Section 1:
Listening
Try the
following Listening examples. Remember that in the real test
you will hear these parts, and you will not be
allowed to write down any notes while you listen. You will
hear each section once only.
In the
following examples, the parts you would
hear in the actual test
are shown in red. The
parts you would read in
the actual test are shown in blue.
hear |
|
read |
|
M = man |
|
W = woman |
Part A: Short
dialogues
In Part A you
will hear several informal short dialogues with two speakers
discussing some aspect of college life. These dialogues can
be about social or academic life. You will be expected to
recognize some idiomatic language that is common in North
America. Sometimes each speaker will only speak once. Other
times each speaker will take two turns. Each dialogue is
followed by a multiple choice question with four choices.
Question
types:
- What does
the man/woman mean?
- What does
the man/woman imply?
- What does
"word from dialogue" refer to?
- What can
be inferred from the dialogue?
- What are
the speakers discussing?
- What is
the man/woman's problem?
Example 1:
|
|
M: You'll never guess what I got on my Biology exam.
W: You mean the one you were so sure that you failed
last week?
M: Yeah. I got the top mark in the class, and
finally boosted my GPA.
W: I guess all of your late night studying finally
paid off.
What does the woman mean? |
|
|
A) The man paid for a tutor.
B) The man didn't study during the day.
C) The man worked hard for his grade.
D) The man likes to socialize. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is a literal distractor. In this case the
word "paid" does not mean pay money. "Paid off" in this
context means "was worth the effort". It is common to
find this type of distractor after the question, "What
does a person mean?"
- Choice
B is a distractor known as opposites. When
you hear something such as "late night" in a dialogue,
you might find opposite information such as "during the
day" in one of the answer choices. If there are two
opposites among the choices, one of them is usually the
correct choice.
- Choice
D expects you to associate "late night" with
socializing.
The correct
answer is C.
Example 2:
|
|
M: I came home for a nap between classes and I slept
right through my alarm.
W: You look pretty worried about it. Did you miss an
important class?
M: Yeah. I missed the last class before the
astronomy final. We were supposed to be getting exam
hints.
W: Why don't you bug Andrea for the notes. I have
her number if you want it.
What does the woman suggest the man do? |
|
|
A) Ask Andrea about the computer virus.
B) Call a classmate for the information.
C) Number the pages of his astronomy notes.
D) Ask her for a wake up call before the exam. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A uses the same word different meaning
distractor. A "bug" is a computer virus. It also means
"to pester or bother" someone.
- Choice
C also contains a word with a different meaning. In
the dialogue, "number" means phone number. In choice C
it is a verb.
- Choice
D associates "alarm" and "slept in" with "wake up".
The correct
answer is B.
Example 3:
|
|
M: I'm trying out for the varsity football team next
September. Do you think I have a chance?
W: Not unless you start hitting the books as often
as you go to the gym. My brother said you need a B
average on your finals to even be considered.
What does the woman imply? |
|
|
A) The man is not fit enough for the team.
B) It's too early to be considered for next
September.
C) The man's marks aren't good enough for tryouts.
D) Her brother is the captain of the varsity team. |
Part B/C:
Conversations, Academic discussions, Mini-lectures
In Part B/C
you will hear several longer listening passages that use
formal and informal language. There are a few different
types you should be prepared for. The first are called
Long conversations. These are similar to Part A, except
that they last at least a minute long. The topics are
usually about college life. Academic Conversations
are usually longer in length and have at least three
speakers. These are typically conversations that would take
place in a classroom or study session. Students, professors,
and other campus workers speak on a certain subject. Mini
Lectures involve only one speaker. These lectures test
your ability to comprehend academic subject material spoken
by a professor. You will hear topics on just about every
type of subject, from Biology, to Art, to Geology. It is not
necessary for you to learn any background material for this
section. Everything you need to know to answer the questions
will be stated in the lecture. There are many types of
questions in this section. The questions are generally in
the same order as the information presented.
Question
types:
- What is
the talk mainly about?
- What is
the purpose of the lecture?
- "Wh" fact
and detail questions
- Matching
- Sequence
(put in order)
- Click on
the picture or diagram
- What does
the man/woman imply?
- What can
be inferred?
- What will
probably happen next?
Example 1:
Casual conversation
|
|
M: I'm excited about going to the concert at the
campus pub on Saturday. It's supposed to be the best
show of the year. You're coming, aren't you?
