was accompanied by some concerns about timing. Correct answer.
  3. The proposal was rejected because of the timetable.
  4. The timetable was the only aspect people approved of.

Explanation

'Broadly welcomed' conveys general approval, while 'though reservations were voiced' adds a qualification about the timetable. The correct paraphrase must preserve both the positive main clause and the limited objection. Options that make the reaction wholly negative or wholly positive distort the balance.

Question 10Listening

During a seminar recording, a student says: 'Sorry, could you just go back to what you were saying about the sample size?' What does this utterance primarily do?

  1. It introduces a completely new topic.
  2. It challenges the validity of the research.
  3. It requests clarification by returning to an earlier point. Correct answer.
  4. It summarises the tutor's argument.

Explanation

The utterance is a clarification request: the student asks the tutor to revisit an earlier remark about sample size. Phrases such as 'go back to' and 'what you were saying' mark reference to prior discourse rather than disagreement or summary. C1 items often test these interactive functions in academic discussions.

Question 11Listening

A speaker remarks: 'If we'd consulted the residents earlier, we wouldn't be dealing with this backlash now.' What does the speaker suggest?

  1. Consulting residents now would be pointless.
  2. The backlash is unrelated to the consultation process.
  3. Failure to consult earlier caused the current problem. Correct answer.
  4. The residents were consulted and approved the plan.

Explanation

This is a third conditional combined with a present consequence: an unreal past action (not consulting) is presented as the cause of a present difficulty (the backlash). The mixed conditional structure is a frequent C1 listening challenge. The speaker implies that earlier consultation would have prevented the current situation.

Question 12Listening

In a radio interview, the guest says: 'I wouldn't go so far as to call it a failure.' What is the guest's position?

  1. The guest avoids the strong label 'failure' while implying criticism. Correct answer.
  2. The project was a complete success.
  3. The guest refuses to comment on the project.
  4. The project was definitely a failure.

Explanation

'I wouldn't go so far as to call it X' explicitly declines the strongest negative label while leaving room for a critical assessment. The guest is calibrating language rather than endorsing success or refusing to speak. Recognising such calibrated judgements is a core C1 inference skill.

Question 13Listening

Which feature of connected speech most often causes candidates to miss a key word in the C1 listening paper?

  1. The use of formal vocabulary
  2. A slow and even speech rate
  3. Elision and assimilation across word boundaries Correct answer.
  4. The presence of pauses between sentences

Explanation

Elision (dropping sounds) and assimilation (sounds blending) can make familiar words unrecognisable, for example 'next day' sounding like 'nexday'. These connected-speech processes are far more disruptive than formal vocabulary, which candidates can infer from context. Training with authentic fast speech builds tolerance for such reductions.

Question 14Listening

A lecturer says: 'Contrary to popular belief, the evidence for that claim is thin.' What is the lecturer doing?

  1. Supporting a widely held view
  2. Asking the audience for their beliefs
  3. Presenting new experimental data
  4. Correcting a common assumption Correct answer.

Explanation

'Contrary to popular belief' explicitly frames the following clause as a correction of a widespread assumption, and 'the evidence is thin' weakens the claim. The function is to challenge received opinion, not to endorse it or present data. Identifying such framing phrases helps candidates avoid choosing an option that matches the popular view rather than the speaker's.

Question 15Listening

A candidate hears a speaker say: 'The figures for the second quarter are, shall we say, open to interpretation.' What does the speaker mean?

  1. The figures have not yet been released.
  2. The figures are unreliable or questionable. Correct answer.
  3. The figures were produced by the speaker.
  4. The figures are clear and unambiguous.

Explanation

The parenthetical hedge 'shall we say' plus 'open to interpretation' signals diplomatic doubt about the reliability of the figures. The speaker avoids direct criticism while implying the data are questionable. Recognising euphemistic hedging is a common C1 listening demand in professional contexts.

Question 16Listening

When a speaker changes topic with 'That's by the by, but returning to the main issue...', what is the immediate function of the phrase?

  1. It introduces a new sub-topic for detailed analysis.
  2. It dismisses a digression and refocuses the discussion. Correct answer.
  3. It concludes the entire discussion.
  4. It asks another speaker to repeat a point.

Explanation

'That's by the by' marks the preceding remark as a digression of minor importance, and 'returning to the main issue' explicitly refocuses the talk. This management of topic is a discourse function frequently tested in monologue and discussion items. It neither opens a new sub-topic nor closes the discussion.

