The Complete Guide To The TOEFL Test
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Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 47
C) Questions About Topics
The third speaker asks what the other two speakers are talking about. The topic is not usually mentioned directly in the dialog; it must be inferred from a general understanding of the dialog. The topic can be a person, a thing, or an activity.
T Sample Item
You will hear:
Fl: Have you seen this letter from the bursar's office?
F2: Oh, no, not another increase! If you ask me, we're already spending too much to go to school here.
M2: What are these speakers talking about?
You will read:
(A)Higher tuition costs.
(B)A poor grade.
(C)Higher postage rates.
(D)A letter from a relative.
From the fact that the letter comes from the bursar's office (the financial office of a university) and that the second woman is upset about an increase and feels they are spending too much to go to school, it is clear that they are talking about an increase in tuition. .6.
D) Questions About Problems
These questions follow dialogs in which the speakers are discussing some trouble one or both of them are having. The third speaker asks what the problem is.
T Sample Item
You will hear:
M2: Gordon, what happened to your window?
Ml: When I was painting the house last week, I hit it with the ladder.
M2: What problem does Gordon probably have?
You will read:
(A)His house needs painting.
(B)He broke his ladder.
(C)He spilled some paint.
(D)His window is broken.
Gordon, the second speaker, says that he hit the window with the ladder when he was painting the house. The logical result-a broken window. A.
48 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension
V Exercise 9
Focus: Answering questions about activities, plans, topics, and problems.
Directions: Listen to the dialogs and the questions about them. Decide which of the answer choices-(A), (B), or (C)-best answers the question, and mark the appropriate blank.
I11III ))\ \Iow start the audio.
1. ~ (A) Road conditions.
___ (B) A weather report. _ . _ (C) Motel reservations.
2.___ (A) Go to the concert.
___ (B) Listen to jazz on the radio.
___ (C) Buy more tickets.
3.____ (A) The man's car is not running.
____ (B) The man isn't going to the party.
___ (C) The car isn't big enough for four people.
4.___ (A) __ (B) __ (C)
';. __ (A) __ (B) __ CC)
6. _ CA) __ (B) __ (C)
7.___ (A)
___ (B)
___ (C)
Stay inside.
Find his umbrella,
Look outside.
A store.
A bridge.
A street.
Shop for groceries. Leave for a camping trip. Go to a circus.
Ask for medicine for his headaches.
Buy some new frames for his eyeglasses.
Get different lenses for his glasses.
8.__ (A) Clothing.
___ (B) Hair styling.
____ (C) Painting.
9.___ (A) Take a trip. __ (B) Watch television.
___ (C) Examine some documents.
10.___ (A) He lent it to someone else.
_ |
(B) |
It was ruined in the rain. |
_ |
(C) |
He forgot where he left it. |
11 . _ (A) |
A car. |
|
____ (B) |
A magazine. |
|
__ . _ |
(C) |
A computer. |
12.____ (A) Go directly to business school. __ ._ (B) Look for a joh with a big
company.
___ (C) Start her own business.
13.___ (A) Playing cards. __ (B) Making dinner. __ (C) Repairing a boat.
14.__ (A) He doesn't have Phyllis's
address.
__ (B) He's upset with Phyllis.
___ (C) He doesn't have a stamp.
15.___ (A) Orcler a salad.
___ (B) Go to another restaurant.
___ (C) Put some salt in her soup.
Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 49
LESSON 10
DIALOGS WITH SPECIAL VERBS
A) Causative Verbs
These verbs indicate that someone causes someone else to do something. When a dialog contains a causative verb, you must understand who performs the action. The verbs have, get, make, and let are the most common causative verbs. They are used in the following patterns:
|
Have |
have someone do something |
Dave had the mechanic flx his car. |
have something done |
Dave had his car flxed. |
The causative verb have indicates that one person asks or pays another to do something. The subject of this sentence, Dave, does not perform the action. In the flrst sentence, the mechanic does. In the second sentence, an unnamed person does.
get someone to do something get something done
Jerry got his cousin to cut his hair. Jerry got his hair cut.
