————— THE LISTENING PART B QUESTIONS———_—_ LISTENING PART B Part B of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test consists of two long con- versations, each followed by a number of questions. You will hear the conversations and the questions on the recording; they are not written in your test book. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices that are written in your test book ‘The conversations are often about some aspect of school life (how difficult a class is, how to write a research paper, how to register for a course). The conversations can also be about topics currently in the news in the United States (desalination of the water supply, recycling of used products, damage from a storm or some other type of natural phenomenon). Example (narrator) (man) (woman) (man) (woman) (man) (woman) Questions: On the recording, you hear: Questions 1 through 4. Listen to a conversation. erween a professor and a student. Hello, Professor Denton. Are you free fora moment? Could Ihave a word with you? Come on in, Michael. Of course I have some time. These are my office hours, and this isthe right time for ‘you to come and ask questions. Now, how can I help you? Well, 1 have a quick question for you about the homework assignment for tomorrow. I thought the assignment was to answer the first three questions at the top of page 67 in the text, but when I looked, there werent any questions there. I'm confused. The assignment was to answer the first three questions at the top of page 76, not 67. Oh, now I understand. I'm glad I came in to check: Thanks for your help. No problem. See you tomorrow: 1. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) Who is the man? In your test book, you read: (A) professor, (B) Anoffice worker (C)_ Professor Denton's assistant. (D) Astudent 2. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) When does the man come to see Professor Denton? In your test book, you read: (A) During regular class hours. (B) Just before class time. (©) Assoon as class is finished. (D) During office hours. (continued on next page) 59.60 LISTENING COMPREHENSION, 3. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) Why does the man come to see Professor Denton? In yourtest book, you read: (A). To turn in an assignment (B) To aska question, (©) To pick upa completed test. (D) To explain why he did not attend class. 4. On the recording, you hear: (narrator) What incorrect information did the man have? In your test book, you read: (A) The date the assignment was due. (B) The page number of the assignment, (©) The length of the assignment. (D) The numbers of the assignment questions. The first question asks you to determine who the man is. Since the man opens the con- versation with Professor Denton and he asks about the page number of an assignment for to morrow, he is probably a student. The best answer to this question is therefore answer (D). The second question asks about when the man comes to see the professor. The pro- fessor says that these are my office hours, so the best answer to this question is answer (D). The third question asks why the man comes to see the professor. Since the man says [have @ quick question for you, the best answer to this question is answer (B). The last question asks what incorrect information the man had. The man thought that the assignment was ‘on page 67 and not on page 76, so he was mistaken about the page number of the assign- ment. The best answer to this question is answer (B) STRATEGIES FOR THE LISTENING PART B QUESTIONS |. Ifyou have time, preview the answers to the Listening Part B questions. While you | are looking at the answers, you should try to do the following: Anticipate the topics of the conversations you will hear. “Anticipate the questions for each of the groups of answers. 2. Listen carefully to the first line of the conversation. The first line of the conversation || often contains the main idea, subject, or topic of the conversation,and you will often be asked to answer such questions. 3. As you listen to the conversation, draw conclusions about the situation of the conversation: who is talking, where the conversation takes place, or when it takes place. You will often be asked to make such inferences about the conversation. 