Question 17Listening

A speaker says: 'The new policy has done little to improve retention, and much to undermine morale.' What is the rhetorical structure of this sentence?

  1. A balanced comparison that presents both effects as equal
  2. A neutral report of two unrelated statistics
  3. A conditional prediction about future retention
  4. A parallel contrast that emphasises the negative effect Correct answer.

Explanation

The 'done little to... and much to...' frame is a parallel contrast that weights the two outcomes, stressing the harmful effect on morale. The structure is evaluative rather than neutral or evenly balanced. Recognising such parallelism helps candidates identify the speaker's evaluative stance.

Question 18Listening

In a discussion, one participant says: 'I think we're rather talking at cross purposes.' What problem is being identified?

  1. The participants are misunderstanding each other's points. Correct answer.
  2. The participants are arguing too aggressively.
  3. The participants agree on everything.
  4. The participants have run out of time.

Explanation

'Talking at cross purposes' is an idiom meaning that people are misunderstanding one another, often addressing different concerns while believing they are discussing the same thing. It does not imply aggression, time pressure or agreement. Idiomatic expressions of this kind are a recognised feature of C1 listening.

Question 19Listening

A speaker says: 'Far from resolving the dispute, the meeting actually deepened it.' Which paraphrase is accurate?

  1. The meeting had the opposite effect to the one intended. Correct answer.
  2. The meeting was cancelled before any dispute arose.
  3. The meeting had no effect on the dispute either way.
  4. The meeting resolved the dispute as expected.

Explanation

'Far from X, Y' asserts that the outcome was the reverse of the expected one: the meeting was meant to resolve the dispute but instead made it worse. The construction is emphatic and always contrasts an expected result with an actual, opposite result. Paraphrases must preserve that reversal.

Question 20Listening

A candidate hears: 'You'd have thought they'd have learned from the last exercise, wouldn't you?' What is the speaker expressing?

  1. Approval of the previous exercise
  2. Critical surprise at repeated mistakes Correct answer.
  3. A request for the listener's permission
  4. Genuine uncertainty about what happened

Explanation

The pattern 'you'd have thought... wouldn't you?' is a rhetorical device expressing critical surprise that past lessons were not applied. The tag question invites agreement rather than information, so it is not a genuine question. Identifying rhetorical questions as stance markers is a valuable C1 listening skill.

Question 21Listening

A speaker says: 'The report stops short of recommending a ban.' What does this tell us about the report?

  1. It does not go as far as recommending a ban. Correct answer.
  2. It recommends an immediate ban.
  3. It rejects the idea that a ban was ever discussed.
  4. It ignores the question of a ban entirely.

Explanation

'Stops short of' means the report goes close to a position but does not reach it, so it declines to recommend a ban while perhaps implying concern. The phrase is frequently tested because candidates may misread it as recommending or ignoring the measure. Precision about degree is a hallmark of C1 comprehension.

Question 22Listening

In a lecture, the speaker says: 'It would be naive to suppose that regulation alone can solve this.' Which assumption does the speaker challenge?

  1. That naivety is a virtue in policymaking
  2. That regulation has any role to play
  3. That the problem is solvable at all
  4. That regulation by itself is sufficient Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'it would be naive to suppose that X' attacks the belief that X, where X is 'regulation alone can solve this'. The speaker therefore challenges the assumption of sufficiency, not the value of regulation entirely. Distinguishing 'alone' from 'at all' is the key to answering correctly.

Question 23Listening

A speaker says: 'The data, such as they are, suggest a modest improvement.' What is implied about the data?

  1. They are limited or of questionable quality. Correct answer.
  2. They have not yet been collected.
  3. They contradict the idea of improvement.
  4. They are extensive and highly reliable.

Explanation

The parenthetical 'such as they are' is a dismissive qualifier implying the data are limited or imperfect, which softens the claim of modest improvement. The speaker does not deny improvement but qualifies confidence in it. This idiomatic hedge is easily missed by candidates focusing only on 'suggest'.

Question 24Listening

A presenter says: 'Lest we forget, the last attempt at this reform ended in failure.' What is the function of 'lest we forget' here?

  1. It warns the audience to keep a cautionary precedent in mind. Correct answer.
  2. It invites the audience to forget past failures.
  3. It expresses uncertainty about historical facts.
  4. It introduces a formal apology for an error.