W: I wish I could, but I already promised Lisa that
I would cover both of her night shifts at the movie
store this weekend.
M: Why did you do that? Did you forget about the
concert?
W: Actually, I really need the hours. Next semester
is going to be really expensive. I have to buy a new
psychology textbook that is going to cost me more
than one hundred dollars.
M: Have you looked in the used book store for it? I
never buy my math textbooks new.
W: That's what I would normally do, but it's a new
edition this year. Some of the chapters are
different, so I really need to buy the new one.
M: That's too bad. I wish you could come to the
concert. If it makes you feel any better, Matt won't
be able to come either.
W: Why is that? It's his favorite band!
M: He has to go home for the weekend. His sister is
getting married.
Now get ready to answer the questions.
1. What are the speakers discussing? |
|
|
A) Their plans for next semester
B) Why the woman can't go to the concert
C) Their favorite band
D) A psychology class |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is incorrect because they are discussing a "book"
from next semester not a "plan". This type of question
wants you to find the main idea.
- Choice
C is incorrect because it is Matt's favorite band.
Matt is not one of the speakers.
- Choice
D confuses psychology "class" and "textbook". Again,
it is not the main idea.
The correct
answer is B.
|
|
2. What will the woman do on Saturday? |
|
|
A) Work at the bookstore.
B) Go to the movies.
C) Cover a friend's shift.
D) Go to a concert. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is mentioned but is not where she is going
to work.
- Choice
B is also mentioned, but she is going to work at a
"movie store". The "movies" means the "cinema".
- Choice
D is what she wants to do.
The correct
answer is C.
|
|
3. What can be inferred from the conversation? |
|
|
A) The woman never works on weekends.
B) The man and woman take the same courses.
C) Matt would like to go to the concert too.
D) The new psychology book might sell out.
|
Explanation:
- Choice
A is not mentioned. This may be true, but you
can't be sure. In TOEFL you need the "best" answer.
- Choice
B is incorrect because the man takes math and the
woman takes psychology.
- Choice
D is incorrect because this is not the woman's
worry. She is worried about having enough money to buy
the book.
The correct
answer is C. (It's Matt's favorite band, so
obviously he would like to go to the concert.)
Example 2:
Academic discussion
|
|
M1 (professor): There is one more section I'd like
to spend a few moments reviewing before we close our
books for the day. Who here remembers the film we
watched last month on hazardous wastes?
W: You mean the one about computer and television
monitors?
Professor: Yes, that's the one Janette. In the film
they discussed why some States are making it illegal
to dump monitors into regular landfills. Can anyone
remember the reason? Adam?
M2: It's because of the cathode ray tubes, also
known as CRT's, inside them. These tubes are high in
lead content, and the lead can leak into the ground
water.
M1: Excellent. It's nice to know that some of you
were listening. Does anyone remember the reason why
manufacturers place lead in the CRT's of computer
and TV monitors in the first place?
W: The tubes are infused with lead in order to
shield the viewer from harmful x-rays. There is no
known alternative at this time, but I think the film
said that researchers are working on it.
M1: Yes, that's true. And why wasn't this a problem
twenty years ago? Why is it suddenly a major
concern?
M2: That's simple. It's because every household in
the US has at least four televisions.
W: Not only that, but people are throwing out their
TV's and computer monitors in order to keep up with
upgrades. With the digital age upon us, this is
going to pose even more of a problem.
M1: So why can't these monitors just be recycled,
Adam?
M2: Well, unlike paper and plastics, there just
aren't any services that provide this type of
recycling. According to the film, a lot of companies
that recognize the threat are storing their unused
equipment in warehouses until some better solutions
become available.
M1: Yes, and this brings us to our next film.
Janette would you mind dimming the lights? This film
is titled Landfill Solutions. It deals with a number
of products that can be recycled through new means.
Now get ready to answer the questions.
1. What is the main topic of the discussion? |
|
|
A) Harmful televisions
B) A landfill concern
C) Computer equipment
D) Recycling films |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is incorrect because it is not the televisions
that are harmful. It is the CRT's inside them that are
harmful. In the discussion, the word "harmful" is used
to describe the X-rays that the CRT's shield people
from.