4. As you listen to the conversation, follow along with the answers in your test book and try to determine the correct answers. Detail questions are generally answered in order in the conversation, and the answers often sound the same as what Is sald in the recording program, 5. You should guess even if you are not sure. Never leave any answers blank, 6. Use any remaining time to look ahead at the answers to the questions that follow.USTENINGPARTB 61 ‘The following skills will help you to implement these strategies in Part B of the Listening Comprehension section of the TOEFL test. BEFORE LISTENING Skit 18: ANTICIPATE THE TOPICS Itis very helpful to your overall comprehension if you know what topics to expect in Lis- tening Part B. You should therefore try to anticipate the topics you will be hearing, For example, are the conversations about some aspect of school life, or some type of social is- sue, or a trip someone is planning? A helpful strategy is therefore to look briefly at the an- swers in the test book, before you actually hear the conversations in the recording program, and try to determine the topics of the conversations that you will hear EXERCISE 18: Look at the answers to the five questions together, and try to anticipate the topic of the conversation for those five questions. (Of course, you cannot always de- termine exactly what the topic is, but you often can get a general idea.) Questions 1 through 5 have been answered for you. 1. (A). Find work on campus. 4. (A) Every morning (B) Workin the employment office. (B) Afternoons and weekends. (©) Help students find jobs. (C)_ When he’s in class (D) Ask the woman questions. (D) Weekdays. 2 (A) In the library, 5. (A) Fillouta form (B)_Inaclassroom. (B) Give her some additional (©) Inacampusoffice. information. (D) Inan apartment. (©) Tell her some news. 3. (A) No more than ten. (D) Phone her. (B) Atleast ewenty (©) Not more than twenty. (D) Uptoten, What is the topic of the conversation for questions 1 through 5? looking for a job on campus ooking for a j pt You can guess this because of the following clues: * work on campus + employment office ° students * jobs2 6 (A) (B) © (D) 7.) cS) (©) (D) 8 (A) (B) (c) (D) LISTENING COMPREHENSION, Just before a vacation, 9. ‘Just after the end of a school semester, At the end of the summer, Just after a break from school. A trip to visit the Eskimos, 10. A trip the woman is planning to take. A trip the man has already taken ‘A camping trip the man and ‘woman took ‘Three hours. Three complete days. Three classes. ‘Three weeks. (a) (B) ©, ) “ @B) © (@) Sleeping outside on the ground. Spending time in a sauna or hot tub. Relaxing at the lodge. Enjoying excellent food. She'd be scared, but she'd like to wy. She can’t wait. Ic would be quite exciting for her. She'd prefer not to try. What is the topic of the conversation for questions 6 through 10? 1. (a) (B) © (D) 12. (A) (B) © (D) 13. (A) (B) © (D) All kinds of pollution, How acid rain has harmed the earth. Pollution from cars and factories. ‘The causes and possible effects of acid rain, i Nuclear power. Electricity. Burning coal and oil Solar power, From sulfur dioxide and water vapor, From sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. From nitric acid and sulfur dioxide. From water vapor and nitric acid. 14, (a) (B) (c) (Dy @) (B) © () Only in North America. At the North and South Poles. In parts of several northern, continents. In equatorial areas She should protect herself from the rain, She should clean up the water supply. She should read a novel She should get more information about acid rain ‘What is the topic of the conversation for questions 11 through 15?USTENING PARTB 63 Skit 19: ANTICIPATE THE QUESTIONS Itis very helpful to your ability to answer individual questions in Listening Part B if you can anticipate what the questions will be and listen specifically for the answers to those questions. Example In your test book, you read: (a) Inthe airport (B) Inthe library. (©) Inthe dormitory. (D) Inthe travel agent’ office You try to anticipate the question: Where does the conversation probably take place? In this example, you can be quite certain that one of the questions will be about where the conversation takes place. Since you are sure that this is one of the questions, you can listen carefully for clues that will give you the answer. This example shows that a helpful strategy is therefore to look briefly at the answers in the test book, before you actually hear the conversations in the recording program, and try to determine the questions that you will be asked to answer. EXERCISE 19: Study the following answers and try to determine what the questions will be. (You should note that perhaps you will only be able to predict part ofa question, rather than the complete question.) If you cannot predict the question in a short period of time, then move on to the next group of answers. Question 1 has been answered for you. 1. Question: _What- doce (eomeone) want todo? (A). Find work on campus. (B) Workin the employment office. (©) Help students find jobs. (D) Ask the woman questions. 2 Question: (A) Inthe library. (B)_Inaclassroom. (©) Ina campus office (D) Iman apartment. 3. Question: ee (A) No more than ten. (B) Atleast twenty. (©) Not more than ewenty. (D) Up toten. 4. Question: (A) Every morning. (B) Afternoons and weekends. (C) When he's in class. (D) Weekdays.64 5. 10. 11 12. 