The causative verb get usually means to persuade someone to do something. Again note that the subject, Jerry, does not perform the action. In the flrst sentence, Jerry's cousin does. In the second sentence, an unnamed person does.
make someone do something |
Cathy made her son do his homework. |
The causative verb make means to force someone or compel someone to do something. Cathy's son is compelled to do his homework.
let someone do something The boss let us go home.
The verb let means permit or allow. The boss gives permission; we go home.
... Sample Item
You will hear:
M1: Did you speak to the head of the department?
Fl: No, she had her assistant meet with me.
M2: What does the woman mean?
You will read:
(A)She spoke to the head of the department.
(B)The head of the department had a meeting with her assistant. /.(C) She met with the assistant to the head of the department.
(D)The assistant will soon become head of the department.
According to the dialog, the head of the department directed her assistant to meet with the woman. A
50Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension
B)Used to
The expression used to has two forms, |
each with different meanings: |
||
used to + simple form |
|
|
|
I used to live in New |
means |
I once lived in New |
|
York |
York (but now I don't). |
||
|
|||
be/get + used to <-+ gerund (-ing verb)
+ noun phrase
I'm not used to driving on the left side of road.
I've tlnally gotten used to my new job.
means
means
I'm not accustomed
to driving on the left side.
I've tlnaUy become accustomed to my new job.
The dialogs in Part A sometimes take advantage of these two functions of used to.
T Sample Items
You will hear:
Fl: What does Hank's father do for a living?
Ml: He's a salesman now, but he used to be a truck driver. M2: What does the man say about Hank's father?
You will read:
(A)He once drove trucks.
(B)He sells used trucks.
(C)His truck is still useful.
(D)He's accustomed to his job.
The man says that Hank's father used to be a truck driver. In other words, Hank's father once drove trucks, but he no longer does so.
You will hear:
Fl: Nancy is working late again today?
Ml: Yeah, she must be getting used to it by now.
M2: What does the man say about Nancy?
You will read:
(A)She probably has a more difficult job now.
(B)She once worked later than she does now.
(C)She seldom comes to work late.
(D)She is becoming accustomed to late hours at work
The second speaker indicates that Nancy has probably adjusted to working late.
Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 51
Exercise 10
Focus: Listening to dialogs that contain causative verbs or expressions with used to.
Directions: Listen to the dialogs and the questions about them. Then decide which of the two answer choices-(A) or (B)-best answers the question, and mark the appropriate blank. The fIrst one is done as an example.
liliiii))) Now start the audio.
1.___ (A) Doug is happy to be Rose's friend.
~(B) Doug and Rose are no longer good friends.
2.___ (A) He can do the job as well as a professional.
___ (B) He should hire an electrician to do the job.
3.___ (A) This station now plays classical music.
___ (B) The station doesn't broadcast anything but news.
4.___ (A) Changing the oil was easy for her.
___ (B) The oil didn't need to be changed.
5.___ (A) He's not accustomed to early classes yet.
___ (B) His classes are diffIcult, too.
6.___ (A) She's fInally accustomed to roller-skating.
___ (B) She doesn't go skating as often as she once did.
7.___ (A) He's going to clean his tie.
___ (B) He's going to take his tie to the laundry.
8.~~ (A) He moved the poster.
~__ (B) He no longer likes the poster.
9.~~ (A) She may not be able to take a vacation in August.
(B)She's not sure when the busiest time will be.
10._~ _ (A) She asked Greg to explain the point. _~__~ (B) She explained the point to Greg.
11.__ ~ (A) He isn't accustomed to his glasses. __~ (B) He looks quite different without glasses.
12.___ (A) This type of weather is not new to him.
___ (B) He once lived in a very different climate.
13.___ (A) She's going to take a picture of the members of her club. __ (B) Someone is going to photograph her club.
14.___ (A) She's never cooked with it.
___ (B) She doesn't feel comfortable using it.
15.___ (A) If the deer will come near them.
