IELTS Listening Part 3: A Research Project on Food Waste

Part Three. You will hear two students talking to their tutor about a research project on food waste.

First, you have some time to look at questions twenty-one to twenty-five.

Now listen carefully and answer questions twenty-one to twenty-five.

Come in, both of you! So, how's the food waste project going?

Really well, actually! We've just finished collecting our data.

Good. Remind me, how did you collect it?

We weighed the leftover food in the campus canteen for two weeks.

We also handed out a short questionnaire to students at lunchtime.

Interesting. And why did you use both methods?

Because people don't always do what they say they do.

And that's exactly what we found! The gap was huge!

Most students claimed they hardly ever threw food away.

But nearly a third of every meal ended up in the bin!

A third? Goodness, that's far higher than I'd have guessed.

Bread and vegetables were wasted the most.

So, what do you think is behind it?

I think the portions are simply too big.

Well... I'm not so sure about that.

Honestly, a lot of students just don't like the vegetables!

Oh, come on, Tom. We never even asked about taste!

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions twenty-six to thirty.

Now listen and answer questions twenty-six to thirty.

Okay, okay. You both make fair points.

Your data can't settle it, so mention it as a limitation.

Sorry, we really should have included a question about that.

So, where do you go from here?

Oh! What if the canteen served smaller portions for a week?

Yes! Then we could weigh the waste again and compare.

Hmm, but you'd need the catering manager to agree first.

Um, right... Could you possibly email her for us?

Ha, I had a feeling you'd ask that. Leave it with me.

Thank you so much! That would really help.

Just make sure your first draft is ready by Friday.

We will. No leftovers this time, I promise!

That is the end of Part Three.