4 LISTENING COMPREHENSION Question: (A) Fill outa form, {B) Give her some additional information, (C) Tell her some news. (D) Phone her. Question: (A) Just before a vacation. (B) Justafter the end of a school semester (©) ‘Atthe end of the summer. (D)_Justafter a break from school Question: (A) A wip to visitthe Eskimos, (B) A trip the woman is planning to take. (©) A trip the man has already taken. (D) Acamping trip the man and woman took. Question: (A) Three hours. (B)_ Three complete days. (C) Three classes. (D) Three weeks. Question: (A). Sleeping outside on the ground, (B)_ Spending time in a sauna or hot tub. (©) Relaxing at the lodge. (D) Enjoying excellent food. Question: (A). She'd be scared, but she'd like to try. (B). She can’t wait (©) Itwould be quite ex (D) She'd prefer not to try. 1g for her. Question: (A) All kinds of pollution. (B) How acid rain has harmed the earth. (C) Pollution from cars and factories. {D) The causes and possible effects of acid rain. Question: (A) Nuclear power. (B). Electricity. (©) Burning coal and oil. (D) Solar power. Question: (A) From sulfur dioxide and water vapor. (B) From sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. (©) From nitric acid and sulfur dioxide. (D) From water vapor and nitric acid. Question: (A) Onlyin North America. (B) At the North and South Poles. (C)_In parts of several northern continents, (D)_ In equatorial areas.USTENING PARTB 65 15, Question: _ __ (A). She should protect herself from the rai (B)_ She should clean up the water supply. (©). She should read a novel. (D) She should get more information about acid rain WHILE LISTENING. Sk. 20: DETERMINE THE TOPIC As you listen to each conversation in Listening Part B, you should be thinking about the topic (subject) or main idea for each conversation. Since the first one or two sentences generally give the topic, you should be asking yourself what the topic is while you are listening carefully to the first part of the conversation. Example On the recording, you hear (man) You can't beliove what I just got! (woman) [bet you got that new car you've always wanted. (man) Now, how in the world did you figure that out? You think: ‘The topic of the conversation is the new car that the man just got, EXERCISE 20: Listen to the first part of each of the conversations, and decide on the topic of each conversation. ()) Now eain ie neconoinc enocRam ar EXERCIse 20 1. Whats the topic of Conversation 2. What is the topic of Conversation 2? 8. What is the topic of Conversation 3?66 LISTENING COMPREHENSION ‘Skit 21: DRAW CONCLUSIONS ABOUT WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE As you listen to each conversation in Listening Part B, you should be trying to set the situ- ation in your mind. You should be thinking the following thoughts: © Who is talking? © When does the conversation probably take place? © Where does the conversation probably take place? * What is the source of information for the conversation? Example On the recording, you hear: (man) Why do you have so many books? (woman) I need them for my paper on George Washington. Do you know how Ican check them out? (man) Yes, you should go downstairs to the circulation desk ‘and fill outa card for each book You think: Whois probably talking? (two students) Where are they? (in the library) ‘What course are they discussing? (American History) EXERCISE 21: Listen to the first part of each of the conversations and try to imagine the situation. Then answer the questions in the text. (alienate eeceerircemiies neal Conversation | 1. Who is probably talking? 2. Where does the conversation take place? Conversation 2 1. Who is probably talking? 2. When does the conversation take place? 3. What is the source of the man’s information? Conversation 3 1. Whois probably talking? 2. When does the conversation take place? 3. Whatis the source of the information?USTENING PART B 67 Skit 22: LISTEN FOR ANSWERS IN ORDER There are two possible methods to use while you listen to a conversation in the Listening Part B of the TOEFL test. + You can just listen to the conversation (and ignore the answers). *# You can follow along with the answers while yout listen. Some students prefer to just listen to the conversation while it is being spoken, and if that method works well for you, then that is what you should do. Other students find that they can answer more questions correctly if they read along with the answers while the conver- sation is being spoken. Because the detail questions are answered in order, it is possible to read along while you listen to the conversation in the recording program. Example On the recording, you hear: In your test book, you read (same time): (man) Can Ihelp you? 1. (A) Achecking account. (woman) I'm interested in opening an account. (B) A savings account, (man) Wall, we have several different types of (©) Amoney market account. accounts: checking accounts, savings (D) A time deposit account. ‘accounts, money market accounts, time deposit accounts. (woman) [ra checking account that am interested in. (man) Ian help you with that. First, you 2. (A) A form. have to fill out a form, and then I need (B) An account, to see