___ (B) If they can approach the deer.
52 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension
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MINI-TEST 1: DIALOGS
Directions: Listen to the conversations and the questions about them. Decide which of the four answer choices-(A), (B), (C), or (D)-is the best answer to the question. Then mark the appropriate answer on the answer sheet .
.-))) Now start the audio.
1.___ (A) She met her during the summer.
___ (B) She's never liked her very much.
___ (C) She warned her of a problem.
___ (D) Her impression of her has changed.
2.___ (A) Review the last point.
___ (B) Go on to the next chapter.
___ (C) Leave the classroom.
___ (D) Point out the teacher's mistake.
3.___ (A) The weather will not be as nice tomorrow.
___ (B) She no longer reads the weather report.
___ (C) She went to the store for a newspaper.
___ (D) The weather reports will change soon.
4.___ (A) Writing an advertisement. __ (B) Playing a game.
___ (C) Looking at a newspaper.
___ (D) Discussing a book.
5.___ (A) Grace may want to live with the man's sister.
___ (B) The woman thinks Grace already has a roommate.
___ (C) The woman doesn't know where Grace has moved.
___ (D) Grace doesn't know the man's sister.
6.___ (A) Go to a meeting.
___ (B) Keep a budget.
___ (C) Reduce his expenses.
___ (D) Get some exercise.
Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension 53
7.(A) The man should clean out his closet.
(8)The lamp will look better in a small space.
(C)She doesn't like the lamp very much.
(D)The living room is the best place for the lamp.
8.(A) What ,\flark is writing.
(B)Where :Vlark is living now.
(C)Why .'vlark doesn't want to go.
(D)Why Mark is in a hurry.
9.(A) He certainly likes Ernie's red car.
(B)The man in the red car resembles Ernie.
(C)Ernie has a car just like that red one.
(D)He can't see the man in the red car.
10.(A) The man doesn't need his hat.
(H)It's not very cold today.
(C)She likes the way the hat looks.
(D)The man ought to wear his hat.
11.(A) She's never seen it.
(B)It was made a long time ago.
(e)She likes it a lot.
(D)It's a very unusual movie.
12.(A) He doesn't believe what the woman told him.
(B)He thinks the team was unprepared too.
(e)He disagrees with the woman's idea.
(D)He isn't ready to go to the game either.
15.(A) The man would like to use that computer.
(B)Becky will need the computer for a long time.
(e)There are no longer any computers in the library.
(D)Becky would like the man to go to the library.
14.(A) He hurt his hand when he was scuba diving.
(H)He hasn't gone scuba diving for a long time.
(C)He's not too old to go scuba diving.
(D)He's an experienced scuba diver.
15.(A) His shoes hurt his feet.
(B)He was injured in a skiing accident.
(e)His shoes are old and in bad shape.
(D)He walked so far that his legs hurt.
16.(A) She doesn't have time to listen now.
(H)She doesn't know what song she wants to hear.
(C)She wants to hear his song right away.
(D)She prefers old songs to new ones.
):'(A) A television commercial.
(B)A history class.
(e)The woman's field of study.
(D)Some famous artists.
18.(A) She was about to suggest the same thing.
(H)She doesn't feci like giving a party.
(e)She's completely surprised by the man's remark.
(D)She isn't hungry right now.
54Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension
19.(A) Sophie won't be at her apartment.
(B)The man can inform Sophie at the meeting.
(C)The man shouldn't bother Sophie.
(D)Sophie will think this is bad news.
20.(A) He doesn't go out as often as he once did.
(B)lie doesn't always tell the truth.
(C)He isn't as friendly as he once was.
(D)He hasn't always been so sociable.
21.(A) The ring is quite attractive.
(B)Laura got a bargain on the ring.
(C)The ring was probably expensive.
(D)Laura had to sell her ring.
22.(A) She didn't realize Bill had to work.
(B)Bill has not finished his work.
(C)The break has not lasted long enough.
(D)The work didn't take long to complete.
