WIB · Listening — September 19, 2026

🎯 Instructions:

Listen to the audio track(s) below.
Complete the interactive exercises on this page.

🎧 Senior Listening

Two tracks with comprehension exercises

Track 1: "What's in a footballer's brain?"

6 min · british · standard

🎯 Gist Check Listen and choose the best answer.

1. What is the main topic of the programme?

The history of football How footballers train their brains The best football players in the world How to become a football coach

✅ B. 节目主要讨论足球运动员的大脑训练，如何通过神经科学提高表现。

2. Why are football clubs interested in brain training?

To improve physical strength To help players deal with pressure To increase player salaries To reduce injuries

✅ B. 俱乐部对大脑训练感兴趣是为了帮助球员应对压力，提高决策能力。

3. What did the study of Neymar's brain show?

His brain was more active than others His brain was less active when he moved his ankle He had a larger brain than average He was afraid of penalties

✅ B. 研究表明，内马尔在转动脚踝时大脑活动比同龄人少，表明他在这方面非常专业，几乎不需要有意识的努力。

🔍 Detail Hunt Listen for specific information.

1. Which part of the brain is best known for processing fear?

✅ amygdala

2. What did scientists find about Neymar's brain activity when he rotated his right ankle?

✅ less active

3. According to Holly Bridge, what drives a lot of performance?

✅ emotional state

4. What does Niklas Hausler measure before important kicks?

✅ brainwaves

5. What phrase is used to describe a situation that is chaotic or disorganised?

✅ all over the place

Track 2: "Should we cycle more?"

6 min · british · standard

🎯 Gist Check Listen and choose the best answer.

1. What is the programme mainly about?

The rise of cycling in the Netherlands and the UAE How to buy an electric bike in Britain The history of car manufacturing in Europe Why people should stop cycling in cities

✅ A. 节目主要讨论荷兰和阿拉伯联合酋长国的骑行发展，并介绍相关词汇。

2. According to the programme, why is cycling good?

It is good for health and the environment It is faster than every car It is only popular among older people It makes cities colder

✅ A. 开头提到许多人选择骑行是因为它对健康和环境有益。

3. What are Gulf cities like Dubai hoping cycling will improve?

Their quality of life and liveability Their bicycle manufacturing industry Their population size Their public transport prices

✅ A. 文中说海湾城市把骑行看作提升生活质量和宜居度的方案之一。

🔍 Detail Hunt Listen for specific information.

1. How many bikes are there roughly in the Netherlands?

✅ 24 million

2. What phrasal verb is used for bicycle manufacturing suddenly becoming popular in the Netherlands?

✅ took off

3. What two-word phrase means firmly established and unlikely to change?

✅ deeply ingrained

4. What noun means the degree to which a place is pleasant to live in?

✅ liveability

5. How many kilometres of cycle tracks has Dubai already built?

✅ 600km

🔄 Compare & Contrast Think about both listening passages together.

Compare and contrast the two listening passages. Explain how each passage describes a different connection between physical activity and the brain or body, what benefits or challenges each one focuses on, and how the speakers support their main ideas with examples. Use details from both tracks.

Guiding Questions:

What is the main topic of each listening passage, and how are the topics similar and different?
What specific benefits, challenges, or examples does each passage mention to support its topic?
How do the speakers' purposes or points of view differ between the two passages?