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IELTS Practice Listening: Match Headings ID: #57377 Easy Edible patch
Instructions ›

What advantage do the speakers identify for each of the following projects?

Choose FIVE answers from the options and drag them.

Projects

edible patch -  1

ripeness sensor -   2

waste tracking technology -  3

smartphone application -  4

food waste composting -  5


You will hear a discussion between two people about different research projects and technologies aimed at reducing food waste. Now listen carefully and answer the questions. Okay, shall we now have a look at the projects that different researchers and organizations are working on? For me, the project I really liked was the one at Tufts University. You know, where they've invented tiny edible patches to stick on fresh foods that show you what level of bacteria is present, and so whether you can still eat it. It's a great idea, as it tells you if you need to hurry up and eat the food before it goes off. The other good thing about the patches is that apparently they'll be cheap to manufacture. Good. Then the other thing I thought was great was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology project. I hadn't seen that. Well, they've developed these sensors that can detect tiny amounts of ethylene. Ethylene is the natural plant hormone in fruit that makes them turn ripe, apparently. The researchers think that they can attach the sensors to cardboard boxes. And then supermarkets can scan the sensors with a portable device to see how ripe the fruit inside is. That's got to be a quicker way to check for ripeness than taking each box off the shelf and opening it. Definitely. And I thought that LeanPath was worth mentioning too. Their waste tracking technology means that caterers can see how much food is being wasted and why. That'll increase profits for them eventually. Yes. And did you read about 0%? They've produced this smartphone application that allows restaurants to send donation alerts to food charities. The charities can then pick up the unwanted food and distribute it to people in need. In the long run, that'll definitely benefit poorer families in the neighborhood. No kid should go to school hungry. I agree. And I read that quite a few local governments in the U.S.A. are thinking about introducing compulsory composting in their states, so you can't put any food waste into your rubbish bins, just the compost bin. Well, I guess that means a bit more work for people. I mean, they have to separate the organic and inorganic waste themselves before they take it out to the compost bin. And how lazy some people are. But I guess if we all start composting, we'd be doing something positive about the problem of food waste ourselves, rather than relying on the government to sort it out. Having said that, not everyone has a garden, so I guess...
5 gaps
Options
It should save time.
It will create new jobs.
It will benefit local communities.
It will make money.
It will encourage personal responsibility.
It will be easy to advertise.
It will involve very little cost.
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Advantage of the edible patch project

Why this is correct: The speaker clearly highlights low cost as a benefit. When you hear cheap to manufacture, that directly means it will involve very little cost.

Passage Reference: The other good thing about the patches is that apparently they'll be cheap to manufacture.

Tips: Listen for money words like cheap, expensive, or cost when the question asks about advantages.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • It should save time.: The patch shows bacteria levels, but the speaker does not say it saves time. This is a partial truth trap.
  • It will make money.: There is no mention of profit from the patches. This is a distractor trap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • manufacture = make
  • cheap = low cost

Question Focus: Advantage of the ripeness sensor project

Passage Reference: That's got to be a quicker way to check for ripeness than taking each box off the shelf and opening it.

Why this is correct: The speaker compares the sensor to opening boxes and says it is a quicker way. Quicker directly means it should save time.

Tips: Comparisons like quicker than or easier than usually point to time-saving answers.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • It will involve very little cost.: Cost is not mentioned for this project. This is a distractor trap.
  • It will make money.: Saving time is mentioned, not earning money. This is a partial truth trap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • quicker = faster
  • scan = check

Question Focus: Advantage of the waste tracking technology

Passage Reference: That'll increase profits for them eventually.

Why this is correct: The speaker explicitly says increase profits, which clearly means making money.

Tips: Words like profit, money, earn, or increase are strong signals for money-related answers.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • It will encourage personal responsibility.: This idea fits composting later, not this technology. This is a context shift trap.
  • It should save time.: Time is not mentioned here. This is a distractor trap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • profits = money earned
  • waste = unused food

Question Focus: Advantage of the smartphone application

Passage Reference: that'll definitely benefit poorer families in the neighborhood.

Why this is correct: Helping poorer families in the neighborhood shows a clear benefit to local communities.

Tips: Listen for people-focused language like families, communities, or neighborhood.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • It will make money.: This app focuses on donations, not profit. This is a paraphrase trap.
  • It will create new jobs.: Jobs are not mentioned at all. This is a distractor trap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • donation = giving
  • distribute = share

Question Focus: Advantage of food waste composting

Passage Reference: we'd be doing something positive about the problem of food waste ourselves, rather than relying on the government to sort it out.

Why this is correct: The speaker emphasizes people doing something themselves, which clearly means personal responsibility.

Tips: When you hear words like ourselves or people have to, think about responsibility.

Why the other options are wrong:

  • It will benefit local communities.: The focus here is individual action, not community benefit. This is a partial truth trap.
  • It will involve very little cost.: Cost is not discussed. This is a distractor trap.

Key Vocabulary:

  • composting = recycling food waste
  • responsibility = duty

General Tips:

  • Questions follow the order of the recording, so use the previous answer to predict the next one.
  • Listen for signpost words like but, so, or that means - the key idea often comes after.
  • Do not choose an option just because you hear a similar word. Always check the meaning.
  • Match the advantage to the project being discussed right now, not earlier or later.
  • Focus on the speaker's opinion or evaluation, not just what the technology does.

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