Explanation

'Lest we forget' is a formal warning not to overlook something important; here it foregrounds a past failure as a cautionary precedent for the current reform. It is rhetorical and emphatic rather than an apology or an expression of doubt. Recognising archaic or formal register markers is part of C1 listening range.

Question 25Listening

A speaker remarks: 'There's a fine line between confidence and complacency.' How is the relationship between the two qualities presented?

  1. They are entirely unrelated traits.
  2. They are mutually exclusive opposites.
  3. They are identical in every respect.
  4. They are closely adjacent and easily confused. Correct answer.

Explanation

'A fine line between X and Y' means the two are closely adjacent and easy to confuse, so the boundary is narrow. The idiom does not claim identity or complete opposition. Understanding idiomatic expressions of degree and boundary is a recurring demand in C1 listening.

Question 26Listening

In Part 1 of the C1 Expert listening paper, candidates hear several short exchanges. Which skill is being assessed when a candidate must work out what a speaker implies rather than what is literally stated?

  1. Inferring meaning from indirect language Correct answer.
  2. Transcribing the exact wording of each turn
  3. Memorising the sequence of speakers
  4. Recognising individual phonemes in isolation

Explanation

Part 1 exchanges often rely on implication, so the candidate must read beyond the literal words to grasp the intended message. Literal transcription is not what the task rewards, and phoneme-level decoding is a lower-level skill that does not capture the pragmatic demand.

Question 27Listening

A candidate listening to a monologue in Part 4 hears the speaker say: 'Not that I'm blaming the management, mind.' What is the speaker doing with this comment?

  1. Changing the subject to an unrelated matter
  2. Confirming that management is fully responsible
  3. Asking the listener to agree with the criticism
  4. Denying an accusation while implicitly suggesting it Correct answer.

Explanation

The construction 'Not that...' pre-empts a possible interpretation and appears to withdraw a criticism, yet the very mention of blame implies the speaker does hold management partly responsible. The hedge works pragmatically as a soft accusation rather than a genuine denial.

Question 28Listening

In Part 2, candidates complete sentences with information from a talk. A speaker says: 'The scheme was rolled out in 2019, two years later than originally planned.' Which detail should the candidate write for a gap asking when the scheme was launched?

  1. 2017
  2. 2019 Correct answer.
  3. 2021
  4. Two years

Explanation

The launch date is 2019; the phrase 'two years later than planned' is extra context about the delay, not the launch year itself. Candidates must distinguish the key fact from the comparative detail surrounding it.

Question 29Listening

A candidate hears in a Part 3 discussion: 'It's not so much the cost that worries me as the timescale.' What is the speaker's main concern?

  1. The timescale rather than the cost Correct answer.
  2. The cost rather than the timescale
  3. Neither the cost nor the timescale
  4. Both the cost and the timescale equally

Explanation

The frame 'not so much X as Y' downgrades the first item and foregrounds the second, so the timescale is the primary worry. Recognising this comparative structure prevents candidates from selecting the first noun they hear.

Question 30Listening

In Part 4, a speaker says of a colleague: 'She's nothing if not thorough.' How is the colleague being described?

  1. Thorough only occasionally
  2. Not particularly thorough
  3. Thorough but unreliable
  4. Extremely thorough Correct answer.

Explanation

The double negative 'nothing if not' functions as an emphatic affirmative, meaning the person is thoroughly thorough. Candidates who process only the surface negation may wrongly infer criticism.

Question 31Listening

During a Part 3 collaborative task, one speaker says: 'Shall we park that for now and come back to the budget?' What does the speaker want the group to do?

  1. Record the discussion for later review
  2. Move the meeting to a different room
  3. Postpone the current point and return to it later Correct answer.
  4. Abandon the budget discussion permanently

Explanation

'Park' an item is an idiom meaning to set it aside temporarily with the intention of returning. The phrase 'come back to' confirms the postponement is temporary, not a cancellation.

Question 32Listening

A candidate in Part 1 hears: 'I was going to book the venue, but then I thought better of it.' What actually happened?

  1. The speaker booked a different venue
  2. The speaker booked the venue after all
  3. The speaker decided not to book the venue Correct answer.
  4. The speaker is still deciding about the venue

Explanation

'Think better of it' means to reconsider and decide against a planned action, so the booking did not happen. The past intention ('was going to') signals an unfulfilled plan.

