Meaning: "lauded" means praised by many people.

Wrong options:

• laurded: It adds an extra "r". Check the letters: "lauded". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
• laud: "laud" is missing the ending. The speaker says "lauded", with "ed" at the end.

Correct answer: espoused

Explanation: Here you hear "those espoused by many of". It comes after 'those', so you need a word for ideas people support and it ends in ed.

Meaning: "espoused" means supported or adopted by people.

Wrong options:

• esposed: It leaves out the "u". Check the letters: "espoused". A small spelling mistake loses the mark.
• espouse: "espouse" is missing the ending. The speaker says "espoused", with "d" at the end.

Correct answer: viewpoint

Explanation: The speaker says "However, this viewpoint was not". The sentence needs a word for a position or way of thinking.

Meaning: "viewpoint" means a particular way of seeing or thinking about something.

Wrong options:

• view point: This splits the word in two. It is one word. Write "viewpoint". Only the exact spelling gets the mark.
• view: "view" is missing the ending. The speaker says "viewpoint", with "point" at the end.

Correct answer: backdrop

Explanation: You hear "against a backdrop of history and". It follows 'a', so you need a word for the scene or setting.

Meaning: "backdrop" means the setting or background for events.

Wrong options:

• back drop: This splits the word in two. It is one word. Write "backdrop". Only the exact spelling gets the mark.
• background: 'background' is longer and different. The speaker used a shorter compound word.

Correct answer: encouraging

Explanation: Listen for "as a means of encouraging innovation". It comes after 'of', so you need an action word that ends in ing.

Meaning: "encouraging" means helping or giving support to make new things happen.

Wrong options:

• encourage: "encourage" is a close word, but it ends in "e". The speaker says "encouraging", which ends in "ing".