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IELTS Practice Listening: Note/Summary Completion Diagram ID: #57416 Hard Coca cola
Instructions ›
Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.

You will hear a conversation between two students discussing the design and structure of a Coca-Cola can for a presentation. Now listen carefully and answer the questions. That's an enormous number. It says here, outstrips the production of nails or paper clips. And they say that the manufacturers of these cans exercise as much attention and precision in producing them as aircraft manufacturers do when they make the wing of an aircraft. Really? Let's have a look. They're trying to produce the perfect can, as thin but as strong as possible. This bit's interesting. Today's can weighs about 0.48 ounces, thinner than two pieces of paper. From this magazine, say. Yeah, and yet it can take a lot of weight. More than 90 pounds of pressure per square inch. Three times the pressure of a car tyre. OK, I agree. It's a good topic. What I thought was that we could do a large picture of a Coke can and label it and then talk about the different parts. Look, I've done a rough picture here. OK, so where shall we start? Well, the lid is complicated. Let's start with the body first. I'll do a line from the centre of the can. like this, and label it body. What does it say? It's made of aluminium, of course. It's thicker at the bottom. Right, so that it can take all the pressure. And then I think you should draw another line from the body for the label. Right, label. The aluminium is ironed out until it's so thin that it produces... what does it say? A reflective surface suitable for decoration. That's right, apparently. It helps advertisers too. Yes, because it's attractively decorated. Good. And then there's the base. Yes. It says the bottom of the can is shaped like a dome, so that it can resist the internal pressure. That's interesting. I didn't know that. Nor did I. OK, so going up to the lid, there are several things we can label here. There's the rim around the edge which seals the can. Got that? And there's a funny word for the seal, isn't there? Yes, it's a flange. What does it say about it? Well, the can's filled with coke, or whatever. And after that, the top of the can is trimmed and then bent over to secure the lid. That's right. It looks like a seam. We could even do a blow-up of it, like this. F-L-A-N-G-E. Yes, that would be clearer. I think we should label the lid itself and say that it constitutes 25% of the total weight. 25%, so it's stronger than the body of the can. So, to save money, the manufacturers make it smaller than the rest of the can. Didn't know that either. So how do we open a can of Coke? First of all, there's the tab, which we pull up to open the can, and that's held in place by a rivet. I think that's too small for us to include. I agree, but we can talk about it in the presentation. We can show the opening, though. That's the bit of the can that drops down into a drink when we pull the tab. Yeah, hopefully. Sometimes the tab just breaks off. I know. Anyway, the opening is scored so that it pushes in easily.
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Diagram
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Number/spelling trap - the diagram asks about the lid's proportion of total weight

Correct Answer: twenty five

Why this is correct: When talking about the lid, the speaker says that it constitutes 25% of the total weight. The diagram label near the lid is asking for this percentage, so the correct words to copy are twenty five.

Passage Reference: I think we should label the lid itself and say that it constitutes 25% of the total weight. 25%, so it's stronger than the body of the can.

Common Mistake: Some students write 25 percent or 25. This breaks the word limit trap or the number format trap. If the answer sheet expects words, you must write the number in words exactly as accepted.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'constitutes 25% of the total weight' = Diagram: 'percentage of total weight'

Tips: When you hear a clear number, decide quickly if you should write digits or words based on the answer space and word limit.

Key Vocabulary:

  • constitutes = makes up
  • total = whole

Question Focus: Synonym match - material of the can body

Correct Answer: aluminium

Passage Reference: What does it say? It's made of aluminium, of course. It's thicker at the bottom. Right, so that it can take all the pressure.

Why this is correct: While labeling the body of the can, the speaker says it is made of aluminium. The diagram label pointing to the body is asking for the material, so aluminium is the exact word to copy.

Common Mistake: Students sometimes write metal or steel because they guess instead of listening carefully. This is a paraphrase trap - you must use the exact word you hear.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'made of aluminium' = Diagram: 'material of body'

Tips: For diagram labels, listen carefully when the speaker names materials or parts - these are often direct answers.

Key Vocabulary:

  • aluminium = light metal
  • body = main part

Question Focus: Synonym match - part of the can that resists pressure

Correct Answer: bottom

Passage Reference: And then there's the base. Yes. It says the bottom of the can is shaped like a dome, so that it can resist the internal pressure.

Why this is correct: When discussing the base, the speaker explains that the bottom of the can is shaped like a dome to resist pressure. The diagram label pointing to the underside matches the word bottom.

Common Mistake: Some students write base because they hear that word first. This is a synonym match trap - the diagram label uses bottom, which is also said clearly by the speaker.

Paraphrasing: Transcript: 'the bottom of the can' = Diagram: 'lower part of the can'

Tips: If the speaker uses two words for the same thing, choose the one that best matches what you see on the diagram.

Key Vocabulary:

  • dome = rounded shape
  • resist = withstand

General Tips:

  • Diagram questions follow the order of the recording - use the last answer to know where you are in the audio.
  • Always check the word limit. Writing extra words like 'percent' can make an answer wrong.
  • Copy the exact word you hear - do not replace it with your own synonym.
  • Look at the diagram carefully. The picture often tells you which noun the speaker is referring to.
  • Listen for signpost phrases like 'it's made of' or 'the bottom of the can' - these often introduce direct answers.

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