23.(A) The woman has just begun to collect rocks.
(B)The man is unwilling to help.
(C)The box is very heavy.
(D)There's nothing in the box.
24.(A) She doesn't like the length of her hair.
(B)She thinks the haircut took too long.
(C)She doesn't know where to get a haircut.
(D)She thinks haircuts are too expensive.
25.(A) Professor Clayburn is going to speak some other night. en) He's never heard of Professor Clayburn.
(C)He didn't realize Professor Clayburn was speaking tonight.
(D)Professor Clayburn is giving his speech in this room.
26.(A) The man may see her drawing.
(B)She'd like the man to visit.
(C)The man should draw a second picture.
(D)She's going to take a guess.
27.(A) The weather has been very warm.
(B)Her car doesn't need a tune-up.
(C)She's starting to feel ill.
(D)She's already too warm.
28.(A) Joe has been making too much noise.
(B)Dogs are not allowed in the dorm.
(C)No one understands the parking regulations.
(D)Joe is not allowed to leave his room.
29.(A) Where the Medical Center is located.
(B)Which office Dr. Norton is in.
(C)What Dr. Norton told the man.
(D)Why the man went to see Doctor Norton.
30.(A) She liked chemistry.
(B)She would graduate in May.
(C)She didn't have to repeat a course.
(D)She hadn't completed the required courses.
PAR T B
About Extended Conversations
About Extended Conversations
The second part of the Listening Comprehension section consists of longer conversations between a man and a woman or (sometimes) between two men or two women. Each conversation lasts from thirty to ninety seconds. It is preceded by brief introductory comments. After each of the conversations, there are from three to five questions. The questions are separated by a twelve-second pause. You must decide which one of the four answer choices in your test book is the best answer for the question, then mark that answer on your answer sheet. You're not permitted to take notes. There are two longer conversations.
The Introductory Comments
These comments tell you which questions the conversation refers to and provide some brief information about the conversation:
"Questions 31 to 34: Listen to two students talk about their psychology class." "Questions 31 to 35: Listen to a conversation about plans for a class trip."
"Questions 35 to 38: Listen to two friends discussing a performance that they attended." "Questions 36 to 39: Listen to a conversation in a student housing office."
"Questions 35 to 39: Listen to a conversation between two teaching assistants."
Not only do these introductory comments tell you to get ready to listen; they also tell you how many questions in your test book to preview at one time. Moreover, they give you a general idea of what to expect as you listen.
55
56 Section 1 • Guide to Listening Comprehension
..... Sample Item
You will hear:
M2: Listen to a conversation between two students. FI: Bill, you're a physics major, aren't YOll?
MI: That's right.
Fl: I need some advice. I want to take an introductory physics class, and I have to choose between two teachers, Professor Hunter and Professor McVey. Do you know much about them?
MI: I've taken classes from both of them. To tell you the truth, I don't really like Hunter's style of teaching. He doesn't seem to care if his students understand or not, and his lectures are pretty dry.
FI: Well, then, what about McVey? I've heard his course is difficult. M1: It's not easy, but you'll learn a lot, and he always encourages his
students to ask questions and join in discussions.
You will then hear:
M2: What does the woman ask Bill to do?
You will read:
(A)Give her information about two teachers.
(B)Help her with a physics assignment.
(C)Speak to a professor for her.
(D)Lead a discussion.
The woman asks Bill for some advice about the two professors who are teaching basic physics courses. Therefore, the best answer is
You will then hear:
M2: What does Bill imply that the woman should do?
You will read:
(A)Change her major to physics.
(B)Discuss her problem with Professor Hunter.
(C)Sign up for an easy class.
(D)Take Professor McVey's class.
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Bill speaks critically of Professor Hunter's teaching methods, but favorably of Professor McVey's, so he would probably advise her to take McVey's course. The best answer is (D). •
The Conversations
The extended conversations are similar to the Part A dialogs in style, but are longer. They frequently take place in a campus setting between two students or between a professor and a student.