Question 33Listening

In Part 2, a speaker gives a phone number and then a reference code. Which listening skill is most directly needed to record these accurately?

  1. Predicting the topic from the title of the talk
  2. Distinguishing formal from informal register
  3. Inferring the speaker's attitude to the information
  4. Segmenting rapidly spoken numbers and letters into the correct units Correct answer.

Explanation

Numbers and reference codes are delivered quickly and must be chunked correctly, for example grouping digits or recognising letter names. Attitude, topic prediction and register awareness do not help with accurate transcription of such data.

Question 34Listening

A speaker in a Part 4 talk says: 'The technology is impressive; the question is whether anyone can afford it.' What is the speaker's overall stance?

  1. Unqualified enthusiasm for the technology
  2. Admiration tempered by concern about cost Correct answer.
  3. Indifference to both technology and cost
  4. Complete rejection of the technology

Explanation

The first clause concedes a positive quality while the second raises a practical obstacle, producing a balanced but cautious stance. The colon signals that the second clause carries the speaker's real reservation.

Question 35Listening

In Part 3, a candidate hears: 'That's one way of looking at it, I suppose.' What does the speaker's response convey?

  1. A request to repeat the previous point
  2. Polite scepticism about the previous suggestion Correct answer.
  3. Wholehearted agreement with the previous point
  4. Confusion about what was just said

Explanation

The combination of a hedged concession and 'I suppose' signals lukewarm, polite disagreement rather than endorsement. This kind of qualified agreement is a common distractor trap in Part 3.

Question 36Listening

A candidate hears a speaker say: 'We can't afford to ignore the findings, can we?' What is the speaker doing?

  1. Asking a genuine question to which they do not know the answer
  2. Inviting the audience to ignore the findings
  3. Seeking agreement on a point they consider self-evident Correct answer.
  4. Expressing doubt about the reliability of the findings

Explanation

A question tag attached to a strong assertion invites the listener to agree rather than to supply information. Such tag questions in monologues are rhetorical devices that build consensus.

Question 37Listening

In Part 2, a speaker says: 'Attendance rose by 15 per cent, reaching just under 4,000.' Which two figures must a candidate keep distinct to complete the notes correctly?

  1. The percentage increase and the final attendance figure Correct answer.
  2. The final attendance and the venue capacity
  3. The original attendance and the percentage increase
  4. The percentage increase and the number of events

Explanation

The sentence contains two different quantities: a relative increase (15 per cent) and an absolute total (just under 4,000). Note-completion items often place such paired figures close together to test accurate discrimination.

Question 38Listening

A speaker in Part 4 says: 'For all its faults, the system has proved remarkably resilient.' Which paraphrase captures the meaning?

  1. The system has no faults and is resilient
  2. Despite its weaknesses, the system has survived well Correct answer.
  3. The system's faults have made it fragile
  4. Because of its weaknesses, the system has failed

Explanation

'For all its faults' is a concessive phrase meaning 'despite its faults', and 'resilient' means able to withstand pressure. The utterance therefore balances acknowledged weaknesses with an overall positive judgement.

Question 39Listening

A candidate hears: 'The minister's statement was economical with the truth.' What is implied?

  1. The minister spoke briefly but accurately
  2. The minister gave an unusually detailed account
  3. The minister refused to make any statement
  4. The minister misled by omitting key facts Correct answer.

Explanation

'Economical with the truth' is an established euphemism for misleading through omission rather than outright lying. The idiom signals deliberate withholding, not brevity or accuracy.

Question 40Listening

In Part 1, a speaker says: 'It's not that I don't enjoy the work; it's the commuting I can't stand.' What does the speaker dislike?

  1. Both the work and the journey
  2. The nature of the work itself
  3. The daily journey to work Correct answer.
  4. Neither the work nor the journey

Explanation

The 'not that... it's X' frame moves the complaint away from the work and onto the commute. Candidates must follow the contrast structure rather than latch onto the first negative.

Question 41Listening

A speaker in a Part 4 lecture says: 'We should be wary of treating correlation as though it were causation.' What warning is being given?

  1. Not to assume that linked events are cause and effect Correct answer.
  2. Not to rely on statistical software
  3. Not to publish findings before peer review
  4. Not to collect data from too many sources

Explanation

The utterance warns against the common error of inferring a causal relationship from mere statistical association. The phrase 'as though it were' marks the mistaken assumption being criticised.

