TOEFL STRATEGIES

LISTENING COMPREHENSION

Listening Comprehension consists of three parts.

Part A : Short Conversations (30 questions)
Part B : Longer Conversations (8 questions)
Part C : Talks or Lectures (12 questions)

Part A : Short Conversations

There are some types of dialogues and different questions in short conversations.
1. Topics
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to identify the main topic
from among several secondary subjects in the conversations. Choose the best answer.

Example :
Woman : I was late for class because I couldn’t find the parking space.
Man : It’s because of registration week. I drove around for almost half an hour before I
found one this morning.
Question : What are the two people talking about?
A. The campus
B. Registration week
C. The parking situation
D. The woman’s class

2. Details.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to remember details that
are directly stated. Choose the best answer.

Example :
Woman : That looks like Steve’s car, but who is that girl driving it?
Man : Oh, that’s Steve’s sister. I met her last night at Mary Anne’s party.
Question : Who is driving Steve’s car?
A. Steve’s girlfriend
B. Steve’s sister
C. Steve
D. Mary Anne

3. Selections.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to
select the correct detail from among several similar alternatives, all of which have been
mentioned in different contexts in the conversation. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Man : Where can I buy a computer? It doesn’t have to be the best on the market.
Woman : You could go to the computer store, or a discount store, but if I were you, I’d look
into some of the special offers through the university. I saw something in the paper just last
night.
Question : What advice does the woman give the man?
A. Buy the computer at a discount store
B. Put an ad in the newspaper for a computer
C. Go to a computer store to buy the computer
D. Buy the computer at the university as part of a special offer

4. Reversals.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to identify the speaker's
final choice or decision after a change of opinion. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Man : Let me see. There’s a documentary about wolves on Channel Three.
Woman : That sounds pretty interesting, but I’d rather go to the movies.
Question : What does the woman want to do?
A. See a documentary
B. Change the channel
C. Watch television
D. Go to a movie
5. Idioms
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to
paraphrase idiomatic expressions. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Man : Did you know that Joan is going to move back to Maine?
Woman : I’ll believe it when I see it.
Question : What does the woman mean?
A. She’s glad Joan is moving
B. She does not believe that Joan will move
C. She saw Joan move
D. She believes Joan is moving because she saw her

6. Emotions (feelings).
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to draw
conclusions about the feelings or emotions expressed by the speakers. Words and phrases as well as the tone of
voice of speakers in the conversation will provide information for your conclusions. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Woman : If you invite Lucy, You’ll have to ask Rick, too.
Man : Forget it!
Question : How does the man feel about Rick?
A. He forgot who he was
B. He thinks that Rick and Lucy will forget to come
C. He like Rick, but not Lucy
D. He does not want to invite them.

7. Suggestions.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to
recognize a suggestion. Words and phrases such as "you should" or " why don' t you" or "why not"
introduce a suggestion. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Woman : Are you in line here?
Man : We all are. You need to take a number.
Question : What does the man suggest that the woman do?
A. Get in line behind him
B. Take a number
C. Come back later
D. Go to the end of the line.

8. Assumptions.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you must be able to recognize remarks that
register surprise, and draw conclusions about the assumptions that the speaker may have made. Choose the best
answer.
Example :
Man : We’re almost finished with the handouts for Anne.
Woman : Anne is going to give a presentation for the group?
Question : What had the woman assumed about the presentation?
A. There would not be any handouts
B. Anne would finish the handouts
C. Anne would not make the presentation
D. The presentation had already been made

9. Predictions
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to make
predictions about the future activities of the speakers. Your prediction should be based on evidence in
the conversation from which you can draw a logical conclusion. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Woman : Is this where the bus to the mall stops?
Man : No. It’s on the other side of the street.
Question : What will the woman probably do?
A. Walk to the mall
B. Get on the bus
C. Cross the street to wait for the bus
D. Take a taxi to the mall