- Choice
C is mentioned but is not the main topic. You will
often find a choice that is too broad or too
detailed to be the main topic.
- Choice
D combines two things that are mentioned, making the
choice illogical.
The correct
answer is B.
|
|
2. What makes monitors hazardous to the environment?
|
|
|
A) SRT's
B) X-rays
C) Cathode ray tubes
D) Landfills |
Explanation:
- Choice
A contains a similar sound distractor. C and
S sound similar.
- Choice
B is what makes monitors harmful to humans. The
CRT's protect people from this hazard.
- Choice
D confuses the "wh" question. If the question
was reworded using "where" then the answer might be
correct.
The correct
answer is C.
|
|
3. According to Adam, why can't monitors be
recycled? |
|
|
A) They are too expensive to reuse.
B) There are no companies that provide this service.
C) People are too lazy to take them to recycling
plants.
D) Companies prefer to store them for future use. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is not mentioned.
- Choice
C could be true, but is not something Adam says. In
the "according to" question, you cannot choose an answer
just because it makes sense. It has to be mentioned by
the speaker (in this case Adam).
- Choice
D(storage) is mentioned, but not for the reason of
"future use".
The correct
answer is B.
|
|
4. What will the class do next? |
|
|
A) Visit a landfill site.
B) Dissect a computer monitor.
C) Watch another film.
D) Review the film about monitors. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A, B, and Dare all contradicted by the last sentence
in the discussion. The professor talks about what the
new film will be about. It is not one that they have
seen before. The answer to this type of common question
is always in the last line or two of the listening
passage.
The correct
answer is C.
Example 3:
Mini-lecture
|
|
Now listen to part of a lecture from a gemology
class.
In last week's lesson about the difference between
metals and gems, we discussed how pliable true gold
is. Today we are going to be talking about the
diamond, the hardest known natural mineral. As most
of you know from our introductory chapter, diamonds
are the transparent form of pure carbon. Carbon
crystals form deep in the Earth's mantle when high
temperatures and extreme pressure occur. The term
"diamond" comes from the Greek word adamas, which
means unconquerable. In the jewelry business,
diamonds are valued according to a few categories,
known as the 4 C's. The cost of a diamond depends on
its carat, color, cut, and clarity. Besides Africa,
there are few areas around the world with large
diamond deposits. However, diamond replication is a
new trend that threatens the multimillion dollar
industry. Researchers have discovered a way to
produce large volumes of diamonds by putting carbon
under extreme heat and pressure. This process causes
the carbon to crystallize into diamonds. Even the
trained eye cannot detect the difference between a
natural diamond and one that is manufactured in this
way. While this innovation could devastate the
jewelry industry, it could also turn the precious
stone into a common semiconductor. Not only are
diamonds incredible conductors of heat, they are
also efficient electrical insulators. Tremendous
heat can pass through a diamond without causing any
significant damage.
Now get ready to answer the questions.
1. What is the purpose of this lecture? |
|
|
A) To compare diamonds and gold
B) To discuss types of gems
C) To discuss the formation of diamonds
D) To review the elements of carbon |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is not the main purpose. Gold is only mentioned
once at the beginning of the lecture.
- Choice
B is incorrect because only one gem is discussed.
- Choice
D is too specific.
The correct
answer is C.
|
|
2. Which of the following is not one of the 4 C's
used by the jewelry business? |
|
|
A) Carbon
B) Carat
C) Color
D) Cut |
Explanation:
- Choices
B, C, and D are named. Choice A is the only
logical answer.
The correct
answer is A.
|
|
3. Where do natural diamonds form? |
|
|
A) In a manufacturing plant
B) In an electrical insulator
C) Deep in the Earth's mantle
D) Alongside metals such as gold |
Explanation:
- Choice
A is the opposite. This is where non natural
diamonds are formed.
- Choice
B does not answer the question "where".
- Choice
D is not mentioned.
The correct
answer is C.
|
|
4. According to the professor, what are diamonds
good for besides jewelry? |
|
|
A) They can create heat.
B) They can hold heat in.
C) They can damage insulators.
D) They can conduct electricity. |
Explanation:
- Choice
A has the incorrect verb "create". They hold heat.
- Choice
C has the incorrect verb "damage". They create
insulation.
- Choice
D has the correct verb, but the incorrect noun. They
conduct heat.
The correct
answer is B.
Section 2 >
|