some identification. That's (C)_ A piece of identification, about all there isto it. (D) Acheck, (woman) That sounds easy enough. Thanks for your help, On the recording, you hear: (narrator) 1. Whar type of account does the woman want? 2. What does the man need for her 10 show him? When you read the answers to the first question, you can anticipate that the first question is: What type of account? As you listen, you determine that the woman wants a checking ac- count. Therefore, you can anticipate that the best answer to the first question is (A) ‘When you read the answers to the second question, you can anticipate that the sec- ond question is going to ask What thing. . .? In the conversation, the man asks her to fill out a form and show some identification, so as you are listening you can anticipate that the correct answer to the second question is either (A) or (C). When you hear the question, you can determine that the best answer is answer (C).68 LISTENING COMPREHENSION TOEFL EXERCISE 22; Listen to each complete conversation and answer the questions that follow. 7 vow scr teconone mociat as Tosh Banc 2. 1 (A) (B) (©) (p) a) @B) ©) (D) @ B) ©) ) (a) B) © (D) @ B) ) (D) @ (B) © (D) a) (B) (c) (Dy “@ (B) © (D) Find work on campus, Work in the employment office. Help students find jobs. Ask the woman questions, In the library. Inaclassroom Ina campus office. In an apartment. No more than ten, At least owenty: Not more than oventy. Upto ten, Every morning. Afternoons and weekends. When he's in class. Weekdays. Fill out a form. Give her some additional information, Tell her some news. Phone her. Just before a vacation, Just after the end of a school semester. At the end of the summer. Justafter a break from school Auip to visit the Eskimos. ‘Atip the woman is planning to take. Auip the man has already taken, Acamping tip the man and woman took. ‘Three hours. Three complete days. ‘Three classes. Three weeks. 9. 10. n. uM “) (B) © () “ B) ©) (D) a) @B) © () “ (B) © (D) @) (B) © () “ @B) © @) (a) (B) Co) () jing outside on the ground, Spending time in a hot tub. Relaxing at the lodge. Enjoying excellent food, She'd be scared, but she'd like to try. She can’t wait It would be quite exciting for her. She'd prefer not to wy. All kinds of pollution. How acid rain has harmed the earth. Pollution from cars and factories. The causes and possible effects of acid rain, Nuclear power, Electricity, Burning coal and oil Solar power. From sulfur dioxide and water vapor. 1m sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, From nitric acid and sulfur dioxide. From water vapor and nitric acid. Only in North America, At the North and South Poles. In parts of several northern continents. In equatorial areas. i She should protect herself from the rain. She should clean up the water supply. She should read a novel. She should get more information about acidUSTENING PARTB 69 TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 18-22): In this exercise, you will use all of the infor. mation that you learned in Skills 18 through 22. Before the recording program begins, you should read over the answers to questions 1 through 15 and do the following: © Anticipate the topics you will hear © Anticipate the questions. While you are listening to the conversations, you should do the following: ‘© Listen for the topic in the first lines. + Draw conclusions about the situation (who, what, when, where), «Listen for the answers in order (1) Now seanv THe neconoinc pkocnatt at Toert Review EXERCISE SxS (18-22). 1. (A) Toaconcert. 8. (A) Laramie @) Toarchearsal (B) Devil's Tower National Monument. (©) Toalecture. (©) Old Faithful (D) To the library. (D) Wyoming. 2 (A) One. 9. (A) Hear again about Yellowstone, (®) Two, (B) Take a tip to Yellowstone. (©) Three. (C) Gerajob ina national park, (D) Four. (D) Move to Yellowstone. 3, (A) The bus does not go directly tothe 10, (A). Howand when we celebrate Music Building. Thanksgiving. (B) The bus goes very slowly to the (B) The traditional Thanksgiving Music Building, dinner. (C) The bus sometimes does not come. (©) When Thanksgiving began. (D) The bus will not arrive for a while. (D) Abraham Lincoln, 4. (a) Walk, 11, (A) With colonists in Massachusetts, (B). Wait for the bus. (B) Alone and thinking about how (©) Miss the lecture. Thanksgiving developed. (D). Think of another plan. (©) With a big Thanksgiving dinner. 5. (A) Boring (D) In an untraditional manner. (B) Fantastic, 12, (A) The terrible winter. (©) Lengthy: (B)_ The corn harvest. (D) Faithful (©) The development of Thanksgiving Day. 6 (A) Bycar. (D) For getting the whole family (B) By plane f (©) Bytrain, together. (©) Bybicycle. 13, (A) Atmany different times (B) InJuly. 7. (A) She went directly to Yellowstone. (Abb iene in November {B) She spenta few weeks in Laramie. (©) She stopped at the Devil's Tower () Ona Thursday in November National Monument. {D) She made a few stops before going ‘on to Yellowstone.