Shadowing Practice: Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 2 Section 3 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Part 3 You will hear two geography students,
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88 sentences
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Part 3 You will hear two geography students,
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Adam and Michelle, talking about a volcanic eruption which took place in Iceland in 1783.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.
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Thank you.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
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So, Michelle, shall we make a start on our presentation?
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We haven't got that much time left.
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No, Adam, but at least we've done all the background reading.
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I found it really interesting.
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I'd never even heard of the Larkey eruption before this.
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Me neither.
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I suppose 1783 is a long time ago.
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But it was a huge eruption and it had such devastating consequences.
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I know.
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It was great there were so many primary sources to look at.
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It really gives you a sense of how catastrophic the volcano was.
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People were really trying to make sense of the science for the first time.
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That's right.
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But what I found more significant was how it impacted directly and indirectly on political events,
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as well as having massive social and economic consequences.
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I know.
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That should be the main focus of our presentation.
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The observations made by people at the time were interesting, weren't they?
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I mean, they all gave a pretty consistent account of what happened,
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even if they didn't always use the same terminology.
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Yeah, I was surprised there were so many weather stations established by that time.
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So, you know, you can see how the weather changed often by the hour.
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Right.
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Writers at the time talked about the larky haze to describe the volcanic fog that spread across Europe.
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They all realised that this wasn't the sort of fog they were used to.
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And, of course, this was in pre-industrial times,
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so they hadn't experienced sulphur-smelling fog before.
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No, that's true.
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Reports from the period blamed the haze for an increase in headaches,
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respiratory issues and asthma attacks.
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And they all describe how it covered the sun and made it look a strange red colour.
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Hmm, must have been very weird.
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It's interesting that Benjamin Franklin wrote about the haze.
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Did you read that?
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He was the American ambassador in Paris at the time.
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Yeah.
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At first no one realised that the haze was caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland.
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It was Benjamin Franklin who realised that before anyone else.
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He's often credited with that apparently.
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But a French naturalist beat him to it.
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I can't remember his name.
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I'd have to look it up.
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Then other naturalists had the same idea.
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All independently of each other.
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Oh, right.
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We should talk about the immediate impact of the eruption which was obviously enormous,
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especially in Iceland where so many people died.
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You'd expect that, and the fact that the volcanic ash drifted so swiftly,
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but not that the effects would go on for so long,
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or that two years after the eruption,
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strange weather events were being reported as far away as North America and North Africa.
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No, I found all that hard to believe, too.
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It must have been terrible,
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and there was nothing anyone could do about it,
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even if they knew the ash cloud was coming in their direction.
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Before you hear the rest of the discussion,
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you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30.
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Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
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We should run through some of the terrible consequences of the eruption experienced in different countries.
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There's quite a varied range.
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Starting with Iceland, where the impact on farming was devastating.
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One of the most dramatic things there was the effect on livestock as they grazed in the fields.
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They were poisoned because they ate vegetation that had been contaminated with fluorine as a result of the volcanic fallout.
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That was horrible.
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In Egypt, the bizarre weather patterns led to a severe drought,
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and as a result the Nile didn't flood,
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which meant the crops all failed.
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It's so far from where the eruption happened,
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and yet the famine there led to more people dying than any other country.
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It was worse than the plague.
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OK.
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Then in the UK the mortality rate went up a lot,
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presumably from respiratory illnesses.
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According to one report, it was about double the usual number
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and included an unusually high percentage of people under the age of 25.
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Hmm, I think people will be surprised to hear that the weather in the USA was badly affected too.
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George Washington even makes a note in his diary that they were snowbound until March in Virginia.
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That was before he became president.
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Yes, and there was ice floating down the Mississippi, which was unprecedented.
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Oh, astonishing, really.
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Anyway, what do you think we should include next?
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In this section of the Cambridge IELTS 18 Test, we overhear a conversation between two geography students, Adam and Michelle, who are preparing for a presentation about the Laki volcanic eruption in Iceland, which occurred in 1783. Their discussion reveals not only the scientific nuances of the event but also its significant consequences on society and politics at the time. By exploring primary sources, they gain insights into how people perceived the eruption and its aftermath, making this text an engaging resource for English learners interested in historical events and their impact on language.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Shall we make a start on our presentation?" - A polite way to initiate a discussion or task.
  • "It was a huge eruption and it had such devastating consequences." - A powerful expression to emphasize the seriousness of a situation.
  • "People were really trying to make sense of the science for the first time." - Highlights a common human experience of grappling with new information.
  • "They all describe how it covered the sun and made it look a strange red colour." - An illustrative way to paint a visual picture, enhancing descriptive skills.
  • "I can't remember his name. I'd have to look it up." - A casual expression that demonstrates the importance of research in communication.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Improving your English speaking skills can be effectively done through shadowing, particularly by utilizing the shadowspeak method. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to tackle the dialogue in this video:

  1. Listen Carefully: Before attempting to speak, listen to the entire dialogue. Focus on the rhythm, intonation, and pronunciation of the speakers.
  2. Break It Down: Identify the phrases you want to practice, using the top phrases provided earlier. Breaking the dialogue into manageable parts is beneficial.
  3. Repeat Aloud: As you listen to each segment, repeat what you hear immediately after. This will help you develop a natural speaking flow. Consider using a dedicated shadowing site for optimal audio.
  4. Record Yourself: Recording your attempts will provide feedback on your pronunciation and timing. Compare your version with the original and adjust accordingly.
  5. Practice Regularly: Engage in this exercise multiple times a week. Consistent practice is key to mastering IELTS speaking skills through the shadowspeaks technique.

By following these steps, you'll enhance your English fluency and prepare effectively for IELTS speaking practice while developing a deeper understanding of the language used in historical and academic contexts.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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