Question 42Listening

A candidate hears: 'The proposal was given short shrift by the committee.' What happened to the proposal?

  1. It was examined at length and approved
  2. It was amended and resubmitted
  3. It was rejected quickly and without much discussion Correct answer.
  4. It was postponed to a later meeting

Explanation

'Give short shrift' means to deal with something dismissively or reject it without ceremony. The idiom conveys swift, unsympathetic treatment rather than careful consideration.

Question 43Listening

In Part 3, two speakers discuss a plan. One says: 'If it were up to me, we'd shelve the whole idea.' What is the speaker's view?

  1. They would implement the plan immediately
  2. They are unsure who is responsible for the plan
  3. They want the plan reviewed by a committee
  4. They would abandon the plan if they had the authority Correct answer.

Explanation

'Shelve' means to set aside or abandon, and 'if it were up to me' signals a hypothetical personal preference. Together they show the speaker would drop the plan if the decision were theirs.

Question 44Listening

A candidate hears a speaker say: 'There's no denying the results are impressive.' What is the speaker conceding?

  1. The results are irrelevant to the discussion
  2. The results are genuinely impressive Correct answer.
  3. The results are impossible to verify
  4. The results may be exaggerated

Explanation

'There's no denying' is an emphatic affirmation, so the speaker accepts that the results are impressive. The construction concedes a point even if the speaker may go on to qualify it.

Question 45Listening

In a Part 4 talk, the speaker says: 'The reforms, such as they were, did little to address the underlying problem.' What is implied about the reforms?

  1. They were comprehensive and successful
  2. They were never actually introduced
  3. They were limited in scope and largely ineffective Correct answer.
  4. They were opposed by the speaker's colleagues

Explanation

'Such as they were' is a dismissive qualifier suggesting the reforms were inadequate, and 'did little to address' confirms their ineffectiveness. The two elements combine to convey a negative judgement of their scope and impact.

Question 46Listening

A candidate hears: 'The committee stopped short of endorsing the plan.' What does this mean?

  1. The committee cancelled the plan outright
  2. The committee did not go as far as full approval Correct answer.
  3. The committee formally endorsed the plan
  4. The committee refused to discuss the plan

Explanation

'Stop short of' means to refrain from reaching a particular point, so endorsement was not given even if other supportive steps were taken. The plan was neither fully approved nor explicitly cancelled.

Question 47Listening

In Part 2, a speaker says: 'The workshop runs from the third to the fifth of June, though the final session is optional.' What should a candidate note about the final session?

  1. It is on the third of June
  2. It is compulsory
  3. It is cancelled
  4. It is optional Correct answer.

Explanation

The concessive clause 'though the final session is optional' states directly that attendance at the last session is not required. The dates belong to the workshop as a whole, not to that session specifically.

Question 48Listening

A speaker in Part 1 says: 'I can't say I'm surprised, given the way things have been going.' What attitude is expressed?

  1. Genuine astonishment at an unexpected event
  2. Anger at being kept uninformed
  3. Resigned expectation that this outcome would occur Correct answer.
  4. Indifference to recent developments

Explanation

'I can't say I'm surprised' is a litotes-style way of saying the outcome was predictable, and the reference to how things have been going reinforces a resigned tone. The speaker expected what happened.

Question 49Listening

A candidate hears a speaker say: 'The findings have been seized on by some as proof, but the authors themselves urge caution.' What does the speaker emphasise?

  1. The unreliability of all published research
  2. The authors' refusal to comment on their findings
  3. A gap between how others use the findings and how the authors present them Correct answer.
  4. Complete agreement between the authors and their critics

Explanation

The contrast between 'seized on by some' and 'the authors themselves urge caution' highlights a divergence between public interpretation and the researchers' own position. Recognising this contrast is essential to answering accurately.

Question 50Listening

In Part 3, a speaker says: 'I take your point, but that rather misses the nub of the issue.' What is the speaker doing?

  1. Acknowledging a remark while redirecting to the central point Correct answer.
  2. Agreeing fully with the previous speaker
  3. Asking for the previous point to be clarified
  4. Rejecting the previous speaker's right to contribute

Explanation

'I take your point' concedes that the remark has some validity, while 'misses the nub' redirects attention to the core issue. This two-part move is a common pattern in collaborative discussions.