10. Implications.
In some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to draw
general conclusions about the speakers or the situation. Words and phrases and the tone of voice of
speakers in the conversation will provide information for your conclusions. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Woman : How long did it take you to register? I was in line for two hours.
Man : You were lucky.
Question : What did the man mean?
A. The woman was in line for a long time
B. The man was in line longer than the woman
C. The man registered quickly
D. The woman did not register

11. Problems
in some dialogues in the Listening Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to identify the problem
that the speakers are discussing. This may be more difficult because different aspects
of the problem may be included in the conversation. Choose the best answer.
Example :
Woman : Sorry, I have to stay here until someone comes from the phone company to install my phone.
Man : That’s too bad. I wish you could go with us to the movie.
Question : What is the woman’s problem?
A. She has to wait for the telephone to be installed
B. She does not have a telephone
C. She has already seen the movie
D. She cannot go to the movie because she has company

PART B
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear longer conversations. After each conversation, you will
hear several questions. The conversations and questions will not be repeated. After you hear a question,
read the four possible answers in your book and choose the best answer. Then, on your Answer Sheet,
find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have
chosen.
Remember, you are not allowed to take notes or write on your test pages.

Questions:

1. Topic
What are they talking about?
What are they discussing?

2. Main Purpose
What is the main purpose of the conversation?

3. Statement
What lecture is not taught by Dr. Clark this term?

4. Prediction
What will the man probably do next?

5. Problem
What has happened to Mr. Tom?
What’s Mr. Tom’s problem?

6. Suggestion
What does the woman suggest that the man do?

7. Calculating
How many / how much
How long
How old
How far
How often

8. Details
What did Daniel do after he met his lecturer?

Example :
Narrator : Listen to part of a conversation between a student and a professor on campus.

Woman : Dr. Newbury, could I speak with you?

Man : Sure. Come on in.
Woman : I need to ask you to let me take the final early.
Man : May I ask why?
Woman : Yes. It's because I bought a ticket to go home for Christmas, and my flight leaves on Tuesday.
That's the day before the exam.
Man : Yes, well , Penny, the exam schedule is printed in the registration materials. You had to know the dates.
Why didn' t you buy your ticket for the day after the exam?
Woman : Truthfully, I just made a mistake. And now, I've got a real problem because the ticket is
non-refundable, and I can' t afford to buy another one.
Man : Hmmn.
Woman : Dr. Newbury, I live too far away to get home for Thanksgiving and Spring Break like the
other students do. This is my only chance to see my family during the school year. I'm sorry
that it happened, but couldn' t you make an exception this time? Or could you give me an
incomplete and let me make it up next semester?
Man : Okay. Anyone can make a mistake. You can take the exam on Monday.
Woman : Thank you. I really appreciate this.

Questions :
!. What is the woman’s purpose in this conversation?
A. To take the final exam
B. To apologize to the professor
C. To change the date of her exam
D. To schedule her flight

2. Why does the woman have a problem?

A. She is taking too many classes
B. She lives too far from her family
C. She made an error when she scheduled her trip
D. She did not do well on her final exam
3. On what day is the final exam scheduled?
A. Monday
B. Tuesday
C. Wednesday
D. Thursday

4. What does the professor decide to do?

A. Allow the woman to repeat the exam
B. Reschedule the woman’s exam for another day
C. Let the woman’s skip the final exam
D. Give the woman a grade of incomplete
PART C
Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear several short talks. After each talk, you will hear some
questions. The talks and questions will not be repeated.
After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your book and choose the best answer. Then,
on your Answer Sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter
of the answer you have chosen.

Questions:

1. Topic
What’s the talk about?
What is the topic of the talk?

2. Main Purpose
What is the main purpose of the talk?

3. Statement
Which novels are written by William Shakespear?

4. Prediction
What will the speaker probably do?

5. Calculating
How many / how much
How long
How old
How far
How often

6. Details
What
Where
When
Why
Who
Which
How