Here is the detailed explanation of each answer in the IELTS Listening task with

timestamps and evidence from the script for Questions 31–40:

31. practical
Question: Stoicism is still relevant today because of its ___ appeal.
Answer: practical
🕒 Timestamp: 01:24
Evidence: "Specifically, I am referring to Stoicism, which in my opinion is the most
practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing."

32. publication
Question: The Stoics' ideas are surprisingly well known, despite not being intended for ___
Answer: publication
🕒 Timestamp: 01:56
Evidence: "...we still have access to these ideas, despite the fact that the most famous
Stoics never wrote anything down for publication."

33. choices
Question: Epictetus said that external events cannot be controlled but the ___ people make
in response can be controlled.
Answer: choices
🕒 Timestamp: 02:40
Evidence: "External events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I
do control."

34. negative
Question: A Stoic is someone who has a different view on experiences which others would
consider as ___
Answer: negative
🕒 Timestamp: 03:12
Evidence: "A Stoic is someone who has a different perspective on experiences which most
of us would see as wholly negative."

35. play
Question: George Washington organised a ___ about Cato to motivate his men.
Answer: play
🕒 Timestamp: 04:07
Evidence: "...and later put on a play based on the life of Cato to inspire his men."

36. capitalism
Question: Adam Smith's ideas on ___ were influenced by Stoicism.
Answer: capitalism
🕒 Timestamp: 04:35
Evidence: "The economist, Adam Smith’s theories on capitalism were significantly
influenced by the Stoicism that he studied..."

37. depression
Question: The treatment for ___ is based on ideas from Stoicism.
Answer: depression
🕒 Timestamp: 05:33
Evidence: "...used to treat depression. The idea is that we can take control of our lives..."

38. logic
Question: People learn to base their thinking on ___
Answer: logic
🕒 Timestamp: 05:47
Evidence: "...by challenging the irrational beliefs... by using logic instead."

39. opportunity
Question: In business, people benefit from Stoicism by identifying obstacles as ___
Answer: opportunity
🕒 Timestamp: 06:02
Evidence: "Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity."

40. practice / practise

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00:03
Part 4 You will hear a professor of philosophy giving a talk on the ancient philosophy of
Stoicism. First, you have some time to look at questions 31-40.

01:07
Now listen carefully and answer questions 31-40.

01:15
Ancient philosophy is not just about talking or lecturing or even reading long dense books.
In fact, it is something people have used throughout history to solve their problems and to
achieve their greatest triumphs. Specifically, I am referring to Stoicism, which in my opinion
is the most practical of all philosophies and therefore the most appealing.

01:45
Stoicism was founded in ancient Greece by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC, but
was practiced by the likes of Epictetus, Cato, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. Amazingly, we
still have access to these ideas, despite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote
anything down for publication. Cato definitely didn't, Marcus Aurelius never intended his
meditations,

02:14
to be anything but personal. Seneca's letters were, well, letters, and Epictetus' thoughts
come to us by way of a note-taking students. Stoic principles were based on the idea that its
followers could have an unshakable happiness in this life, and the key to achieving this was
virtue. The road to virtue, in turn, lay in understanding that

02:43
Destructive emotions like anger and jealousy are under our conscious control. They don't
have to control us, because we can learn to control them. In the words of Epictetus, external
events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. The modern
day philosopher and writer Nassim Nicholas Taleb

03:11
defines a Stoic as someone who has a different perspective on experiences which most of
us would see as wholly negative. A Stoic transforms fear into caution, pain into
transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking. Using this definition as a
model, we can see that throughout the centuries, Stoicism

03:41
has been practised in more recent history by kings, presidents, artists, writers and
entrepreneurs.

03:55
The founding fathers of the United States were inspired by the philosophy. George
Washington was introduced to Stoicism by his neighbours at age 17 and later put on a play
based on the life of Cato to inspire his men. Thomas Jefferson kept a copy of Seneca beside
his bed. Writers and artists have also been inspired by the Stoics. Eugene Delacroix

04:23
The renowned French Romantic artist known best for his painting, Liberty Leading the
People, was an ardent Stoic, referring to it as his consoling religion. The economist, Adam
Smith's theories on capitalism were significantly influenced by the Stoicism that he studied
as a schoolboy under a teacher who had translated Marcus Aurelius' works. Today's political
leaders are no different.

04:53
with many finding their inspiration from the ancient texts. Former US President Bill Clinton
re-reads Marcus Aurelius every single year, and many have compared former President
Obama's calm leadership style to that of Cato. Wen Jiabao, the former Prime Minister of
China, claims that Meditations is one of two books he travels with, and that he has read it
more than 100 times.

05:23
over the course of his life. Stoicism had a profound influence on Albert Ellis who invented
cognitive behaviour therapy which is used to help people manage their problems by
changing the way that they think and behave. It's most commonly used to treat depression.
The idea is that we can take control of our lives by challenging the irrational beliefs that
create our faulty thinking, symptoms and behaviours

05:52
by using logic instead. Stoicism has also become popular in the world of business. Stoic
principles can build the resilience and state of mind required to overcome setbacks because
Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity. A lesson every business entrepreneur needs
to learn. I would argue that studying Stoicism is as relevant today as it was two

06:21
thousand years ago, thanks to its brilliant insights into how to lead a good life. At the very
root of the thinking, there is a very simple way of living. Control what you can and accept
what you can't. This is not as easy as it sounds and will require considerable practice. It can
take a lifetime to master. The Stoics

06:48
also believed the most important foundation for a good and happy life is not money, fame,
power or pleasure, but having a disciplined and principled character, something which
seems to resonate with many people today.